Hey guys, sorry it's been so long, I will try and start updating regularly on Saturdays. Enjoy and please review.

Chapter 8

Melanie's POV

I sat in my kitchen thinking about how tomorrow would go with Taylor when Toll burst through the door.

"Toll!"I exclaimed in surprise before jumping up and guiding him over to the couch and sat down with him.

"What's wrong?"I asked knowing something was up, he didn't just loose his cool like this for no reason.

"Our new client, he and I had a bad fight years ago. In time I forgave him and moved on but I don't know if he did, it might cause problems."he explained.

"So why did you come to me?"I asked confused. What could I do to help?

"You're a good listener, and I wanted to talk to you."he replied.

"Thanks."I said and smiled a little before we started talking some more.

Barney's POV

"Weird for Toll to rush out like that."Lee said after only the two of us remained at Tool's.

"Yeah, obviously something happened between them at one point."I said in agreement.

"So Mel's getting some help?"he asked, I nodded and he smiled.

"That's good, she wants to help herself."he commented and I smiled.

"Yeah, she'll be back in the field soon enough."I told him and he smiled back.

I think Lee missed Melanie more than he was willing to admit but he cared for her deeply, they'd get back together again.

We left after finishing our last beers and went home to get some rest for tomorrow.

Toll's POV

I ended up staying the night at Melanie's sleeping in the guest bedroom.

Next morning I had breakfast with her, she smiled a lot.

"Why are you so happy this morning?" I asked lightly not to sound nosy or irritated.

"I've missed cooking for more than just me." she replied.

"You've missed Lee." I stated and she nodded quickly.

"Yeah, but it'll be a while before we get back together. I may act fine but realistically I'm upset and angry, I need to work. Be with Lee and you guys again." she said.

"You need to move past Nicole's death first, and get over all that guilt that you still feel over it." I said.

"Since when are you a shrink?" she asked jokingly.

"I'm just telling you the truth, I need to go. See you when we get back." I told her and headed out the door.

"Be careful, and tell all the guys that would you." Melanie said from the doorway.

"I will." I said before getting on my bike and leaving to stop by my house before going to Tools.

Melanie's POV

I decided to go for my regular morning run to start getting back into a routine again.

Going past Lee's house on the way home, I stopped with the urge to go say hello but I knew Lee wasn't home. I sighed and continued to my own house, a cherry red van was parked in my driveway when I arrived.

I walked around it and looked up at my front porch to see Taylor waiting for me; she smiled as I came up to her.

"Morning Melanie." she greeted, I gave her a quick smile as I unlocked the door to let us both inside.

"What are you doing here?" I asked going to the fridge for a water bottle.

"A spot opened up this morning and I thought I would come by and see if you wanted to have your session earlier." she replied.

"You couldn't just call?" I asked irritated she had just shown up like this.

"I could have but then you could have ignored my call or just hung up. In person visits are a lot harder to ignore." she said.

"True enough, I would like to keep my original appointment." I told her, wanting her to leave.

"What's so important that you can't do it this afternoon?" she asked stubbornly.

"I don't need to answer that, please leave. I'll come at three like we agreed." I told her, an angry edge in my voice.

"Alright, see you later." Taylor said and let herself out.

'Finally.' I thought and headed to the basement for a long, hard, work out.

Lee's POV

Michael Kross was a military man, I could tell that as soon as I saw him as we pulled into the empty parking lot of an old abandoned stadium.

He stood at attention, his hands locked behind his back, his eyes watching our vehicle as Barney and I got out, he sized us up as we walked towards him and he nodded when we reached him.

"Michael Kross,it's been a long time. This is Lee Christmas, my second in command. Church said something about you needing a favor?" Barney said.

"It has, that's right. My old nemesis, Wayne Cutter, stole some military software for brand new, high quality missiles being built in a secret base up in the mountains of Appalachian. I need you guys to get it back for me, he said he will kill my daughter if anyone tries to take back the software." he explained.

"Where is your daughter?" I asked. This could complicate things a little bit for us.

"Here in L.A with my wife, Miranda, I'm working off a base in Jersey where the technology was taken from yesterday." he replied.

"So why hasn't Cutter headed for the mountains yet?" Barney asked, I wondered the same thing.

"He wants to test out the software make sure that it works, he has a full team to help him. Can you help me?" Michael answered.

"Yes, we will. We'll need a map of the base in the mountains, and a map of Cutter's place too, as well as all information you can give us on this guy." Barney told him.

"Follow me back to the base and I will give you everything you need." he said heading for his jeep.

Barney nodded and we went back to the car, "Who are you going to get to watch his daughter?" I asked, I couldn't picture any of the guys doing it.

Barney didn't answer me, instead he punched a number into his phone, hit speaker and set it in the holder above the radio.

"Hello Barney, what's up?" Melanie said, I turned to Barney glaring at him.

"No way." I said angrily, he ignored me.

"Mel, I need you to do me a favor." he said.

"Sure, what is it?" She said ignoring me too. Fine, she would find out for herself.

"I need you to watch our client's family, they may be in danger." he told her.

"You want me to be a babysitter?!" she exclaimed angrily, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Shut up Lee! This isn't funny." she snapped at me.

"You're right, it isn't funny, it's hilarious!" I said teasing her and chuckled when she didn't have a come back.

"Bodyguard, come on Melanie. I need all the guys with me and that leaves you to keep an eye on the family. Can you do it?" Barney cut in.

"Yes sir, I'll protect them. I have go, text me the details." she said and hung up.

Barney and I looked to each other confused, Melanie didn't usually disconnect a call so quickly and she usually said her goodbye before hanging up.

"I'll call her with the details after, make sure she's alright." he told me.

I nodded; I just hoped Mel was up to the task of protecting Michael's family.