Yes, I am finally updating. I had a conversation last night that got me thinking about this story again, and I wrote this chapter in a few hours. I don't know why it took me so long to get back to it since I knew how this was going to go. Anyway, I hope there are still a few people reading out there. I have not forgotten you!

Chapter Sixteen "...And it Blows Up in Your Face"

Steve heard the voices in his living room in spite of the fact that Kirk and Zach were having a heated discussion about the best pizza places in L.A. They both seemed to have strong opinions on the subject, and very detailed arguments. Steve quietly excused himself to see what was going on.

In the front room, Danny and Morgan had returned with a woman Steve could only assume was Mia's sister-in-law. The two of them were standing in the middle of the room, talking. Mia's back was to Steve so he couldn't see her reaction, but the other woman was smiling broadly, genuinely happy.

Of all the women Steve had ever met, Kyra O'Brien qualified as one of the most beautiful. She had an air about her that said she wasn't afraid of anything and she enjoyed life. Her bright blue eyes focused on Mia's face, and her smile never wavered.

As Steve walked into her line of sight, Kyra's expression changed to a mask of impassivity. Steve decided to try to make a good first impression, not something he usually concerned himself with.

"Hi," he said, smiling in a way he hoped was friendly and offered his hand. "I'm Steve."

Kyra shook his hand and blinked slowly. "I hear we have you to thank for Mia's safety."

Steve looked over Kyra's shoulder to where Danny and Morgan were standing, appearing ignorant of the others in the room. Part of him couldn't help feeling proud that Danny had bragged about him. He wouldn't have expected it, even from his best friend.

"Have you heard that?" Steve asked, smirking. "We try to keep these things secret."

Kyra smirked back. "I have sources." She blinked again.

"I'll have to fire someone."

Danny finally responded to that. "I didn't think family counted as telling anyone," he said, coming closer to them. "And I didn't actually start the conversation." He looked meaningfully at Morgan.

Morgan only shrugged, and might have been smiling.

Steve turned back to Kyra. "I'm sure you won't leak any information."

Kyra shook her head. "I wouldn't even tell her mother. No, really, I wouldn't."

Mia put her hand on Steve's arm. "Thanks for that," she said. "I don't want them to worry."

"Oh, they worry, but as far as they know, you're staying with a friend, and all is well. You haven't mentioned to them that you don't have any friends, have you?"

"I do too! I have... Rachel."

"What about me?" Steve asked.

"You're not my friend. Well, you are, but... you know."

Kyra smiled again. "Oh, you're so cute when you get nervous."

Mia dropped her hand to her side. "So, when is the food coming?"

Steve checked his watch, even though he knew what time it was. "About ten minutes."

"Good." Mia grabbed Kyra's arm. "Let's get the boys out of the kitchen before they spoil their dinner."

Kyra laughed. "They could eat everything in this house and still be hungry." But she followed Mia, only turning back a second to say, "Nice to meet you, Steve."

H-5-O

Danny sank down onto the couch with a reluctant sigh. Morgan had gone upstairs saying he needed to get his things because he and Kyra were going to stay in a hotel. Steve took the chair across from Danny and folded his hands.

"How's it coming?" he asked.

Danny rubbed his forehead. "Slowly."

"Is there anything new?" Steve couldn't help the pitiful tone that crept into his voice.

Danny shook his head. "I'm sorry. We're doing our best."

"I know," Steve said quickly. "Just keep it up. You'll get him."

"Don't you mean we?"

"Yeah, I mean—well, no."

Danny leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. "I know you want to protect Mia, but you're still a part of this. You can't just follow her around for the rest of her life."

"But this is where I'm needed the most right now."

"Any one of us could do what you're doing. Remember at the beginning you planned on switching off? What happened to that plan, huh? Look, I know you want to be with her, but that might not be the healthiest thing right now."

"That's got nothing to do with it. Me being with her isn't suspicious. But if it were someone different every day, it would be."

"Why does it matter? Durante knows she's being protected. You're not hiding her from him. What's so important about it being you?"

"Because that way I know she's safe."

"So you're doing this because it makes you feel better."

"No, you—It's not like that. You don't understand. Mia... doesn't trust people. I don't even think she really trusts me yet."

"And, what, you're trying to make her more comfortable?"

Steve spread his hands. "Yes. Why is that a problem?"

"It's not. I'm just surprised. For one, that she's distant, and that you're being so sensitive about it."

"I'm sensitive."

"Yeah, I just don't normally see that unless you're talking to young children. But why doesn't she trust you? I mean, I didn't even like you when we first met, but I still trusted you. Mostly."

Steve shook his head. "Her whole life was turned upside down. The person she relied on the most betrayed her. I kinda know what that feels like. So, yeah. I think I need to stay with her."

Danny nodded. "Okay. Just... don't stay away too long."

Steve smiled softly. "I couldn't."

H-5-O

Dinner was loud and chaotic. There was more than enough pizza to go around, but somehow afterward, Steve found himself in an empty kitchen with cleaned plates and bare pizza boxes. He should have known Danny and the O'Brien brothers wouldn't rest until all the food was gone.

After they ate, Danny headed home, and Morgan and Kyra left a while later. At this point, Mia was curled up on the couch, and Kirk and Zach were sitting on the floor playing "Go Fish." Steve found himself forgetting that they were in fact grown men with lives outside of their sister. But Mia looked happy watching them, as if she were transported back to a time when things were simpler.

Steve sat next to Mia and handed her the cup of tea he had gone to get for her. "It's just lemon. I didn't have many flavors."

"That's fine," Mia said, holding the cup up to her face and taking a deep breath of the aromatic steam. "I don't like too much fluff in my tea."

Steve smiled. He could live with that. What was he thinking?

Mia reached for his hand, turning her attention back to the game on the floor. Steve wondered if she could feel his pulse quicken at her touch. He wondered if she realized that he felt like a 13-year-old boy with his first crush. He hoped she knew how happy he was to be so close to her, to feel her thumb rubbing his and her knee leaning against his leg. He watched her deep brown eyes light up at her brothers' antics and observed the way her wavy hair always seemed to escape whatever confinement she inflicted upon it. Steve wondered if he would ever work up the courage to tell her how much he liked her hair down.

Mia turned back to face Steve suddenly. "What?"

Steve blinked. "Hmm?"

"You're staring."

"Oh, sorry." He looked down at their hands. He couldn't help but be fascinated with her long fingers twisted with his.

"I didn't say you should be sorry," Mia said. "I just wondered why."

Steve looked back into her eyes. He could stare again for as long as she would let him. "Do I have to explain it?" he asked.

"I am uncomfortable with things I don't understand."

Steve was surprised with how honest she was. "Well, I'm not as good with words as you are. It would sound... cheesy."

"I like cheese."

Steve laughed. He got the feeling she meant to take him off guard. "I was staring because I..." He couldn't say it. There was something still in his way, some distance still between them. "Because I couldn't stop."

It wasn't what he wanted to say. He meant so much more than that by his long gaze, but something told him it was too soon to put the full weight of his admiration on her. She didn't need the pressure right now. Later, he told himself. Later he would tell her why he stared so long.

H-5-O

In the morning, things went as usual. Steve drove Mia to the college. They went to her office, and Steve waited in the lobby of the building while she met with students. She graded a few papers, and then the two of them decided to leave early to get some coffee before Mia's first class started.

"The little stand outside the science building is the best," Mia was saying as she gathered her book bag and locked her door. "It's out of the way, but worth it to avoid the over-roasted atrocities you may find elsewhere."

Steve smiled and followed her down the hallway and out the main entrance. "I didn't know you cared that much about coffee," he said.

"I don't always," she said. "Only when I decide to drink it."

They laughed and crossed the concrete pathway toward their destination. Steve was beginning to feel comfortable in this environment. He had learned more about English and writing in the last few days than he ever thought there was to know, but he didn't mind. He liked knowing what Mia did and seeing her in action. And it was a nice change to be in civilian clothes and spend the day in a more relaxed environment than he was used to.

Steve was feeling pretty good until and explosion ripped through the building they had just come out of. He reached out and pulled Mia to the ground, covering her as best he could until the blast stopped. However, another quickly followed, sending bits of brick and concrete dust over their huddled bodies.

Mia wasn't moving, and Steve hoped it was from shock. He didn't want to think of any other possibilities at the moment. It seemed like forever until the noise ceased and Steve was able to scramble to his feet and look back through the dust and ash at what had once been the humanities offices.

People were screaming and Steve saw bodies of those closer to the building caught in the shrapnel, but he could only think of one thing. He turned back to see Mia still lying flat on her stomach on the concrete. Steve knelt beside her again and held her shoulders.

"Mia," he choked through the smoke-filled air.