Robyn closed the door to Delilah's room, leaned against it, and sighed deeply.

"Mom, if you really want to help, don't smother me. Train me."

She wasn't even sure how to respond to that. She didn't even want to think about her daughter being in the dangerous situations Robyn regularly found herself in. The problem is, Dee had been recently. Robyn felt guilty for everything she had put her family through recently. She knew she had to do better, try harder. They had continually been in danger or worried about her for a while now. She felt like the worst mom and niece ever. If she could have kept them sheltered and hidden away, she would have. It seems like even when she had the best of intentions, she'd always make the wrong decision when it comes to her personal life. All she wanted to do was keep her family safe, but she couldn't seem to find a way to do it without hurting them.

She stood upright, took a step forward, and groaned. Her body felt like it had been put through a shredder, both forward and reverse. I guess being blasted back into a car, running through a burning building, and jumping out of a second-story window into a pile of boxes could affect you in a negative way. Who knew? Aunt Vi was right, she did smell like a bonfire. She hoped her next case would be a less physical one.

She slowly limped to her bathroom to take a shower and bath. The shower to wash the smoke smell from her hair, and the bath, hopefully, to help her aching muscles. She was sure she'd have some great bruises for a while. She took her shower and washed her hair while the bathtub filled, then slowly lowered herself into the warm vanilla scented water.

As she soaked, she thought about how her day had gone. She smiled as she remembered Dante saying he was there for her if she needed him. She liked that he now knew Delilah was her headstrong daughter. She was sure there was going to be a time soon when she'd need his advice as a parent. She hadn't been able to stop looking up at him while she told him she owed him a talk. When he moved closer to tell her he wasn't going to push, she almost grabbed him. He always seemed to know what she needed to hear. Of course, then the call from Mel and Harry had come. She wasn't sure what she was going to say to him yet, but she had a feeling he would be understanding about it. The man just had a way of accepting her for who she was, flaws and all. Yes, he fought her in the beginning, but after being a part of what she does and why she does it, he'd become nothing but supportive and an asset. He understood her need for privacy and keeping parts of her life secret and he didn't judge her for it.

They had been flirting and dancing around each other for months, but something about her kidnapping had flipped a switch inside of her about continuing to hold him at arm's length. She was finally ready to take a chance and see where they could go together. Let's be realistic, she was having a hard time keeping her hands off the man. She was doing it, but it was becoming more of a struggle each day. She definitely couldn't stop looking and smiling at him. Sinking deeper into the water she mumbled to herself, "It doesn't help that the man is so freaking gorgeous."

She thought back to the time she cornered him in the shower at the gym during a case. She visualized the memory of his wet chocolate brown skin, his amazing butt, and his body full of smooth supple muscles. When she'd told him that he had nice glutes and he'd missed a spot, he had simply turned the water off and faced her with complete confidence while saying he would get to it. When he had teased her about breaking the law, no matter how small, she had looked him over from head to toe and told him small didn't seem to be a problem for him. The man lacked nothing and he didn't even seem to mind when she declined him a towel after asking for one. They had been able to talk about her case while water had dripped down his body. It was too bad she had been in a rush that day. She wouldn't have minded enjoying the view a while longer. Keeping eye contact with a naked Dante was a challenge she would take any day. Even if she consistently ended up losing.

Remembering the feeling of being in his arms and hugging him last week while also remembering him naked made her groan again. Her phone rang, interrupting her fascinating thoughts. Looking at her phone on the table next to her, she saw a picture of Dante. It was like thinking about him had conjured him up. Shaking the water off of her hand she tapped the speaker button.

"Detective Marcus Dante." She answered in a low voice.

This woman was going to be his undoing. All she had done was say his name and he was ready to…well he wasn't going to go there right now. The smoke from today's fire had lowered the timbre of her voice to be huskier than normal and it was doing things to him.

"Hey Robyn." He answered in an equally low voice. "How are you feeling?"

She softly cleared her throat before answering. "Sore. Very very sore, but I shall survive. What about you? How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay. There's no way I'm as abused as you are. Although I can't imagine why," he teased. "It's not like you did anything today." He heard the soft splash of water as she chuckled. It didn't sound like water in a sink. Was she ... "Am I interrupting you from something?"

"No." Her quiet response came. "I'm just soaking in a bath trying to loosen some of these irritated muscles."

She was. Dante closed his eyes as thoughts of a naked Robyn in a tub peeking through mounds of bubbles popped into his head. The image was one he'd thought of before, but this is the first time he had sounds and her voice accompanying his vision. "You're in a bath and you answered your phone?" He asked in a slightly strangled voice.

"Only because I saw it was you calling." She admitted, clearing her throat. "What's up?"

Literally, this woman was killing him. He'd asked her to stop almost dying earlier, maybe he needed to ask her to not hint at being naked too. Well, I guess it wasn't really a hint, more of a statement since he doubted she was taking a bath clothed or in a bathing suit. He paused for a moment to compose himself before responding. "I'm flattered I was worth an answer. I was calling to check on you. I know today was rough."

"I always answer when you call and I appreciate you checking on me." She said, playing with the fragrant bubbles floating around her. "I'll be fine. This isn't the worst I've ever been hurt."

"Well, that's a depressing thought." He said with a frown. He couldn't seem to get the sight of her falling through the air from a flaming window out of his head. The thought of losing her today had terrified him. He panicked when the flames had kept him from being able to go back into the building to help her. When he didn't get a response after screaming her name over and over, he thought he had lost her. When she finally landed in that pile of boxes, it had taken him a moment to get the strength to go over and check on her. He had reached out and touched her and then almost lost his breath in relief when she looked up at him. All they could do was breathe out a short nervous laugh about what had just happened. He didn't even want to think of what could have happened to her.

"Sorry." She laughed, breaking him out of his current train of thought. He could actually visualize a smile on her face. "I know I promised to try to stop almost dying so I won't mention the past either."

As a way to change the subject, he asked, "Got anything exciting planned for the rest of the night?" He tried to clear the remembrance of terror from his mind.

"Nah. I'm just going to put on some comfy clothes and watch some TV or something. Aunt Vi and Dee already went to bed, but my mind is still keyed up so it's going to be a bit before I can fall asleep."

She shifted in the tub causing the cooling water to slosh. She was officially a prune. She didn't realize how long she'd been laying there thinking about Marcus. It was time to get out. She unplugged the tub, stood up, and grabbed a towel. She wrapped it around herself then stepped out and picked up her phone.

Dante did his best not to groan out loud as he listened to every sound. He was now picturing Robyn dripping wet in nothing but a towel. It was definitely a picture he wanted and could live with, but not while he was trying so hard to keep his composure while talking to her. He would file that picture away for later.

"You feel like coming over and watching a movie?" He asked impulsively. "I'm going to be awake for a while too."

"Sure." She said without hesitation. "Need me to bring anything?"

"Just you."

"Half hour okay?" She asked after a breath.

"Sounds good."

"See you then."

Dante knew that nothing was going to happen between them tonight, but if he was lucky, he'd get to cuddle with her and hold her through a movie. He'd be fine with just that because it meant he would be with her. He smiled and stood up. Something about this woman made him feel all melty. They'd been blatantly flirting for a while now, but ever since Gatling County, his feelings for her had only intensified.

When he was taken, she'd rushed to protect Kyler and Stefon and make sure they were safe. She was his happy place, the person he'd escaped to in his mind after he'd been beaten and shot and he thought he was going to die. She had used every resource to find him before it was too late and she was the last person he saw before he'd finally stopped fighting and lost consciousness. She was the first person he saw when he woke up from surgery and she'd made sure his boys were there for him when he woke up. She'd supported him and talked to him through his resignation from the force and helped him through healing both physically and mentally. He had talked to her when he wouldn't even talk to his ex-wife, Vanessa.

Robyn was right there with him when he went back to the force. In fact, she seemed to know he was going back before he did. She made a point to ask his advice on cases where judgement was deserved, even when she didn't actually need his help. She'd come to him for comfort and to talk when her friend had been killed. Seeing her cry had been hard. After more than 2 years of ups and downs, on his end mostly, she'd trusted him with her name and now her friends and family. He'd told her he was there for her if she needed him. Yes, he could be as patient as he needed to be for her. She was worth it. After all, she's the one that said they were just getting started.