OK - due to popular demand (and a request for Lena's reaction) here is a bonus chapter. It's longer than the others and a bit more serious but I thought that was more realistic - and as it's a bonus I figured no rules apply! Obviously they still had issues in the finale but I have tried to come to a part-way resolve to allow for that. Now you have the choice to have more of a conclusion or leave it wrapped up as the original 3-parter. Hope you enjoy either way - and thanks for the lovely reviews!

"Speak of the devil!" Stef sighed as she heard the signs of Lena's return from her shopping trip.

"You've not seen her yet? I was hiding assuming she was back!" Kasey said suddenly, slightly panicked.

"I don't think your Grandma wanted to worry her."

Kasey looked up at her Mom. "Is she gonna tell her?" she asked with a hint of fear.

"Stef!" they heard Lena yell angrily up the stairs. Stef looked down at her daughter

"Does that answer your question? Dunno why kids ever assume that parents will ever try and hide things from each other to keep you out of trouble."

"I have a comment on that but I don't want to get hit again..."

"Good choice" Stef quipped as Kasey moved to get up. She grabbed her arm pulling her back down.

"Where do you think you're going? I'm not facing her by myself!" Stef instructed not letting go.

"But...you said..." Kasey stuttered as Stef gripped her a little bit tighter, more out of her process of bracing herself as Lena entered cutting her off.

"Well if it isn't Thelma and Louise!" She stated angrily, crossing her arms. Stef held Kasey tighter further as she tried to break free.

"Lena..." Stef began.

"I can't believe you two would sneak out together behind our backs!" She began to rant.

"Well technically I didn't sneak out..." Kasey protested prompting an angry glare from her Mom. She gave her a wide smile as Lena also squinted her eyes at her.

"Maybe not ,young lady, but you lied to me! I now realise now how pathetic a lie it was but at least you're not high like you sounded on the phone." Kasey looked down at her feet slightly embarrassed.

"Nope, not high, just crap at charades." Stef joked prompting a death stare from her soon-to-be-wife.

"Oh don't you even try. What kind of example are you trying to set? Really Stef! This is pretty low even for you!"

Stef also looked down at her feet and instantly the genetic resemblance shone through like two peas in a pod.

Kasey lifted her head slightly as Lena sighed.

"Don't be too mad at Mom," she said still cowering slightly. "She was really desperate to get out, and it was only for an hour. You were driving her crazy in here." Stef furrowed her brow at her daughter. "You know Mom...yes she knew the doctor said do nothing for a couple of weeks but I mean when does Mom ever listen to what people tell her to do? Besides you two really have some issues you need to sort out about this bullet thing" Lena's eyes widened seemingly unimpressed as did Stef's.

"We do?" Lena said annoyed and clearly confused.

"Well I mean...not issues...like you need to talk...I mean..." she stuttered not sure where she could take this.

"Kasey." Stef whispered agitated at her daughter's useless defence. "I think I can dig my own hole, thank you..." she just looked back slightly apologetic.

"Kasey, go to your room, I want to talk to your Mom." She glared. Kasey tried to worm her way out of Stef's grip, still attempting to tighten her closer with light whispering protests. Eventually she wriggled free and hopped off the bed away from one final grasp from Stef's hand.

She stopped just short of Lena who was glaring at her as she moved.

"So...does that mean I'm off the hook then...?" She asked hopefully as Stef crossed her arms.

Kasey gauged that Lena's look indicated otherwise. "I still can't believe you lied to me so blatantly! I thought you were old enough to be taking this seriously. We've raised you better than to make such careless decisions!"

"Uhm yes...you raised me to do what I was told..." Kasey quipped innocently prompting Stef to throw a cushion at her. She stifled a cheeky smile, even in the face of the fury of both her Moms. The situation was too surreal for her to be taking being told off seriously.

Lena glared at her once more through squinted eyes. "Room. Now, please." she said without emotion. Kasey nodded and bundled off.

She looked at her partner sitting hopelessly on the bed and picked up the cushion. She threw it just next to her.

"Wow...I'm too weak for you to even throw a cushion at me!" She commented as Lena hopped on next to her.

"I don't know which of you is worse!" She said, unimpressed at the remark. Stef looked sheepish.

"Look love, I'm sorry. But Kasey was right. You have no idea how crazy I am being driven in this house."

"Stef - you are recovering from a bullet wound! A bullet that is still in your back!"

"Yes, and why won't you just admit that you're mad at me for it?" she snapped losing her composure. "Lena, I'm a big girl - you're relieved I have recovered but you are mad that I put us in that position. Just because I nearly died doesn't mean you can't be mad. I'm mad at me too! We need to get past this."

Lena's anger turned to concern knowing that Stef was right.

"I am mad at you...I mean..I'm not...look I don't want to talk about that now. Not until you're better."

"No Lena, we need to know where we both are. I can cope with it. You're mad we are in this situation. You can't just shut me away, punishing me for it. I can't either."

"I'm not punishing you for it! I was just so scared Stef. You have no idea how scared I was." Her eyes swelled up, recalling the fear. She hadn't really processed how much she had been taking it out on her – not until she could see that oppression in her partner's eyes.

"I do, love. I saw that house and I thought Jesus was in there. I know what it is like to be angry and scared and feel protective."

"Lena let out a heavy breath. The parallels were small but it was true that the doctor's orders had been a bit of an excuse for her over-protection of Stef since the accident. While Stef's actions had been rash and dangerous, Lena's actions from a similar root had been clearly affecting her wife more than she had imagined. Stef continued not sure how to process the silence.

"I'm sorry I snuck out, I'm sorry that I reverted to such an immature state of mind...but this is not easy for me. We both know that no matter how serious this was it is getting better...I will be careful but you can't just lock me away from danger because we got scared and you don't know how to deal with it. We can't just ignore it."

Lena sighed. "I know. But even if I am overreacting, you do have to learn that you need to slow down. I mean come on Stef, recruiting your daughter to help sneak you around? What kind of message is that sending?"

"Yes - funnily enough I realised that as we were cowering behind a change room curtain." She sighed. "I just wanted to escape. Not just from this house...but from the whole reality of it. As we have established...I don't always make the best decisions."

Breaking her stiff demeanour, Lena put her arm around her fiancée. They had both been through the mill with emotions.

"I get that. And for what it's worth...I am sorry too. I guess I have been on your case...and I guess having Sharon around doesn't help." They enjoyed the silence for a few moments before Stef continued again.

"Look - how about we go somewhere. Get out of here...you can babysit me and make sure I don't do any contact sports or get involved in any high speed car chases and I can regain some of my sanity."

"But the doctor said..." Lena began, still unsure how blurry the line was.

"Lena, please. It's OK to bend just a little. It's doctor's advice. I'm making good progress! If you want we can just go to the furniture store so I can lie down. It'd be just like the old days except we wouldn't get thrown out for..."

Lena nudged her slightly. "We said we'd never talk about that again!"

Stef grinned. "You see! You weren't always such a stickler for rules and regulations." She jibed.

Lena smiled but quickly her expression dropped.

"This is going to take some time." she said earnestly as Stef nustled her slightly.

"For all of us." Stef answered. "But we can't just ignore it."

"You're right." She smiled. "No more secrets. No more sneaking around." She added firmly and Stef nodded. "So while we're on sneaking around - what exactly was going through your mind when you encouraged our 16 year old to help you do it."

Stef's expression dropped and she closed her eyes.

"You know I really think this medication is tiring me out...I really think I should..." Lena slapped her thigh. "Oh it's OK to hit the cripple now is it...?" she laughed dropping her guise.

"Yes. If you're so determined to risk getting hurt I may as well help you along!" Lena joked.

Stef smiled at her, looking deep into her eyes.

"It was pretty stupid. But if it's any consolation, I'm not going to hear the end of it from her. Or about that damn concert."

"Well she's not going now!" Lena added.

"But she was going to take me with...actually never mind." Stef quickly averted eye contact teasing Lena. It clearly worked as her eyes flared up.

"Kidding! Kidding!" Stef said raising her arms as Lena hit her on the leg again, this time with the cushion.

"As bad as each other!" Lena said getting up off the bed. Stef moved to get up as well.

"Uh-uh! Where do you think you're going?" She said swinging round as Stef shuffled back to her position. "I was going to get some tea!"

"No way, you've had enough excitement for one day. I'll bend when you've made up for your escapades."

"What so I can't even leave the room now? How am I supposed to get anything?" Stef sighed.

"I have the perfect solution."

Lena quietly wandered over to the closed door and knowingly swung it open to reveal an eavesdropping Kasey. She was about to make her defence but Lena smiled widely before she could. Stef also held back a small smirk.

"You want to help your Mom?" She said, eyebrows raised.

"Well...I..." Kasey stuttered.

"Tea. Now. And anything else she needs for the rest of her time stuck here." she walked off leaving her gawping.

Kasey looked back to her Mom.

"Oh wow, 'I'll be paying for this a lot longer than you Kasey'," she mimicked grudgingly as Stef smiled.

"Don't worry Kase, you'll have kids to take advantage of one day." Stef beamed. "Guess I did get the better end of this deal"

"Right, move over." Sharon came bundling in with a magazine, some needles and a ball of yarn.

"Mom...what are you..." Stef gawped shuffling nervously in her bed.

"You think I'm letting you out of my sight now? Ha. Make that 2 cups Kasey, and one for your Mama too."

"You got it Grandma!" Kasey smirked unable to suppress her grin. Stef screwed up her face and picked up the cushion to throw to remove her daughter's smug expression.

"Uh-uh. No heavy lifting." Sharon said pulling it off her.

Sigh.

Well that will be all for a little while from this AU but I have started working on a sequel to Nerd. I also have a standalone comical one-shot with Kasey I am contemplating putting out but not sure where. I may just stick it on the end of Nerd in the meantime as a bonus extra! Anyhow, hope you enjoyed this little extra and as always I love to hear opinions and ideas!