Author's Note: in answer to a review question (what's the other secrets?) the answer is that we also found out about Jaffer's relationship with Alexander. That's the other secret; Alexander's.

OOOOOOOOOO

"You know… when we get to Cassandra's you're going to have to get into the back…"

Jaffer looked over at Ian, snorted, and then turned back to flirting with the girl in the car next to them. The girl – a young, dark-haired girl of maybe eighteen with several friends in the car – was more interested in the driver of the convertible than the dog sitting in the passenger seat, but Ian was ignoring them and Jaffer was more than willing to use Ian's good looks to get the attention of a cute girl – even a car full of them.

"What's your dog's name?" The girl asked, ignoring the giggles of the girl sitting beside her.

Ian scowled, and wondered if he should have left the top up. Since they were stopped at a red light, though, there was no way he could pretend he hadn't heard her. Jaffer wagged his tail harder, and Ian sighed.

"Rover."

"He's cute."

The girl in the passenger seat giggled again, and Ian rolled his eyes – although they couldn't see it behind the dark sunglasses he was wearing.

"What kind of dog is he?" Asked one of the girls in the back seat.

"A Dalmatian."

The light turned green and Ian gave a relieved sigh and turned left. Jaffer sighed as well, watching as the car filled with admiring girls went straight, and Ian reached over and slapped his shoulder.

"You can do better."

Jaffer rumbled a cheerful growl deep in his throat, and turned back to the passing traffic, obviously looking for the next person to flirt with, and Ian shook his head.

"Fine, don't listen to me."

Ten minutes later he pulled to a stop in front of the Fraiser's house, and put the car in park. While he was getting out, the door opened and Cassie came out to stand on the front porch, watching as he let Jaffer out of the car. Jaffer rushed over to greet her – and to see if she had anything for him to eat – and Ian followed at a slightly more sedate pace.

"Hi, Cassandra," he said when he reached her, leaning over and brushing a kiss against her cheek. "Are you ready?"

She smiled, and nodded, taking his hand as Jaffer crowded past her and into the house.

"We just have to let mom know you're here."

There was a crash as something inside fell over, and Janet Fraiser's voice yelling Jaffer's name with a definite exasperated tone.

"She knows."

The two of them headed into the house as well, and Ian called Jaffer to his side so he wouldn't knock over anything else. On the floor by the sofa was the telephone – in two pieces – and Ian bent over and picked it up as Janet reached for Jacob, who had been sitting on the sofa surrounded by pillows to keep him from falling and was now swarmed by Jaffer, who was very excited to see his baby.

"Hey, Doctor Fraiser," Ian said, looking at the phone to see if it was broken or merely separated from its handset. "Sorry about that."

Janet shook her head.

"No harm done, Ian. Where are you two – three – heading?"

Ian smiled at the reminder that he wasn't going to leave Jaffer with Janet.

"The park. Want to come?"

"Thank you, but no. Emmett's coming over and we're going to take Jake out shopping."

"Like mom ever needs an excuse to go shopping," Cassie said, grinning and taking the baby for just a minute to cuddle him. Jacob didn't mind at all. He was used to being handed around, and he loved to be held – although his brown eyes were now on Ian, who smiled, but simply reached out and touched the baby's cheek. He didn't want to hold him.

"And you do?" Janet asked, arching a brow.

"Well… no…" Cassie admitted, handing Jake back to her mom. "Of course, it only makes sense I suppose."

Janet smiled.

"Don't be gone too long."

"We won't."

"And drive safely, Ian."

"Yes, ma'am."

Like he ever needed reminding when it came to driving carefully with someone else in his car? Although when he was alone, it was another matter entirely

"Let's go," Cassie said, taking his hand again and heading for the door before her mom could give Ian the whole lecture on driving carefully.

Ian called Jaffer to his side, and the lab reluctantly left Janet's side – Jake was his responsibility, after all and he didn't really want to leave him – and joined Ian and Cassandra, rushing out and jumping into the convertible without waiting for Ian to open the door.

"Back seat, mister," Ian said.

Jaffer rumbled again.

"I mean it."

The lab turned his head, ignoring Ian, and Cassie laughed. Reaching over, she rubbed the lab's ears the same way Sam did, and murmured sweet little nothings to him for a minute.

"Come on, Jaffer… let me have the front seat, huh?"

Bah.

He was no better at ignoring her than Ian was, and the black lab hopped into the back seat while Ian opened the door for Cassie.

"How has he been?" She asked, curiously.

"Pretty good. Since I'm staying at Sam and Jack's I don't have to worry about him eating anything of Daniel's that he shouldn't – so that's a relief."

"And their yard is fenced."

"Yeah." He went around and got behind the wheel of the car, and rested his hand for a minute on her thigh. Not groping, of course, just touching her and being with her. Cassie knew this, and she rested her hand over his. "Where do you want to go for lunch?"

"You choose."

He hated it when she did that to him, and she knew it – which was, of course, why she did it. Cassie smiled, just a little impishly, and Ian turned his hand over and took hold of hers. He wasn't really the sappiest guy in the world, but he was well aware that their time together was precious – since she was going to be going away in the fall (and would probably find someone new at college who wasn't the jerk he was), so he was going to make the most of the time they had.

"Why don't we go get something portable, and take it to the park and have a picnic?"

That wasn't the answer she'd expected, but it was a good one. Cassie smiled.

"Sounds great."

They'd have plenty of time alone if they did that – and wouldn't have to worry about sitting in a crowded restaurant on such a beautiful day. She let go of his hand, since he needed it for shifting, and put her hand on his leg instead.

As Ian started the car, Jaffer turned to look at the cars coming down the road toward them. One of them had to have someone he could flirt with in it, after all!