#Staten Island Massage

[masseurrsvp]

Bb Foot Massage Euston NW Warren Street Massage Treatment: Discover Total Wellness in Euston London.

Explore Bb Foot Massage Euston NW Calming Peace at MasseurLondon.Com “Uncover the Skill of Relaxation and Wellness in the Center of Londontown” Book me on WhatsApp Call Chris About Me: Creating Memorable Male-to-Male Therapeutic massage Experiences Kings Cross Massage, I maintain that self-care is an vital component of a well-rounded life. As an seasoned male massage therapist, I am devoted…

[drlunaxu]

Navigating Dry Eye Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Management

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a common and often chronic condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or when the quality of tears is compromised. It can lead to discomfort, irritation, and, if left untreated, potential damage to the surface of the eyes. This article explores the causes, symptoms, and effective management strategies for Dry Eye Disease, shedding light on this prevalent yet manageable condition.

Understanding Dry Eye Disease:

Causes:

Decreased Tear Production: Aging, hormonal changes, and certain medical conditions can reduce tear production.

Poor Tear Quality: Meibomian gland dysfunction, an issue with the glands that produce the oil component of tears, can result in poor tear quality.

Environmental Factors: Exposure to dry or windy climates, smoke, and prolonged screen time can contribute to dry eyes.

Medical Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus may increase the risk of dry eyes.

Medications: Antihistamines, decongestants, and certain blood pressure medications can reduce tear production.

Symptoms:

Dryness: Persistent dryness or a gritty sensation in the eyes.

Redness: The eyes may appear red or bloodshot.

Irritation: Itching, burning, or a feeling of something in the eye.

Blurry Vision: Blurred or fluctuating vision, particularly during activities that require prolonged focus.

Sensitivity to Light: Increased sensitivity to light, known as photophobia.

Watery Eyes: Paradoxically, some people with dry eyes may experience excessive tearing as a response to irritation.

Effective Management Strategies:

Artificial Tears and Lubricating Eye Drops:

Over-the-Counter Options: Artificial tears provide temporary relief by lubricating the eyes and helping to maintain moisture.

Prescription Medications: In cases of chronic dry eyes, prescription eye drops may be recommended to reduce inflammation and improve tear production.

Warm Compresses and Lid Massage:

Applying warm compresses to the eyes can help open clogged oil glands and improve the quality of tears.

Gentle massage of the eyelids may be recommended to promote the release of oils from the glands.

Lifestyle and Environmental Modifications:

Blinking Exercises: Reminding oneself to blink regularly, especially during prolonged screen use, can help distribute tears evenly.

Humidifiers: Using humidifiers in indoor environments can add moisture to the air, reducing the risk of dry eyes.

Protective Eyewear: Wearing sunglasses to shield the eyes from wind and dust can provide protection.

Nutritional Supplements:

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, may have anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit individuals with dry eyes.

Vitamin supplements, particularly vitamin A, may contribute to eye health.

Prescription Medications:

In cases of severe dry eye, medications such as cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra) may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and improve tear production.

Punctal Plugs:

Punctal plugs are small devices inserted into the tear ducts to block drainage. This helps keep the eyes moist by preventing tears from draining too quickly.

In-Office Procedures:

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy: This procedure uses pulses of light to heat the meibomian glands, improving oil flow.

LipiFlow: A device that applies heat and gentle pressure to the eyelids to unclog the meibomian glands.

For More Info:-

ophthalmologist staten island

Dr. Luna Xu's Ophthalmology

Glaucoma Surgery in staten island

ipl treatment clinic in staten island

[atlanticsportsmed12]

Back Pain Specialists in Staten Island: Relieving Your Aches and Restoring Mobility

In millions of people around the world, back discomfort is a common problem. In the bustling borough of Staten Island, residents seeking relief from back pain can find solace in the expertise of back pain specialists. These dedicated professionals employ their knowledge and skills to diagnose, treat, and manage back pain, helping patients regain their quality of life. Let’s explore the services offered by back pain specialists Staten Island and shed light on the options available for those seeking effective solutions.

What defines Back Pain?

Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor posture, muscle strains, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or underlying medical conditions. The discomfort can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by limited mobility, radiating pain, or tingling sensations. 

Addressing back pain requires a comprehensive approach that considers the underlying causes and tailors treatments accordingly.

Services Offered by Back Pain Specialists

Comprehensive Evaluations

Back pain specialists Staten Island conduct thorough evaluations to understand the root cause of a patient's discomfort. These evaluations often involve a detailed medical history review, physical examinations, and diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. 

By identifying the precise cause of the pain, specialists can develop personalized treatment plans.

Non-Surgical Interventions

Back pain specialists employ various non-surgical interventions to alleviate pain and improve mobility. These may include physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, and spinal decompression therapy. 

These conservative treatments aim to strengthen the muscles, improve spinal alignment, reduce inflammation, and promote natural healing processes.

Pain Management Techniques

Pain management techniques may involve minimally invasive procedures such as epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, facet joint injections, or radiofrequency ablation. These interventions target specific sources of pain and can provide long-lasting relief.

Surgical Interventions

Procedures such as spinal fusion, laminectomy, discectomy, or artificial disc replacement are performed by Back pain specialists in Staten Island to address conditions such as herniated discs, spinal instability, or spinal deformities. These surgeries are tailored to the patient's specific needs and aim to alleviate pain while restoring stability and function.

Choosing the Right Back Pain Specialist

When seeking a back pain specialist in Staten Island, it is crucial to consider their qualifications, experience, and patient reviews. 

Look for specialists who are board-certified in pain management and have a track record of successfully treating back pain. 

Additionally, consider their communication style, as it is essential to have a healthcare provider who listens attentively, explains treatment options clearly, and involves you in the decision-making process.

Conclusion

Living with chronic back pain can significantly impact one's daily life and overall well-being. Fortunately, Staten Island offers a range of back pain specialists dedicated to diagnosing, managing, and treating back pain. 

By taking a comprehensive approach that encompasses non-surgical interventions, pain management techniques, and surgical options when necessary, these specialists can help patients find relief from their back pain and restore mobility. 

If you are experiencing back pain, consult with a reputable back pain specialist in Staten Island to begin your journey toward a pain-free life.

[statenislandvet]

Pet Grooming Tips & Ideas to Keep Your Pet Health

We should delicately touch the animal's body to begin the pet grooming procedure. Stop and make an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup if any sections look sore. Remember that animals establish good connections with repetition and praise if your pet feels uneasy when you touch them. You will need to lead with kindness and gentleness while maintaining your resolve. The idea is to groom your pet regularly, rather than only when it's matted or foul, and to educate them to like it.

Start with your pet to a trained groomer for a lesson if you need assistance. Choose a patient, considerate, and compassionate groomer. Most groomers are delighted to meet customers who want to care for their animals in between appointments for professional pet grooming in Staten Island, New york.

Grooming tips

The following details relate to various areas of your pet grooming:

Brushing. No matter what coat your pet has, brushing and combing should occur daily or at least many times per week. If you're heading to bathe your pet, brush them first. Your pet will like the feeling of being touched and combed; it removes dead hair and tangles and distributes the skin's natural oils. Make sure you look down at the skin if the coat is thick. However, exercise vigilance and gentleness; speeding the process can cause the hurting condition known as brush burn and pulling the tangles will hurt. To remove any tangles, apply a detangler on dry hair.

For diverse coatings, different kinds of brushes are used. A pin brush or curved wire slicker works nicely for long, straight layers. Use a standard wire for medium-length hair and coats with a thick undercoat. Rakes work well for brushing undercoats when the weather is shedding. Brushing mitts or rubber curry can stroke short, silky coats. After brushing, you can remove any little knots the brush missed with an all-purpose comb.

Baths. Even in the summer, the water should be warm since too cold water might chill animals and make them dislike bathing in general. Small animals should be supported in the tub while bathed to prevent panic. At the same time, your pet gets a complete body massage from the wash. Before doing the final rinse, if desired, apply the conditioner and comb through the coat. I use conditioner to comb through the tails of horses and dogs with long hair before the last rinse. To avoid chilling, all animals should constantly dry on chilly days, mainly young, elderly, or sickly animals.

Teeth. Any pet, from the tiniest rats to the large horses, can have its teeth and gums carefully brushed. Most animals like a mouth massage if they are patiently and kindly taught. Healthy mouths and fresh breath are advantages. Additionally, you'll be more aware of when your pet needs professional dental care before your pet has pain. Use animal toothpaste that is appropriate for your particular breed of pet.

Here are a few tips to keep your pets healthy.

Adequate nutrition. 

Feeding your pet the right kind and quantity of nutrition aids in maintaining a healthy weight, which is one of the most effective ways to defend against diseases brought on by obesity and lengthen his life. With a balanced diet of high-quality food, pets can usually meet their health needs, but consult your veterinarian to see if he requires any supplements. Additionally, ensure your pet has entry to enough fresh water, and observe the number of pleasures you offer him. According to most veterinarians, treats shouldn't account for more than 10% of your pet's daily caloric intake.

Exercise. 

Your pet can remain physically engaged and fit by participating in routine walks, hikes, fetch games, and swimming. But don't neglect mental exercise! You can keep your dog or cat entertained and interested by providing them with toys to play with, hiding goodies, placing up obstacle courses, and teaching them new tricks. You can also switch your walking schedule to introduce your pet to different sights and smells.

[newuphysicaltherapy-blog]

Ease Osteoarthritis Pain and Find Relief With Massage Therapy

According to the National Institutes of Health, massage is used by more than 15 million adults in the U.S., and it’s also an effective treatment that might benefit people with osteoarthritis provided it’s done by a trained massage therapist who manipulate the muscles and soft tissues using their hands and fingers, but some use their forearms, elbows, or even their feet. It’s the technique that varies since the amount of pressure used and the direction of movement is changeable. The main objective of massage therapy is to relax muscles and soft tissues, increase blood and oxygen being delivered to the massaged area, and relieve pain.

Most popular types of massage include:

Swedish Massage- It relaxes the muscles and energizes the body using long strokes, kneading, tapping, and circular movements with the help of oils.

Deep Tissue Massage- Therapist uses deep finger pressure focusing on deeper muscular levels and connective tissues.

Trigger Point Massage- Therapist focuses pressure on myofascial trigger points (targets the points that have the pain in a particular area) and uses other strokes as well.

Prenatal or Pregnancy Massage- As the name suggests, this involves massage for pregnant women. Safety of the mother and fetus is our priority, hence pillows are used for comfort.

A massage therapy session usually lasts 30-60 minutes, but chronic pain patients are usually advised to complete a series of sessions.

Massage therapy can be effective for various arthritis-related pains, including low back pain, neck pain, and knee pain, offering a range of potential benefits to people with arthritis, including

1.      Better Posture

2.      Joint Flexibility

3.      Pain Management

4.      Decreased Swelling

5.      Movement Re-Education

If you are an osteoarthritic patient, you can reap immense benefits from massage therapy, and slow the progression of this condition.

Few more facts about osteoarthritis:

1.      Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that usually affects weight-bearing joints such as the hands, knees, hips and spine.

2.      It is a progressive disease that gradually worsens over time. You should consider risk factors, such as body weight, prior joint injury, occupational and recreational demands, genetics, bone malformations and concurrent diseases- with the advancement of this condition.

At New U Physical Therapy in Staten Island, NY, we treat work related injuries with an encouraging approach and focus our efforts on treatment programs that are appropriate for your injury. We work with nearly every major insurance carrier, meaning you may claim your insurance under the worker's compensation Staten Island, NY law if you get injured at your workplace, we accept all kinds of insurances.

[zelenaartistry]

Book Your Pedicure

[storiesofsvu]

Sonny Carisi Couple’s HC’s

Gives nose/forehead kisses It’s mainly Sonny, after all, he’s got the height advantage. But he adores the way you’ll pop up on your toes in an attempt to kiss his nose, when you can’t reach, you’ll just *boop* him instead. When he’s sitting on the couch or working at the kitchen table working you’ll wrap around him from behind and kiss the top of his head, leaning against him and basking in the love for a few moments

Gets jealous the most Sonny. He doesn’t mean to, but he really doesn’t like seeing other men’s hands on you, or even them flirting with you. He doesn’t clam up or take it out on you or anything, he’ll simply waltz up, planting one on your cheek/head/lips, wrapping an arm around you a bit possessively to show that you’re his.

Picks the other up from the bar when they’re too drunk

It switches between the two of you. Sometimes you’ll have a great night out with your girlfriends, no one’s messy but you usually call him slurring a bit wooing in the background, whining about how much you miss and love him. Every so often he’s the one out with the squad, he’s giggly, dopey grin on his face as he says he’ll pay for the uber to come drive his truck home.

Takes care of on sick days

Both of you, but it’s mainly Sonny. He doesn’t get sick often, and when either of you do, it’s all about his Ma’s home remedies, soup, oj and tea. He always makes sure you’re wrapped up in the warmest fuzziest blanket and softly scratches at your head, making sure you’re feeling as comfy and relaxed as possible

Drags the other person into the water on a beach day

Sonny. You just want to lie in the sun, having a good time, relax, but he’s going to be dragging you out into the waves, probably tossing you into the water, dunking you and splashing you. Even when it hits family beach day, the kids all want to play in the sand and make sandcastles (though lbh, he’s 100% up for being buried up to his head in the sand). He’s hauling all of them into the water, literally lifting them up and throwing them as far as possible into the water.

Gives unprompted massages

When it comes to hands, necks/shoulders, it’s you. When it comes to feet, it’s Sonny. You’ll be on the couch, he’ll just pull your feet into his lap and start to rub your feet, especially if it’s been a long day at work.

Who drives? Who rides shotgun?

Sonny drives, he’s used to driving Bella around from when they were teens, and he enjoys it. While he doesn’t drive too much within the city, if you two aren’t going far, you’ll walk or take the subway, but if you’re going out to Staten Island or a road trip, he’s in the drivers seat, other hand on your thigh while the radio softly plays.

Brings the other lunch at work

It’s a mix. Especially once he’s moved to the DA’s office and doesn’t have the rest of the squad ordering takeout all the time. You’ll pop by with leftovers or his favourite take out, leaving it on his desk if he’s not around.

Has the better parental relationship

Definitely Sonny, he’s always a big family man, he wants a big family of his own, he liked growing up with siblings and wants his own kids to grow up together. His parents are usually the among the first to know when things are wrong, or when big things are happening in his life. He does roll his eyes a lot at their persistence to bring someone home/when they’re getting grandkids, but he secretly loves it.

Tries to start roleplaying in the bedroom

When he was on the force, there may have been a night or two where his uniform, maybe the cuffs even came out to play, but that’s about it.

Embarrassingly drunk dancer

Definitely Sonny, he’s a lanky man, he’ll be flailing around, especially the more he drinks.

Still cries watching titanic

You, you can’t help it. You’re a sap for romantics, Sonny smiles in amusement at it, but doesn’t make any fun of you, simply cuddles you more.

Firmly believes in couples costumes

It starts out as you, you love Halloween, always have, but Sonny’s super onboard when you bring it on. As you get married and have kids, its Sonny that starts thinking up group family costumes months in advance for Halloween, and always makes sure you have matching sweaters/onesies/pyjamas for Christmas.

Breaks the expensive gift rule during Christmas

You. Sonny has a love of expensive suits/shoes/watches/etc, but doesn’t often indulge in them, he grew up with a big family/middle class and knows how to be responsible/budget. You often surprise him on multiple holidays with treats. His gifts are usually more from the heart, even if they didn’t cost much/are homemade, they mean even more to you than an expensive one would.

Makes the other eat breakfast

Sonny, we all know he’s an awesome cook. And for some reason he always has a ton of energy in the morning, if you’re not otherwise *distracted* and neither of you are working you better believe he’s making a full Sunday spread, and if you still refuse to get up, he’ll bring plates to bed and feed you himself, which honestly you find adorable.

Remembers anniversary

You both do, though Sonny has a tendency to be a bit forgetful with his crazy work schedule, or he’s at least running late, but always makes up for it

Brings up having kids Sonny. He wants kids, multiple kids, and probably brings it up pretty early on, or at least asks how you feel about them to try and test the waters before he brings it up as a deal breaker.

_________ Taglist: @detective-giggles @teamsladsandgents @witches-unruly-heart @averyhotchner @glimmerglittergirl @beccabarba @itsjustmyfantasyroom @thatesqcrush @altsvu @caracalwithchips

[blxxdyvalentine19xx]

Sex in the 'porno shower'

Rook Cappelletty x Pete Davidson

Warnings: smut, anal, rook recieving, swearing, anal fingering, porno shower sex.

Inspiration: Pete; when he was still living in the basement at his mom's, had this shower he always called the porno shower.

Staten Island, New York

Rook got back in from a run with a one track mind that lead to the shower; about halfway through the living room he stepped backwards about two steps; Pete's laptop was open to a likely strategically picked out shower porno. "What in the he...' Rook furrowed a brow and ran his tongue along his lip before seeking out his boyfriend.

Glancing upwards from his phone when he felt a set of hands on his knees. "Yes?" Pete asked as his eyes met Rook's inquisitive ones. The smaller man's hair messy and his breath staggered as the drummer had ben out. Pete couldn't help but run his eyes up the man's toned body.

His hands gripped at Pete's knees as Rook leaned against the comedians legs. "Porn...really?" He cocked an eyebrow at his boyfriend; his eyes searching Pete's. "What am I missing here?" Rook asked the man who was laying on the bed.

Looking up at Rook; Pete dead panned and suppressed a cocky grin. "Oh my god, baby, you don't..." he hesitated realizing the man hadn't caught on. "It's not about the porn specifically." Pete said: sitting up so he was eye level with Rook. "You're missing the point here." He set his hands on Rook's cheeks.

"I don't what?" Rook asked when he heard hesitation in his boyfriend's voice. "Then what the fucks it about?" He half sassed and glared at Pete as the comedians hands settled on his cheeks. "What's the point?" Rook bit his lip and lightly pushed against his boyfriend.

"The porno shower" Pete kissed his boyfriend's rather salty lips and snickered. "I was expecting you'd catch on to me sort of saying we should totally fuck in it" he shifted his legs sideways and pulled Rook forward. "You aren't nearly as receptive as I'd expect."

Putting the pieces together; Rook's nose curled as he realized what Pete had been hinting at for weeks. "I never would have figured that out on my own." He kissed Pete back and ran his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. "No, I'm not, I got to take a shower anyway" Rook laughed as he was pulled downwards on top of Pete. "How about we do that now?"

"I know, I've been hinting at it forever now" Pete smiled when Rook's nose curled. "You're cute as fuck, makes up for it." He kissed his boyfriend again and slipped his leg over Rook's. "Oh fuck yeah, let's fuckin' do it" picking him up; Pete managed Rook's shirt off and threw it behind them.

Being sat on the bathroom counter; Rook slipped his shorts off and pulled Pete into a kiss, his arms wrapped around Pete's neck. "You want me to figure shit out then you gotta tell me directly." He nipped and sucked at his boyfriend's bottom lip. "I'm smart but not that smart."

Pete grinned when Rook lead a rather rough kiss and squeezed at the drummers thighs. "Noted" he mumbled and pulled away; slipping his shirt off. "You're plenty smart, you're just a little numb to a few things." He pulled Rook towards him, his hips jutting as Rook's hand made contact with his waist undoing his jeans.

"Shut up" Rook hummed; his breath shaky as Pete's hands squeezed his thighs. "You don't need to keep talking" jumping off the counter he knelt long enough to get his boyfriend's jeans off and grinned as Pete looked at him. Taking his phone out he set it up so they'd have video of it.

His eyes followed when Rook knelt in front of him. "Come here" he gestured, pulling Rook back up into a heady kiss. "God, you're gorgeous baby." Pete slapped his boyfriend's ass and slipped his hand below Rook's boxers. Pulling the drummer with him as they both got their boxers off.

Once in the shower; Rook's breath cut short as his back hit the marble and Pete's hand connected at his *rooks* throat. He grinned and grabbed Pete's wrist.

Looking his boyfriend up and down; Pete moaned softly and looked at Rook's eyes. Kissing up Rook's neck, Pete turned the water on and turned Rook around so the man was face first to the glass. "Look at you baby, fucking beautiful" the heel of his hand hit Rook's ass and he gripped his boyfriend's waist.

His hips arched forward as Pete slapped his ass. "Humm fuck" he mumbled loving a rougher side to his boyfriend. Rook whined out when Pete's fingers rimmed his hole. 'Fuck, again, daddy"

Hearing Rook whine; Pete grabbed the drummers wrists and pinned them against the glass above Rook's head. "Gonna beg for daddy ike a little whore, huh?" He growled, biting at Rook's neck as the man writhed below him.

Feeling Pete's teeth on his neck was both pain and pleasure but he didn't hate it. "Fuck please, daddy" Rook whimpered when Pete rolled his hips forward, the man's cock against his ass. His own pressed against the glass.

Pete massaged Rook's ass and left the man's neck covered in hickeys. He nipped Rook's ear and slipped a finger into Rook's ass, prodding lightly at the ring of muscles.

Rook pushed back against Pete's fingers and let his head hang as he moaned out. "Mm, shit" he whined again as Pete's hand squeezed lightly at his cock. "Need your cock."

Pressing a kiss to Rook's lips; Pete groaned as the man tightened around his cock. "Shit, I fuckin' love you John" he mumbled he words as he was close, bringing one of Rook's legs up, he gripped his boyfriend's thigh and rolled his forward. "Shit, you're to fucking perfect, baby"

Dragging his nails down Pete's back: Rook moaned out and gripped at the towel bar as Pete's thrusts threatened repeatedly to put him over the edge. "God, close" he whined as Pete wasn't hesitant to make him feel like he was the only person that mattered.

Groaning as he thrust upwards into Rook; Pete buried his nose in his boyfriend's neck and tutted out a heavy moan as Rook's nails were sure to scratch. Thrusting a couple more times; Pete and Rook both came, the two of them locked in a kiss. Being pulled against Rook; Pete sucked at Rook's upper lip and hummed out and I love you.

Few days later - Los Angeles.

Pete had been talked into coming to LA with Rook for a few days between filming for SNL and was leaning against the kitchen counter eating a piece of pizza and watching the video Rook finally got around to sending him from the other night. "Jesus that boy can bend." He mumbled, the sound off on his phone for obvious reasons.

"Humm?" Colson walked in, acknowledging Pete and squeezing past his friend to get something out of the cupboard. "You say something?" He asked looking down.

Pushing the power button on his phone, Pete shook his head "nope, didn't say anything." He shifted hoping he'd be able to hide the hard on as he was in sweatpants.

Raising an eyebrow; Colson looked at the comedian, grabbing a pot out of the lower cupboard and filling it with water. "I'mma take that as you were probably into a good porno" he teased, having no clue he was right.

Looking through the fridge as he'd slipped into the kitchen behind Colson, Rook eyes widened and he coughed as to clear his throat. Looking over at Pete; he made a discomforted sound and got a fork from the drawer and grabbed Pete's phone, slipping it into his own pocket. "You don't think do you?" Rook mumbled and took a bite of the pasta he'd found, moving just so in a way to hide the fact that his boyfriend was hard.

"What is it with you and porn" Pete said to Colson; pulling Rook against him and slipping his arms around the man's waist. "Thank you baby" he whispered and his his face in Rook's neck. "Don't move" Pete mumbled, squeezing Rook lightly.

Rook nodded and focused on the pasta and less on the fact this his boyfriend's hard cock was pressed against his thigh. Slipping one of his arms around Pete; he let go of a breath and kissed his boyfriend's cheek.

[stfujavii]

15 Date ideas for a COVID world.

It’s super hard to “date” right now, especially dating with the traditional sense of the word in mind. The first question we have to ask ourself is what we consider a date to be? Previously the answer would’ve been something along lines of: dinner and a movie, a music concert, a book signing, or jumping on a plane to Chicago for the weekend. You know, normal Friday night things. Anything was considered a date, as long as you were dressed up for it.

Because we’re not super dressed up anymore, anything done inside feels like another Tuesday night, regular. We spend so much time with our loved ones watching movies, cuddling in bed, eating and making dinner together. These are all dates, and can be dates if we want them to, but what made dates special were, getting to know someone outside of their comfort zone, outside of your comfort zone.

As far as I’m concerned, a date is described as anything with wine, ice-cream, or dessert involved.

Drive-In Movies - The obvious choice for a COVID filled world. A drive-in movie, gives the perception that everything is back to normal. All you have to do, is bring a blanket, some wine, maybe some popcorn, and if your partner is on the bougie side a charcuterie board probably. Oh, and don’t forget a mask in case you need to get out and go to the bathroom.

Couples massages - We’re all stressed, and so are you, and your partner. For a thoughtful date night, you do have options.

Bathhouse is an Avi&Javi favorite, however it may run you a couple hundred dollars for an hour or two. Don’t be swayed, there are other options open right now with many COVID safety measures in place.

Shop the Markets - The holiday shops are open! The perfect low-key date for those who are just getting to know each other, and those who know each other a little too well. The perfect date to hold hands while walking around, sipping hot chocolate and eye all the cute little bobbles you’d otherwise find on Etsy.

Brooklyn’s Holiday market at city point is Brooklyn‘s largest shopping and dining destination it’s from now until December 20th.

Empire outlets is the first outlet mall in New York City(Staten Island). It sits on a waterfront space and it’s currently decked out as a winter wonderland for the perfect winter date night. Make this date night super romantic with a ferry ride to Staten Island, then a short walk to Empire outlets for sights, drinks, food, and more.

Turnstyle underground holiday market is located underground, in the subway at Columbus circle 59th street stop, on the ACBD1 train lines.

The Brooklyn Flea

Lights! Lights! Lights! - It’s stiil NYC, which means lights are going to be lit up for the holiday season.

The Rockefeller Christmas tree is back and it’s already lit. The only caveat, you have to join the queue to see the tree.

The Bronx zoo Holiday lights are litter than ever. The global safari in lights featuring illuminated animals from all over the world.

LuminoCity Festival is lit, lit, lit. It sprawls across several acres of Randall's Island with an immersive art experience, and the best instagram photos you can find.

Bowling Alleys - Did you not get the memo? Bowling alleys been open in New York City. Currently they all close at 10, so it’d have to be an early date.

Ice-skating - The quintessential romantic date night activity. Hold hands, grab a hot chocolate, and skate around the rink a few times before frostbite kicks in. Perfect date.

Heated outdoor dining -Join in on the Covid bubbles craze. Dine in an heated igloo on a rooftop, or sip on a glass of pinot in a heated bubble on the street side.

He;re’s a  list here, which shows every private dining bubble in NYC.

Check out all the exhibits you saw online.

ARTECHOUSE, located at the historic boiler room of Chelsea Market houses a new immersive art space you’ve probaby seen all over instagram.

Museum of ice cream is back with Pinkmas! Some of their exhibits are closed for safety reasons, and they added new exhibitions to the mix.

Hudson yards - Hudson Yards has it all: From the edge, to the Vessel, and The Shed. You can also go shopping, watch an out door movie, sip on wine, dine out, talk to Santa (virtually), and so much more.

Visit a Cemetery together. No seriously, bring a blanket, some wine, a record player and a small notebook. You can plan out your death together.

Cook together - Get an Air-bnb, or drive out town and get a cozy cabin. Plan a four-course meal together, create menus, write out cooking instructions, go grocery shopping, come back home cook, and finally, eat.

Book store - Some of your favorite book stores, and used book stores are going out of business. Thanks amazon. Go on a book date, and buy a couple of books. Take turns reading passages from book you find interesting, buy each-other a book, then go grab dessert.

Ice-Cream - *New Rule* If ice cream is involved, its a date. Find a local ice-cream shop, eat some ice cream and talk about your childhood traumas.

Go to ikea, jump on beds, pick out furniture for your future unborn kids, they’ll call you crazy, you’ll scream “this is what couples do” you’ll break up in the ikea market place, and viola you can sttart this list over again.

Dress - & Other Stories | Bag - Telfar | Shoes - Club Monaco | Glasses -my boyfriend’s closet

[twinklecheeks]

Friends With Benefits (Jeff Wittek Imagine) Part 1

Summary: Jeff and Y/N have been hooking up for a while. The whole vlog squad assumes they’re dating and Y/N does too but Jeff doesn’t like labels. He eventually starts to express interest in Natalie.

Note: This is my first time writing. Planning on making this a multiple part series, depending on how good it does. Also, I don’t hate Natalie at all! I actually love the idea of Jeff & Nat being a thing. They’d look so cute together.  You’re 21 & Latina in this (maybe) series

Warnings! Smut, fluff, nudity, pregnancy?

Word Count: 2.3k

*How you and Jeff met*

You met at Dom’s apartment after David invited you to film a bit. You assumed he was new because you’ve never seen him before. His accent swooned you over but you didn’t want to make it obvious. David wanted to film the bit where he shows new friends Jonah p*nis because it’s so small. You’ve been friends with David for 2 years and you’ve known Jonah a while now, so you decide to join Toddy, Jeff and Brandon in the bathroom too see it.

Jeff: Are these the types of videos he does all the time

Y/N: honestly, it happens way too often. He’d do anything for content.

Jonah pulls down his pants and all of us just bust out laughing. At this point your just wheezing and trying to calm down at what you just saw. All of you walk out of the bathroom and Jeff smiles at you and says “you have a cute laugh.” You just wanted to combust in that moment and all you could respond with was a smile. You keeping your distance from Jeff the rest of the time you’re there cause you were nervous and didn’t want to embarrass yourself by saying something stupid. You have social anxiety so it’s a little hard for you to meet new people but once they get to know you, you’re an open book. After that you had to leave to film your own video. You said goodbye to everyone, including Jeff. Y/n: It was nice meeting you. Hopefully you’ll stick around w/ us. He smiles and says “ I hope so too.” After you left, he asked Todd about you.

Jeff: “Hey, what was up with Y/n”

Todd: what do you mean

Jeff: I feel like she was avoiding me or somethin

Todd: Oh no. Don’t take offense to that. She’s really shy when she meets new people. She’ll warm up to you.

*2ish months after meeting Jeff*

As time went on, Jeff started to hang out more and more w/ the vlog squad and you two started to get to know each other. You learned that he was born and raised in Staten Island, he lived in Miami, got arrested for doing dumb shit and eventually turned his whole life around and moved to LA a couple of years ago. He was surprised to find out that you were born in New York City too; but you were born in Brooklyn.

Jeff: I had a bunch of friends that lived in Brooklyn. We might have seen each other around or something.

Y/n: Haha maybe but my family and I moved away when I was 11 tho. We moved to Seattle cause my parents really struggled to make ends meet in the city. They loved it but had to leave. It’s hard living there, raising 3 kids.

Jeff: Yeah I feel ya. My parents struggled too in Staten Island but they made it work.

Both of you talked the whole night until you both of you guys fell asleep on David’s couch. You forgot where you were when you realized you were still at David’s house. You tried to move but Jeff had his arm around your waist. You smiled at the fact that you two were getting so close. This started to happen a lot. You guys started to have movie nights together and would end up cuddling on the couch or one of y’alls beds.

*Your first kiss/ first time w/ Jeff*

It was New Years Eve. You spent the night partying at David’s house. You and Jeff have basically become best friends in the 2-3 months you’ve known each other. You were hoping that this would finally be the night you kiss him. As everybody started to countdown the final minutes while watching the ball drop on tv, your heart starts to beat like crazy. You’re right by Jeff and he has his arm around you. Both of you look watch the tv and it’s the final ten seconds. Everyone is yelling TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE… You started to have your doubts that you to would kiss and it’s like everything happened in slow motion. As it counted down the final 4 seconds, Jeff caught you off guard and pulled you in for a kiss. It felt like fireworks were going off when you kissed him. You guys pulled away but this wave of confidence came over you and pulled him in for another kiss but it was more sensual/ needy. Both of you saw the lust in your eyes and you wanted to take him right there but he started to pull you out of David’s house to head to his car. He pushed you against his car and started to ravish you. You grabbed his face and moved his lips from your neck to connect with yours. He bit down on your lip, as you moaned and parted your lips, allowing his tongue to enter. You lightly pushed him away and you guys get into the car, acting like horny teenagers. “Baby if i weren’t driving like a maniac right now, I’d fuck you right in the back seat.” You notice Jeff’s giant bulge and decide to help him out. You start to feel his throbbing member through his pants and Jeff let’s out a moan. You unzip his pants and see his cock spring up. You were excited but also intimidated at how big he was. You unbuckle your seatbelt and move closer to Jeff; the pre-cum oozing at the head. You then stroke his cock for a bit and then you started to give him a blowjob. You tease him by licking the head and Jeff swerves a bit. “Doll, are you trying to kill both of us. Jesus, This is the longest 15 minute drive to my place ever.” Jeff stops at a red light and that’s when you went all in. You hollow your cheeks so you can suck off as much as you can. His cock hit the back out your throat; you started to deepthroat Jeff while he’s still driving. Jeff hearing you choke of his cock is the music to his ears. You guys are about five minutes away and your contemplating whether to suck him until he cums in you mouth or wait until he cums inside you when you get to his place (wrap it before you tap it). You massaged his balls and continue to deepthroat him right before he was about to cum, you guys arrived at his place. You continue to deepthroat him. “Oh shit doll I’m gonna-” He reached his climax and came into your mouth. You look up to see the beads of sweat on his head. He almost cums again just by watching you swallow his cum. He pulls you in for another kiss and you look down to see that his cock is still rock hard. “Someone is still in the mood” you say while smirking. “Babe, you won’t be able to walk in the morning.” Both of you practically run into his building and you can’t keep your hands off each other. He almost takes off your dress in the elevator to take you right there. As he got his door open, all he says is “jump” and the rest of the night felt like a fever dream. And boy he was right on me not being able to walk.

*Current day*

You and Jeff act more and more coupley but he doesn’t want anything serious for right now because he had gotten out of a 3-4 years relationship 6 months before you met. At the moment, you don’t know where you and Jeff stand. You guys fuck multiple times a week and then he leaves your place without explanation. Y/n doesn’t want to say anything because she doesn’t want this to stop. She has such strong feelings for Jeff but is too scared to tell him how she feels. Over the past couple of weeks, you’ve noticed that Jeff has become kind of distant from you. You see in the comments, of several videos that Jeff and Natalie have become a thing. He’s talked about her multiple times on Scott’s podcast, fans make edits, made a joke about having kids with her at coachella and he was being flirty with her at vidcon by asking her who she was dating in front of hundreds of fans on stage during the vlog squad Q&A. You see Jeff’s insta story of Natalie with that pink filter with the romantic music. And to top it all off, the last time you guys went to Vernon Hills to visit David’s family, you were in the car with David, Jason, Ilya, Dom and Jeff is following behind. Dom sees a girl from a far and says “Damn look at that fucking ass.” Everyone is laughing cause they realize it was Natalie and David tattle tales on Dom to Natalie. You hear Jeff say “why do you think I pulled over?” But you still decide to ignore it the fact that he’s crushing on Natalie. You get back to LA and Jeff spends the night at your place. The movie nights don’t happen anymore, so has the cuddling. You both basically fuck until you both orgasm then he leaves right after. “You know you can spend the night if you want” Jeff responds with “Why would I do that?” Damn. That hurt. You play it cool and start to cry yourself to sleep right as he leaves your apartment.  

A week passes by and you hear no word from Jeff at all. David texts you to come over so you can film. You enter the house and see that the guys are in the backyard. You were getting closer and you hear Zane ask “whatever happened to you and y/n? I thought y’all were a thing.” Jeff scoffs and says “ugh could never date y/n, she reminds me too much of my ex.” At this point your ears are fuming. “Just because I’m short and Latina like his ex he doesn’t to be with me?” You grab a bottle of tequila that was in David’s cabinet and walk into the backyard and spill it all over Jeff’s head and it was perfect timing because David was recording. “Y/n what the fuck” He grabbed you by the arm and you slap him in the face hard enough to leave a red mark. “Do I still remind you of your ex?” you smile as you walk away. That was the most ballsy thing you’ve done since you kissed him on New Years.

*A month later*

Your life without Jeff has been great. After that night, you blocked his number and all social media accounts. The last you heard was that Jeff asked out Natalie; you don’t hate Natalie, she’s a great person! You still hang out with the vlog squad but you act as if nothing happened. You just started your senior year at USC and can’t wait to graduate next spring. Everything has been a real life changer for you. You were eating healthier, you started going to the gym and you realized how dependent you were on Jeff to make you happy. Just as you thought everything was perfect, it started to go downhill.

Y/n woke up not feeling great. She felt very light headed and very bloated. Y/n assumed she started her period. She checked to see but there was nothing there; then realizes she hasn’t gotten her period in a while but doesn’t think anything of it because she’s never had a regular period. You head out to go jogging on a trail, one that you know Jeff doesn’t go on. It’s normal to feel out of breath but you felt like you were going to pass out. Deciding that you worked yourself too hard, you walk the rest of the way. The last thing you remember was trying walk up the trail. Y/n wakes up in a hospital room extremely confused. The nurse walks in hearing you ask what the hell happened. “Good afternoon Ms. L/n, you fainted on a hiking trail. You were just dehydrated. You should really be drinking more under your condition.” Y/n looked at her dumbfounded “my condition??” The nurse catches on and knows something you don’t. You see her walk outside and speak to the doctor. You try to depict what she’s saying but can’t hear a thing. “Hello Ms. L/N, how are you feeling?” You ignore the question and cut straight to the point “She said I had a condition, what is it.” The nurse and the doctor looked back at each other and looks back at you. “Well, it has come to our attention that you probably had no knowledge of this but we ran some blood tests and…..” “AND WHAT”...... “It has come to our attention that you are 9 weeks pregnant” Out of nowhere, you just start laughing cause you think this is a joke. “You’ve got to be kidding me” “Mam, I can assure you that we’re not.” “Is it too early to ask for an ultrasound?” “We’d thought you’d ask,” They bring the machine from outside and put the cold jelly on your stomach. It takes a minute to find it. In the back of your mind, you’re praying that you’re not pregnant. You’re only 21. This was the time to party, hang out with friends, live your life, graduate college….. Oh shit. College. It’s your SENIOR YEAR. You prayed HARD that you weren’t pregnant and the boom, you see a blob on the screen……. The nurse turns on the doppler to see if you can hear the heartbeat. You then hear “bum bum bum bum.” You already knew who’s it was, you have no idea how you were going to tell him, or if you’re going to tell him.

Is y/n gonna keep it? Is she going to tell Jeff? What the hell is she going to tell her family if she does keep it? Who knows…… 

Side note: I’m sorry if this is bad! It’s my first time writing fanfiction and I give huge props to people who do this on a daily cause this mess is hard. Oh and I was there at vidcon when Jeff asked who’s Natalie dating. 

[sunriserose1023]

Burden of Proof (2)

WORD COUNT: 7233 MARVEL BINGO FILL: Lawyers WARNINGS: Arrest, police station goings on, slight police brutality, angst, talk of past domestic abuse AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m taking liberty with this story and basing most of it off of what I’ve seen in movies/TV (aka Law & Order eps). I don’t know what actually happens when you get arrested or given a trial to decide about bail, so just give me liberty to play around here. Also, consider that Y/N is getting “special treatment” (be that good or bad) because of who Brock was and how people felt about him.

MASTERLIST

Bucky strolled into the precinct, rolling his eyes at the uniformed officers huddled over their tiny desks, furiously writing. He whistled a tune as he walked to the desk, tapping on it and glancing around. When no one appeared, he tapped the bell more than once with a little more force than was needed, smirking when one of the uniforms glared his way. 

He furrowed his brows when no one came to answer the bell and he glanced at the watch on his wrist. 

“It’s two in the fucking morning. Where the hell is everyone?”

A female officer walked by, arms full of files. He stepped into her path, holding up his hands at the glare she shot him. 

“Where is everyone?” “Who are you?” “Bucky Barnes. I’m a bounty hunter.”

She popped an eyebrow and he rolled his eyes. All the damn cops looked down on him, and he fucking despised them for it. He shook his head. 

“Look, I just need to talk to—“ “Well, we’re all busy, okay?” “What happened?” “I’m not at liberty to discuss—“ “Jesus Christ.”

He turned away from her, shaking his head. 

“Everybody toes that company line, don’t they?” “Excuse me?” “I know how it is, sweetheart. What, somebody try to rob a bank? Mugging in Central Park? Protest gone wrong in Times Square again?”

She clicked her tongue, tilting her head. 

“Murder on Park Avenue.”

Bucky’s eyes widened and she nodded. 

“Thought so.” “What?” “You used to be a cop, didn’t you?” “We don’t talk about that.”

She smiled, shaking her head, stepping closer to him and pitching her voice low.

“You didn’t hear this from me.”

He nodded. 

“Brock Rumlow’s dead.” “What?”

She nodded. 

“The D.A.’s on his way, but there’s no ferries from Staten Island this time of night. Everyone’s in an uproar.” “You got a suspect?” “Interrogating her now.” “Her?”

She nodded. 

“Ex-wife. Found her with blood on her hands. Seems pretty open and shut to me.” “Rumlow had an ex-wife?”

She nodded again. 

“Divorce was kept pretty hush-hush. We heard that she violated their pre-nup, since Brock was from old money, and she got nothing in the settlement. Sounds like pretty good motive to me.”

Bucky nodded, whistling low. 

“Damn.” “My thoughts exactly. You should probably come back another day, when it’s not so chaotic.”

Bucky nodded, and the woman walked away. He tapped his fingers on the front desk again, then turned to leave. 

“—won’t answer a damn question because she’s crying so hard. Tried to tell the bitch that we’ve got her and there’s no way she’s getting out of this, but she just keeps crying.” “I remember Rumlow talking about her. Said he had to teach her how to dress and everything. I don’t even know why he married her in the first place, if he had to force himself to fuck her.”

Bucky let the officers walk past him before he glanced over his shoulder and made sure they hadn’t noticed him. He looked around the room, but with everyone up in arms, he found himself alone. He made his way to the back, to the interrogation rooms, stopping outside one with the blinds partially open. 

A woman sat there, hands bound behind her back, head bowed. Her body trembled, shoulders shaking with every breath she took. Bucky glanced around, shaking his head when he didn’t see anyone. He quickly picked the lock on the door, stepping into the room. 

The woman didn’t move, and Bucky felt a tickle at the back of his neck. He walked closer to her, tapping a finger on the table, but she never looked up. 

“Hey, are you okay?”

No answer. Bucky rounded the table, crouching in front of her when the woman didn’t move. He moved his hands to cup her face, cursing under his breath. 

“Shit. Can you hear me? Hey. Come on, sweetheart.”

Her eyes were staring at nothing, not focusing on Bucky despite him being only inches away. He reached for her wrist, closing his eyes as anger bubbled inside him as he realized her hands were still in handcuffs. He let the anger fester inside him as he saw the blood where the cuffs had dug into her skin and he methodically picked the lock, freeing her from the cuffs. 

He gently moved her arms to hang by her sides and began massaging her wrists, smiling when she winced in pain. 

“There we go. Come back to me.”

He kept massaging, moving his hands to her shoulder and manipulating her arm in the socket. She gasped and he nodded. 

“Come on. You’re alright. Come back to me.”

He moved to the other arm and she gasped, trying to pull her wrist from his grip. 

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here to help you.”

She blinked, moving her eyes to meet his, blinking a few more times. He nodded, smiling softly. 

“Hey there.”

She didn’t speak, just blinked. Bucky kept the smile on his face, keeping his voice gentle. 

“You back with me?” “Wh … what happened?” “I think you kind of blacked out. You were here, but … you weren’t really here.”

She nodded, eyes moving over his shoulder to stare at the wall. 

“I remember walking in here. I remember them asking me questions. And then … I don’t know.” “It’s okay. Can you tell me what happened?”

She met his eyes, her own wide. Bucky shook his head. 

“What?”

She swallowed. 

“No one’s asked me that‍.” “What?”

She shook her head, looking down at her hands in her lap. Bucky licked his lips. 

“What did they ask you?”

Her voice was soft as she stared at her hands. 

“Why did I do it? What was I thinking? Would I prefer the chair or a firing squad?”

She sniffled and Bucky squeezed his eyes shut before he moved a hand to her lap, letting his hand rest there, his fingertips gingerly touching hers. He pitched his voice low. 

“Where’s your lawyer?”

She lifted her eyes to his and he smiled. 

“Is he talking with the officers? On the phone?”

She shook her head. 

“I don’t … I don’t have a lawyer.” “Excuse me?” “I don’t have one. I can’t—“

She swallowed, closing her eyes as more tears slipped down her cheeks. Bucky moved his hand to link his fingers with hers and she gave a sob. She shook her head and met his eyes. 

“I can’t afford a lawyer.” “It’s alright. It’s okay. They’ll appoint a lawyer for you. It’s your constitutional right. Who did they call?”

She shook her head again, and Bucky blinked, keeping his molars clenched together to keep from screaming. He spoke in a much calmer tone than he was feeling. 

“Before they interrogated you, did they ask if you wanted your lawyer present?”

She shook her head, and Bucky spoke again. 

“Did you know you could have a lawyer present?” “I didn’t know I could have one at all. I don’t have the money for one. I don’t have—“

She hung her head, exhaling a shaky breath. Bucky nodded, giving her hand a squeeze. 

“Did you do it?”

She lifted her head and met his eyes. 

“What?” “What they’re saying you did. Did you do it?”

She shook her head. 

“I found him in the library. It used to be my favorite room in the house and he whitewashed it, turned it into an office.”

She lifted the hand Bucky wasn’t holding. 

“I turned the light on, and his blood was on the wall. I didn’t even know.”

Bucky nodded, giving her hand another squeeze before he let it go and stood to his feet. He pulled his phone from his pocket, big hands trembling as he unlocked it and pressed on the screen until a call went through. He held the phone to his ear, pacing slowly as he listened to the ring. He hung up when the voicemail sounded, then dialed again. This time, a sleepy voice answered. 

“You better be fucking dying.” “Get up, get dressed, and get your ass down to the precinct.” “Did you get arrested again? Christ, Buck, I swear—“ “I’ve got a client for you.” “What time is it? It’s—Bucky, it is three in the morning. We have an on-call lawyer for shit like this.”

Bucky swallowed as he looked at the woman at the table. He turned his back to her and lowered his voice. 

“She’s in trouble. Big trouble, and she needs the big guns. Not your on-call lawyer. She needs you.” “Who is it? And what did they do?”

Bucky licked his lips. 

“Brock Rumlow was murdered tonight and I think this woman’s being framed for it.”

The line was quiet for a moment. 

“Are you shitting me?” “She was practically catatonic when I found her. They interrogated her and scared the shit out of her. She didn’t even know she could have a lawyer, and all she keeps saying is she can’t afford one.” “Fuck.”

Bucky could hear rustling on the other end, taking it as Steve crawling out of bed and getting dressed. 

“If Rumlow’s dead, the shit’s about to hit the fan. It’s too early for the ferries to be running, but I guarantee Fury’s on his way there.” “So beat him here. Forget the three-piece suit and just throw on some jeans.” “Give me more credit than that. How is she?”

Bucky nodded. 

“Her hands were still cuffed when I got in here. Probably wouldn’t hurt to have them looked at, since they were practically purple before I picked the lock.” “Picked the … Bucky?” “What?” “Who let you into the interrogation room?”

Bucky didn’t answer, and Steve cursed so colorfully Bucky pursed his lips and nodded in awe. 

“There’s cameras in all of the rooms and not one person has tried to enter in the almost hour I’ve been with her.” “If this hurts her case—“ “I’ll give you permission to kick my ass. Just get here now.” “I’m on my way.”

Bucky hung up his phone and smiled when he saw her scared eyes staring up at him. Bucky knelt beside her and nodded. 

“My friend is a public defender.” “A lawyer.” “A lawyer who works for people like you.” “I can’t pay him.” “You don’t have to.”

She looked down at her hands again and Bucky rubbed a hand over his mouth. He started to speak, closing his mouth when she whispered, a small, sad smile on her lips. 

“I’m not the biggest fan of lawyers.”

Bucky kept his voice low like hers. 

“Did I hear right? You’re Rumlow’s ex-wife?”

She nodded. 

“What’s your name?” “Y/N.”

Bucky nodded. 

“I’m Bucky Barnes.” “Nice to meet you.”

Bucky smiled, lifting a hand to gently move some hair from her face. He tried not to react when she sucked in a breath, able to tell from the look on her face that she was trying hard not to flinch away from his touch. 

He’d never gotten a good feeling around Brock Rumlow, and being with his ex-wife for less than hour proved to Bucky that his gut instinct about the man had been right. She’d clearly been abused, and Bucky was determined to get to the bottom of everything. 

“Okay, we’re … hey. Who the hell are you?”

Bucky stood up, a sneer coming across his lips when the man before him rolled his eyes and sighed. 

“Barnes. Who let the rats back here?” “Cross. Son of a bitch.”

Detective Darren Cross let out a laugh. He crossed his arms over his chest, a menacing smile on his face. 

“Who let you back here, Barnes?” “Doesn’t matter.” “Well, you’re free to go, so you should probably hit the road before we find a reason to throw your ass back in a cell.” “Kinda par for the course tonight, ain’t it, Cross?”

Darren raised an eyebrow and Bucky picked the handcuffs off of the table and threw them at him. Darren fumbled the cuffs, then looked back to Bucky. 

“What the hell is this?” “Those are the cuffs one of your officers put so tight on this woman it was cutting off her circulation.” “Well, we always try to protect ourselves from dangerous suspects.”

Bucky gave a hard laugh. 

“‘Dangerous?’ Get real.” “You didn’t see what she did.” “Oh, so she confessed?”

Darren shrugged his shoulders. 

“She didn’t have to.” “Really? Whatever happened to ‘innocent until proven guilty?’” “Well, when you’ve got blood on your hands at a crime scene…” “Where’s her lawyer?”

Darren raised an eyebrow and Bucky grinned. 

“Oh, please tell me you interrogated her without her lawyer present. Please give me a reason to kick your self-righteous ass.” “It’s none of your concern.” “The fuck it’s not. You remember due process, right?”

Darren rolled his eyes and Bucky clenched his fists to keep from lunging for the other man’s throat. Bucky shook his head and pointed towards the woman cowering at the table. 

“The state I saw her in when I first came into this room is nothing short of police brutality, and I can bring the wrath of God and everyone else down upon you with one phone call. You know I can, Cross. Give me a reason to do it.” “How? By calling your boyfriend?”

Bucky grinned at the way the man spat the word at him. And the way Darren’s eyes widened after he spoke just egged Bucky on more. 

“Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Police brutality, homophobia, what else can I add to the list? Clint’s been itching for a big story and by God, here’s one.” “She killed the city’s ADA! We’re not going to treat her like a queen.” “Doesn’t give you the right to treat her like a dog! Hell, I wouldn’t even chain a dog up the way you did her. Kiss your fucking badge goodbye, Cross. You’ll be lucky if they’ll let you walk through the doors when we’re done with you.” 

Darren took a step forward, stopping when the door opened. He rolled his eyes, the breath leaving his lungs when he saw who was standing there, briefcase in hand. 

“Gentlemen. Is there a problem here?”

Steve raised an eyebrow and Darren pushed a smile onto his face. 

“Counselor, I don’t recall asking anyone in this office to give you a call.” “That’s precisely the problem, Detective. Did you interrogate my client without an attorney present?”

Darren sighed. 

“It wasn’t an interrogation—“ “Did you tell her she could have an attorney present?” “I wasn’t the one who read her—“ “Did you tell her she could have an attorney period?” “I didn’t read the Miranda rights to her.”

Steve smiled.

“So you’re telling me you arrested her without reading her her rights, interrogated her without an attorney, and didn’t bother to grant her constitutional right to an attorney?”

Darren sputtered and Steve shook his head. 

“Let me talk to my client while you go grovel with your boss to try and save your own ass, okay?”

Darren turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him. Bucky huffed across the room. 

“Self-righteous prick.”

Steve huffed a laugh, nodding his head at Bucky as he set his briefcase on the table. 

“They read me my rights.”

The men looked to the woman who’d kept her head bowed even now, hands folded together in her lap. She nodded, not taking her eyes from her hands. 

“The lady officer read me my rights when she walked me out of the house. I was kind of panicking, so I didn’t really hear her, but she did read them to me.”

Steve pursed his lips, then nodded. 

“Well, Cross could have double-checked.”

Steve sighed, pulling out a chair across from her, sitting in it and taking a notepad and pen from his briefcase. 

“I’m Steve Rogers. I’ll be your attorney for now, until we get a game plan going. Can you tell me your name, for starters?” “Steve?”

He lifted his head, pen in his hand, poised to write on the pad. He met her eyes and his face went slack, all the color draining. 

“Holy shit.”

The pen fell from his hand as he stared at the woman across the table. Bucky’s eyes darted from her to him and back again, seeing the confusion on both of their faces. 

“Uh … can I interrupt?”

Steve blinked and Bucky whistled until Steve looked his way. Bucky raised his eyebrows in question and Steve shook his head, looking back across the table.

“Y/N?”

She nodded and Steve shook his head again. 

“How …”

He just shook his head and she smiled softly. 

“I know.” “What are you doing here?”

Her voice was soft. 

“Wrong place, wrong time?”

Steve couldn’t help but smile at that, then blinked, shaking his head again. 

“So you … you’re Brock’s ex-wife?”

She nodded, looking back down at her hands. Steve ran a thumb over his bottom lip. 

“Was the divorce amicable?”

She gave a harsh laugh. 

“For him.”

Steve glanced to Bucky, who raised an eyebrow as he lifted his shoulders. Steve swallowed, then looked back to her. 

“Can you tell me about it?”

She lifted her head. 

“My divorce?” “All of it.”

She smiled. 

“A lot’s happened since high school, Stevie.” “Oh, there it is. High school. Oh wait—oh my god. You’re Y/N?!”

She blinked, confusion on her face as she looked to Bucky. Steve shook his head, closing his eyes as Bucky covered his mouth with a hand. 

“Holy shit. Holy shit.” “Can somebody fill me in?”

Steve shook his head. 

“Later. We’ve got more important things to worry about right now. The biggest being getting you out of here.” “Can you?”

Steve met her eyes again and she swallowed before she spoke. 

“Can you get me out of here?” “I’m going to try.”

She nodded. 

“That guy was saying I was never going to see the light of day again. He was going to make sure of it.”

Steve sighed, and Bucky spoke up from across the room.

“That guy’s an asshole. Don’t take anything he’s saying to heart.”

She nodded and Steve reached for his pen, picking it up and poising it over the notepad again. 

“Let’s see what we can do tonight.”

Bucky stayed with you while Steve made his rounds doing … whatever it was he did. You stayed in the uncomfortable chair they’d all but thrown you into hours earlier, but at least your hands weren’t cuffed anymore. They’d taken your mugshot and done your fingerprints when they first brought you in, but Bucky was the one to lead you to the bathroom—the men’s, but you didn’t really care and he loudly threatened to disembowel anyone who tried to say something—and let you wash the blood and ink off your hands. He let you walk around the interrogation room, smiling when you looked at the mirror, checking your reflection before your cheeks flamed and you quickly looked away. 

“No one’s on the other side.”

You glanced towards him and he shrugged. 

“They may not like me, but they trust me.”

You nodded. 

“You work here?” “Sort of. I’m a bounty hunter.”

Your eyes widened and he smiled. 

“I used to be a cop, but …”

The smile drifted from his face and he shook his head. You nodded, fingers reaching out to touch the bars on the frosted window. 

“I used to be a lot of things.” “Like what?”

You smiled. 

“I wanted to be a pastry chef. I was a pretty good baker.” “‘Was?’”

You swallowed. 

“It’s been a long time since I was near an oven.” “Brock didn’t have one?”

You didn’t even realize how you immediately straightened your spine at the mention of his name, and Bucky narrowed his eyes. You licked your dry lips and spoke softly. 

“He had two. Top of the line. Bought them and had them installed just to spite me, because he knew how badly I wanted to bake. He wouldn’t let me touch them, and the one time I did …”

You shook your head, moving a hand to your lower back. You lifted your foot and rolled your ankle in a circle before setting your foot back on the ground. Bucky managed to keep his voice steady as he spoke. 

“Did he hit you?” “Yes.” “More than once?” “All the time.” “Son of a bitch.”

Bucky ran a hand over his face and you crossed your arms over your chest, walking back to the chair and sitting in it. 

“I’m sorry.”

You smiled as you looked at the man across the table from you. 

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.” “You didn’t deserve that.” “No one deserves that. But it’s over now. I got away.” “How did you?”

You glanced at the table, then back to him. 

“I swear it was an act of God. I saw him kiss my best friend—well, who I thought was my best friend, a coworker of his. And when I asked him about it, he slapped me. A cop happened to see it and wouldn’t be paid off. He wouldn’t let it go, and I jumped at the chance he offered to help me get away.”

You shook your head. 

“I had tried for so long, and I’d just given up. But that day, it … it just seemed to fall into my lap.”

You took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. 

“I never did get a chance to thank that cop. He saved my life, and I don’t even think he knows that.”

You sighed. 

“I’m sure Brock made sure he got transferred to Siberia or something.” “Worse. San Francisco.”

You and Bucky turned to the door, where Steve was standing. He had a soft smile on his face as he walked in. 

“Scott Lang was the cop who helped you. He was a friend of mine, told me about how he helped you get away. I didn’t know it was you, because he didn’t give me a name.”

Steve shook his head. 

“If I’d known …”

He glanced down at his feet and you licked your lips. 

“They transferred him across the country?”

Steve smiled. 

“No, he transferred himself. Turns out, he had a little girl he didn’t know about. Scott was a bit wild in his youth, and he couldn’t stand not knowing his daughter. Soon as his ex called him, he started the process to transfer.”

You smiled, nodding your head. Steve cleared his throat and stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. You looked up at him and he squeezed Bucky’s shoulder before he turned to you. 

“There’s going to be a hearing in an hour.”

You blinked a few times, but nodded, and Steve continued. 

“The judge is going to decide whether or not to grant you bail.”

Your heart sank, and you looked down at your hands. Bucky and Steve exchanged a glance that went unnoticed by you and Bucky gently tapped on the table. 

“You okay?”

You shook your head. 

“I don’t have any money.” “You don’t have to pay the bail in full. We know a good bondsman who will work with you—“

You shook your head. 

“I don’t have anything I could use as collateral.” “What about your divorce settlement? Brock came from money. You must have gotten something out of that.”

You squeezed your eyes shut, shaking your head. 

“No, the judge—“

Your breath caught in your throat and you gave a pitiful, quiet whine you couldn’t hold back. 

“The judge was a friend of Brock’s and I didn’t get a penny. I’m actually paying all the legal fees for the both of us and I don’t … I can’t even buy food.”

Steve couldn’t take his eyes off of you, watching as you lifted your elbows to the table, covering your face as you sobbed as quietly as you could. Bucky glanced up at him and Steve shook his head, walking to you and turning your chair, crouching in front of you and taking your hands from your face. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped your tear-soaked face, then held both of your hands. 

“Look at me and listen.”

You did as he asked, noticing the lines beside his blue eyes that hadn’t been there the last time you’d seen him. Steve stared at you, giving a shake of his head. 

“I am going to do everything in my power to get you out of here.” “I don’t want to go to jail.” “I know, baby. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. But these guys … the judges and the D.A., they’re going to try to throw the book at you. They’re out for blood, and I’m going to try my damnedest to save you.”

Bucky covered his mouth with a hand as he pushed away from the table, walking to the far corner of the room. You shook your head, voice shaking. 

“I’m scared.” “I know. But I need you to trust me.”

You nodded. 

“I do.” “When we go in there, let me do all the talking. You stand when they tell you, but don’t say a word. Anything you say can be turned against you, and we’re working against the current here as it is.”

You nodded, and Steve gave your hands a squeeze. 

“I’m going to get you through this. I promise.”

You hung your head, giving a shaky exhale. Steve glanced over to Bucky.

“It’s early enough that Natasha should be up. Give her a call, and get Clint here, too.”

Bucky nodded and you looked to him. 

“Can you … can you call the Scarlet Diner? My friend Wanda owns it, and I … I’m supposed to be there.”

Bucky nodded again, and made his way out of the room. Steve gave your hands a squeeze before he stood up, slowly pacing the room. 

“Tell me everything you did last night.”

You swallowed. 

“I worked all day at the diner. They close at ten, and I stayed to eat and clean up. Maria called—“ “Maria?”

You looked up at him. 

“Maria Hill. She was … I thought she was my best friend, but she was having an affair with Brock. She moved in after I moved out.”

A muscle in Steve’s jaw clenched. 

“Maria Hill, the paralegal that works for the D.A.’s office?”

You nodded, head moving slowly when the words registered with you. You leaned forward, putting your face in your hands again. 

“Oh my god.”

Steve ran a hand over his face, then shook his head. 

“Why did she call you?”

You moved your hand to cover your mouth, holding it there for a few seconds before you spoke again. 

“She said she had a few of my things that I could come by and get. She said Brock was working late and I knew this would be my only chance to get the things I couldn’t take with me when I left.”

Steve nodded. 

“Then what?” “I left the diner and took a bus to the Subway, then rode as close as I could to Park Avenue before I walked the rest of the way to the house.” “This was after ten, you said?”

You nodded. 

“Probably closer to midnight.”

Steve took a pen from his pocket, clicking it and making a note. When he was finished with his furious scribbling, he met your eyes again. 

“Then what?” “Maria had said the front door was open, so I walked inside. I called out, but no one answered. I walked around, trying to find the stuff she’d told me about. I didn’t find anything, so I went upstairs. The library had been at the top of the stairs, and it was my favorite place in the house. Brock had renovated it as soon as I stepped out the door.”

Steve nodded and you went on. 

“I knocked, but no one answered. I opened that door and it was dark. I felt along the wall for the light switch and touched something wet.”

You closed your eyes, stomach roiling at the memory. You shook your head, the next words barely audible. 

“There was blood all over the walls. All over everything. Brock was in a chair in the middle of the room, and he … he was …”

You squeezed your eyes shut and shook your head. 

“I started out of the room, to … I don’t know. Call 9-1-1, I guess, but there was a cop on the stairs. Jack Rollins, one of Brock’s friends. He pointed his gun at me, said they’d been called because there’d been a murder.”

You shook your head again, looking to Steve. 

“He was dead when I got there, but no one believes that. They saw me there and … that’s it.” “Okay. Okay, just breathe.”

Steve sat at the chair across from you, holding a hand across the table. You moved a shaking hand to rest in his and he nodded. 

“Breathe.”

You did as he said, closing your eyes as he rhythmically squeezed your hand, giving your whirling brain something to focus on. You shook your head, opening your eyes and meeting his. 

“I can’t afford any of this.” “Don’t worry about it.” “How can I not? Every penny I make goes towards the legal fees, and if I’m a minute late with a payment, Brock makes sure they tack on a late fee. I can’t afford clothes or a nice place to live or—“

You pulled your hand away from Steve, putting it over your stomach. You took in a breath, letting it out slowly. 

“If I don’t eat at the diner, I don’t eat. I think Wanda knows that, so she doesn’t make me pay. I got some clothes from Goodwill, but somehow Brock got a copy of my receipt and they added on an extra payment due of exactly that amount. So I don’t buy anything anymore. I don’t have credit cards or a bank account. I only have cash, and somehow they still know exactly how much I have.” “Easy. Take it easy. Just breathe.”

You sobbed as you closed your eyes, and Steve moved to kneel in front of you again. 

“Listen to me.”

You hung your head and he gently rubbed your arm as he spoke. 

“I’m not going to make you pay a thing. Do you understand that? I’m a public defender. You don’t have to pay a public defender. Y/N, Brock is gone. No matter the circumstances, he can’t hurt you anymore. Leave the rest of it to me, okay?”

You lifted your head, staring into his eyes, the pools of blue somehow still familiar after all the years. You slowly nodded and Steve stood just as a knock sounded at the door. The two of you watched the female officer that had read you your rights step into the room. 

“They’re ready for you.”

You stood on shaky legs and Steve slid his notepad and pen into his briefcase. The officer walked to you, an apologetic look on her face. 

“It’s protocol.”

You noticed the handcuffs she held and you nodded. You started to put your hands behind your back and Steve made a noise. 

“Front.”

The officer looked to him and Steve shook his head. 

“She doesn’t deserve to be shackled at all, but look at her wrists from where you cuffed her before.” “I didn’t cuff her. Rollins did.”

Steve shook his head. 

“Cuff her hands together in front of her stomach where I can see or don’t cuff her at all.” “Mr. Rogers, with all due respect, you’re not a cop. You’re not really the one in charge here.” “Miss … Carter, is it?”

Steve leaned in to read her name tag, then straightened. 

“I haven’t worked much with you yet, but if you stick around, that will change. Do us both a favor and try to stay on my good side, will you? Cuff her hands in front, and that’s the last time I’m saying it.”

The officer stared at Steve, then blew out her breath. She took hold of your arm, wincing when she saw the bruises and torn skin where the cuffs had originally been placed. She blinked a few times, placing the cuffs higher up your arms, above your wrists. 

“I’m sorry about that.”

You nodded, glancing at your shackled hands, the cuffs tight enough to stay in place, but not enough to hurt you. You met Steve’s eyes and he nodded to the officer. He took your arm, walking beside you as you started down the hall. He pitched his voice low, just enough for you to hear him. 

“Brock was rumored to be the front-runner to take over when Fury retired, so this will be a media freak show. Microphones and recorders are going to be shoved into your face, but don’t say a word, okay? Bucky or someone on my team will help get you through it if I can’t. Do not trust anyone and remember that anything—absolutely anything—you say can and will be used against you. So don’t say anything at all.”

You nodded, eyes widening when you and Steve rounded the corner to a passel of reporters. Cameras flashed, momentarily blinding you as voices could be heard all around, yelling questions at you, asking for statements, for clarity, for comments. Steve held out an arm, pushing the crowd back as he led you into the small courtroom. 

Thankfully, the media wasn’t allowed in, save for one reporter in the back row. Steve lifted his chin when he saw the man, and the man smiled, holding up his hand with only his thumb and pinky finger extended. You noticed the hearing aids in his ears, and you met his eyes. He looked to you, giving a single nod. You just blinked and walked where Steve was leading, stopping behind a table. Steve leaned over. 

“Judge will be in just a moment. Fury’s right behind us.”

You nodded. You’d met Nick Fury many times, and even though he was Brock’s boss, you couldn’t help but like the man. You didn’t really trust him, mainly because he was a lawyer, but the two of you had shared many a conversation at your dinner parties. 

You figured the easy relationship you’d shared was over and done with now. 

“Don’t look anywhere but straight ahead. Any facial expression can be taken into account.”

You cast your eyes down, because that was how you were comfortable. You’d gotten used to staring at the floor during the first year you and Brock had been married. You heard the door open and felt your breathing speed up, the raucous questioning dying away as Fury walked in, the door closing behind him. He shook his head as he walked to the table across from the one where you and Steve were. 

“Damn vultures.”

He nodded to Steve, laying his briefcase on the table. The judge walked in then, without the fanfare of the bailiff announcing or any call to order. You let your eyes drift up from where you’d had them cast at your feet and you felt a chill slip down your spine. 

Alexander Pierce. 

White noise filled your ears as black spots danced in front of your vision. You were going to jail. There was no question now. Alexander had loved Brock like a son and now … he’d make sure Brock’s killer would pay. Despite the fact that you weren’t the one who had killed Brock, Alexander hated you, and you knew he wouldn’t hesitate to punish you in the most sadistic way he could. 

“Y/N!”

You blinked hard, glancing around, not knowing when you’d sat down. Steve was kneeling before you with the reporter beside him, both with worried looks on their faces. Fury was standing behind them, eyebrows furrowed, mouth set in a line. You lifted your hands, remembering only when your movements were constricted that you were handcuffed. You swallowed, taking in a few shaky breaths. Steve’s voice was barely audible, and you wondered if the reporter could hear him even with the hearing aids. 

“Are you okay?”

You slowly nodded, speaking just as quietly as Steve had. 

“Pierce was Brock’s best friend. He’s the … the judge that did our divorce.” “What?”

Steve glanced over his shoulder, seeing Pierce pull a pair of glasses into his face, reading over some pages in front of him. 

“How could he preside over the divorce with such strong ties to it?” “He’s a judge.”

Steve lifted his shoulders. 

“Doesn’t mean he’s above the law.” “I don’t think he knows that.”

You and Steve looked to the reporter, who gave you a smile and patted your leg. 

“Don’t worry. We’re going to help you.”

Steve raised an eyebrow, and the reporter nodded to him, leaning in and whispering something you couldn’t hear. Steve slowly nodded, grasping the man’s hand, the two of them standing up before helping you. 

“Everything okay, counselor?”

The sound of Pierce’s voice sent chills down your spine. Steve nodded, helping you to stand to your feet. 

“Yes, your honor.” “Does your client need medical attention?” “No, sir. She’s just had a long night.”

Pierce snorted. 

“I’d say. Well, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Y/N Rumlow, you stand charged with the murder of ADA Brock Rumlow. How do you plead?”

You looked to Steve, who leaned in to whisper that you had to be the one to say it. You swallowed, speaking as clearly as you could, voice shaking despite your efforts. 

“Not guilty.”

Pierce nodded, looking to Fury. 

“The people are fine with bail. Ms. Rumlow doesn’t have the means to attempt to leave the county.” “Already checking over her bank statements, Fury?”

Fury glanced across the aisle to Steve, a wide smile on his face. 

“You don’t think I’ve checked every step she’s made in the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours, Counselor?”

You closed your eyes at the feeling of your head starting to spin, the roiling of your stomach at the fact that your life was no longer your own, if it ever was. Even after getting away from Brock, someone was still checking up on you. 

“Easy.”

You kept your head down, flicking your eyes towards Steve. You weren’t even sure he’d spoken, but it calmed you slightly. Pierce sighed from his spot on the bench, then nodded. 

“Bail is set at five million dollars.”

Pierce lifted the gavel as your mouth fell open. Five million? You barely had five dollars in your possession. There was no way you could come up with even ten percent for the bail bondsman. Steve raised a hand before Pierce could lower the gavel. 

“Five million? Your Honor, that’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?” “Excessive? How much does your colleague’s life amount to you, Counselor?” “Your Honor, Ms. Rumlow has no record. Not even a parking ticket. All of the evidence against her is circumstantial—“ “That’s for the trial to decide, Mr. Rogers. This is a bond hearing. Five million, or she can be remanded until trial.”

You closed your eyes, swallowing hard at the thought of going to jail. At least there you’d have meals and a place to sleep. A tear slipped down your cheek and you went to wipe it away, remembering too late that your hands were cuffed as the rattle echoed through the courtroom. You let your hands fall and sniffled, silence filling the room for a beat before Steve turned back to the judge. 

“What about monitoring her through house arrest?”

Fury gave a laugh. 

“Brock Rumlow’s ex in house arrest is like one of the Kardashians being put under house arrest. Where’s the punishment?” “She doesn’t live anywhere near Brock. She lives at …”

Steve shuffled through his papers, reading off your address. You glanced over to see the look of disgust on Fury’s face, followed by the furrowing of his eyebrows as he spoke under his breath. 

“Staying there 24/7 would be punishment.”

Pierce shook his head. 

“No, if she’s to be under house arrest, it will have to be in a nearby hotel. Something local, where officers can drop by unannounced to check in with her.”

Your body started to tremble and Steve shook his head. 

“She won’t be able to afford that, something I know you know, Fury.”

Fury nodded, and Pierce sighed. 

“If she’s unable to meet the court’s orders, she will be remanded until trial. You know the law, Mr. Rogers.”

He lifted the gavel and Steve cried out. 

“Wait!”

All eyes turned to him and Steve licked his lips, then looked to the judge.

“Release her into my custody.”

Your eyes widened and Steve pointed towards you as he spoke. 

“My penthouse is mere blocks from here. You can put the monitor on her, do the drop-in visits. I’ll clear my schedule where I’ll be able to keep my eye on her 24/7 to satisfy the court.”

Clint sat at the back of the courtroom, unable to do anything but blink. He’d spent most of the trial furiously writing, but this stopped him in his tracks. Fury blinked, exchanging a Look with the judge before he held up his hands. 

“The people are satisfied with that.”

Pierce narrowed his eyes at Steve, then sighed. 

“Do not make me regret this, Counselor. The defendant is to be remanded into the custody of Mr. Rogers until the date of her trial.”

He lifted the gavel, speaking once more before letting it fall. 

“Along with bail being set at five million dollars. Court is adjourned.”

You looked to Steve, shaking your head. 

“I can’t pay that. I don’t have five million dollars. I don’t even have the ten percent—“ “Hush.”

You closed your mouth and he started putting papers into his briefcase. 

“Let me take care of that.” “Steve—“ “There’s a process we’ve got to go through to get you released. Come on.”

He shut his briefcase and took hold of your arm. You started walking with him, stopping when Clint stepped into the aisle. 

“Hey, man. Can I get a quote from you?”

He looked over your shoulder, seeing Fury talking with Pierce, leaning in and hissing at Steve. 

“What the actual fuck are you thinking?!” “Can we do this later, and somewhere a little more private?” “Well where exactly do you suggest, because your bachelor pad is soon to be not so much anymore!”

You cleared your throat, making both men turn to you. You flicked your eyes over your shoulder towards the judge and Clint huffed out a breath. 

“Fine. But I’m coming over later and you know hell’s going to be coming with me.”

Steve nodded as Clint stepped out of the way. The two of you started walking again, and when you went to open your mouth, Steve shook his head. 

“Not a word until we’re out of this place.”

You nodded, moving closer to him as the two of you pushed through the door to the courtroom, the flashes of the cameras and the yelling of the reporters filling your senses while you tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. 

TAGS:  @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan, @captain-rogers-beard, @rhapsody-in-flannel, @iamwarrenspeace, @songforhema, @notyourtypicalrose, @beardburnsupersoldiers, @little-smurf, @capandbuckylvr, @anbrax5553, @hista-girl, @capsiclesdoll, @iminlovewithenchilidadas, @hookaddict, @evanstush, @james-bvcky-barnes, @shygamergirl01, @isaxhorror, @rogerstheheartthief, @icysquares, @juliae03, @cluelessnitwhit, @shhhs3cret, @superpug815, @trickstersteve, @lunatictardis, @bucky-rrogers, @ivoryhazlewood, @abschaffer2, @rainbowkisses31, @queenie4ce, @jordangrace96, @s-ecret--garden, @absolukeyrh, @marvelbingo

[borispolonskiy]

Can Chiropractic Help with Digestion?

Eating unhealthy food may lead to digestive problems. Thus, it can result in form of constipation, heartburn, bloating, and other stomach issues. Also, digestive problems may increase due to disorders of spine muscles. Moreover, the nervous system of the body is also connected to the digestive system. To maintain good health and improve the function of body parts, you should keep the nervous system and spine good. For this purpose, you may consult experienced chiropractors in Staten Island. In the city, you will find experienced chiropractic care doctors. They specialize in treating patients who have long-term body pains, muscle pains, joint pains, and more. You should take treatment from verified chiropractors in Staten Island for good results.

A professional chiropractic care doctor can heal patients suffering from spine, back, neck, and central nervous issues. The chiropractors do the best treatment of all such problems through non-invasive treatments like exercises, physiotherapy, and medications. If you are facing any long-term pain in the back or neck and joints, you should contact the best chiropractors in Staten Island for good results. They specialize in treating patients with health issues and pains through non-invasive methods.

Also Read: Chiropractic Therapy For Headaches And Migraines

Chiropractic care doctors may also give you good relief in digestive issues through possible treatments starting from treating spinal problems. The chiropractors know how your digestion is so connected to the spine that should align well. If your spine and back muscles are in good condition, you will not get any major digestive issues. But, if the situation is bad, it can lead to improper digestion. Thus, the doctors will examine all possibilities to regularize the digestion system by taking care of spine or back problems first. Also, it will bring good results for streamlining the body’s central nervous system and maintaining spine health, if you take treatment from chiropractic specialists in Staten Island.

Having digestive problems is also the result of eating unhealthy or junk food and an irregular lifestyle. Hence, it is necessary to maintain the diet and eat good food for easy digestion. Also, it will keep your spine or back and nervous system fit and functional, if you eat healthy food. Patients suffering from spine or back problems, often get digestive problems and need treatment from the best chiropractors.

So, do not be late to contact the best chiropractors in Staten Island and get rid of issues related to digestion, spine, back, neck, and other joint pains. For instance, you may approach “New U Physical Therapy”, which is one of the best chiropractic care clinics in Staten, Island. For more details, visit website: www.newuphysicaltherapy.com

Original Source: https://bit.ly/3ERsa9n

[newuphysicaltherapy-blog]

Be a Therapist of Physical Therapy Central New Jersey

To become a professional physical therapy is a challenge. Not because of the responsibilities entitled with this career rather mental stability you have to gain to deal with these patients. You are liable to help ill people while improving and managing their pain. Physical therapist works at their own offices. They become service providers for Physical Therapy Treatment Central NJ and have no such spare time for own while treating with number of patients daily. They need to qualify for a degree in physical therapy. It refers to an entry level professional degree in most of the countries but you can opt for professional training and doctor level research as well. Mostly, they are appointed in several fields of rehabilitation.

Professional physical therapist got clinical education after graduation. This is essential to enter into the field of physical therapy. Such a degree enlightens a graduate to enhance your knowledge with a service oriented and self-assured career.  These individuals render into a critical and supportive practice with ethical values. Physical Therapy Staten Island NY appoints such professional therapists who engage their lives in the service of patients and devote in a professional and collaborative practice of health care. They have a considerable contribution to the society. They are responsible for the development of new techniques and knowledge on physical therapy with sufficient skills.

Such physical therapists play their role with full responsibility and contribute to the society. Under a pro level guidance and supervision of competent faculty, they perform their tasks. Physical therapist is a noble professional where you get the chance of service for disable and ill people. You have the responsibility to help them who are not physically or mentally fit irrespective of age and gender. Chiropractor Staten Island NY has a number of such professionals who contribute their lives in this noble service. What is required to be a part of this professional is nothing but a degree and your severe determination to serve humanity.

At New U Physical Therapy, a number of professional physical therapists engage into this service. They have a wide range of physical therapy experts in different specialization. Some of them are expert in handling disabled elders who can not move their hand or any part their body. With a careful therapy, such aged people gain some sense in that part and can move. Some of the patients can not have sound sleep due to pain and a regular Neck pain Staten Island NY is required for them.

[zanesgirlfriend]

Everybody Has a Pair

Description: Jeff flirts with a very shy reader.

Requested?: Yes, by @davidobrikcloud : Hi! I just found your account and saw that you write for Jeff and I died a little inside. Could you write something where the reader is like super shy and has a crush on Jeff and he flirts with her and just super fluffy? Thank you! 💓

A/N: This is such a cute idea, I enjoyed writing it a lot, even though it turned out longer than expected. Thank you for reading and requesting stories babe 💜 enjoy!!

_______

She was giddy. Scatterbrained by the fact that this guy she had feelings for had asked for her number. He hadn't texted her yet, but he had her number. This was a big deal for her. She was very shy, and had only ever been on one date in her life.

She had gotten more offers for dates since she had been a part of the vlog squad, but she knew they weren't genuine. Jeff was part of the vlog squad too, so if he ever even considered asking her on a date, she would trust him.

David texted in the groupchat, asking people to come hang out and film bits. She replied and headed over to his house.

She got there before anybody else, always afraid of being late, even though there wasn't a set time to hang out. She walked in the door and sat on the couch with David. Jeff arrived next, looking odd without Todd next to him.

"Where is everybody?" Jeff asked, sitting awfully close to her.

"Well the boys are on tour, Jason has kids, Josh has a kid, Trisha thinks David is a horrible person, Heath doesn't live in LA anymore. . . Shall I go on?" She explained.

"Carly and Erin are on the way, and Heath is getting food with Mariah before they come here." David stared at his phone while he spoke.

"Everybody has a pair. Have you noticed that?" Jeff asked her, his knee bumping into hers casually.

"That's not true, who's David's pair? Who's my pair?" She questioned him, taking in the smell of his cologne.

"David has Josh." He said, pausing to think about who her pair would be. "Are you Zane's pair?" He questioned.

"Zane is supposed to be Heath's pair, but now Heath has Mariah, so is Stassie his pair?" They argued back and forth about if the 'IG Girls' counted in the pairs, and settled on yes. By the time their argument concluded, Carly and Erin had arrived and joined in on the discussion.

Throughout the big discussion of pairs, y/n had gotten more comfortable, laying on the couch with her legs over Jeff's lap. She paid attention to the way his hands would land back on her legs every time he finished speaking.

"Okay well the only two people without pairs would then have to become a pair, correct?" Carly was very enthusiastic about this conversation, as was everyone else in the room.

"Yeah." Y/n and Jeff said in unison.

"Okay then you two are the last pair." Carly gestured towards them.

"How?" Y/n asked, secretly hoping one of the girls would say they looked cute together.

"Look at you!" Erin almost screamed.

Jeff and Y/n looked at eachother, and saw how comfortable they were just being on eachother. Her face became flush as realized that they did look like a couple. Jeff shrugged his shoulders and y/n just stared at the ceiling.

"Umm, hello?" Erin was confused. "We go through all of that, and we discover that you two are meant to be and all you can do is shrug?"

"Nobody said we were meant to be, we just happen to be the odd ones out." Y/n took her legs off of Jeff and sat up.

"Okay, fine but when y'all get together we told you so." Carly ended the conversation.

Later that night everyone was still at David's and Y/n couldn't stop thinking about Jeff. She was way too shy to ever make a move, so she decided to just sit and let the situation fizzle itself out. Jeff, on the other hand, wanted sparks. He had asked for her number the day prior, with the intention of getting to know her and possibly asking her out. After finding out that they truly were the last pair, he figured he should just go for it. He'd forgotten how awkward it was to flirt, so his brain went on Staten Island Autopilot, doing the little things that he knew drove girls crazy.

He started by sitting next to her at every possible opportunity. He would rest his hand on her knee, then her thigh, rubbing his thumb back and forth over her skin. He slid his hand across her back, casually touching her waist as he moved past her. He whispered in her ear, watching her twitch when his breath glided across her neck.

She noticed all of these things, each time holding her breath, trying to keep the moment alive for as long as possible. She wished she knew how to flirt back, so she could put out some sort of signal for him not to stop.

"You have tiny hands." Jeff pointed out. It was something he noticed while he was trying to memorize her features.

"Maybe you just have really big hands." She replied, grabbing his wrist and pressing their hands together. The tops of his fingers wrapped over the tips of hers.

"You know what they say about big hands." Jeff laughed. His laugh was like music to her ears. She smiled and dropped her hand, disconnecting their touch.

Jeff liked touching her though, he liked how smooth her skin was, and how gentle she was with everyone and everything. On the same level, she admired the strange grip his hand had on hers, and how kind he was to everyone he met.

They were sat next to eachother again, this time on the little loveseat in the podcast room. They faced eachother, her legs criss-cross-applesauced. He leaned his elbow against the back of the couch, extending his arm to brush the hair out of her face.

"Your hair is very soft." His fingers lingered behind her ear, tracing across her jaw and down her neck.

"Your hair looks very soft." She leaned into his touch, somehow feeling eased by the warmth of his fingertips. Jeff leaned over as if to gesture for her to touch his hair. She ran five fingers through, lightly scratching his scalp as she felt the soft, freshly washed hair.

"Ooh, that feels good, keep doin' that." Jeff turned around and she extended her legs onto the couch. He leaned back, laying between her legs and resting his head on her chest.

She watched his eyes close as she massaged his scalp, feeling the pure bliss of just being with someone and not even having to talk.

"You two look cozy." Zane appeared in the doorway. Jeff didn't even have to open his eyes before responding.

"We're a pair, we gotta be comfortable with eachother, ya know?" His words made her smile, as if they really were meant to be.

"Are you guys dating? When did that happen?" Zane sat down on a different couch, giving the couple their space. Y/n definitely didn't know how to respond to that. Luckily for her, Jeff did.

"Not yet, but we will be soon."

[garbagecanfics]

Carisi x Reader: taking care of him when he’s sick (sfw)

A/N: kinda long, got a bit carried away but enjoy!

he was blowing his nose all night which kinda kept you up but who cares, “i feel bad he’s sick” you thought.

morning rolls around, you know he’s gonna fight you on going to work. you wake up to him getting dressed. which would be pretty sexy if he wasn’t also practically coughing up a lung.

“honey just stay home, you are way too sick to go in.”

“nah doll it’s ok, it’s probably just gonna be paperwork today which I can manage.”

“please just stay home, so I can take care of you.”

“no please don’t guilt me into staying home, i really need to get stuff done. I'm not even that sick.” famous last words.

“ok, but promise me if you get worse you come home, I know it’s just a cold, but you need to rest. make sure to drink lots of water.”

“alright, alright i gotta go. I should be home for dinner, if you want I can pick up some chinese on the way home from the place that you like?”

“you are too good to me, sonny carisi”

“I know doll, you deserve it. love ya bye!” right after he left you called your friend Barba.

“hey raf I was wondering if I could ask your mom for a favor?”

“weird way to start this call, but shoot.”

“sonny’s kinda sick and your mother's soup is incredible. the first time I had it, I was cured of things I didn't even know I had. I wanted to get some for sonny since he insisted on going to work today. is that alright?”

“yes of course. it just so happens I'm going to see her before I head into the office, I will ask her. anything else?”

“no that’s it, thank you so much raf. if you have time sometime later this week I would love to go out for drinks, we haven’t gone out in a while.”

“after this case, liv just called me. we’ll have to see.”

“ok thanks again i gotta go, love you raf. go solve that case and kick ass in court!”

“always Y/N. bye.”

You get dressed and go to the store. grabbing some cough syrup, cough drops, more tissues, herbal tea, honey, vaporub, bottled water, thermometer, tylenol and a toothbrush (to use when he’s not sick, so he can throw out the one he used while he was sick). you think “it’s insane we didn’t already have this stuff but it is what it is I guess. I hope he’s ok at work.” you laugh to yourself at the idea of him accidentally sneezing on his computer at work. you check out, get in the car and head home. as you’re driving you get a call from a number you don’t recognize. when you put everything you bought away you called it back. turns out it was Lucia, Rafael’s mom. turns out the soup was done. Raf gave her your number to call because he was too busy at work. You went over to her place and as soon as you stepped into the threshold you could smell the soup. it was going to take all of your self restraint to not eat it. you had to keep reminding yourself “its for sonny”. after you and lucia caught up you headed out, soup in hand. when you got back home you debated bringing the soup to the precinct for sonny since it’s almost lunch, but your train of thought got interuppted by sonny himself knocking and stumbling through the door.

“what happened, tough guy?” you asked mockingly. he smiled back sarcastically.

“i’m fine, lieu just sent me home. apparently I was bothering everyone with my nose blowing so she made me leave.” you tried so hard not to laugh, but you couldn’t help but laugh a little. “yeah, yeah laugh it up. so funny.” you stopped when you saw how actually hurt sonny was. cupping his face in your hand, you tried to get a smile out of him, but he was just too tired.

“I got you some stuff today that I think you’ll like.” he perked up really quick at that. he always loved surprises and presents no matter what they were.

“what did you get, doll?”

“just some stuff to help with your cold, including but not limited to: Lucia’s famous soup.” you could almost see his mouth start watering.

“you are too good to me doll.”

“i know.” luckily it was still pretty warm so you put some in a bowl for him and he almost inhaled it.

“relax sweetheart, no one’s gonna take it away. make sure to breathe.”

“i didn’t realize how hungry i was until I started. can I have some more? please?” he responded with food still in his mouth, almost begging.

“of course you can. how are you feeling?” he just shrugged off your question.

“dominick carisi jr. tell me how you’re feeling please, then you get your soup.” he looked almost dazed at the demand. he finally spilled and said he felt hot. it’s january. the apartment is pretty cold. you handed him the bowl of soup and he ate it almost as fast if not faster than the first. after he finished you helped him undress and into a shower. when he’s sick he’s not good at doing things so you got in the shower with him otherwise he’d just stand under the water until it went cold. not only that, you liked the closeness of him being sick brought you two. having to take care of him was nice and easy. you started by pulling him under the stream of water to wet his hair so you could wash it out. he was happily humming as you massaged his scalp with shampoo trying very carefully to not get it in his eyes as you also rinsed it out. after all the shampoo was out you put in conditioner to sit as you washed his body. surprisingly he didn’t get a boner the whole time. you had him rinse off his body as you did his hair. you dried him and yourself off when you got out. you picked out your favorite pajamas on him: one of his fordham law t-shirts (that you haven’t stolen) and flannel sweatpants.

“actually take off your t-shirt.” you expected him to ask why but he didn’t.

“ok, im still pretty warm.”

“i got you some vaporub today so i’ll put some of that on your chest, if you don’t protest?”

“no that sounds good actually.” you both walk to the living room, you go to the kitchen to start the kettle to make tea and grab the stuff you bought. after starting the kettle you brought the bag into the livingroom.

“what’s all this doll?”

“just some things I picked up from the store today to help you out.”

you handed him the water and tylenol since he had a headache. turns out he didn’t drink water all day (big surprise). after he took the tylenol you took his temperature: 99º not bad. you pulled out the vaporub and scooped some out and put it on his exposed chest. he winced at first at the cold feeling, but eased into it after a few circles.

“i think you might be going a bit overboard Y/N” he remarked as you pulled out cough syrup and tissues.

“please just let me take care of you, I love you.”

“ok fine, but please relax a little. I love you too but you’re stressin me out a bit.”

“alright I’ll relax, I just want you to get better. it sounds selfish, but I want you to get better so I can kiss you.” as you finish he attempts to kiss you, but you put your hand up. “no no no, I’m not getting sick too.”

“aw come on doll i just want one kiss”

“i’ll kiss your cheek. is that a deal?”

“fine.” somewhat sulking he accepts the deal as the kettle goes off. you get up to go finish making his tea and bring it back for him setting it on the coffee table.

“what do you wanna watch babe?”

“anything you want doll i’m pretty tired. maybe……..” he mumbles something that you don’t quite catch.

“maybe what honey? i can’t hear you when you mumble.”

“maybe one of your disney movies?”

“you wanna watch a disney movie? you, dominick carisi jr? ok I won’t argue, but who are you and what have you done with my sunshine?” he slightly chuckles.

“sunshine? you’ve never called me that before doll?”

“sunshine because your the light of my life and play on of your name sonny. s o n n s h i n e, sunshine.”

“ah clever doll, i like it. I love you so much.”

“love you too” you look around for a disney stumbling upon hercules and pop it into the dvd player. you crawl between sonnys legs and lay your head on his chest, careful to not hit his crotch while pulling up a blanket. he falls asleep after 20 minutes of the movie. probably the cough syrup. after the movie finished you just stayed, laying and admiring him. your sleeping beauty. you fell asleep after a bit.

“hey doll” he murmered drowsily. you woke up to the sound of his staten island drone.

“hey honey how did you sleep?”

“pretty good, what time is it? you checked your phone.

“almost 5pm. ready for dinner?”

“yeah i can’t wait for more soup.” you get up slowly to not hurt him and stumble into the kitchen to reheat the soup, pulling down two bowls for you and sonny.

*

“sit up honey it’s pretty warm and I don’t want you to dump it down your chest.”

“ok fine.” after he sat up you gave him his soup. he once again inhaled it. god could this man eat. you sit down next to him to eat your bowl. after he finished you forced him once again to take cough medicine, drink water, and take some tylenol. he said he felt a bit better than earlier. after you finished you got up to reheat him another bowl. he didn’t ask for one but he didn’t have to. his face filled with pure glee when you returned with more. after finishing once again you both laid back down and watched more tv. he somehow stayed awake to binge all of the new stranger things episodes. after it finished you had to practically drag him to bed. it was hard since he had the height advantage, but with some convincing he got into bed. after a few minutes of laying on his chest you heard his heartbeat slow, knowing he was asleep and comfortable you moved over to your side to give him some space. somehow he felt you move and pulled you back. in the morning you woke up in his arms, him spooning you, feeling happy and safe.

@sweetcannolicarisi

[irisdouglasiana]

I’m going back through some of the drafts I never posted and I had the sudden urge to share some excerpts because I’m probably never going to finish any of these but I also can’t NOT share them. also, these are the actual names of the documents for the drafts. so, enjoy:

1. ginger rogers

Peggy had been looking forward to a cup of tea and a hot bath after her evening shift, but some things were not meant to be: the phone started ringing in the den the moment she stepped through the door. She sighed, kicked off her shoes, and reluctantly answered.

Jarvis was on the other end. “Miss Carter. I apologize for bothering you; I realize it is very late, and of course I normally wouldn’t dream of calling you at this hour, but—"

She checked her watch. It was just after nine o’clock. “I thought it was past your bedtime, Mr. Jarvis,” she said dryly. “Is there a problem?”

“Ah, well. Yes. A rather delicate situation has arisen.”

“What did Howard do this time?”

She could picture Jarvis rubbing his ear nervously. “It is possible that Mr. Stark is being held hostage.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Jarvis gave a delicate cough. “As you know, Mr. Stark had a brief relationship with Ginger Rogers eight months ago. It ended poorly, I’m afraid.”

“I recall you said you removed her from the property.”

“It was most unpleasant. At any rate, Mr. Stark learned that Miss Rogers was taking her holiday in New York, and he wished to reconcile. I gently suggested it was not a good idea, but he was adamant. I dropped him off at her Roslyn Harbor estate two days ago and I have not heard from him since.”

Somehow, the idea of bursting in on the Ginger Rogers-Howard Stark love dungeon had limited appeal. “And you’re quite sure that he’s not still there out of his own free will?”

“I called the house earlier this evening to inquire, but the fellow that answered the phone hung up on me. Mr. Stark also missed a contract signing with the Department of Defense, and his appointment as judge for the swimsuit portion of the Miss Staten Island pageant.”  

“Oh. That does seem unusual.”

“I thought so as well.”

Peggy sighed. “So what did you have in mind, Mr. Jarvis? You’re planning to break into Ginger Rogers’ mansion in the middle of the night and drag Howard out, and you want my assistance?”

There was a lengthy silence on the other end. “I admit it is not ideal.”

She snorted. “I’ll be right over.”

2. holiday

Jack fastens the last of the buttons of the Hawaiian shirt and regards himself in the mirror. I look like a moron. God, he can never wear this anywhere; he has a reputation to uphold. There could be no better way to broadcast dweeb status, as Sousa so capably demonstrated, but even he could admit that Sousa could pull it off. Almost.

3. miss fry

Las Vegas was objectionable in every possible way to Miss Fry, and she made that crystal clear to the clerk (and the manager, and the janitorial staff) at the hotel Miss Dottie Underwood was staying at under an assumed name. She was shocked, simply shocked, at the incessant gambling, the liquor, the loose men and women, the flagrant degradation of American youth. And then there was Miss Underwood herself, whom Miss Fry had treated with nothing but kindness—wasn’t it terrible that this young woman had flouted her financial obligations and run off without paying her rent? Oh, she suspected her from the very beginning; dancers could never be trusted—nor typists, nor department salesgirls, nor singers, and girls from the phone company least of all—but Miss Fry was a very generous and open person and she wanted to assume the best, so she took the young lady in, and look where it had gotten her!

The clerk, a pimply teenager, meekly asked if Miss Fry would like a cup of coffee while she waited for Miss Underwood to return. She snapped that she would not, and sat down in the lobby with her needlepoint to wait. 

4. london s3

It was smooth, metallic, and about the size and shape of a pea. Whatever it was, Samberly kept making excited but vague noises over it and it was taking every ounce of self-control Daniel possessed to not grab him by the collar and shake him until he got a straight answer. “Fascinating…absolutely fascinating,” the scientist muttered for the twentieth time as he peered under the microscope. “But you would think that the internal heat and the fluids would cause it to short-circuit, especially the fluids—”

“That’s great, but can we get to the point? What does the thing do?” Daniel interrupted, massaging his temples. The trouble had all started with a Soviet spy that had been found dead from suspected foul play (as strangulation marks would tend to indicate) down in Palm Springs. While performing the autopsy, the unlucky doctor had cut into the chest cavity and the body promptly exploded. The doctor was unharmed, but shaken up enough that Daniel gave him the rest of the day off. He did at least manage to recover the tiny metal sphere from what remained of the body—though what it was exactly was anybody’s guess.

And it was Samberly’s guess at the moment. “Listen, Chief, it’s been all of half an hour since you gave this to me. This is not how science works, okay? It’s not like a comic book or movie where I look through the microscope and immediately know the purpose of an object I’ve never seen before. Though that would be awesome,” he said, his voice trailing off. “But in the real world, you need to develop hypotheses, design experiments, use vigorous statistical analyses…”

“Fine,” Daniel snapped, throwing up his free hand. “Do whatever you need to do. I just wanna know what we’re dealing with as soon as possible.”

“‘Gee, thank you, Dr. Samberly, for coming in at a moment’s notice even though you were on vacation.’ ‘You’re welcome, Chief. Glad I can be of service.’”

5. biological quandary

“Ah, well. Yes. A situation has erupted. A bit of a biological quandary.”

A biological quandary? “What did Howard do this time?

”She could picture Jarvis rubbing his ear nervously. “Mr. Stark, I am sorry to say, has recently discovered an interest in reproductive biology, and has been conducting experiments on Xenopus laevis—the African clawed frog—in the basement of his mansion.”

This did not seem promising. “Frogs. Howard is breeding frogs.”

“In great quantities,” Jarvis confirmed. “Excessive, even. At any rate, as best I can tell, we experienced a breach of the holding pen and I am in desperate need of assistance.”

**

Peggy opened the lid of the toilet to find hundreds of tadpoles swimming in the bowl, so many they nearly clogged the drain. She shut the lid firmly and sighed in dismay. It was evident that the frog problem was reaching biblical proportions.