[ So I do feel bad for not updating for so long but lots of things in my life had to take priority over this. Anyway this is the last chapter I'd been working on before the real world came and kicked my ass. It's not perfect but you guys deserve it! ]

How did normal people deal with the sorts of problems and emotions which pertained to courtship? Not to mention all the unspoken rules of engagement and fair play as well… It wasn't to say Damon was a complete stranger to 'the game,' but he had been out of it for some time and never before had a partner so competent, complicated and frustrating as Sam. Not to be mistaken, he was still upset with her if she knew it or not. It just went to show women couldn't be trusted no matter what. Give an inch, take a mile and all that. Too bad 'trusting' isn't one of the verbs you and Sam are good at. Think more thrusting, grunting and fornicating, he mocked himself internally. The thought forced Baird to grunt out loud as he peeled off his thermal under shirt and tossed it in the bottom of a vacant locker. There was some lingering of her scent in his clothes and he could smell her like a haunting apparition. It was getting harder to stay angry with her still on his mind and her dried sweat on his body. It was getting harder to…well it was just plain getting harder.

The blue prints and schematics of Azura had been enough to make his eyes cross when he'd been first entrusted with them but it was the right decision and naturally one of the first things he'd been sure to locate and reroute upon finding was the boiler. Of course it couldn't be a normal boiler or even close, it was actually a component of the maelstrom device and attached to the water cooling system also used to create the tropical pressure and conditions needed for storm they had hidden the island in. It was only on par with his good fortune that the moment he stepped away from Delta they would discover the inner workings of a device that could literally change the forces of nature and then break it. And who did they always expect to fix it? The point was he had the hot water up and running for now, was going to take a much deserved shower and try and clear his head if he could.

Around every corner Azura still held plenty of surprises. The private gym wasn't too much of a shock to the senses at least and had been cleared out on the first day to set up a triage center. Now it was a command station for General Trechu and the Gorasni and the showers were open to the public. Baird was grumbling something about athlete's foot and toe fungus to himself as his bare feet padded across the tile floor and towards the row of shower heads sticking out of the far wall. Several others were there as well but remained silent and their forms shadowed in the fog.

"Uuughnn," he crooned with relief stepping under the piping hot stream. The man leaned forward and rest his forehead against the comparatively cooler tile wall so the water could run down his back and ease the aching knots. Several spots on his shoulders seemed to be burning more intently under the water and he craned his head to investigate. "Shiiiiiiit."

On each shoulder blade there were four crescent shaped scrapes that drug outward into scratch marks, Sam had definitely left her mark. It made him smirk remembering how wide her eyes got when she saw his cock for the first time and how she'd had to make him slow down. He hoped she was still feeling it too. A little enraptured in his reminiscing Baird hadn't almost noticed the chuckle, but certainly felt the eyes. It was just another grunt but he'd seen Baird eyeing the claw marks.

"That's the only problem with the COG buddy I've always said," this stranger did indeed say. "Not enough tail! All of this saving the world shit makes women just lose their panties and there's only like six bitches on this entire island combined."

Baird wasn't enjoying this. He hadn't even talked to Cole about Sam, like hell he was going to open up to some stranger. It had been several hours since he'd overheard what was of course a private conversation between Sam and Anya, but he was sore about it. The other soldier was either blind to social cues or just didn't give a fuck. He sat on the edge of bench and pulled off his boots, still talking.

"Yeah, it's probably for the best though. COG girls are just the same as others, they still get all wrapped up with you once you take 'em home."

Unsuccessfully he had tried to not let the conversation draw him in. Baird had even stuck his head under the water to drown out some of the words but they rang true to his vulnerable sensibilities. He didn't know this asshole from Adam, what was it going to hurt letting a few things slip?

"You're telling me," Baird lead on...

"No like this, put your fingers right next to the laces," he instructed from his spot right behind the woman. One hand rest on her shoulder and the other guided her right arm back and through the throwing motion of the thrash ball in her hand. "See? You want it to spin when you release the ball. Just let it roll off your fingers."

"Huh!" She chortled, impressed by the distance she'd been able to throw the ball after a bit of instruction and practice.

"I told you you could throw!" Carmine encouraged, stepping back from Sam and regretfully taking his hands off her. She turned around to face him, still wearing a smug grin.

Anya wouldn't speak to her this morning anymore after she'd said her piece. Basically she called Sam a coward, told her it wasn't the end of the world, and that running away wasn't going to solve anything. They weren't the words she'd been looking for from a trusted friend, especially after her encounter with Baird so a bit bitterly Samantha had gone on her way, locating the ship she was going to head out on. It was a beast of a naval vessel brought in by the UIR so seating didn't look like it was going to be a problem. That was when she found Clayton, or rather he found her. He didn't mention Baird, the previous night or the fact she was hours from departure. Rather bashfully he had just raised the thrash ball in his hand and asked if she played. Once or twice as a kid she'd been invited by the boys in the neighborhood to fill in when one of their other buddies was unavailable, but otherwise this was pretty foreign to her. Like most things Sam caught on quick and she and Clay moved down to the beach where they could play interrupted. The sand made her steps difficult when she ran to catch her friend's long tosses, but it didn't seem to affect her game.

Thinking to himself, Clay was glad Sam was far enough away she wouldn't notice him smiling. There wasn't a day that passed her wasn't continually amazed by her and today she did it again. Twelve or more yards down the beach she was taking a moment to catch her breath, bent over with her hands on her knees. Even windless Sam was ever the shit talker and she raised her head to yell.

"You gonna throw that thing or cradle it Carmine?"

The smile spread. He pulled his arm back and released the ball with a snap. Up until now he'd been taking it easy on her, no more. The ball sailed long, easily passing the first twelve yards up to where Sam had stood. She was off now, running again and checking back over her shoulder as to not lose sight of the ball in the bright sky. It looked good, bound to be at least a thirty yard pass when completed but Sam wasn't going to be the one to complete it. Glancing back one last time over her shoulder it was then from out of no where she felt like she got knocked back on her ass by a brick house. No not a house, a train.

"Wooo! DE-FENCE BABY!" Cole laughed, intercepting the ball rather casually right before Sam's feet. He hadn't really hit her that hard, she was a girl after all and it didn't take much more than an outward palm to the chest to stop her forward momentum.

She started laughing too and took the encompassing hand he offered, pulling her butt up out of the sand which she started to immediately brush off. From behind her Clay came trotting up the beach, joining his fellow Gears.

"I should have known, Cole can practically smell the pig-skin once you start throwing it around." He joked. "Wanna join?"

Cole tossed Clayton his ball back, still chuckling which caused his broad shoulders to heave. He really did want to take up that offer but had come here under other pretenses. "Haha some other time, k? I actually wanted to talk to Sam for a moment."

Aaah shit, she thought with her hands still perched on her hips. Samantha looked to Clayton, her eyes screaming desperately for him to not leave her and let this happen. Clay felt for her cause but had to weigh his options. Sam was leaving today, Cole would still be here tomorrow. Sam might get mad and yell, but Cole was a (gentle) monster of a man shoved into some COG armor. He chose Cole's side and gave Sam a apologetic wince.

"Yeah uh, I'll be…," he looked and gestured towards Azura in the not so distance, "you know."

Cole's face was soft and sympathetic, which meant Sam automatically threw up the walls that amounted to her emotional defense. He was clearly here to try and make her second guess her decision which the woman would take as an insult. This all happened because other people's noses found their way into her business and she was adamant to never let such a thing happen again.

The sliding bay door to the garage had been left partially open as to allow in some of the day's sunlight and so that Baird didn't look like a completely antisocial asshole cut off from the world as he sat quietly at his bench working on JACK. The small screwdriver that was pinched precariously between his thumb and forefinger so he could tighten the final few screws on the bot's display screen went flying with a sudden crash. Cole had stepped into the open doorway, blotting out the sun as he slammed the shutter door the rest of the way open. The man was worked up with some sweat beading on his forehead.

"You're a real fucking idiot sometimes you know," Cole informed him as he stepped right in front of the man's work bench.

"Whoa woah," Baird stuttered, blue eyes widening as he stood slowly from his seat. "Can we rewind like thirty seconds? Because you must have me confused with someone else buddy."

"You're a fucking idiot Baird! I know you like breaking things just so you can fix them but Sam isn't one of your projects. She's not going to forgive you for this if you don't go and do something about it now." As Cole said this he didn't realize his 'genius' friend would take it as an option, not a command.

"What makes you think I care if Sam forgives me?" Snorted Baird, cocking his head to the side after. Sometimes he forgot how strong Cole was. Not now. He didn't see it coming and the former defensive lineman shoved him back into the wall so hard he felt some of the dry wall behind him crack. He hadn't seen Augustus truly mad in some time either and never at him. Up until now. He wasn't about to be intimidated though., not at least just yet. He was pulling himself out of the wall when Cole hopped the bench, grabbed him by the collar and finished the job.

"Are you fucking crazy Cole?" Baird shouted, trying to push himself free.

"Either you get your punk ass on that ship now or I'm throwing you in after it!" The monstrous Gear bellowed at him.

"GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!" Baird snarled back, still struggling on his tip-toes as Cole refused to release his grip..

"This is your last chance. If you don't get her now, she's gone Damon. I know you like to pretend you don't care about anything but sooner or later you won't be pretending anymore and you're just going to be bitter and alone. You have officially fucked up bad son and this is your only chance to even try to make it right. Why can't you just admit that?"

"Because what if I do and she doesn't forgive me anyways?" He broke at last. "At least this way I'm in control of what the outcome will be."

Cole had released him as they spoke, knowing Damon was starting to deflate and he heard it in the defeat in his voice. It was absolutely ridiculous. He shoved his friend again, this time not so hard but just enough to make him stumble back a bit.

"I can't believe this. The day I would see Damon Baird being a little bitch!" He taunted.

"Hey!"

"Don't 'hey' me you little ass white boy! Oh boo-hoo! Look at me, my name's Baird and I can help kill the fuckin queen of the grubs but I'm scared to talk to a giiiirrrl!" He shoved him again.

"HEY! SHUT UP!"

"Then prove me wrong! What are you going to go do? Are you going to sit here and play with your toys?" Cole mocked in his face.

"I'll talk to her alright," Baird grumbled, not completely thrilled with the idea yet.

" What's that, I didn't hear you? Do you need someone to change your diaper?"

"I'M GOING TO TALK TO HER, ALRIGHT!"

Suddenly Augustus wasn't baring over him and booming anymore, it was Baird doing all of that. He was worked into a damn frenzy with his chest and cheeks puffed up. His buddy was right, he had nothing to lose now which gave a man a certain sense of braveness, almost invincibility. Cole shoved him towards the door with a smile. He had always been pretty good at the pep talks and getting his team pumped up. It was good to see he still had it in him.

Baird took off in a sprint, not looking back over his shoulder as he called. "JACK, c'mon."

He shook his head but left the bay in a hurry, he knew Sam's ship was leaving soon. Cole had him feeling like he could take on a whole other war after that talk and he held on tight to that confidence now. Sam could smell weakness and she was going to be looking of any dent in his armor. He probably should have had a plan.