The amber liquid in Malcolm's tumbler was almost gone. Gil's was full, having already been refilled. The two men had brainstormed ideas for over an hour and kept coming back to the same conclusion: they had to find Joslynn Bennet. Until they could do that, nothing else mattered.

The profiler scratched his head, then the palm of his left hand. His head was foggy, causing him to have to continually go back and check his notes for details that he would typically remember.

Gil leaned back, "Are we certain Josylnn's even in the city? Or hell, the state for that matter?"

"No. She could easily be halfway across the country."

"How pregnant was she? Far enough to have flight restrictions?"

"She was around six months when I went under with Bennet. That'd put her between seven and eight now. Not all airlines have pregnancy restrictions, and those that do don't usually go into effect until the last month." Malcolm squeezed his fists.

Gil eyed them, but chose not to comment, "So basically we're-"

"Completely fucked." He pushed himself up off the couch in an angry huff, scratching his neck in the process.

"I was going to say, 'waiting for new information'."

"Sorry," Malcolm paced the living room, "I just hate this. Waiting around for my inevitable demise."

"I know, kid. But that's not what we're doing here. Police Work is-"

Gil was about to finish his mantra, when Malcolm's phone rang. He furrowed his eyebrows at the name, Ruth Cohen.

"Hello?"

"Malcolm?"

As soon as he heard Dani's voice, he knew. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Gil's head whipped up.

"Guess who was waiting in my apartment when we got there."

Malcolm's tremors increased. He could barely keep hold of the phone.

"Joslynn?"

At her name Gil jumped up off of the couch, "Put that on speaker."

"Yeah," Dani's audibly-shaken voice filled the room.

"Where the hell were Tucker and Hicks?!" Gil demanded.

"Tucker went in first to clear the apartment, but she had two guys with her. They had him at gunpoint and knocked Hicks unconscious when we entered after. He's headed to get checked out."

Malcolm was so furious he could barely speak, "Did they hurt you?"

"No. They just zip tied us together before they left. Oh, and took our phones and radios with them. She said she just wanted to talk."

"About?" Gil pried.

Dani took a deep breath, "She said she wanted to meet me. That any woman who could compel a man to shoot someone," she edited, knowing Gil was listening, "must be something special."

Malcolm's jaw clenched, "Trying to intimidate you."

Gil leaned in toward the phone, "What else did she say?"

"She talked about how scared she was to be pregnant in prison. They wouldn't give her escorted leave for Bennet's funeral. She never got to say goodbye."

Malcolm looked up at Gil, "Did you know that?" The lieutenant shook his head.

"There's something else," Dani's reluctance to continue was obvious. "Joslynn said she wants me to feel the same pain she is. She said I would watch as you were slowly torn apart from the inside out. That I'd be powerless to stop it."

Dani cleared her throat, trying to manage her emotions in the presence of her boss. Malcolm resisted the nagging urge to dig his nails into his palms. Spotting the tiny track mark on the back of his right hand.

And this is how Joslynn intends to make good on her promise.

"So, I just thought of something," she lingered on the first word.

Both men replied in unison, "What?"

"I've been trying to figure out how she knew where I lived. I haven't been here in weeks. What if Joslynn has the list."

"The list?" Malcolm stared, unfocused, at the wall trying to figure out what she was talking about. Gil seemed equally confused.

"The list of names and addresses. Of the detectives and higher ranks. Remember Bennet said he had a second copy en route, after we destroyed the first one."

The profiler looked up at his mentor, "What ever happened with that? Wasn't there a suspected source in the NYPD?"

Gil agreed, "Three. They investigated them, but had no real evidence other than flimsy connections with people who knew people in the Niners. When Bennet died and the second list never appeared, the investigation went cold."

"We need to re open that."

They all agreed.

Gil's phone rang. When he answered, Malcolm hit the button, taking the conversation off speaker. "Hey. You okay?"

Dani sighed, "Honestly, not really."

Gil was on his phone now too, he spoke softly in Malcolm's direction, while the person on the line relayed information, "Tech is done sweeping your place. They found three bugs: one up stairs, one in the living, and one in the bedroom."

"Did he just say bedroom?" Dani asked, indignant.

Bright ignored her question and responded to Gil, "Are we clear to go back?"

The lieutenant nodded. "I've got more unis on their way to Dani's." He grabbed his coat off the back of a bar chair, "I'm headed there now. And no, you can't come. I'll give her a ride back to your place when she's done with her report. We're increasing the watch at your place: one marked car and two unmarked."

This time Malcolm nodded in agreement, but spoke to Dani, "You hear all that?"

"Yeah. I'll see you as soon as I'm done here.

"Okay. Be careful."

"I will."

Malcolm took a breath, "I love you, Dani. I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"I'm not. And I love you too."

Malcolm returned his phone to his pocket and followed Gil out the door.

"You want a ride to your place?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Get to Dani. It's early. I'll just walk to 8th and get a cab."

"You sure?" Gil doubled down, as he stood in the open door of his car.

"Yeah. Thank you."

The engine growled, as the lieutenant fired it up and sped off in the opposite direction. Malcolm walked with a purpose, keeping an eye on his surroundings to the point of paranoia. Although, was it really paranoia if you'd already been attacked once? At this point vigilance was a more appropriate term.

The sidewalks were moderately busy, a fact that eased his mind somewhat. An older man walking a Pomeranian nodded as he passed. When Malcolm was half way to 8th street, a young boy sped by him on a scooter, weaving between pedestrians.

"Deacon! Not so close!" His father yelled from behind Malcolm. "Sorry!"

He turned to the man, who was also pushing a stroller, and smiled, "No problem." As he turned back around the boy, who was ten feet ahead of him by this point, hit a pothole in the sidewalk, wiped out, and immediately started crying. The dad cursed under his breath. Malcolm rushed over to the boy and crouched down.

"Hey. You okay?"

The boy looked up at him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "my dad said I had to."

The profiler's head tilted to the side in confusion, "What?"

Before he could finish the word, he felt a burning sting in the left side of his neck. He jerked away, his hand reaching for the spot. The boy jumped up, grabbed his scooter, and darted away. As Malcolm stood, the father stuffed something into the pocket of his joggers.

"For later," he said, as he too sprinted off, leaving the empty stroller prop behind. The entire event had taken ten seconds maybe. And the perpetrators were long gone. Meanwhile, Malcolm stood there, dazed.

The warmth was spreading, but not nearly as fast as before. It had barely reached his shoulders.

Last time they hit a vein, he noted.

His thoughts were frantic, as he tried to figure things out before the high took effect.

Intramuscular. That means I've likely got ten to twenty minutes before this fully hits. I can get home by then. Or close to it.

He jogged the half a block remaining to 8th street and hailed a cab, thankful that it was busy enough to get one immediately without being the rush hour gridlock.

"214 Lafayette," he pulled a $100 bill out of his wallet. "This is your tip if you get me there in less than ten."

The driver's eyes widened, "Yes, sir." And he pulled into the flow of traffic, weaving in and out of open spaces at an impressive speed."

Malcolm took slow, deep breaths, trying to calm his pulse and nerves. The more relaxed he was the better his chances were to get home before anything started.

True to his word, the driver made what should have been a fifteen minute trip in eight. Malcolm handed him the hundred and thanked him, while rushing out of the cab.

He saw the marked police car and gave it an acknowledging wave. As he ascended the stairs to his apartment door, the beginnings of the high threatened. His pulse started to increase, and he was getting lightheaded. Malcolm shut and locked the door, then reached for the contents of his pockets. His right hand emerged with his wallet. His left held his phone and a syringe. It had a protective cap and was filled completely with a beige liquid. In all the hustle, he'd completely forgotten that the man had put it there.

Malcolm stared at the contents for a moment, before walking over to the trash can. He stepped on the pedal to open it, his breaths shallow and quick. He didn't even register making the conscious decision to close the lid and walk to his night stand. The next thing he knew, he was hiding the syringe in the back corner of the drawer, and closing it.

The last coherent thought he had before the rush kicked in, was Dani. Conservatively, he probably had an hour before she would be on her way home.

With that last thought, the wave of euphoria engulfed him completely. It took approximately five seconds for Malcolm to realize that this high was vastly different than the previous one. The first time he had been totally relaxed, zen, without a care in the world. Heroin. Those carefree undertones were still present, but relaxed he was not. In fact, he was feeling more manic by the second. That was not a symptom of heroin use. All of his senses were heightened. Colors were more vivid. Sunshine's tweets were pure music. Everything he touched felt incredible; the fabric of his pants, the cool granite countertop, all of it was mesmerizing. His entire body felt amazing, powerful, more alive than ever before.

This high he recognized. It wasn't the first time he'd experienced it. Cocaine. Or a combination of the two. The explosion of dopamine was wonderful, he felt confident, elated. A memory flashed through his mind. He could hear his own voice.

People say that Dopamine triggers pleasure. But really, it's about desire.

The feel of Dani in his arms as he asked her to dance.

Malcolm's body immediately reacted to the memory of her against him. Other, far more intimate, memories of Dani followed.

Dani.

He checked his watch, forty-five minutes, or close to it. His love would be here in less than an hour. All he wanted to do was hold her and tell her how much she meant to him. She was the only thing in the world that mattered. Everything else could disappear, as long as he still had her.

Focus.

Yeah, that's not going to happen, he giggled.

She can't see you like this, his psyche argued.

Shit, you're right.

He knew that was true, but he couldn't exactly feel worry at this point. There was no way he was going to be completely over this before she returned. Even if the high had worn off, he would likely have to deal with some serious fallout afterward.

You have to mask it. What can you do to try and disguise your behavior?

Exercise?

Worth a shot.

Malcolm dropped to the floor between the island and the staircase, and immediately started doing push ups. Once he got to thirty, he flipped and moved to crunches. Back and forth. Over and over. Desperately hoping he could work some of this energy off before Dani got home.

After forty minutes of the non-stop rotation, Malcolm's arms couldn't support his own weight any longer. He lay on the floor, completely exhausted, yet somehow still a ball of energy. Mentally he could have gone on forever. He felt unstoppable. The exercise hadn't done much to stifle the mania. At least it could serve as an excuse for the hyperactivity, provided, of course, that he could hide the other effects well enough. From a recovering addict. Who had seen him high before.

Malcolm smiled, incapable of stressing at the moment, pushed himself up off of the floor, and headed straight to the shower. It didn't do much to calm him, but the warm water felt absolutely heavenly. At least he was clean. Afterward he went to the fridge for water. His hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't get the bottle open, so he opted for a glass from the tap instead.

As he was downing the second glass, Dani walked through the door. His heart leapt at the sight of her.

Here we go, he thought, taking a deep breath.

She shut the door and sat her bag of belongings down by the stairs, before turning. "Hey," she was halfway to him by the time the single word had finished.

"Hey," Malcolm wrapped his arms around her when she reached him and inhaled deeply. He was home. "How are you doing?"

"Better now." Dani nestled into his chest. He rubbed her back in an attempt to hide his trembling hands. "Your pulse is going crazy," she noted.

"That's just what you do to me," he said, only partially joking. The first time he had been high around her, they were barely even classifiable as friends. But that didn't stop him from wanting her. It didn't help this time, that he actually had memories of her, the sounds she made, how her body felt against his, the way her back arched when she orgasmed. Malcolm did everything he could to keep those thoughts at bay. He was failing miserably.

When Dani looked up at him and rolled her eyes at his answer, he smiled, "And I may have spent the majority of my time waiting for you to get home working out."

"Worried?"

Even though he couldn't feel it in this moment, he absolutely had been, "Joslynn Bennet was in your apartment. I don't even want to think about how that could have turned out."

Dani laid her head on his shoulder, "I know. I don't want to think about how she intends to keep her promise either."

Malcolm's thoughts were scattered, flying every which way. He tried to focus as best he could. All he could think about was how happy he was that Dani was safe, and here now, and in his arms, pressed against his body…

Focus, he scolded.

Dani looked up at him again, "Are you okay?"

"I am, now that you're home. Why?"

She eyed him speculatively.

He reluctantly unwrapped his arms and crossed them over his chest, hoping she wouldn't catch a glimpse of them shaking. All the while, he fought the urge to bounce in place as he spoke, "I'd be lying if I said today hasn't been a complete and total catastrophe."

She huffed a laugh, "You're not kidding," and thankfully dropped the inquiry. Then, Dani bit her cheek, an act that usually meant she wanted to say something.

"What?" he asked.

When her gaze floated up to his, there were tears welling in her eyes, "I'm scared, Bright. Of what Joslynn has planned. I can't lose you."

Again, Malcolm's heart swelled. He knew how she felt about him; she'd made it very clear on numerous occasions. But, to witness the depth of that love, especially in his current state, melted every part of him, and ignited a fire in some places as well.

Dani reached for his neck and pulled his lips to hers. Instantly that fire within him spread. The kiss started chaste, but just the taste of her lips was enough to set him off. He lifted a hand with the intention of holding the back of her head and deepening the kiss. But, he caught himself and lowered it. Naturally, Dani was thinking the same thing he was and opened her mouth, teasing his with her tongue. He returned the gesture, before he could even think. Every one of his senses was ablaze.

This is wrong.

He froze, mid kiss.

"What's wrong?" Dani asked, immediately looking around the apartment for the threat.

Malcolm was grateful for the small distance she put between them. "Nothing. Sorry. It's just, you've been through a lot today. I don't want to-"

She cut his sentence off with her lips and pulled her body flush against his. The cotton pants offered little barrier between his body and hers, and he twitched in response to the friction. He'd never considered what it might be like to sleep with someone while under the influence of something so mind altering. He knew the drug heightened your drive, but this was like nothing he'd ever imagined.

And you cannot do this, under any circumstances.

It took a supernatural level of will power to pull himself away from her, "Wait. Dani."

Her chocolate eyes held him in a trance, his remaining capacity to think clearly vanished completely. He wanted her. Every part of him wanted to touch her, taste her, hear heavy breathing.

"I know you're trying to be noble. But, that's not what I need right now." She reached out and laid a hand on his chest, "This is what I need. To know that you're here, with me, safe." Her hand slowly slid down his torso and over the obvious bulge in his pants. That light touch took his breath away. His already racing pulse, skyrocketed. "Make me forget everything that happened today."

With that, all hope of Malcolm resisting his urges took a flying leap out the window. He pulled Dani into him and kissed her with fervor. His hands were already at the buttons on her shirt. After the first few were undone, his lips found her collarbone. He never broke the contact. as he pushed the blouse off her shoulders to the ground, and wrapped his arms around her again, feeling as much skin as he could in the process. He'd tasted almost every inch of her skin before, but now, it was like an aphrodisiac. Every time his mouth touched her, an electric current jolted through him. Her scent was intoxicating. And the faint moan that escaped her lips, as he trailed kisses down her chest hardened him in an instant.

Malcolm unclasped her bra with ease, tossing it aside without a second thought. He kissed the underside of her chest, teasing her, before taking her nipple in his mouth and sucking. Dani cried out.

"Sorry." Admittedly he had little control over how intense his actions were at this point.

"No. Do it again." Dani's head fell back when he complied, and she moaned. When he finished, her hands flew to his shirt pulling it over his head quickly. They kissed again and Malcolm pulled her toward the couch, removing her remaining clothing before laying her down. Seeing Dani nude was nothing short of a masterpiece. Every inch, every curve was a work of art. His cock ached at the sight of her there, on the couch, bare and wanton.

His heart was pounding so loud he was sure Dani could hear it. In his head it sounded thunderous, as he discarded his bottoms and snaked his way up her body. Kissing up the inside of her thigh, he grinned, before jumping to just under her navel to continue the rest of the way up to her lips. As his tongue lavished Dani's, Malcolm's hand found her center. The circular motion of his fingers caused Dani to break the kiss. She whispered his name, as he continued his movements. Her hips bucked and he responded by pushing two of his fingers inside her, his thumb continuing where his fingers had just been. Dani's breaths quickened and she begged him not to stop. Her chest heaved, as she periodically forgot to breath and gasped. When her climax hit, Malcolm watched her face intently. Reveling in her bliss, only exacerbated his own lingering high.

As soon as she came down, Dani pushed him backward until he was seated correctly on the couch. She crawled onto his lap and teased him for a minute, threatening to lower herself on to him, but not going through with it. It was torture, his cock throbbing in anticipation. When she tried to tease him again, Malcolm couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed her hips and pulled her down onto him, thrusting up at the same time. Each of them cried out, Dani at the sudden fullness, and Malcolm at the sheer euphoria that was being inside her. She began to grind him, slowly at first, working into a steady rhythm. His head fell back against the top of the couch as he watched her ride him.

Dani was the most beautiful and erotic creature he had ever laid eyes on. Every move she made felt amazing. For a moment he thought he was going to finish, watching her pleasure him with her body, but the sensation only intensified. He was right there, on the edge, his stamina prolonged by the poison that had been forcibly pumped into his system. Without warning, he held Dani around him and stood, moving them both to the floor. He kissed her like he was a drowning man and she was oxygen, both of them coated in sweat, before turning her over. She got up onto her knees, presenting herself to him. He gladly accepted, thrusting into her roughly.

Malcolm grunted lewdly, as he pistoned into her, desperately trying to finish. His pulse was through the roof and he was seeing bright spots on the edges of his vision. Every motion brought him closer and closer, heightened the pleasure. He pushed on Dani's back, lowering her front half, as he gripped her hips tightly. The new position changed just enough that Dani began singing a chorus of 'yeses'. He knew he had to be leaving marks where he gripped, but the only thing that mattered was feeling her come on him. As Dani's second climax hit, her spasms finally brought his own. With one last thrust, be buried himself within her, his cock pulsating the single greatest orgasm he'd ever experienced.

The lights at the edge of Malcolm's vision intensified for the moment, then gradually disappeared. His pulse lowered, but only back to the rapid post-high rate it had been at when Dani arrived. It was still far from normal. She rolled over onto her back, and he joined, wrapping his arm around her once more.

"Wow," Dani praised, giggling.

He smirked, tracing random patterns over her skin with his fingertips, "Yeah."

"Is that a 'today was crazy stressful' shaky hand or a 'sex so good I'm shook' shaky hand?"

At that he laughed outright. She'd noticed, but at least there were valid excuses aplenty, for tonight. "Can it be both?"

And not the fact that I'm still coming down from the second high that was forced upon me by the woman who is bound and determined to completely ruin my life.

Dani sighed, exhausted, "I think that's acceptable," and snuggled into him.

And just like that, the carefree feeling, subsided. Malcolm lay there on the floor, his love in his arms, and took stock of what he'd just done. He'd slept with Dani, a recovering addict, while high. If she ever found out, she would never forgive him. And rightfully so.

What the fuck was wrong with him? How could he be so selfish?

Malcolm slowly closed his eyes and swallowed the ever-growing lump in his throat.

It was inexcusable. It was reprehensible. It was something he could never undo.

He would never forgive himself.

Joslynn Bennet was winning.