"So you literally spend an entire evening just saying yes to everything?" Spencer clarified.
"Yes." Iris nodded. "Caveat: I reserve the right to say no if there is a reasonable chance saying yes could end in me dying. Or breaking the law." She bounced her head back and forth "Well... a big law." She grinned cheekily at him.
"It's great." She insisted. "I've... met people I never would have met, been places I never would have gone - I can tell you now that if you ever need to be stuck in an airport overnight, Detroit's the one to be in."
Spencer chuckled. Indian music played softly in the dimly lit restaurant. Candles lined the walls illuminating brightly colored murals of women performing traditional dances.
"You should try it." Iris reached for a piece of naan from the basket at the center of the table.
"This, I think," he motioned between them as he took a drink of water "this is impulsive enough. I still can't believe..." he trailed off.
"I'm not complaining." Iris shrugged, a knowing smile creeping across her face.
He cleared his throat. "Me neither, I just - " Spencer reached for the bread "It's so unlike me."
He took a bite, chewing in silence before a thought struck him.
"I was going to ask," he swallowed. "Where'd you go to grad school?"
"Maryland." She replied.
Spencer narrowed his eyes, staring at her thoughtfully, carefully scanning the catalogue in his memory of classes he'd lectured in.
"What?" She smiled suspiciously. He said nothing.
He disregarded the hair color. It was almost certainly different then. Without the glasses, he could get a better sense of her facial proportions.
"I remember you." He said at last.
"You do not." She challenged disbelievingly. "The lecture, okay, I'll buy. But there's no way you remember me."
"Your hair was darker." He said. "Brown. You wore it long, and, uh... curly."
Her eyes widened in amazement.
"I'm impressed." She admitted.
"You," he chuckled "you questioned the validity of the Occam's Razor approach to investigation. You postulated it prematurely narrowed a suspect pool and caused bias in the investigative process."
She blushed. "Yeah, that sounds right."
"It was a valid concern." He assured. "Chasing an assumption because it's simple can stall a case." He looked at her seriously. "It's the difference between a sadist and an identity thief."
She looked away, a mix of pride and embarrassment on her face.
"Thank you. For your help." He voice soft and sincere. "I mean that."
"Don't mention it." She said.
The waiter placed the check on the table, and both reached for it.
"Let me." Spencer insisted.
"You don't have to -" Iris began awkwardly.
"I don't have to what?"
"Look, you shouldn't feel obligated just because -" She fixed him with a pointed look. "It's 'no purchase necessary."
"I want to." He told her seriously, not taking his hand from the black case. His eyes met hers. "You won't die, and you won't break any laws, big or otherwise, by letting me pay."
He paused. Her resolve faltered.
"Say yes."
Reluctantly, she let go, waiting patiently as he settled up.
The street outside the restaurant glowed with the splendor of a city at night. Far from the hub, businesses still spilled their light through store fronts, or illuminated the sidewalks under their red or green neon signs.
"Thanks for dinner." Iris said as they walked back down the street toward her apartment.
"No, thank you." Spencer replied. "Maybe next time I could see you in daylight."
"Ooh," Iris sucked air through her teeth in exaggerated doubt. "Yeah, I don't know if daylight works for me. See, I'm a vampire."
"Really?" The doctor played along in mock surprise and disappointment. "See, because I'm a werewolf, so my free nights are limited."
Iris chuckled, looking down at the street.
"Yeah, okay." She said, a resignation in her voice. "Look... I've been here before... I just... I don't want you to feel like... I don't know, like you have to make something of it, you know?
Spencer wasn't sure he did know. He was silent as they rounded the corner into the alley.
"I mean... if it was just... one of those things..." she continued. "A one-time thing... You don't have to pretend. I'd understand."
They stopped at the door and she turned to face him. He looked down at her, contemplating her words and reading her demeanor.
"Do... do you want it to be a one-time thing?" He asked.
"Do you?" She countered.
"I don't want this to be the last time I see you." He said, slipping an arm around her waist.
"That's not the same thing." She replied, edging closer to him.
"Then, no" Spencer admitted. "I don't want it to be a one-time thing."
A sideways smile quirked up the corner of her mouth. She reached up, drawing his mouth to hers in a kiss that made his heart race.
"I'm not looking for anything serious." She warned, her own pulse quickening.
"Keep it uncomplicated." He agreed, only half in his right mind. He tightened his grip. Her arms laced around his shoulders.
"I have an idea." She purred. "Say yes."
