Every so often plot gremlins will attack and I will start to write outside of the prompts that I have outlined for myself. Mostly when I'm at work. So, this is one of those interludes.

This is actually a precursor to Chapter 13 entitled "Nothing." I had been thinking about how I could put in the background of how Jacoba and Gunnar had ended up with bloody knees.

The legalities: I do not own any of the Expendables franchise (characters, places, and objects especially) and this is mostly au.Rated M just to be on the safe side.

Also, please don't be afraid to write reviews. I would love to hear from you all!

Hope you enjoy!

"You're out of your mind."

"Jacoba."

"No, Gunnar, I'm dead serious. There is absolutely no way that I'm going to do that."

Gunnar Jensen rolled his eyes as he squared off in front of Jacoba Dixie Kooper, also known as the Amazon to the Expendables. They were standing in the middle of the parking lot for a cave diving or spelunking business. This activity had been his idea. He had thought that it would be a good change of pace for her training. One never knew when they would have to possibly go into a cave, after all. Also, in the very back parts of his mind, Gunnar was thinking that, just maybe, he could subtly use this as a date, since he found that he really liked her but still wasn't sure it she liked him back.

There was one problem with that, however. It would seem that said Amazon was actually a bit claustrophobic. She hadn't actually come out and say it, but it was rather evident by the (very) apprehensive look on her face.

As he was about to say something back to her, he saw that someone was coming up from behind Jacoba. Reading his body cues, she furrowed her brow and turned to stand next to Gunnar. As she faced the newcomer, she tensed slightly as she vaguely recognized him. "Can we help you?"

The newcomer gave a smirk as he came closer, putting his hands up in a surrendering gesture, a move that caused Gunnar to narrow his eyes and move a bit closer to Jacoba, tensing as well. "Aw, come on, sweetheart. Don't be like that, we had a lot of fun that night, didn't we?"

This statement caused Gunnar to move slightly in front of Jacoba, shielding her slightly from view. She scoffed and held in an eyeroll, but still put a reassuring hand on Gunnar's arm before turning to the approaching idiot with a scowl on her face. "Dude, you were a blind date that my friend sent me on. If I remember correctly, you got drunk off your ass and I left before we had even ordered our food. So please, leave us alone."

Jacoba turned to leave, effectively dismissing the idiot. Next thing she knew, the idiot had grabbed her upper arm and pulled her around to him. Before he could say (or do) anything else, he was stumbling back and letting go of her, since Gunnar had punched him. The man jumped toward the Viking and an all-out brawl started as the idiot's friends had joined in.

Fifteen minutes later, the idiot and his friends were being loaded into police cars as Jacoba and Gunnar stood next to his motorcycle, attempting not to smirk as the new prisoners glared at them. Once the cops had pulled away, Jacoba looked over at him.

"We tell nobody about this, agreed?"

"Agreed."