010: In Denial About Being In Love

True to his word, Danny and Angela went out every Friday night for dinner at different restaurants. They traded off choosing destinations each week, and they seemed to get crazier each time, as if they were trying to top each other.

They seemed to fall into a routine every Friday night: they would leave the office together (not before Martin gave him an all-knowing grin) and grab a cab to take them to the restaurant. The conversations that they had ranged from comical to somber. One week they'd be laughing about a movie, and the next, one of them would be sharing a story from their past.

Both Angela and Danny continued to open up more about their backgrounds, and while at times it was very uncomfortable, it felt good to talk to the other one about it.

Back at the office, only Martin really knew what was going on between the two of them, though it was apparent that Angela and Danny were finally on good terms with each other. Danny would stop by her office every now and then when he wasn't immersed in a case and the two would discuss their next dining experience.

One lazy Thursday afternoon filled with paperwork, Vivian came up to Angela's desk.

"Hey, Viv," she greeted. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much. I just finished up my last report for the day."

"Ah, lucky."

"Mmm." Vivian paused, and Angela knew what was coming next. "You and Danny seem to be getting along better."

"Yeah, we are. We just had to get through the issues." She wondered if Vivian had caught on to their little dinner escapades.

"I haven't seen him this happy in a long time."

The statement caught Angela off guard. "Really?"

"He had been pretty quiet, but… he's just as happy as can be now."

Angela nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"I think he really likes you," Vivian said finally. "I think he really does."

She scoffed, although she was blushing a little bit. "I don't think so."

"What? Are you going to deny it?" Vivian smiled. "You like him too, don't you? You two have been leaving the office every Friday for the past month and a half."

"We're just going out to dinner as friends, Viv. He doesn't… it's not like that."

"Your face lights up every time that you see him, and you know it," she countered.

"Ok, so what if it does?" she conceded. "I don't think he's really the type to… have a serious relationship."

"He's not," Vivian said, looking pointedly at Angela. "Which is why the fact that you two are going to dinner so often is so surprising. It's not like Danny at all. There's something about you, Angela. Something that's making him change all of his thoughts that he had before about relationships."

With that, Vivian turned and left Angela speechless for the first time in a long time as her mind reeled with the thought that what was between Danny and her could be something more than what it was.

---

Martin and Danny were driving out to a small suburb outside of the city to find out some more information about a missing young boy. Martin knew that there was something going on between Angela and Danny, but he wanted to hear Danny admit it.

"So… you and Angela seem pretty close," Martin fished.

"Yeah," Danny said unhelpfully.

"How close?"

Danny threw him a look. "Not that close."

"You've been going out with her for like a month and a half, and you haven't—"

"Hey, hey, hey," Danny stopped him. "We aren't going out.We're just having dinner. Exploring new restaurants."

"Uh huh. Right."

"What? You don't believe me?" he asked, turning to look at him.

"No."

Danny scoffed. "You think you know everything."

"I know that you like her."

"Yeah? And how do you know that?"

"Come on, are you really going to deny it? There's no point. I already know."

"So if you know, why are you bugging me about it?"

"Because I want to hear you admit it."

Danny rolled his eyes at Martin. "It's not like it matters. She'd never… it just wouldn't work out."

"Why is that?"

"Because—"

"Because you're scared to let her in, that's why."

"Oh come on, Martin. I don't like her like that."

"That's a lie, and you know it."

"We're just friends. She wouldn't—couldn't have anything to do with me. We're just friends."

"But you want something more, hmm?"

"You know I'm not exactly the type of guy to have a serious relationship. I mean for all the years that you've known me, how many have I been in?"

"None. Which is why the fact that you like her so much is surprising. You could have a real shot with this girl. Because she really likes you too."

Danny hit the accelerator a little too fast. "No, she doesn't. How would you know?"

"I can tell."

"How?"

"The way she smiles at you. Come on, Danny, you can't be that oblivious. She likes you, you like her, and you and I both know it. I think you should stop beating around the bush, and just tell her already."

"Did you self-appoint yourself as Dr. Phil of the office today or something?"

"I'm just saying that if you like her that much, you should do something about it. Before something happens and it's too late. Trust me."

---

The next day was Friday, and Danny walked into the office in the morning to find Angela sitting at her desk. The same place she always was whenever he came into the office. Her long, dark red hair was thrown over one of her shoulders and her hazel eyes moved quickly across the screen looking for key information.

Angela must have felt someone staring at her, because she glanced over her shoulder in Danny's direction. When she saw him, a small smile spread across her face. He walked slowly over to her desk, forming the words in his mind as he went.

"Good morning, Agent Taylor," she greeted him. "Jack wants you and Samantha to head over to the local police department and check out if any of the cops know anything about the robbery on 33rd Street. He thinks that the missing kid had something to do with it."

"I figured out where we're going to eat tonight," he said, unable to hold it in any longer.

"Yeah? I thought you had forgotten about it. What exotic destination are we headed for tonight?"

"I thought… I thought that I would cook something. At my place."

Angela stared at him in surprise. Did he really just ask her what she thought he asked her? Was this a joke? Was this a dream? Did Danny really just ask her to eat dinner at his apartment?

Once again, some rational part of her kicked her and screamed, "Stop staring at him and say yes!"

"Wow, that sounds… that sounds great," she managed to finally say.

"I promise I'm a pretty decent chef," Danny said with a grin. "I can't fold the napkins in the weird ways like they did in that Japanese place, but I can cook up a mean meat sauce."

"I guess you'll be putting your culinary skills to the test tonight then, hmm? That sounds really good, Danny. I'll be ready whenever you are."

"Why don't you come over around seven instead? You know where my apartment is.

"Oh, alright then. Sounds like a plan."

"Good. I, uh, better go find Samantha then. I'll see you later."

"Go save the world," she called after him as he turned and walked away.

It wasn't until Danny left that Angela realized what this meant. She was going to be in Danny's apartment eating dinner.

Alone.

A sharp shiver ran down her spine as she smiled at her luck.

A/N: Happy Friday, everyone! I hope that you've all had a marvelous week and have a superb weekend!

Here's the new chapter that I've promised you! I hope you've all enjoyed it! Please leave reviews because they make me absolutely giddy.

And let me just say that you will not want to miss the next chapter. I shan't say more, but let me just assure you that you do NOT want to miss it. Cross your fingers and count down the hours because it will be amazing.

Leave reviews and have a great weekend.

-Laura