When the pair entered Le Rivera they could hear the sound of the piano music coming from candle lit lounge. When asked by the hostess, the pair quickly opted for a table in the lounge, as opposed to waiting a minimum of forty minutes for a table in the main dining room.

After conferring on a choice of wine, the waiter sent down a basket of assorted breads and discreetly disappeared.

Prescott surveyed the room and then turned his attention to the menu.

"Well now, with the exception of some fresh paint and what appears to be some new window dressin's, it looks like things have stayed pretty much as they were before I left. I see 'Vinnie's Velvet Veal' is still the Friday special."

"As far as I know, the Rosselli family still owns the place," Melnick offered. "I think the older son took over after Vinnie passed on."

"Nice to know something's are still the same."

Melnick studied the long face carefully. Even if she hadn't made her career reading people, the slight air of melancholy beneath the charming exterior was unmistakable. Prescott glanced up sensing Melnick's thoughtful gaze.

"What are your plans now that the trial is over,"Melnick asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. I've had a few offers. The the States Attorney's Office in Albany has been especially aggressive. Looks like I can square things with the New York bar next week. So I need to make a decision in the next week or two about a job. For now, Mal and I have already divided most of the assets and debt. Just a matter of gettin' the house sold."

"Mal?"

"Brooke's maiden name was Malinowski," he explained. "'Pose it won't be long until I'll be callin' her Mick," Prescott shook his head, immediately wishing he could take back his words.

"Sam, I obviously this is a difficult time for you. Just because Randy strong armed you into-"

"Gosh, Danielle. I aplogize," he said regretfully. "The last thing I want to do is put a damper on this evenin'. You don't deserve that and I've been lookin' forward to this evenin' since Randy told me who it was he was settin' me up with."

"Come on Sam, you don't have to say that."

Prescott waited until the waiter finished pouring the wine before taking her hand.

"It's the truth, on my honor. I'll admit, when Randy first started this blind date business, I had my doubts. But, when he told me you were the young lady from the elevator, I was intrigued."

Melnick gave him a doubtful look.

"You don't believe me," he said with feigned hurt. "Well, let me prove it to you. That day, you wore your hair up - although I must admit - you look even lovelier tonight with it down around your shoulders. You were wearing red single breasted suit, and red and black stripe blouse. Again, you looked lovely, but the green in your dress tonight sure does bring out your eyes. Oh, and you wore black pearl earrings."

Melnick's eyes were wide with amazement. She had thought her long standing friendship with McCoy had made her immune to a display so obviously meant to flatter her. Looking across the table at Prescott's satisfied smile, she knew she was wrong.

"Alright you've convinced me," she said struggling to regain her composure, "and I'll admit I am touched. But, I can only image how difficult this is for you. Not only dealing with all the changes in your life, but dating again. Dating one of your rival's closest friends, as well."

"McCoy? Aw, he's hardly my rival," he said waving the slice of French bread in his hand slightly. "To be a rival there would have to be a competition. The situation wasn't like that. 'Sides, if Mal – Brooke – ever heard I implied she was a prize the two of us fought over, she'd smack me into next week. No, I can't blame any of us, really. I let her go, I knew she'd move on, whether she wanted to or not. Hell, I wanted her to move on. Didn't want her mourning a man that wasn't even dead the rest of her life."

"Still couldn't be easy when you realized how serious she and Jack were," Melnick added sympathetically.

"Well, I've had better days," he admitted. "Then again, I fell in love again myself. I can hardly fault Brooke for doin' the same."

As the evening progressed, Prescott recalled his brief second marriage. Melnick found herself not only liking, but admiring the man across from her. Melnick had lost a sister to cancer. Listening to Prescott recall his second wife's chemotherapy brought memories of her sisters struggles to the surface, that she shared as well. The compassion he showed for her loss warmed her heart. She could see by the look in his eyes when he talked about his late wife, the marriage had been one of love and not pity.

By the time they had finished dessert and coffee it was almost eleven. Melnick found she was disappointed that the evening was nearly over. The quick drink she had planned on had turned into one of the most pleasant evenings in her recent memory.

"Well now," Prescott began as the waiter refilled their coffee cups. "I can hardly let the evenin' end on such a depressin' note."

"This has been a lovely evening, Sam. At least from this side of the table," Melnick said as she gently swayed to the medley of Sinatra tunes that came from the piano a few feet away.

"On this side of the table as well. However, death, divorce, cancer and chemotherapy are not exactly side splittin' topics, now are they Danielle Rose?"

"Well, if you want side splitting, maybe I should tell you..."

Prescott cocked his headwhen Melnick's voice suddenly wavered. He rested his chin in his hands as he dutifully stared at the suddenly silent Melnick.

"Aw come on, don't tell me Danielle Melnick's run out of things to say," he said pensively.

"It was a silly story…something Jack and I came up with a few years ago. Obviously, not something you'd want to hear about."

"Now wait a minute," Prescott said curiously. "This little…invention… is humoress?"

"Very."

"But, I don't get to hear about it, because McCoy had a hand in it?"

"I didn't think you'd want to hear about it because McCoy had a hand in it," she countered.

Prescott once again reached across the table. Melnick smiled as she found her hand once more in his warm and steady grip.

"Well, if you have to censor yourself when you're in my presence that could take the fun out of another date for you, now couldn't it?"

Melnick could feel her face glowing with pleasure while she lowered her eyes. Even though Prescott was a professional 'enemy' and a big one given he was leaning towards going back to the states attorney's office, she found herself hoping he'd turn down the Albany position and stuck around Manhattan long enough for her to get to know him better.

"I can't image not enjoying myself when I'm out with you, even if we both spent the evening mute."

"Danielle Melnick mute," he said with a chuckle. "Now that's an amusin' thought. Seriously, I know Jack's your friend and while I won't say I want to hear about the man every time I see you, I'd like to think my ego is strong enough to hear an occasional whimsical tale that might include him."

Melnick set her coffee cup down and nodded.

"Have it your way. You know Jack's been around the block a couple of times?"

"Romantically speakin'? I know Jack's been around the solar system a couple of times."

"Well, I've had one or two disappointments in that area myself," she said smiling at Prescott's knowledge of her friend's personal reputation. "The last major one was about three years ago, not long after Jack's second divorce."

"You disappointed romantically? Obviously, you've been seeing the wrong kind of man, darlin'," he said as he kissed her hand.

Melnick shook her head.

"Apparently smooth talk doesn't limit itself to the Irish," she said shrewdly.

Prescott tipped his head and gestured for her to continue.

"All right. I walk into Clancy's planning to have a bowl of red chowder and to try to get Jack agree to deal down my client from Murder Two to Man One, minimum time. Anyway, by the time I meet up with him, Jack half way through a bottle of Dewar's….

"Danielle, how the hell are you,"McCoy exclaimed as he stood and warmly embraced his old nemesis.

"Clearly not as good as you feel," Melnick said as she eyed the half empty bottle of scotch on the bar in front of EADA Jack McCoy.

Melnick shook her head as she slipped onto the seat beside McCoy, the bartender setting a glass of ice in front of her. She watched as McCoy carefully filled first her glass, then his own, grinning sheepishly at her the whole time.

"I know what you came here for Danielle," he said suggestively as he leaned against the bar. "Maybe by the time we finish this bottle of scotch, I'll be ready to let you have your way with me."

The sound of Melnick's laughter filled the nearly empty bar.

"Come on Jack, you know I can't hold you to a plea agreement if there's more alcohol in your blood than white blood cells," she said as she started to get up.

McCoy reached over and rested his hands on her waist.

"Danielle, I need you tonight," he said seriously. "Can't you leave the defense lawyer hat on the rack by the door and put on the 'friend who knows me better than I know myself' hat?"

Melnick sighed as she sat back down and looked into the mischievous brown eyes.

"Denise again?"

"God Danielle, what was I thinking? How could have been so blind to what an opportunistic shrew that woman is," he asked intently.

"Maybe because you have always been good at choosing the package with the pretty wrapping paper, but not so good at stopping to think about what might be lurking inside it," she replied as she sipped the scotch. "So what did your soon to be ex do now?"

"Do you know who Alyssa Goodwin is?"

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"Come on Jack, we both have court in the morning," Melnick said as she carefully pushed the empty bottle of scotch towards the bartender.

"Kent, another bottle," McCoy said as he turned to Melnick. "As for you Dani, I can have that son of a bitch killed. Just say the word and I'll offer one of the contract killers I put away early parole to take out that worthless bastard that broke your heart."

Melnick knew she was drunk when she heard herself give a deadpanned response of 'okay', followed by the sound of her uncontrollable laughter joining McCoy's. McCoy pulled her into a hug.

"As for court, I asked Serena to talk to Judge Bradley. You'll be receiving notice in the morning. Briscoe and Green found the murder weapon. We're amending the indictment to include Murder One. That'll buy us both time in the morning to sober up while the paperwork gets done."

Melnick nearly dropped her glass and McCoy started to chuckle.

"Damn you Jack," she snapped while she tried unsuccessfully to smack his arm. "Maybe you deserve to have your clock cleaned by Goodwin, if you pull that kind of stunt with the women you screw in the bedroom, not just the women you screw in the courtroom."

McCoy pressed his palms against the bar as he tried to catch his breath.

"If you were as easy in the courtroom as you are tonight, I'd get guilty verdicts without breaking a sweat. If you were as easy to get into bed," he said giving her a dangerous look,"I'd have given in to lust years ago and probably destroyed a beautiful friendship."

"Yeah, that's for sure," she agreed as he opened the new bottle on the bar. "We'd get through the 'honeymoon' stage in about an hour."

"Honeymoon stage?"

Melnick nodded as she took the glass McCoy offered her.

"You know, at the beginning of a new relationship you go through that 'everything the other person does it wonderful' phase."

McCoy laughed as he set his glass down.

"Oh yeah, I think Denise and I skipped that and went right to the 'anything Jack says is grounds to take his assets' stage."

Melnick gave him a sideways glance.

"Come on Jack it's me, Danielle. We both know you'd never skip the 'all I want to do is get her clothes off stage'."

"I never bring up your PMS," McCoy sputtered.

"What's PMS have to do with what we're talking about?"

"It's a normal hormonal reaction, as normal as the sex drive."

"You're not serious," Melnick gasped.

One look at the scowl his face and Melnick knew the answer to her question.

"Jack please. You can't compare the way you charm women in to bed with-"

"I wouldn't think of asking you to apologize your for normal biological urges, I'm certainly not going to apologize for mine," he said before downing the remainder of his drink. "Besides, if women didn't make relationships so tedious-"

"Hey, wait a minute," Melnick snapped, in a brief moment of clarity. "Who said women are the ones that make relationships tedious? Where's you evidence, counselor?"

"Two divorce decrees and more scowls than I can count when I go to Clancy's on Ladies night," he said smugly.

"Well, you only have yourself to blame, Jack. If you would just play by the rules and not lead these women to think you're actually going to give them as much attention as you do a case-"

"Oh, you're just as bad Danielle," he countered. "You yourself have turned away rooms full of eligible men because you put your career before your personal life."

"It's different for a woman," she said flatly.

McCoy rolled his eyes as he leaned over to refill their glasses. The pair spent the next several minutes heatedly debating Melnick's statement, until McCoy finally reached into the pocket inside his suit jacket and slammed a pad and pen on the bar.

"Fine," he said shortly. "Let's save humankind some confusion and outline the code of conduct for relationships between the sexes."

"A code of conduct," Melnick repeated as she rubbed her head. "We can't cover that in one evening."

"Then let's start with the basics," McCoy pressed. "You said something about stages, how many?"

"You're serious?"

"Completely. Not that I plan to delve into the world of marital hell again, but you seem to have kept hope alive all these years. It makes sense, if you want to have a better shot at making the next relationship last for you, to have a plan. In law school we outlined cases in specific stages...facts, holding, etc. Why not relationships?"

Melnick ran a hand though her hair as she considered her friends words. Her first reaction was one of disbelief and skepticism.

Create a relationship outline with a man who thought the word 'relationship' meant 'paring to share Chinese food and sex with in between court room preparation'? Not a good idea. Yet, as she looked at the face in front of her that was filled with the boyish charm that had won over so many colleagues from both sides of the aisle, Melnick found herself intrigued by the idea.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement, as she gave him a knowing grin and flipped open the pad.

"Let's start with something you understand – passion," Melnick said a McCoy grinned back in triumph.