. . .

A single thought had cut into his sleep. It was like a first raindrop hitting a windowsill when rain is starting. Jo. Then there was more of these raindrops as his minds started to repeat the thought. Jo. Jo. Jo. Mac opened his eyes, totally awake in a second. It was still dark and quiet outside. He smiled as he looked at her, sleeping peacefully on the other side of his bed. He turned gingerly towards her, trying not to wake her up. She was lying in a strange position, partly curled, with her hands hugging a pillow. He started to study her sleeping form, trying not to grin like crazy. He was surprised by how tiny she looked, how little space she occupied in his bed. She was breathing quietly and he almost heard her steady heartbeat. Mac stretched his hand and touched her arm gently. Her skin was cool and he thought that maybe she was cold, so he pulled over her a blanket she was covered with, trying to keep her warm. He smiled at the though his favourite blanket from now would smell just like her, making it easier for him to sleep – technically alone, but with memory of her. Jo shifted a little in her sleep and with a sigh found more comfortable position, making the blanket slip from her shoulder. He smiled again, thinking that even when she was asleep she was still doing everything her way. A lace strap of her top slipped from her shoulder as well, revealing it to his eyes. He wondered what taste her skin would have at this point and what would she whisper if he pressed his lips to it and then kissed his way along her collarbone. Suddenly he felt his desire awaking and he started to want to get his hands on Jo's body and create a map of the places where she wanted them the most. He thought about his lips caressing every inch of her skin until her legs would wrap around him and her back arch, silently begging for more. He wondered if she would tighten her eyelids firmly or let him look into her eyes and admire how her pupils dilate when she would be losing herself. Would her fingers lace with his or maybe they would clench tight on the sheet or perhaps sink into his back, leaving stinging marks. Would she bite her lower lip to stay quiet or maybe he would have to catch her screams and lock them into a kiss, not allowing them to break into a dream of people sleeping behind the wall.

On the one hand, he wanted her to open her eyes and ask him to make love to her as he was imagining at the moment. On the other hand, the thought of her sleeping peacefully by his side was warming his heart. Her vulnerability was so moving. Her faith that she was secure when he was near her filled him with pride. She felt safe and comfortable, she wanted him to be close and it meant the world to him.

Almost like hearing his thoughts, Jo stirred a little and moved towards him. He placed his arm over her waist, absorbing her warmth and pulled her slightly closer. She snuggled to him, buried her head in the crook of his neck and sighed, her breath tickling his skin. Mac's last thought before he drifted to sleep was that it would be so much easier for him to sleep through every single night if he would have her in his arms.

. . .

It was already light outside when Mac woke up again. He glanced beside him and found Jo wasn't there. But she was still in his apartment, as he heard water running and some noise in the kitchen. Like a fork or spoon hitting a floor with a twang. Then he heard another kind of twang as Jo cursed quietly and he smiled. He caught a smell in the air. It was familiar, but yet at first he was unable to recognize it. Pancakes? He almost had forgotten how home made pancakes smell like. He got an idea of jumping out off a bed and saw her in action in the kitchen when he heard her steps behind bedroom's door. Jo opened them slightly, peeking inside and checking if he was already awaken. He glimpsed at her and closed his eyes. She was fully dressed. Well, if you consider her pyjama shorts and top as full outfit. He did his best not to smile at the thought, pretending to be still asleep. She was also wearing her shoes and her denim jacket and it made him curious what she was up to. She step closer, then hesitated a little. She studied his form for a few moments and then leaned over him and gently kissed the corner of his mouth. He thought he could get used to being woken up like that. But he instantly forgot this thought as she spooned and started to leave and he realized it wasn't actually her attempt of waking him up, it was her saying goodbye to him.

''Hey.'' He spoke and Jo turned to face him, surprised.

''Hey...'' She smiled. ''I'm sorry, did I wake you up?''

''No, you didn't.''

''Oh...'' He could swear her skin got some delicate pink flush as she understood what had just happened.

''You're leaving?'' He asked without beating around the bush.

''I was going to.'' She admitted.

''Why? You aren't hurrying for work, are you?'' He joked and she smiled.

''No, I'm not. Because of my boss I have two more days off.'' She joked back.

''Seem like a wonderful guy to me.'' Mac grinned.

''Not sure. Although this or he's a jerk.'' They looked at each other for a moment and then he spoke:

''OK, why are you running away?'' She was just going to deny, but she looked into his blue orbs and gave up. She sighed and said:

''I'm not quite sure what to do with all... this.''

''It's awkward, isn't it?''

''It totally is!'' He could hear relief in her voice when she realized he understood her.

''So... what we gonna do about it?'' He sat on his bed and reached his hand towards her. She approached, grabbed him by his hand and sat at the edge of the bed, next to him.

''I'm kinda scared it's all-or-nothing bet now.'' She admitted. ''I would like it to be like it used to be between us. But I guess it's not an option any more.''

''Because of what I said.'' He said with a hint of sadness in his voice. She caught it and shook her head:

''No, no. Not because of what you said. Because of how you feel. About me.'' She swallowed hard. ''And it isn't something that depends on you. You cannot control how you feel.''

He nodded slowly. She was talking only about his feelings. But where was she in all this?

''It is so complicated.'' She let go of his hand. ''I'm a single parent with two kids and with a burden of marriage that fall apart. You are my boss and from the professional point of view such relationship is completely wrong.''

He knew she was right. But for the first time in his life he was thinking that it didn't really matter. He had such position in NYPD that nobody would question his professionalism because of dating his second in command. And of course, there was still this concern about the rumour, but he wasn't that kind of guy who would be worrying about keeping up appearances. But he could understand that it might be a problem for Jo. He had to tell her something that could put all those worries aside, because if she would be keeping torment herself with them, she wouldn't even try to be with him.

''You're thinking too much, Jo.'' He smiled at her and put his hand over hers again. ''It's not like we're getting married or something. As I said last night, we can take it very slow, see if it's working or not. And if it will, we think about what to do next.''

''But... if it won't?'' She locked her gaze at their hands, not looking at him, too scared she hurt him with that question. ''There will be no coming back to what we had. And I don't want to lose your friendship.''

''But you won't.'' He assured her. ''We are grown ups, not teenagers. I am perfectly sure we can still be friends even if we fail at creating a relationship.''

She finally looked at him and smiled.

''OK.''

He pulled her closer and pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth, somehow mimicking what she had done earlier to him. He felt her lips curl into a smile. Then, as his lips traveled along her jaw and towards her neck, he felt her tightened her grip on his shoulder. He was just about getting to that spot he was fascinated by since last night, when his phone begun to ring.

''Damn it.'' He cursed between kisses and it was Jo who had to pulled apart, giving him scolding look. He sighed and picked up. ''Yeah?''

She stood up and he tried to catch her hand again, but she shook her head.

''I will make you some coffee.'' She whispered and left his bedroom.

He glimpsed over her bare legs and swaying hips, not paying as much attention to Don's statements about dead body found at the Penn Station as he should.

''I'll be there in less then half an hour.'' He said and hang up. He went to the kitchen and saw Jo standing on her toes, trying to reach a sugar bowl, that was placed on the highest shelf. Her jacket and top went up, revealing even more of her skin and her legs looked just delicious in that pose. He moved towards her, placed his hand on the small of her back and asked:

''Need some help with that?'' He grabbed the sugar bowl and handed it to her.

''Thanks. Why the heck is it so high anyway?''

''I don't sweeten.'' He shrugged his arms as she gave him his mug.

''But I do.'' She said and poured a full teaspoon of sugar into her coffee.

''So from now it will be here.'' He placed the sugar bowl on the middle shelf and turned to her. For a slight moment she had an odd expression on her face, like all kind of emotions mixed together. Then her gaze swiped his whole body and she smiled seeing him wearing long plaid pyjama pants and simple white t-shirt.

''What?'' He asked.

''I'm kinda disappointed.'' She took a sip of coffee and then added: ''I was pretty sure you wear a suit to sleep.'' She bite her thumb nail trying not to smile, although it was a very lame attempt.

''Very funny.'' He growled, but in fact he was amused – more by her sweet look than by her statement. ''I have to go to Penn Station. We have a dead body there. I thought maybe I can give you a ride to your place? It's the same direction.'' He offered.

''But you do realize that my car is parked in front of your apartment?''

''Yeah, I do. You can always come and pick it up later, right?''

She smiled when it became clear to her what he was doing. It was his way to make her come to his place once more.

''OK.'' She tossed a mug into a sink and asked: ''So get dressed and were going.''

He nodded and left the kitchen.

''I forgot to ask you one more thing.'' After a while his voice came from the bedroom.

''Yeah?''

''Ellie isn't worrying that you spent a night here?''

She chuckled. Now he's thinking about her! Brilliant!

''Nah. She's used to her mama being kidnapped by some men now and then.''

''Some men, huh?'' He showed up right behind her. She turned and gave him a smirk.

''She's at a camp in Virginia with her old friends. And she's having a blast. She probably doesn't even remember she has a mama.'' She smiled, imagining her daughter having so much fun. ''Still, she's better than Tyler. He has been travelling across Europe for four weeks now and so far I got only three massages from him.'' They went outside Mac's apartment and headed for an elevator. ''Two were about me paying off his credit card debts.'' She added and he laughed.

. . .

A/N So, I don't really know if I'm happy with this chapter. I guess it's a little too much fluff in there, but it was so hard not to put it. And forgive me if the first scene made you feel sick with sweetness :D But I had no heart to delete it. And sorry I got rid of Ellie just like that :D But she will be back... eventually.

I guess, you have already figured out that the idea is to show that those three little words are not the end but just a beginning. And even if they start at different points, they can always meet halfway.

All reviews appreciated as always!