"How are your cheeks?" Ryan asked Rob as they drove back.

Rob stopped his hand from rubbing his cheek again, placing it back on the steering wheel. "I think I'm going to have bruises in the morning. And I see where you get your strength from," he said with a laugh.

"Sorry. We're a pretty physical family."

"Nah, it's alright. They're great. I liked everyone. Even Aunt Sadie."

"Good. They liked you too."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, yeah, they've got us married with a dozen kids in their little minds," Ryan winked at him. He laughed. "Thanks, though. For coming. For being great," She said with a yawn.

"Welcome," Rob replied sending her a smile. "Why don't you take a little nap?" He said looking at her in concern. He patted her knee, "You had a busy day."

"It's the turkey. Does it to me every time," Ryan explained, yawning. She settled back in the seat and went to sleep.

Rob watched her eyes open and close as they passed heavily lit areas or shaking large trucks. If it were him, he wouldn't have heard or noticed a thing. Ryan smiled lightly at him, whenever her eyes opened and met his. 

"Ryan," he said quietly, squatting down by the open car door. She opened her eyes. "Hey, honey, we're here," Rob told her, smiling when her eyes closed again. "Ry-an," he sang playfully.

She groaned. "The car's more comfortable than that bed. Just leave me here in peace," Ryan grumbled.

"Only three and half more years of dorm life to go," Rob teased, pulling her out of the car.

"Kill me now," she groaned, putting an arm around his waist for support.

He put his arm around her"Would you like me to carry you?" 

"Thank you, but no, I'll be okay. I'm just a bit tired," Ryan said, yawning again as they walked to the dorm.

Ryan stopped in the middle of the walkway."Oh, shoot, my bag!"

"I'll get it later.," Rob told her, pushing Ryan forward.  "Let's just get you to bed."

He got her into bed and pulled the covers over her. "Thanks, Rob," Ryan said sleepily.

"You're welcome. Goodnight," Rob said, standing up. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"Night," she told him, and rolled over.

He went back to the car, got Ryan's bag, and brought it back to the room. He set her things on the floor next to her dresser. Rob pulled off his shirt and jeans, then slipped into his bed.

Rob closed his eyes; the images of the day flashed through his mind. He smiled. Ryan had a great, loving family. Rob could tell that they all loved her and were proud of her. Little Sarah looked up to her "auntie". He couldn't believe  that Ryan had clobbered him in football either. His back still stung from the hit he took.

He looked over at her bed. Ryan was sound asleep and looking incredibly beautiful, as she had earlier that day, sleeping with Sarah. Rob closed his eyes again, begging for sleep.

When he woke up in the morning, Ryan was still asleep. Rob slipped out of bed, trying not to wake her. Her eyes opened as his feet hit the floor. She gave him a sleepy smile, and her eyes closed again. He shook his head in exasperation. Even when he tried to be super quiet, she still managed to wake up.

Rob went into the bathroom, turned on the shower and got in. He felt the warmth of the shower slowly heat up his sore muscles. That was the one thing he liked about college, there was always enough hot water to last as long as you wanted to take a shower, since they had a ton of water heaters to meet all the needs of all the students living in the dorms.

He shaved, thinking about what he was going to do about Christmas. Should he really go to visit his parents? Should he really bring Ryan? Rob wasn't sure if his family would be able to handle calling him by another name, and pretending that he was twelve years younger than he really was.

Rob rinsed off and got out of the shower. Drying off, he noticed something on the mirror. Scrawled across it in Ryan's lipstick, that was now resting on the edge of the sink, was a message: "I know your secret. Do you know mine?" It read. It was signed Catwoman.

He wrapped the towel around his waist and quickly opened the door, entering the bedroom. Ryan was still passed out. He walked past her and opened the door to the living room. No one was there. The front door was shut. He went to it and opened it up peering both ways, but there was no sign of anyone. Rob went back into the bedroom. "Ryan."

"What?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Didn't you hear anyone come in?"

"Just you. Why are you waking me? There's no school today," she grumbled.

"Sorry, go back to sleep."

He went back into the bathroom and studied the message. Rob then took a washcloth and cleaned it off.

Tom, the president of Rob's fraternity walked up to Rob and Ryan as they sat at a table in the cafeteria the following week. Ryan studied the gorgeous guy, who followed Tom to their table. "Rob, Ryan, this is Xavier, he's one of our brothers. He's a transfer from State and he's going to be starting classes here in the winter session," Tom explained. He turned to Xavier. "Ryan's a Kappa Alpha, our sister sorority."

"A pleasure to meet you, Ryan," Xavier said in an Italian accent. He took Ryan's hand,  kissing it lightly across the top.

Rob wanted to tear the guy's lips off, brother or no brother. Ryan didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she was smiling at the guy, her eyes lit up in fascination. His stomach turned.

"Nice to meet you Xavier," she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Hello, Rob," Xavier nodded to him. Releasing Ryan's hand Xavier took a seat next to Tom. Apparently, they were joining Rob and Ryan for lunch. Rob sighed and pasted on a fake smile.

God, the new guy irritated him! Rob couldn't stand him. Girls were flocking to Xavier and his Italian biceps, his Italian accent, his designer clothes, and his fast foreign car. Rob had to remember that one for his next assignment. Girls dug foreigners.

Rob studied Xavier as they played poker at their frat house. The guy was good. A better player than Rob was. And Rob had always thought he was pretty damn good. What also bothered him about Xavier was that the guy dressed and acted like he could be in the Italian mafia. Rob had dealt with some of those guys before and if this was a young soldier, he didn't want Xavier on this campus. On the other hand, it could all be an act for the girls. The guy could be as Italian as Rob was. Rob's great, great, grandparents had come from Italy. His parents were part of a generation that rebelled against culture. Rob didn't speak much Italian and he didn't know much about Italy. Only what he could remember from his grandmother making him learn.

Rob threw some Italian at Xavier when the game was over and Xavier was pocketing his money. Xavier laughed and responded back rattling on believing Rob could have a conversation with him.

"Sorry, level one Italian," Rob said, holding up his hands.

"Good try," Xavier said, with an amused smile and patted his arm.

Later that week, Rob settled down on the couch. He was exhausted. He'd made some great contacts within the drug world of the campus and had earned his night of rest. There was a knock on the door. He glanced up to see Ryan set down the book she was reading and went to answer it.

"Buonasera," Xavier said, kissing Ryan's hand as she opened the front door.

Rob rolled his eyes. Now the guy was invading their dorm room?!

Rob watched as Ryan's face lit up in delight."Xavier! What a nice surprise!"

"It was such a beautiful night, I was wondering if you would like to take a stroll with me?"

"Oh, how nice! I'd love to!" Ryan exclaimed, linking an arm through his. "Later boys," she called to Rob and Joe, over her shoulder.

"The stars are like your eyes, so blue and twinkling."

"Can it," she said, pushing her shoulder into his.

"I couldn't wait to get you alone," he said seductively, putting an arm around her. He kissed her cheek. He moved and bit her ear gently.

Ryan shrieked and pulled away laughing. Xavier pulled her close again, wrapped his arms around her, danced a quick tango, which she was use to- including the dip that ended in a passionate kiss. They earned a few hoots and hollers from other students walking by.

Ryan and Xavier chuckled as they walked away from the more populated section of the dorms with their arms around each other's waists.

"Why are you here?" she demanded, when they were finally distant from other people. They were at the edge of campus, away from the dorms, the parking lot. There was nothing but grass and trees.

Xavier leaned against a tree, "What? You don't want me around, angel?" he asked, losing the accent.

"That's not it and you know it," she said, hugging her friend. "I thought Marcus put you on illegal weapons."

"Just thought that you could use some help," Kyle answered, spreading his arms in an innocent gesture. 

"I'm doing just fine."

"You've got nothing!" 

"I'm working on it."

"I hear you're dancing with the other team, what's with that?"

"What do you mean?"

"What you gave Rob."

"How'd you know that was me?"

"Come on, angel, I know you. I know your style. But drugs aren't your thing right now. You need to stay out of it and concentrate on the games."

"They're not much of an issue here."

"Then, maybe we have to pull the plug."

Miranda put a hand to her head. "Maybe," she said with a sigh.

"Unless you want to trade teams," Kyle said, looking at her watching her face closely.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you've gotten more out of these guys than Rob ever has. And the narc guys know it. They're having a field day over this Catwoman thing, though. It didn't take me and Lawson two seconds to figure that one out." Kyle grinned.

"Did you say anything?"

"You kidding me?! We've been dying for years to pull something over on them. This is hilarious."

"It wasn't meant to be funny. But, I can say, I'm rather enjoying torturing Rob as well," Miranda said a little smugly.

"Ye-ah," he blew out a breath, "I wanted to talk to you about that too."

"What?" she asked a little concerned as her friend grew uncomfortable. It wasn't like Kyle. He was usually so sure of himself. Irritatingly so, in most instances.

Kyle scratched his head, chuckled humorlessly, "Sorry, angel, but you're letting your guard down."

Her jaw dropped. Miranda shook her head as if she hadn't heard right. She thought about it for a second and realized that she had  heard right. Of all the nerve! "Am not," she said indignantly.

"Come on! You've fallen for him, haven't you?" he accused.

She blinked. "What? Is it written all over my face?"

Kyle grinned. "Pretty much," he said, crossing his arms.

"Damn," she breathed and fell back against a tree. Miranda looked up to the sky in thought.

"He's clueless, but I'm not. I see you with him. You act like you. YOU. Not Ryan. Not who you're supposed to be to get the job done. And that scares the hell out of me, angel."

Miranda looked at Kyle, and it hurt her to know that she was scaring him. He'd been through so much and everyone tried not to worry Kyle because of what happened. Because he worried so much about everyone. Because of Kyle's getting shot in order to save her life, he thought everyone was in danger all the time. But maybe he was right this time. Maybe she was having so much fun with Rob that she was forgetting herself. Forgetting that she was there only to get a job done. Not to flirt and have a good time. Miranda blew out a hard breath. She shook her head. "I hadn't realized."

"We got to do something. I don't want you to lose your job and... I don't want to lose you."

She stepped closer to Kyle and put her hands on his broad shoulders,"You're not going to lose me."

He shook his head sadly. "We didn't think we'd lose Doug either."

Miranda pulled away. "Don't use that against me!" she growled angrily.

"Didn't mean to. But can't get past it. He made a mistake. He paid for it."

She rubbed her forehead. She knew Kyle was grieving and Kyle grieving was not something she was used to dealing with. He'd been hard enough to deal with when he was recuperating from being shot. Kyle blamed himself. He went over all the angles, in excruciating detail, always trying to find the fault with himself. But it hadn't been Kyle's fault that day, just like Dougie dying was in no way his fault. But now wasn't the time to deal with Kyle's grief. He would pretend he wasn't hurting for as long as he could until he finally would break. It wasn't pretty when he did. It was like watching a kettle, it slowly came to a boil, but when it finally did- it blew. And she really wasn't ready to deal with Kyle blowing as she was coming close to blowing herself. Miranda had her own grief to deal with. When the case was over and she was home, she'd talk with Kyle about Doug. "What do you suggest?" she asked, with a sigh.

"First of all, from what I hear in the beginning you were doing well, being flirty, going from guy to guy. The guys dug it. Now, they're talking like you got something for Rob and don't want anyone else."

"Shit."

"So, along comes rich playboy, Xavier... Like the Raymundo case. We can do it again," Kyle suggested, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He shrugged, "Get them thinking that you're over Rob."

Miranda sighed,"Why not?" she said, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Kyle hugged her back tightly, kissed the top of her head, "You okay, angel?" he asked when she didn't pull back.

She nodded, but still didn't let go. She'd missed Kyle and his overbearing ways. She needed him to ground her sometimes. And she was glad he did. Kyle was right. She was letting her crush on Rob overshadow the reason why she was there. "I miss you."

He squeezed her tight, "I missed you too."

Rob watched as Ryan came over to their table. He sat with Tom and Xavier, who were planning the frat's next big poker game. The biggest game of the year. Tom was talking about making an entrance fee of at least five hundred dollars. Ryan slipped behind Xavier, putting her arms down his chest, and planted a kiss on his cheek. Xavier turned to her and kissed her passionately. He pulled her onto his lap, running a hand up and down her bare thigh. Ryan's arms went around his neck, and Xavier's hand slid up to a breast.

"Whoa! You guys want a room?!" Tom asked in surprise, watching them.

"Maybe later. Got to get to class," Ryan said, winked at Tom ,and kissed Xavier again.

"I'll see you tonight, mia amore," Xavier said huskily.

"Later," she said, getting up. Ryan slid her hand slowly out of his with a shy, yet, seductive smile.

The guys at the table literally sighed as they watched.

"Gentlemen," she said, smiling innocently. Ryan straightened her skirt and then walked away. 

Rob watched as Ryan walked away, her hips swaying provocatively.  Damn, she was sexy. And double damn, that she and Xavier seem to have hooked up. Rob suspected as much as she had returned late from her walk with Xavier and was humming softly as she got ready for bed.

"Way to go, Xavier," Tom exclaimed, patting his shoulder firmly in admiration. Tom turned towards Rob, "Guess she's over you, pal," he said, chuckling.

"She was never under me," Rob muttered.

"She wanted to be! You snooze you lose. Right, Xavier?" 

"Exactly," Xavier said with a wink in agreement. 

But Kyle saw Rob stewing. He felt rotten about it because Miranda really did have feelings for the guy. And he could tell that Rob had feelings for Miranda as well. But they had a job to do. There was no time for feelings.