Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the movie Ten Inch Hero.

000

Lia smiled as she followed Priestly to his car. She couldn't help it. He unlocked the car and Lia got into the passengers seat carefully. She turned to Priestly and smiled a little wider, "So your car doesn't smell like hospital grade cleaners, always a good sign when someone offers you a lift."

Priestly looked at her confusedly. Lia's smile faded slightly, 'Oh god what if he thinks I'm a whackjob,' she thought angrily at herself.

Priestly's confused look changed to a grin, "Oh no, I wouldn't want to risk staining the seats killing them in the car, my garage however…" he winked.

Lia started to laugh loudly and clutched her ribs, "Oww… Oh worth it… but oww…" She managed to choke out.

Priestly looked at her his expression filled with concern, "How about you let me take a look at those ribs, check that they're no broken?"

She just shook her head, "They're not."

"How do you know?" His brow furrowed in concern, "Just a look to see if I should get Trucker to give you a day off. Or get him to look at them."

Lia roller her eyes, 'dammit,' she groaned internally as she lifted up her shirt just enough so he could see her ribs, "You know how suss this must look?"

He ignored her letting out a hiss at the sight of her ribs, he gently ran his fingers over the black, blue and purple bruises. "Damn you sure they're not broken?"

Lia nodded, "Yeah, don't hurt nearly as bad as when they have been broken." She noticed how much concern was in his expression, "Now come on, didn't you promise me an ice-cream?" Lia smiled at him hoping the talk about her ribs was over.

He moved his hand away letting her shirt fall back down, "Yeah, yeah I did. Didn't I? Let's go then."

000

Priestly pulled the car into a stop at his favourite ice cream parlour. Sonny's had the best ice-cream in Santa Cruz, and it being practically on the beach made it all that more popular.

The car had barely stopped before Priestly was up and at the passenger side door. He pulled it open and offered Lia a hand to help her out. She gave him a quizzical look but grabbed his hand and pulled herself up, "Thanks, but you didn't have to." She smiled a little shyly.

"Your ribs look like a freakin' Rorschach test, so yes I really did have to." He couldn't quite place what had come over him but he was enjoying himself, he felt like him for the first time in a long time. Lia joining the Grill had helped him come out of the last of his post Tish misery, and seeing her ribs all busted up just made him want to take care of her.

"So," Priestly dropped Lia's hand after making sure she was steady and locked the car doors, "Wanna eat in the car and go straight home?" He started walking towards the doors of the parlour, "Or sit on the beach for a bit?"

Lia followed him into Sonny's, "Beach would be nice, but I don't want to spoil any plans you might have."

He shrugged and smiled, "It's all good, don't have any. Now pick what you want."

"Bubblegum waffle cone please," She said pulling out her purse.

Priestly rolled her eyes and fished a note out of his pocket, "Usual Sammy," He said handing it to the guy behind the counter, "That's for hers too, keep the change as well man. So how you been?"

Lia stared dumbfoundedly at Priestly while he talked to the lanky male behind the counter.

The guy smiled and rolled his eyes as he moved to get the ice-cream, "We've been over this Priestly, it's Sam. And pretty good, schools starting again soon, second last year there, finally."

Lia stared dumbfoundedly at Priestly while he talked to the lanky male behind the counter.

Priestly grinned, "Yeah I bet your psyched."

Sam nodded, "Hells yeah I am. So how bout you? Things turned around for you then?" He gave Lia a pointed look. She didn't notice because she was busy reading all the different flavours.

Priestly shook his head at Sam, "Not what you think man."

Sam sighed but nodded, "Alright I believe you. We should catch up soon, over a couple of beers." He handed Priestly the two cones.

"Sounds good. Gimme a call, later Sammy," He grinned at Sam who just shook his head chuckling.

"See ya Priestly." He half waved to him, "And seeya… I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?"

Lia looked at him a little surprised, "Lia, nice to meet you Sam." She waved as she followed Priestly out the door.

Priestly handed Lia her cone. She smiled, "Thanks, you didn't have to pay, but thanks."

"I said 'my treat'. Was the only way to get you to take a lift." He smiled as he walked down onto the beach. Lia followed him till he sat down and she joined him.

"So… You broke your ribs before?" Priestly asked licking away at his cone.

Lia just nodded, "Yep."

Priestly stared at Lia till she looked over at him confused, "Normally when people asked about something like that the person answering tells them how it happened."

"Oh… Sorry. Uhm… car accident when I was little. Then again in high school when I fell off a skateboard." She shrugged, "You were right this is good ice-cream."

"Jeez, you broke them twice?" His eyes were wide staring.

Lia shrugged, "Yeah, no big deal."

Priestly shook his head and turned to look at the ocean, "So you love the beach huh?"

"Yeah, its just so… I dunno beautiful here." She was now biting off pieces of the cone.

Priestly nodded, "Yep. That's one of the reasons why I moved here too. Nothing like this in Texas, I mean we have beaches, but the ones here are just amazing."

Lia stared at Priestly, "Texas huh? I'm guessing the way you dress didn't go down well there?"

Priestly finished his ice cream and licked the last few drops off his fingers nodding and chuckling a little, "Yeah that would be reason number two."

Lia nodded and smiled, "So, not that this isn't great. Because it is. But I have a few forms and things I need to get sorted for the start up of classes."

"Yeah. That's fine." He stood up and offered his hands to help her, "Here"

Lia grabbed onto his hands and eased her way up with a hiss, "Thanks."

"No problem. Let's get you home huh?" He started walking back to the car.

Lia followed slowly, smiling.

000

A/N: Been forever but hopefully this long chap makes up for it. Thank you for reading. Reviews are always loved!