AN: So this is me adding violence to the warnings for this story…

Ash had no idea what time it was when Denny finally woke, but the sun was well and truly up. She looked confused for a second but then her memory caught up with her consciousness.

"Oh God," she groaned, her hand going to rest on her head. "Was it as bad as I think it was?"

"That depends," Ash told her, "how bad do you think it was?"

"Pretty bad. I can't believe I dragged you here over nothing." Ash frowned.

"It wasn't nothing. You're still grieving and he took advantage of that. Wanna talk about it?"

"No, not really," she winced, closing her eyes and pushing back a wave of nausea he was willing to bet. He was wondering if he needed to get out of range when she fixed him with a thoughtful look.

"You told him."

"How do you know that? You were supposed to be asleep."

"With you two bickering like an old married couple? Hardly..."

"As if..."

"Thanks. I do appreciate what you've done."

"Yeah well, better me to tell him then he find out some other way..."

"Still, thank-you. I'm gonna go take a shower."

"You could do with one," he teased, wrinkling his nose up.

"Righto you," she said, hitting him playfully and giving him a sassy grin.

"That's my girl," he said, ruffling her hair. It was nice to see a smile on her face. She climbed out of bed to gather some fresh clothes and he left her to it.

Ash felt like shit. He scrubbed his hands over his face and stepped outside for some fresh air. He knew tiredness was his main problem, he stayed awake most of the night to watch her.

"You're a good friend," came Kyle's voice from somewhere to his right, "how's Denny?"

"Jesus!" Ash exclaimed, not expecting anyone to be there, "yeah, she's alright. What the hell are you still doing here?" Kyle stood and came to lean on the rail beside him.

"I thought you guys might need me, or at least the car if Denny decided she did need a doctor..."

"So you slept on the veranda..."

"Yeah. Long night huh?"

"Yep. You can stick your free booze from now on by the way..." Kyle chuckled and they lapsed into silence. Ash shoved a hand in his pocket, unexpectedly finding the paper from last night. He pulled it out and unravelled it. Denise Miller SEVOL Casey Braxton, was scrawled on the paper and a final percentage of three. It didn't mean anything but to a drunk it might. He felt shitty about pushing her towards Andy last night. He shouldn't have said anything about that ninety-whatever percent. He needed to make a mends. What a day this was already turning out to be. And he dreaded the thought of having to work today, he hadn't had any real sleep in twenty-four hours, not to mention the headache he felt brewing. "I'm thinking about chucking a sickie. What do you reckon my boss would say?"

"I reckon he'd be okay with it." Ash nodded his thanks and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. He drew in the soothing smoke and blew it out.

"Don't blow that shit in my face," Kyle frowned. Crap.

"Sorry..." Ash waved his hand his hand about to dissipate the smoke as looked around for somewhere to stub the cigarette out. He chose a nearby flowerpot.

"Don't leave that there."

"Christ! What are you? The environment police?" Ash said, even as he picked the damn thing up. He walked into the kitchen, ran some water over it and threw it in the bin. Kyle followed him. Ash had a feeling they were heading towards a certain conversation.

"We should make Denny breakfast," he suggested as a distraction. "What do you want? Bacon? Eggs?" he asked as he rooted through the fridge.

"Are you sure? I don't think I could stomach that right now."

"Oh c'mon, a greasy breakfast is the best thing for ya after a night on the grog." Kyle didn't look convinced but he did begin to help with the preparations.

"What's going on here?" Denny asked with a smile in her voice as she looked back and forwards between them.

"Breakfast," Ash declared.

"Kyle," she said softly, drawing his attention, "I'm sorry about last night."

"Don't sweat it Den. Happens to the best of us. You want some of this nauseating food?"

"Hey!" Ash protested, his food was good! She laughed.

"Maybe a coffee?"

"Coming right up," Kyle said. While he went about that, she took the opportunity to catch Ash's eye, she gave him a wide grin and two thumbs up. He rolled his eyes, romance with Kyle was the last thing on his mind right now. He had to make sure she was really okay and then he still had a certain someone to deal with.

xxx

"You sure you're okay?" Ash fussed.

"Yes for the billionth time," Denny said with exasperation.

"Okay chickie. Well call me if you need anything."

"Yes mum," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I mean it," Ash reiterated firmly. His tone took the sparkle out of her smile.

"I know," she said softly, then she pulled him into a hug.

Kyle watched them from the driver's seat. They said their goodbyes and Ash climbed into the ute beside him. Ash and Denny hadn't known each other long but you'd swear they'd been friends forever. Kyle wondered about their bond.

"How did you and Denny actually meet?"

"Through Brax."

"Obviously I know that, it's just you guys are so close. Why? Why are you so determined to look after her?"

"She's a cool chick," was Ash's simple response.

"There's gotta be more to it than that..."

Ash sighed.

"She was Casey's girl."

"But you never met Case..."

"No, but he was Brax's brother..."

"So you do it for Brax?" Ash just shrugged. That made sense Kyle supposed but somehow he thought there might be more to it than that. Still, he let it go.

"Let's talk about you," Ash said after an extended silence. "You always been this..."

"This what?" Kyle prompted. Ash shot him a look.

"Nosey?"

"You're the one asking questions," he shot back.

"Forget it." They fell into silence again, though it wasn't an easy one this time. Kyle felt the beginnings of anger churning within him, but he shut it down. They were both tired and anxious and a little hung over, he could forgive Ash this time.

xxx

A little while later they pulled up at the house. Ash was still brooding over making a fool of himself with his attempt at getting to know Kyle better. Kyle headed straight for the shower, probably to get away from him, which was why Ash was alone when Andy walked in. Perfect.

"Any last words?"

Andy tensed immediately, turning wide eyes towards him.

"I didn't do anything."

"No? Then you won't mind stepping outside for a chat."

"I'd rather not..."

"And I'd rather not break Brax's furniture or get blood on his carpet, but I will."

Andy gulped, but to his credit he didn't argue anymore, he just headed out the back.

"Look Ash, I don't want any trouble. She's a good looking chick, I wasn't gonna say no. But she freaked out and I left. Straight away, I swear it. It was nothing-"

"Nothing? You didn't spend all night consoling her."

"I..." Andy frowned, "it didn't mean anything."

"Wrong answer Barrett," Ash said, getting ready to knock Andy on his arse. "I mighta been able to forgive you if you cared about her. But doing that to her just for the hell of it? It's inexcusable." Ash decided he'd had enough of talking. In the blink of an eye he had Andy sprawled face down on the on the lawn, his knee pressed heavily into the rotten bastards back. He twisted one of Andy's arms up until his shoulder socket threatened to pop, Andy's other arm was pinned helplessly beneath his body. Ash used his other hand to push Andy's head into the ground.

"I do care about her," Andy protested, as he struggled to free himself.

"You say that now, but you've got a funny way of showing it. Don't you dare lay another finger on her. Got it?" He gave one final push, making sure Andy tasted dirt before he let the mongrel go. Ash stood up and watched as Andy started to get to his feet.

"You know," Andy spat, "who Denny sees is none of your business." How fucking stupid was he? Andy had managed by this stage to make it to his hands and knees.

"We'll fucking see about that." Ash drove his boot into Andy's ribs, knocking him to the ground again. Andy clutched his side and groaned. That'd be a nice little reminder to keep his hands to himself every time he took a breath for the next fortnight. Ash was just deciding whether Andy needed another kick to make the message really sink in when he heard his name being called.

"Ash!" he looked towards the house to see Brax beckoning him over.