Sunlight streamed through curtained windows, shining about the queen-sized bed and illuminating the cream sheets and emerald comforter ruffled about the surface.

Danny was sprawled on her side upon the mattress, hugging her pillow as her covers wound round her legs, some pooling on the floor.

One leg hung over the edge, twitching at the cold air, as an alarm clock blinked seven AM.

A little calico cat padded across the white carpet, green eyes unblinking as the feline scanned the dresser, nightstand, and open closet for her owner.

Spotting said human on the bed, the small pet managed to leap up onto the mattress.

Stalking up to the woman's face, the calico meowed, waiting to see if that awoke Danny.

A slurred groan, and she snuggled into her pillow further.

A sandpaper tongue licked her beside the eye, and the kitten meowed once more, louder.

Sleep disturbed, but still trying to cling with weakening fingers, the twenty-six year old rolled away.

Unfortunately, she forgot where the edge of the bed was…

BAM!!!

"OW!!!"

Rubbing the back of her head as she sat up, Danny mock-glared at her happy pet…

"I hope you're happy, Oreo…"

When a kitten jumped on her shoulder, purring, Danny got her answer…

"Glad I could be of assistance…"

Pulling the feline into her arms, the doctor stood up, stretching soundly as she padded out into her living room on surprisingly-silent feet.

Two twin Doberman raised their heads from the couch, the female shades of brown and the male black.

A whippet jumped up from the armchair, eager for attention despite having disturbed the sleeping orange-furred cat beside her.

A dachshund wiener dog, long-haired and brown, looked up from her staring contest with a cream-furred kitten sporting electric blue eyes.

Every animal had been adopted from a shelter nearby, and that Danny couldn't help but care for.

"Jack, Jill, get off the couch. Sunny, stop annoying Garfield. Honey, watch out before Angelo bats your nose."

Still half-asleep, the violet-eyed woman stepped into the kitchen of her condo, grabbing the dog and cat food for the animals.

Oreo was still in one arm, looking eager for breakfast.

There was a stampede once all the bowls were filled, and Danny retreated from the seven pets before turning to the sink.

Grabbing a dirty mug and cleaning it quickly, she used it to fill up the water dishes, Sunny licking her owner's arms in greeting.

Washing the mug once more, the redhead filled it halfway with cream and sugar before starting to make coffee.

As it brewed, she smothered a bagel with cream cheese before pouring herself a cup and sitting at the table.

"Beta Solfum."

Her eyes glowed amethyst as her forgotten bagel floated towards her, a slender hand wrapping around it in midair.

Smiling, she bit into it as the animals began to file out, acknowledging her presence now that their hunger was satisfied.

Pleased with her morning, and noting it had gone better than most mornings, Danny grabbed her work files.

She always grabbed the files on the patients she'd be seeing the next day before she left her office.

"Crazy…Crazier…Don't even get me started on him…"

Sighing, Danny rested her head on her knuckles, flipping through papers before finding a file thinner than the others.

Shaking her head at the name, she recognized the name of the serial killer her friend, Rachel Dawes, had been trying to put in jail.

Her boss, Jonathon Crane, had gotten him moved to Arkham…

And then sent her lilacs…

She'd tell him where he could stuff them, but she rather liked her job where it was.

Not being a psychiatrist and stuck in Arkham seemed rather strange to most people, but inmates needed medical attention, too.

Angelo jumped onto the table, pawing at the papers so her attention turned to him.

"Hey, angel-baby." She greeted, smiling and nudging noses.

"Is something up?"

The cream-furred kitten looked at her endearingly before hitting her nose lightly with a soft paw.

"Oh, I get it. Reanima Verdanica."

As a cat's tail grew from the desk, the feline's eyes lit up and he pounced on it, chewing happily on the stem.

"I'm glad you like it."

Jack rested his forepaws on her thighs, his head on her shoulder, and looked up with begging eyes.

"What do you want, big guy?" She wondered, petting his head.

He whimpered, looking down at his right, causing Danny to catch sight of a rubber bone.

"Oh, alright."

Taking it into her hands, she tested the weight as Jill's head also raised itself, eager for a chase.

The bone flew, and Sunny joined in the dash for the prize, almost running over Garfield and causing Honey to pull the orange cat out of the way.

Smiling slightly at the antics, Danny turned back to the files and set them into her briefcase.

"You guys stay safe. I'll be back after work."

Going into her room, she changed into light jeans and a jade-colored tank dress, pulling on a jean jacket and darker green flats.

Putting her keys in one pocket and phone in the other, she walked out of the condo and locked the door.

'I hate work…' She thought grudgingly, heading for the stairs…

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Danny now knew why she got the urge to stay home today…

Paperwork and lilacs covered her desk, and she was THIS close to using a spell that would burn it all…

"Ms Anders?"

'Speak of the devil, and he shall come…' She thought darkly, turning to see Crane.

He may be her boss, but Danny considered him a bit creepy-stalkerish.

Seriously, flowers?

Ten VASES of flowers?

Too many, if you asked her…

The redhead was trying to think of a spell to bring them to life and attack him when she remembered he'd been expecting a response.

"Yeah?"

"Am I to assume that you liked my gift?"

"Let's not assume anything. Remember what it does." She replied, implying her dislike as she put her briefcase down on a spare chair.

Beginning to shuffle through papers to seem busy, Danny sighed when she realized he hadn't moved.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Dr Crane?" She wondered, quirking an eyebrow.

"Perhaps you could grace me with your presence at the court hearing today?"

"I have work." Danny replied evasively, sitting down.

"I could get someone else to do it."

"That's not right."

Amethyst eyes hardened at the thought of burdening someone else, shaking her head.

"I'll just do it myself. I'll hear what happened eventually."

He watched her with piercing eyes, but she didn't waver under his gaze as she picked up a pen.

"Anything else, Dr Crane?"

Something about that look set her on-edge, as if it sent ripples through the calm that was her mind most of the time.

Even when he was gone, the redhead wondered why she felt so cold…