Hello again….here's hoping you enjoy this one as well. A special thank you to Dragonrider 4000, CabooseBlue and Rainy-Lullaby for being constant readers and reviewers. It means the world to me.

Again, the only one who belongs to me is Christine, the rest I humbly thank the writers of DN for their loan. Also, I neglected to thank Dragonrider4000 in my last chapter. My history of B is fairly close to one she uses in Constant Temptation (which is a must read if you haven't already) with a few alterations so I have to tip my hat to her.

Chapter 11

As Christine led him into her darkened bedroom she could feel him tense through the grip his hand had on hers. Obviously the first thing she had to do was get him to relax. She would have to be the lead in this she already knew and was perfectly prepared to do so. However, this wasn't just some guy she worked with, this was L. He'd probably analyze every move she made, every step she took every….her thoughts were stopped as she found herself being kissed softly and ever so gently being pushed down on the bed. She reached up and did something she had wanted to do for a long time, run her fingers through that impossibly wild hair.

L's kiss started as soft and tentative, exploring the possibilities he'd only read about, testing the waters by touching her lips with his tongue. Christine allowed him entry and she heard him moan quietly as her tongue welcomed his into her mouth.

They pulled apart finally to breathe and she heard him chuckle quietly.

"I must admit that certainly is better than reading about it." He said and Christine laughed.

"Well, I would hope so or I'd be highly insulted." She said running her fingers through his hair again.

"At this point I feel I have to let you make the next move as I am not sure…." She put her fingers against his lips to stop his words.

"It's alright, L I understand." Then she giggled, "I promise I'll be gentle!" he snorted in return and they both laughed. She sat up and took the bottom of his white shirt in her hands and began to pull it off. He leaned forward to make it easer as she pulled it over his head. She took a moment to admire the chest that he'd been hiding under the baggy shirt. She ran her hands slowly over it, than back to his shoulders and down his back. Her fingertips could feel the scaring on his back that had to have been from B's attack, but she made no note of it, she certainly didn't want him to feel any more self-conscious than he already did. She reached the top of his jeans and heard him take a breath and slowly let it out. She undid the top and he stood to allow her to unzip them and slide them and his boxers down. She watched him step out of them and even in the darkened room she could see the color in his face as he did so. She stood up and took his face in her hands again and kissed him again, this time she took control of the kiss and demanded entry into his mouth, which he granted immediately. When she pulled away she whispered in his ear.

"Your turn." He stared at her for a moment as if trying to understand and then she saw realization dawn in his eyes a he began to undress her. He slid her robe from her shoulders and let it slip to the floor. His touch was soft and gentle as he caressed her and then slid the straps of her nightgown down her shoulders and off as well. She kissed him again and then pulled him with her onto the bed.

They began to slowly explore each other, Christine whispering encouragement and guidance, telling him to do what felt right for him, they were in no hurry, and this was their time together. There were caresses and kisses, moans and sometimes even giggles as ticklish spots were found. The awkwardness began to make way to fluid movement, and before she knew what was happening, L had begun to take control. Exploration became passion and need and they slowly became one.

There were soft cries and moans as they set a rhythm, slow and careful at first, but as the heat between them grew it became stronger and more passionate and finally took them over completely. Soon there was nothing but each other and the ever-increasing friction that drove them closer to the edge. And when they both had soared over that edge, Christine held L's still trembling body against hers, while they both caught their breath.

L rolled off to lie beside her, then gathered her in his arms, her head lying on his chest. She felt him run his fingers through her hair and kiss her forehead. She noticed that he hadn't said a word in several minutes.

"Are you okay?" she asked, moving sweat dampened hair out of his eyes.

"This is a calm I have never known." He said, "I was just enjoying it." She laughed then reached down and pulled the covers up over them.

"Do you think the great insomniac might sleep tonight?" she asked him. He smiled at her.

"There is a 95% chance."

Christine awoke to the aroma of fresh coffee and…conversation? She looked over to the other side of the bed and discovered L was gone. She hadn't really expected him to be there, knowing the way he worked, but it would have been nice to see him there. She had awoken during the night at one point, unused to the sound of someone else breathing next to her. She had watched L sleep for a few minutes, marveled at how at peace he looked and how adorable. She couldn't resist the desire to touch his soft raven hair again, and smoothed it away from his eyes without waking him. She had then snuggled down against his shoulder and fallen back to sleep.

Now she wondered if she were hearing things and rose to grab her robe and stepped outside her room. She was surprised to see L sitting as her table, perusing a file, drinking coffee and chatting Watari. L looked over as she stood there and flashed his beautiful smile.

"I had Watari bring coffee and pastries here I hope it was all right?" he asked. She smiled back and nodded. Apparently the upgrade in their relationship was not something he wanted to hide from Watari, and that made her happy.

"Ofcourse not, why wouldn't it be?" she said walking over to the table. Watari immediately began pouring her a cup.

"Thank you, Watari." She smiled at him and received a very knowing smile back.

"You are quite welcome, Doctor." He said, his eyes twinkling as he did.

Christine felt her cheeks flush at that twinkle but couldn't help giggling to herself. She was sure Watari was not thinking of this when he asked for her help, but apparently he approved.

"The time is 8:30 L, you might want to consider getting ready to receive your call from Ms. Misora." L nodded as he bit into a huge cheese Danish.

"I will be there in just a few moments, Watari, thank you." Watari nodded and pushed his trolley towards the door, probably to head up to L's apartment.

"I'll make sure the connection is open and ready to go." He added as he left, with one more smile to Christine.

"You realize ofcourse he thinks this whole thing is his doing." L said sipping coffee and smiling around his cup. Christine laughed.

"Really? Well, perhaps he had a bit of a hand in it." She said reaching for her own coffee.

"You should have seen the Cheshire type grin he had when he walked in here after I called him and told him where I was. It was very…disturbing." They both laughed at that description and they both realized that the only thing that had changed after last night was the comfort level they had with each other; it had changed for the better.

"As Watari said, it is very close to the time I asked Naomi Misora to contact me, so I must go and make that possible. I have to find B very quickly. I do not believe I can stop the next murder but I need to put everything in motion to catch him soon after. I am sure this is just a prelude to what he really wishes to accomplish."

"I'm sure you're right about that. From what you've said about him, simply murdering people isn't going to be enough for him." L stood, picking up his file and started to walk towards the door. He stopped halfway there, turned and came back to her.

"I am not sure what the correct procedure is for the morning after, but I believe this is in order." He leaned forward and kissed her softly.

"I have no words to express how that affected me last night, but I do wish to recreate the situation at a later date. For the sake of experimentation you understand, to see if I can achieve the same results." Christine laughed and touched his face with her fingertips.

"Ofcourse. For experimentation, I'm all for science." L grinned at her and then turned to leave. Christine stared after him for a moment and then stretched. It had been a long time since her last sexual encounter and she felt a little sore and stiff. She giggled to herself, that and the fact that there was a lot more to L than she had suspected. Time for a nice hot shower and to get her own day started, the children await.

L was not surprised when at 8:55 a.m. Naomi Misora hacked thru the firewall he had put up to test her expertise and was into the system. He set up his voice synthesizer and speaks to her, quickly explaining that he needs her help in this case, that he needs to arrest the culprit. She has no microphone so she types back to him. She wants to know why he chose her and did he know she was on leave? He tells her ofcourse he knows she's on leave, part of the reason he chose her. That, and the fact that she had excellent detective skills. He gives her a number he can be contacted at and that he will send her information she would need. He then closes the connection.

He proceeds to send to her computer pictures and police reports that he has gathered so that she will be up to speed on the case. He begins to study them again himself, still trying to determine what it is that B is truly after. He sighs realizing he has not discovered yet and is angry with himself for not being able to immediately. Perhaps when she gets to the crime scene and he gets a hands on view of what's there.

As important as this is, it is not his only case so he begins going through his case files to close as many as he can so he can concentrate more on B's.

Christine was returning from setting up a quarantine area in the infirmary as several cases of chicken pox had erupted and she had to separate several children from the rest of the orphanage. She was on her way back to her office to set up inoculation schedules for the rest of the children when her cell phone rang. Picking it up she frowned at the "Unknown" caller flashing on her screen.

"Dr. Thompson." She answered.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Thompson. I trust your day has not been too hectic." She smiled into the phone.

"I didn't know you had this number." She said and heard a chuckle from the other side.

"I am L." She rolled her eyes at the phone.

"All went well this morning, then."

"Yes. Now I wait until she contacts me again from the crime scene, although I detest waiting when I wish to be on scene myself."

"I can understand your frustration, but you know it's safer this way. To what do I owe this phone call by the way?"

"It comes to my attention that we have been sadly lacking in the chess area. If I can clear more of my other cases, would that be agreeable for this evening?"

"You just enjoy beating me, and what a great way for you to get out your frustrations, smashing my pieces into bits. I'll check my dance card but I doubt it will be a problem."

"I will call when I am available." Click. Christine stared at the phone. He could still be an arrogant little bastard. Strangely enough it was part of his charm. But at least he bothered to call and see if she would be available, that was a step in the right direction. She smiled in spite of herself and went into her office.