Author's Note:

AKA Missing Kiss #3

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 7pm

"Where's the list? Is it my turn to pick?"

"Nope, it's mine," Danny shook the piece of paper in the air without looking up from his laptop.

"What are you reading?" she asked as she threw herself down on the bed.

"An article by a professor at Harvard."

"Why?"

"I'm doing some research."

"What for?"

"Tonight."

"Which memory are we revisiting?" she asked as took the list from him and looked it up and down.

"This one." Danny took the list back from her, pulled a pen from behind his ear, and circled his choice. "Listen to this .. our brains pay ten times more attention to the sense of touch for hands than they do for arms or legs."

"That's .. fascinating, but doesn't explain to me how we're going to recreate this particular memory. Do you really want to give yo -"

"I was thinking that we could reminisce about this one and then maybe test the good doc's theory?"

"Okay, but I think I'm losing brain cells. Was that number three or number four?"

"Three."

He closed his laptop and put it under the bed.

"I thought number three was in the supply closet."

"Number three was right after the briefing."

"You're sure .."

"Yup .."

She was becoming reckless as she briefed the press. Someone was going to cop on, if they hadn't already, that she was smiling fondly at Danny every time he asked a question. Or looking in his direction hoping that he would ask one.

"I was not .. reckless."

"Bet you think you weren't smiling fondly at me, either. And several people had copped on, by the way."

"The two bloodhounds?"

"Chris and Katie?"

"Yes."

"Actually, Chris, Katie and Mark O'Donnell."

"Hey, Carol told me that Katie and Mark are an item. Is it true?"

"Yes."

"Huh."

"Can I continue now?"

"Sure."

As she turned to leave the podium, she noticed Danny wince. A few moments later he found himself staring up into the concerned eyes of Carol Fitzpatrick.

"Danny, CJ's inviting you back to follow up on a couple of things."

"You followed me back to my office!"

"No way. I was in pain and just wanted to go home."

"Okay, maybe you're right. Keep going .."

"You wanted to see me?" Danny asked as he walked into her office.

"What's going on?" CJ asked as she closed the door firmly behind him.

"What do you mean?"

"I know a wince when I see one. Are you in pain?"

"Paper cut."

Danny looked at his finger and then up at her.

"Is that why you asked me back here?"

"Maybe."

"Oh God, did I really say that?"

"Are you gonna keep interrupting?"

"I wanted to be sure you were okay."

"At least it isn't my tongue. Those cuts really hurt. And they get in the way of, you know, other stuff."

"Let me see it," she said as she took his hand into hers.

"Oww …" he yelped.

"Don't be such a baby."

"Did you just say don't be such a baby?"

"Yes, now hold still .."

"Why?"

"When did this happen?"

"Right as the briefing was about to start."

"Did you put anything on it?"

"No .."

"Did you wash your hands?" she asked as she opened the top drawer in her desk and pulled out a white tube.

"There wasn't time. What are you doing?"

"Checking to see if this a wax-based lip balm. It isn't. " She tossed it back into the drawer. "Carol!"

She dropped his hand just as her assistant walked through the door.

"Yes?"

"Do you have any nail polish?"

"Clear or coloured?"

"Clear."

"Yes."

Carol eyed them both for a moment and then left the room. Only to return a moment later with the requested item.

"Need anything else?"

"No. Thank you." She waited until the door had closed before holding out her palm.

"You're not really going to put that on my finger, are you?"

"It's like super glue, Danny. It will hold your skin together and seal it. Germs won't get in and it won't get infected."

"You're serious .."

"Yes, now can I have your hand, please?"

"'kay."

She ran the brush once over his finger.

"Did that hurt?"

"No .."

"Just waiting for it to dry so that I can put another layer on," she said before she blew gently on his finger.

"CJ .."

"What?"

"Don't do that .."

"Do what?" she asked innocently as she added another coat and blew on his finger again.

"God, I really was becoming reckless, wasn't I?"

"Well, the next day you pulled me into a supply closet. The day after that you yanked me by the tie, so yeah .. I think you were."

"Was that really a turn on?" she asked as she layered a leg over his. "When I blew on your finger?"

"You were such a tease, you know that?"

"You brought out the kitten in me."

"The kitten?!"

"Okay, maybe the panther."

"How about an ocelot?"

"Hey!"

"They're opportunistic carnivores. Owww! It's true. You took advantage of me all week."

"I didn't hear you complaining."

Danny smiled and placed his hand on her hip.

"Do you remember how it felt just before you grabbed me?"

CJ closed her eyes.

"I remember you putting your hand on my wrist, I remember you standing really close. It was like the moment right before a thunderstorm when there's all of that electricity in the air."

"And then you pounced."

"I didn't pounce."

"You grabbed me. Same difference."

"What I really wanted was to kiss you finger better, but that would have been suggestive."

"And blowing on my finger wasn't? I walked around all week in a state of semi-arousal. By the end of the week I couldn't even look at you with getting hard. I couldn't even hear your voice."

"Briefings must have been uncomfortable, huh?"

"You know what, forget ocelot. The word I was looking for is vixen."

"Isn't that a woman who doesn't hesitate to take charge?"

"Let me just remind you that I kissed you the first time because you propositioned me and then lost your nerve. And that the rest was all you. I am sure there were rules against taking advantage of poor defenceless males in the workplace."

"There are no rules now and, anyway, wasn't there a theory you wanted to test?"

"Our brains pay ten times more attention to the sense of touch for hands than they do for arms or legs?"

"Yes."

"Sadly that's relative to injuries .."he said as he pulled off his sweater.

"That's a shame .." CJ said as she pulled off her own.

"It is, isn't it?" He ran his fingers up her bare arm, over her shoulder, and down over a nipple which puckered immediately. "Here's something very sensitive to touch, though. Mind if I blow on this?"

"I'd much rather you kissed it."

"How about a triage? Lick, blow, kiss?"

He didn't wait for a response, and smiled against her skin when she sought more contact with other parts of his body."

"You know what I'm thinking .." she murmured.

"I'll try and pretend you didn't just insult me there, CJ."

"I led that day, maybe I should lead again tonight."

"What d'you have in mind?"

"Well .. when I got home from my trip the other day I was too tired to be anything but a willing recipient. I'm not tired now and I'd .. like to return the favour."

She ran a hand up the front of his sweatpants as she whispered her game plan into his ear.

Danny shuddered beneath her fingertips.

"Far be it from me to get between you and your urges," he said as he locked his fingers behind his head.

"Wipe that smirk off your face," she said as she pulled his bottoms off him.

"Make me .."

"Oh you're going to be sorry you said that!"