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"One! Two! Three! Go! Go! Go!" Alana hollered as two shots of tequila were placed in front of her and Natalie on the long bar. The girls had celebrated their friendships over a variety of shots for the night at the local bar where every man seemed to be watching them with lusty smiles. But Alana was ignorant as she swayed her hips to the saucy beat of her favorite country songs. Glancing at Natalie with an impish gleam in her teal eyes, they both took licks of salt from the backs of their hands, hurriedly chasing the salt with a shot of tequila, then biting and sucking against a slice of lemon. Biting the flesh of the lemon away from the peel to chase down the burning alcohol, Alana furiously beat her hands on the bar and letting out a whoop of celebration when she finished. "Damn that was good!"

"Holy shit!" Natalie bellowed with a loud squeal of excitement, tilting her head to spit the lemon peel into the bowl in front of her. Grinning at the shouts of appreciation from around her, she turned to look at Alana. "I'm only two shots away from doing a Coyote Ugly--"

"Can you really do that, Natalie? Those dances, I mean?" Alana inquired excitedly as she glanced to the bartender, Randy, who was practically begging for her to get on the bar. She frequented this bar at least once a week for a beer and another excuse as to not go home. And, by the end of her day, by no means of inebriation but for the sheer opportunity of fun, did she jump on the bar to dance. A rare flaw in her usually shy demeanor.

"Hell yes! All you have to do is wiggle your hips and shake the twins," Natalie informed with a grin, accepting another shot from the bartender. Swirling the potent liquid inside, she held her hand out for another coating of salt. She really needed this night. Away from the stress and worry at the hospital. Away from Brian's pleading, soulful looks that only caused her heart to beat faster. He had been understanding, telling her to go out and have fun, slipping her some cash 'just in case' as he'd kissed her so sweetly. Climbing up so she stood on her barstool, she glanced over her shoulder, the alcohol in her system pushing away all her normal apprehension as several catcalls echoed throughout the bar. "C'mon, Alana!"

"That girl is going to be drunk as Hell," Alana laughed as John, a local patron of the bar, hurriedly ran to the jukebox to select Alana's favorite song. Smiling in appreciation, she took the shot that the bartender had made her special - a screwdriver - then pulled herself onto the bar. Standing up, she drank the entire contents and tossed the glass back to Randy. Then, leaning down to adjust the boot cut of her jeans over her cowboy boots, she glanced up at Natalie as she stood to fix her cowboy hat. "Don't fall, alright?"

"Oh, please. I've danced drunker than this," Natalie assured her, reaching to loosen the clip holding her hair up. Tossing the clip to the bar, she kicked it into the crowd, shaking her hair loose until it fell to her waist in soft waves. "When I’m sober again, ask me about the pole dance I did in Italy--"

"Like you'll want to tell me when you're sober," Alana mused, straightening her cowboy hat over her locks, waiting for the particular fiery part of the Devil Went Down to Georgia, launching herself into a full routine that she had learned from watching Coyote Ugly.

Hands on her hips, Natalie followed the routine step for step, her cowboy boots stomping against the wooden bar. She couldn't remember the last time she had fully let herself go, having lived under Leighanne's dictations for so long. Exhilarated, she released a throaty laugh as Alana bumped hips with her, her gaze moving to the opening door of the bar. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw a familiar blonde man step inside, but she was so caught up in the dance she merely looked away.

Coming to a complete standstill just inside the bar, Nick's eyes widened when he saw Natalie dancing on the bar, Alana right beside her. His gaze was riveted to the lean form of Alana, his mouth going dry as he watched the sensual movements. Releasing a grunt when the man accompanying him walked straight into his back, he stepped aside, not wanting to tear his eyes from the display of sexuality.

"Are we in the wrong bar again, Nick?" Howie inquired with a heavy sigh, rubbing his face as he stepped beside Nick. He had spent several hours at the hospital with Brian and Baylee before Nick came hurrying in, pleading for him to go out for the night. He had been caught within jet lag, but agreed nonetheless to the youth. Now starting to regret it as he thought they'd leave again. "Does this one not have the right colored seats? 'Cause I bet there's only two more bars in this rinky-dink town-Who's that dancing with Natalie? And when did Natalie start dancing on bar tops?"

"That's… Alana…" Nick trailed with a grin, grabbing the older man's arm and tugging him towards the bar, grateful he had chosen this bar despite it's out of the way location. Brushing past several other men, who growled with annoyance, he stood directly in front of Alana, staring up at her, his eyes darkening with desire.

"Alana?" Howie repeated with confusion, having not heard all the details about the new woman in Nick's life. Not that he truly cared for the moment as he watched Natalie rotate her hips with her arms swinging above her head. He had to grin as the song changed to Pour Some Sugar On Me. Hearing a softer intrusion of melodies, Howie called above them. "HEY NATTIE!"

Glancing sideways, Alana watched as Natalie glanced down and squealed with sheer excitement. Without any warning, Natalie leapt off the bar into the arms of a short, Latin man, pressing a flurry of kisses to his cheeks as he spun her in a circle. Smiling with amusement at Natalie's excitement, Alana continued to dance on the bar as men chanted her name. Moving to grasp the metal pole at the end of the bar, she curled her legs around it and spun herself upside down. That is, till she came face to face with Nick. Her heart leapt to her throat as she flipped neatly off the pole onto the floor, smiling meekly toward him as she turned around till her back faced him, rotating her hips against his till the song ended.

Gripping her hips, Nick held her close, moving in rhythm with her hips as he lowered his head to her neck for a soft nibble. "Having fun?" he murmured, one hand sliding forward to rest against her flat stomach.

"Like a pervert in the Playboy Mansion," she promised as she felt the building of his arousal against her jean clad backside. Turning in his arms, she settled her black cowboy hat onto his messy blonde locks and draped her arms around his neck. Stepping close into his embrace, she connected her hips against his once more, this time rotating slowly as she leaned up, her lips a hairsbreadth away from his. "I thought you weren't coming?"

"Not at this moment I'm not," Nick moaned softly, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. Dipping his head for a quick kiss he motioned behind him towards Natalie and Howie, though they were the last thing on his mind. "Howie showed up and I decided we needed to go out and have some fun…"

"Didn't you like the other bars you were at?" she continued with an impish glint dancing in her teal eyes. Turning away for a moment, she saw Natalie animatedly motioning toward Randy to bring several drinks to the back booth in the corner of the bar. Natalie then hollered for Alana to join her and Howie, but she turned back to meet Nick's lips once more. "This isn't the best bar in town, y'know. Just the easiest to get to from my house… Or walk back from when I'm a bit drunk…"

"Does that mean you'll let me come home with you?" Nick requested, hands cupping her backside to hold her to him. Nibbling gently on her bottom lip, he leaned back against the bar.

"Nicky, at least bring her to the corner before you start undressing her, okay?" Natalie hollered as Howie led her to the back booth.

"I only bring stray kitties home with me," Alana dissuaded, though she growled appreciatively when she felt Nick's hands tighten against her backside to bring her up into his arms. Tightening her arms around his neck, she pulled her bottom lip away from his teeth, gently running her tongue along the outside of his sweet lips. "But God do I love it when you do that…"

"Do what?" Nick questioned, maneuvering them through the bar to the back booth. Dropping into the empty side, he kept his lips on hers, his hands squeezing her backside tightly. Bringing her closer against his hardness.

"Someone's getting lucky," Natalie announced with a wave of her hand, reaching for the bowl of peanuts.

"I love it when you pick me up like that," Alana explained softly within his mouth, bracing her arms against the booth cushion. Hearing Natalie's loud, high-pitched giggle, she realized that others were watching them. Biting down against his bottom lip, she briefly grinded her hips against his to show her appreciation before kissing him once more. "Your friends are here. Behave."

"I didn't do anything, though," Nick whined, lightly smacking her rear as she slid out of lap to sit next to him. Leaning back, he reached to adjust his arousal, wincing when Howie kicked him under the table. Lurching, he glared at the older man. "Goddamnit, D--"

"You know better than that," Howie warned. "And how about an introduction to your…" He glanced toward Natalie as if he were looking for the nicest word to explain what Nick's women were. But when Natalie shrugged helplessly, he sighed. "-New flavor?"

"This is Alana. My new friend," Nick emphasized with a scowl, returning the sharp kick to Howie's shin. He didn't need the man's interference. At all. "Go back to groping Nat under the table, alright?"

Natalie's jaw dropped, the peanut she had just popped into her mouth falling to her lap. "Howie is not groping--" she cut off with a squeal, playfully slapping Howie's shoulder when his hand landed on her side in a tickle.

"I can't believe you're eating those peanuts…" Alana trailed as she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the mere thought, folding her hands in her lap. She suddenly felt quite out of place as Howie, Natalie, and Nick got into a three way argument, knowing she probably didn't fit into their world. That is, till Randy came sauntering over with a tray of drinks that Natalie had ordered. Setting them down, he then motioned to another employee, setting a small tray of tropical liquor shots, cherries in a bowl, and a can of whipped cream in front of Alana. "Randy," Alana groaned as she reached to shove his shoulder playfully.

"Hey, I don't make the orders, I just fill 'em," Randy explained with a grin, wiping his hands on a towel. "Y'all need anything just holler, okay?"

"Cherries!" Natalie cried with excitement, reaching to pluck one from the bowl.

"Been a while since you had one of those, huh, Nat?" Nick questioned with a smirk, looping his arm around Alana's shoulders as he reached for his beer.

Natalie blanked slightly, the stem of the cherry poking out from her mouth; her lips pursed into an 'o' of surprising. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It was a joke?" Nick offered, lightly grazing Alana's bare arm with his fingers. "I mean, Hell, you dated Fartio, there's no damn way you're still a vir--"

"That's none of your business," Howie growled, sending his foot into Nick's shin once more.

"Which means she's not," Nick muttered, reaching to rub his stinging leg. Glaring at Howie, he saw the warning expression in his friend's eyes, and sat back with a shrug. Not that he really cared. He was just trying to make a conversation, in the hopes it would persuade Alana to talk. Tilting his head slightly, he kissed her cheek gently. "You okay?"

Alana jerked slightly at the feeling of Nick's lips against her cheek, immediately apologizing with a hand to his chest as he flinched in surprise. She had fallen into a world of her own thoughts by accident. Mournful thoughts as she realized she hadn't a clue what was going on with her life. But, seeing Nick's hopeful indigo eyes, she mustered a soft smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Alcohol's a depressant, y'know--"

"Alana! We should get more cherries! These are great to munch on!" Natalie interjected, happily bouncing in her seat as she reached for another.

"They're not for munching," Alana explained softly as she glanced over to the bar to see a few of her male friends holding up bottles of beer to her with wild grins. She shook her head softly as she secretly flipped a bird toward them, causing a ruckus of laughter. They had ordered her the favorite ingredients of her favorite drink - body shots.

"What are they for, then?" Natalie questioned, popping the stem off as she sucked the cherry between her lips. Chewing thoughtfully, she saw Alana's eyes start to gleam impishly and couldn't help but smile as she tossed the stem into her mouth. "Show me?"

"You're eating a stem?" Howie questioned incredulously, quirking one brow. "That's disgust--"

"Here," Natalie interrupted, plucking the stem from her teeth with a smile. Holding it out, she heard Alana erupt into giggles as Howie stared at the perfectly tied knot in the center of the stem.

"I told you she wasn't a virgin!" Nick exclaimed, slamming his beer into the table.

"Nick," Alana sighed, reaching to grasp his face so he would look to her. "I need to show Natalie what the cherries are for. Okay?"

"Okay…" Nick trailed in confusion, quickly jerking his legs away when he saw Howie was about to kick him.

"Okay," Alana agreed with a soft smile, turning to face him within the booth. "I need you to point to somewhere on your body…" Noticing the familiar gleam in his indigo eyes, she cleared her throat. "Upper torso please."

"Well you didn't specify," Nick sighed, glancing down his chest. Shrugging, he pointed towards his chest. His curiosity piqued, he lifted his head to stare at Alana. "Now what?"

"Hold on," she laughed, reaching to undo the buttons of his light blue camp shirt. Revealing his tattooed chest, she reached for the can of whipped cream and a cherry. Spraying a dollop of whipped cream on the very center of his chest, she then offered him the cherry. "Hold this in your mouth, but don't eat it." When he did as commanded, Alana reached for her shot of tropical liquor. Grinning impishly, she leaned down to suck and lick the whip cream from his chest, then chased the frothy sweetness with her liquor, and ended the sensation by delving her tongue between his lips to catch the cherry for them to share. Giving him half to swallow, she leaned back with the stem in her mouth. After a few moments, she revealed her own knotted cherry stem with pride.

"Fuck," Nick whined, reaching with one hand to cup the back of her neck. Dragging her close, he sucked her tongue into his mouth the instant their lips met, his hand stealing inside the top of her spaghetti tank for a quick caress. With his other hand, he grasped hers, bringing it to the straining bulge in his jeans. Shuddering with delight when she squeezed him, he growled against her lips. "Do it again?"

"Oh my God," Natalie breathed, holding one hand over her mouth as she stared at the couple across from her. Her entire body tingled with awareness, and though she knew she should look away, her eyes were riveted to them for one long moment. Slowly pulling her gaze away, she glanced towards Howie, taking a long drink from her bottle of beer. "Want me to do you?"

Howie glanced casually toward Natalie after watching the scene before him, though when his brain recognized the words, he lurched. Sputtering for an answer, he choked on his beer and hurriedly set it to the table. "What?!"

"Where do you want the next one?" Alana purred softly against Nick's lips, pulling her tongue away from his as she stroked his erection through his baggy jeans. The only body shots she had ever done were on her ex-husband and he had never reacted as strongly as Nick. His whine fueled the passion inside her body and for a moment, she forgot that Natalie and Howie existed, nibbling against the corner of Nick's mouth.

"Anywhere," Nick answered honestly, his fingers pinching her nipples hard. Releasing her neck, he slid his hand down her back, whimpering softly when she moved to straddle his lap. Her fingers landed on the button of his jeans, and he smirked against her cheek, the passion mounting fast as her hand easily slipped inside to stroke him gently.

"Do you want me to do a body shot off you?" Natalie clarified for Howie with an impish smirk, placing a hand on his chest. Fueled by alcohol as well as the passionate display across from her, she leaned up, nibbling gently on his earlobe. "Or you can do one off me…"

"Are you serious?" Howie wheezed, unable to believe that Nick was mere inches away from having sex in a public place as Natalie offered him the same. Never on God's green Earth would the rest of the crew believe him, especially as he nervously wetted his lips as he glanced toward Natalie with apprehension. "Brian would kill me…"

"Are you going to do one off of me?" Alana inquired as she heard Howie's sharp wheeze, realizing that Natalie was offering him something. Grinning wryly, Alana leaned back to grab her whipped cream, shot, and bowl of cherries. Continuing to lightly stroke his erection with just the very tips of her fingers, she applied a dollop of whipped cream to his belly button. Offering him the cherry again, she leaned to lick the whipped cream from his belly button. Lingering for a moment to flick her tongue within his belly button, she felt him shudder as she shot the liquor into her mouth and leaned over to share both the liquor and the cherry with Nick.

Nipping hard at her bottom lip, Nick arched against her fingers, easing her top down over one breast. Keeping it cupped in his hand, he dipped his head, tugging the strap of her tank over her shoulder with his teeth. "Can I pick where I do it?" he murmured, bringing his lips back to hers for another kiss. Pressing the pad of his thumb against her hard nipple, he growled, "I want to do one right there."

"Brian…" Natalie repeated, shaking her head in an attempt to clear the alcoholic fog from within her brain. For one fleeting moment she thought that if Brian were there he would no doubt have hustled her away after her first shot. Meeting Howie's eyes with her own, she licked her lips slowly. "It's just a body shot, Howie. Not like I'm going to ride you like a bull at a rodeo."

Howie's dark eyes widened in disbelief as he quickly glanced to Nick, convinced he had seen the light tan of a breast, and then back to the beautiful woman beside him. Was he that stupid? "One body shot and look what it got Nick-I'm in."

"If you're doing a body shot there, can you at least lay me down in the booth so your friends don't get an ample view and my nearly naked body? …Or my friends for that matter…" Alana trailed softly as she shivered against his hold, loving the way he taunted and teased her. Her nails digging slightly into his erection, she reluctantly released him, though she continued to flick her tongue sweetly against his lips. She wanted him so badly. In this drunken state, she couldn't deny it.

Turning, Nick gently laid back in the booth, gasping as her legs straddled him, her body nestling against his tightly as she leaned over him. Taking the can of whipped cream from her, he slowly placed a dollop on and around her nipple, groping blindly on the tabletop for the cherries. Smirking, he placed one between Alana's lips before lifting her breast to his mouth. Swirling his tongue around her nipple, he carefully licked all remains of the cream away before darting the tip of his tongue back and forth over her nipple. Sucking it into his mouth as he heard her purrs of delight, he nibbled at the sweetness of her skin before releasing her. Accepting the shot, he quickly tossed it back, the glass clattering to the floor as he jerked her down for a kiss.

"Thank you," Natalie purred softly, catching Howie's lips for a quick kiss, pulling him with her as she laid back in the booth. Sucking his bottom lip between her teeth for a gentle bite, she released it with a soft sigh when he sat up slightly. Deciding it best to ignore the hardness pressing against her, she wet her lips with the tip of her tongue.

"God, Nattie," Howie breathed in disbelief as his hands settled on either side of her head, bracing himself as she bunched the expensive shirt he was wearing to reveal his bare chest. Reaching beneath the table, he watched in surprise as Natalie ripped the can of whipped cream from Nick's hand. Applying it in an odd squiggle pattern over his chest and nipples, Natalie grinned wickedly. Fingers trembling, Howie placed a cherry within his mouth and handed her a shot. Immediately sucking in a deep breath, he prepared himself as Natalie leaned up to begin the tedious process of cleaning his chest of whipped cream, her tongue skillfully lapping over each nipple to bring it to a tortured peak. Shuddering, Howie watched her take the burning liquor and immediately bent over to push the cherry into her mouth with his tongue.

"The whipped cream has been confiscated," Alana informed Nick softly as she became vaguely aware of the pain shooting up her knees. Taking a deep breath, she pulled away from Nick's lips and adjusted her breasts back into her top before running her hands in the curtain of strawberry blonde locks brushing the small of her back away from her face. "And I better go. I work tomorrow."

"Come home with me," Nick requested with a soft whine as her hands moved to fasten his jeans. Seeing her shake her head slightly, he let her pull him up into a sitting position. Pulling her into his lap, he offered her another gentle kiss, straightening the strap of her tank. "…Let me come home with you, then?"

Pulling away slightly, Natalie traced Howie's lips with the tip of her tongue, nibbling gently at his bottom lip as her hands slid down his stomach. Trembling when he caught her lips in another kiss, she curled her leg over his, drawing him closer. Lightly digging her fingernails in his back, she arched against him, whining softly when Alana's voice broke into her passion induced haze.

"You can't come home with me," Alana disagreed softly as she attempted to unwind herself from his arms, her buzz quickly fading into the reality of her life. Staring into his pleading indigo eyes, she felt her heart lurch slightly with a newfound pain. A pain that she wanted no part of. "I have to get to sleep so I can work tomorrow. I'll get no sleep with you there. Take Natalie home. Get some rest."

"Natalie?" Nick questioned, glancing over at the squirming couple across from them. Looking back at Alana, he released her, reaching to caress her cheek softly. "Howie can take her home… She's in good hands… Want me to drive you home at least?" he offered, not sure he liked the idea of her walking home alone. "I'll just walk you to your door, I promise--"

"Howie," Natalie breathed softly, her entire body shuddering. "Take me home?"

"Alright," Howie weakly agreed, tugging her up by the hands and leading her out of the bar without another word. He obviously assumed that she would direct him to the right car, far too aroused or shocked to care about finding it himself. Even if he was the sober person of the two.

"You should go with them, Nick," Alana encouraged as she watched the pitiful couple stumble to the door, Natalie declaring her evanescent love for Alana before disappearing. "I like taking the walk home. It's relaxing and helps me clear my mind. Honest."

"Alright…" Nick agreed softly as they slid out of the booth. "You've got my number, though… Call me when you get home? Just so I'll know you got there okay?" he requested, dropping a few bills on the table before leading her outside. Seeing Natalie leading Howie through the cars in the lot, he winced, deciding that Howie would be in charge of her for the remainder of the night.

"So you can hear my voice to finish jerking off?" Alana inquired, wrinkling her nose in an adorable manner as she slid her jean jacket onto her bare shoulders to protect her from the cool winds. "No thanks, Nick. Nothing happens to the girls in the country. Trust me. Ain't no one gonna rip me into the woods and rape me viciously."

"Alana, God… Please don't say things like that, okay?" Nick requested with a worried glance towards the darkness past the lot. "Just call me. I'll go sit in a bucket of ice water to keep from jerking off, and--"

"Nicky! Let's go! My nipples are craving some Latin loving!" Natalie shrieked from across the parking lot.

Nick groaned, resting his forehead against Alana's for a brief moment. "Be careful. Call me."

"You act like you'd miss more than sex if I was abducted," Alana laughed, ruffling his locks before pulling away. Tugging her jacket across her chest, she smiled. "See you later, Nickalicious."

*~*~*

"I swear to God that I am never, ever, ever going out drinking with Alana again," Natalie announced slowly, cracking one eye to look at Brian when she heard the soft rattle of pills in a plastic bottle. Sitting up slowly, she offered him a small smile, accepting the pills. Fumbling with the top, she closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath to ward off the nausea that curdled her stomach. Last night's actions a fading memory, she was astounded when she pictured the things she had done in the booth with Howie. Her last coherent image was of falling into the backseat of Nick's car. She had awakened to the pounding in her head to find herself curled in a tight ball in the center of Brian's bed, fully dressed, clutching his pillow. Howie had fervently assured her that nothing had happened between them after leaving the bar, and she knew he had no reason to lie. It had been moments of drunken foolishness, her body craving some sort of attention. She felt horrible for using Howie in such a way, worse still for having deceived Brian. As she swallowed the pills with the juice he offered, her heart clenched painfully in her chest with the knowledge that she could have done something stupid that would have pushed him away from her forever. "You're not mad at me, are you, Bumpkin?"

"How can I be mad when I'm the one that told you to go have fun…" Brian murmured, seating himself on the edge of the bed, watching as Baylee peeked outside into the hallway every few moments to see if Alana was coming back. Unlike Natalie, Alana showed no signs of a drunken stupor, though her cheeks tinged bright red whenever Baylee had mentioned Nick. Brian made sure that he would remember to ask Nick later about how he had compromised his son's nurse. Though, glancing down at Natalie, he felt his heart lurch painfully at the remembrance of the dark purple splotches on Howie's neck. She had all but thrown herself at the older man that night.

"But you didn't mean for me to do… That…" Natalie sighed, chewing on her bottom lip as she leaned back, keeping her eyes on Brian. "I'm sorry, Bumpkin…"

"Well, we all know what happens when you do tequila shots…" Brian teased, lightly rubbing her arm as he leaned to kiss the side of her face. "And Howie's the dead man. So don't worry about it. Just, try not to barf on me, alright?"

"I think I did all my barfing when I woke up… Which reminds me, I need to buy you some new sheets," Natalie murmured, covering his hand with hers. "And don't kill Howie--"

"JJ!" Baylee shrieked from the doorway all of a sudden. His face lighting up, he dragged his IV pole into the hall, waving his unencumbered arm wildly. "YOU HERE!"

"Hey, Snot Face!" AJ whistled loudly as he dropped his bag of presents, leaning down to scoop the little boy into his scrawny arms. Blowing a wet raspberry on the side of Baylee's face, AJ grinned wickedly at the boy's squeals of laughter. After Nick had called him about the concert, AJ had slowly packed and then booked a flight to Kentucky. Sleeping the entire way, he was now refreshed and exuberant, ready to enjoy the visit with his second family. "How's George doing? You taking good care of him for me?"

"George gots ivy like me!" Baylee announced, holding up his splinted arm before pointing to the stuffed monkey lying next to Natalie on the bed. "An' he's gots a new friend… Knot, where Simba?"

"Oh God, I think I sat on him…" Natalie moaned, shifting her weight to one cheek so Brian could retrieve the stuffed lion cub.

"Oh Knot!" Baylee groaned.

"I've seen that face one too many times in the mirror. Little shit-faced there, Nat?" AJ chuckled as he allowed Baylee to dip in his arms to grab both stuffed animals. Pulling him back up into his arms, AJ grabbed the IV pole and shifted them over to a nearby chair.

"Don't ask," Natalie groaned, covering her face with one hand as she shifted in the bed. AJ's high spirits made her feel nauseous, which was dangerous as Brian stretched out next to her, the aroma of his recent breakfast clinging to him. "Why are you so freaking cheerful this early in the morning? Aren't you supposed to be off raping and pillaging?"

"Judging by all those young nurses waiting in that nurses' station, I'll be doing a fair share of pillaging in a few hours," AJ confided with a devilish grin, ruffling Baylee's locks as he was shown the stuffed animals. "But I had to come see my Snot Face first and-Damn did Nick get laid last night!"

Skidding to a stop, Nick wobbled slightly on his feet as he struggled to maintain a grip on his sausage and egg biscuit. Once certain he had a grip on it, he shot a glare at AJ, who grinned wickedly at him. "Th'fuck you talking about?"

"No he didn't," Natalie informed with a small smile. "She sent him home to take care of me."

"She?" AJ blurted with surprise as Baylee wriggled from his arms to get to Nick, obviously searching for half of his food. "So he's back to hunting for women?"

"Guess he wasn't satisfied with what you had to offer, huh?" Natalie returned, tucking her face between Brian's neck and the pillow in hopes of shielding some light from her eyes.

"Go to Hell, Nat," Nick grumbled, giving Baylee his biscuit. "And she didn't send me home to take care of Happy Hands Hayes, that's for sure--"

"Then why did she kick your ass to the curb?" AJ inquired with a smirk, watching Brian physically flinch at the words his friends were teaching his son. Not that AJ much cared as he slouched down in his chair, staring intently at Nick.

"She didn't kick me to the curb," Nick scowled, flopping into the empty chair with as much noise as he possibly could. Propping his feet on the bed, he leaned back, folding one arm behind his head. "She had to work today and said she knew if she stayed in my company she'd get no sleep." Nudging Natalie's leg aside with one foot, he got into a more comfortable position before scooping Baylee into his lap. "But we have plans for tonight--"

"No you don't," Natalie interrupted, her voice muffled against Brian's neck. "When she gets off, she and I have plans to go ride ATVs--"

"Nu-uh!" Baylee interrupted with a sharp shriek of disgust. "My 'Lana is staying here'd wit me 'night!"

"My head," Natalie whined, yanking the blanket up over her.

"What the Hell's wrong with her? She wake up in some stranger's bed or something?" AJ questioned, looking to Brian for clarification. "If she did, it ain't all that bad… Nat? Just get the guy's number, that way you can hit him for child support if you have a kid--"

"Go to Hell, AJ," Brian and Natalie both muttered at once.

"Oho! The plot thickens!" AJ cried with a Cheshire grin. "'Parently our sweet, innocent Natalie woke up in Brian's bed--"

"Sweet? Innocent?" Nick snorted in disbelief. "Not hardly--"

"Can't you two go fondle each other in front of the nurses or something?" Natalie demanded, sitting straight up to glare at the men.

"She was macking on Howie last night," Nick told AJ, matching Natalie's sharp glare.

"At least I wasn't taking my pants down for the entire bar to see what little I have to offer," Natalie shot back.

"Wondered why D wasn't here," AJ mused thoughtfully, glancing out the open door when he heard approaching footsteps. "I talked to him this morning and he said he was in town, so I figured he'd be-Holy shit! Brian, quick, break my leg!"

Natalie growled, "Gladly--"

"That's my 'Lana, JJ!" Baylee cried happily as he finished his stolen biscuit. Hopping down from Nick's lap, he grabbed his IV pole and dragged it hurriedly toward the doorway.

"Hey, my Jungle Boogie Boy," Alana cooed sweetly as she bent to scoop Baylee into her arms. Hoisting him to the curve of her hip, she leaned to check the empty IV bag. Smiling with approval, she affectionately kissed his cheek. Moving to take a seat on the empty chair with Baylee in her lap, she swiftly disconnected the tubing before grabbing the needless syringe of normal saline from her pocket to flush his IV port. "Let's get you off this big 'ol pole, Sweetheart... And I've got to tell you, Baylee, I'm really going to have to lay off rock climbing for awhile and stick to racing horses. My knees are aching something fierce."

Whirling to stare at Nick, AJ raised his brows in question. "What th'fuck did you do with her, man?" he inquired in a whisper.

"He made me crash into the side of a mountain," Alana told AJ, glancing up from her work with an impish smile. Her teal eyes shimmered with a playfulness that Nick hoped he would only know. "It's nice to meet you, my name's Alana."

AJ grinned, leaning forward. "Nice to--"

"Dat's JJ, 'Lana. Knot said once that he's a man whore, but I don't know if dat's good," Baylee stated with an impish grin.

'Thank you, Baylee,' Nick thought triumphantly.

"It's probably good for the women he knows," Alana whispered against the side of Baylee's face, pressing another kiss to his cheek as she unscrewed the syringe from the port. "And you're free!"

"I go p'ay wit' my d'irlfriend now?" Baylee questioned hopefully, wrapping his arms around her neck.

"She's waiting for you in the play room," Alana confirmed, hugging Baylee close as she buried her face in his light curls for a moment of peace. "And Lizzie has requested you take her to dinner tonight. So I'm going to go out after work and get you the best dinner ever and take you to the classy private waiting room for a romantic dinner. How's that sound?"

"Wit' candles?" Baylee chirped excitedly. Sliding from her lap, he scurried to the bedside table, grabbing his father's wallet. Flipping through it, he pulled out a large bill. "Buy her woses? An' a new 'danna?"

"I can do all of that," Alana promised with a nod, glancing to Brian to make sure it was okay before she took the money. At his encouraging smile, she glanced back to Baylee. "What color roses do you want? And what color of a bandana?"

"'Avendar woses," Baylee explained, rubbing his nose. "An' gets her a yellow 'danna?"

"Whoa, Snot Face, you can't get yellow and purple… They'll clash," AJ disagreed. "Get red roses for the first date, always. It tells the lady that you have a passion for her. And the yellow is good with red, so we'll stick with that."

"Red an' yellow," Baylee told Alana with a grin.

"He's so damn gay," Natalie murmured to Brian.

"Alright, Casanova," Alana laughed, leaning to kiss him as he puckered his lips. "Go play with Lizzie and I'll make sure to have everything perfect for tonight - Wait, aren't you buying me any roses?"

"Maybe later," Baylee answered with a secretive smile, patting her cheeks softly before scurrying to the bed. "Daddy, I go wit' Lizzie, otay?"

"Alright, Scooper, you play nice and be sweet," Brian reminded his son, but when Baylee snorted with derision, he had to laugh. Baylee was an honest gentleman when it came to playing with Elizabeth. He always made sure that Elizabeth had the best toy between them and they were playing a game that she liked. Pride could not even compare to what Brian felt in his heart as he watched his son skip off.

"I think I just got turned down by a three year old," Alana murmured with surprise as she watched Baylee disappear, shouting Elizabeth's name.

"I'll buy you roses," AJ decided, reaching for his wallet.

"Excuse me?" Nick choked.

"Get yourself some roses on me, Alana, and maybe you need a date for Snot Face's love fest?" AJ offered.

"I am not buying myself roses with your money," Alana laughed with honest surprise.

"Well how about you tell me what time this romantic dinner is and I bring you roses?" AJ suggested with his most winning smile.

"Excuse me?" Nick choked again, yanking his feet off the bed so fast he dragged Natalie's leg with them. Ignoring her squeal of protest, he sat up, glaring at AJ. How dare the man waltz in and… Show him up like that?

"Six o'clock," Alana answered softly, leaning back against her chair to take a small break. She had been helping the other nurses with their work all day. That is, to avoid Nick and what she had done with him last night. Not that it mattered much, considering when she did see him it wasn't as if they spoke to one another. He really was interested in carnal delights. And, sizing up AJ and his charming smile, she knew he was just the same. Which suited her fine.

"And you'll have to show me where the classy waiting room is," AJ insisted, tucking his wallet back into his jeans before leaning back in his chair. Ignoring Nick's glares, he shifted slightly so he was facing Alana, reaching to adjust his cap as he met her eyes with his.

Nick scowled, moving to get to his feet. "Now wait a damn minute--" his voice dropped into a whine when Natalie's foot made sharp contact with his shoulder, knocking him back. "Goddamnit, Nat--"

"That's for almost sending me off the bed! And she's going TVA'ing with me--"

"ATV, Natalie, and you're in no condition to get on a 4-wheeler. It'll be riding you by the end. So, another day," Alana interrupted, sliding off her chair to affectionately kiss Natalie's forehead. "Feel better-And, if you really do show up tonight, AJ, the waiting room is the one right before the nurses' station and blue and purple tones are my favorite colors and--" Alana yelped in shock when Nick barreled at her like a raging football player, sending both of them propelling out of the room. "See you later, y'all!"

"You're actually going to let him show up to Bay's private dinner?" Nick blurted as he jerked the door shut behind them.

"Why not?" Alana yelped in shock as he pushed her against the far wall, bracing his hands on either side of her. Why he had shut the door to Baylee's room, she had no idea, especially when they were in the vastly open hallway. Though she shrunk against the wall immediately, studying his dark indigo eyes. Was there a hint of possessive jealousy inside his beautiful irises? "He seems like a nice guy and I could use some company with the love birds--"

"You couldn't have asked me?" Nick interrupted. Though he knew that wouldn't have mattered. AJ would do what he wanted, regardless of whose feelings would be upset in the process. At times it felt to Nick that the older man always wanted what he had, whether it be a woman, a car or a dog. But mostly the women. "Maybe I want to buy you roses--"

"You never said you wanted to buy me roses--"

"Because that jackass with the permanent wood didn't give me a chance--"

"Well why would I expect you to even say anything if given the chance when all we talk about is sex anyway?" Alana interrupted, squeaking slightly when Nick took a step forward, pressing their bodies together against the wall. She was so utterly confused when the man came around her. She had tried to tell herself that it was merely about sex. Whenever they saw each other, it always turned sexual. So why was she to worry that he was trying to get to heart? Which she forbid.

"That's not true and you know it," Nick disagreed with a sigh, pulling away.

"Fine…" Alana trailed, watching him take a few steps back before pushing herself off the wall. "I've got some work--"

"Blues and purples are your favorites, right?" Nick interrupted softly.

"Yes…" Alana trailed, glancing up into his dark ocean eyes with confusion. "Why?"

"I just wanted to know," Nick murmured, glancing over his shoulder to see Brian peeking out the door. Looking back at Alana, he lifted his hand, tracing her cheek with the backs of his fingers, ignoring the tight knot of nurses that stared at him from the desk down the hallway. Alana thought he was only interested in sex. Smiling slightly, he traced her lips with his thumb, not knowing how he could prove otherwise.

"You're causing a scene," Alana whispered, leaning back against the wall once more to keep him from knowing that her legs were weak. Feeling his thumb gliding over her lip, so tender and considerate, causing her heart to ache with wanting.

"Well… I'll just cause a bigger one," Nick replied decisively, keeping his eyes on hers as he stepped closer. His heart flipped dangerously in his chest when he heard her soft sigh of anticipation. Dipping his head, he caught her lips in a soft kiss, cupping her face in his hands.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" Alana whispered against his lips as he pulled her closer to intensify the kiss. She was vaguely aware of a flash exploding somewhere, but hadn't the sense to concentrate on it. Far too caught within the feeling of Nick's tongue gently probing against her lips so he might delve between them. Shivering as she circled her hands around his wrists to hold tight, she offered him the chance, sucking playfully on his tongue.

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" Nick returned with a ragged whisper, reluctantly releasing her lips. Smoothing her hair back gently, he lightly kissed the faint remains of his earlier marks. "But I'll let you get back to work now… Blues and purples?"

"Blues and purples," she agreed with a shiver. "But why?"

"You'll find out," he promised, brushing her lips with his before stepping back. "But now you better go get the cows back to work…"

"As long as you promise not to leave me alone with your splintered friend," she suggested with a coy grin, moving in the opposite direction of the gaggle, though they soon came rushing for her with sharp squeals.