Yes, my friends, I know, this took long enough! Give credit to Schnerb. She has been my conscience on this one. I only wish she lived closer so she could get my kids this motivated!

I kind of knew what I wanted here, but the bunnies were not behaving. I re-wrote this sucker several times. So, please share the love that you like the direction?

DISCLAIMER: Own nothing…but would happily buy some decent writing for our ship if I hit the lottery!

UNFORTUNATE - 8

Grace didn't like going to the gym downstairs. She liked running outside. Treadmills bored her. She preferred yoga to weights. But mostly, she hated the attention she received. In a gym populated by cops and agents, most were men. And that meant the testosterone level was pretty high. Grace knew she was pretty. She knew in this line of work, even in this century, she was in the minority. She accepted it as part of the job. But this gym was the land of the Neanderthals, even by those standards. But on a day like today, she needed to punch something. It was too rainy now to run outside.

Fortunately, most of the guys knew she was dating an FBI agent. It took a lot of the crap down a level. She had also gotten to know some of them while coaching their flag football team. Most of them greeted her and left her alone. She was over in the corner, working the heavy bag pretty hard. She stayed focused. She didn't notice the comings and goings. She didn't see Wayne come in and start working with the weights. She didn't see Cho come in with him to lift and spot Wayne. She was focused solely on working out some of her anger, and frustrations.

Her relationship with Craig had not been great lately. He was still good looking, smart and knew how to do the big gestures. That was just it. The big things, the dinners and flowers were good. The little things, how he handled life and frustrations, not so good. His temper over small things was beginning to worry her. Today was a real eye-opener.

Grace knew his career was so important to Craig. After losing football, this had become his focus. She understood the pressures someone working on a specific career track faced. She knew he didn't like Wayne and the fact that they worked together. Sometimes it was really awkward. Sometimes, like when Jane disappeared, she still instinctively looked to him. But even before they dated, she had liked him as a person. He was sweet and funny. She tried to be friends with him after. Grace knew Craig would always resent Wayne. Theirs had been a really intense relationship and although secret, still public. Having everyone in their closed world of law enforcement know about this relationship was hard on Craig. She understood that. But she thought he was past all that.

Apparently not. She stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. Rolling her head around her neck, she thought about what had happened today. No matter how resentful Craig was over her past relationship with Wayne, there was no excuse for his behavior. Claiming credit for Wayne's work was a big line for him to have crossed. All of his recent tantrums paled in comparison. Her anger at Craig and on behalf of Wayne boiled up inside her.

She started hitting the bag again harder. That little voice inside her was getting louder. She had heard it each time Craig had behaved badly. Each time something had gone wrong, that little voice would ask her why was tolerating his crap. Each punch was aimed at one of those tantrums. Then she started in on Craig's behavior today. Her mind was clearing with the mindless punching, she could sense it. What she didn't sense was her surroundings.

The light touch on her shoulder took her by surprise. She spun around mid punch and before she could retrieve the extending arm and fist, connected solidly with Special Agent Craig O'Laughlin's nose.

"UMPH!"

The noise of his nose breaking combined with the loud exhalation of pain Craig made.

"HOLY SHIT GRACE! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

"Ohmigod! I am so sorry! Are you OK?"

Even in a loud gym, the noise attracted attention. The sudden silence was broken only by a last clanging weight and Craig's muffled voice. He had his hand over his nose, the bouquet of roses dropped forgotten at his feet.

"NO! I am nod ok. Dis fugin hurts! Whad de hell?"

His eyes, watering over the hand trying to stop the blood were furious. They became even more angry when he realized the first people over to help were Rigsby and Cho.

"I'm so so sorry, Craig! You snuck up on me. I wasn't expecting you. I was working out with, well you saw I guess."

"You Ok, man?" Cho was keeping a straight face as he handed O'Laughlin a clean towel to soak up the blood.

Wayne could see Craig ready to take a step toward Grace and he and Cho both managed to slide between them.

"You better get that looked at. Want us to call over to your office or for a bus to take you?"

Craig looked over the towel at Cho and closed his eyes, to stop seeing him and Rigsby and mostly to collect himself. If his office saw this, he would never hear the end of it. But he also knew that an ambulance would call for paperwork, official paperwork that would say he got his nose broken by his girlfriend in the gym. Yeah, he would just call Mike Reed and have him drive him to his own doctor. At least this way, he could say he walked into a door or something.

He fished his phone out and dialed the number. After telling his friend to just meet him in front of CBI HQ and not to ask any questions, he again focused on Grace. She was still slightly behind Rigsby, looking stricken. Good. Maybe he could work that to his advantage.

"Grace? I am going to my own doctor."

"Do you want me to come?"

"No. I'll call you later and you can come by and take care of me."

There, Craig thought, that should work. Women loved to nurture. Considering she had done this, he would play on that guilt. Shit. He still had to cancel his late date with Leeanna. He walked away giving Grace one more accusatory look.

She started after him and Wayne put his hand on her arm.

"Maybe you should let him be. I think his pride is a little damaged."

"It would take more than that to really damage that pride." Cho's comment was typically dry and pithy as he glanced at the two before him. He shook his head over the stupidity of the human heart and walked away.

Grace turned back to Wayne to say something and her words died in her throat. Wayne's big hand was wrapped around her arm firmly, but not tightly. His thumb had unknowingly started to stroke the soft skin it encountered. They hadn't touched or been this close in a very long time. He was wearing a black beater that was dampened with sweat, and a pair of shorts. Unlike most guys, he didn't wear the shorts very long. She could see the muscled length of his legs. The heat coming off him and the somehow clean smell of his sweat called to something in her. She remembered how she loved the taste of his skin when passion made them slick with that sweat. She had forgotten how large he was and yet how safe his gentle hands made her feel. His shoulders had gotten broader she thought.

Wayne was also lost in the moment. When O'Laughlin moved toward Grace angrily, he didn't even know he had stepped between them. Protecting Grace was an instinct deep inside him. The dampness of her skin was cooling her rapidly. He had noticed her right away when he came in. He was surprised to see her. He knew she didn't like it there. He also remembered that punching the bag was not her favorite thing to do. She preferred yoga. He preferred to watch her long white legs and body stretch. She was still breathing hard from her exertion and the excitement. It was making her breasts encased in a sinfully tight blue t-shirt rise and fall. Whatever she was going to say was lost in the moment. Her lips were parted and when she touched that lower lip with her tongue, his control snapped. Without conscious thought, he leaned down and pressed a kiss onto that mouth. He could taste her exertions and the sweetness of her. He pressed in a little more, a man dying of thirst finally getting a sip of water.

His scent surrounded her. His kiss was gentle and yet strong at first, like him. When he leaned in, her instincts took over. She could taste the salt of his sweat. It was even more intoxicating than she remembered. He was only still holding her arm, but she felt surrounded by his heat and strength. It was familiar and yet a little strange. Her body got the message before her brain. But her brain suddenly kicked into gear.

What was she doing? Kissing Wayne in the CBI gym? She had just punched her boyfriend and she was kissing someone else? What was wrong with her?

She pulled back sharply and he let her go reluctantly. Even though they were in a corner and most of the people had left, it was still dangerous. She stepped away and almost slipped. His hand came back instantly to catch her. She looked down. It was the roses that Craig had bought her. Wayne saw and saw the confusion in her face. He wanted her. God knew he wanted her. But until she was ready to have him back really, he would wait. He had seen how O'Laughlin had been treating her. He had seen the shadows in her eyes. His instinct was to protect her. He had wanted to beat the hell out of O'Laughlin and make Grace feel better. But he knew this wasn't for him to do. She had to do this herself.

"Grace. Go. Resolve this. I am not going anywhere. Do you understand that? But, Grace, please, do what's best for you. "

She only nodded up at him. The sweet care in his gentle eyes almost undid her. In all the time they had dated, Craig had never once shown her that kind of concern. It was genuine and without concern for himself. It was exactly the opposite of how Craig behaved. The contrast was again stark. But this was complicated. She shook her head, not trusting her voice as she walked away.

"Grace?"

She turned to look back at him. He was standing on the wreck of the roses Craig had bought. His head was up and his shoulders were squared. She knew that stance. He was bracing for a blow.

"Whatever is best for you, Grace. Remember. I'll wait."

His blue eyes were open and seemed to be able to read into her. She didn't answer him, but knew his words would follow her.

So, a little taste of the ship we have missed so much. Any love?