Nick opened the box labeled "books" and started to place them into the shelf. His furniture was already in its place, thanks to the help of Hank and some other colleagues from the station. After the nasty episode with Elliot most of the station had been very solicitous towards Nick. At first he had balked at this treatment, but after a few days he had resigned to his fate. He didn't need to be babied in any way but this was way better than the alternative. And now things were almost back to normal.

"Oh my God! You own 'The Da Vinci Code'? Dude."

Monroe, who looked over his shoulder, couldn't have sounded more scandalized if Nick had put a taxidermied Blutbad into his shelf.

"What? It's a gripping novel, okay?"

"Man, we really have to work on your reading tastes."

Nick snorted. "Not everybody likes to spend his precious downtime with thrillers like 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' or 'Ulysses'."

Now it was Monroe's turn to snort and he murmured, "Philistine."

Nick chuckled to himself and resumed his shelving.

"What is this?"

Nick looked over. Monroe was studying Nick's notes that were lying on his couch.

"I checked some things at the trailer."

"I don't think that dragons really exist, dude."

Nick grinned. "Well, according to the records of my ancestors they did exist. They smote the last ones at the beginning of the 19th century in Eastern Europe."

"Ooh, correct verb conjugation. You have no idea what that does to me, dude."

Nick started laughing, he couldn't help himself. He turned to look at Monroe, who was watching him with this fond little smile that never failed to do strange things to Nick's insides. One could almost say that Nick had butterflies in his stomach. And Nick had observed that this fond little smile was only aimed at him. It seemed to be a special Nick-smile. And Nick liked it. A lot.

"Why are you researching dragons? You wanna look for one?"

"Can't. Because a) they are extinct, and b) I'm not fucking insane. I was just curious. And I want to be better prepared for the future."

"Well, that's uncharacteristically sensible of you. Color me impressed."

"You suck, you know that?"

Nick turned back to his books and listened to Monroe's laughter. Monroe came up to him and leaned against the shelf.

"Nick?"

"Hm?"

"I want to kiss you. Is that okay for you?"

Nick's brain came to a screeching halt. Monroe? Kissing him? What? He stared with wide eyes up to the Blutbad, who was watching him expectantly. Nick felt heat rise into his cheeks and he wanted to turn away, but instead he found himself nodding. Monroe smiled his special Nick-smile again and leaned in.

Nick's pulse picked up and frantic thoughts tumbled through his head. Should he close his eyes or keep them open? What should he do with his hands? He was still holding "Red Storm Rising", maybe he should put it aside. But where should he put his hands then? On Monroe's chest? His back? Maybe it was better to hold onto "Red Storm Rising". And what about the kiss itself? Mouths open or closed? Should he…

Monroe's mouth gently touched his. The contact was feather light, the kiss chaste. Monroe leaned in again. His beard tickled a bit and it was far softer than Nick had anticipated. One of Monroe's big hands gently cradled Nick's jaw and the Blutbad deepened the kiss. Monroe sucked Nick's lower lip into his mouth and Nick's eyelids fluttered closed. Nick parted his lips and their tongues touched. Nick shuddered in pleasure and a soft sound escaped him. Monroe's second hand slipped into Nick's dark hair. "Red Storm Rising" clattered to the floor and Nick swayed closer to Monroe. One of his arms went around the Blutbad, one hand tangled in his flannel-shirt. Nick had always liked how Monroe smelled and he tasted even better. Monroe's hand stroked Nick's hair and then slowly down his back. Nick arched like a cat into the gentle caress. Monroe's hand slipped farther south.

NO! Sudden panic slammed into Nick. He braced for a struggle to free himself, but Monroe released him instantly.

"Don't!"

"Jesus, Nick, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I knew it was too early. I shouldn't have asked you. Can you forgive me?"

Self-recrimination and self-loathing were prominent on Monroe's face and his brown eyes were desperate. Nick swallowed hard. He hated the idea that he had put this look on Monroe's face. Why had he reacted like that? Monroe would never hurt him. He would never do something Nick didn't like, would he? Insecurity gnawed at Nick. He made himself reach out to Monroe and he tentatively touched the Blutbad's arm.

"It's okay. I'm not mad or anything."

Monroe didn't look very convinced and Nick ventured, "I like the kissing. But…" He felt himself blushing again. "I don't want to have sex. I don't think I can. Now. Maybe later. Definitely later. But not now. If that's okay with you, I mean."

"Nick, you're rambling. Of course that's okay with me. You set the pace. If you don't like something we do, you tell me and we stop."

"Really?"

"Really. And I guess we should keep things for now firmly north of the equator, hm?"

Nick gave an unsure little half-smile. "If you don't mind?"

"Not at all."

"Okay. So… Can I kiss you?"

Monroe's smile was a thing of beauty and he leaned in again. Nick smiled too. His future looked suddenly a lot brighter.

FIN.