"What's with you?" Wordy asked the next day, completely out of breath. Ed was training them hard, harder than ever. "You've been a slave driver all morning.."

Greg walked in and smiled, then he looked around. Everyone was sitting, trying to catch their breath. "What happened to you?"

Spike looked up. "Ed's upset about something."

"Am not."

"He's working us like crazy.. not healthy.."

Sam looked at Ed. "Whatever Veronica said.. don´t take it out on us."

Ed's eyes hardened. "Thanks to constable Braddock, you all get another go at the obstacle course."

Spike shoved Sam, they all got up when Greg spoke up. "No, go inside. Rest, drink some water. Briefing room in 15 minutes.

"Thanks, Sarge." Everyone mumbled and got up.

Greg waited until they left. "So, she's still not talking to you?"

"Oh, she's talking alright. Yelling.." He sighed. "She broke up with me."

Greg shook his head. "When?"

"Last night."

"Why?"

"Because I intimidated Jake.."

Greg chuckled. "You really thought that would work?"

"No, but I needed to try. What am I going to do Greg?"

"Nothing?"

"I can't.. not when I know she's still seeing him.."

Greg shrugged. "She's not talking to you, so I don't think you've got much of a choice."

"Yeah.."

"Just don't work the guys so hard.. they still need to be able to walk."

"I know.."

…

Ed sighed, he didn't like sitting in his house alone anymore. It had been three weeks since Veronica broke up with him. Four weeks since he last slept with her, made love to her. But he could still remember every detail. How beautiful she looked in the dimmed lights, the noises she made when he.. He was taken from his train of thought when there was pounding on the door. He closed his eyes trying to ignore the pounding. The noises she made when he kissed her neck, the look on her face when she.. The pounding returned. He sighed and closed his eyes again.

"Ed, are you home?"

He shot up when he heard Veronica's voice. He recognized it as hers but it didn't sound like her at all. It was quiet and small.

"Coming!" He almost ran to the door.

He opened it and saw how she stood before him. Her clothes were rumpled, her eye was fat and her nose had been bleeding. "Veronica." He said concerned. He pulled her inside and closed the door behind her. "What happened?" He was about to look at her face again when she hugged him tight.

She started crying. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." He rubbed her back soothingly. "Ssh, it's okay. Everything's okay." He kissed the top of her head. "You're with me now, you're okay."

He waited patiently until the crying subsided. He pulled back to look at her again. "Come, sit down." He steered her towards his couch. "I'll make you some tea."

She listened to him and sat down. Wiping away the tears with her sleeve. It wasn't long until he handed her a cup of tea.

"What happened?" he asked again.

"I'm sorry, for not listening to you. I'm so sorry." He took her hand. "I'm sorry for calling you a jerk, and whatever else.."

"It's okay." He interrupted her. "I've got a pretty thick skin. Just tell me what happened."

"You were right.."

"About?" He asked, although he had a pretty good idea of what happened.

"Jeff.. he just wanted sex.. when I.. I told him I didn't want to, because he's married and I still loved you.." She took a sip from her tea. "He hit me."

"Eye?"

She nodded. "He told me that I was just a tease. Called me some names, said some lousy stuff.. I told him to get out, he tried to force himself on me.."

Ed was trying to keep his temper under control. "Tried?"

"Yeah.. I, hit him. He hit me back, bloody nose. I hit him and ran. I could hear him running behind me, I jumped in my car and drove here."

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know.."

Ed grabbed his phone and got up.

"Where are you going?"

"I just need to make a phonecall."

"Stay here?"

He nodded and sat down again. "Sure."

"Who are you calling?"

"Greg." He held the phone to his ear as the number dialed.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "No, Ed please.." She begged him.

"I'm calling Greg, baby. This jackass is not getting away with hitting you."

"Ed?" Greg asked surprised, he'd picked up the phone in the middle of the sentence.

"Greg, good. Is it okay if I drop Veronica off with you?"

"Sure, why?"

"I need to have a talk with Jeff."

"What did he do?"

"He hit Veronica, black eye and bloody nose."

"Son of a.." Ed could hear ruffling on the other side. "Bring her here, I'm coming with you. Jessie can keep an eye on her."

"Okay, we'll be there in 10 minutes." He hung up the phone and kissed Veronica on the top off her head again. "I'm guessing you didn't get your nose checked out?"

Veronica looked down and shook her head.

"Okay, I'm going to drop you off at your mom's. I'm sure she won't mind taking you to the hospital."

"What are you going to do to Jeff?"

His eyes hardened. "Nothing he doesn't deserve."

He got up and held the door open for her. "Come on, it doesn't look broken but I want to be sure."

She nodded and walked towards him, stopping right in front of him. "I can't tell you how sorry I am.. I should've listened to you.."

"It's okay." He smiled and gently cupped her cheek.

"No, it's not. You've never lied to me, you've never played me. He has, I just hoped.."

"I know, you still look up to him. And I get that, he was your teacher, your mentor. He shouldn't have taken advantage of you, not then and not now."

"He didn't take advantage, I wanted it."

Ed shook his head. "But he knew better, you were having a crush on your teacher. He was engaged and knew better. He should've turned you down instead of welcomed you into his bed."

"I love you, Ed. I still love you."

"I still love you too."

She raised up and gently kissed him, being careful not to hurt herself.

He smiled at her. "Come on, let's go."

She followed him to his car and sat in the passenger seat. "What are you going to do to him?"

"Have a talk."

She shook her head. "Now I think we both know you're going to do more to him then talk."

"Where should he be right now?"

"Class." She looked over at him. "That doesn't answer my question. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know yet."

"You're not going to kill him, are you? I don't like dating a man in prison. I prefer dating the man who puts people there."

He smiled while keeping an eye on the road. "So, you want to start dating again?"

"If you can forgive me for being a total bitch."

He glanced over at her and smiled. "Of course I can. In fact, I already have."

She put her hand on his thigh. "You're the best boyfriend ever."

"Just remember that for when I'm being a little jealous."

She smiled at him and nodded. "I will."

…

"Veronica!" Her mother said when she saw her. "O my god. Jeff did this?"

Veronica nodded. "Greg." She said as he appeared from behind Jessie. "I'm so sorry for being mad at you. You, Ed and Angela were only looking out for me.."

"It's fine." He gently hugged Veronica. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Jessie." Ed started. "Can you and Veronica go to the ER, I think they should take a look at her nose."

Jessie nodded. "Of course. Thank you."

Ed nodded and looked at Greg. "You ready to go?"

"Yep. Let's go."

Ed was already out the door when Veronica grabbed Greg's arm. "Don't let him do anything stupid. I don't want him to lose his job and go to jail.."

"I'll try, but Jeff has it coming."

…