A/N: Huzzah! An update! Just so ya know, any and all comments/reviews are welcome. Tell me what you enjoyed, tell me what you didn't. Easy as anything...

Caitlin held up one finger to silence Iris, and after that failed she turned her hand into a fist. She glared at Iris and that worked. Cradling the phone against her ear she rose from the couch, retreating into her bedroom. "Harry?"

"I hope I'm not bothering you…"

"Never! 'Course not!" Caitlin shut the door and slumped against it as she held out her phone and looked at it in panic. Reason reared its head and she put it back to her ear, only hearing the second half of what Harry was saying. Fuck! Nothing for it but to ask him to repeat. "What?"

"Oh… If you'd rather not, I'm okay with no."

"Um, could you repeat that?"

"Seriously, I'm an adult and can take a firm no without falling to pieces."

"Harry, I couldn't hear you. What did you ask?"

"Tomorrow, did you want to maybe watch a movie with me and grab dinner after?"

"A date?" Caitlin wanted to jump up and down and then shout her happiness.

"Yes?" Harry wasn't sure if Caitlin was on board with this idea. He could always commit seppuku and have his remains buried in a remote cornfield. But if he was dead, how would he date Caitlin? He forced himself to keep talking. "I mean, yes. I want to take you out and show you a good time. Not just because we're friends, but because I know we can be more."

"Awesome." Caitlin rolled her eyes at her trite response and vowed to do better - later. "A movie would be terrific."

"A movie and dinner after, at a restaurant." Duh. Of course, he'd repeated himself in the dumbest way. Please lord, strike him down or allow Caitlin to overlook his shortcomings. "We can decide what to watch when I pick you up, but I'll pick the restaurant and make a reservation if you don't mind? How does four o'clock sound?"

"Goodness, of course, that sounds great. There's lots of movies to pick from and I'm thrilled to see what kind of place you want to bring me to." Caitlin hugged herself and briefly considered spiking her phone on the bed and whooping her joy. Okay, not the best idea as they were still talking. "Um, I'll be ready by four pm, sorry but I've got to go now - bye!" She hung up before Harry could argue and pumped her arm high in celebration, shouting at Iris, "I've got a date tomorrow!" Caitlin whooped and clambered onto her bed, jumping wildly, her grin infectious. Iris joined her, peppering Caitlin with questions about the upcoming rendezvous.

Harry pulled up in his freshly washed and waxed vehicle, his fingers tapping the steering wheel. He chewed his lips and then blew air from his mouth in an attempt to settle his racing mind. Caitlin wanted to see a movie with him - had said the date sounded great, so why was he so damned nervous? Resolute, he exited his car. Faint heart never won fair lady - and Caitlin was so very fair and exquisite. Lord have mercy, let this date work out or kill him as a kindness.

The door flew open before he could knock. His anxiety lowered itself a few notches. Caitlin must have some of the same nerves he was having too.

"Hi!"

"Greetings." Harry wanted to play cool but smiled at Caitlin's enthusiasm. Y'know, it was only idiots who pretended to not care. "I'm glad you said yes."

"Yes?"

"To this date." Harry offered his arm as escort. "There's a bunch of different movies we could see, and I found a classic playing at a small but very nice theatre. I've never seen so many good reviews."

Caitlin took Harry's arm and moved close, following him to his vehicle. "That sounds fabulous."

The theatre was not exactly as advertised. Yes, it was playing a classic, but the crowds attending were rowdy - more interested in causing unrest than enjoying the movie. Caitlin crowded close to Harry. Was it terrible how happy she was to enjoy the heat his muscled body provided? Pissed at herself for thinking about Harry like a piece of meat, Caitlin clenched a fist and frowned.

Harry leaned close and asked, "What's with the angry look? Do you want to go now? Before the movie's done?" Harry lifted the bag of popcorn they were sharing and scanned left and right to see which movie patron was riling Caitlin. "This was a good idea in theory, but the reality isn't so much."

"Oh!" Caitlin blushed and thanked the darkness that hid her shame. "Ah, I'm not mad about anything or at anyone but myself."

"…and why? I told you it was okay if you didn't want to spend more time with me out and about in public." Harry set the popcorn onto his lap and peered into Caitlin's eyes. "Life's too short to spend it unhappy. I know you said mad, but mad always leads to unhappy."

"If you really don't mind, I'd like to go now. Let's get a drink." Caitlin smiled. "We can talk anywhere, how about you pick your favourite bar?"

Harry stood and gave Caitlin his hand to lead her out of the theatre. "Let's go."

"Wow." Caitlin released her seatbelt. "You're right. This is a pleasant surprise."

"Well, " Harry shrugged and unclipped his own belt, turning to smile sheepishly at Caitlin. "It's a far cry from the airport, yeah?"

"You'll have to explain why that was your other choice, but later." Caitlin opened the car door and stepped onto the packed gravel of the parking lot.

Harry scrambled out of his side, racing to Caitlin, taking hold of her elbow, meeting her surprised gaze with a nervous lick of his lips. "I'd like to escort you if you didn't mind."

Caitlin about melted. Harry had full kissable lips. They were lips she'd kissed, but that had been for work no matter how crazy pleasurable. "O-okay." She allowed him to walk close and guide her to the small weathered building with a sign that blinked the prosaic words, 'drinks' and 'cheap.'

Inside it was dim as any bar was expected to be, full of secluded tables and chairs arranged to encourage exchanges of deep conversation. The bar itself was a long polished burl of walnut, glass shelves full of liquor reflected by the mirrored wall that repeated the name of the business in dozens of different fonts, 'Watering Hole.'

Harry picked out a booth and waited for Caitlin to slide to the corner before joining her, ending up knee to knee, thigh to thigh. "Do you want-"

A blonde and buxom waitress approached their table, snapping a giant wad of gum. "Whaddaya wanna drink?"

Harry stopped speaking and gestured to Caitlin for her drink order, adding his request after. The waitress tossed her bleached hair and ambled away. "Um, do you really want to know why I like the bar at the airport best?"

"I'm conflicted," Caitlin admitted, "between knowing that and what makes this your second favourite bar."

"You're in luck. Play your cards right and I'll admit to everything." Harry flushed a charming shade of pink once he realized what he'd said. Okay, time to do some damage control. "The airport bar is more about potential than location."

Interested in the story in Harry had begun, Caitlin leaned an elbow on the table and smiled at her date. "And?"

"It's tidy and well-organized. You don't manage a place there and keep your patrons from catching their flights. You order a drink and it's given to you almost before you've finished asking." Harry chuckled. "Premium-priced but adequate quality."

"Oh? Is this place providing rot-gut?"

"That's neither here nor there." Harry shrugged, his blue eyes flashing.

Maybe it was with amusement but Caitlin hoped it was something…warmer.

"D'you want to hear about my reasons or not?"

"I do." Uncomfortably aware of the other connotation 'I do' held, Caitlin sat upright, hoping her expression was bland. "Do tell."

"It's not the bar but the location. The airport is every destination a person could hope to explore. Endless possibilities."

"I was expecting something more prosaic like a two for one deal."

"What?" Harry gave Caitlin a quick and humorous sour look. "I'm much fancier than that sort of thing." He raised his chin and made a show of sniffing his disdain. "I don't mind a good deal, but drinking before catching a flight has always been more about dreaming than the cold reality and drudgery of real-life."

"You find acting tortuous?" Caitlin asked without thinking any further.

"Why not ask me about my dreams? Are you scared?"

Caitlin opened her mouth to answer then closed with a snap of her teeth as their waitress approached, placing two glasses of wine before them, one red and one white. "Tab?"

Harry nodded and the waitress rolled her eyes, not sparing them another second before scuttling back to the bar.

Seizing the moment and Harry's open invitation, Caitlin asked, "What's your dream?"

"Feeling brave, eh?"

"Yeah, so spill!" Caitlin lifted her drink and took a long swallow, keeping her eyes trained on Harry.

He took hold of his own drink and swirled the ruby liquid to release its bouquet, taking a decorous sniff and then an ample sip. Harry swallowed and set his glass to the side. he smiled at Caitlin. "Are you sure? Because you might hear something you don't want to hear."

"Be that as it may, I trust you." Caitlin tore her gaze from Harry and pretended interest in the bar's décor. "We've been working together long enough that I'm not worried about anything new I learn about you."

"Should I be hurt or flattered?"

"Up to you." Caitlin stopped examining the far off reaches of the bar and fastened her considerable attention upon Harry. "You asked me out on a date. I can't be far wrong with your intentions. So spill."

"I don't know that it's a full-blown dream, but I have a want that's become quite the thirst." Harry put his hand on his thigh, edging it closer to his date and smiled as Caitlin jumped a little. "Spooked?"

Caitlin shook her head. "I'm no stranger to thirst or thirsty dreams." She slid her hand on her own thigh and made sure to nudge Harry's. "Thirst is a human condition. I'm human."

"Noted."

"I'm parched for more than just alcohol." Caitlin pushed her wine aside and Harry's. "As fun as seeing this place has been, maybe we should find a place we can be ourselves?"

Harry tossed a handful of cash on the table. "That sounds like a good idea."

"You're a funny man." Caitlin recognized the area Harry was driving. "We're going to be ourselves at a restaurant?"

"I promised a movie and dinner. The movie was a bust and there's no way I'd cheat you out of a meal."

"All right." Caitlin kept looking right and left as Harry drove past all the familiar restaurants. "Where are you taking me?"

"I heard good things about this place," was all Harry offered.

"Welcome to Trevelyan's Tavern." The hostess smiled at Harry and let her hand hover over the waiting menus. "For two?"

"Yes, two. I have a reservation, under Wells." Harry affirmed, slipping his hand into Caitlin's, following the hostess to a romantic candlelit table and then helping Caitlin into her seat.

"I'll send your server to you shortly, please enjoy your evening."

Harry nodded and smiled with charm at Caitlin. "You ready to be ourselves?"

"Yup." Caitlin popped the 'p' in her response. She leaned forward after Harry settled into his chair. She raised one eyebrow comically high. "You've chosen an interesting restaurant."

"Interesting? It's got a pretty good reputation for food and service. What's so interesting about that? As if I'd take you somewhere terrible," scoffed Harry.

"You know what I mean."

"I'm never mean."

Harry's smug smile made Caitlin want to kiss his attitude into oblivion. A girl could dream, yeah? And that's the thought that made her snort. Loudly. Inelegantly. In front of the stunningly attractive, mid-forties, red-headed and well-endowed server who ignored the outburst. And why wouldn't she? Waiters needed tips. But Caitlin realized the woman couldn't care less about her outburst. The waitress was busy eye-fucking Harry. And what was even worse, Harry didn't mind. No. That was an uncertain smile, an attempt at an impassive face - he didn't want to cause a scene but he had to know this person. Fuck.

"Harry! Long time, no see!" The server abruptly remembered Caitlin, turning to face her and killed a few of the megawatts in her smile. "Is this too funny, or what? Imagine us running into each other like this after we parted so suddenly."

Caitlin had no desire to learn why Harry and this woman had parted. Right now, her only desire was best left without putting it into actual thoughts…because planning a death turned 'accidental' manslaughter into premeditated murder. Caitlin remained silent, her lips in a wide smile. She hoped.

"Becca, it wasn't really sudden."

Harry's smile had tightened realized Caitlin. He wasn't being super friendly because he wanted to - he was under pressure. Should she cut this interaction short? Wait for Harry to shut this Becca down? That might be best.

"You want to give it another try?" Becca forgot the menus she was carrying, letting them flop in her hands, threatening to fall to the floor. "I gotta be honest, I'm kinda seeing someone, but we can work that out later."

Hell to the no. Caitlin had both fists clenched - that wouldn't do. She straightened her back and with shoulders back, she let her eyes coolly assess the server. "I'm afraid you don't know Harry very well."

"Caitlin, I -"

Caitlin held up her hand to cut off Harry. "Becca, I can assure you, Harry does not want another chance with you."

"That ain't up to you!"

Becca was not taking the hint. Okay. Time to show the claws. "Ooh, but it is." Caitlin made sure to relax her body. The key to selling confidence was knowing the outcome was predetermined in your favour. It might not turn out exactly as you envision, but it was guaran-damn-teed to help. "Or else he wouldn't have made me his wife." Caitlin made sure to rise out of her chair and unobtrusively hide her ring hand. And now for a showstopper, because if you're gonna try to take down the competition, you may as well admit the truth. She glared at Becca. "My attraction to Harry will survive any and all attention from his exes."

Harry rose out of his seat, walked around Becca and pulled Caitlin into a close embrace. "D'you wanna go?" he whispered into her ear.

She stepped back a little and hoped her answering 'fuck yeah' was readable on her face, Caitlin moved closer to let her body lean heavily on Harry. "Baby, we're going. I don't like the atmosphere here."