The day finally over, Mindy packed up while she pondered what she'd buy from the grocery store to cook for dinner. Since Danny's discharge from hospital, she divided her time between work, his place and hers. Because Grace had asked to stay with her father for a few days, Mindy hadn't been sleeping over. Having the teenager around was an absolute pleasure, but it also meant that she and Danny had virtually no privacy. However, that aside, any time they spent together was precious and even though they hadn't shared more than a few stolen kisses over the past couple of days, Mindy wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

She was so happy, so completely in love with him and it was exhilarating to know he felt the same way. She saw it in his actions - the way he looked at her, the way he touched her, the way he cared about her. Danny was fiercely protective of those closest to him and it thrilled her to know that she could count herself amongst those who were lucky enough to be loved by him. And she did feel lucky, especially when she considered that such an extraordinarily generous and loving man was wholly and completely hers.

Mindy had also had a lot of time to think about everything Steve had said and to put what had happened to Danny into perspective. She wanted him and if certain danger was a part of the package, then she would learn to make peace with it. Certainly the alternative, letting him go, had never really been an option.

Removing her lab coat and draping it across the back of her chair, she'd just shut down her computer when she heard a knock on the door to her office. Glancing up, she was taken aback to see Rachel. Danny's ex hovered awkwardly at the entrance, a cautious smile on her face.

"Hi. Mind if I come in?"

Mindy didn't bother to hide her surprise. "Uh, sure."

"Could we sit?" Rachel asked, pointing to the chairs.

Reluctantly Mindy acquiesced, sinking into the seat on her side of the desk.

"I know you must be wondering what I'm doing here."

"The thought had crossed my mind." Mindy hadn't forgotten what had happened the last time they'd talked - she'd almost broken up with Danny.

Rachel smoothed a hand down the front of her blue blouse. "When we met before, I said some things…"

"You called Danny incapable of change and implied that I was a fool for dating him," Mindy stated bluntly. She didn't see any reason to skirt around the issue.

Rachel seemed startled by her candour. "Yes, well, something like that."

"What do you want, Rachel?" Mindy asked plainly. "Danny told me that he'd asked you to stay out of his personal life. I don't think he'd appreciate you showing up here."

"I know," the other woman admitted. "He was furious with me and rightfully so. I interfered and I had no right." She paused. "I wanted to apologise."

Mindy blinked, stunned.

Rachel smiled, ruefully. "I can see I've shocked you."

"I admit I was not expecting that."

Rachel looked down at her hands and Mindy was sure she detected an aura of regret surrounding the attractive brunette. "Grace and Charlie both speak of you with great fondness. Since you're a part of Danny's life, you're a part of our children's lives too. I know we won't ever be friends, but I wouldn't want us to be at odds either."

Mindy didn't quite know what to say. This was not at all what she'd expected. "Why say this to me at all? Why now?"

Rachel pushed her bangs back. "The things I said to you was out of line and I had no right. Before Danny found out about that, he was merely angry with me about Charlie, a thing I admit I thought we'd be able to work through. But after seeing him the other day…" Her words trailed off. "Let's just say that I was left with the impression that if he lost you because of me, it was gap we might never be able to breech."

Mindy knew all too well how painful their temporary separation had been for both her and Danny. She could well believe that he'd not been kind to Rachel when he'd berated her for interfering. "So this is your way of making amends?"

"I'm not naïve enough to think that it's enough. After all, you two are back together, without my help," she admitted, "but I realise that it's time I stopped punishing him." For the first time Rachel looked surprisingly vulnerable. "We made a go of things a lifetime ago and it didn't work out. I need to let him go so he can find his happiness elsewhere."

A horrible thought dawned upon her. "Are you still in love with him?"

Rachel balked. "Goodness, no. Is that what you thought all of this was about?"

"I wasn't sure," she confessed, mollified. "But the thought had occurred to me."

Rachel shook her head. "I loved him once, yes. Perhaps a part of me will always love him. But we're not a good fit. We never were. We were young when we got married and realised far too late that ultimately we wanted very different things from life. And because we were both too stubborn to admit defeat, we ended up hurting each other." Her eyes, so like Grace's, met Mindy's. "You were right. Danny's made a lot of mistakes, but so have I. I have no moral high ground to cling to."

"Maybe Danny's the one you should be saying these things to?" Mindy suggested, aware of how much resentment he carried around because of Rachel's betrayal.

She nodded. "I know and I will."

"He's a good man," Mindy asserted, needing to hear Rachel admit it. "And a wonderful father."

A flash of guilt flitted across the other woman's face. "I know that, too."

Satisfied, Mindy nodded. Rachel stood, then hesitated. "I'm aware that I have no right, but I was wondering if you would keep this conversation between us."

Mindy frowned. "I don't want to lie to Danny."

"I'm not asking you to," Rachel assured hastily. "I want to tell him myself, but when I initially suggested that I apologise to you, he warned me not to. He was pretty upset."

Mindy didn't know why she felt sorry for the woman. Maybe it was because despite having attained the kind of life she apparently wanted – one of wealth, luxury and comfort – Rachel still didn't seem particularly happy. "I can't make you any promises, Rachel, my loyalty lies with Danny. If he asks me outright about you, I won't lie. But," she conceded, "I won't go out of my way to mention it either."

Rachel looked relieved. "Thank you." She stepped towards the door and Mindy rose to follow her. "I'm sure I'll see you around."

Mindy smiled. "Yeah."

Clutching her purse against her chest, Rachel departed a few seconds before Steve arrived.

"Was that Rachel?" he asked, surprised.

Mindy nodded, heading back into the office. "She stopped by to apologise."

"Whoa. I take it Danny doesn't know?"

Mindy shook her head. "And she asked me not to tell him. She knows he'll be upset that she interfered. Again."

Steve whistled. "Upset is possibly putting it mildly."

"Exactly," Mindy agreed, gesturing to the interior of the morgue. "Dr Bergman's in the next room. He's waiting for you."

"Thanks. You seeing Danny?" he asked with a knowing smile, watching her while she resumed packing.

She grinned. "I am. I just need to stop off at the grocery store and then run home to change."

"I'm glad you guys worked things out," he said sincerely.

"So am I." She touched his arm. "Thank you, again, for everything."

He shook his head. "There's no need. I merely hastened the inevitable."

Steve was right. It might have taken her longer to figure things out, but she'd have gotten there eventually. She was glad not to have wasted any more time though.

"I saw him earlier, by the way," Steve continued, interrupting her musings. "Poor guy's desperate for company."

"I know," she acknowledged. "He's had enough of prowling around the house and channel surfing."

Steve laughed. "Don't tell him I told you this, but I'm pretty sure he was on the verge of begging Kono and Lou to stay."

An idea struck. "Why don't you guys come over for a barbecue this weekend? I know Danny would love to catch up with everyone and I think it would help make him feel a little less isolated. He's still got a few days before he's allowed back at the office."

Steve gazed at her thoughtfully. "Yeah, that would be great. Want me to spread the word?"

"I'd appreciate it," she said gratefully.

"Alright. Tell Danny we'll see him tomorrow." Steve stepped forward and gave her an affectionate side hug before heading into the next room.

Smiling to herself, Mindy was about to close her purse when her mobile rang. "Hi Mom."

"Hello sweetheart. I'm sorry to disturb you at work," came the soft voice from the other end.

"Don't be silly. You could never disturb me."

She could almost see her mother beaming with pleasure. "Since you didn't make it to dinner last week, I wondered if you'd like to come tomorrow night? You can bring your new beau along."

Mindy shouldn't have been surprised by the invitation. She'd admitted to her sister that she was seeing someone and Aly had obviously shared that information with their mother. "I don't know, Mom. I mean I'd love to come, but I'm not sure if Danny's available. He might have his kids."

"Then bring them along," her mother insisted casually. "Your sister said that they're thirteen and four? I'd love to meet them. The more the merrier."

Mindy smiled. Her mother had been hinting at grandchildren for a couple of years now. She'd stopped being subtle about it. "Alright, I'll ask him. Thank you."

"Good," her mother replied, sounding pleased. "I look forward to seeing all of you. I love you, honey."

"Love you too, Mom."

Ending the call, Mindy grabbed her belongings and left the morgue, all the while wondering how she'd broach the subject with Danny. Meeting her family seemed like the next logical step in their relationship and she could only hope he felt the same.


Danny sighed as he flipped from one channel to the next, bored out of his mind. He'd been home for only a couple of days, and already the idleness was killing him. There was only so TV he could watch before his brain felt as though it was deteriorating. It wasn't so much the time off work that he found taxing, but rather the lack of mobility. Grace had asked her mom if she could stay with him after he was released from the hospital and surprisingly, Rachel had agreed. So for the past four days he'd had his teenage daughter for company when she wasn't at school, with his son popping around in the afternoons. Having Grace with him also meant that Mindy didn't stay over. She still came by every day after work and helped him with dinner, but always left soon after Grace went to bed. He'd admit it was frustrating. After all, it's not like he could ravish her with his kid sleeping a few doors down. However, with a planned sleepover at a friend's place, Grace had left for school that morning with all her belongings, promising that she'd visit again over the weekend.

Then, if his boredom wasn't enough to contend with, Danny's mother had also been driving him crazy. She kept threatening to visit him because she was convinced her needed some extra care. He hadn't told her about Mindy yet, mainly because that would definitely get her on a plane faster, but also because he wanted to ease the woman he loved into the idea of meeting his family.

He was pondering the possibilities of making that happen when he heard the front door opened. When Mindy stepped inside, a smile automatically spread across his face.

"Hey," she called, spotting him on the couch, her arms laden with grocery bags.

"Hey. What's all that?" he asked, eyeing the bounty she placed on the kitchen counter.

She flopped down beside him and leaned up to kiss him, her lips soft and pliant beneath his. He loved these moments between them, the quiet domesticity, the ease of affection. "That," she said, "is the start of dinner. But first, tell me what you've been doing all day?"

"Other than dodging my mother's calls, nothing particularly noteworthy," he replied wryly, wrapping an arm around her.

"Why are you dodging your mother's calls?" Mindy enquired, relaxing against his shoulder.

"I have a feeling wants to visit."

"And that's a problem because…?"

He pulled a face. "It's not a problem, exactly. I mean, she comes down every so often to see the kids and ever since she found out I'd been shot, she's been calling and threatening to come and take care of me."

"You don't need to look so horrified," she laughed. "Sounds like a pretty motherly thing to do."

"You do not know my mother, okay? I love her, but she's nuts. Do you know she once made me pretend to be my father just so she could get cruise tickets?"

Mindy looked impressed. "She's clearly a woman who knows how to get what she wants."

Danny snorted. "The entire experience scarred me for life."

Mindy rolled her eyes. "Is this why you don't want her to visit? Because she might employ your services as a stand-in husband for a second time?"

"God, don't ever say that again." He shuddered. "And no, that's, uh, not the reason."

"Then what is?"

He took a deep breath, feeling surprisingly nervous. "Well, I, uh, had an idea. I have some vacation days coming up and since my dad doesn't really like travelling as much anymore, I wondered if maybe you'd wanna come with me to Jersey to meet them?"

She sat up, her eyes widening. "You want me to meet your parents?"

He shrugged self-consciously, his heart beating a little faster. "Yeah, I mean only if you want to."

"Yes," she replied instantly, then flushed. "I mean, yes, I would love to."

His face split into a wide grin, pleased by her enthusiasm. "Really?"

She nodded, then bit her lip. "Actually, I have a similar request." At his raised brow, she elaborated, "My mom asked me to bring you and the kids to dinner tomorrow night. Aly will be there, too." She looked at him hopefully. "Think you'll be up for it?"

She wanted him and his children to meet her family. He wanted her to meet his family. Clearly they were on the same page. "Yes. Most definitely." He grinned sheepishly. "Well, if you don't think me hobbling in would make a bad first impression."

Her smile was radiant. "Not at all."

"So, we're, uh, really going to do this? Meet the parents?" It was an obvious step forward in their relationship. More than merely declaring their feelings, it implied permanence, integration into one another's lives beyond their current social and familial circles. The thought excited him.

She wound her arms around his neck. "Well, I'd say it's about time, wouldn't you?"

He nodded, his arms settling around her waist. "You're a very important part of my life and, uh, I want my family to know you."

"Are we—" She paused and he could almost see her mind working.

He frowned. "What's wrong?"

She licked her lips, her gaze focused on his throat. "Well, if we're going to meet the parents, that means something, right?"

He tilted her chin upward until their eyes met. "Mindy, I don't want to be with anyone else. I know initially we said no commitment until we knew where this was going. I'm saying that I know where I want this to go and I am committed. To you. To us. To this."

Visibly touched, she blinked rapidly against the tears he could see forming. "Me too."

Relief washed over him. "Good." They stared at one another. "Though I should probably warn you, my mother's a lot to h—"

Mindy placed a finger across his lips. "It'll be fine. Stop worrying."

He sighed. "It's what I do, remember? My own daughter calls me paranoid."

"You are paranoid," she teased. "But it's kinda endearing."

He grinned like a fool. "Ah, well then, that makes up for the uneventful day I've had."

She eyed him sympathetically. "I know you're bored, but in another couple of days you can return to light duty."

"I don't mind being home," he explained. "I mind being home and not being able to do anything."

She wrinkled her nose. "Steve mentioned that he popped by to see you?"

"Yeah. He checked in and gave me some updates on the case. Kono, Chin and Lou were here too."

"See?" she said, settling back against his shoulder. "You had company."

"Not enough. I had to stop myself from begging them to stay longer."

Mindy's lips twitched as though she knew something that he didn't. "What you need is a hobby."

Danny looked down at her, brow raised. "You are not going to convince me to join some social club."

"Social club?" she laughed. "What are you talking about?"

"I know that look, okay?"

"What look?" she demanded, amused.

He gazed at her knowingly. "The look that made me take up surfing and then got me into a pool with dolphins."

"Dolphin," she corrected. "Singular. And you loved both experiences."

"That is completely beside the point," he argued, enjoying their light-hearted banter.

"That is the entire point. I shudder to think what your idea of fun is," she teased. "Thank God you met me."

"I do. All the time," he replied softly. She went still, her amusement vanishing instantly, replaced by something deeper, more meaningful. Danny cleared his throat, glancing away. Suddenly the air between them sizzled. "Uh, by the way, that looks like a lot of food for only two people."

She swallowed. "Three. Where's Grace?" she asked, glancing past him and down the hall.

"She left this morning."

Mindy's eyes snapped to his. "Left?"

He nodded. "She's got a sleepover at a friend's."

"She's not coming back tonight?" she asked, a little breathlessly.

"No," he confirmed, heat flooding through his body at the blatant hunger written all over her face.

Her eyes darkened. "So…does this mean we can have our own sleepover?"

Danny's mouth went dry at the suggestive tone in her voice. "I am, uh, completely amenable to that suggestion."

"Good answer."

Shifting, she straddled his hips, careful not to disturb his injured leg propped onto the coffee table. Glancing down, he noted that her denim shift had ridden up to reveal a tantalising glimpse of her creamy thighs. With a smile that made his stomach do back flips, she leaned down to kiss him and to Danny, it felt like coming home. His hands cupped her cheeks so he could tilt her chin ever so slightly in order to deepen the kiss, his tongue entwining with hers. Her mouth opened to him, giving as much as she took. Her enthusiasm was a heady aphrodisiac, his own desire rapidly escalating. Hands everywhere, their mouths separated for only the few seconds it took for her to tug his sweater up and over his head. His chest bare, she ran her fingertips from his shoulders to his belly and back again. When he moaned, she tore her lips from his and dipped her head beneath his chin, her mouth leaving a trail of wet kisses along his neck and collarbone.

Desperate to touch her too, Danny's hands went to work on the buttons holding her dress together. His fingers felt clumsy and uncooperative as they fumbled, his breath catching in his throat when he finally parted the fabric.

"Jesus," he breathed, in awe. Her bra was a black lacy creation, the half cups barely keeping their precious cargo confined. Full and round, her breasts practically spilled into his waiting hands.

"You like?" she panted.

"I love."

Moulding his hands to each lush mound, he squeezed gently, encouraged by her throaty moans. The lace felt soft against his palms, her pink, pebbled nipples pushing against their delicate confines. Blood roared in his ears, his pulse thundering through his veins as he raked his thumbs across their surface, watching as she gasped with pleasure. Unable to resist, he bent his head, his mouth closing around one turgid tip straight through the lace of her bra.

She bucked against him, her hips slamming against his rampant erection. Danny groaned at the exquisite friction, sensation rocketing through his body. Her hands slipped into the back of his hair, kneading his scalp as she held his head against her. Wanting more, he pushed her dress off her shoulders before he unhooked her bra, dragging it down her arms. Greedily, his mouth went back to work, alternating between teasing her nipples with delicate flicks of his tongue and deep, drugging suckles.

She cried out, her body bowing towards his in wordless encouragement. Undoing the remainder of the buttons holding her dress together, he pushed it aside, his eyes roving lovingly across her naked body. She was perfect. Her breasts were pert and rose-tipped, a touch swollen from his amorous attentions. Her stomach was taunt and flat, her waist dipping inward slightly before gently flaring into her hips - which at present was covered by the scantiest, sexiest pair of black lace panties he'd ever seen.

Danny was sure his knees would have buckled if he'd been standing. Drunk with desire, he watched as she rose unsteadily to her feet. His eyes locked with hers, mesmerised by the haze of love and longing that flickered from their deep depths. Reaching up, she pulled the pins from her hair, shaking her head to allow the heavy curtain to tumble down her back. Standing before him in nothing but the alluring scrap of lace that served as panties, she was the most beautiful, most sensual woman he'd ever seen. And she was all his, he thought with a possessive pang.

His heart slammed against his ribs when she hooked her thumbs into the sides of her panties, dragging it slowly down her thighs. Naked before him, she was a veritable goddess. Flushing under the intensity of his scrutiny, her gaze flickered to his shorts before raising a seductive brow in question. Danny grinned, using his good leg to lever himself up so he could push his shorts and briefs down in one go. Mindy helped him, tugging it down his legs and out from under his boot. Dropping it to the floor, she climbed back into his lap, pressing her body fully against his. The feeling was electrifying, desire slamming through him with such a force it would have knocked him backward had he not already been sitting down. With his hands bracketing her hips, their mouths met in a deep, passionate kiss that liquefied his bones. Thinking became impossible as awareness took over: the brush of her naked skin against his, the sensation of her tongue thrusting in concert with his, the sounds of her pleasure-filled gasps as his hands raked over her body.

Reaching down, she grasped his straining erection and positioned him at her entrance, taking him deep with a slow, long slide. He tensed, the pleasure almost blinding. She was so hot, so wet, so tight around him. Buried to the hilt, his hands tightened at her waist, encouraging her to move. Following his lead, she rolled her hips forward and Danny's brain melted completely, his eyes closing in ecstasy. Allowing her to control their pace, he watched her rise and fall above him, finding the rhythm that pleased her. Their harsh breathing echoed around the room, each of them muttering incoherent words of love and adoration as they strove towards completion. Reaching between their bodies, Danny pressed his thumb to the nub hidden at the cleft of her thighs, watching intently as she came apart in his arms. The onset of her orgasm triggered his, wave after wave of pleasure washing over him until he couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't speak, save for the unintelligible groans of satisfaction that issued from his throat.

Afterward they stayed like that for a long while, a tangle of sated limbs.

Eventually he drew back to look at her. "Wow."

Her face was flushed with pleasure, her eyes soft and slightly out of focus. It gave him a thrill of masculine pride to know he'd done that to her. "Does that qualify as make-up sex?"

Danny smiled lazily. "I don't know. But, uh, feel free to do that again, anytime."

She kissed him, softly, chastely. "I love you."

Tenderness washed over him as he pushed her hair back from her face. "I love you, too."

She snuggled against him, her naked body draped across his chest. Danny couldn't remember ever feeling more contented.

"Danny?"

"Hmm?" he murmured, trailing a hand idly down her back.

"About you being shot…"

His heart lurched. "Yeah?"

She stirred, but didn't raise her head. "I hope it never happens again." He held his breath. "But if it did, I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. Not unless you want me to."

Seized with emotion, Danny hugged her tighter. "Believe me, I don't want you to."

He didn't know what he'd done to deserve her, but he wasn't going to question his good fortune. They were going to be okay. He could feel it in his bones.

"I'm hungry," Mindy said at last.

He chuckled. "Then I guess we should feed you."

He felt her smile against his shoulder. "Shower first. Food second."

"I'll be happy to help with both."

Mindy laughed, reaching for his sweater and shrugging into it before eyeing him, an appreciative gleam in her eyes. "I'm sure you can manage to get to the bathroom without any clothes on?"

He watched her, amused. "Considering you're wearing half of what I was an hour ago, I don't think I have much of a choice." He gaze lowered to her discarded lingerie on the floor. "And, uh, I don't think I'd look as good as you in black lace."

A flush of pink stained her cheeks as she bent to retrieve their rejected clothing. "Flatterer."

"You know what I'm getting you for every birthday and special occasion from here on out, right?"

Her lips twitched. "Oh, so my gifts end up benefiting you?"

His eyes travelled slowly down the length of her frame, watching as heat crept up her neck and into her face. "Well, it would benefit you too. I mean, it's gotta come off and I'd, uh, be happy to help with that."

"How generous of you," she quipped, throwing a pillow at him playfully.

He shrugged. "Hey, I'm a guy who's willing to do the hard work."

"Yeah, I'd bet."

Laughing together, she extended a hand towards him. "Come on, Boy Scout, let's get you to the bathroom."