(W.W.T.) Sorry about the length of time it's taken for me to post this Chapter. I've been a bit under the weather and have had a lot going on. I am feeling a bit better now though and hopefully it won't take me so long with the next Chapter. Forever ago I ran across a bit of information that said that the writers for Bmfm series. Had briefly considered adding in a mention of Modo previously being married in the 90's series, but since it only ran for three seasons it never happened. Now whether or not that's true or if it was just a fan-based rumor I'm not sure, but it sparked the idea for some of the background parts for this fic. That I will slowly be leading up to in future chapters, and that I start dropping some bigger hints at for in this one. I would like to leave a shout out to everyone who left reviews to let me know they were enjoying the story and a special thank you to Youkai55 for being an all around good friend and for messaging to check up on me when I wasn't feeling so great.

Disclaimer: Bmfm not mine My Oc and the concept for this story however are, I make no money from this, it is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter 11 (Memories and Love Among the Ruins)

Modo stood on the shifting red sands starring over the rolling expanse of the Mars, as the lights of the double moons that were known by the names Phobos and Deimos on earth. Shown down on the surface casting the rock scattered landscape into a surreal twilight.

The prickling sense of something not quite right with the scene played at the back of his mind, as he continued to take in the sight of his home planet with an odd feeling of detachment. The noticeable absence of shadows coupled with the lack of wind or movement of any kind finally served to clue him into the fact that it wasn't real.

The night dark sky suddenly changing to light with no discernable shift in the positions of the twin moons, only further cemented the fact that this was happening solely in his mind. Modo felt the nearly overwhelming need to turn and run, as seemingly from out of nowhere an agonizingly familiar cave entrance sprang up before him.

But as was often the case in most of the dreams he had that started like this he found he had no real control over the course of his next actions, and despite the small portion of his consciousness that fought to halt his forward progress.

He found himself walking into the opening to a cave he had slowly and painstakingly hollowed out, and widened by hand over the course of several months with help from Throttle and Vinnie.

Modo reached out his arm unable to stop it any more than his forward momentum and felt his hand move of its own vocation to trace the double initials carved against the wall there as he passed by them.

An ever increasing sense of dread forcing the realization that it was his actual right arm and not the mechanical replacement doing the tracing to the back of his thoughts, as his feet continued to drag him further into the underground cavern against his will.

The main room came into view much sooner then he recalled and Modo's forward progress came to a stop as he stepped out into the center of it, a heavy weighted and unnatural silence pressing in on him from the seemingly empty space. Until it was suddenly broken by the repetitive creak of a rocking chair, he knew by heart. Having carved it like the cave himself.

"Took your ass long enough to get home." a wry humor laced voice intoned warmly behind him causing Modo's heart to clench painfully in his chest his eyes stinging as he closed them and took in a sharp breath before the owner of the voice's name came choking out of him on a gasp.

"Kioni". The knowledge that he was in a dream did nothing to stop him as he jerked as if shot and spun wildly about to cast his gaze around in search of them.

But the surrounding walls of the cave disappeared replaced by a pile of rubble he recognized as the building that had come crashing down on top of Charley. The urge to locate the owner of the voice suddenly replaced by the driving need to reach the trapped mechanic caused Modo to stumble towards the heap of debris and start digging with abandon.

The grey furred male released a small cry of shock as he cleared the last section of crumbled brick and drywall, and was greeted not by the denim clade form of the Auburn haired mechanic as he remembered.

But by the body of a smaller softly curved human female possessing a thick fall of gold curls, which instead of being pinned up in their usual haphazard way, were currently spread out around her in an ever growing pool of red that rapidly soaked and stained the previously golden tresses a dirty rust color.

The chilling sight caused another dismayed cry to break involuntarily from him as he reached for her only for his hands to connect with nothing but hard packed soil. As she seemed to suck right down beneath it a fraction of a second before he could grab her.

Modo clawed frantically at the dirt his fingers digging painfully into the hard compacted surface. Panic driving him as the scent of blood filled his nostrils so strong he was almost gagging on the metallic taste of it.

A frustrated snarl that was part sob escaped him as he gnashed his teeth together and continued scratching and raking his hands across the ground until his nails splintered, and snapped.

Giving up on the futile scrapping Modo curled his hands into fists and started to rain down blows upon the unscathed surface with hammering force. A low grunt of pain escaping him with every connecting strike.

Modo pitched forward headfirst on a downward strike as the ground beneath him suddenly dissolved to be replaced by a void less abysses with no discernable top or bottom.

Trepidation drug an Icey trail down his spin as he subconsciously realized what was coming a second before the voice of a small child floated to him from the darkness

" Uncle Modo! Help!"

" PRIMER!" Modo shouted his head whipping from side to side in search of the source.

Only to have his shout returned in place by the distant warbling cry of a newborn, that seemed to pour from nowhere and everywhere at once, as he hung suspended in the inky blackness.

A debilitating spike of agony shot through his heart at the sound, his breath freezing momentarily in his lungs before bursting out in a tortured rush.

Modo fell forward a pained cry leaving his throat in a wordless bark of sound, as his feet slipped off the stool he'd had them propped against while he dozed, and crashed down on the concrete floor below, connecting with enough force to cause a spider web of cracks to appear beneath his boots.

He gasped brokenly his breath coming in harsh pants as he regained his bearings and swallowed the second shout that had lodged itself in his throat. Looking around as the gloomy interior of the garage slowly came back into focus.

Modo tried to shake the ominous sense of foreboding that still clung to the edges of his subconscious as the last vestiges of the disturbing nightmare faded away.

While he knew some mice were gifted with higher senses of intuition than others, bordering almost on the power of premonition. He had never really been one of them…although he had occasionally wondered about Throttle, as the tan mouse at times possessed an almost uncanny foresight, when it came to knowing which tactical strategies where likely to have the best results in their fights with the enemy.

Modo took another steadying breath lifting up his left hand to Shakely scrub it across his face, before he glanced up at the top of the stairs, and flinched at the sight of Charley's bedside lamp clicking on.

The whispering rustle of blankets and the soft pad of bare feet banishing any remaining hope that he hadn't woken her even before the outline of her silhouette came into view.

"Modo? …You ok?" Charley rasped sleepily as she made her way slowly down the stairs towards him. Pausing on the bottom step and watching quizzically, as the nearly seven foot four hundred pound Martian fidgeted and shifted uncomfortably under her close scrutiny.

"Yeah...Sorry.. Charley-Ma'am just… had a bit of a …bad dream..I guess …Sorry I woke you." He muttered not meeting her gaze. Charley slowly blinked as she stared at him a moment longer,

before glancing down to take in the array of cracks in the smooth concrete spreading out from his boots, Her brow furrowing as she reached up and ran a hand through her already mussed hair at the sight.

" Must have been some nightmare." Charley mumbled " Geeze..first my work bench now my floor…"

Modo looked up at her sheepishly and flinched at the reminder as he recalled the destruction of the bench in question, his mind trailing back to the events of earlier that day. But In his defense Charley had honestly frightened him when she had called out that Chair was hurt.

The implications of the accident prone Chair being injured while she was in a room full of Sharp, superheated and potentially combustible objects had run amuck with his imagination, As he had made his mad sprint across the room stomping Vinnie's tail and somehow plowing over and completely demolishing the heavy wooden bench in the process.

He'd smashed Vinnies tail hard enough that Charley had actually gone to the trouble to wrap and splint the bruised limb with supplies from the first aid kit that Throttle had thoughtfully carried in with him as he trailed into the kitchen behind the grey Martian (much to the flustered Modo's relief) at the same time he had set about trying to check Chair.

Who had insisted adamantly that it was just a minor burn and nothing to really fuss over. While trying to tug her injured limb out of his grip and shooting slant eyed glares at Charley the entire time. Until increasingly agitated and wanting to assure himself she was still relatively in one piece he had cut her off mid protest.

Modo suffered another flash of discomfort as his mind once more played back over the conversation that had followed

" I've had burns before and just because they weren't that bad didn't make em' hurt any less. Now… hold still and let me see!," He had gritted out in almost a growl, His words coming out uncharacteristically sharp with her.

The stunned silence that fell over the room at his outburst had caused Modo to cringe internally as everyone temporarily froze awkwardly for a second.

before rapidly starting to go about their tasks with rabid fervor while trying to look anywhere but in his and Chair's direction. Modo had braced himself and glanced up from his inspection of her blistered flesh to take in her reaction.

His contrite gaze meeting Chair's wide-eyed one as her mouth hung slightly open while she stared at him in shock. Modo had cringed again admitting to himself that- that probably hadn't been the best response on his part.

But his worry for her coupled with his frustration from the botched conversation earlier hadn't exactly left him in the best frame of mind.

"Sorry…that came out wrong." he mumbled reaching up with his tail to gently close her mouth as she continued to gape at him.

Chair slowly blinked then blinked again as she regarded him silently another moment before finally nodding her head mutely at him in response.

"Thats..it's..ok" she said a few minutes later after a slight hesitation.

Her carefully blank expression and neutral tone had let him know that despite her words and the fact that he was a mouse, and not a canine he could probably count himself in the doghouse for the next little while.

A soft touch from Charley pulled Modo from his memories and caused him to jump slightly as the concerned mechanic reached out to gently cup his cheek. "Modo?"….are You sure you're ok? She murmured in concern as her eyes searched his.

Realizing that charley knew him to well and wasn't going to be put off without a real answer. Modo reached his hand up, and gently tugged hers away from his cheek giving it a gentle squeeze before releasing it.

"No", he finally replied looking down at his mechanical hand without really seeing it his gaze distant in thought. Charley waited a moment as she took in his reply the silence between them stretching as he stared down at his lap without elaborating further.

" Oh Modo" Charley finally whispered her heart aching as she studied the miserable pain filled expression on his face, Before she moved forward and wrapped her arms around his neck.

A somber smile touching her lips as the large male after only a seconds hesitation reached up to gently return the embrace, Mindful of her injured ribs.

" I 'll be alright Charley ...just a few old memories an Ghosts coming to call." he whispered softly his gaze slowly turning distant. "…I'm… not really up for talking about it right now…"

Charley didn't need psychic abilities to pick up on anguish in his voice. But she wasn't sure what to say in response to it. Settling instead for tightening her arms around him further, in the hopes that the action would offer him the comfort she didn't feel her words could at that moment.

They stood that way silently for an indefinable length of time before Charley finally pulled away reaching out to affectionately rub his cheek again as she regarded him.

The mice were so care free and nonchalant most of the time it was easy for her to occasionally forget all the trauma, and hell her guys had been through before she had even meet them. No matter how you put it, War was a truly horrible and painful thing for all those caught in the middle of it.

Charley pursed her lips her expression turning stern, as she studied the grey furred male before her. "If you need anything don't hesitate to call for me alright. I'm here if you need me." she said her tone of voice brooking no arguments. As she watched the large Martians own expression shift to amusement as he stared back at her.

Even with the moroseness of his current mood Modo couldn't help the smile that twisted up the edges of his mouth. In face of the feisty mechanic's steadfast demeanor as she made the offer in all seriousness in spite of the fact. That he was technically supposed to be the one taking care of her at the moment.

"I think that's supposed to be my line." He answered with a low chuckle.

"Whatever …you know what I meant." Charley replied her lips twitching up into a wry smile, even as she rolled her eyes at him.

Modo felt the edges of his mouth curl up again, as he was struck by another rush of affection for the fiery and quick witted earth female who had become like another sister to him.

"Thanks Charley- I appreciate it." He replied his tone serious

"You're welcome big guy." She said her voice and expression a mirror of his.

"well.. Goodnight again." Charley said after a brief moment of silence had stretched between them.

Charley slowly started up the stairs to her room once more. Stopping as she reached the second one from the top to glance back at the male below.

" Modo?..I really do mean it..I'm here if you need me.. any of you." She said sincerely as she stared down at him.

"We know Charley girl." Modo replied with a warm smile that the auburn haired mechanic returned before heading up the last two steps to once more return to bed.

Modo resituated himself with his feet propped up on the bar stool once more, leaning back while listening to the sounds of Charley resettling into bed. Despite the heavy droop of his own eyelid coupled with the drained feeling he experienced in the wake of his dream. He had a pretty good hunch sleep would still be a long time returning that night.

[Chair]

Chair paced the small confines of her apartment for what had to be the twentieth time in the last ten minutes and glanced once more towards the small cardboard box were her clock perched. The time displayed in glowing red glaring back at her and only further digging in the fact that Modo was over half an hour late to get her.

Chair tried to tamp down on the worry eating away inside her over this but in the time since he'd started picking her up, Modo had never really shown up more than a minute or two late to get her.

Chair took a calming breath and tried to remind herself that there was probably a perfectly logical explanation for the grey furred males' tardiness in coming to get her this morning.

A small petty part of her that she didn't really want to acknowledge was also annoyed at his lateness over the fact that she'd spent a little more time with her appearance this morning than on previous occasions.

Nothing extreme but despite the difficult with her burnt and bandaged hand. She had gone to the actual trouble to tame her wild frizz of hair into a semblance of a style.

Smoothing and carefully rolling it into an actual bun, while leaving a few of strands to gently frame her face. Instead of yanking it up into the loose haphazard twist she usually put it up in to keep it out of her face.

"Where is he" she whispered before walking over to stare out of her apartment's only window. More simply for something to do than for the actual view seeing as it only offered one of the crumbling and graffiti marked wall of the building next door, but it beat making another lap of her nearly claustrophobic living space.

Chair didn't really know why she'd decided to take the extra time to fix herself this morning, but blamed it in part on her conversation with Charley the previous evening and her growing feelings for the Martian behemoth.

And after the uncomfortable tension of the previous evening she was also hoping to get this morning off to a better start for her and the grey furred male.

despite her initially hurt feelings over his unusually curt response with her while he'd treated her burn, after she'd had some time to think on it it hadn't really been so much harsh or out of line as it had been out of character for him.

And if she was truly being honest with herself she really hadn't been hurt by the terseness of his response so much as unsettled.

Although that hadn't made the following meal any less tense or awkward for everyone, In fact the whole afternoon had pretty much been rather botched after that. It had been a tremendous relief when the day had come to a close and Modo dropped her off at her apartment without his usual offer to walk her to her door.

Stating instead that he needed to go ahead and get back to the garage to keep an eye on Charley. He had waited a few seconds to watch her walk up the steps to the building, before turning Hoss around with a loud rev and tearing down the street in the opposite direction.

Chair crossed her arms around her middle suddenly worried for a different reason and wondered if perhaps he was actually mad at her, over how things had ended between them in the kitchen, when she had cut him off the day before.

A knock on the door had Chair jerking in surprise before she turned to hurry across the room to fling the door open in relief. " Bout time I was starting to think you'd forgotten Me—Vinnie?" Chair trailed off in surprise as she took in the white furred male standing in the hall.

" Morning Doll" Vinnie started only to halt midway through as Chair reached out and snagged him by the bandoleers to yank him down to her level. "Where is he?! IS HE OK!?" She half shouted panic suddenly eating at her as she clung to the criss-crossed straps on his chest.

"HYNKK! Gah! Easy there doll." Vinnie choked out reaching up to pry her vice like grip off his duds.

" He's fine He was just still sawing logs, when we got to the garage this morning and Charley asked us to let him sleep a little longer is all. Something about him having a rough night and not getting much rest." Vinnie replied rubbing at his chest.

"So lucky you. I volunteered and you get yours truly for your studly Martian taxi service today." He finished with a cocky grin and a waggle of his eye ridges. Chair completely unfazed by Vinnie's usual flirty teasing, breathed a sigh of relief that the switch up wasn't because Modo was injured or sick.

"Volunteered?" she asked relaxing and raising one eyebrow at the suddenly uncomfortable looking male.

"Well maybe saying I volunteered is stretching it a bit more like I was volunteered/told to pick you up by a certain green-eyed and fierce tempered mechanic .Since Throttle had already offered to help get breakfast started… Lucky bugger" He muttered glancing to the side and scratching sheepishly at the end of his nose. Chair couldn't help the laugh that escaped at the put out expression that flitted across the white furred males face as he finished.

Vinnie narrowed his eyes at her briefly before tossing the spare helmet he'd brought with him towards a startled Chair who scrambled to catch it." Come on Doll let's get this show on the road. I don't know about you, but I'm starving and the sooner I get you back to the garage. The sooner I get to eat" he said an almost shark like smile spreading across his face as he stood before her.

The show on the road expression had a ring of familiarity to it. That sparked a vague memory for Chair of Modo saying something along the same lines to her one of the first times he'd picked her up from her apartment,

But the familiar statement coming from the white furred male before her, failed to incite the same feeling of comfortable reassurance for her. AS she stared down at the smooth and slightly reflective surface of the helmet in her grip before looking up at Vinnie's retreating back with a sudden sinking sensation in the pit of her guts.

What seemed like an impossibly short time later they pulled up in front of the last Chance Vinnie somehow having cut the usual fifteen minute ride down to a mere seven. All the while complaining about how he could have made it in three, if he hadn't had to slow down, Because Chair kept screaming at him.

Chair herself slide bonelessly of the back of the insane speed demons bike and attempted to pry off her helmet with fingers that wouldn't stop shaking. While listening to the white furred male lament about his botched record as her stomach rolled and pitching like a ship at sea.

Chairs gaze was suddenly hampered by a furred chest as the mouse in question paused in front of her in concern" uh doll you ok?" Realizing what was about to transpire and Mentally apologizing in advance, Chair barley managed to get her fingers to cooperate enough for her to pry off the helmet just in time to prevent spewing inside it, But was unfortunately was only able to bark out a hasty "Vin! Mov-" Before she gagged and heaved violently all over his boots.

The following sound of the Martians males' rather un-masculine sounding shriek of disgust rang throughout the room. Almost simultaneously with the action, and temporarily drowned out the noise of Chairs violent retching.

Twenty minutes a slew of apologies, a bucket of cleaner, and a round with a spare toothbrush later. A still queasy Chair sat at her desk trying to concentrate on taking down a message from a rather rude and disgruntled customer.

Who despite the early hour and the fact that it was well before the garages opening time had continued to call repeatedly. A dull ache began to pulse behind her eyes as the man on the other end of the phone line droned on.

Chair tried to console herself with the thought that at least Modo had still been asleep when they had first arrived, and she had been spared the indignity of giving him a front row seat as she had ralphed her guts up all over Vinnie.

Gingerly Chair reached up with her bandaged hand to rub at her throbbing temples as she fought against the urge to snap in annoyance at the irate man on the phone,

Whom she had already spoken with on three separate occasions the day before as he once more told her, in great length how displeased he was with the new time frame she'd given him for the repairs he had wanted done on his vehicle.

She was certain he was just trying to wheedle some form of discount out of her, but Charley had already had her cut the cost in half once for him already. On top of explaining that he was welcome to pay and pick up the parts he had already ordered at any time, and to take them elsewhere to be installed.

But he apparently felt he should have the parts themselves for free along with a free installation and angry that Chair wouldn't give into his demands. Had resorted to some rather vulgar descriptive terms of what he thought of her.

" I'm sorry you feel that way sir, but the remaining cost of the parts is nonnegotiable. The last chance is already taking a cut on the profits as it is.

"If you still have a problem with this and would like to discuss it with the owner. As I previously mentioned I can take a message and have her contact you at a later date, when she's had a bit more time to recover from her accident."

"But I am afraid that may not be for some time yet though and-." Chair pulled the phones receiver away from her ear, as her response was met with a new barrage of colorfully crude words. Several in orders she had never previously heard before and would have never imagined on her own.

She glanced up as Throttle entered the room and walked over to set a small plate of apple slices on the edge of the desk.

Chair stared curiously at the plate a moment, then up at the tan mouse her eyes questioning as she angled the receiver further away from her ear.

"Courtesy of the big guy. He's still waking up but he mentioned to Charley that you liked these, and thought it might be easier on your stomach than our usual fare." Throttle said shooting Chair a crooked smile, right before his ears twitched slightly and his gaze narrowed sharply at the phone in her hand.

" Problem?" Throttle asked not waiting for a response as he used his tail to pull the receiver from her non protesting grip. Lifting it only a fraction of the way to his own ear before his expression twisted into a dark scowl.

" Listen pal I'm going to hang up, and I recommend if you have even one iota of a brain cell floating around. You don't call back until; you can talk to the lady here with some more respect."

"Because if you don't. Me or one of My Bro's will be more than happy to assist you with the relocation of your parts, and Business somewhere else in a manner very similar to what You just described."

" you feel me?" Throttle intoned ominously before clicking the phone firmly down into its cradle.

"Geeze I hope you don't have to handle calls like that often" he commented with a grimace." No thankfully callers and customers of that particular caliber seem to be few and far between." Chair said leaning back in her seat with a relived sigh idly starting to shift through a stack of papers on her desk.

"But personally I'd rather deal with a dozen guys like Mr. Rude Loud Mouth on the phone any day than the overly friendly handsy fellow that's supposed to be coming in sometime later today." Chair commented absently with a shrug as she rummaged around on the desk.

" Handsy?" Throttle inquired his brow furrowing and his mouth suddenly tightening into a firm line. Chair continued on oblivious to the look as she sorted through stack of papers one handed, while resting her burnt and bandaged one on the desk.

"Yeah I know that's something coming from me. But this guy was a real pervert. He came in week before last if I remember right… brought in the red ford s ten I think. It wasn't initially me he made a go at, but after Charley purposefully dropped a box of tools on his foot he switched tactics and by tactics I mean chicks."

"Unfortunately I didn't have a box of tools handy myself or I think I would have been sorely tempted to bruise his other foot on principle alone. Creep had nearly no concept of manners or personal space and on top of the wandering hands kept trying to look down my shirt while he was filling out the paperwork."

"He's supposed to be in sometime today to pick up his order. So if you hear me screeching it may be because I need one of you to come save my ass. Literally." Chair said wryly a laugh dying in her throat as she looked up and caught sight of Throttles expression.

It suddenly occurred to Chair that she might have just made a mistake sharing that last little tidbit with the Martian male as she watched him grit his teeth in irritation.

"Chair ..have you or Charley mentioned Mr. Handsy to Modo or Vinnie by Chance?" Throttle asked

"well..no or at least I don't think so. I know I haven't and I'm pretty sure it's slipped Charley's mind that he's even coming today what with everything going on."Chair answered.

" I think it might be best for everyone if you don't bring it up around ether of them and let me be the one to give sir hands his parts." Throttle said." Um I'm not sure..I mean I appreciate the offer but what…" Chair started only to halt as Throttle cut her off.

" I'll wear my helmet and tuck my tail," he replied.

"Ok.."Chair replied shifting uncomfortably an scrunching her nose up briefly as she regarded him questioningly.

"Alright I admit Vinnie I kind of get not telling he'd probably have a stroke if he caught somebody making a pass at Charley …but surly it couldn't hurt if Modo knew..I mean-I know he can be kind of protective but…"Chair trailed off unable to picture the large male actually committing an act of serious violence over something so minor as a simple perv even an overly grabby one.

Something in her expression must have given her thoughts away as she noticed the tan mouse's mouth form into a thin line as he watched her.

Throttle realized after a moment that Chair didn't really seem to be grasping the seriousness behind his request to keep the grey furred male in the dark for the time being,

and not really wanting to have to tackle one of his bro's later on in order to protect some sleaze bag from taking a permanent dirt nap, decide he might need to elaborate a bit more.

" Let me put it this way… when you think of Modo you probably just picture him the way he normally is around you .A big tall polite guy who's kinda shy and seems relatively mild mannered. But allow me to bring up a few …things about the Big Guy you might not be aware of…"

" First off - He sews,He has a very big soft spot for kids. He was raised by his mother and older sister to always be courteous to females…"

" He actually has a wicked temper when riled- and despite our nearly stranded status here on earth is still labeled as a class nine alpha security risk by the Plutarkian government. Which believe me if you knew how they rate risks in relation to distance to their home planet is more than a little impressive."

"So I can assure you no matter how sweet you think he is… if he walked in to find some creep with his hands on you."

' They would be six feet in the ground before you could even finish saying laser mounted arm canon." Throttle said watching Chair's eyes widen as she took in his statement the hand holding the papers she had been searching through slowly lowering back to the desk top as she continued to stare at him.

"Modo sews?" She said after a brief silence. Throttle blinked at her in surprise an exasperated snort escaping him as he reached up to rub at the bridge of his nose.

" Out of all that…that's honestly what you zero in on?" He muttered his tone taking on a bewildered edge as he regarded her.. Chair blushed hunching her shoulders while looking down at the papers in her hand to avoid eye contact with him.

"Well you have to admit that is a little bit of a surprising thing to hear." She mumbled back.

"Do I need to worry about you doubting me when it comes to any off the rest of what I just mentioned?" Throttle asked his wry tone just skirting the edge between seriousness and amusement.

"No I suppose not", Chair responded almost sheepishly when put like that it did seem rather naïve and insulting on her part to assume any of the Martian males, who regularly risked life and limb to protect complete strangers, would ever stand idly by if she or Charley were in need of help or protection in any form, even if that protection was just keeping some perverted lurker with wandering hands from putting his on them.

" All right I'm not really sure what time he's supposed to be here but I'll try and get your attention so you can handle things when he does."

" In fact I'm going to go ahead and get the parts ready now just in case…" Chair said as she pushed back away from the table and stood up. "Alright" Throttle said with a small nod before he turned to head out of the room." just remember mums the word till after Mr. dirt bag is gone ok" he called over his shoulder.

" Got it" Chair responded with a distracted wave in his direction as her eyes pursued the shelves in search of the box she needed. Chair cringed not even a minute after he'd left the room as her gaze finally lit on the box in question perched precariously on the next to top shelf well out of her immediate reach.

"Of course" she muttered with dry sarcasm as she glanced around in search of something sturdy enough for her to step up on in order to reach it. Chair briefly contemplated the rolly-chair in front of her desk ,before disregarding it in favor of a much sturdier looking (and more importantly wheel-less) metal bench located not too far for her to slide it with a little extra effort over to where she needed it.

Five minutes later a dismayed Chair realized even with the benches added height the box of parts was still a good four inches out of her reach. After a few minutes of frustrated contemplation Chair decided to throw caution to the wind and climbed up onto the bottom shelf

Reaching above her head for the elusive box her fingers just skimmed across the edge of it, before the shelf she was using as a step creaked then lurched down. Dropping the handful of items it was supporting along with Chair into midair. Chair gave a startled squawk and closed her eyes in anticipation of a jarring impact with the hard cement floor that never happened.

To her surprise instead she felt her body connect with the still hard but slightly more forgiving surface of a firmly muscled chest as two arms closed around her waist to support her weight and keep her from sliding to the floor in an undignified heap. Blinking in surprise Chair squirmed in the grasp as she craned her neck to meet Modo's pained and slightly stressed expression.

" Are you ok ?" he asked his voice coming out slightly strangled as his arms tightened around her subconsciously as he pulled her more firmly against his chest. "Y-yeah..sorry" Chair said embarrassed as much by her own clumsiness as she was at the sudden turn of events.

Chair expected Modo to set her down after the immediate shock wore off, but to her surprise he continued to hold her awkwardly above the ground. As his gaze moved down her body as if double checking to make sure she was in fact unhurt as she claimed.

"Uh-Modo you can put me down now ..if you want." Chair said hesitantly as she looked back at him.

" …And if- I don't want to?" Modo said with only a slight hesitation on his part, as another moment passed and he continued to hold her against him.

Chair's breath hitched in surprise at the unexpected response as Modo's gaze bore into hers.

"Well I'm a bigger gal so I'm sure your arms are bound to get tired eventually." She joked nervously as she shifted slightly to try and reach the floor with her toes. Modo frowned but allowed her to slide down his body using his grip on her middle to steady her until she regained her footing.

" I wish you wouldn't talk about yourself that way." he said as Chair turned to face him.

"Well I'm sure it's obvious to everyone, including you that I'm not exactly a twig" Chair replied finding it easier to concentrate on this aspect of the conversation between them than on his almost blatant flirty comment from minutes before.

"I know you're aware I'm not just big boned here… in fact the three letters used most often to describe me in high school were F.A and T." Chair said depreciatively watching as the large males mouth twisted into a grim line at her comments.

" No your…" Modo started. "What?" Chair interrupted "you want to pretty it up a bit- Chunky? Plump?"

"Perfect." he finished his expression and tone serious as he looked into her eyes.

Chair stilled her eyes widening and her heart clenching in her chest, as she stared back at him in surprise. (Damn it… well there goes almost any chance that remained of me not falling completely in love with you.) Chair thought belatedly her mouth opening and closing again wordlessly as she looked up at him.

Chair blinked then slowly blinked again as she took in the grey furred males statement taking a breath as she tried to gather her thoughts and maybe form a reply, but she found she was unable to string together a coherent one.

Beyond the fact that that might have been the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her, and instead simply blurted."Modo what are we?", as she peered up at him.

Modo paused apparently taken aback by her response but quickly recovered a touch of humor lacing his voice as he replied.

"Well…I'm a Martian Mouse and you're a female earthling…" ending on a chuckle as Chair to narrowed her gaze at him and reached out to sock him lightly on the left arm, before she dropped her arm back down to rub nervously at her pant leg her eyes shifting to the side.

" No what I mean is…what are we?...are we just friends or -what I'm trying to say is.. Gad! I'm really not good at explaining this stuff!. ..Its just..I've been getting some mixed signals lately and I just wanted to know…what exactly we are in relation to each other…."Chair trailed of as she glanced back up to meet Modo's gaze and gauge his reaction to her clumsy and awkward line of questioning.

Modo froze the tip of his tail the only part of him giving anything away as it twitched almost imperceptibly beside his feet, as he stared down at her for what felt like an agonizingly long period of time before speaking.

" What do you want us to be?" He finally asked his expression still unreadable as he regarded her.

Chair swallowed thickly feeling a bit like her tongue had doubled in size as she tried to remember how to form the syllables for a response.

" I like us as friends" Chair started pausing as Modo visibly tensed before she quickly continued" but…I'm open to there being more- between us…if you are" she finished shifting nervously as she waited to see what his response would be.

Modo stilled completely even the subtle twitching of his tail coming to a stop briefly, before a relieved grin broke out across his face his tail moving up to wrap around her waist and tug her towards him. Both of his hands going back to her waist as Chair thrown slightly off balance by the action braced her for arms against his chest.

" I'm definitely open to more." he replied his voice dropping down an octave his words rumbling deep in his chest in a way that she could actually feel against her arms as looked down at her. Chair felt a mild blush tinging her cheeks as she craned her neck to stare up at him. They stood that way silently for a terse minute before Chair finally broke it.

" Alright…now what?"She asked causing the stone furred male to furrow his brow at her.

"Well..?"he hedged." Well..What?" Chair asked a hint of exasperation creeping into her tone.

"Honestly I haven't thought that far ahead." Modo replied sheepishly as he looked down at her.

" You're supposed to kiss her dumbass!" Vinnies voice suddenly cut in behind them.

Chair jerked in surprise and turned to glance over her shoulder towards the garages living quarters were a freshly showered Vinnie leaned against the door frame watching them.

Modo's hands twitched against her sides and his tail tightened around her waist as if in anticipation of her pulling away, while his expression twisted into a long suffering grimace at the interruption.

Chair blinked in surprise as it registered that the white mouse was currently wearing nothing but a towel. His still damp fur sticking out in wet spikes as he continued to lean against the door frame with an amused grin on his face.

"Vinnie I swear I don't even care why the hell your naked ..but you have three seconds to leave before I shoot you starting ..now." Modo growled his right arm coming up to level in the other male's direction.

Vinnie recognizing the seriousness behind the grey furred male's statement, lifted his arms in supplication and began to back out of the room.

"Whoa there ..Well I can see your busy..so I'll just be—Ack!" Vinnie suddenly darted behind the door frame the last of his reply ending on a yelp as a blast mark appeared in the wall next to him.

Chair blinked at the exchange in surprise before looking back up at Modo once more her lips quirking up at the corners in amusement and one eyebrow arched inquisitively as she regarded him.

"You realize Charley's going to be pissed you just put another hole in her wall..right?" She asked.

"Trust me she'd have been madder if I actually gave into temptation and put one in Vin instead." He replied his tone and the look on his face equal parts sour, causing Chair to choke down a laugh at his surly expression.

" I think he had a point though" Modo added as he glanced down at her, realizing what he meant Chair fought down a batch of nerves as she stared up at him.

"I'm not sure about full blown kissing just yet.. I wasn't even sure you guys did..kiss that is –but I guess since he mentioned it you do?..uh well that is..what I mean is- do you?" She finished her gaze suddenly trailing to his mouth curiously.

Modo's furrowed his brow slightly in confusion as he took in the jumbled rambling of her nervous reply "Do we what?"He asked with mild bewilderment.

Chair's cheeks which had already been tinted with a mild blush rapidly shifted to a darker hue as she responded her voice barley a whisper. " Do you kiss?"

Chair felt her pulse speed up at the look that suddenly entered the grey furred male's eye. A slow smile spread across his face as he leaned down towards her. only to halt as Throttle voice suddenly rang out from the other room.

"Vincent…Why the hell are you naked?"

"Oh come on. I'm in a towel!"Came Vinnie's muttered response

"For which I am eternally grateful. Now why the hell are you running around in just a towel?"

"Uh…bit of a long story…Have you seen Charley?...Oh and unless you fancy your fur extra crispy don't go in the garage."

Chair felt her lips twitch as Modo closed his eye on a groan and straightened back up. His tail and hands giving her waist a final light squeeze before loosening their grip to slide reluctantly away.

As he reached up to rub at the back of his neck with his cybernetic hand, mumbling a stream of words she couldn't quite make out, but suspected where somehow less than complimentary for the other Martian males.

Chair experienced a strong sense of disappointment at the bad timing of the interruption, and while part of her was nervous at the thought of actually kissing Modo, especially seeing as they had just gotten around to the concept of being more than just friends.

A bigger part of her had to admit that the idea of kissing him even with the newness of the shift in their relationship didn't feel wrong.

(Screw it! Nessun rimpianto No regrets right?) Chair thought going up on tiptoe and reaching up to firmly grip the still muttering male by the cheeks and pulling him down towards her. Caught off guard Modo's eye widened a split second before his mouth connected with hers.

"chai-Mmmph"

It wasn't a graceful start Modo's surprise coupled with Chairs diminutive height and the differences in the shapes of their mouths made for a bit of a clumsy and slightly uncoordinated mess, as they both tried to work out how to angle themselves to make it work.

But after a few seconds they managed to shift enough so that their mouths meshed up the right way, and for an undefined length of time everything else faded into the background.

A few minutes later Chair pulled away gasping to lean her for head against Modo's chest and realized with a jolt of surprise that at some point during the kiss not only had he apparently lifted her back up but she had wrapped her legs halfway around him while clinging to his shoulders as well.

"Well…I guess…t-that answers …that question" She panted as she peered up into the large males' slightly dazed expression.

"Modo?" Chair inqured quizzically after another second passed with him simply starring down at her.

"Hmmm?"Modo half hummed slowly blinking as he tightened his grip on her. Pulling her a little more firmly against him with his mechanical arm, as his left one rubbed gently against her back sending little tingles up her spine.

"You can put me down now" Chair said a touch of humor in her voice.

" And If I don't want to?"He replied a hint of mischief entering his gaze and twitching his lips as he stared down at her.

Chair grinned and opened her mouth to reply but instead found herself suppressing a giggle at the irritated expression that flitted across the Martian mouse's face as she was cut off by the shrill ring of the phone.

Modo groaned and bent down to briefly lean his forehead against hers before reluctantly loosening his grip and letting her slide down to the floor.

Chair let her finger trail slowly through the fur on his left arm as she gave him an apologetic smile before turning toward the desk to answer the phone.

Feeling his gaze follow her as she made her way the short distance across the room a warm flushed sensation tingling along her lips and coursing through her body.

Whatever might come in the future for her and Modo, and whether she had just jumped things forward to fast or not, at that moment Chair honestly couldn't bring herself to regret kissing him.