(W.W.T) Here once more I've been trying to work more on the show not tell aspect of my writing and I hope that comes through more in the next few chapters. I would also like to leave another special thank you for (Youkai55) for their help and comments when it comes to my story, and a shout out to (Eveline) for all the reviews, and yes Chair's name is a play on words. I have a bit of an odd sense of humor when it comes to names for characters. In fact one of the first stories I wrote for my own entertainment involved a character whose name was a play on the client side systems error number that pops up when the web page you want can't be found. That bit of random information aside here's the next chapter of mars needs mates.

Disclaimer: Pretty sure we all know at this point… but just in case when it comes to the Bmfm I still don't own em'. Except for a bunch of stuff I like to call collectables, but my family sometimes teasingly refers to as my space mouse crap. I do however own my Oc Chair and the idea for this particular story itself.

Chapter 9 (Wise mice say…Only fools rush in…)

"Sorry about this." Chair said looking up at Modo as he followed her into Manuals both waving to the friendly store clerk while they headed in the direction of the hand carts.

"It's not a problem." Modo replied his tone warm, as he reached over Chair's shoulder to take the small basket from her to carry, grinning at the surprised look that crossed her face at the action before gesturing for her to precede him into the store.

Chair smiled gratefully back at him as they started together down one of the little isles containing an assortment of canned goods.

"When I found out the part for my truck was supposed to be in this week. I thought I might be able to hold off a few more days without having to trouble you to take me to pick up more groceries."

" But… Charley's not sure exactly when the correct part will get in.. What with the mix up an all and I'm down to about one package of ramen and a box of oatmeal." Chair said absently while she scanned through the small selection finally settling on a few cans of green beans placing them gently in the cart Modo held for her before heading further into the store.

"I honestly don't mind" Modo replied halting in place as Chair suddenly spotted the produce bin and took off in the direction of the fresh fruit with an excited cry of delight.

Modo flinched slightly at the high pitched sound and reached up to rub at the back of one ear as he followed along behind at a more sedate pace.

(Guess she really likes fruit) he thought as he neared where Chair was happily placing a variety of apples into a small plastic bag, The look on her face reminding him more of a woman picking out jewelry than produce.

"I take it you like apples" Modo said with a chuckle as he moved up beside a happily humming Chair as she continued to sort through the available selection of fruits. Chair paused in the middle of reaching for a particularly large apple at his words, her expression rapidly switching from one of excitement to embarrassment.

"Sorry" she said glancing self-consciously up at the large male next to her.

"Their actually my favorite food, and it's been a while since I was able to pick any up." she added with a small shrug placing the almost full bag into the cart, her attempt at nonchalance overshadowed by the guarded and wary air she took on.

Chair had become accustomed to people trying to offer what to them may have seemed like well-meant advice when she happened to show enthusiasm for any type of food. But their comments had only ever served to make her uncomfortable, and while Modo had never done or said anything along those lines to her since she'd known him. Chair honestly couldn't help the attack of nerves she experienced at that moment.

Recognizing her sudden discomfort if not the cause Modo laughed "Hey I'm not judging, you're looking at a mouse that could probably eat his own weight in hotdogs and have room to spare for root beer."he said Watching as Chair visibly relaxed at this her shoulders un-tensing as she grinned back at him.

"Well now that's really saying something." Chair said with a chuckle her tone taking on a teasing note, as she reached out and gave his stomach a light pat her fingers just skimming across the muscles of his abs before she turned and headed in the direction of the coolers completely missing the way the large mouse's breath momentarily stuttered at the brief touch.

"Hey! Now! I'm not that big" Modo said with mock offense as he came back to himself and followed after Chair his eye gleaming in amusement.

"Says the walking mouse mountain." Chair replied shooting a playful glance over her shoulder as she opened the door to the dairy cooler and pulled out a package of sharp cheddar, Pausing when she took in Modo's almost horrified expression as his nose wrinkled up visibly behind his helmets visor.

"What's wrong ?"Chair asked looking back and forth between the Martian male and the package of cheese in her hand with apparent confusion when she noticed the direction of his gaze.

" Is something wrong with the cheese ?"She asked glancing down at the package.

" No…I guess not… just not very fond of it myself." Modo replied looking as if he'd bitten into something rather unpleasant as he continued to stare at the package in Chairs hand with obvious disgust.

Chair stared at him quizzically another minute , shifting her gaze back to the plastic wrapped hunk of cheese, her expressing becoming contemplative as she looked between it and the Martian male once more before placing it back on the shelf where she'd grabbed it from.

" I'm… just gonna assume this has something to do with that super nose of yours." Chair said closing the door and passing the dairy section all together, followed closely by a relieved looking Modo as they headed in the direction of the stores meat selection instead.

It was dark by the time Modo pulled Hoss up in front of Chairs apartment building, and even with her adamant protests about it not being necessary, because there was only the one bag. He insisted on helping Chair carry her groceries up the stairs to her apartment.

Simply stating that "his grey furred Mama hadn't raised him to be idle" while moving around Chair and holding the door to the building open for her.

Chair walked past him pursing her lips in exasperation but finding she really couldn't bring herself to continue trying to put her foot down over such a small thing especially when he was being so damn sweet about it. On top of already taking the time to chauffeur her around wherever she needed to go on a regular basis.

Chair preceded Modo up the stairs pausing a moment to sort through her keys when they finally reached her door.

"Thanks" Chair said glancing up as the large male bent down to hand her, the small paper bag of groceries.

"You know Modo you really are a big sweetheart." She added.

Acting on impulse Chair reached up to place her hand against the back of his neck to stop him from straitening back up all the way, as she quickly planted a small kiss along the bottom half of his Cheek where she could just reach it.

Chair fought against the urge to giggle as the plush fur on the underside of his jaw briefly tickled her lips and nose the sensation different but not unpleasant as she pulled away.

"Thanks… for everything Modo I really mean that." Chair said with a smile, as the grey furred male froze in place and began Blushing bright enough for her to clearly make out through his fur, even in the semi gloom of the poorly lit corridor. It never failed to amaze her in spite of his tough appearance how bashful he actually was.

Chair couldn't help the small laugh that did actually manage to escape as he stammered for a split second over his response, the big mouse's flustered reaction making him appear adorably boyishly to her in that moment.

(I honestly wouldn't have thought he'd be so tongue tied over a little peck on the cheek…it really is cute) Chair thought watching as the large male flushed even further while looking down at her.

"You're welcome." he finally murmured.

Chair's amusement quickly turned to shock, when Modo suddenly bent down and grazed his cheek across the top of her head, the sensation just registering as the grey Martians large body briefly boxed her in his close proximity causing the hairs on the back of her neck and arms to raise in awareness, and her pulse to speed up into an oddly rythmic thrum, before he stepped back.

Chair found herself experiencing her own loss for words, her mouth suddenly feeling as if it had been jammed with glue and sawdust as they both regarded each other for a terse moment.

Modo Shifted self-consciously from one foot to the other, his tail beginning to flick then jerk nervously across the dusty hall floor .As Chair continued to stand frozen in place without saying anything, the silence between them gradually lengthening until he couldn't take it any longer.

"Goodnight Chair-ma'am …I'll see you in the morning. "He blurted glancing fleetingly into Chair's eye's before he turned and headed rapidly back down the stairwell.

Chair continued to stand in the empty corridor starring as Modo's retreating form disappeared from sight down the stairs, her heart giving another one of those oddly concerning flutters, which had been occurring more and more often when she was around the sweet tempered Martian.

She finally turned away from the empty hall only dimly aware of opening and closing her apartment door then leaning her back against the flimsy peeling wood.

Chair stood staring out into the sparsely furnished room in front of her in thought without really seeing it, the unsure expression that had etched itself onto Modo's features at her freeze up tugging at her…

but she really hadn't known how to react, there was definitely more to the cheek brushing and tail thing then she had originally picked up on. It seemed innocent enough… but in that instant with her heart still echoing the odd rhythm from moment before it suddenly felt much more profound to her.

"Oh Gee-gee what am I getting myself into here." Chair whispered out loud in sudden trepidation, as she finally openly admitted to herself that she was developing a serious crush on the burly biker.

Chair slowly stepped away from the door making her way over to the small kitchen area to start putting away her purchases, carefully beginning to unload the small bag, while trying not to freak out over her recent self-epiphany.

Chair's stomach churned with nerves while she attempted to distract herself with the menial task to no avail, completely aware that she was starting to walk a dangerously thin line when it came to how she felt about her grey furred alien friend.

In a way it was actually terrifying when Chair thought about how easy it would actually be to just let go, and fall for him. There was just something about how sweet and attentive the big male was, coupled up with all that adorable bashfulness that she couldn't help but find charming;

If Chair really was going for complete honesty with herself at this point the only thing even remotely holding her back from seriously considering pursuing anything further than friendship with Modo… was the fact that he wasn't human.

The confusion Chair was experiencing over her current thoughts and emotions wasn't nearly as racking as the guilt that hit her over just how small minded and bigoted that line of thinking made her… especially taking into account how certain people had treated her over the years…but it really wasn't Modo's appearance that was hanging her up.

Honestly after she had gotten over her initial shock at meeting him and the others because holy crap aliens,and then spending so much time around them Chair hardly noticed or thought about it.

Even with the differences that existed between their facial structures and humans. The expressions the mice made, and the way they acted just made them seem like a couple of regular guys. I'll be it huge, hairy, ridiculously buffguys with tails.. but still just guys.

All things considered, physically wise they had a lot in common with human males (heck they were better built than most really, seeing as they all sported musculature worthy of male calendar models) So Chair definitely could say she found Modo attractive in that sense.

but… for all the similarities that did exist between them, at the end of the day he was still a completely different species… and Chair honestly didn't know where that left her.

Where the mice even attracted to humans at all …If Vinnie's behavior around Charley was anything to go by then maybe... but that didn't necessarily mean Modo felt the same way about human females himself… let alone her.

Hell she didn't even know if they were going to remain on earth… from the way they talked about Mars She didn't think so…

And if by some far flung chance it did all magically work out between her and Modo. An things began to progress the way they do in a relationship …even taking into account that she wasn't exactly some frail toothpick… there was such a big size difference between her and the nearly seven foot Martian, Would they even be capable of…?

Chairs mind immediately shied away from that line of thought, chalking the whole thing up into the realm of (HERE BE BIG ASS FURRY DRAGONS!) As she slammed her cabinet door shut in frustration, at herself for even remotely entertaining those particular types of thoughts when it came to the burly male.

Modo was her friend, one of the best ones she'd ever had and while Chair recognized that she was developing feelings for him, at the end of it all she really didn't want to risk screwing up what they already had by trying to push for more, Especially when she didn't even know if they could have any form of future together.

Chair leaned her head against her hand miserably a moment before turning in the direction of the small bathroom. Hopefully a hot shower would help her, clear her head of… whatever this thing between her and Modo was before she made herself sick by overthinking it.

[Two days later]

"Ok try taking two steps to the left and then making the quarter turn I showed you to the right look out that you don't …"Chair cringed internally as Charley suddenly lost her balance and fell in a rather undignified heap onto the garage floor.

"Ouch!" Charley muttered rubbing at her bruised posterior. "That's definitely tougher than it looks." Charley commented turning to look at Chair as she did.

"It took me a couple years to master it myself" Chair replied with a laugh bending down to help the auburn haired mechanic up from where she was currently sprawled on the cement floor.

" Pssshhtt! What could be so hard about learning a few fancy dips and spins?" Vinnie said dismissively as he glanced over from where he and the other two mice where currently engaged in a game of darts. Somehow still managing to hit the target almost head on, in spite of facing the opposite direction as he released his grip on the dart he was holding.

The action earned him a sour look from Throttle as the white furred male, momentarily beat out his current score. The sound of another dart burrowing its self solidly into the board drew Vinnies attention back to the game as the Martian leader suddenly threw his own dart and hit the target dead center effectively winning the game.

Much to the other two Mice's obvious displeasure as they both glared over at the tan furred male, who merely barred his teeth in a smug grin in response to their muteness stares.

Chair and Charley both shared an annoyed look before glaring over in the white mouse's direction at the comment. Chair suppressed the flare of anger that shot through her, at Vinnie's casual brush off of all the hard work and time it actually took to master a particular set of dance moves.

" All right tough guy if it's so easy let's see you do it." Chair said in sudden challenge, while narrowing her eyes in irritation at the Martian male.

Vinnie glanced over at her in surprise his ears twitching slightly as he picked up on the aggravated note creeping into Chairs voice, before his eyes slid slowly over to an equally vexed Charley who merely crossed her arms and began tapping one foot impatiently as she watched him.

" Well? You herd her hotshot let's see it… Unless after all that you're just all talk and no game?" Charley added tauntingly as she raised one eyebrow in his direction.

" Ah well…ah? That is…" Vinnie started suddenly looking nervous as he realized the mess he had just created for himself, before trying to cover his flub with his usual brashness.

"And just why would a prime hunk of Macho Mousiness like myself, stoop to doing something like that?" He asked crossing his own arms and shooting a cocky look back in both females direction.

"Well?" Chair hedged a moment catching Charley's eye and grinning wickedly as a thought suddenly occurred to her.

" You know… some earth females actually find it Impressive when a males a good dancer." She said coyly glancing over at the white mouse and waiting to see if he'd take the bait like she thought he would.

" Please! I am one of the fastest males this side of Orion's belt. I don't need fancy footwork to impress the ladies, when I've got my reputation for Speed!" Vinnie replied smugly his face breaking out in a self-assured grin, and completely missing the equally wide Smile that suddenly split Chairs face at his response.

" Well… considering most of them associate it with a male's skills in the bedroom…I'm not sure speed is actually the thing you would want to bring to mind in that instance… but if it is… I guess maybe what you're going for is honesty then." Chair said with a casual shrug her eyes sparkling with barley veiled humor, as Vinnie broke off from whatever he was going to say in response with a startled sputter as he starred over at her in shock.

Chair simply grinned back as Charley, Throttle and Modo roared with sudden laughter at the young mouse's flabbergasted face.

"Its ok Vin." Chair suddenly added her expression rapidly shifting from mischievous to sympathetic,

"Your secrets safe with us." She mock whispered while looking over at Charley who was quick to pick up on the teasing carefully schooling her own expression into one of seriousness while nodding back sagely at Chair.

"Definitely" the mechanic replied deadpan.

"We won't tell a soul about your…problem." Chair added with an exaggerated wink in his direction.

Vinnie merely gaped back at the two of them his expression growing steadily more horrified at the implications they were making.

Both Charley and Chair unable to maintain the charade any longer finally broke down and devolved into a fit of giggles and undignified snorts, at his continual flustered face, before they both regained enough control to turn and walk towards the garages living quarters, The sight of them moving away from him finally serving to snap the white furred male out of his frozen state.

" Hey! Wait just a second that's not…"Vinnie called out chasing after the two females as they began heading out of the garage followed closely by a chuckling Throttle and Modo.

Chair helped Charley begin setting out the things for lunch half listening as the other two males continued to rib Vinnie with the occasionally comment on his dance skills ,chuckling to herself at the white furred mouse's growing irritation.

Chair finally decided it would probably behoove them all, if she at least made a token attempt at smoothing things over between her and Vinnie, at least before the mild bruising to his pride caused any real hurt.

"I'm Sorry for giving you such a rough time Vinnie…but you did more or less insult something that I spent years learning to do by reducing it to"

"How did you so eloquently put it?... A few fancy dips and spins." Chair said as she set a couple root beers down on the table as a peace offering, next to where he currently sat his expression sullen as he glanced over in her direction.

Vinnies expression remained sour a few seconds more before he finally glanced between her and the bottles of pop finally giving her a lopsided smile in acceptance at the gesture, as he reached over to grab one of the fizzy soft drinks.

"Well I have to say doll when it comes to hitting below the belt you aren't one to pull your punches, you know that's not exactly something a guy wants to be accused of even jokingly." He said pulling the bottle towards him.

Chair chuckled and grinned without remorse as Vinnie popped the top on the root beer and took a swig.

"Hey just because I don't possess Charley's temper or your butt kicking skills doesn't mean I'm not a force to be feared and reckoned with in my own right you know." She replied snagging her own bottle of soda and wrestling briefly with the top before glaring down at it in frustration when her efforts to open it were unsuccessful.

Vinnie snorted as he took a swig of his own drink and reached over with his tail using the tip to flip the cap of Chair's bottle as she continued to struggle with it.

"I'll keep that in mind." he replied his tone dripping with sarcasm. Chair pretended to glare at him in annoyance, before she gave it up breaking out in a grin and taking a drink of her own root beer.

"You know…I can help by giving you lessons if you want." Chair offered blinking in startled surprise as Vinnie suddenly spewed soda across the table and glanced over at her, his face twisting into a combination of shock and disbelief. The action served to draw the attention of the other two Martians who stared over at them curiously.

Chair looked back at the white mouse in confusion then dawning amusement as realization set in at his reaction.

"Dance lessons…"Chair said slowly trying to keep her voice steady as she fought the urge to laugh, not wanting to further damage his already dented pride when she had been trying to make amends.

Vinnie visibly cringed, his expression becoming chagrined as what she had actually meant sank in.

"I'll think about it." he muttered his ears dipping down as the other two mice caught on to his mistaken inclination and began to snicker audibly. Causing him to flush a vibrant shade of red through his pale fur as he quickly drained the last of his root beer then chunked the empty bottle into the trash without looking at it. The glass clattering musically as it pinged of the sides of the plastic bin.

Vinnie suddenly stood making his way over to where Charley had just finished setting up a tray of hotdogs to take out to the grill surprising the Auburn haired mechanic as he suddenly grabbed it out of her hands and stomped from the room.

"What the heck was that all about?" Charley asked glancing between the other kitchen occupants and the door where Vinnie had disappeared in bewilderment.

"You two are incorrigible." Chair admonished looking over at Throttle and Modo her attempt at scolding losing any real clout as her own eyes sparkled back at them in amusement.

Charley rolled her eyes as Throttle and Modo both gave up on any pretenses at discretion at this and began to laugh out loud.

"Oh honestly you guys do you even realize how long he's going to actually pout if you keep this up." she muttered shaking her head in exasperation at the two males antics as she turned and followed the white furred mouse out of the room.

Chair suppressed a mild tinge of guilt as she took in Charley's comment. "Well she's not wrong on that. I'm not convinced I'm ever going to get him to forgive me at this rate" Chair stated as she glanced over and caught Throttle and Modo's eye.

Throttle grinned back crookedly "Vin's quick to rile up but he'll come round …Once he's had a little time too actually cool off he'll be fine, just give em' a day or so."

Modo snorted wryly at the comment "with his attention span I say just give em' till after lunch." he added with a grin reaching out with his mechanical arm to help steer a doubtful looking Chair out the kitchen door behind a chuckling Throttle.

Lunch was rather uneventful other than Charley threating to tie Throttle and Modo's tails into Pretzels if the continued to rib Vinnie, because she quote " currently had enough to take care of without having to deal with a Sulky mouse baby to boot", the threat serving to effectively halt any more attempts at teasing the white furred male.

The relatively relaxed atmosphere that had settled over the group was broken. while in the middle of helping to clean up the music that had been playing on the radio was suddenly interrupted for an emergency news broadcast.

Announcing a stream of suspected arsine cases that had recently taken place in some of downtown Chicago's districts. The majority of the place's hit had been abandoned but the most current ones had struck in a handful of residential areas although no serious injuries or casualties had been reported yet.

The mice paused in their tasks while sharing a grim look as the end of the report cited business man Lawrence limburger as having opened up a relief shelter to help those dislocated by the loss of their homes due to the spreading fires.

"You know if ole stinkface is involved with this I seriously doubt it's out of the goodness of his heart." Modo commented his tone steely.

Vinnie snorted , "You've got that right lard butts not exactly known for his generosity."

"Come on Bro's. I think it might be time for a little recon work to figure out what our scaly compatriot's level of involvement with this actually is." Throttle added while he and the others headed for the part of the garage were their motorcycles where currently parked.

"Charley-girl you and Chair mind finishing up, while we head out for a little after lunch recreational activity to work of some off the excess?" The tan mouse called over his shoulder even as he and the others climbed onto their bikes and started out of the garage.

"Now hold on just a second you numbskulls!..."Charley yelled as they peeled out

"Damn It!" She swore throwing the plate she had been holding back onto the little folding picnic table they had been using with a clatter and stomping across the room to her own bike snagging a shoulder bag of tools off one of the work benches as she passed it.

"What's going on?" Chair asked curiously as she watched the auburn haired mechanic jam her own helmet on while simultaneously swinging one leg over her own bike.

"Those Macho fuzzbrains took off before I could finish fine tuning some off the new weapons systems I just installed and knowing them, they'll somehow manage to land those furry butts of theirs in hot water if I don't catch up to them to finish the repairs." Charley answered tersely while revving up her bike and heading out after the three Martian males.

"You'd think they'd have learned their lesson the first time they pulled this stunt but…Nooo..." Charley muttered crossly her voice just audible over the sound of the bikes engine as she pulled out of the last chance, Leaving Chair standing awkwardly at the table starring fretfully after her and the others.

"Ok..I'll just tidy up then." Chair said out loud to the empty room.

In spite of her comment Chair actually stood looking down at the table a few minutes longer her gut rolling with unease over the sudden turn of events, before taking a fortifying breath and giving herself a mental shake to snap out of it.

"All Right just standing around doing nothing isn't going to help anything or anyone." Chair mumbled to herself as she gathered up the last of the plates stacking them in the center of the platter that had originally held the hotdogs and lifting the whole thing to carry into the kitchen to get started on the washing.

Four hours later Chair was wishing she had taken a little more time with the lunch clean up, as she paced the confines of the last chance with nothing to distract her from her own thoughts and worry's.

With the exception of the blob monster and a few minor skirmishes involving a handful of petty criminal's things had been relatively peaceful since she had started helping out at the garage. so much so that Chair hadn't felt the need to seriously dwell on the possible consequences of Modo and the others riding off directly into danger in quite some time.

In fact outside of when they announced that they were going on patrol Chair had, hardly felt more than a passing twinge of concern and now here she was her nerves wound so tight, they were practically a ball of knots, while she fought the urge to go to the doors and check for their return for the thousandth time.

Chair paused in surprise as the crackling static of the old Hand radio cut; through the silence of the garage startling her a second before Throttles voice began to come through it in a slightly broken stream.

"Chair if you..et th..s Vin…s coming in hot…Me..an..M..do ..close be..ind..…Charl..y..irl's..hurt ."

Chair felt a chill course down her spine as her brain pieced together the garbled message and the meaning sank in.

The return of the static at the end of the transmission serving to break her from the stupor that had momentarily overtaken her, Chair turned and rushed quickly across the garage towards the entrance hitting the switch for the automatic door just as the sound of a Motorcycle engine reached her ears. Seconds before Vinnies red bike tore through the opening in a cloud of dust flanked closely by Throttle and Modo.

Chair had just enough time to take in the sight of Charley tucked up against the white mouse's chest on the front of the bike. Before he was dismounting and carrying the weakly protesting mechanic out of the garage's work area and into the separate living quarters.

"What happened?" Chair asked looking over at the other two equally grim-faced looking mice in concern as they quickly dismounted from their own bikes and began following after Vinnie.

Modo slowed slightly at Chairs question glancing briefly back at her as he replied.

"One of Vinnies weapons malfunctioned during …our Chat with some of limburgers associates and took down part of one of the buildings we were next to..."

"Charley was half burred under the debris …it took us a will to dig her back out, her ribs are bruised pretty badly possibly cracked" He answered rapidly over his shoulder the look in his eye grave as he continued across the garage in the direction of the den.

Modo left out that, Charley had been frightened and in enough pain when it happened that even without direct contact between them, He and the others were able to pick up on it While they were in the process of trying to reach her… or that she had lost consciousness towards the end, severing the connection and leaving them in the dark on her condition. Freaking all of them out… Vin especially until they pulled her out and saw she was still breathing.

Chair flinched at the news pausing a second in her pursuit of the bikers as a thought occurred to her, and she suddenly veered off in the direction of the little nook Modo had taken her to when he had removed the splinter from her palm what felt like ages ago.

"Where are you going?" Modo asked in surprise as Chair suddenly turned and took off in the opposite direction.

"First aid kit." was the only response she gave as she rounded the corner to retrieve it.

"Oh." he replied as Chair came back out carting the kit, heading back in their direction. Modo quickly stepped to the side allowing her to precede him into the garages living quarters behind Throttle.

Chair didn't know what she had been expecting when she entered the den but the sight of Vinnie in the middle of the room the look on his face lost, as he stood holding a rather subdued Charley alternately rubbing his cheek and chin softly across the top of her head. The methodical nuzzling action seeming as much about comforting him as it was Charley as he glanced between the door and the couch in indecision …wasn't it.

Chair froze in the doorway as his gaze landed momentarily on her, before shifting down to the kit in her hands his expression becoming one of obvious relief as he moved towards the couch to gently settle the auburn haired mechanic down on it.

Coming back to herself Chair quickly made her way across the room crouching on the floor beside the white mouse as he gently laid Charley down on the couch.

"It's not that bad." Charley croaked out her voice raspy, Vinnie's teeth ground together audibly at this a split second before his mouth flew back open to give a response.

"Didn't I tell you she doesn't like to be fussed over; she really makes a terrible patient." Modo quickly interjected directing the comment at Chair and cutting off what she was sure was a doozey of a reply, from Vinnie.

Vinnie shot an irritated glare over his shoulder at the grey furred male for the interruption, as he snapped his mouth shut on whatever he was about to say. Before directing his attention back to the injured female stretched out on the sofa once more.

Vinnie started to reach out, and then hesitated with his hand hovering over the edge of Charley's denim work shirt as he glanced towards Chair and back towards the injured mechanic obviously asking for assistance.

(Ok I guess checking for injuries does fall under the girl code somewhere) Chair directed internally with bleak humor as she took the white mouse's Que.

Chair glanced over towards Charley's face for permission then reached out and gently tugged the edge of it up at the mechanics small nod of assent.

Chair cringed at the sight of the dark almost black bruises covering the exposed skin of the Charley's torso Unable to help the small gasp that escaped her even as Vinnie barked out a word she didn't recognize. While Throttle and Modo tensed visibly to the side of them and muttered something anxiously in what sounded like the same language.

Chair numbly released her grip on Charley's shirt letting it fall back into place, as Vinnie moved forward again reaching out as if to scoop her up.

"What are you doing?" Charley asked her tone irritated.

"Hospital." Vinnie bit out his expression strained.

"I already told you before we got here I don't want to go to a hospital." Charley said agitatedly trying to shift away from the white furred Martians reach.

Vinnie froze his expression becoming torn at Charley's growing distress, before he glanced around the room at the others his gaze finally falling back on Chair the look in his eye's almost pleading as he meet hers.

(I really, really hope you're not thinking she's more likely to listen to me because I'm female or something.) Chair thought briefly as she took a steadying breath while trying to work out the best way to convince the headstrong mechanic of the necessity of a trip to the hospital, a spike of relief hitting her as Throttle spoke up instead.

"Charley… Vinnies right it looks bad and you could have internal damage…something we can't see." Throttle said his words heavily weighted despite the soft tone he used.

Chair flinched at the look of panic that crossed Vinnies face at the tan mouse's words the white furred Martian's tail suddenly lashing out and snapping one of the legs off of the worn coffee table situated on the rug behind them.

Chair half expected Charley to fly off the handle, over the sudden destruction of her furniture, but to her surprise the auburn haired mechanic actually seemed to deflate after Throttles comment.

All of the fight going out of her as she stared around the room at the group of concerned and worried faces. Her gaze finally settling back on Vinnie as he stared back intensely his posture ridged.

"Alright." she finally said watching as some of the tension visibly left Vinnie's body as he leaned forward and carefully lifted her back up.

"But I'm footing your furry behinds the bill." She added with a little bit more of her usual vigor.

Vinnie gave a forced chuckle at this "Whatever you say sweetheart." He said his attempt at his regular brazen tone falling flat with the worry still written on his face as he tucked her back against his chest again. Before heading back out of the room followed closely by Throttle and Modo, with Chair trailing behind as they re-entered the garage once more.

"Hold on a second there hotstuff. You can't take me." Charley said before Vinnie could head in the direction of the bikes.

Vinnie paused his tail flicking in agitation as he looked down at Charley obviously about to protest. Halting as she suddenly reached up and placed her fingers over his mouth to stop his response.

" I'm still going but you can't exactly go waltzing in with me yourself. At least not without having to answer what I'm sure would be a rather difficult string of questions… and I don't just mean the ones involving how I obtained my injuries." Charley added while angling a pointed glance at his ears.

Vinnies expression became one of helpless frustration as the truth of Charley's statement sank in his grip tightening slightly around the auburn haired mechanic at the sudden realization.

" I can take her." Chair spoke up from where she'd been standing tucked partway behind Modo brushing up against the grey furred Martian as she moved between him and Throttle to reach Vinnie an Charley's side.

Vinnie didn't look completely happy at this but some off the strain left his features as he nodded at her.

"The keys to my truck are on kitchen table." Charley rasped as she starred at Chair gratefully.

"I'll get em'." Modo cut in heading out of the room at a rapid clip. This left the other four standing (or held in Charley's case) awkwardly for a minute before Throttle stepped in.

" right let's see about getting Charley-girl settled comfortably." he said moving across the garage in the direction of the pickup his words serving to snap the other two able bodied members of the group back into action.

"I'm going to go grab a pillow or two off the couch." Chair said heading in the direction of the den, passing an emerging Modo who paused and watched quizzically as she went back through the doors.

Less than five minutes later Charley was propped in the passenger seat with an old throw draped across her lap, and a handful of cushions to try to prevent her from jarring against the truck door during the ride.

Charley wrinkled her nose irritably as Vinnie hovered over her, trying (ineptly) to adjust the cushions around her. Until she finally shooed him away in exasperation softening the action slightly by reaching out before he could move back all the way and gently scratching her fingers along the underside of his jaw. The white mouse paused then shifted slightly so that his cheek pressed into her hand for the barest instant as he leaned part way through the open window before pulling back to stare intently back at her.

Chairs heart ached a bit at the interaction between the two as she hauled herself up into the driver's side. The sound of the door clicking into place as Throttle shut it behind her effectively breaking the two out of the moment they had been sharing.

Vinnie blinked and took a hesitant step back his eyes never leaving Charley even as Chair started up the engine and backed out of the garage heading in the direction of the nearest hospital.

Chair glanced briefly between the injured mechanic and the rearview mirror her lips pressing into a bleak line at the glimpse she caught of the three forlorn figures momentarily outlined in the doorway of the last chance as she pulled away.

Nearly six hours later Chair was on her way back to the last chance with a slightly loopy pain medicated mechanic in tow. Having phoned ahead to let the guys know Charley's condition her ribs where seriously bruised but thankfully not actually cracked or broken. Although Modo was right and Charley made for a terrible patient.

On top of fussing about whether or not all the initial tests they had run where absolutely necessary. The stubborn mechanic had flat out refused the hospitals staffs suggestion of remaining for additional observations that night. Insisting that if she wasn't at deaths door. They just give her a handful of Happy pills to get her through the worst of the healing and send her on her merry way.

Chair had barley been able to hold back her laughter at the poor Doctors flustered expression at the fiery women's continued insistence that she would be fine in a few days' time with just a little extra rest in between jobs.

Honestly if it weren't for the fresh memory of the bruises coating her lower abdomen and chest Chair Could almost have believed her.

In the end the staff on duty had begrudgingly granted her request wrapping her ribs then giving her a shot of some pain medication or another, and a small bottle of hydrocodone. With the instructions to take two every couple of hours to keep the worst of the discomfort at bay, adding that she was not to drive or operate heavy equipment while on it.

Even with the help of one of the male orderly's Chair still had a doozey of a time getting Charley back out to the truck as whatever they had given her for the pain took effect, and the usually level headed mechanic began to list and sway as if she had just finished a night of heavy drinking.

All the while alternately humming and singing slightly off key with the Elvis Presley song that had been playing softly over the speakers in the hospitals waiting room. until they had finally managed to usher her out the doors and into the passenger side of the waiting vehicle. Charley had then begun to nod off almost immediately as they headed out of the hospital parking lot.

Chair glanced over at Charley's slack face as she dozed against the cool glass of the trucks window before turning her attention back to the road as she rounded the corner of the street that would lead them to the last Chance.

"He likes you..You know." Charley's voice suddenly cut clearly through the silence causing Chair to startle and swerve slightly as she looked back over at the auburn haired mechanic.

"Who?" Chair asked with confusion as she glancing at Charley curiously out of the corner of her eye while still trying to watch the road in front of her.

"Modo." Charley said looking steadily back at Chair.

Chair eased her foot off the gas pedal the vehicle slowing as her heart gave a small flutter accompanied by a persistent ach at the mechanics words.

"I know." she finally answered softly without looking back at her.

"Well…You going to do anything about it?" Charley finally asked after an extended silence had stretched between them.

Chair pursed her lip at the question keeping her eyes aimed purposefully at the road ahead.

"You going to do anything about Vinnie?" Chair countered curtly in place of an answer.

Charley narrowed her eyes then snorted, "To Fucking shay" she grumbled dryly while turning to look back out the window at the passing scenery, surprising Chair with her out of character use of the harsh profanity.

Unable to stomach the dragging silence that filled the truck after her own snippy reply, Chair puffed out a breath and pulled the truck over to the curb letting it idle for a minute. Running her fingers through her hair and dislodging the last of the disheveled curls from what remained of the bun she'd attempted to secure them in at the start of the day. Chair tried to sort through the mess of her current thoughts before turning to face Charley once more.

I..I don't know ok …It's complicated … I'm afraid of screwing things up..and getting hurt or hell hurting him and …its just …damn it! I don't have a clear answer because I don't KNOW …Ok She said banging her hand on the steering wheel then throwing herself back in the seat and looking up at the ceiling in frustration.

Charley continued to stare at Chair in silence after her outburst a few more minutes, her own expression indecipherable.

"Yeah...I get it." Charley responded despondently after a moment her gaze shifting to the dirt covered floor of the cab.

"I get it." she repeated as Chair stared over at her.

Chair released another ragged breath guilt suddenly eating at her for snapping, at the younger women while she was injured and under the influence of whatever the hell they'd given her at the hospital.

Chair hesitantly reached over to pat Charley's arm gently in comfort, while racking her brain for a way to break through the strained tension that had sprung up between them after the awkward confrontation.

"Men." Chair finally interjected wryly in an attempt at humor. Watching as Charley slowly allowed the ghost of a smile to curl the edges of her lips in acknowledgment of Chair's attempt at a truce poor as it was.

"Mice" the younger women responded with a small roll of her eyes, as a moment of mutual understanding passed between them, over the situations they faced with the males in their lives.

With that particularly uncomfortable discussion behind them Chair pulled back out on to the road with the thought that the ins and outs of relationships were already hard enough to figure out … without the guys literally having to be from a different planet as well.