Grounded. That's what it feels like now. I have a shadow everywhere I go, even within the pack house. Going elsewhere isn't even an option. At least Doc had cleared me for training again.

Garricks words still haunt me. Mack shouldn't be able to push to me, but she can. That's twice now. It's not like it kind of worked either, I'm sure my wrist was broken. And although I never saw the extent of the damage to my side, based on Judes reaction alone, it was bad.

"Head in the game princess," Derek chirps, locking his dark gaze on me.

"Why must you call me that?!" I groan.

"Because you are to me, think about it some time," he replies cryptically. Dork, I just shake my head.

"What's got you so distracted today anyways?" Mack questions.

"I don't know, my mind's just running wild today," I grumble. She just stands there clearly not accepting that answer.

"It's everything. Less then two weeks to conference and I'm still clueless. I feel like I'm grounded; I'm not accustomed to having to ask permission to go places. Garrick and his talk about pushing shouldn't apply to me," I groaned, laying it all out sounds pitiful.

"You're not that clueless, though I'm sure you're heart's still gonna fuck something up," Derek starts. "Garrick is Garrick, he's not wrong but who cares, clearly it works, consider it a blessing. And if it bothers you just talk to Chris-"

"Talk to me about what?" Chris asks walking in.

"Nothing," I reply flustered.

"You're mate feels grounded brother," Derek says with a smirk.

"Really Derek," I snap.

"It's just not safe right now," he says apologetically. "You're not grounded, we just need to be careful for now."

"I know," I say with a sigh.

Bzzz

"Hey what's up?" I answer my cell.

"Hey Jess, can you grab some ice on your way?" Curtis asks.

"Umm?" I respond as Chris frowns at me, clearly hearing Curtis.

"Don't tell me you forgot again," Curtis grumbles.

"Right, the harvest dinner, no I didn't forget," I paused, totally having forgotten. "Just that something came up. I promised to spend time with my boyfriend and his friends," I blurted out, being a shit liar. Chris just gave me a funny look trying not to laugh.

"But Jess, everyone's looking forward to seeing you! The more the merrier, no's not an option," Curtis says with determination.

"How can we turn that down?" Chris calls out. "What time and what can we bring?"

"Ice and your appetites, oh and if there's anything special you like to drink, we just have beer. People are already showing up so don't wait too long," he says before bidding bye and hanging up.

"What?" Chris says with a laugh. "You said you were feeling grounded and you already had plans to go before we got in the way. Do you want to go?"

"Yeah, I guess so, I mean it's the wrap up party, usually a good time," I say with a shrug.

"Then I guess we better get ready," he says with a wink. "Derek, Jace and Jude are coming too if thats ok?"

"Yup, this ought to be interesting, we need beer and whiskey, like three bottles," I say which just causes him to raise a brow. "You'll see."

-----

By the time we got there the party was in full swing with vehicles lining the road as far as you could see. This was the reward for pitching in big time, so the reward was ten fold.

The music was booming from the live band and the smell of delicious food was everywhere. The crowd was bigger then the previous years, which I could've done without.

"Whats wrong?" Chris asked as we parked where directed. I just shook my head. "Tell me."

"There's just a lot of people, I normally get here before everyone starts coming. I'll be fine, it's just whatever," I trail off, sticking close to Chris as he wraps an arm around me.

"Oh Jess! You made it good," an elderly lady said coming up to me. "I don't suppose you brought the-"

"Ice?" I cut in. "Grabbed ten bags if that's good?"

"Perfect," she beams. "And who is this strapping man?" She asks eyeing up Chris.

"This is my boyfriend Chris, his brother Derek, and our friends Jace and Jude."

"Oh dear," she squealed grabbing me and Chris. "It's so nice to meet you!" Her wrinkly face was split by a giant grin. "Call me oma, drinks are over there, food's over there, make yourself at home. Jess dear can you give Curtis a quick hand at the grill?"

"Oh grilling, now we're talking," Jace beams as we head over to the grill pits. The guys were getting ready to pull the first pig roast off and move the second to the finishing pit.

"Hey, Jess is here with reinforcements," Curtis called from the far side. "Maybe one of you can help me pull this one off and move the other over and Jess can carve?" We all nod.

Jace is in his glory, they even have a kiss the cook apron which he's already slipped on. No sooner did we start cutting up the cooked one we were swarmed by the hungy masses. The smell was incredible and it dissapeared as fast as we carved it.

"Christ, are you sure they aren't wolves?" Jude asks me looking over the pile of bones left over. I just laugh.

"They'll do two pigs-"

"Three," Curtis cuts in. "Bigger crowd this year."

"Three pigs, over there they're doing burgers and hot dogs," I say nodding to the fires in the far side. "Those kettles have corn on the cob, and there's every side dish known to man on the tables in the garage to the left." The guys all looked impressed.

"This is a long sport," Curtis says with a chuckle. "We start serving up food at noon and they'll still be eating at midnight. The games will start at six, I know you guys are new but I expect an honest effort." With that he nods and goes back to resetting the coals for the roast.

"Games?" Jace asks with excitement.

"Kind of like a stag and doe, except the house money goes to various charities instead of a wedding. The half that the contestant wins, they can keep or donate as well, most just donate."

He looks as excited as a kid on Christmas as I explained. We walked over to the board to see what games were where.

"So there's single games, doubles and then team games. Need six for the team ones, so we'd just need one more person," I explained.

"Two princess, I'm here to eat and drink, and watch you guys make fools of yourselves," Derek says laughing.

"Jess, you made it!" Tim shouts wrapping me up in a big hug. He released me after a bit but kept a arm around my shoulder. I could hear Chris's teeth grinding from here as I watched his jaw tick. "Who are your friends?"

"This is Chris, my boyfriend," I said stepping into him. "His brother Derek, and our friends Jace and Jude." He studied them for a moment before softening and putting a hand out to shake.

"Nice to meet you guys. Treat her right and we won't have any issues," he says in an off the cuff way but his smile didn't hide the mild threat.

"So what are you guys signing up for?" He asks.

"Um, I was actually thinking a team sports, but Derek's being a kill joy so we need two more," I pout.

"Jason, five beers and a drink for Jess," he calls over. A moment later Jason shows up passing beers out and handing me a big plastic cup full of whiskey and pepsi.

"Looks like a team to me," Tim says. "What do you say Chris?" Everyone looks at me, I just shrug and look at Chris.

"Sign us up," he says with an unreadable expression. They head off to sign us up, and Chris pulls me close, I can feel his breath fanning my ear.

"How many touchy feely male friends do you have?" He asks lowly.

"Really?" I say rolling my eyes. "They're good guys, I've never dated or messed around with any of them, they're all like brothers to me."

"That's some strange family loving-" I cut Derek off with a swing to his gut. "What? He's not looking at you like his baby sister."

"Can we just have a fun, normal night?" I ask in frustration. "I'm here with Chris, I don't want anyone else, can you just stop," I snap.

"Sorry baby," Chris apologizes, "I'll try."

Tim and Jason return a moment later with a round of shots. "Bottoms up!" With that the first and second rounds are gone.

"First game is tug of war, we should head over now," Jason nodded over to the gathering crowd. I swallowed hard looking at them and finished the rest of my drink.

This is the first time I had done a team sport, and I was usually not this sober by game time.

"Jess, go out front, I don't want you to get hurt if someone falls on you," Tim says. Makes sense, the guys all towered over me.

"Chris, as the biggest guy you should anchor the end," Jason reasoned. "The rest of us are about the same give or take so just go where ever."

I looked quickly at Jude and Jace then Tim and Jason, they looked like before and after testimonials. I supressed a giggle and took my spot. Jason was coming for second place and I could feel Chris getting annoyed. Jace stepped in blocking his way and Chris chilled out.

Our opponents were no slouches. The Dermot family was all big strapping guys. This ought to be interesting, pretty sure I'm just here for moral support.

Oma did the count down and as the flag dropped both teams dug in. At first neither team made any progress. But after a bit of give and take we started gaining ground.

With a final heave the Dermots stumbled and the rope dropped sending us all backwards. Thank god I was in the front, I would have died under them. That being said, Jace doesn't make the softest landing, but he wrapped me up to keep me from hitting the ground.

"Jess wins! See you guys in half hour for next round," oma says as the next two teams come onto the field.

Chris helps me up and looks me over to see if I'm ok.

"Relax, Jace broke my fall, it's a good thing I was at the front," I said with a laugh. He didn't look impressed.

"If it bothers you this much we don't have to play," I mumble.

"Its fine, how many rounds are there?" He asks. I look at omas clipboard.

"Looks like five rounds, about half hour between each. Hungry?" I ask trying to lighten the mood.

He wraps me up in his arm and drops his head to the crook of my neck. "Not for dinner," he whispers in my ear before kissing my neck. His proximity and the drinks have me feeling warm and fuzzy as I melt into him.

"Let's refuel," Jace agrees nodding to the food.

We grabbed heaping plates and fresh drinks as we sat back and watched the other matches. I was happy to see the guys were able to talk like normal people, it was looking rough at first.

"Shit, you're in for it man, this one's crazy," Jason said nodding at me, drawing me back to the conversation. I'm not sure which story he was about to tell but it was no doubt something he shouldn't. But then again that counted for the last three, though only two involved me.

"Oh really," Chris says with an unreadable expresssion.

"Dude really?" I ask exasperated.

"Really," Jason replies unphased with a devilish grin.

Oh shit.