Notes: Disclaimer is with the first chapter. I'm going to start including dates when I note the day, time, and place each chapter takes place. This is likely going to be a very long on-going story and it'll probably get very confusing if I don't note the dates. This next section takes place about four days after the zoo and about a week and a half after Finch picked up Maya from the airport. And off we go.

11:53AM, Wednesday, July 5, 2002, Blush Magazine Headquarters

Nina Van Horn was preparing to enter the kitchen at the Blush offices when she heard voices arguing from inside…Maya's voice and Finch's voice to be exact. *What have we here? Let's have a listen shall we.* Nina took up position outside the door as she listen in on their conversation.

"Come on Finch! You have to tell me what happened…I'm dying of suspense here. Why exactly was that guard after you? You haven't said a word about what happened since Saturday."

Nina peeked around the corner into the kitchen with slightly wide eyes, her surprise evident. *What in the heck were they doing together on Saturday…outside of work? Ohh, this is too good. Were they on a date? Finch and Maya on a date. Didn't see that one coming…well not really. They have been getting along better lately, but who'd have ever thought of them getting together. Then again maybe they're just friends.* With a wicked smile, Nina thought, *Either way, Elliott is going to be pissed when he finds out. He can't stand Finch. He'd go absolutely ballistic if Maya and Dennis were to hook up even if it is just as friends. I mean, they're doing non-work related activities together…outside of the office…on our days off and maybe after work too. Elliott isn't going to be happy. I sure don't want to miss those fireworks when he finds out.*

Nina's attention was returned to the scene happening inside the kitchen. Maya was agitatedly pacing around the kitchen while Finch was sitting at the table eating his lunch. Maya quickly turned sat down and leaned across the table towards Finch. "Dennis, tell me what happened. Why was that guard after you?"

Finch just smirked at her and continued eating his lunch. Maya pursed her lips and kicked him under the table. "Ow…geez, violent much. What was that for?" When Finch saw Maya narrow her eyes in irritation, he shrugged and said, "Whoever said the guard was after me? Maybe he was following someone else."

In a mocking voice, Maya answered, "Oh yes, that certainly explains why the guard yelled, 'Hey you, stop,' when he saw you. It also explains why you grabbed my arm like a Neanderthal and practically drug me after you as you ran from the guard."

Finch smiled sheepishly and said, "Yeah, sorry about the Neanderthal crap. I just panicked there for a moment. But that still doesn't mean it was me. Ummm…it was the boy. Yeah…that's right…he did it."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Finch, the boy is four years old. I doubt very seriously that he has the capacity to get into that amount of trouble yet, but hanging around you will probably change all that. I'll most likely be seeing his picture on America's Most Wanted soon." Putting a pleading tone in her voice, Maya again asked, "Please Finch, tell me what happened. I promise I'll make it worth your while."

Finch's eyebrows rose at that prospect. *Ohhh…how exciting. Maya is trying to bribe me. I hope it's something good…a kiss maybe.* Smirking slightly, Finch asked, "So exactly what did you have in mind?"

Nina observed her two co-workers in flabbergasted silence. *Oh, My God. They're flirting…blatantly flirting. Finch and Maya are flirting with each other. What has the world come to? And who the hell is this boy they're talking about?*

Maya's voice snapped Nina out of her reverie. "Uhh…what did you have in mind?" Maya glanced up and saw the mischievous twinkle in Dennis' eyes. She quickly held up her hand and said, "Forget I asked. I'll think of something." Dennis pouted and settled back in his chair waiting for Maya to continue. Maya finally said, "I'll do all your filing for a whole week."

*Well, it's not a kiss, but no filing for a whole week…sounds pretty good.* Nodding his head, Finch accepted her terms. He looked furtively around the kitchen like he was looking for eavesdroppers. Nina quickly moved back a little out of Finch's line of sight. After a few seconds, she peeked back into the kitchen. Finch must have thought the coast was clear because he had moved his seat around to Maya's side. He quickly looked around the kitchen again and then leaned over and whispered into Maya's ear. His voice was too low for Nina to make out what he said. As he was whispering into Maya's ear, he thought to himself, *I can't believe that Maya is letting me this close to her. Just a couple of weeks ago she's have been pushing me away and calling me a pig. How times have changed, and for the better, might I add.*

Maya's eyes widened slightly as Dennis whispered into her ear what had happened on Saturday afternoon. When Finch finally sat back, she stared at him with a slightly dropped jaw. Slowly, she started giggling as she said, "God Finch, you didn't?" When he just grinned and shrugged, she started laughing hysterically. "I just can't take you anywhere, can I?" she asked between uncontrollable snorts.

Finch joined her in her laughter as he defended himself, "Well, in my defense, I had no idea that would happen. I mean how was I supposed to know all the monkeys would try to commit suicide by slamming themselves into the walls of their cages?" When he said this, Maya's laughter became completely uncontrollable. After she had calmed down a bit, Finch continued, "All I did was get into a staring contest with that damned baboon. How was I supposed to know that he was a sore loser? I mean the stupid baboon literally started screaming and throwing himself at me. I'm sure glad that glass was shatterproof." Giving a slight shiver, he proceeded, "Who knew monkeys were so violent. And, of course, the stupid baboon had to set off all the monkeys in the Monkey House and they all started screaming and throwing themselves against their cages. Yep, that's when I decided it was time for me and Mikey to make our exit."

Still standing outside the door, Nina thought, *The Monkey House? They went to the zoo together? And who is Mikey…is that the kid they were talking about? Finch doesn't have a kid no one knows about, does he? Finch having a kid is a truly scary thought. I'm going to have to check this one out.*

Nina's attention was brought back to Maya and Finch in the kitchen as Maya shook her head and laughingly commented, "Dennis, only you could set off a whole house full of monkeys." Finch started giggling in agreement.

Nina noted that their heads were close together as they whispered and giggled with each other. When Maya's and Finch's eyes connected, they abruptly quit laughing. Nina could literally see the sparks flying between them. Their heads started to slowly move closer to each other, seemingly of their own accord. *Oh my god, they're going to kiss! Finch and Maya are going to kiss each other! If that thought wasn't so disgusting, it would be sweet.* Nina suddenly heard voices approaching the kitchen. Glancing up the hall, she saw Elliott and the new model he was trying to woo walking towards the kitchen. *Uhoh, what do I do?! It's too soon. There will definitely be bloodshed if he walks in on Maya and Finch smooching.* Nina decided to give Maya and Finch a heads up about the approaching danger. "Hey Elliott!" she yelled. "You coming to eat in the kitchen too?"

Elliott looked at her in confusion, "Yes Nina, and I'm sure the whole civilized world knows now too. You don't have to yell you know. My ears work just fine." Nina just gave a quick shrug of her shoulders and stumbled like she was a little drunk, effectively blocking his route into the kitchen. Elliott caught her before she fell. "Geez Nina, lay off the booze will ya?"

Nodding her head slightly, she thought, *That should have given Finch and Maya a warning and enough time to pretend that everything is normal.*

When they had heard Nina's voice outside the door, Maya and Finch were suddenly brought back to reality. They jerked back from each other just about an inch before their lips would have met. An intense blush rose up Maya's neck to her cheeks. Even Finch looked flustered.

Maya's eyes widened as she thought, *What was that? Oh my god, I almost kissed him. I almost kissed Finch. Am I totally nuts?*

Dennis grabbed his chair and quickly pulled it around the table to it's normal spot. He plopped into it just as Elliott walked into the kitchen. Elliott gave him a look of disdain before he smiled warmly at Maya. Finch's eyes took in Elliott's countenance. Elliott looked relaxed…not angry. *Thank god, he doesn't know what just about happened. He'd kill me.* Shaking his head slightly, he considered, *Why'd he have to come now? I was so close to kissing Maya, and she was going to kiss me too. This is some sort of conspiracy, I tell you. I was so close…sooo close.*

Nina breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Elliott was completely clueless about the previous occurrences. She saw Finch's and Maya's eyes meet across the table. Maya's face flushed with embarrassment and she quickly looked away. *Hmm…she acts like she was caught stealing the last cookie from the cookie jar. Obviously, whatever is happening between her and Finch is new…she doesn't know how to react to it. Not that I can blame her…it is Dennis Finch after all.*

Elliott looked at Maya and asked, "Are you feeling okay? You look a bit flushed."

Elliott's comment just made Maya's face turn even redder. "Uhh…I'm fine, Elliott. No problems at all." Elliott just shrugged and turned to grab his food out of the refrigerator.

Finch smiled to himself, *Yeah man, I did that to your ex. She's all flushed and pretty because of me…not you.* Shaking his head, Finch thought to himself, *Damn you man, I was this close. Couldn't you have waited a couple of minutes. Once I kissed Maya she would have been mine. My kiss is very addicting. Once you have one, you have to come back for seconds.* Dennis gathered up the leftovers from his lunch and stood up to throw it away. He felt Maya's eyes following him. As he turned to leave the kitchen, he caught her gaze and smirked, "Don't forget about the filing. Ta ta."

Elliott looked up to where Finch had just disappeared through the doorway. Glancing at Maya, he asked, "What was that about filing?"

Maya just waved him off and said, "I owe Finch a favor so I'm doing some filing for him." Standing up, she tossed away her trash and left the kitchen.

Nina just smiled to herself an thought, *Oh la la, I know something about Maya and Finch. Yep, I have me some pretty juicy information. Wonder what I should do with it.* Nodding her head slightly, she thought, "Keep quiet for now and keep my eyes open.*