DISC: the usual, see previous chapters
A/N: This chapter starts back from the morning as Lindsay wakes up, as in chapter 1.

Faint morning light began creeping into Lindsay's room, an unwelcome guest. Oh, how she didn't want the day to come. She wanted to stay here forever, curled up with Danny, surrounded by his skin and his warmth and his scent. She still lay on her back, with his arm draped over her. Lightly, with her index finger, she traced the pattern on his tattoo. Over and over, she ran her finger over the dyed skin. She wondered what it meant, but knew she would never ask. He would tell her when he was ready. She had her own secrets buried deep in the past. Looking over, she examined his sleeping face. The shadows, the lines, the stubble. He still managed to take her breath away. The first time she met him, she was caught in a tug-of-war between attraction and aggravation. He looks so INNOCENT when he's asleep, she thought. Of the many possible words to describe Danny Messer, 'innocent' was not one of them! She had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing out loud. She didn't want to wake him. She was terrified he would wake up, take one look at her, and flee. Last night he confessed his feelings to her, but she was still apprehensive. Knowing she couldn't bear it if this was simply a one-night stand to him, she carefully slid out of bed. She had to make sure he didn't sneak out. But first, she had to find her clothes. She waded through the mess on the floor.

Her body wrapped in a sheet, she jumped when she heard a muffled: "Whattayadoin'?"

Lindsay blushed, feeling slightly self-conscious. "Trying to find my clothes." She gestured to the floor where her robe lay in a heap.

"Come back to bed." His head was still buried in a pillow.

"Danny," she sighed. "If I get back in that bed… neither one of us may make it out alive". Her body was still sore and stiff. She wasn't sure just how many times they had made love during the night.

"What a way to go," he patted the empty spot next to him. How could anyone resist this man? Lindsay thought, feeling her resistance slipping way. She slid back into bed next to him. He flipped her over on her back, lowered himself on top of her, and pinned her arms down. "I need to detain you for questioning."

"Oh yeah? On what charge, Detective?" She lay defenseless beneath him.

"Seduction of a cop." He kissed leisurely along her collarbones.

"Ahh, but there was consent involved. The victim can't exactly press charges, he has no case."

"Still, all those things you did to me last night should be a felony".

"Hmmm, I don't remember" Lindsay said thoughtfully, a wicked sparkle in her eyes. "Maybe we should construct a reenactment of the crime to make sure…"

An hour later, Lindsay was nestled in the crook of Danny's arm, both of them still breathing hard. The room was now fully lit, the streets outside filled with busy people. Still enjoying the afterglow, she murmured softly: "So, what's Mac's policy on sleeping with co-workers?".

From against her neck, Danny grunted, "I gotta special permit. Gorgeous Montana transfers are fair game".

Lindsay giggled. No one ever made her laugh the way he did. "And me? Am I allowed a crack at all the born-and-bred local boys?".

"But seriously," she continued. "How do we handle this? You've been working there longer, you know Mac better than I do."

"We don't want to contaminate the lab. We'll have to keep it confined to the janitor's closet."

She elbowed him. "Not funny! And if we're caught, we'll get fired, lose our apartments, and then our romantic evenings will be relocated to a cardboard box outside Grand Central Station."

Danny sighed. "Look, I don't know either. My life was going as planned til you showed up and changed everything. I saw you there in front of that cage and all bets were off." He paused. "So, have I made up for teasing you a little on your first day?"

"Oh no, that wasn't just a little teasing," Lindsay accused, trying not to let her smile show through. "You were mean to me, Messer! Why?"

"I was jealous of the tiger in your lap."

Lindsay groaned. It was impossible to have a serious conversation with him. She looked at him and felt overwhelmed. Delusional.

"You know, this is just crazy. This whole thing! CRAZY. When I accepted this job, I felt like there was this driving force pulling me here. I thought it was my career…" She shook her head. "Now I think it may have been something else."

"Let's just take it, and see where it goes," Danny responded, bringing her hand to his mouth and kissing it. He then sat up and groggily surveyed the damage to the now-bright room. The ravages of their passion the night before were evident.

He raised his eyebrows. "Whoa. What a pair of animals, eh?"

Grinning and tugging him back under the covers, Lindsay quipped, "Well, what do you expect… for two people who met at a zoo!"

A/N: OK, this is where I had planned to stop. These 4 chapters have been written for awhile. I have one more coming, an Epilogue of sorts. That will be coming soon, likely within the a day or so. Then I think that's it. I don't really have a specific goal or destination for this story, I am not out to win awards for drama. The purpose was purely fluff and mush. Since, ummm, we're not "getting any" from the show. I'm losing my inspiration!