A/N: See intro for the standard stuff. Please R&R. This chapter is really, really short. I considered bundling it in with the next one, but I really wanted it to ride on its own. This is a tie-in to the present season. Not mentioned by name, so I'm not sure that there's really a spoiler warning in order. Let me know if you're confused.
LittleCorinthian: Gotta love talking w/ Danny. Meadow: Thank you. RS: Leave it to you to know just where I'm heading. Hallucinating: She really couldn't let him think what he was. RoadRunner: Glad you enjoyed it. As I said Danny is fun to talk to. Hope you all enjoy this short bit.
Papers were neatly stacked in two piles on the coffee table. A mug of coffee sat steaming at the edge of the table. A CD played in the background on continuous repeat. Tess sat on the floor leaning back against the couch. Her knees were drawn up and her glasses were perched on the end of her nose as she read through the essay. She paused to make a note on the paper. A knock sounded on the door. Tess glanced up and frowned. Bette knew she was grading and didn't want to be disturbed. She was at Peter's. Besides, Bette wouldn't have knocked. She would have just burst in. Tess wasn't expecting anybody. A knock sounded again, a more insistent. Tess unfolded her body and set down the paper and pen. She stood up stretched and headed for the door. Several hard knocks sounded.
"I'm coming," she called annoyed. "A little patience would be a good thing," she mumbled, hand on the knob. She opened the door to find a dripping detective standing there. "Don? I wasn't…"
He looked up. His face was drawn and his eyes pained and haunted. "I know. I know yer tryin' to get exams graded, but I…" His voice trailed off and he dropped his head again.
Tess reached out a hand. "No, that's okay. Come on in." She stood aside and he passed by her. Tess looked him up and down. "You're soaked through. Take off your coat. Do you want a drink?" She shut the door and turned back toward Don. He hadn't moved. Tess closed her eyes. She could feel the waves of anguish rolling off of him. An answering ache welled up inside her. She walked and stood in front of him. She slid her hands up over his shoulders, under the edge of his trench coat. He hadn't bothered to close it and his suit coat and shirt were wet too. Don's hands came up to grip her wrists. He held them still before she could slide his coat off. His eyes flickered to her work on the coffee table.
"Ya have things ta do. I should go."
Tess shook her head. "I have a few days yet." She gave him a crooked grin. "You know me. Don't put off until tomorrow. They'll keep."
"I don't want to…" He glanced at the papers again.
"You aren't. Can we get you out of the wet trench coat? You are getting my carpet all mushy." Don stood still and let her remove his coat this time. Tess hung it in the closet and turned back. Don still hadn't moved. Tess shook her head slightly. His shoulders were slumped and his head still hung down. What happened? Tess wouldn't push. She crossed back in front of him. She reached up and caressed Don's cheek. She leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Her hand went to his shirt front. Wet. Tess pulled away and slid his suit coat off. She took it and hung it next to his trench. Back to the immobile detective. Tess reached up and started to undo his tie. Don grasped her wrists again. He met her eyes.
"Tess."
Tess put a finger to his lips. "Shh. Just shhh." She went back to work on his tie. Tess pulled it free from his shirt collar and dropped it over the back of the couch. She started to slip the buttons free on his shirt.
"Tess." He didn't still her hands. Tess kissed him into silence this time. As he clung to her lips, she kept undoing his shirt. When she reached his waist she tugged it free, finished opening it, and pushed it off his arms. The shirt joined the tie. Don wrapped his arms around her, pressing her close and kissing her firmly. Tess' hands dropped to his belt buckle. Don groaned a little.
"Tess." Her name came out a hoarse whisper. He looked into her eyes. They were full of fire, warm. He touched her cheek. Tess turned her head and kissed his palm. Don's hands dropped to her waist. He slid them under the edge of her top and upward. Tess raised her arms and let him peel it off. She stopped him briefly to remove her glasses and drop them on the couch. Goosebumps rose on her bare skin. Don ran his hands up and down Tess' arms, warming her. Tess leaned in and kissed him. Don turned them and lifted her so that she sat on the back of the couch. He settled himself between her knees. Tess wrapped her legs around him and drew him closer. Don reached up and pulled the scrunchie out of her hair. It cascaded down her back, over his hands.
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In the warm cocoon of Tess' bed, Don stroked her hair. Tess lay peaceful against him. He could still hear the muffled strains of the CD drifting through the door. He kissed her hair, inhaled and smiled slightly. Gingerbread again. He was really starting to like gingerbread. His body relaxed and his eyes drifted closed.
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