Kara Brennan unlocked the door to Mike's office, expecting to find him at his desk, on the phone, drinking. Instead, she found him asleep on the sofa with his arm thrown over his eyes. She touched his shoulder.

"Mike, wake up. Mike."

He bolted awake. "Shit. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just got here and saw your car outside. Did you sleep here all night?"

"Not all night, no."

"Coffee?"

"Please." He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Kara grabbed his takeout from her desk and handed him the cup.

"Thanks."

"Here." She tossed a bag in his lap.

"What the fuck is this?"

"Breakfast."

"This is all the breakfast I need." He held up the coffee.

"All right." She sat next to him on the sofa and pulled out her own breakfast sandwich. "You have two scheduled appointments today—"

"Kara."

"One at ten and the other at three."

"Can I have my coffee first?"

"And a lot of people were here yesterday and said they'd be back today. So, if you plan on leaving all day again—"

"Kara, fuck! Please. I just want coffee right now."

"You have your coffee. I saw what happened yesterday on the news."

"What do I have to do to get you to give me five fucking minutes of silence with my coffee?"

She handed him the other sandwich.

"Eat."

"Fine!" He grabbed it from her hand. "Fuck."

Kara smiled as she bit into her breakfast. Then leaned back against the sofa. Mike did the same.

"Good?"

"Good."

They ate silently for five minutes, then she stood and collected the trash.

"I'll get a fresh pot on for you."

"Thanks, Kara. Sorry about before."

"That's all right. You're not a morning person. I get it. Doesn't mean I won't make sure you're eating."

Mike scoffed. "I eat."

"Uh huh. When exactly?"

"What are you, my mom?"

Kara laughed as she backed out of his office and shut the door. He did seem to like the sandwich. She'd remember that.

—

Mike sat at his desk, head in his hands, rethinking the day. The horrible, fucked up day. It was eight at night, and he'd just sent Kara home. He was starting to feel bad about how long he kept her there.

The outside door slammed, and Mike looked up. He grabbed his gun and eased his way into the waiting area to find Kara fumbling with her phone.

"I thought I told you to go home?"

"I have a flat tire."

Mike sighed. "I'll help you change it."

"I don't have a spare. I'm calling a cab."

"Like hell. I'll take you home."

"Mike, you don't have to do that."

"I'm too fucking tired to argue, Kara. I'm taking you home."

"Ok. Thanks."

Mike grabbed his keys and locked up.

Inside the car, he pulled out a cigarette.

"Mind if I smoke?"

"It's your car."

"I'll roll down the window."

Kara laughed when he pulled onto the street.

"What?"

"Do you know where I live?"

"Shit. No. That would help, huh?"

"It might."

She put her address into his GPS.

"Decent neighborhood," he said.

"As decent as you can get in this town."

"That gives me some peace of mind… knowing you're not in the middle of a fucking combat zone."

They were silent during the drive. Mike's phone rang a couple of times, but he declined each call.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled into the driveway of her small house.

"You wanna come in?"

Mike's fingers twitched on the steering wheel.

"Nah. I've got phone calls to return. Don't wanna keep you up."

"Ok. Thanks for the ride, Mike."

"Yeah." He smiled.

He watched Kara walk up the sidewalk, the gentle sway of her hips, and he waved as she went inside. His head fell back against the seat.

"Fuck."

—

He was hurt. Too hurt to drive home, and the office was out. He was only five minutes away from Kara's, so he took a shot that she'd be awake.

He was torn when he pulled up and saw light from just one window.

"Fuck it."

He got out of the car and rang the bell, then stood back from the door in case she looked out of a window to see who it was.

"Who is it?"

"Mike."

The door unlocked and eased open. When she saw his face, her mouth fell open along with the door.

"Oh my God."

"I'm sorry. I didn't —"

"Get in here."

She pulled him in by his jacket and shut the door. Her hands were on his face, sweeping over the bruises and turning his head for a better view.

"Who did this?"

"Some idiot jumped me."

"Did he get anything?"

"A good fucking beat down with the butt of my gun."

"I'll get ice. Sit down."

He sighed and sank onto her sofa. She came back with an ice pack and gently held it to his face, he could feel his eye swelling already.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

"Just the face. But I was seeing stars. Couldn't drive all the way home. And people were waiting for me at the office. I didn't wanna deal with that shit."

"I'm glad you thought of me, Mike."

He opened his good eye and stared at her.

"I'll get you something for the pain. Hold this."

He grunted as he grabbed the ice pack, and she went to the kitchen. She came back with ibuprofen and water.

"Where's the bourbon?"

"You're not getting alcohol. Drink the damn water."

"Insult to injury," he murmured. But he downed the pills and half the water.

"Lean your head back," Kara said.

She held the ice pack to his face again, resting her hand behind him so that it cradled the top of his head. Her fingers gently brushed through his hair.

"Who's at the office?"

"FBI." He settled deeper into the cushion and sighed. "You're the best assistant in the fucking world."

"I know."

Mike laughed. He grabbed her wrist and pulled the ice pack away.

"You're fucking gorgeous, too."

Kara blushed, but smiled. "Maybe you could try saying that without the expletive?"

"You're gorgeous." Mike smiled. "Nah… it's not strong enough. You are fucking gorgeous."

He sat up and closed his mouth over hers, parting her lips with flicks of his tongue. Kara wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer until he laid her back onto the sofa.

"I thought you were hurt?"

"I'll push through it."

Kara fumbled with the buttons of his dress shirt while Mike pulled off his tie. Then his hands were all over her, running over her hips, squeezing her breasts, sliding up the insides of her thighs.

She yelped when he pulled her pajama pants off without warning, but Mike didn't slow down. He tugged at her shirt until she helped him pull it off, then she was working on his belt while he shrugged out of his jacket and shirt.

"Fuck." Mike stared down at her in nothing but a pair of panties.

"Not if you don't get these pants off."

She winked at Mike, and he smiled before he buried his face in her neck. He kissed down to her chest and clasped onto her breast.

Kara groaned and arched her back, pushing her chest against his face.

"Mike, please…"

Mike undid his pants while his mouth drew moans from her, then he shoved them down to his knees, along with his underwear. He pulled Kara's panties down and off, kissing her legs before positioning himself between them.

He shuddered when Kara moaned as he slid into her.

"Fuck."

He dropped his head into the crook of her neck, and rolled his hips. Kara pulled his face to hers and kissed him. He stilled while they kissed, until Kara moved against him, then he thrust deep. He'd fantasized about having Kara like this, but now that she was under him? Now that he was inside of her?

"You feel so fucking good."

Kara gasped when Mike thrust to drive his point home.

"Ohhhhhhh, fuck!"

Mike smiled. Kara didn't curse much. Hearing that from her lips now was a sweet victory. He picked up the pace, driving into her like his life depended on it. Once she squeezed around him, he was gone.

When he could finally think straight, Mike sat up and pulled his pants all the way off, tossing them on the floor. Then he hovered over Kara, kissing her chin, then her lips.

Kara stretched and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her hands roamed down to his ass.

"Took you long enough," she whispered.

"What?"

"I've been waiting for this for years."

"You're fucking with me."

"Nope."

"Shit. Me, too."

"Yeah?" She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

"Yeah." He kissed her jaw. "Maybe we can do this again?"

"You'd better believe it."