Disclaimer: Not mine, I make no money

A/N: Thank you to my wonderful Beta who keeps me going, and to Margret fowler who is always there with a PM when I need an extra push. I have written through chapter 7 so far, and if I get 5 reviews of this chapter I will post 6 with Tank's surprise!

After Steph left, I looked around the kitchen at the guys. It seemed I owed them an apology, and sooner rather than later. I wanted to apologize; I was just having a hard time getting started. I walked to the table and picked up the bag of junk food Steph left behind, and started to put it away in the cabinets. At the bottom of the bag I found a six pack of beer. I pulled it out of the bag and set it on the counter. I lifted a bottle and stared at the label. God I wanted a drink. I don't know how long I stared at the bottle, but it was long enough for Tank to grab a bottle opener from the drawer and pop the top. I closed my eyes as the scent filled my nose. I started to lift the beer to take a drink, but stopped just as my lips touched the top. I opened my eyes with a sigh and handed the beer to Tank slightly shaking my head. Lester grinned and leaned on the table.

"Sure you can. It's 5'oclock somewhere."

I laughed and shook my head again. "I wish Lester, unfortunately I am an alcoholic. I've been in recovery for a couple years now, but no beer for me."

Tank took the beer in his hand and walked to the sink. I watched as he poured the beer down the drain, I wanted to cry. I wanted that drink so bad. Tank reached over and grabbed the rest of the beer and began the process of dumping them down the drain as well. "Don't worry; we'll make sure there isn't any more in the house." He told me as he tossed the first few bottles in the trash.

"That's ok; you guys are welcome to have whatever. Most of the time I'm ok, but things have just been tough lately."

Bobby laughed as he patted me on the shoulder while putting away the rest of the Junk Stephanie had left. "That's an understatement. We don't drink while we're working; besides things will be easier for you if you don't have the temptation."

Tank and Lester both nodded in agreement. "Bobby's right darlin' I've been there. When you're under stress you need to stay away from anything that might set you back." Tank told me as I heard the last bottles clink in the trash. I slowly walked to the table and took a seat and waved for the guys to join me. Once everyone sat down I took a deep breath and looked at each one of them in turn. "I owe you all an apology." I held up my hand to ward off any objections as the guys all opened their mouths. "I'm serious, I need to apologize. I've been a bitch. Nothing about this situation is ya'lls fault, and yet I've been treating you like you did something to get me in this situation. Let me make it up to you. I'll cook dinner tonight."

"Thanks."

"Yeah thank you!"

"Awesome. I'm feeling like steak, and lobster, and…"

"Shut up Lester" Tank and Bobby chorused at the same time.

I couldn't help but laugh as I stood up to inventory what was in the cupboards and started dictating a list. "Lets see… I need a couple packets of yeast, some rye flour, dark molasses, corn meal, some boneless skinless chicken breasts, Corn on the cob." I moved to the fridge and opened it up and sighed not seeing much in there. "We'll need Mt. Dew, can't live without that miracle of modern chemistry. Butter, real butter not that fake stuff, milk."

Lester was writing down the list and looked up raising his eyebrow. "What in the world are you going to do with all of this?"

"You'll see. I also need a couple cloves of garlic, sea salt, black pepper in a grinder, regular Morton's salt, and ummm buttermilk biscuits in a can, Crisco, Some no yolk noodles, chicken broth, carrots , celery, lettuce. Oh and um some Chinese noodles, soy sauce, steak, peppers,"

Bobby cleared his throat and turned around to look at me. "You know you could just do burgers on the grill we're pretty easy to please."

"Yeah about that. I have a thing against eating supermarket meat." I shuddered involuntarily at the mere thought of it.

"Why not?" Tank asked me as I walked back to the table. I sat back down in my chair and made a face. "ugh, do you know what is in that stuff? It is called pink slime; it is the same crap they can take to make dog food. They take it to a processing plant where it is separated into the last little bits of meat, washed in ammonia and water, and then it is ground and can be used as filler in ground beef products. It is in up to 70% of all ground beef products." I shuddered again and shook my head. "No thank you. I'd rather not go there."

I looked at the guys and they were all looking a little green. "Sorry, I didn't mean to gross you guys out. You can always do what I do. Go online and order certified grass fed beef with no preservatives, or additives."

In an attempt to change the subject Tank reached over and took the list from Lester. "How about I go pick this stuff up. I've got another errand to run anyway, so there is no sense in sending Lester to do it."

Bobby and Lester both agreed with the plan and I shrugged. It made no difference to me who went and who stayed. I couldn't have been more grateful to Tank than when he suggested I go out to the garage with him and have a smoke, before he left since they guys were talking and they didn't want me out there unless all three of them were around the house to keep an eye out. I followed Tank out to the garage and leaned against the SUV while I lit a cigarette. I took a deep drag and exhaled slowly.

"Thanks for this" I said as I held up my cigarette just so he knew what I meant. "I appreciate it. I've tried to quit, but lately I'd rather chew off my own arm than give these babies up."

"I understand, things have been tough, but it will get easier."

"Yeah, but when? I just want a place to call home you know? I was saving up to buy a house. Not a big house, just a little place a tiny little yard, but it would have been mine. I know the Marshals will get my savings to me and all that, but that's not the point. I knew what house I wanted, I had it picked out. Now I have to start that dream all over. It's not just the house; it's not knowing when this is all going to be over."

"I can understand that. It must be hard not knowing." He said as he leaned against the SUV next to me.

I was careful to blow my smoke away from him as I responded. "Yeah, but oh well tomorrow is another day right?"

"Right. Try not to get too down. We'll get you through this. Ever play a game of monopoly that lasts for three days straight?"

"Not for a long time."

"You should. It will keep your mind off of things, besides Santo's pouts like a little kid every time he loses."

I snorted and shook my head with a smile on my face. I highly doubted these highly trained bodyguards pouted over everything, but I had to hand it to Tank, just thinking about that made me feel better. I finished my cigarette, and crushed it out on the floor before sticking my butt into my pocket. Tank watched me carefully and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'll pick up an ashtray while I'm out. No need for you to field strip your smokes when you could just put them out in the ashtray."

"Thank you."

He gestured for me to walk ahead of him back into the house. Once I was inside he nodded to the guys before walking back out into the garage. I heard the sound of the garage door opening and the SUV backing out before the door closed again.

I looked at Bobby and Lester chewing on my bottom lip wondering if either one of them had a suggestion as to what to do now. I really hoped we wouldn't all stare at each other silently for the rest of the day. We must have sat there in silence for a good five minutes before Lester finally broke the silence.

"I think there is a game on."

I shrugged and must have looked less than thrilled because Bobby was soon asking if I was a sports fan. "To tell the truth guys, I don't even know what game season it is. I only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials."

Lester and Bobby both jokingly put their hands over their hearts having a mock heart attack. I laughed and rolled my eyes before walking to the living room calling over my shoulder. "I think Lifetime is having a movie marathon though."

I couldn't help but laugh at the pained groans I heard coming from the guys. "I'm kidding!" I shouted as I flipped on the TV and began surfing the channels finally settling on a TV show about serial killers.

The guys were just coming into the living room as the TV announcer started talking "Tonight on Secrets of The Mind, a look into the mind of a serial killer, could it be something in the brain that causes us to kill?"

I rolled my eyes and settled back on the couch. "No shit Sherlock. Damage to the prefrontal cortex, along with the right environmental factors, and you got yourself a cold blooded killer."

Lester flopped down on the couch next to me while Bobby sat in the chair. "You seen this show before?" Lester asked.

"Nope, just read a lot."

"Your bookshelf must look mighty interesting." Bobby commented.

"Oh you have no idea." I started to laugh, and once I started I couldn't stop.

"What's so funny?" Both the guys wanted to know.

"The Marshals. packing up my bookcase." I was laughing so hard I could hardly talk "Can you imagine? All my books on Killers, forensics, world religions, terrorism, and cheesy harlequin romance novels!" I started laughing so hard I could feel the tears rolling down my face at the idea of some poor schmuck having to pack all that up. 1

The guys didn't seem to know what to say to that, so they just shut up and we all settled in to wait until Tank got home.

1 Please note that the contents of Angie's bookcase are based off of my bookcase minus a few writers' manuals and my husband's extremely complicated Math and physics texts.