A/N: here we go…they say good things come to those who wait. and y'all have waited for me to update for so long, and you've been so patient that i just adore y'all, so here's a present: 2 chapters! one Fluff and one Case – with a good dose of D/L! I have one request….let me know what you think of each chapter in and of themselves.

Love, El.


Chapter 5: Inflame


"Miss Monroe, you can call me Colt, y'know." Lindsay and the big firefighter made their way past the line outside the small bistro-style restaurant that was decorated in a high-class Western style. Lindsay glanced up at him, craning her neck back to see him better.

"I'm sorry; I didn't realize it bugged you." He looked down at her and chuckled; his laugh was deep, like his voice – it came out like a rumble of distant thunder, but pleasant.

"Doesn't bug me if you wanna call me Mr. Morrow, it's just I'd rather we not be on such formal terms, Miss Montana." By now they were seated at their table, Colt had thought ahead and reserved one, figuring on crowds. Lindsay bristled a bit when he called her Montana – even if he did put "Miss" in front of it.

"Oh, you can call me Lindsay; 'Montana' isn't a nickname I want you to use." Colt eyed her, trying to figure if she was mad that he had called her that, and deciding she wasn't. Lindsay was just setting down the basics.

"Yeah, I understand about coworkers giving you nicknames you don't like. The guys at the house love to call me 'To'." Lindsay quirked her eyebrow at him.

"As in the number? Or 'too'? Or…" she was sort of confused. He chuckled again - she kind of liked that sound - and met her eyes.

"As in 't-o'. They think it's hilarious for someone to call me 'To', then for someone to follow it up with my last name." Lindsay thought for one second and then laughed herself; she got it. To-Morrow. "Yeah, coworkers can be a pain."

Lindsay just shrugged her shoulder, and opened her menu. There were all kinds of Western flavors and styles of food listed. They even had a few Montana items. Everything looked good from where she was sitting, including her company.


Danny sat on his couch, undershirt on, legs in jeans stretched out onto his coffee table, Yeungling in hand. He had on a Yankees game, they were playing Philadelphia, but Danny's eyes weren't transferring any data from his retinas to his brain. Wonder what she's doing. He sipped his beer, and laid his head back against the couch cushions. His ceiling was a fantastic shade of dirty.

Oh Lordy, but I got myself in deep this time. She's like the sparkplug that gets my motor revving every time I see her. Danny blinked, and pulled off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose. And damn, but if she continues to suck on her bottom lip like she does, I may not be responsible for my actions. He closed his eyes. Danny thought about all the ways he thought she was beautiful. He thought about her hair, her eyes, her cheeks, the way she blushed, those lips, that smile, even her cute ears.

Danny groaned straight from his gut, and nursed his beer once more.


Colt had just told her a story about the first time he had tried to rein in a wild horse, and only managed to get a mouthful of dirt and laugh out of his dad. This is good, she thought. Lindsay warmed at the tales Colt told her; not only did she want to know more about him as a person, but it was just plain nice to hear about Montana from someone who knew its ins and outs as well as herself.

She smiled at him, and eyes were met over candles. This was about as romantic a first date as you could get; Lindsay was soaking in every minute. "So tell me, do you find fighting forest fires harder than city calls?" Lindsay was finishing dessert, and licked her fork. He grinned.

"Oh, I'm not sure. Both are hard in their own right. I mean, it's physically hard to get water into the middle of a huge brush of fire in the wilderness where there aren't very many access roads, or really any of any kind of quality. But its also tough suiting up to respond to a four alarm in a rickety old apartment complex where you know that you're going to find quite a few women and children in imminent danger."

Lindsay nodded; she knew how hard it could be to work a case where there were children involved. Always so sad. "I think I like the city work better," Colt said. She smiled inside; toasted by the fact that he liked women and children, wanted to save them, and obviously did a good job of it.

He was Prince Charming in a fireproof suit. Lindsay admitted to herself that New York was filled with more genuinely good-hearted guys than she had originally credited it with; she knew of several.


Danny pulled his head off the couch behind it, and stared at the TV where a player was being thrown out for picking a fight with the umpire. I can't believe she's out with freakin' Mountain Man. Not when I wish it was me she wanted like that.

Danny sipped out of his bottle. Dangling the beer by the neck, he cocked his head to the left, still watching the screen and not really seeing. Danny, you can fix this. All you have to do is put in the effort.


Lindsay followed Colt as he led her out of the elevator and up to her door on the 7th of the old building. She had told him where to go and let him lead her there. She relinquished her hold on his fingers as she retrieved her keys from her purse and opened her door. She didn't invite him in – she didn't do that kind of thing on the first date – but rather stood half in her door, half out, looking up at him and smiling.

Colt grinned down at her; she was so beautiful in the dim light of the old hall lamps. She didn't even have to try. "Well Miss Monroe, it's been a completely wonderful evening with you." She nodded her agreement, and he went on, "May I see you again, Lindsay?"

"I'd really like it if you did, Colt." Lindsay smiled at his sweetness. Then Colt leaned forward, just slightly enough to be in her space, but Lindsay didn't mind.

"Lindsay, may I kiss you."

She sighed; ever the gentleman, she thought. "Yes, you may." Colt leaned forward and kissed her ever so gently on the lips and pulled back, bidding her goodbye before walking off down the hallway from where they had just recently come. She touched her lips, giggled girlishly, and went in to bed. There was only one thought on her mind the rest of the night.


Danny sat up, leaning forward, elbows on knees, beer hanging between them. He didn't particularly relish the thought of Montana out with this guy, but so far as yet, despite his serious longing for her, he hadn't done anything the let Lindsay know he wanted. Bad. He shook his head, swiped at his eyes, rubbed some sweat from his brow. Thinking of her always managed to raise his body temperature a bit.

Okay, Messer, if you want her, go get her. Stop jerking around, put some effort into the challenge, figure it all out, and get her. Even if she turns you down, at least it won't be for lack of trying.

Danny sighed, grinning into the hand over his face. There hasn't been a girl yet who hasn't fallen for him when Danny worked to get her. Why stop now? Danny resolved then and there that he was going to get Montana, body to body, and soon. No big lug of a fireman was going to stand in his way. I'm going to scratch that physical itch, so bring it on, Montana!

What Danny hadn't yet fully realized, was that this thing was about way more than just physicality.

Emotions burn too.

Danny got up and switched off the Yankees, and said aloud: "Game on!"


well…chapter was short, but hopefully sweet. gotta love emotion!

love to hear from y'all. hearts.