Dinner was going really well. Michelle spent most of the time just taking Tony in. They were making each other laugh a lot, Tony continued to display his very cheeky side. Michelle knew he had a good sense of humor, he had always been able to make her laugh but his cheekiness was something he never really showed at work. Tony still couldn't believe he was finally having a romantic dinner with Michelle.

Michelle brushed his hand on the table. "What are you thinking about Tony?

"Us.....I just can't believe this is happening."

"Are you sure you are happy? Is this what you want?"

Tony took Michelle's hand. "Michelle, I am so happy. You have got to stop worrying about this.....are you sure this is what you want?"

"Tony, I really fell for you a long time ago. I just....you make me so happy. No one has ever made me feel the way that you do. I want this...you....so much."

"Chelle we are great together."

Tony had booked them both on an early flight back to LA in the morning. By the time they got back to the hotel after dinner it was quite late and they were both exhausted. Tony flicked on the television and Michelle decided she might go and have a bath. Once she had gone into the bathroom Tony called his parents to organize a dinner for them all the following evening. He didn't tell them anything about what was going on but he did have a quick chat to his mom about Michelle. He told her how Michelle had never really had a mom or a family and how important it was to him that Michelle feel apart of their family.

Tony lay on the bed watching baseball. Usually nothing in the world could distract him from the game but tonight he had Michelle bathing in the next room. He ran his forefinger down the side of his cheek as his eyes wondered back and forth between his game and the closed bathroom door. The idea of his Michelle soaking in the bath won hands down. He picked himself up and went and knocked on the door.

"Chelle?"

No answer.

"Chelle?"

No answer.

Knock, Knock, Knock

"Michelle are you ok?"

Tony was worried. He tried once more loudly. "MICHELLE?" Again there was no answer. His stomach was in knots and he held his breath as he opened the door and walked in. Walking up to Michelle he could see her chest moving up and down with her breaths – he finally allowed himself to exhale. Her eyes were closed, she had simply fallen asleep.

He smiled and knelt down beside her. He could feel his heart began to beat faster and faster as he took in her entire body. There was a small amount of bubbles but they barely covered anything. He began to gently trace her cheek with his thumb until she stirred. Her eyes opened a little but then as she realized where she was they shot open.

"I called for you Chelle but you didn't answer, I got worried."

She looked at Tony and then down at herself. Her face automatically became blushed and she looked very nervous knowing how Tony had found her. She let out a nervous giggle as she spoke. "How embarrassing.....I can't believe I fell asleep."

"Show's how tired you are sweetheart." He tucked one of her curls behind her ear.

Michelle sat up a little making a small effort to cover herself. She loved how he was watching her. He was looking into her eyes with a gorgeous cheeky smile. "I should get out..."

"Please don't feel like you have too......I mean have you even washed yet?"

She giggled and then laughed even harder whilst she watched him try and keep a straight face after what he had said. She picked up a handful of bubbles and before he knew what was coming she slapped the bubbles on the top of his head. His entire face lit up, he looked completely shocked at what she had done. She went to do it again but this time he grabbed her wrist and they began to play wrestle.

Within a few short minutes most of Tony's shirt was saturated and there was a fair bit of water on the floor. It ended with Tony leaning in over the bath to kiss Michelle, it started out passionately and intense but finished very tenderly.

"Ok, ok I think I am ready to get out now Tony."

Tony stood up and put his hands out for Michelle, "Come on then."

She took his hands and he helped her up out of the tub. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her, she pulled him in close and rested her head against his chest as he massaged her back dry through the towel.

Michelle slipped one of Tony's t-shirts on to sleep in and Tony removed his wet shirt and they both jumped into bed. Michelle lay on her side and Tony lay behind her and pulled her in close.

Michelle couldn't believe the difference of tonight to last night. "Tony, thank you for being here. I was so lonely and freaked out last night....tonight I don't think I could feel better."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else Chelle." He rolled her on to her back and put his hand so gently on her stomach, "That's our baby in there." He then lifted her t-shirt up and sweetly kissed her stomach. He continued to run his hand across her stomach and kiss her tenderly. Michelle watched him with adoring eyes. Tony was so gentle with her and she felt tears rolling down her eyes just watching this beautiful moment with him. She ran her hand through his hair.

"You are going to be an amazing father Tony."

He looked up her and his body froze for a moment as her words sunk in. Without saying a word he slowly made his way up her body until their lips were able to meet. He let his weight press into her gently as he increased the intensity of the kiss. Michelle responded by firmly running her hands down his bare back, when he kissed her harder she instinctively clenched her fingers into his skin making him groan. After a few moments he pulled back. "You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that."

Michelle stroked the side of his face. "Well I really meant it."

He kissed her again gently before settling down next to her and pulling her body in close, he held her tightly. "I want you to get some sleep Chelle, we have to get up pretty early."

Michelle and Tony took an early morning flight back to LA and then decided to head straight into CTU to tie up a couple loose ends before they both took a couple days off. They didn't speak about how they were going to act around the other staff or when or what there going to tell everyone. They both cursed themselves for not instigating the conversation as they entered CTU totally unsure of what the other one was expecting.

Tony walked through the doors first and Michelle told him she would be right behind him. She didn't come in for another 25 minutes and he spent every one of them wondering what she was thinking and when she would come. Settled in his own office talking on his phone he watched as she made her way across the floor to her station stopping to greet a couple people on the way. He zoned out of the conversation as he thought about how much she still took his breath away. Just watching her laugh with her colleague Sarah, bought a smile to his face. Their conversation seemed to take a different more serious turn and quite obviously become one they didn't want anyone else to hear. Tony wondered if Michelle was telling Sarah about him and the baby. He knew they were the closest in the office and he really didn't mind at all, actually he wished he could be part of the conversation. He didn't think he had ever felt more proud than he did to be with Michelle and have her carrying his child, it offered him a true happiness he never though possible.

He watched as Mark made his way over to her desk and break up their conversation. Sarah touched Michelle on the forearm before excusing herself and heading back to her own station. Mark wasn't Tony favorite person, he just seemed to have a chip on his shoulder that really bugged him. He had trouble taking orders and Tony had trouble accepting that as even an issue considering their line of work. Mark sat on the side of Michelle's desk, the same way Tony always did. He leaned in and with Michelle sitting in her chair the space between them was next to nothing. Tony felt a huge pang of jealousy rush his body. How dare Mark sit like that, Tony was the only one allowed to do that. He clicked his pen over and over as his concentration on the two became more and more intense. He just had a bad feeling about it, this didn't seem like a work conversation.

Michelle's phone rang bringing their conversation to an end giving Tony a quick feeling of relief. He watched Michelle tuck her hair behind her ears as she answered the phone, within seconds she began typing away on her computer. Mark was still lingering there, just watching Michelle on the phone. Tony couldn't believe it as he caught Mark quite obviously checking her out. She stood and walked to the filing cabinet and as she bent to open the draw his head noticeably followed her body down. Tony's heart began to pound as he watched another guy looking at his girl like that. He wanted to punch Mark's lights out. Wanting to end all this straight away he dialed through to Mark's desk so that he would have to leave to answer it. This worked well accept that as he went to leave he brushed his hand across her back making Tony's stomach turn. She seemed so oblivious to it all, or did she Tony wondered. He hated that his mind began to explore every possibility, all of them bad. Did she already know Mark liked her? Had anything ever happened between them? Why did she let him act like that? The one that sat foremost in his mind though was whether or no Michelle was attracted to Mark.

Michelle felt so relieved Mark was gone. She was actually only talking to Sarah and was faking working on the computer. Sarah had offered her an escape option phone call. Mark had asked Michelle out again, this was the 3rd time now in the last 2 months that he had. He always did it in a way though that never allowed her to give him a complete rejection. At the Christmas party he had cornered Michelle outside and started to kiss her. She had pulled back and then pushed him away but he still didn't even seem to catch on to that. Instead he told her she was leading him on. He was sneaky in his suggestions and manipulative with his words. He constantly searched for Michelle's weak points so that he could try and rescue her from them and be the hero. He rarely ever let her get a word in as he was too busy telling her why they should be together and how good he was for her. He had asked Michelle to go to dinner with him but when she told him no he went on to plead that he thought he could count on her as a friend and he really needed her right now to be able to talk to her. With her big heart Michelle was an easy victim into his trap and preceded to give him the look of concern he had been chasing before asking him what was wrong. Mark told her he didn't feel comfortable discussing it at work that's why he needed her to meet him for dinner. He started to push her harder and she was on the verge of telling him about Tony when her phone rang saving her.

Mark was not someone Michelle was interested in whether she was with Tony or not. He liked the sound of his own voice too much and his arrogance just seemed to get worse and worse. She acknowledged that he was an attractive man, but he certainly wasn't her type. With blond hair and a baby face he offered her nothing compared to Tony who was nothing short of her ideal man. She snuck a look at Tony and was surprised to catch him snapping a pencil in half. He had been on the phone since she walked in and Michelle figured he was probably talking to Brad Hammond. She dived into her work wanting to get as much out of the way quickly so her and Tony could leave shortly.

Tony left his office and made his way down to Michelle. Feeling like Mark had ruined it for him he choose not to sit on her desk but rather stand on the other side facing her. He used a lowered voice keeping the conversation between just the two of them.

"Hey beautiful, how are you going?"

Michelle titled her head and smiled shyly. His heart felt so warm watching her reaction to his words. It was near damn impossible for him not to climb the desk and take her right there and then. Images of what that would be like filtered through his mind bringing a small but cheeky grin to his face.

"I'm doing good, I want to get out of here as soon as possible though...I hate not even being able to touch you. Kinda feels like it did before we got together but now its even worse because I know how good your touch is so I know what I am missing out on!!" She gave him a smile that combined with her words made him feel a little weak in the knees, he grabbed the desk in both hands for support.

"I've certainly never had more incentive to leave the office faster! I won't be long, how about you?"

"Maybe half an hour, is that ok?"

"Sure. So Chelle, seemed like you had a good catch up with Sarah and Mark..."

Michelle thought this was a very odd thing for Tony to say – not something he had ever said before. "I guess, you know how it is here though, you can never have a real conversation without being interrupted. Sarah and I will go for coffee one day during the week to catch up properly."

This wasn't the answer Tony was looking for, not interested in giving his brain more time to do his head in he tried again, this time a little more direct. "What about Mark, are you good friends with him?"

Michelle knew Tony was fishing and she wondered if she should tell him or not about Mark's feelings. She was nervous of the trouble it would cause in the office though and she didn't want Tony to worry when he certainly didn't need to. "No, not really. We chat a bit but I wouldn't consider him 'close'."

"Was he just kind of welcoming you back or something before?"

Michelle knew Tony obviously saw Mark at her desk but she wondered how on earth Tony had even thought for a second about this. "Yeah." Looking for a topic change, she spoke again before he had a chance. "What time do we need to meet your parents tonight?"

"7pm." Tony couldn't think of any other way of pushing the subject without just directly asking what the hell was going on, which he wasn't going to do. He wished she would just volunteer something. He went to walk away but before he even knew it he had turned back. "Chelle....do you feel like you can tell me everything?"

"Why do you ask that Tony? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. I just....I want you to know that there is nothing I wouldn't tell you and I hope you feel the same way with me."

Michelle nodded her head. "I do Tony." Now she was feeling guilty, she became even more pissed at Mark for making her feel this way. It wasn't the time or place to explain it all to Tony but he obviously was thinking something. Michelle wasn't sure how Tony would react, he definitely seemed like the protective type, which she loved. She wasn't sure if he would be angry or upset though and how he would act towards Mark from then on.

"That's good. Thanks Michelle. I'll call you when I'm just about done."

"Ok, I miss you baby and I can't wait to give you a big sloppy kiss when we get out of here."

He laughed and returned her seductive look, he then turned and headed back up to his office. Within a couple of minutes of returning to his office Mark and Troy were knocking on the door.

Troy opened the conversation. "Tony, Mark and I have closed the Leston file but when we went to match it with slips from division the figures don't match up."

"How far out are they?"

"30 percent."

"It can't be closed with a gap like that. I'm going to need you guys to go back through your work and figure out where you have gone wrong. Division needs these cell back by morning."

Mark piped up. "That will take us hours Tony. I can't work late tonight I have important plans."

Troy seemed a little nervous. "Tony I feel bad for saying this but it is really hard for me to stay back tonight as well. My wife is in hospital because she had surgery last night and I wanted to go be with her. Of course I'll stay though if that is what you would like me to do."

Tony always appreciated Troy's work ethics. "Is Jane ok Troy?"

"She will be. A small cancerous tumor was found in her chest but believe they removed it completely and they caught it really early on. Hopefully she can avoid chemotherapy..."

"Shit, I'm sorry to hear that Troy, make sure you give her my best. You should go and be with her, don't worry about the report. I'm happy for you to take the rest of the day, and I will shuffle some shifts so that you can take a few days to be with her."

Troy's face lit up. "I really appreciate this Tony, wow....thank you so much. What about the report though if Mark can't do it either?"

Tony turned his attention to Mark. "Mark unless what you have on is some kind of emergency I really need you to get the numbers matched up."

It was obvious Mark was trying to figure out what to say. "It might not seem important to anyone else but it really is for me..."

"Do you mind explaining? It would take someone else twice as long to do this as they don't know the material."

Mark smiled and spoke very proudly. "Finally, Michelle Dessler and I have dinner plans for this evening."

Tony snapped another pen. He was so shocked but also so aware of how important his reaction was going to be. Fortunately Troy jumped in giving Tony an extra second to catch his thoughts.

"She finally agreed huh Mark! You have been waiting for this since Christmas!"

"Well it's not a definite yet but it will happen. She's got other plans but it was obvious she didn't want to do them, so I guess she is going to have to work out a way to get out of whatever it is. It was more than clear that she wanted to pick things up where we left off at Christmas..."

Tony thought he was going to throw up, he couldn't believe what was happening. He wanted to get as much information out of him as possible. "How long has this been going on? What happened at Christmas time?"

Mark had such a smug look on his face that Tony was picturing himself scrambling across the desk and decking him one. Mark ran his hands through his hair as he started to speak. "At the Christmas party we were together but we haven't gotten our act together. Let's just say she is ready to take things to the next level."

Tony felt like everything was falling down around him. How could Michelle do this to him? How could she have not told him about Mark?

His phone rang making him jump. He wondered how long he had been sitting there in silence as Troy and Mark watched him. It was Hammond who wanted to go through some access codes for Division. These were only strictly privy to the director of CTU and so he had to ask Mark and Troy to leave his office.

It had been well over half an hour and Tony was just walking down to Michelle now. She was glad to finally see him, she just couldn't be bothered with CTU today. She was so nervous about tonight and meeting his parents that she wanted time to be able to have a nap or at least just relax for a bit before they left. He came over and leaned on her desk, he looked unhappy.

"So aahh, ummm...are we still going to dinner tonight Michelle?"

"Yeah.....why? What is up with you Tony?"

"I just thought that maybe you might have made some other plans."

Michelle was so confused. It was obvious he was skirting around something but she wasn't sure what. "Why would I do that? I'm not the sort to do that Tony, you know that."

"We'll see." He put his head down and rubbed the side of his face.

Michelle couldn't believe it – why was Tony being so rude to her? "We'll see?! What is that about? Have I done something wrong here?"

Tony caught eye contact with her and leaned in a little closer. "You tell me Michelle. Seems Mark over there thinks he is going to be taking you out for a nice diiner tonight, you know once you get out of the plans you already had."

Michelle was shocked and had to concentrate extremely hard to make sure she had heard right. She turned and looked at Mark who was already looking at her – he waved. She looked back at Tony who was rolling his eyes at the sight of her looking at Mark. "And you believed him just like that did you?"

"I just asked you if our plans were still on didn't I?"

Michelle sighed, she couldn't believe this was happening. "So how come you are so angry then?"

Tony crouched down and then put his arms on the desk. "How can you even ask me that? I've just had to listen to another guy talking about how obvious it is that you are ready to take things to the next level. That you want to go out with him tonight but you just have to get out of what you already had planned." He stopped for a moment as a couple people walked past her desk. "Not to mention Michelle, before that even happened I had to watch him sitting on your desk, leaning all over you, checking you out and no doubt flirting with you."

"Tony..."

He cut her off to start again. "Did you flirt back? Are you attracted to him.....do you want to be with him?"

Michelle had been about to explain everything to Tony and apologize to him for what had happened but after his last questions she just felt angry. She couldn't believe he could even ask that. It was like he had already made up his mind about her, he was being so harsh to her. "I'm not even going to dignify those questions with an answer."

He shook his head. "Did something happen between you two at the Christmas party?"

"Yes Tony but..."

Once again he didn't let her finish. He leaned in closer to her. "Did you sleep with him?"

"No..."

"Did you kiss him?"

"Well he....it's not what..."

Tony snapped at her. "I'll take that as a yes. That is fucking great. You fucking expect me to believe you don't want to go out with him tonight?"

"Tony can we please leave now and I'll explain to you what is going on, it is nothing at all like you think. Trust me Tony, you have nothing to be worried about. Can we go please?"

He looked at her like he wanted to but then he just snapped at her again. "I'm not ready." With that he turned and left her to walk up to his office.

Tony hoped his legs would carry him up the stairs. He couldn't believe that something had actually already happened between Michelle and Mark, he had been upset enough when he just thought Mark liked her. He sunk himself back in his chair. No matter how angry he was he couldn't help but keep looking down at Michelle. He just loved her so much, the thought that he might lose her was making him feel so physically ill.

Even though she knew Tony would be watching, Michelle walked over to Mark's desk. She was furious with him. She felt so angry with Tony as well for damning her before he knew anything but she could understand why he was so upset. Had the same thing happened between Tony and another girl she would be devastated as well, but if Tony would just listen to her he wouldn't be hurting at all right now. Mark lifted his head and smiled at her.

"Hey Michelle, are you ok?"

"No I am not! Why the hell did you tell Tony we were going out for dinner tonight?"

"Michelle he was going to make me work tonight and so I had to tell him that I couldn't because I was hoping you were changing your plans so that we could go out."

"I told you no Mark. How many fucking times do I have to tell you no. You pushed yourself on me at the Christmas party and I pushed you away then and said no, I've said it plenty since – why are you not listening me and respecting my wishes?"

Mark put his hand over hers on the desk but she pulled it away. He just smiled smugly at her. "Because I know that you want to be with me, you are just playing hard to get. You love all the attention I give you Michelle..."

"You are such an arrogant prick. I am with Tony, do you hear me – I am with Tony!"

Mark laughed. "Since when?"

"Since a few days ago."

"Well he can't be too serious, he didn't even mention you when I told him I was going out with you."

Michelle was so worked up she could feel herself shaking. "That is because we haven't told anyone at work yet except for Chappelle."

"So the boss is screwing one of his employees. You don't really think this is going to last do you? Michelle I can offer you so much more than Tony could ever dream of. We would be perfect together."

"I love him Mark. Please you have to fix this, I need you to tell Tony that I never said any of that stuff, that I never agreed to dinner – you have to tell him you made it all up."

"Ok, Ok. I'll talk to him. I want you to know though that I am willing to forget about you and Tony for the sake of us. The guy is a fucking loser anyway, I have no doubt you are just looking for a promotion."

Michelle couldn't handle him anymore. She could feel the tears coming on and she didn't want to cry in front of this guy so she walked away and headed straight for the bathroom. Sarah saw how upset she was and followed her.

Mark stood up and made his way to Tony's office. Although he would never show it, he was incredibly jealous about Tony and Michelle. He didn't like Tony at all, basically because he thought he should be doing his job. Mark had no intentions on telling Tony the truth, he would do anything to make sure it didn't work out between them – there was no way he could handle seeing Tony and Michelle together. There was also no way he was going to let Tony have his job and his woman. He had to stop himself from smiling as he walked into his office and it was more than obvious Tony was upset.

"Mark, this isn't the time."

"Tony, Michelle told me about you two."

Tony sat up a little in his chair. "She did?"

"Yeah, I mean I was a little surprised, I didn't think it was her style to play two guys at the same time, especially from the same office."

Tony's heart dropped even lower than it felt like it had been sitting the last hour or so. "What the hell are you talking about? Are you saying there is actually something going on between you and Michelle?"

"Yeah, since Christmas. It has been a bit on and off because of work but I thought we were starting to work through it.....that is until I found out about you. I've got to say though Tony, I think Michelle isn't really serious about you."

Tony stood up and walked over to Mark. "What makes you think that?"

"She is just having fun with you, that is what she just said to me. You must have known that.....it's always easier to climb the ranks when you are fucking the boss."

Tony's fists clenched. "Get the hell out of my office."

It took every ounce of strength Tony had not to flatten Mark. If he weren't at work, he would have happily. He slammed the door shut and went back to his desk where he kicked his couch a couple of times and smashed his hand into the wall. A large part of him didn't really believe Mark, he had been close to Michelle for a long time and she just wasn't that type of person. The whole situation made him feel angrier and more hurt than he ever had been. He heard his door open again, he spun around to see Michelle.

"Tony please listen to me."

"I've heard enough Michelle."

Michelle's tears raced down her cheeks and she choked on them through words. "No you haven't. There is nothing going on with Mark. I hate him, like I literally hate the guy. Yes he likes me, yes he did ask me to dinner but I said no. At Christmas he tried to kiss me but I pushed him away immediately and told him where to go."

Tony turned around so that he was facing Michelle. This was exactly what he needed to be hearing. He hated seeing her cry, it made him feel sick to his stomach. "Mich..."

She stopped him. "Just hear me out! I've never liked him. I was going to tell you about him asking me out to dinner but I was going to wait until you and I left the office. There was never any reason to mention any of this before because there is nothing to tell. As I told you before I've been falling for you since I started here, I haven't looked twice at any other guy, never mind someone as disgusting as Mark. I love you Tony....so much, more than anything in the world. You are hurting me so much, how could you believe Mark over me?" Michelle left his office straight away, she couldn't bare him to make another rough comment.

Tony slumped back in his chair. He wished she hadn't run straight out. He felt horrible and so angry with himself for having such little faith in Michelle. He was so use to woman screwing him over that he had flown off the handle at Michelle before even hearing her out. His phone rang.

"Almeida."

"Tony it is Sarah."

"Hi Sarah."

"Tony you need to listen to me. I know this is out of line and none of my business – it is about Michelle, please hear me out."

"It is ok Sarah, go ahead."

"Nothing is going on between her and Mark – never has. I personally saw him try and kiss her at the Christmas party and she pushed him away straight away. I've also had many conversations with her about the guy and she can't stand him, if anything he should be in trouble for harassing her."

"Thanks Sarah. I know there is nothing between them, it just took me a little while to come to my senses. Do you think you could take Michelle to Tech 2 where there are no cameras so that I can talk to her?"

"Sure Tony. By the way, congratulations.

Tony smiled. "Thanks Sarah and thanks for calling me as well, you must really care about Michelle."

"I care about the both of you."

Tony made his way straight to Tech 2. He wanted to sort things out with Michelle before he took care of Mark. After the way he had been feeling for the last hour he felt excitement for working things out and being able to head home with Michelle just as he had planned to. He paced the room whilst he waited for her. After a few minutes the door opened slowly and Sarah walked in followed by Michelle, she looked shocked to see Tony in there. Sarah made a quick exit shutting the door behind her. Tony walked over to Michelle who was still crying.

"I am so sorry Chelle. I know there is nothing between you two, I am so sorry I flew off the handle at you."

Michelle couldn't believe what she was hearing. "How come you've changed your tune?"

"I listened to what you said to me. I stopped and thought about it rationally, I listened to the feeling in my gut. I got so jealous watching him gawk at you while he sat on your desk and then when he actually said the whole dinner thing I just freaked out straight away."

"Tony I could totally understand why you got so angry, I would have as well. BUT it wasn't fair that you wouldn't hear me out, or even give me a chance to talk to you before you got so angry with me. I thought you thought more of me than that."

Tony tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and then caught a couple tears with his thumb as they rolled down her cheek. "I acted like an idiot, I am so sorry sweetheart. I know it is no excuse but I am so use to women treating me like shit and doing that kind of thing that I just lost it before I really stopped and thought about it. I know Chelle that you are the last person in the world that would ever act that way. I respect you and think higher of you than anyone I know."

Michelle's tears seemed to be drying up a little and the tense, distressed look on her face had disappeared. "I'm sorry for what Mark said, he is such an bastard. I know how hard it would have been to hear some girl talk about you like that."

"It was hard as hell listening to him Chelle. Even just watching him eye you off made me feel so sick to my stomach. I could never handle losing you, I am to in love with you Michelle. I realized before that when things aren't right with you, nothing matters at all – you are everything to me. Will you forgive me?"

Michelle was blushing a little and she bit her bottom lip. She nodded her head. "Yes....yes."

Tony leaned in and tenderly kissed her. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, she began to speak only pulling her face back inches from his but so she could look into his eyes. "I thought I'd lost you, I didn't know what I was going to do to make you believe me."

"I don't think you could ever lose me Michelle. We are meant to be together."

He started to kiss her again. He gently played with her lower lip, tugging on it so she would open her mouth. Michelle did open her mouth but surprised him by pushing her tongue straight into his mouth. He groaned and pulled her entire body in closer and they both allowed themselves to get lost in each other for a couple minutes. Finally he pulled back, "Alright now I am more than ready to take you home."

"What about Mark?"

Tony took Michelle's hand as they left the room and began to make their way back to the main floor. "Don't worry, I am about to teach him a quick lesson. Nobody but nobody speaks about you like that."

Tony left Michelle at her station and then he made his way to Mark.

"Tony..."

There was no response from Tony, nor was there any warning of what was coming. Tony pulled his right arm back and then punched Mark in the side of the face. His whole body swayed as if he was going to fall but he didn't. Most the office jumped up to see what was going on. Tony pointed his finger back at Mark as he finally spoke. "You are on suspension until I figure out what to do with you. You stay the hell away from Michelle, if you lay one finger on her, next time I won't stop at just a punch. You are so pathetic, fortunately Michelle and I are a hell of a lot stronger then you hoped. Get the hell out of my face."

As the rest of CTU stood in shock, Mark sunk his head and slowly made his way out of the office. Tony turned back to Michelle, with the eyes of his staff on him.

"Sorry that you all had to see that."

Everyone returned to their stations. Michelle went to hers to pack up whilst Tony did the same.

Please review and let me know how you feel about my story. Thanks