This is a continuation of the plot line where Jacoba is teaching Lacey how to defend herself, which was started in the chapter entitled "Defense-SING."

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!

Prompt: "How are you feeling?"

"Well, my eyebrows don't hurt."

Jacoba was hopeful. After their very first "self-defense" training session was derailed (she blamed Caesar and his lack of seeing Miss Congeniality) a few days before, she and Lacey had finally been able to meet up in order to start officially training. And it had been a process, but they were getting there.

It helped that Jacoba had decided to call the hanger "off-limits" to the guys for the first few training sessions, if only to (hopefully) avoid what had happened the last time. Also, Jacoba was fairly certain that Lacey was internally scared that Lee would stop by to just watch (which could possibly throw her off of what she had been doing) and was refusing to come out and say it. Sometimes, Jacoba just really couldn't understand her best friend.

Rolling her eyes, Jacoba refocused her attention on what her best friend was doing. So far, Lacey was doing quite well for how inexperienced she was. After a few more times of practicing some of the moves that they had talked about, Jacoba decided to exercise a bit of pity towards her best friend. "Alright, Lace. Let's call it a day."

Lacey heaved a sigh as she flopped down to lay spread eagle on the floor mats. "Thank the Lord. I don't think I could have done one more rep."

Jacoba scoffed slightly before grabbing the water bottles that she had set out before they had started, setting one down next to her best friend. "I'm sure that you could have done a few more, Lace. Don't sell yourself short."

"Yeah, right."

"Alrighty then. How are you feeling?"

Lacey gave Jacoba a dirty look out of the corner of her eye, obviously attempting to gage whether or not her best friend was being serious or not. After a few moments of silence, Lacey scoffed and slowly sat up, reaching for the water bottle. "Well, my eyebrows don't hurt."

This time, Jacoba scoffed and shook her head as they both took a few swigs of their water in silence. "That won't last. Before long, you will be able to train as long as I do every day."

"I call 'bull' on that, Jacoba."

"Yeah, it might be wishful thinking. Think you can pull yourself off the mat on your own, or do you want me to call Lee to help you?"

"I got it, I got it. And you're driving me home so that I can soak in my tub."

Jacoba chuckled as she looked down at her best friend. "Whatever you say, Lace. Whatever you say."