Dani Reese was severely preoccupied with her left hand. On it rested a thin band of platinum ringed in white diamonds, worn on the third finger, where people normally work a wedding band, but that was impossible because she'd told him she wasn't interested in getting married, right?

Looking back now in the aftermath of her kidnapping and subsequent rescue from Roman Nevikov everything that was once so clear had become blurry, muddled and confusing.

Dani remembered everything being crystal clear to her, as she sat in Bodner's car, driving those last hundred feet down that dusty road. Crews was standing there amazingly alive and smiling at her, at them, at life. She couldn't help but smile back. At that moment everything was in sharp focus and her future clearer than she'd ever imagined.

He shouldn't be there, but then the sheer volume of things that shouldn't happen to - or occur around - Charlie Crews was mindboggling. He was, as her mother would say, "touched by the hand of God" although Dani was pretty certain Crews wouldn't agree. Slowly, however Dani Reese had begun to feel the grip of a powerful force, faith. Faith can be a powerful thing, when lost it can seem irretrievable, but it can be renewed.

For her it began at the FBI, when she chose Crews over an opportunity to advance. So they expected her to climb over her partner, someone who'd watched her back for two years and saved her ass a dozen times - for what? A promotion? No, she wouldn't do that for them, for anyone, not to Crews, not to her partner. Dani decided to trust in what she believed and Dani believed in her partner. She had an unerring faith that there was nothing she and Charlie Crews couldn't get through together.

As she got out of the car that day in the orange grove, their conversation that day was short, but then there was really so little to say. "Roman?" she'd questioned.

"Dead" he answered still smiling. She didn't have to ask how, she knew Crews killed him.

"You're going to be in trouble" she warned.

"Again" he answered still smiling. "But this guy I actually did kill" he grinned broadly.

"I thought you said that killing takes a piece of your soul, makes you forget who you are…" she repeated things she'd heard him say when Charlie thought no one was listening, she always was.

"I say a lot of things" he said enigmatically and effectively ceasing further inquiries. She could ask and he would answer, but he wouldn't really say anything and when he did it – that really bothered Dani.

After a moment, Crews added something he didn't need to that was very telling "he hurt you…no one hurts you Reese." She had no response, what could she really say to that anyway.

Then she asked what him what she'd asked Bodner "Crews why'd you do it? Why'd you get in that car?"

She asked more angrily than she intended. In her mind it contained the disclaimer, "why the hell would you do something that scared me more than being held in a dank basement for a week, by a raving psychopath, why Charlie would you do that to me?" but that part remained unspoken.

"You know why" he said softly as he smiled and features softened….and she did.

People will tell you that "actions speak louder than words", but what did they tell you about someone, a man, willing to give their life in trade for yours? To forfeit all they were, all they ever would be just to see you safe and well. Dani smiled to herself, there probably wasn't an axiom for that. Love like that didn't happen every day, because that was what they were talking about, love. Charlie Crews loved her, he didn't need to say so - he just had.

That was before. Now she sat staring at her left hand, the one Crews held all the way back from the orange grove to the station. The one he'd shyly released when they were met by prying eyes.

At the station, they were separated and both grilled by IAD, until Kevin Tidwell burst in and raising holy hell to get them both released. He must have pulled every marker he had to get IAD of their backs, but as Tidwell impulsively wrapped Dani in a giant hug he simply didn't care who saw, Dani watched as Crews' eyes became unreadable and his body stiffened. Undeterred by his display of affection for his "favorite detective", Tidwell simply turned and hugged Crews too. Crews good naturedly but darkly commented "down boy", but his eyes never left Dani's. There was nothing to say, but still more to be said. Tidwell talked animatedly, but no matter how hard Dani tried to stay in that moment, it vanished.

Crews simply melted away, like a giant cat into the jungle, silently, invisible and deadly.

Later that weekend, Tidwell produced a black velvet box with a diamond ring in it and he'd asked Dani to marry him, swearing he never wanted to be more than four feet from her for the rest of his natural born life. Dani put him off, saying she was still too dazed by the week's events - but the truth was her life and her future changed that day in the orange grove. She could no more go back to who she was before than turn back the clock or unset the sun. The box on Tidwell's dresser now served as a constant reminder of his request and her "not yet refusal" but a delay he felt she shouldn't feel. It wore on them both. A fight was coming, she could feel it like a storm building.

Crews faded away and although he frequently called to check on her, he always sounded distant and a bit forlorn, knowing Tidwell was there listening to her end of the call. Dani longed to look at his face and see the expression behind his eyes when he spoke, but they were both on administrative leave with no "professional" reason to see each other.

Dani knew she couldn't marry Tidwell, she didn't want to marry Tidwell. Tidwell was attentive and kind, but the man Dani wanted, no…needed to - talk to, see, be with, to connect to was Crews. But Crews and she weren't supposed to be together were they? Questions swirled around in her mind as the days of admin leave wore on and Dani grew more restless and her memory became hazier and recall more fuzzy. Was what she felt for Crews real or imagined? Did he feel it too?

Then out of the blue on Wednesday afternoon, Crews phoned. "Hey, I need a favor" he said simply.

The man saved her life so a favor was simple. "Sure" Dani replied "name it."

"Go with me to wedding this weekend?" he asked a bit more reserved than she recalled.

"Crews… don't you have lots of girls that you could get to go with you to a wedding? You're rich, you're famous, you're handsome, I'm sure anyone of them would jump at the chance to go to some weekend wedding bash with you." Dani tried waffling, she didn't need another reminder of Tidwell's proposal – the velvety box standing on his dresser was plenty.

Crews stood his ground "I don't want to go with just anyone, I want to go with someone." Classic Crews - he said something profound without seeming to say much at all. A multi-millionaire with girls jumping at a chance to go anywhere with him and he wanted Dani.

"Ok" Dani relented "but just so you know the lifesaving thing? You coulda traded that for something a bit more valuable. A wedding means I got off easy…" she tried to make light of the situation.

Charlie's voice returned a somewhat cryptic reply "It could be a long term thing you're agreeing to - you never know…"

"Unless you are you planning on doing this every weekend, I think I can manage" she laughed.

"Pick you up Friday night at your place at 8?" He questioned. "Pack a bag, I'll have you back in time for work on Monday"

"Where are we going?" she inquired.

"It's kind of a surprise." He said lightly, then after a pause adding "Why? You need to get permission?" somewhat sharper as something bordering on jealousy tinged his voice darker tones.

"A surprise to whom? Me or the bride and groom? And no I don't need permission…. It's just… never mind Crews. We'll figure it out." She resigned herself that simply getting to see his face when they spoke would fix a lot of things for both of them. "Is it a daytime or evening wedding?" she asked.

"Does it matter?" he responded innocently.

"Yeah, Crews it matters. Evening weddings are more formal, so I'll have to dress nicer" she sighed exasperated.

"Which would you prefer?" he asked.

"Huh?" Dani questioned wondering if she'd missed a portion of the conversation. "Why would it matter what I'd like? Uh-uh, you know what? We're not doing that Crews. Let's make this easier. Are you wearing a tux or a suit?" she continued to try to tease info out of him.

"A tux? I think…yeah, a tux" he seemed to make up his mind right then.

"You're sure? Sounds like you aren't sure?" she smiled into the phone at his unease. The man could dress to kill, face down a felon with a knife, climb into hell on her behalf and couldn't decide what he was wearing until just that minute.

"Wear anything you like, I'm sure you'll look great." He said somewhat shyly.

"Ok, I'll find something suitable." She tried hard to sound like she was exasperated with him instead of anxious about seeing him again. "Sometimes you can be such a guy Crews" she teased.

"Reese, I am a guy." He deadpanned.

"Yes, Crews I know" she said hanging up the phone. It was odd how they both just seemed to know when a conversation was over. Neither said goodbye, they just stop talking and one of them ended the call, it was as if they never said goodbye and never would.

"Hey, babe" Kevin Tidwell said wrapping his arms around her from behind "who was that? Your mom?"

"Uh, no. It was Crews. He needs a favor." She felt him bristle at the mention of Crews' name the moment it left her lips. He…uh… needs me to go to some wedding thing with him this weekend."

She could feel the resistance coming before he began to speak. "Look, babe I know he's your partner, but don't you think he could get his own girl? You're spoken for. Call him back, tell him we got plans, we'll do something fun."

Dani thought it was odd because the two men seemed to like each other enough when Tidwell first arrived, but when Crews became aware she and Tidwell were dating things changed – cooled. There was more formality, more posturing, more protectiveness from Crews. She thought of it as brotherly affection and then realized he was nothing like a brother to her and Dani finally saw it for what it was, what it always had been.

Thinking back Crews was always aware of when men were interested in her, from the freak at the pharmaceuticals company to Rick Larsen to the cops in the bar at the wake, even the college kids who told her she was "pretty" – they all earned dark glittering looks from Crews. She could never really put a name to it, but it was noticeable, once she started noticing. He paid special attention to the attention they paid to her and seemed not to like it much when they did. She remembered the first time it occurred to her because she dismissed it outright. It was protectiveness not possessiveness, right? I mean Crews didn't "like her" like her, did he? That was just silly right? And yet here she was thinking about it, him, them, again.

It occurred to her that Tidwell was still grumbling in the background about Crews getting his own girl or something when she returned to the conversation. "He's my partner, he needs something and I kinda owe him big time remember?" she added to soften the blow that she was about to leave for a weekend adventure to who knows where with her attractive, rich, older partner.

"Yeah, I know babe, but I was kinda hoping you and me… we could be partners, ya know?" he hinted.

She sighed heavily the dam finally breaking "Look I just can't do this right now. I need some space and time to think and some time apart might do us some good" she snapped sharper than she meant to at his reference to his recent proposal.

"You need space and time from me - but you can run off for the weekend with Crews. Is that how it works?" Tidwell said. There was no disguising the jealousy in his voice.

"Crews isn't like that and you know it" Dani said defending her partner.

"No? Dani don't be naïve. I've seen the way he looks at you… the little gestures, the hand in the small of your back when he doesn't need to, him opening doors, holding elevators…you may not see it, but I see it. And you? Dani… you let him do it, you don't even let me do those things for you, so yeah… Crews is like that. He's a man Dani and you're an attractive woman, all men are like that."

"Are you saying you don't trust me?" she was steamed now headed for a full fledged melt down that had been coming since Roman and her truncated contact with Crews. "That's what this is about? So what I'm out of your sight for a couple days and then I'll just jump Crews. Be real. It's Crews - I have to resist the impulse to strangle him most days."

"You say that now, but that's how each of my three marriages started. Couldn't stand each other and then we couldn't keep our hands off each other." He stated flatly.

"Yeah, well maybe that's why I'm not so ready to just jump into marriage with you. You don't seem to be too good at it. Besides I'm not you…and Crews – Crews is definitely not you. He's still in love with his ex-wife. He's old fashioned, he's polite, he's so… so not you." The harder she argued and defended Crews, the more she realized she was making Tidwell's point.

"You know what? I'm not doing this with you. We aren't married, we aren't going to get married. I'm not going to have someone breathing down my neck if I want to go do something with a friend."

"Easy now, sweetheart, let's not get hasty. Tidwell gets it, you need some space. I can do that, but baby…. Come on? I know you're upset - just forget I said anything about it and I'll see you next week at work?" he tried to walk back and make amends.

Dani just scowled at him, grabbed her things and walked towards the door.

"What no good bye kiss?" she glared darkly at him and slammed the door on the way out. Tidwell sighed to himself and said out loud "why do I always go for the ones with the tempers?"

***********************************************************************************

Friday night at 8PM sharp, Charlie Crews knocked softly on Dani's front door. She opened it to find him standing on the stoop fidgeting somewhat nervously dressed in stone washed denim jeans and an untucked, slightly rumpled, white linen shirt. He had the amazing ability to look neat in anything, just like Kevin could looks rumpled and slightly dingy - right after showering. Crews wore no jewelry, nothing but a watch and sunglasses and he always smelled so wonderfully masculine, but crisp and unique. It was just Crews right? So why all of a sudden did her stomach flip flop at his smile. He pulled the shades down revealing his eyes and smiled brightly "ready?" he asked.

She nodded and turned to get her bag, but Crews pronounced "I've got it". As he walked to the car with her suitcase, Dani was reminded of Tidwell's comment. She really did let Crews do things for her that she simply wouldn't tolerate from anyone else. Dani remembered asking her mother, why she let her father do things that Roya could manage fine on her own and Dani's mother told her "men need to feel needed and like to care for women, protect them and it was simpler to let them do so." Dani was still puzzling how Crews had become that for her when Charlie placed her suitcase in his trunk next to his very light looking garment bag. Dani began to wonder if she'd over packed.

Apparently Charlie did too because his next comment teased "we're not moving there you know?"

"Ok, mister let's not say where we're going… you try to plan for every possible scenario and keep it to an overnight bag" she glared at him not in the mood.

"So then just put the bag in the car?" he asked.

"Yes, Crews." She stated flatly.

"Yes, dear." He returned in a teasing smirk eyes hidden beneath his shades. Then Charlie opened her car door and when she was in closed it. Dammit Dani thought, I just did it again. We aren't on a date, we are colleagues on a what? Adventure? Excursion? Definitely not a date?

"So… you gonna tell me where we are going now?" she inquired.

"No. I don't think so." He cocked his head to the side considered the question some more and then responded simply "nope." Crews climbed behind the wheel and turned the key, sparking the little Italian car to life. He drove deftly and expertly and she admired his ease behind the wheel. He drove them in companionable silence to the Ontario Airport. Dani noticed that rather than his traditional Zen tape, Crews had the satellite radio in his car tuned to an alternative rock station, like she preferred. Already ahead of the game, he chose not to battle with her over music and she smiled quietly to herself at his simple gesture.

Perhaps that was the key to Charlie Crews, he was not complex; he was simple. He was by no means plain, but his tastes ran to the ordinary and his needs were few. Crews' life had become a complex nightmare, but not because of anything he'd done. Crews himself was basic. He needed little more than fruit to make himself happy. Even his large house, which was remarkably devoid of furnishings spoke of a man not attached to many things. He enjoyed his cars, although he seemed to have trouble holding on to them. He went through cell phones like Dani went through socks, but there was nothing fancy or glamorous about Crews. Nothing about him said "look at me, look at me" but she found she couldn't take her eyes off her partner.

She watched the way his lean hands gripped and stroked the steering wheel, as the blond hair on his knuckles shone in the setting sun. His jaw was relaxed and a smile the natural expression on his face, one he wore without trying when relaxed as he was now. He glanced sideways and caught her admiring him. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing" she said looking away quickly, but when her gaze returned he was still looking at her with his shades pulled down on his nose.

"It's okay to have fun you know. This can be fun – you and me, running off on an adventure together, just for now?" He winked at her and was rewarded by a genuine smile from Dani. He was so honest and true, she found herself feeling safe and relaxed just being with him. It was a bit unsettling, like the thrill you get from a roller coaster, but one you know can't last.

"We're here." He said. Dani looked up and they were parked at a private jet on the apron in the setting sun. Dani just gaped at the gesture. Crews was a multi-millionaire so it would figure he could do things like this, but he just never did – or never that Dani knew about. "I'll just get the bags."

She reached out to him, smiling and staying him with a light touch on his arm, his linen shirt was rough against her fingers, but his forearm tight and lean underneath. "Um, I think they'll do that for you" she gestured with the other hand to the flight crew at the jet's steps.

"Yeah, but I just… I'm used to doing it for myself" he almost blushed at his own display of wealth - only willing to go so far - before the blue collar in him shone through the millions.

They boarded the plane, which was small but well appointed. Shortly after takeoff, Charlie disappeared into a small room at the back of the plane and reemerged wearing a tux. He looked like a movie star, Dani thought, like Steve McQueen but with his red hair lightly tousled by the wind on the runway, he was breathtakingly handsome. It was a simple elegant tux with cuff links and shiny black loafers.

"Would you like to get changed? Or you can wait… we have a couple hours til we get there. Can I make you something to drink? Not that you have to drink, but if you want to… I'll make sure you stay safe, I promise you." He added solemnly. She believed him. He meant every word.

"Crews…where are we going?" she asked without any affect. He smiled at the genuine inquisitive nature of her simple question. She was there, under all that toughness and brusqueness, his Dani the one who didn't need to force - only needed to ask and he would give her the world.

"New York. The Rainbow Room, Manhattan. Drinks, dinner and dancing, then the Plaza Hotel" he cocked his head to the side and wondered aloud "if you want something else to wear we can shop first or there are some things that I think will fit you in the back". If he was trying to impress her, this was doing the trick she thought. She felt like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, everything was so new to her, being whisked away on a private jet for a weekend in New York with a handsome eligible millionaire who just happened to be her partner and the person she trusted most in the world. Dani wanted to pinch herself, but elected for a different sort of wakeup call.

"Scotch. I'll have scotch on the rocks when I come back. I'm sure whatever you've got on this thing is the really good stuff" Dani said as she walked to the back to examine these clothes he'd picked out somewhat skeptically. Crews was a very conservative but nicely dressed man, not like Tidwell you needed "Granimals" to get dressed and for whom she'd finally broken down and taken to pick out nicer suits. He couldn't walk around looking like an escapee from the 1980's with his long hippy hair and wide lapel, two button suits.

But there on a modest rack in the back room of the plane were six dress, three short and three longer, including one that was a vibrant red with bare shoulders and a fairly risqué cutaway back and slit up the left side. There were small boxes with appropriate undergarments and shoes for each dress. He'd thought of everything, or maybe he had someone do the shopping for him. But as she pulled the red dress from the closet, there was a simple message pinned to it in Charlie's handwriting "this one is my favorite". Dani's heart was hammering wildly. This was like some wild dream you had where your insanely rich, elegant, handsome bachelor protector with his radiant smile and bright blue eyes smiled at you as you awoke to the same house, same job, same life. She had to be dreaming, didn't she?

Dani dressed in the red dress and carried the shoes with her into the cabin, where to his credit, Crews had the decency to look as shocked as she felt. His chin dropped and an audible if subconscious "wow" escaped his lips, before he stammered "you look….uh…. nice" before he swallowed hard and took a long drink from the scotch he'd poured for Dani. It looked as though his tie was too tight and Dani couldn't resist toying with him just a tiny bit.

"You think it fits okay?" she said twirling to show off the dresses plunging back for his benefit. When her eyes returned to his, Charlie Crews actually looked paler as if that were possible. His hands looked as if he might crush the highball glass he was holding. "That for me?" she motioned at the scotch. He couldn't tell if she meant the drink or his raging hard on, but Crews managed a strangled "uh- huh" in response.

Dani carefully walked across the plane cabin, which seemed longer for both of them than it possibly could have been given the relative size of the plane. She took the glass from him and drank a small sip. Crews had music playing in the cabin and as a song she wouldn't have thought Crews knew came on he asked her "dance with me?" He stepped closer as the opening strains of the Kings of Leon "Closer" began and the temperature in the cabin soared. He waited for permission before touching her, a permission she never spoke but gave him with her eyes.

"Crews what are we doing?" She questioned her eyes seeking something from him in response.

"We're going to a wedding…I told you" he backpedaled like a small boy with his hand in the cookie jar, but unwilling to admit he was caught.

"So who are these people? How do you know them?" she asked pressing his distraction with her cleavage.

"Um…. What… oh, friends" he stammered again appearing as his tie was too tight.

"Can I help you with that tie?" she offered as her nimble fingers climbed to his collar and worked open the button under his bow tie relaxing his throat considerably and she felt him exhale the breath he'd been holding.

"So who do you know? The bride or the groom?" she said coyly tried to ferret out where this was headed.

"The girl I feel like I've known all my life. The man.. I'm just beginning to understand him, but he loves her with all his heart, of that I'm sure." Charlie said without his eyes ever leaving hers.

"Ok, but before this night is over… you're going to tell me, what's going on here" she said simply smiling.

Crews nodded gathering her more completely in his embrace, lightly swaying to the coarse tones of the lead singer's effort. Dani placed her hands on his chest and allowed herself to step closer - into the warmth and smell of Charlie Crews. Crews hand was on her bare back now and it was so warm.

"Dani" he whispered "do me a favor?"

She looked up and he was smiling down at her his eyes a Mediterranean blue, teasing "I thought that was what I was doing".

He said "no, this favor I need you to close your eyes for" he said as he stroked her face lightly. Dani felt her eyes flutter closed - even they wanted what came next so badly. Charlie leaned closer and brushed her lips lightly with his, pausing just long enough for her to reach for him with hers. The kiss was slow, sweet and Dani thought it should never end. Charlie's lips drank her breath and he gathered her closer still, the red of her dress bright against the white of his shirt. He broke for just an instant and then returned with a hunger that matched one that had been building in her since that day in the orange grove two weeks ago.

His tongue swept into her mouth tasting of scotch and strength. His lean long arms held her tightly and she heard nothing, no wind, no music, no radio chatter, nothing but her heart hammering madly and blood rushing in her ears. Then pilot cleared his throat interrupting "folks you'll need to take you seats we're landing at Teeterboro in ten minutes. Dani ducked her head shyly against Crews chest and shoulder as he cradled her neck in his hand responding in a deeper voice than she imagined Crews to have "just give us a minute".

They broke apart awkwardly neither ready for the strength of their collective response and Charlie sat opposite her as they landed, but he was unable to take his eyes off her. Planeside a long dark limousine met them and Charlie spoke to the pilot before climbing in too. First he sat opposite her as he had on the plane, but just before the driver left the airport, Crews raised the privacy screen and moved to the seat beside her.

"Do you want something? Champagne?" he offered.

Dani was entranced but still a detective. "Yes, I want you to tell me what we are doing here."

He stared at her and then looked down for an instant and Dani knew he was caught. "And I don't want to hear about this phantom wedding you have to go to for people you don't know either. Tell me the truth, Charlie." His eyes widened slightly at her use of his first name, she knew she had his complete attention. "You are driving me crazy and I think I deserve to know why. No more surprises, no more games. Tell me what you're doing here tonight with all this."

When he looked up again, Dani swore there were tears in Charlie's eyes. "You're right. I never should have lied to you. I won't ever do it again, I swear. Just promise me you won't marry Tidwell until you give me a chance to show you…. I can give you so much, Dani. I know I'm not what you want, but I can make sure you have everything you ever want." He issued a ragged sigh and she knew those really were tears. He took her hand in his and said "you never even had to let me kiss you again, all I want in life for the rest of my life is to hear my name off your lips, I don't know why I didn't tell you sooner. Just don't marry him Dani."

"I'm not" she said her eyes full of tears too.

"You're not?" he sounded somewhat shocked.

"No, you moron. Why the hell do you think I'm here? With you? In a dress you picked out, that's you wrote was your favorite? Thinking scotch off your lips is the best thing I've ever tasted? Why the hell do you think I'm here, Charlie? I'm not doing a favor for my partner. I'm here because I want to be."

He moved her hand to his other and put his warm palm into the slit in her dress at the knee, feeling the silken smoothness of her legs and igniting a heat there and in the pit of her stomach. "I'm in love with you, Dani and it's not something I'm prepared to compromise about. I've killed for you, I'd die for you and I just want you to give me a chance to…." He moved his hand to caress her neck and bent to kiss her.

"Dani" he kept repeating her name over and over like a mantra as his hand moved up her thigh and she thought the car might ignite from the heat they were creating. The limo stopped and as it did Charlie discreetly removed his hand kissed her forehead and lowered the screen. "We're at the Rainbow Room, sir."

"Take us to the Plaza" Crews spoke firmly to the driver and then glanced at Dani for confirmation "unless you want to…" she only nodded once and he again pronounced "Plaza" before raising the screen again.

"Charlie" she stopped him. "You have to stop touching me right now. Unless you want me to come in the back of this car, you have to wait until we get upstairs, can you do that?" Charlie squeezed his eyes shut as tears escaped the edges, "yes, yes I can."

There was something so innocent and fragile about the tears on his freckled face and blonde lashes that was Dani's undoing as she reached for him. She meant only to kiss away his tears but his mouth crashed into hers as he pulled her body impossibly close to him. "Charlie" she gasped "oh, god Charlie" as he trailed wet kisses down her neck and the hollow of her throat.

"Can't stop touching you…" he whispered "don't want to stop touching you….I want to do things to you that we can't do in his car, honey" he grabbed the car seat with both hands and pushed away. "I'm going to do things to you that no man has ever done before, I'm going to love you with all my heart for as long as I live and I don't need you to love me back, Dani, just don't…."

"Stop talking, Charlie" her own tears broke as she laid her fingers across his lips. "You idiot, you don't need private planes, or trips across country or fancy hotels to persuade me, I'm hooked, I….I'm in love with you, I have been for such a long time now."

The doorman opened the limo door and they extricated themselves from the car and through the hotel lobby. People say New York has this wonderful skyline and nightlife, but Dani didn't care. All she really wanted was for the elevator to move faster and Charlie Crews stripped to nothing but that bow tie. The lift operator smiled knowingly as Crews handed him a couple $100 bills and said simply "Crews and no stops please." His hand found hers and Dani herself griping his hand tightly, before he leaned over and whispered those same words from over a week ago to her again "just breathe, honey."

Dani made a mental note to talk to Crews about her feelings on endearments, but just before he straightened Charlie pressed his lips to her pulse point above her collarbone and the thought fled along with her ability to stand on her own two feet apparently. He smiled at his effect on her and gently held her against him and the elevator dinged loudly and bobbed to a stop high above the city. "Thank you, Mr. Crews. Have a terrific night and might I say you and your wife look incredible, sir."

They both smiled and remembered a time when Dani was quick to point out they were not a couple.

"Thanks" he smiled at the man, before the doors closed. There was no hallway, no door it was a penthouse – there were no other rooms on the floor. The brilliant NYC skyline lay beyond them as Charlie darkened the lights and took off his coat. "Dance with me, Dani" he pled.

"Charlie… I….need you to…." She backed away slowly.

His eyes showed intense concern. "It's okay, you're okay, honey. I'll turn them back on. Tell me what you want. Name it and it's yours."

Dani bit her bottom lip wrestling with the demon inside that said "don't do it, you'll be hurt again and this time you might not come back at all". "I just need to think… I…." she trailed off.

Charlie pulled a chair from the dining room table and sat it across the room from where she stood, well away from her. He sat and put his elbows on his knees.

"What are you doing?" Dani asked as he patiently removed the cufflinks and rolled up the sleeves on what was likely a $3000 tuxedo.

"Giving you time" he said gently "if you need space I can leave the room" he offered innocently.

She sighed at him and he smiled knowingly. "What?" she said "don't look at me like you know how this is going to turn out. This is complicated Crews. I'm dating our Captain remember."

"Not anymore" Charlie said as his look turned dark. "Not anymore, Dani."

She stared at him but knew he was right. As kind and good for her Kevin Tidwell had been, she would never again share his bed and they both knew it. "Ok, so let's think this through…" she began talking aloud like he would and then stopped herself "oh my god, I'm doing it aren't I? I've officially lost my mind and now I'm talking to myself. Christ Crews this isn't the slightest bit funny so wipe that grin off your face." She was edgy from being off balance. Sex Dani was good at, but this was different, she was different.

"It's not complicated, honey. Its simple. Do you trust me?" Charlie inquired.

"You know I do" she said in response.

"Do you love me?" he asked patiently as if his world didn't balance on her answer.

"Yes" she whispered.

"Then it's not complex at all, it's simple. I think you know that I love you. All that remains is for you to just let it happen, Dani. Let me love you and I promise I will do all the rest. Just allow this to be."

"Is that Zen?" she teased softly looking up from under eyes hooded by dark lashes.

He was standing now and his shoes were off as he approached her like a cat silently on his stocking feet making no sound on the thick carpet. "No, no Zen, just the absolute unvarnished truth." His knuckle raised her chin and he held her eyes and bent to kiss her again. Just before he touched her lips with his, Charlie stopped and waited for permission. No man ever gave her this kind of control, this kind of respect, it was almost overwhelming. "Charlie" she breathed and still he waited - eyes locked on hers.

She raised a tiny hand to his face and caressed his cheek and chin with it. He was so warm. She ran her fingers into his short red hair and reached the back of his neck with her short nails eliciting a short hiss from him, but still he waited. Then she reached for him with her eyes and her heart and Charlie felt her give in to him, to them, he gently kissed her lower lips and placed a chaste kiss on her lips before he took a deeper breath and drank deeply from her lips. Dani felt like there was no oxygen in the room. It was being consumed by the fire Crews ignited in her as he swallowed her breath in an ever increasingly deeper series of long kisses. She threw her head back just to breath and he said it again "just breath, honey" as he kissed a trail down her throat to the hollow between her breasts. "I need you to take this dress off now, honey, before there's nothing left of it but a zipper and a couple of threads."

She wanted to tell him to stop calling her "honey" but she couldn't, Dani found that coming from Charlie's lips was a secret name for her that no one else knew. "You gotta let go then Charlie" and he seemed shocked to find he was holding her so tightly. He blushed slightly and released her.

In the bathroom, Dani looked at herself in the mirror. She was elegant in her red dress with upswept hair, but Charlie didn't do fancy or elegant, Charlie was simple. She found the linen shirt he was wearing earlier in the garment bag and removed all her clothes and buttoned the front four buttons on it. She left her hair up knowing Charlie would want to take it down and came out of the bathroom. His back was turned, but he was having a stiff drink to steady his nerves when she approached from behind and wrapped both arms around his slim waist laying her face against his back and inhaling his unique scent.

She felt the shudder run through him as she slid her hands lower into his front pockets and her fingers danced lightly close to his manhood. "Honey, please…." He pulled her around to his front and watched as he took in her curves under the light linen of his shirt. "I brought you a nice selection of lingerie…" he offered.

"I like this. It smells like you. Do you want the drink Charlie?" she tempted.

"I thought I did, now I can't remember why." He spoke plainly from his heart. "Right now I'm lucky I can remember my name. I know you've been told this a million times, but do you have any idea how beautiful you are? Seriously, I…" as he reached up and pulled the hairpin she knew he wanted to and her hair cascaded down onto her shoulders. Charlie didn't even try to suppress the groan he felt at this gesture. And then he was everywhere, touching her, licking her, stroking her and their heat became incredible. Dani moaned and Charlie kicked it up a notch, riding his hand up the inside of her thigh to find her wet and without underwear.

She could feel his grin against her skin. "Turns out we won't be needing a lot of lingerie this trip" she teased, earning her a deep chuckle from him.

"What will you sleep in?" he toyed with her breasts under the shirt, which was now magically completed unbuttoned.

"Who says we're gonna do anything resembling sleep Detective?" she turned temptress. Charlie liked this when Dani felt free enough to play, to enjoy herself and he smiled his appreciation against her side when she jumped from him hitting a ticklish spot. Like tiger cub with a moving dinner item, Charlie fixed one hand against her other side at the waist and drew her to him, raking his teeth across her sensitive side. Dani groaned and wriggled, before gasping his name "Charlie…..please….stop"

Again ever the attentive lover and protector he raised his head, concern apparent in his eyes "are you okay?"

"Yes, but you're driving crazy with that" she smiled. "I'm fine, honey, really." Charlie froze and an immense cat like grin appeared on his face. "What?" Dani said.

"You just called me honey" he said with smile bright enough to eclipse the sun.

"No I didn't." she defended, but knowing she might have. He was just so concerned for no reason other than tickling her to the point of distraction. "I wouldn't do that. You're hearing stuff Crews."

"Uh-huh" he said "I'm going to find every spot on your body that makes you make that noise and put my mouth on it.

"What noise?" she said.

"Giggling" he grabbed both of her buttocks and ground his impressive erection against her pelvis. He groaned in ecstasy and she dug her nails into his shoulders eliciting a low growl from him before he latched onto her neck and raked it with his teeth.

Breathless, Dani scrambled for some sort of control. "I don't giggle" she contested.

"Giggle is just one of many noises you're going to make for me honey, one of many, so many…" he promised before putting both hands in her hair and kissing her until she thought she might pass out.

"Charlie….one of us is wearing too much and it's not me" she returned to the task at hand by working on his pants and zipper.

"You want them off?" he asked. She nodded and bit her lip and little habit she had when he was moving too slow – one that he was learning to love. "Then take them off" he teased with his hands outstretched. Dani worked the tiny buttons on his shirt feverishly, but her nimble fingers made quick work of them even as Charlie stroked her face and ran his fingers through her long hair. "I love your hair." He mused.

"Shut up Crews I'm trying to concentrate" she said pushing the shirt off his shoulders. She pulled at the white t-shirt underneath and he removed his hands long enough for her to pull it over his head before he reached for her again. This time the open front of his linen shirt allowed him to place his bare chest against hers. His arms reached up along her sides under her arms and behind her shoulder blades pulling her impossibly close. His mouth crashed into hers tongues twisting with intense heat and just as quickly he stopped.

Dani was breathless, but wanted more. His shirt gone there was nothing to grab onto except his shoulders and back. She dragged her nails along his back and he arched into her, then dove to her breast suckling it with a swirling tongue around the hardening peak. She moaned softly and he continued to touch and taste every inch of her.

"Pants Crews" was all she could manage. He chuckled again and she could feel it in his chest like a big cat's purr. She pushed him away and worked his button and zipper having already released the suspenders during the shirt episode. His pants fell to the ground and Charlie stepped out of them towards her toeing off his socks. She dodged him playfully, but didn't step outside his reach and he easily swept her up and carried her into the bedroom.

Charlie laid her gently down on the bed, pushed her knees apart and began kissing his way lower, his tongue drawing amazingly intricate patterns over the sensitized skin of her belly. Dani writhed, but Charlie simple held both her hands to still her. His mouth closed over her wet center and Dani's moan was something Charlie would never forget. His tongue began to draw circles and rapid flick across her sensitive nub, while he released her hands to put them under her and raise her for better access. Dani was now in an exquisite type of agony and the words coming from her mouth were ones she could neither remember nor would probably wanted repeated. Endearments he knew she hated were lavished on him as she coached him "Right there honey, oh yes, god Charlie and others" as he smiled and drove her over the edge.

As he felt the orgasm ripple through her, Charlie slid up her body and took her lips in his. She could taste herself on him and it only served to further arouse her. "Honey, please don't stop. Charlie, I need you now. Please Charlie." He shushed her and put a finger over her lips. "Just breathe for me sweetheart, this is just a taste of the things I'm gonna do to you tonight, honey" he promised.

"Charlie… you can't make me wait, I need you – just you Charlie. I want you inside me, please" she pled with him as she griped his arms tightly. "Oh god, Charlie" she gasped as he returned to his careful attentions to her breast. "Crews" she barked. His head snapped up, just enough command presence left in her voice to get through to him.

"Charlie" she reached for him through his lightweight boxers. "You have to let me touch you, I need you Charlie, please" She could feel him twitching in her hands.

"Dani…..there's twelve years of pent up energy there. We should use something" He was ever cautious and caring for the consequences for her.

"I'm on the pill." She said breathlessly.

"Roman let you take those for the last week did he?" Dani sobered a bit.

"What are you saying? We aren't going to have sex? Cause if that's what we're saying I think I'm going to have to kill you." She said smiling darkly.

"I have to get something before we can do that….I'm ready for any consequences but I don't think you are." He admitted.

"So you're saying you bought six dresses, matching shoes and underwear, chartered a plane and didn't bring condoms? You're amazing Crews…." She said exasperated throwing her head back onto the pillow.

"But amazing in a good way right?" he asked seeming somewhat concerned.

"Fuck it, we've gone this far. I'm past the point of being able to control what happens with you Charlie. Just come with me now and we'll figure the rest out later." When Dani committed to something it was 100% and she was committed to Crews now heart and soul.

"You understand this isn't a chance you'll get pregnant, Dani. Twelve years of prison, three of wanting you and nine months from now you'll be a mother I can guarantee it. Are you ready for that?" he asked.

"Six hours ago I wasn't ready for this, but I can tell you this… if you don't fuck me right now Charlie Crews I swear to god I'm walking out of this room and calling a cab. Now Charlie, I mean it." A flip switched in his brain as she said those things and he attacked with a renew vigor understanding the tenacity of this amazing woman again, but for the first time in this light.

It was morning, two days later, the sheets were high thread count and luxurious. Charlie was spooned behind her with his right arm wrapped possessively around her and his hand cupping her breast. He snored softly into her throat at her hairline near the base of her neck and he still set every nerve she had on edge when he shifted and she felt his freckled red haired leg slide between and against her darker tanned smoother ones intimating how truly close they were.

Dani's left hand dangled from under the duvet and there perched on her ring finger was platinum band ringed with diamonds, which probably cost more than she'd made last year. Under the ring was an inscription, it read "all my love, all my life – Charlie". He was right he'd taken her to a wedding, theirs.

They were entwined in the honeymoon suite of some luxury hotel in Niagara Falls and his name was on her lips well into the night. She'd seen all his scars and the tattoos, the ugly prison ones branding him a "cop" that he'd told her he'd take off if she wanted, but liked them to remind him of where he'd been and how far he'd come from then. Dani realized she wouldn't erase anything about Charlie except perhaps the pain he'd had to endure, but she was going to make every effort to make him forget that.

When the minister asked "do you take this man?" Dani had wanted to tell him "anywhere, anytime over anyone else", but settled for a simple "yes" and Charlie's tears fell freely when he pronounced he would "love her for as long as they both would live". When the man pronounced them married, Charlie looked straight up in the air, just like the first day she'd met him - seeking something in the light, the sky, the stars and when he looked back it was like she was transported back to that orange grove and understood for the first time what he'd sacrificed and would always do to protect her. It made Dani want to belong to Charlie Crews more than anything else in the world. The thin band on her finger said that she did. She wasn't sure she'd ever show anyone the inscription; it was so intensely personal to her and to Charlie.

Dani had told Charlie she wasn't sure how she'd handle things when they got back to LA or if she'd wear the ring at work, whereupon he'd produced a simpler band of titanium, identical to the one he wore on his left ring finger. It contained the same inscription and on it were etched three tiny stars for each of the years he'd known her, when his life began anew and he found he could love again. Charlie seemed to accept without question that she would handle their marriage in her own way and in her own time – at work. He was content knowing that they belonged together and they were together in every meaningful way.

Charlie told her in no uncertain terms that he would never take his ring off and when he died he wanted to be buried with it. When she'd asked him how he'd handle the questions, he smiled and teased her "I'll tell people it's so women will stop hitting on me." This earned him a genuine grin from Dani. He was learning to make her smile in so many new and wonderful ways.

Explaining - to everyone would come later, there would be anger from her father, disappointment and perhaps anger from Tidwell and only her mother likely understood that this was not a choice she could make with her head, it was one her heart made that day two weeks ago in that California orange grove, when she realized he had come for her, he would always come for her, he would die for her. But Dani didn't want Charlie to die, she wanted him to live for a long time and if happily ever after was what it took to get that….well, she could deal with that too.