Jessie sighed softly as she looked through the old photo album at the few shots she had of Mary. Her fingers glided gently over the glossy memories. Those first few days when the little girl was so very shy around her at first, but would open up at the first sign of fun and games. She smiled as her fingers found her favourite picture. Jessie had snapped this photo at the perfect moment, managing to catch both Mary and her mother in a moment of pure bliss.

She remembered that day so well. Susan had managed to get out of her receptionist job a little early and had come with Jessie and Mary to the park. It had been a gorgeous May day, the sun was shining merrily away and there hadn't been a single wisp of cloud as far as the eye could see. Jessie couldn't recall what had possessed her to bring a camera on this outing, but she had been very glad she had. As soon as they had gotten to the park, Mary had wanted to play helicopter, wanting Jessie to swing her about by her arms so that it felt as though she were flying.

Susan had looked down at Mary for a moment with such love in her heart, it nearly melted Jessie's, before picking up her little girl and flinging her up in the air. Mary had shrieked loudly as she came rushing down, landing safely in her mother's arms. Susan called it playing angels, saying that if Mary flew high enough, the angels might see her and wave hello. Jessie felt a soft smile tugging at her lips as she remembered Mary's laughter that day. She had pulled the digital camera out of her pocket and snapped the perfect picture. Mary had just landed in Susan's outstretched arms, her arms flung out like wings, eyes closed in happiness while her lips curled into a smile so big you thought it would split her face as her hair flew about her in the breeze, creating a golden halo around her.

Susan was smiling too, but in a way that Jessie never saw other than with her daughter. It was a smile of pure bliss and happiness, like nothing in the world could go wrong. Susan's dirty blonde hair flew about her in a tiny breath of wind that had cropped up and her green eyes sparkled in the springtime sun. Jessie smiled, pulling the photo out of its place in her album, studying the joy in these two faces, brought on by simply being together.

'I'll make a painting of this.' Jessie thought, looking at the picture quietly. 'It was such a perfect moment... one of the last perfect moments.' One month later, CPS had come. Jessie couldn't help but remember the look of heartbreaking sadness that had crossed the faces of both mother and child that day. All those years of waiting, working to get that little girl back. Eventually Susan had caved to the grief and gone back to heroin. Jessie couldn't really blame her. As angry as she had been at Susan for doing it, she knew the likelihood of getting Mary back had been little more than bupkiss. Jessie remembered getting that tiny bag of personal effects. There was very little that she had kept from her old life with Mary... except this photo. Jessie had given her a copy of it once the film had been developed. According to the ME on the case, Susan had died with it in her hands, maybe even was looking at it as she took her last breaths.

Jessie ran her fingers along its glossy visage, remembering everything that had made up her time with Mary and Susan. But now was no longer the time to wallow in the past. Jessie shut the album and put it away before going and setting the photo on her desk. She would scan it into her computer and grid it out later. It had been a while since she had painted something simply for the heck of it. Who knew, she might actually enjoy it.

A knock at the door suddenly pulled Jessie out of her reverie. She padded quietly down the hall, pausing only to check her reflection in a mirror that hung in her foyer. Her blond hair looked carelessly windblown, the kind of look that took an hour and a half to create, while her make-up would have Don guessing for hours at how long she had spent in the bathroom. Truth be told, the make-up had only taken ten minutes. Foundation, powder and lip gloss, simplicity itself. She had layered a dusty brown T-shirt over a chocolate brown long-sleeved shirt once she had realized how chilly the day was. It had ended up working in her favour, she thought, making her appear pretty and casual. Once she had passed her own rigorous inspection, she turned to open the door, smiling lightly at the small glimmer her earrings made as the small blue disks caught the light.

She opened the door to what she could only ever describe as the yummiest thing she had seen in a long time. Don was dressed in a pair of old grey jeans, a white T-shirt, and a black denim jacket with fleece on the inside. He looked incredibly sexy from his black running shoes up to his perfectly messy hair and Jessie made her opinion no secret as she gave the detective a once over with her eyes.

Don in the meantime was equally impressed, and maybe a little shocked. "You're wearing a skirt?" he asked, as though it were the strangest thing in the world. In his defence, he was trying to take his mind off how great she looked.

Jessie arched an amused brow. "You say that like I never wear them." She said, grinning as she did a little twirl. The suede skirt billowed up a little with the motion as the tie from her brown cotton belt flew up from her waist. He watched the skirt move with her and grinned.

"You've never worn them around me."

Jessie shrugged. "I'm usually coming out of a shift at the theatre or I'm riding my Ninja when I see you. Neither of those activities is exactly conducive to wearing skirts." She smiled, holding up a hand for him to wait. "Just let me grab some shoes and a coat and we're out of here." She said, disappearing behind the door for a moment. Don took the moment to think over this woman he had met. She was everything he liked in a woman in terms of appearance, but was so far out of his norm personality-wise, it was a little shocking to him that he was really all that interested. Maybe that was why he liked her. His last few relationships had ended in either him not being able to stand the girls any longer, with their airheaded ways or their shallow attitudes; or they left him for someone with a more regular work schedule. Jessie on the other hand, she worked crazy hours like him, and she loved it just as much as he did. She understood what it meant to be called in on what was supposed to be a day off and didn't mind. Jessie might have been one of the few people outside of the NYPD who could truly understand what his job demanded from him.

Don's train of thought was broken when Jessie returned, having slipped into a pair of brown flats and a long brown coat trimmed in fake white fur. He frowned when he noticed she was also carrying a beaded brown purse slung over her shoulder. "You aren't going to need that."

Jessie sighed and turned to him, one hand still on the doorknob she had been about to lock. "As much as I think you are a true gentleman for offering to pay for this date, I insist on going Dutch for the first one. I'd feel like I was taking advantage of you if I didn't."

Don shook his head. "You won't be. You also won't be paying for this. I asked you out, I fork over the dough. Besides, I still owe you for watching Justine, remember?"

Jessie was silent for a moment, studying his face before sighing again, this time in resignation. "You aren't going to give this up are you?" she asked, receiving a firm headshake in return. She rolled her eyes. "Fine, but I'm still taking the bag. I need something to carry my keys in." With that she locked her door behind her before turning to face him.

Don chuckled quietly before offering his arm. She arched an eyebrow at him as though to ask if he was serious. That look only caused him to laugh even louder, but he didn't take back his arm, eventually feeling Jessie slip her hand through it. He grinned, silently thanking his mother for that little bit of amusement.

Jessie smiled softly at the man who led her to his car. He was quite the gentleman. 'Wonder how many hours his mother worked to get that drilled into him.' She thought dryly to herself, though she wasn't about to say she didn't appreciate the results. "Where are we headed tonight?" she asked, breaking the silence that had formed between them.

"You ever been to Il Mulino?" he asked. At her negative response he laughed. "I'm not surprised. It doesn't look like much from the front, but they have some of the best Italian food there, outside of Mrs. Messer's kitchen that is." Don smiled softly. "Danny's mom was a great cook when she was alive. Honestly, her Tortoni was something I would have killed for."

Jessie smiled a bit. "I'll have to ask Danny for the recipe. I'm always looking for a good sugar rush for my actors. And who knows, I might be able to resurrect an old favourite for Danny. God knows he can't cook."

Don laughed at this. "He's not so bad; he can make a few things. He wouldn't be a bachelor in New York if he couldn't. But you're right; he can't do it like Mama Messer did." He shrugged. "I don't think he's even looked at that recipe book much since she died. At first it brought back all those memories of the two of them baking in her kitchen when he was a kid. Now... I think he just for got about it."

Jessie nodded. "Well, maybe I can make him remember." As they stepped out onto the street and glanced up at the sky. Dark rainclouds threatened to spill their burdens in great torrents. She winced up at them as she got into Don's SUV. "I don't like the look of those clouds." She said, as Don got into the driver's seat.

Don shrugged. "A little rain never hurt anyone." He said as he started the car. The radio flared to life, beginning with Linkin Park's 'One Step Closer.'

"Oh, I love this song." Jessie commented, reaching over and turning up the volume slightly as Don pulled into traffic. "And Don, have you looked at those clouds? That's more than a little rain." She glanced out the window and up at the sky, watching as it slowly darkened from cloud and the onset of night. "Five bucks says it starts pouring before this night is up."

Don grinned. "You're on."

Jessie smiled smugly; sure she was going to make a quick five bucks tonight. You don't live in rainy Vancouver for most of your life and not learn which clouds are about to dump down over you. "How was your day?" she asked, turning back to look at him.

Don shrugged. He knew what her other question was, the one she hadn't said aloud. The Bosworth case had really been his main focus lately, but he couldn't really talk about it with Jessie. She knew the victim, protocol dictated, very strictly to, that she be kept in the dark until the trial. "The usual, got up late, went to play hoops with Danny for most of the afternoon. How was yours?"

Jessie smiled, figuring that he wouldn't be talking about Mary's case with her. She understood and wasn't about to push. "It was alright. I did some work for the show, went for a run up to Madison Square Park. Then I came home and started to look through my old photo albums. I'm thinking of starting another painting soon enough. I found one of my favourite photos of Mary and Susan and I think I'm going to grid that one up and make a painting of it. I'm just thinking of how I'm going make it look."

Don smiled, glancing over at Jessie before returning his eyes to the road. "You'll think of something. And if it's anything like the one you did in college it'll look fine." His smile faded a bit as he asked. "When's the funeral?"

"Next week." Jessie replied softly. "Hawkes was good enough to make Mary a priority so that the arrangements could be completed all the quicker."

Don stopped at a red light before turning to face Jessie, taking in her sad eyes. "You going to be ok Jess?"

She looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah. I mean, it's going to take a while to completely get over it and I'm probably up for another breakdown at the funeral, but I'll be fine."

Don studied her a moment longer before taking her hand as he quietly turned back to the road. He heard her take a slow breath and gave her hand a light squeeze of comfort. He received a soft squeeze in thanks and smiled lightly. At least she was willing to admit she wasn't really over it.

They spent the rest of the drive chatting about everything under the sun. How Don had tortured his sisters growing up, how Jessie had been tortured and how she had retaliated. They both shared laughs over the pranks they had both pulled as kids and adults. They discussed music, TV, movies, hobbies, anything that happened to catch their interest as Don wound his way through the city. Eventually he pulled up to the curb and shut off the engine, both of them hopping out and stretching their legs before Don once more took Jessie's arm and led her down the street to an unremarkable, grey curtained store front. Jessie once more arched a brow at him, causing him to give her that annoyingly attractive knowing smirk. As he opened the door, Jessie felt her eyebrows shoot up into her hairline and her mouth open slightly in surprise. The interior was very refined, the light color on the walls complimented by the white table clothes and light hearted artwork. It was all grounded by the contrasting dark woods in the chairs, the bar and the rich red tile on the floor. Jessie turned to Don. "I must admit, I am impressed."

Don grinned quietly at her. "Oh, before I forget, they have a tendency to..."

Don was interrupted by a tuxedo-clad waiter approaching them, greeting the pair with a rush of Italian. The man spoke so fast Don couldn't keep up, having only learned a few phrases here and there from Danny over the years he knew him. Imagine Don's surprise when Jessie held up her hand, silencing the man, before replying, a bit sharply, to him in Italian. The waiter, thoroughly chastised, nodded meekly before picking up two menus and turning to Don asked. "You have a reservation."

Don nodded. "Party of two, under Flack."

The waiter took a moment to glance over the reservation list before nodding. "If you will follow me please." He replied, leading them to a table near the middle of the slightly crowded restaurant. He took their coats and politely pulled out Jessie's chair before laying a menu before them and asking if they wished for anything to drink.

Don looked at Jessie. "Do you have a wine preference?" he asked.

Jessie shrugged. "I'll drink any wine, but I prefer red to be perfectly honest."

Don nodded before ordering them a bottle of red wine. It amused Jessie to realize that this big, strong, cop had a bit of a Victorian streak to him. Ordering for her, insisting on paying, helping her into the car. She grinned a bit, happy that she was slowly discovering the man that was Don Flack. He turned back to her with a half-smile on his face. "How do you know Italian?"

Jessie shrugged. "When I toured with Cirque, we went through Italy for a bit. I found out about that leg before I signed on and decided it would be a good time to learn a language I've always wanted to learn. It's come in very handy in a few cases." She set her elbows on the edge of the table, resting her hands as she leaned in to speak with him. "Why did you pick here to come for dinner? It seems a little expensive for a movie date."

"What, I can't spoil a girl now?" Don smirked at her, receiving a matching one in return. "I've wanted to come back here for a while now, but it's not exactly the kind of place you go if you're on your own. I haven't been here in about a year now; I was due to come back."

Jessie frowned slightly in thought. "Why so long since you've last been here?"

"Last time I came here was with my ex-girlfriend Christine. We split up pretty soon after that. She couldn't take the kind of hours my job entails." Don looked about the restaurant as he spoke. "After that, I just didn't feel like coming back here for a while. After I got over that, I just never had anyone I felt like taking." He shrugged. "I haven't dated much since her. I guess I lost interest for a while."

Jessie nodded, sitting back in her chair as two waiters brought their wine as well as some garlic bread, Bruscetta, and a large chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. "I know that feeling." She replied after the two had left them. "My last boyfriend, Sean. He and I had a lot of fun together, but we eventually just got too busy to see each other. After grad he went off to Simon Frasier and I went off to my Stagecraft program. It was an amiable break-up. I've been single ever since."

"Seriously, since your first year in college?" Don looked a little incredulous.

Jessie nodded. "I've just been way too busy with touring and running shows here as well as all the corporate events I get roped into to really even think about dating at this point. That and it was easy. I could come and go as I pleased. There was no one who might be wondering when I'd be getting home, no one to protest if I took any gigs that might have me touring for huge amounts of time." She shrugged. "It worked with my life. I'll admit, I did get a bit lonely at times, but that was the price I had to pay to live this kind of life and have this job."

Don took a piece of Bruscetta, popping it in his mouth before asking, "What made you want to do that kind of thing anyway?"

"I've always been interested in theatre." Jessie replied, taking a sip of her wine. "I just realized very early on that there was more work being a technician than there was being an actor."

"Is that the only reason?"

"No, but it is the main one." Jessie broke off a piece of cheese as she spoke. "I also really loved working with my hands. I enjoyed putting up the sets, making the costumes, running lights. I preferred it." She popped the cheese into her mouth and shrugged. "I mean, sure, I'd like a little more recognition for the amount of effort I put into a show, I hate the paper work I have to do, but other than that, I love being a tech. It's so much fun when you're working with the right people." Jessie eyed him slightly. "Alright, you've had your turn at twenty questions, now it's my turn. Why did you want to be a cop?"

Don shrugged. "Partly family tradition I guess. My dad, my grandfather, my great-grandfather and so on have all been cops at some point in their lives. It was sort of the unspoken expectation. But mostly... I like the idea that I'm getting justice for the families of the victims. I like the idea that somehow, what I'm doing is making a difference in their lives, helping them find some kind of peace." Don looked Jessie in the eye, taking in her glowing silver irises. "And then there are victims like Mary. I like to think that I'm somehow making some kind of a difference in the world by helping put the guys that do things like that in prison, like I'm somehow making the world that much safer for kids like her to live in."

Jessie smiled softly before reaching across the table to clasp his hand in hers. "You do make a difference Don." She murmured. "It may not always seem like much to you, but trust me, it means the world to the people you help."

Don smiled softly in thanks. It was weird how Jessie sometimes seemed to be able to read his mind, knowing when he started to doubt himself and his job. She always seemed to know what he needed to hear right at those moments. "So," he said, pulling the two of them off of the serious path of conversation. "What do you think of the Rangers this year?"

Jessie snorted in derision. "Please, you guys are dead in the water; it's going to be my Flames that take the cup this year."

The rest of their dinner passed far too quickly for their liking. The couple seemed to be able to talk about everything from the sports they played to the weirdest crime scenes he'd ever been to. She talked about her shows, recommending a few for him to attend with his sister if he got the chance. They chatted endlessly over their food, always seeming to find something else to talk about whenever a subject had gone dry. But even the silences were different than Don was used to... they were comfortable. It felt to him as though he didn't have to talk to have a good time with her. As the evening wound down, they both agreed to forgo the desserts here for the sugar buzz they would get later.

When the cheque came, Jessie couldn't believe her eyes. That thing disappeared into Don's hand faster then she could blink. Giving him a wry grin she just shook her head at it, not saying a word, knowing it would only cause another argument like the one they'd had over hockey teams. They had gotten more than a few irate glances during that one. Rising from her seat she even allowed Don to help her into her coat once the waiter had returned with them. They continued chatting until they exited the restaurant.

It was DUMPING rain. It almost looked like a wall of water had formed outside the awning they stood beneath. The streets were getting very flooded, very quickly. Jessie looked over at Don, a smug grin on her face. "Looks like someone owes me five bucks." She said. "But I'll settle for coffee and a sugar buzz."

Don shook his head. "How did you know? There are clouds like that hanging over this city all the time and they never rain like this."

Jessie grinned. "When you've lived in a city as wet as Vancouver for the majority of your life, you become pretty in tune with the feel of certain clouds. Some will only spit at you, some will hit you with a light rain, and some," she indicated the sky above with her hands. "will try and drown you if you stand around too long." She glanced about a bit, belting up her coat as she did. "Now, I don't know about you Don, but personally, I really don't feel like going to a movie theatre in this. Chances are, by the time the movie's done, the streets will all be too flooded for either of us to get home."

Don frowned a bit in thought. "What are you saying Jess?"

"I'm wondering which one of our places is closer and who has the most sugary treats tucked away somewhere so that we can still continue this dinner movie night." Jessie grinned up at him wickedly. "Not that dinner wasn't fantastic Don, but I was promised a movie, and I intend to get one."

Don laughed. "Well, I'm not sure about the sugary treats, but I think your place might be closer than mine. I live on the far side of Manhattan."

Jessie nodded. "And I know for a fact I have a bag of Wine Gums and Mini Rolos hidden somewhere in my kitchen." She said, grinning. "Now let's go before you're car has to become amphibious."

The two raced down the street to where Don had parked, but by the end of it, Jessie's coat had been almost soaked through, her shoes were drenched and her hair was plastered to her scalp. Don wasn't fairing much better, looking a bit like a bedraggled cat as he swiftly slammed the door of the car. His pants were soaked clear past the knee, his jacket was in dire need of a dryer and whatever style he'd had in his hair had now become more like a black skull cap of hair. The two looked at each other for a second before bursting out into gales of laughter, each amused by what the other looked like and doubly amused by what they imagined they looked like.

Once they had calmed down, they both peeled off the wet rags that were their coats. Jessie was a little better off than Don, her coat having been a bit thicker. Don's shirt was sticking a bit to his skin as he turned the key before reaching to the heater to warm them as they drove. The drive back to Jessie's place was one of comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional snicker as they shot glances at each other from across the car. The smiles on their faces seemed to be permanent as they wound their way back towards Jessie's apartment. As they pulled up in front of her building, Jessie paused to grab her keys out of her bag before the two made the mad dash for the front door, getting inside quickly, once again laughing as they continued their way to Jessie's door.

"I like rain as much as the next person," Jessie said as she opened the door to her apartment, tossing her keys onto a side table as she entered her warm apartment. "But that was a bit much." Looking over her shoulder, she grinned. "Make yourself at home; I'm going to get us a few towels. The DVDs are by the TV, feel free to pick one out if you like." She said as she disappeared down the hall.

Don was once more left to his own devices in the warmly painted room. He took the time to notice the dark, plush, over stuffed furniture and dark woods contrasting with the warm yellow on her walls. This room was all about being comfortable in a stylish way. Walking over to the tower of DVD's Don scanned the titles, noticing classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane along with titles like Tank Girl, which he had never heard of before. Eventually his eyes lighted on a series of Indiana Jones titles and he pulled them out of the rack. "I should have pegged you for a Jones fan." He said, turning to face Jessie as she walked out with towels in hand.

Jessie smiled, handing him a towel as she dried her hair. "Yeah, Pat got me that set for my birthday a while back. We're both pretty big Jones fans. You like Indy?"

"Yeah, these movies are pretty fun to watch. What's your favourite?"

Jessie glanced around his shoulder at the titles in his hands, reaching around to pull one of them from him. "This one, The Last Crusade. That's always been my favourite. I love how Harrison Ford and Sean Connery play off each other in this one."

Don nodded. "My favourite was always Temple of Doom. I love the weird, heart-thing the villain can do in that one."

Jessie nodded. "Yeah that one's cool to. You want to watch that one?"

"How about both? It's early yet and they're not that long."

"Sure, I don't have anywhere to be tomorrow. Plus, I like them both a lot." She shrugged. "Make yourself comfortable, I'm going to grab the sugary crap that is a requirement of all movie-going experiences." She said, making her way into the kitchen.

Don grinned as he pulled Temple of Doom out of its case and slipped it into the DVD player, setting it up with ease. He watched the main menu scroll across the scene just as Jessie re-entered the living room carrying a bowl of mixed candy with her and setting it on the table before settling down on the couch, tucking her feet up under her. Don snagged the remote from on top of the player and grabbed a seat on the side of the couch beside Jessie as the opening credits began to play. Jessie reached over and grabbed to bowl of sweets, grabbing a few for herself before passing them over to Don.

The movie was just as exciting as both of them had remembered. The twists and turns down the mine shafts, the hypnotism, the eating of monkey brains. All of it came back with as much entertainment value as it had the day it had been released. They split the snacks between the two of them and shared a very fun evening together, much more fun than they could have had at a theatre. For instance, if they had been in a theatre, Don would still have been able to drape his arm around her shoulders when he noticed her starting to shiver a bit from cold. But Jessie would never have been able to comfortably curl up against Don, with that armrest digging into her side. They stayed that way until Don got up once more, ever the gentleman, to put in the next movie, but returned to that position as soon as he returned to his seat.

It was a cozy scene and Jessie felt very comfortable with it. It was weird for her, to feel this comfortable this early into the relationship. Normally she would have given Don a very odd look until he had removed his arm from her shoulders. She wondered if it was because they had been such close friends for as long as they had known each other. Their personalities just seemed to mesh in all the right places. 'Sure, we'll probably have some kind of huge spat at some point in the future, but, for the most part... we click in every way that counts it seems.' She thought, leaning her head on Don's shoulder, suddenly growing a bit weary. She smiled slightly as she felt Don's arm tighten around her shoulders but said nothing.

The movies were an entertaining way to spend the evening. Indy's sarcasm, the ridiculous plot, caused them both to laugh aloud. "These movies are always so ridiculous, they almost seem plausible sometimes." Don said as the ending credits rolled across the screen, neither one of them moving.

"It's Hollywood Don, that's their whole intention." Jessie grinned, making no move to lift her head. "And besides that, it's Indiana Jones. He's always a bit outrageous."

There was a pause as they both contemplated the silliness of some movies. "This was fun." Jessie commented. "I actually think I enjoyed this more than I would have if we had gone to a theatre."

Don nodded. "Yeah, there's always someone on their cell phone, talking too loud, or just being plain annoying. I usually wait for movies to come out in the rental stores before I see them. It's just a better experience in my opinion."

Jessie nodded. "It is, it's so much more comfortable to. You're in your comfort zone; you can control the temperature of the room. I always find that the theatres are way too cold for my liking. You can pause the movie to answer the phone, rewind it if you miss something, you don't have to pay outrageous prices on movie snacks." She shrugged. "I enjoy it so much more."

She felt Don nod. "There's also this." He said, tapping her shoulder with the hand he had wrapped about her. "It's not nearly so comfortable with one of those plastic armrests digging into your side."

Jessie grinned slightly. "And that would be such a shame; you make a very comfortable pillow."

Don's shoulder bucked with laughter. "Oh, I see how it is. You only agreed to this so you could use me for comfort."

"Damn straight." She said, lifting her head up to look at him, slapping Don's chest lightly. "But who knows, you might just prove to have some other talents later."

"Really? Other talents huh?" Don arched an eyebrow at her, grinning wickedly.

Jessie laughed. "Leave it alone Don." She said, getting up from the couch. "I'm going to run to the bathroom. Feel free to grab a beer from the fridge if you want."

"What kind you got?" he asked, watching Jessie walk down the hall towards her bathroom. 'Mmm... She's the kind of girl you hate to see go... but you love to watch her leave.'

"Corona and Rickards. Help yourself." He said, calling back over her shoulder. "And quit staring at my ass."

Don laughed and pushed himself off the couch. "Can't you blame me? Number one, I'm a guy; Number two, have you seen your ass?"

Jessie's head popped out of the door, Don assumed, lead to the bathroom a wry smirk on her lips as she arched a brow at him. "Obviously not, it's my ass. By nature it's out of my line of sight. I'd be very worried if I could see it." She said before ducking back into the bathroom.

Don chuckled, shaking his head as he made his way to the fridge to pull out a Corona. Popping the top, he took a pull before taking a glance around the kitchen. The counters continued the dark woods from the living room. The light coloured stone countertops looked well cared for and well used. The appliances she had scattered about the kitchen also had the same appearance. They were brands known for their quality and looked well used, but lovingly cared for. Jessie loved to cook, that much was apparent. Don guessed that whenever she got the chance she would whip up a storm.

Don pulled up a seat at the table that sat off to the edge of the kitchen. Jessie had managed to create a small dining nook off to the side of the kitchen that still managed to flow with the rest of her decor. "You've got a really nice place here." He said to Jessie as she walked into the room.

She smiled as she went to grab her own beer; Rickards Red was her poison of choice. Pulling up a seat across from him she took a pull of her beer before speaking. "I can't take all the credit. I've got a friend who's a really great set designer. I had help from her in making all of this work."

"How'd you get a place with this much space? You didn't kill anyone did you?"

Jessie laughed. "No, but I came close. I made a killing on a few lighting designs a couple of years back and the royalties from those shows paid for this place. Apparently an elderly grandmother used to live here with no one but her three cats. She decided to move to Florida and my real estate agent helped me snap it up before anyone else got their hands on it."

Don frowned. "Cats?" he asked, a little wary

Jessie nodded, a curious look in her eye. "Yeah, it took weeks to get all the hair out of the place. Thankfully, when I bought it, I was over in Beijing helping to set up a few big events for the Olympics so I just had a cleaning service come in to get it done." She frowned at him. "You ok Don? You looked a little worried for a minute there."

Don smiled sheepishly. "I'm really allergic to cats. I get the whole gamut, watery eyes, sneezing, even hives sometimes. I was a little worried I might have a breakout here. It's not pretty when that happens."

Jessie nodded. "I'm a dog person anyway. I mean, I like cats, but I'd never have one as a pet, they seem to get into everything."

Don nodded. "I suppose I should be thankful for that. I won't need any antihistamines before I come over here."

Jessie glanced at him, wondering at the comment, but letting it go with a bit of a smile gracing her lips. "I can't say I wouldn't pet one if I saw it. They are cute little buggers, but I'll be certain to wash my hands and change before I see you."

Now it was Don's turn to smile slightly. "So, you were in China for the Olympics. That must have been cool."

Jessie shrugged. "It was and it wasn't. I got paid huge amounts of money and it really jump-started my career, but there were a couple people I was acquainted with who didn't agree with me going over there. They thought I should turn the offer down."

"The politics?" Don asked. "How'd you handle that?"

Jessie shrugged. "I've worked gigs that were pro-life, pro-choice, dinners for stem-cell research, luncheons for environmentalists, just about every cause under the sun. Politics doesn't really enter into my mind when I'm choosing a gig. It's just a paycheque to me." She looked up at him. "Now, that's not to say I'll work for anybody. When it comes to the folk I meet as clients, I research them carefully. I won't work for just anyone. But there are times when I don't have much of a choice. At points like that I have my own moral compass to follow." She shrugged again. "There are those who don't understand that. But generally my friends know where my boundaries are and that I rarely cross them."

Don nodded, interested in how Jessie seemed to live her life. She took everything everyone had to say into account, but seemed to still make her own decision in the end. "Did you at least get a chance to explore the country a bit?"

Jessie smiled and nodded. "I did have a fair bit of free time. I visited Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, a few of the outer provinces. It's a beautiful country. It's so full of history and yet... It's so modern." Jessie shrugged again. "I lost a few friends over that trip. Well, I had thought they were friends. My real friends understood that I have no opinion about the politics involved in my gigs. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and to demonstrate that opinion. Just as I have a right to make money off that demonstration. Just because I work a gig doesn't mean I believe in what it's about."

"Must be tough sometimes." Don said softly.

Jessie nodded. "You must get cases like that occasionally?" she asked. "You have to arrest them because they murdered someone and broke the law. But, as much as you may hate to admit it, you kinda understand why they did it?"

Don was silent for a moment before nodding. "There's been a few, yeah."

Jessie sighed. "Life's never that easy, that black and white. There are far too many shades of grey." She laughed quietly.

Don nodded again. "And sometimes they tend to blend together so you don't know which shade you're looking at." He said. "Sometimes though, I do wish life were simpler. Everything gets so complicated sometimes you don't know what to make of it."

"But it can be simple, just depends on how you handle it." Jessie grinned, taking another drink. "I like to think of life as a great big Yin Yang. Everything that is bad has a counter-part and neither can exist without the other." Leaning back in her chair she studied the bottle in her hand. "Love has Hate, Weakness has Strength, Dark has Light, War has Peace. If we didn't have both of them, how would we truly understand what the other was. Think about it for a moment, if you didn't know what it felt like to be cold, how would you know what warmth was? It's the same thing for everything in this life. Everything has to have a balance."

Don was silent for a moment, thinking over Jessie's philosophy. She had a point. If there was nothing to compare all the good things in the world with, how would they really know what it was to be good? "It's an interesting thought. A bit of a depressing one, but interesting nonetheless."

Jessie shrugged. "A lot of people say that, but they also seem to realize that there's some truth in it. All it is, is an opinion though, people are free to decide they believe it or not."

Don smiled slightly. "That's a good attitude to have. I suppose some people don't agree with it though."

Jessie nodded. "I've had a few people try and bring me around to their way of thinking. They never do though. My opinion is my own and I have yet to see anything that changes my mind."

"I can see that." Don said, taking a pull from his beer. "You're very outspoken aren't you?"

Jessie grinned. "When I feel it's necessary. Other times I tone it down a bit. I try not to shoot myself in the foot in a desire to express myself. Tact is a very useful thing in the workplace. I still tell people to go screw themselves; I just word it differently under certain circumstances."

Don grinned. "Here's to politely telling people to piss off." He said, raising his beer.

Jessie laughed, clinking her beer against his. "I bet you have to watch your words a lot. Talking to suspects as well as the higher-ups. Must suck sometimes."

"Oh yeah." Don replied, shaking his head. "Gotta love the politics of police work."

Jessie laughed. "What time do you have to be into work tomorrow?"

Don shrugged. "Nine o'clock. Why?"

"It's getting pretty late." She said, pointing to the clock. It was starting to push quarter to midnight. "You want to crash here tonight? I really don't feel comfortable letting you drive in this rain."

Don shot her a grin. "You don't think I know how to get myself home safe?" He asked.

"I know you can dive perfectly well, I just wonder about the other drivers on the roads tonight." She smiled softly. "I've got a spare room you can use, I'll set the alarm to give you time to head home and change for work. I'm getting the feeling this rain will let up before morning." She shrugged a little shyly. "It's up to you though."

Don studied her for a minute before glancing out of the window beside him. The rain was coming down harder than before, if that was at all possible. You could barely even see the street below through the sheets of water falling down. "I think I might take you up on that." He murmured, turning back to the table. "I don't exactly trust this weather."

Jessie nodded. "I don't blame you. Even I would think twice about going out in this rain." She said as she finished off her beer before getting up. "Come on, I'll show you the guest bed."

Don followed her down the hall, glancing around at the photos hanging on the wall. More of her in various places, group shots from different shows. She had worked hard to get where she was, that was apparent. He watched as she opened the door next to her bathroom. Following her inside he glanced around at the forest green walls and the light pine furniture. The white carpet was lush and soft underneath his feet while the king sized bed looked just as soft. Watercolour paintings were scattered about the room, paintings he figured she had done herself. "Here you go." She said, indicating the room with a wave of her hand. "Bathroom is next door, there are towels and spare blankets in the closet over there and there are two clock radios if you need them. Lord knows I do on occasion." She grinned slightly. "I'm right across the hall, so give me a shout if you need anything." She said, stepping out of the room.

"Where you off to?"

Jessie shook her head laughing. "To get ready for bed Don. Remember what I told you the night we met? Even a super-being like me needs sleep every now and then." She looked at him from the doorway, smiling softly. "And so do you. You need to get some sleep if you're going to be catching criminals all day tomorrow." She turned to go to her room when she felt Don grab her arm gently, turning her back to face him.

"This was fun Jess." He said, looking into her eyes. "I was wondering if... maybe... you'd want to do it again sometime?"

Jessie looked up at him and smiled. "You know where I live. Look me up when you're off next." She said. Neither one of them said a word for a moment, nor did they make a move until Jessie turned to face him fully. She continued to look at him for a minute or two, her silver eyes seeming to divine all the secrets of his life. He felt his head bowing to her as she lifted herself up to meet him. Don felt her lips press gently against his own, like a pair of soft rose petals ghosting over his mouth, teasing him. The kiss ended so quickly, he almost believed he'd imagined it until she whispered softly in his ear, "Sweet dreams Don." Her warm breath softly brushed past his ear, making him shiver slightly.

He opened his eyes to see hers, sparkling with happiness and just a little mischief. He slowly let go of her arm and watched her head across the hall and enter her room. He caught a glimpse of light coloured walls and a black wood dresser before she closed the door behind her. He watched her door for a moment longer, wondering quietly what she was doing in there before shaking his head, grinning at his own thoughts. He closed his door quietly as he began to get ready for bed. He smiled softly, planning out the next date he intended to take her on as he lay down to sleep.

Jessie closed the door to her room softly behind her and leaned against it, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It was doing crazy things to her to think that Don was just across the hall from her. If she was perfectly honest with herself, she had wanted to jump his bones the instant she had gotten him into the apartment. She sighed and pushed herself off of the doorway and started to get ready for bed, trying vainly to think of something other than the man across the hall. 'I shouldn't have kissed him.' She thought. 'But dear God, those lips.' She bit her lower lip, remembering how it felt to kiss Don. She sighed as she slipped into her pyjamas and slid under the red and gold covers on her bed, snuggling down into her pillows as she tried valiantly to push those thoughts out of her head so that she might get some sleep. She felt a shiver of pleasure slide down her spine as she thought of Don. She sighed in resignation and rolled over onto her back. She was in for a long night.