Disclaimer: Don't and won't ever own.

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It had been weeks since Scotty had found that note. Y'know...that note. He had been keeping it in his coat pocket all the while, afraid to put it in his wallet—or anywhere else—because of a million little scenarios he was afraid might happen before he was ready to let them happen. (They mostly involved someone—Lilly or Vera—borrowing some cash from his wallet and the note conveniently "falling out.")

He regularly clutched it in his hand like a worry stone or stared at it while waiting in line at the post office. Valens still wasn't sure what he should do about it.

Scotty played every scene, every opportunity, over and over in his head. Always looking for the perfect moment to bring it up; putting it off day after day after day. But he knew he had all the time in the world to keep the note with him, consider it meaning—it's not like either of them were ever going to quit.

Scotty came into the office feeling warm under his winter coat for the first time in months. Lilly was sitting at her desk already, looking over a suspect's jacket. She glanced up at Scotty and smiled. "What are you wearing that for?" she asked, pointing to his coat.

Scotty shrugged instinctively, "It's cold out."

"Not really," Lilly said as Scotty noticed her short sleeves. "It's practically t-shirt weather."

"Isn't there supposed to be a transitional period between winter and summer? Like an entire season?" he joked, taking off his coat and feeling a weight lift off his shoulders instantly.

Lilly laughed, "Maybe not this year." Scotty hung his coat on the hanger and sat down. She continued, "But seriously, you might want to switch to something lighter. Don't want to get in the habit of lugging that thing around all summer, do you?"

Scotty froze up a little, "Nah, I guess I don't."

When it got too warm, he'd have to leave the coat at home, Scotty realized. Without the coat, he couldn't keep the note with him safely. Without the note, he couldn't think clearly about and work thought his (admittedly complicated) feelings for Lilly.

Valens ran his hands through his hair with a sigh: he had just been given a time limit.

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A/N: Gosh, it's hard to update this like I want to. I still love Cold Case, but it's difficult to keep up without constant inspiration. Special thanks to you, my reviewers: Wyaline, FloatingAmoeba, Rhonda Roo, fbi-woman, Ebony10, LME, lulubell6, Barbydancer, aeternus aenigma, and BananaXPancakes. Seriously, thank you. I would never ever upload new chapters if it weren't for y'all.

The countdown is on for Scotty, and I am going to try and make this a whole story with an ending and everything. Wish me luck.