Hey guys!( W.W.T) here again It's been a bit since I've updated. Life kind of kicked me in the proverbial crotch and it took me a bit to get back in the saddle, but It feels good to be writing again. A bit like stretching the kinks out of my back after taking a long car trip... a Very long car tripe With a car full of people I wouldn't want to go on a two minute journey with let alone a several month's long one But all the personal drama in my life aside I'm finally Back. (Yay!) Although before I go any further with this, I'd like to leave a very special acknowledgment and Thank You to My dear Friend YouKai55. Who has helped me get through some very trying times during the last few months of my life, and has continued to be there for me.(I honestly don't know what i would have done with out you.) I would also like to give a shout out to Onxy13 and Wanda Farmer as well as a few anonymous others for spurring me on by asking for updates. And a Big Thank you for Sushan for emailing me a reminder to take some of the more negative reviews with a grain of salt.(I needed that.) Sometimes it's easy to forget that for every flower that crops up in the review mound. There's also a sprinkling of manure scattered through out the pile so best not to leap into it face first and roll around, Unless your looking to get smeared with a handful of crap. On the bright side crap makes good fertilizer and if used properly a few good things can spring up from it. Sometimes you just have to weed through the lot and pick and choose what you want to take from it, Enjoy the positive where you find it and try not to take any of the negative stuff to personally. Now that all of that's out of the way Please enjoy the next chapter of Mars needs mates.

Disclaimer: Let's face it folks if I owned them Vinnie and Charley would have been as all over each other as the sensors would have allowed at the time, as well as married before the end of the second season, And Modo and Throttle would have been well on their way to being hitched before things were said and done as well, but Just to be on the safe side. Bmfm not mine,This Story itself and the Oc's within it however are. I make no Money from this Zip,Nadda,Zero and it is for fun and entertainment purposes only.

[Chapter 14] (Of Love, War and Starships)

Even though they'd only been gone on patrol for a few hours Modo felt a surge of impatience to see Chair again as they reached the familiar section of street leading up to the last chance. That had him revving Hoss's engine and pulling slightly ahead of the tan furred male beside him as the garage finally came into view. "Feeling a little eager to get back Bro?" Throttle called after him with a chuckle , a knowing smile spreading across his face.

Modo just grinned as he glanced over his shoulder at the remark unruffled at his Bro's teasing "Can you blame me? I've got some pretty good and very pretty incentive waiting for me today." He called back before looking down sharply in surprise as Hoss gave a low discontented sounding rumble at the statement as they tore down the short stretch of asphalt leading up to the last chance.

"Now don't you go frettin' none darlin' –this mouse has more than enough room in his life for two pretty Ladies"." Modo soothed chuckling softly as he gave the slightly jealous bike a reassuring pat, as they pulled up in front of the last chance slowing just long enough for the garages automatic door to lift enough for him and Hoss to clear it.

Modo glanced around the garages interior as he brought the AI infused bike to stop just inside the doors and quickly dismounted. Reaching up he removed his helmet and glanced around the running his left hand over his freshly freed antennas as they sprang up in relief. His mind distractedly registered the sound of Throttle pulling into the garage behind him. His wandering gaze briefly coming to rest on his Youngest Bro, were he was currently leaned up against Chair's desk talking with her and Charley. Once more dressed in his usual attire, Before finally settling on the small curvy female standing behind the desk.

Modo grinned as he made his way over to the group, "Aw-and you looked so colorful and pretty too-You know I think you should make glitter a part of your everyday wear Bro."He drawled with a chuckle unable to resist the urge to rib the white furred male a little more.

Hardee-Har Har- laugh it up… You know I've gotta pretty colorful suggestion for that helmet of yours." Vinnie shot back dryly making a rather crude Martian hand gesture in his direction, out of direct sight of the women.

Modo snorted in amusement at the action as his gaze moved past the white furred male to meet Chairs sea green eyes as he absently replied "Come on now not around the ladies- your Mama raised you better."

Vinnie's humorous expression shifted at the comment, his mouth thinning into a tight lipped smile that lacked its usual light hearted edge. "No Bro-I think that would be your Mother your thinking of." He answered the comment ringing oddly flat despite the flipness of his response.

Modo suppressed a flinch at his own misstep and reached up to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. He knew better than most that you didn't bring another mouse's Mama into things, and given his youngest bro's history he also knew he'd more than just brushed a nerve for him.

Charley glanced sharply between the two mice immediately picking up on Vinnie's sudden shift in demeanor along with the tension that had replaced the playful vibe from moments before."Vin..You know I didn't mea-" Modo started, as Throttle moved up beside him. "Its fine." Vinnie said cutting him off as he pushed away from the desk and headed out of the room.

"Hey wait a second what's wro- Ouwff!" Charley said starting after the white furred Martian only to come to sudden stop as Throttles tail wound through one of the loops on her belt holding her in place.

"You know one of the gyro's on Lady sounded like it might be working itself loose again- you wouldn't mind giving her a quick once over would you Charley Girl? " Throttle asked heading off the Auburn haired female's immediate protest, Sparring a quick glance in Modo's direction out of the corner of his eye as he tugged the still protesting mechanic closer, and draped an arm around her shoulders to steer her in the opposite direction from the one the younger Martian male had just taken.

Modo's ears dipped back uncomfortably, not really needing to make out the look in the other males eyes to pick up on the hint of silent reproach that had been hidden behind the dark green tint of the tan furred Martians field specs.

"What just happened?" Chair asked baffled as she glanced in the direction the white furred male had just gone, then back after the retreating duo.

"I went and stuck my big ole foot in my mouth is what happened." He muttered closing his eye and reaching up to rub at the back of one ear, breathing out on a low sigh as he set his helmet down to rest on top of a stack of files on the desk, and turned to face the curly haired female standing next to it."I hit a sore spot." He added noticing the puzzled look that had appeared on Chairs face at his statement. "What do you mean?" She said looking up at him in confusion.

"I brought up his Mother." Modo replied absently his tail swishing agitatedly around his feet as his gaze strayed towards the door the white furred male had disappeared through with a touch of regret."Why would that upset him?" Chair asked, her continued bafflement at his answer apparent on her features.

Modo was hesitant to say anymore on the matter seeing as it wasn't strictly his to be sharing…but Chair was a part of their group now and she had more than proven herself trust worthy since they'd first meet. Besides from the sound of things on the other side of the garage it wouldn't be long before the redheaded mechanic wore her own answers out of the tan furred male anyway. So after a few more seconds' internal debate he went on. "Vin's parents are both a bit of a sore subject for him…His mom in particular."Modo said shifting uncomfortably as he gazed down into Chairs upturned face,watching the curiosity written there shift first to understanding then sympathy. "Oh…did…they die in the war?"She asked hesitantly her voice becoming soft.

Modo looked down and scratched idly at the back of his left wrist as he gathered his thoughts. Truth be told each of them had lost an untold number of family and friends over the course of the fighting and he wasn't sure if there was a even soul left on their planet who hadn't been touched by it and suffered a loss of a loved one, due Directly or indirectly to it. Although the details concerning Vin's Mothers death weren't actually connected to it for a change, but that hadn't really made them any less traumatizing for the young mouse."His dad did…but his Mom actually died in an accident a few years before the start of the fall. When he was about four quarter rotations-"

"Quarter rotations?" Chair interrupted her expression puzzled again."Sorry… a Martian year is actually a little longer than one on earth so ages and things are measured a little differently - Four quarter rotations on mars is the same as four years would be on earth...Modo explained , reaching up to scrub a hand tiredly across the side of his muzzle."Oh…I see." Chair said "What happened to her?" she prompted gently when the large male fell silent again.

"Vins dad was a bit of a hotshot racer back in the day-." He started "Go figure." Chair muttered humorously, earning a small smile from the grey furred male despite the grim topic, before he went on.

"As I said Vins old mouse was a racer-Nothing major no official awards or anything but he had a reputation for pulling off some pretty difficult moves on some of old dirt stripes back on Mars. Most of them airborne in nature earned him a bit of a following and the nickname The Flying Ace. Vin's Mom Storm used to do basic repairs and make adjustments on his bike for him and the other sandtails… and canyon jumpers that liked to race out on the desert backstretches…." He paused trailing off as it occurred to him that,that was probably a bit more info than needed but after a moment he just shrugged it off and went on.

"I don't really know much of the details outside of what I was told later on…but I do know Vin was with her when it happened. He was just a little tyke then and pretty traumatized by it all -Nobody could really get much in the way of anything about it out of him afterwards." He left out the fact that the younger Mouse hadn't actually spoken at all for nearly a full month after it happened. Which for Throttle and Modo (Who new better than most just how unnatural being silent for even a few minutes usually was for him) had been more telling about how distraught the younger mouse really was, then anything he or anyone else could have possibly told them at the time.

Modo's thoughts turned further inwards as the image of Vin's withdrawn state those first few days after WindStorm's death pulled itself to the front of his mind and how the ususually uncontrollable energetic Young mouse had just sat quietly the look in his eyes distant and hollow as he starred at nothing in particular. The memory making grey furred male suddenly wish for something to lash out to relieve the uncomfortable tight feeling that had taken up residence in his limbs. At his own self directed frustration at the slip up on his part. That might have even briefly dredged up that particular bitter memory for his younger bro. Over the years the three of them had seen, experienced, survived and even done things that no one should have to,and somehow come out swinging and joking like always, but even so. There were still a handful of particularly painful areas and topics from all of their lives, that they all tried to steer clear of for each other.

The irritated flick of his tail against the side of the desk was the only outward sign the Martian male gave of his self derision though as he went on "I was only a few rotations older than him, just a Kit myself. So nobody really told me anything about it directly …but from the bits and pieces I overheard. Something went wrong with one of the bikes she was working on at the time…one of the parts ruptured under presser and a piece of it blew out somehow and caught her in the throat…she was gone before anyone really realized what had happened.

Chair cringed, her hand reflexively going to her own neck "…and Vinnie saw all of that?" She said more as a horrified statement than an actual question."Yeah…"Modo confirmed grimly "His old mouse took it pretty hard to, Slipstream was absolutely Crazy about Storm… and he just sort of derailed after that… Couldn't really cope with anything- Let alone taking care of his own kit. As a result Vin spent a good portion of the following year bouncing back and forth between mine and Throttles places." He added gazing off as his mind drifted back over the memories.

Modo honestly only vaguely remembered how the usually playful and Jovial Slipstream had slipped further and further into depression with each day that passed following Storms death,and how nothing any mouse said or did seemed to pull him out of even Stoker had been able to reach him and from what he understood the two of them had almost been as close as actual brothers, but no one and nothing had gotten through to the desolate mouse.

Well no one and nothing-That is until Modo's usually sweet tempered little Grey furred Mama had finally decided enough was enough, and hunted Vin's father down herself at one of the local taverns he'd been frequenting.

Despite the grim subject the Stone furred Martian couldn't help the smile that twitched the edges of his mouth up at the corners, as his mind drifted back to the memory of his Mama pausing to straighten his shirt collar for him before patting his cheek and telling him to wait with Vinnie a moment, Before turning to walk into the particularly unsavory looking establishment they had stopped in front of, as if she was simply running an everyday errand.

Modo had starred after her curiously a moment as she disappeared through the unfamiliar slightly rusted and beat up door watching it swing back and forth curiously for a minute or two before he had gotten bored and glanced away to let his gaze wander around the handful of bikes and vehicles located outside. Absently using his tail to reach out and snag the back of a young Vinnie's belt loop when he started to edge towards one of the larger three wheeled journey bikes favored by some of the locale traders resting near them. The air huffed out of the smaller mouse in a startled woosh as he was jerked to a sudden stop. "Hey! What gives!?" He half whined as he turned to glare over his shoulder in annoyance at the larger kit. "Mama said to wait- 'S,ides you 'member what happened last week when you tried to go for a ride on Stokes bike without him?"Modo asked glancing sideways at the younger white furred male. His words causing the adventurous kit to hesitate as he recalled the event in question. Grimacing he reached around to absently rub at his backside as he apparently remembered the pain of being thrown nearly a full twelve feet straight in the air by the AI driven bike, before landing smack on his tail in the nearest sand dune.

Modo fought back a grin at the action knowing the other kit had only recently reached a point where he could actually sit without flinching. About that time the sound of raised voices followed by bang of the metal door his Mother had disappeared behind only a few short minutes before flew open to slam against the wall drew his and Vin's attention.

As his barley four foot nine, Tiny and demure Mother suddenly reappeared in the doorway dragging the protesting six foot two-Two hundred and twenty pound Slipstream out by the ear behind her as if he was a naughty kit.

releasing the sputtering mouse when they reached the street, Modo's Mother had then quietly turned and stood in place as the much larger male immediately started to grip about the treatment. Her expression seemingly bored she had allowed him to carry on for a minute or two more, before calmly rearing back and punching him squarely in the jaw as hard as she could, while simultaneously whipping out her tail to knock his feet out from under him.

Modo and Vinnie had stared on wide eyed( along with half the street.) As his deceptively dainty looking little grey furred Mama had then followed the action up, by planting her foot squarely in the center of the larger male's chest as he starred up at her in shock. Leaning over him slightly she had then asked in an almost terrifyingly sweet voice -if she had his full attention.-

Giving the rather stunned looking mouse a few seconds to nod his assent, she had then started to talk about, of all things the day Storm discovered she was pregnant with Vinnie, and about how the usually headstrong and self assured female had suffered an attack of nerves at the realization and had shown up at Roses home in a state of panic over how she was going to break the news to him.

It had taken a little bit but once she was able to piece to the situation together from the almost incoherent stream of babble that had been pouring on loop from the distraught younger mouse female since her arrival, Rose had eventually managed to help calm her misplaced fears.

Rose had slowly taken her foot off the large males chest, and finished by telling him, that she had spent the better part of that afternoon personally reassuring WindStorm that he was going to be a good Father, and Unless he wanted her to follow him into every single bar to drag him out by the scruff of the neck for the rest of his damn life. Then he needed to pull his head out of the vicinity of his tail and quite making a liar out of her, because if Storm could see even a third of the Shit he had been pulling, while foisting their son off on whichever random friend or family member he had been able to talk into keeping him since her death it would break her damn heart.

Modo's jaw had dropped and his eyes had nearly popped out of his head, even as Slipstreams own had widened in surprise, because anyone who even vaguely knew anything about his Mama knew that she never swore in any way form or fashion- Ever.

But as shocking as that and the rest of the situation was. It was the following portion of the conversation that had really cemented the whole incident into his young mind. When his Mother brought the death of his own father into the conversation. Something she had done very rarely over the course of his life unless directly prompted.

The young grey furred kits, antennas and ears had both perked up as he took in the sudden shift in his mother's body language and poster as she met Slipstreams gaze. Starring down at him her expression had been almost deceptively at ease except for a slight tightening around her mouth and eyes, her jaw working back and forth for a moment as if she was chewing something particularly unpleasant, before she finally started to speak again her voice dropping down to a barly audble Modo had to strain to pick up.

" I understand better than most what you're going through. When Coal died it felt like somebody went an jerked the dirt right out from under me….It didn't feel real at first and I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Then when it did finally sink in that he was gone. It was like I'd been sucker punched all over again, and part of me just wanted to curl up and die too… but I wasn't the only one he left behind- Rose said her soft voice briefly thickening as she looked back towards were the two Martian kits stood watching them curiously settling briefly on Modo before she turned back to face Slipstream. "I know you miss her… and I know your hurtin—but… you're not the only one who lost her." She murmured blinking rapidly as she trailed off her suddenly glossy looking eyes moving to study the bare patch of dirt between her and the still prone mouse.

Slipstream stared quietly at Rose for a moment more. His own expression oddly blank as his gaze strayed past the now silent Martian female, down to where a young Vinnie was nervously fidgeting next to the older grey furred kit. After a bit the brown furred male had climbed slowly to his feet and made as if he meant to move around the small female, hesitating in place next to her for the barest instant his mouth opend and closed as if searching for something to say. His tail moving marginally in her direction at the same time as if to brush against her leg,but it stopped a centimeter or two away from making actual contact. The Sandstones colored male suddenly wincing as his antenna gave an almost imperceptible twitch,and he immediately dropped it back down again. His jaw clicking shut on whatever he'd been about to say as he glanced away and continued past her. Moving to stand directly in front of where Vinnie apparently bored and uncomfortable with the conversation was absently swirling his tail through the dust on the road.

Drawing zigzags and patterns in the loose silt near his feet, Until Modo jabbed him sharply with his elbow to get his attention, causing the younger kit to rub his side in irritation as he glanced up to scowl at him. Until he became aware of his father standing in front of him his eyes widening in surprise before nervously traveling up to meet the brown furred male's unblinking gaze.

The expression on Slipstreams face had slowly shifted, his eyes briefly narrowing as he starred down at the fidgeting male kit. Who after a second had stopped moving under the close scrutiny and crossed his arms and tipped his head back and jutted his small chin out cockily as he meet his father's gaze. Slipstream had snorted in amusement at the act a reluctant grin curling up the corners of his mouth and a mix of broken hearted pride flashing across his face at the small show of attitude as he carefully studied his son as if he was just seeing him for the very first time.

"Your mother always did say you took right after me…."He murmerd softly pausing as Vinnie uncrossed his arms and starred up at him in confusion. "But I beg to differ." He went on his lips twisting up in a wry smile even as his voice deepened slightly. "That attitude right there—that's all her." he added with small laugh reaching out to ruffle the baffled Vinnie's ears who had wrinkled his nose at the action before glancing over at Modo. Who had merely shrugged back at him in equal confusion chalking the whole thing up to just more grown up weirdness. "Ook?" Vinnie said still puzzled and feeling a bit as if he was missing something. Whatever confusion he was currently feeling cleared quickly however when the wind shifted slightly in their direction. Carrying the scent of fresh seared Saber squid towards them and causing the young mouse's nose to Visibly twitch as he glanced in the direction of the nearby food vender stalls. Never one to pass up an opportunity to eat when it presented itself Vin had immediately pushed the whole odd situation with his Dad and Modo's Mom's to the back of his thoughts as something to puzzle over at a later time. "Can we eat?".He blurted looking back up at his father. The abrupt shift in topic causing a startled laugh to break from the larger brown furred male as he straightened back up. "Guess I really can't expect you to understand all of this at your age." he muttered under his breath his expression twisting up into amused disbelief as he looked up towards the clear expanse of the Martian sky. "Yeah we can eat." he replied ruefully reaching up to rub at the back of his head then glancing back over his shoulder towards where Rose stood waiting "That bottomless appetite of his is definitely all yours" She said wryly the grin that twisted up her own mouth still holding a edge of sadness to it, even as she shook her head in exasperation. "I think I can add a few more mouths to the bill, Since I'm the reasons everyone's tails are out here at this hour. That is- If you're willing?"Slipstream murmured stiffly the awkward way he held his body, betraying his discomfort at the underlying tension that was still between them. Dropping his arm back down, he tipped his head questioningly in Roses's direction.

Rose snorted softly her ears giving an almost imperceptible twitch of amusement. "I'll accept that offer,but You can think again. If you're of a mind that you can just buy your way back into my good graces with a few cubes of charred meat."She added gesturing for an equally hungry Modo to precede her as they followed the brown furred male over to one of the stalls.

It hadn't really been an immediate or easy change, but something his Grey furred Mama said must have gotten through to Vin's father because that day had marked a significant shift in Slipstreams behavior and relationship with Vinnie. Unfortunately they still hadn't had much in the way of time together only a few rotations really. Seeing as this had happened right before the growing influx in fighting in the War against Plutark had forced the Martian army to put out a call for reserves, but in the short time leading up to his reenlistment. Slipstream did take a more active interest in his son. Although once his father left to join the fighting, Vin had still ended up alternately staying with him and Throttle again. Whenever the older brown furred male was deployed, But Slipstream had made a point to make regular contact and check up on him, whenever possible…right up until the day before his entire platoon was listed as casualties of an accidental equipment malfunction with a tetra-hydra carbine canon.

- Of course by that point there had been to many supposed equipment malfunctions for anyone with any sense to believe it, but it wouldn't be revealed for nearly a week after the start of the fall that Slipstreams unite had actually been some of the first victims of a new type of incineratory bomb that had all the power and radius of a nuke but none of the less then desirable effects on the soil a nuclear blast would leave, as it only affected organic matter.

Just one had been able to clear over half a city nearly instantaneously,leaving few to no survivors in its wake. Nightmarishly devastating they were simply given the label Death flashes by the Martian army and populace… because all you ever saw was a bright flash of light and it was over.

Modo had never witnessed it himself, but there had even been stories of mice stumbling upon the perfectly preserved ash silhouettes of some of the casualties near the center of the drop points, locked in their last moments. Families huddled together in corners and under tables; Mother's reaching for their children and Fathers desperately trying to shield loved ones from the unstoppable wave.

The only saving grace was that the ingredients to create the bombs had come almost exclusively from one particular asteroid cluster that the mice had managed to take out, before the majority of Mars's existing Space craft's had been destroyed. It hadn't been enough to stop the worst of the destruction, but it had at least put a halt to the mass genocides that had been caused by the innocuous looking charges.

A light touch brushing gently against the back of his non-mechanical hand had Modo jerking in surprise before glancing down sharply to stare almost uncomprehendingly at the small pink digits lightly resting against the backs of his own. Feeling slightly muddled he realized he must have gotten lost in his own thoughts and memories at some point during the conversation and had stopped talking.

He slowly blinked and tried to reorganize his scattered train of thought, as his troubled gaze met Chair's reassuring one "I'm sure Vinnie knows you didn't mean to bring up a painful memory. Besides-you three are too close to let something like this drive a wedge in-between you." She said oblivious to the bleak path his thoughts had taken, as she threaded her much smaller fingers through his. "Come on." She added giving his hand a gentle tug and gesturing with her head towards the Garages living quarters. "Charlie cooked breakfast today so I figure it's only fair I make lunch and I could use an extra pair of hands to help me.""Hand's huh?...That really all you need me for?" Modo joked weakly, trying to push the grim memories from his mind, and focus his attention fully on the female before him.

"Weeelllll…" Chair drawled. Exaggeratedly tapping one of the fingers from her bandaged hand against her chin. "I suppose you could bring the rest of you too" She finished with an emperies flourish of her hand in his direction, a grin breaking across her face as she scrunched her nose and fought not to laugh.

Modo chuckled softly at her and reached out to carefully capture the gauze wrapped limb, gently bringing it up so he could examine a frayed strand dangling from the side of it. "Alright but first let's see about getting this changed."He said moving his grip down her arm to pull her towards him, settling her against his side as he placed his hand in the small of her back to guide her towards the small nook where the first-aid kit was stored.

Chair blinked up at him in surprise as they headed in the direction of the little alcove. "oh…I'm not sure that's necessary . I mean we just put it on yesterday…so-uh…" She trailed off as they reached their destination and he gently but firmly nudged her towards the stool next to a small work table, before turning to snag the kit off the shelf it was located on. "Well I am." He said his voice rumbling softly as he turned back around and to her surprise carefully lifted her up onto the table before taking a seat on the stool himself. "Even small burns can get infected easily and the dressings need to be changed regularly."

Startled at suddenly being lifted up as if she was a small child, Chair wrinkled her nose slightly as she starred at him from her new vantage point,and Watched as he bent down to rummage in the kit, lining his antenna up eye level with her. Her fingers twitched involuntarily as she watched the bobbing red appendages with a growing sense of déjà vu. "Modo?" She started drawing the grey furred males attention."Hmm?" he hummed without glancing up from the tub of antibiotic ointment he had just pulled from the kit."Just how sensitive are your antennas? she asked glancing briefly back up at them.

Taken a bit off guard Modo paused. "Huh? " He blurted looking back up to blink owlishly at the small curvy female perched on the table in front of him."well you mentioned before that they were sensitive and, I was wondering if it hurts if someone touches them?...or I guess what I'm really asking is if I hurt you…before?" Chair babbled nervously as he continued to stare at her with mild bewilderment.

The confusion on his face clearing Modo gave a low chuckle and went back to studying the tube in his hand. " No you didn't hurt me-and short of backing over me with that truck of yours. I really don't think you could." He said His voice rumbling with humor. "You just… caught me a bit by surprise that day was all. They do have a lot of nerves in em' and they're pretty sensitive, but when I brought that up before it had more to do with how much more we can actually pick up when there's direct contact with that particular part of us and another person. On Mars With the exception and necessity of a quick information share like Throttle did with you and Charley Ma'am, that kind of contact is usually sort of reserved for close clan mates or couples." He answered distractedly, glancing back down at the tube to make sure it was the one he needed. His mouth slowly moving while Squinted at the ant sized lettering scrawled along the side in annoyance.

In most ways he had adjusted fairly quickly to the absence of his left eye managing to compensate for the difference in his depth perception when aiming in battles. And with the exception of when something happened to draw direct attention to it, or when he had to remove his eye patch to clean the socket beneath it he really hardly ever thought about it anymore—Except when it came to reading fine print of any particular type. The fact that what he was currently trying to make out was in another language, just made it that much more of a pain for him. Reassured that he had the right one Modo went back to rummaging in the kit for the gauze. He probably should have been expecting her next question but once more the little earth female still managed to catch him by surprise.

"Couples huh? So… does that mean it would technically be ok if I touched them now?" she asked watching as the Martian male jerked slightly and fumbled the kit nearly dropping it as the plastic box slipped from his mechanical hand. A few of the band aids flutterd out before before he managed to snag it with his tail. The whip like appendage reflexively wrapping around it and snapping the lid shut, as the large male refocused his startled gaze back on Chair once more"I uh..- I guess-" he stammered as he regarded her a moment, clearing his throat. "if you want to …"he finished sounding a little more like his usual self.

Despite his permissive response, The large males slight stammer coupled with the wide eyed stare he'd shot her way when she'd first asked had Chair thinking that there was a bit more to the whole thing then what the stone furred male was letting on… but now that the opportunity to satisfy some of her personal curiosity had finally presented itself again she couldn't really bring herself to pass it up.

Besides they'd already kissed. Heck! for that matter. They'd both been a little less than a step away from checking each other's teeth for cavities, with her climbing halfway up him like a furry tree while they were at it, so really?So How much more intimate could just touching one of his antenna's really be? She wondered as her gaze strayed from the Martian males wide eyed stare back up to the two bobbing appendages sprouting from the top of his skull.

(Still maybe I should wait?) She thought distractedly as she watched one of the cherry red extremities twitch under her close scrutiny, but her hand was already in the process of reaching up to touch it even before the thought had completely passed through her mind.

Still a sudden hitch in the large males breathing had her hesitating right before the tip of her finger made contact. Freezing Chair's hand hovered in place as her gaze once more returned to his, but she was unable to judge by his current expression alone if he was truly comfortable or not.

as if sensing her internal debate Modo narrowed his eye at her thoughtfully a moment, before he moved down the last bit himself, Bringing the top of the red appendage into full contact with her waiting fingers a second before she went to pull her hand back.

Chair fought the initial urge she experienced to snatch her hand back in surprise, but her own natural curiosity quickly overrode the knee jerk reaction, as she slowly began to run her fingers down the side of the pencil thick extremity.

The first thing she really took notice of was how unusually smooth the texture of the skin felt, as she drug the pad of her finger along the underside of it, making her think of an odd blend somewhere between wax paper and leather. The second was how much warmer than the rest of him it was. The heat radiating from it increasing as she trailed her fingers down it, Becoming almost feverishly hot as she neared the base where it connected to his skull. She wondered absently if the heat had something to do with the lack of fur, and unbidden her mind strayed towards what other parts of the Martian male were likely to be void of fur and warm to the touch.

Almost as soon as the hazy thought had taken form both of Modo's antenna's twitched in a violent spasm, his cheeks visibly pinkening through his fur, as he immediately reached up to tug her hand back down.

Embarrassed and wondering exactly just how much of that particular stray thought he had been able to pickup through the contact. Chair started to apologize only to have the words die a quick death before they could fully form as Modo's gaze locked with hers, and a frission of sexual awareness traveled the length of her spine at the look that had appeared on the Grey furred males' face, the heated sensation twisting and coiling around to pool lower in her abdomen. Any expectation she might of even remotely held of the Martian male being flustered or disconcerted by what he had likely just read from her flew out the window at the expression on his face. And the edge of hunger and longing etched on it as he stared steadily back at her. His thumb gently tracing a path across the back of her wrist, that had the nerves along that particular small stretch of skin taking notice in a way they never had previously. The silence between them stretched on for what felt like an almost endless moment, before the large male cleared his throat once more and glanced to the side allowing her to tug her hand free of his grip.

"Lets see about finishing getting that hand taken care of and re-bandaged." he rasped huskily grabbing the tub of ointment and quickly uncapping it. Chair suppressed a wince as he the preceded to unwrap and clean the small strip of blistered flesh along her right hand, a part of her relieved despite the stinging discomfort to have something else to focus on momentarily.

Modo unwound a decent sized length of the bandage. Absently using his teeth to quickly sever the white strip of cloth, before rapidly starting to rewrap the burn on Chair's hand. "Sorry force of habit from field dressing"He murmured sheepishly, Noticing the startled expression that appeared on the blond females face at the action. Chair blinked a bit in surprise but other wise took the answer in stride. Nodding with out comment as she watched him continue to wrap her injured limb in record with his task the grey furred male took a small step as Chair tested out his 'Handy'work. Chuckling internally to himself at his own mental pun, he paused as a thought came to him.

"Lets do something fun together tomorrow, just you and me." He suddenly asked watching as she flexed her hand experimentally in the new dressing.

Chair wobbled slightly on edge of the counter as she turned towards him in surprise at the statement. "S-Sure-I mean-Of course! I'd love that!"

"Great."He answerd with a grin,reaching out and placing his hands on her waist to steady her. "I'll talk with Charley and see about getting you a little time off."Modo's heart jumped in his chest a bit at the Smile that spread across the smaller females face at his suggestion.

"That sounds perfect. I'd love to!"Chair exclaimed (Wow! I can't actually remember the last time I went on a date- Crap! What should I wear?) She thought giving an excited bounce. The action causing the stone furred male to laugh as he lifted her down from the counter before she could take a tumble off of it. "Alright" he murmured with a low chuckle. Bending down to nuzzle against the top of her head enjoying the slightly sweet tangy smell he now knew was the green apple scented Shampoo she favored , mixed with her own scent, before pulling back to lean his forehead against hers. "Six sound Ok?" He asked While looking into her eyes."Uh?...Oh! sure. I mean of course. That woul-" Chair started distractedly by the grey furred males close proximity. Subcouncisely leaning in slightly in anticipation of a possible kiss her head tipped back as she went up on tiptoe, Only to trail off into a startled sputter as Modo suddenly straightened back up, and went on absently, Apparently not noticing. " 'Course six might be a bit to late to be head'en out. We really out to probably go around three…"

"uh-well six sounds fine to me-but if you want to go sooner-"Chair started again only to pause as it occurred to her that she had no idea where or what exactly the Martian male had in mind."Well if you think you'd prefer six" Modo commented distractedly,as he mentally began going over the list of items he was going to need to pick up for the next day.

"Wait? Where are we-…" Chair broke off as her inquiry was suddenly cut short by an excited yell from Vinnie reverberating through the garage "Hey! You slow pokes get your tails out here! I just saw a handful of limburgers Lackeys ride by and on top of reak of fish I smell some action!"

Modo tried to tamp down on the flare of frustration that struck him at yet another interruption from the White furred male, to his and Chair's time together. (I'm starting to sense a reoccurring theme here) He thought in annoyance , but on the plus side he was at least relieved to hear his younger bro seemingly back to his usual brash self. "Sorry Darlin duty calls." He said a note of apology entering his voice, as he reached for his helmet,Trying to suppress the disappointment he felt at having to leave out again, so soon after just returning. "I understand" Chair said with a rueful smile of her own. "Be safe out there ok?"She added the smile slowly melting from her face, and a touch of concern creeping into her gaze to take its place, as she reached out to gently touch the back of his mechanical hand.

Halting it before he could finish raising his helmet up to put it on. Modo took in the distinct contrast between her smaller flesh hand against the hard angles and blocky lines of the much larger expanse of his metal one. His heart fluttering slightly in his chest at the complete lack of thought she seemed to give the action. Showing no reaction or discomfort at the feel of the cool metal against her skin, and touching it just as nonchalantly as she did his left one."Don't worry Lil darlin. I've got a good deal of experience when it comes to this Hero stuff" he answered swallowing down the odd lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat at the simple action,Grinning reassuringly he settled his helmet back into place,and turned to once more head across the garage towards where Lil Hoss was parked.

"Those that say there's no rest for the wicked, should try 'bein the Hero for a change" He muttered under his breath as he glanced wistfully back over his shoulder, for one more quick glimpse of the short blond haired female, before he pulled back out to do his part in protecting the people of Chicago, and earth from a threat they didn't even know was there.