So, new chapter. Hope you like it. Thanx to my amazing beta! Enjoy!

Chapter 12: You just burst

"That's why we have Nico. You two will be working together," Connor said lightly, clearly unaware that Dani was less than pleased. She had no choice, however, because Buttons required a babysitter, and Nico was better at looking after troubled grownups. Together, they rode to the filming area, witnessed one of her outbursts, and then waited. And waited.

"We've been waiting here for 25 minutes. I don't think she's gonna come out," Nico stated as he approached Dani from behind. He had waited in the shade, fiddling with his cell phone. Replying to emails was a welcome excuse to put some distance between them.

"Okay. Right, then I am going to file papers with the court that say that she didn't finish her session." She shrugged like she didn't care. Which, honestly, she didn't right then, because all she wanted was to get away from that hostile new Nico persona she saw.

"You just gonna let her go to jail?" he asked her, surprised.

"I already told Connor that I am not gonna rubber stamp this. I am not some corporate stooge," she clarified. As if he didn't know that.

"I am actually surprised you took the job at V3," Nico said, because he was really wondering why she had taken the job.

"Meaning?"

"Well, you're not the corporate type," he threw her words back at her.

"Oh and you are?" she asked with an aggressive undertone.

"I wear suits," he replied. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't a straight answer either.

"If you didn't want me here why did you bring me in?" Dani came straight to the point, knowing that Nico would always tell her the truth.

"Just for one client. I didn't expect you to stay." He didn't hold back, and it hurt her.

"Way to roll out the carpet for me on my first day." She really couldn't understand what caused his behavior. He was honest as ever, but his honesty had never been so painful, and Dani got the feeling that the barbs were purposeful, even if he had said that he never meant to hurt her.

"If things keep going on like this it might be your last day," he quipped. Just then, before Dani had a chance to react, an assistant became really worried about her client, and they had to break up their little party. When Cindy didn't open the door, Nico broke it down the instant Dani told him to, no questions, no arguments. While they checked on Cindy and searched the trailer, Dani couldn't sense any hostility, noticing instead that they fell into a familiar pattern of working together, but she couldn't forget what he had told her before. He had never meant for her to stay. He wanted her gone.

When he showed up with Cindy late at night, it was like a déjà vu. She knew who was at her door even before she opened it because she still knew him by the way he knocked. The sound gave her goose bumps of excitement, which annoyed her. She was mad at him, damn it, she didn't want to be excited when he knocked at her door. So when she opened the door, she wasn't friendly and she stayed that way throughout the talk with Nico and her patient in her kitchen. It became more and more obvious that Cindy had a serious problem when it came to relationships, and of course Dani had to comment on it.

"Haven't you ever had that feeling Dr. Santino with another person? You can't describe it but it's undeniable," Cindy demanded, and Dani felt Nico's eyes on hers, but she kept her eyes firmly on Cindy. "And you had to act on it or you'd just burst?!" Dani's eyes finally betrayed her by glancing over to Nico, who looked pained hearing Cindy talk like that. Yes, Dani knew the feeling. She knew what it meant to want someone you shouldn't want, to dream about someone you shouldn't dream about and when you looked at the person you could see in his eyes that he felt the same way. As the young woman waited for an answer, Dani and Nico looked at each other. Yes, they had acted on it more than once because otherwise they would have burst. Dani still felt like that when she was around him. For a second, his eyes were open and vulnerable, and she thought she saw that he still wanted her as much as he had over six months ago. However, then he looked away, closed that door, and ended the connection. He really doesn't want me anymore, she thought

Dani quietly cleared her throat before she could speak. "Not every impulse is a good one," she said calmly to both her patient and herself, avoiding looking at Nico again. If they had had better impulse control, maybe their friendship would still be intact and maybe he would still talk to her about his problems instead of pushing her away and shutting her out.

She couldn't help but complain when he offered Cindy her couch, because it just showed how much he disrespected her rules, and by extension her, these days. He pointed out to her that he had every right to do so because her contract said so, but she knew that there was more to it than that.

"Why don't you want me at V3?" she asked him directly, hoping to be able to glean something from the vague answer he would undoubtedly give.

"I just think there are better places for you," he replied.

"I'm sorry I don't even know how to interpret that," she said, because, damn it, she wanted, if not a straight answer, one that would at least give her some inkling of what was going on in his head. Couldn't he just tell her why he didn't want her around anymore?

"Anyway you like." He remained infuriatingly vague.

"Oh, ok. So here's an interpretation for you. We're working together whether you like it or not. And I need you to get me some information on our client," she decided to play his games. Turnabout is fair play. Dani knew that if Nico was in vague mode there was no way she would get a straight answer out of him. So she could at least get her work done.

After Nico had gotten and delivered all the information Dani needed, he was more convinced than ever that she would never give up, she would never stop being nosy, and she would never stay out of his business. Also, she would never quit her job just because he was being mean to her. He knew he couldn't protect her completely from what was to come, but he needed to make sure that she would be left out as much as possible. So when he met with the FBI in his car late at night he voiced for the first time what was important to him, knowing that he would give away something about himself that could potentially be dangerous. Every piece of information that made him vulnerable was dangerous for him, because it could always be used against him. He had to risk it though, because all that mattered to him was keeping her safe.

"I want assurances that Dr. Santino won't get caught in any of this," he said, voicing his biggest fear.

"We'll do our best," the fed said dismissively. He didn't know yet how important this was to Nico.

"Do better than that." Nico demanded, startling his handler with his intensity. "If she gets hurt in any way. You do not want me as an enemy," Nico resorted to threatening the man. He had just threatened the FBI, and he knew he would carry out his threat if Dani did get hurt. He hadn't stayed away from her, hadn't ruined their friendship, and spent six months without a glimpse of her just so that in the end the FBI would destroy everything anyway.

With the orchestrated security breach at V3, Nico knew that Dani would need extra guarantees that her confidential patient files would be protected. After what Marshall had done, she would be scared more than anyone else in the building. He had to do something so she could sleep at night, he thought. Only the thought that she could be as scared as she had been when Marshall had bugged her office reminded him of his failure back then and his promise to protect her. So, he decided to install another firewall onto her computer, one that would be effective enough so her patient files would be safe as long as he didn't tell the hacker the password to the firewall.

"It puts a firewall between your files and V3's mainframe," he told her as he leaned over her chair from behind. The smell of her hair and of her perfume was a delightful distraction, and he wondered for a second when he had last been this close to her.

"Good. But I don't really keep much on here. Not after what happened with Pittman," she admitted and the vulnerability in her voice attacked his walls once again.

"That won't happen again," he said, and Dani turned her head to look at him, examining his motives. "I promise," he vowed and looked her in the eyes, unblinking, not shying away. His heart sped up as she held his look and gave him a tentative smile. God, would he ever get over her? Paloma interrupted their moment, and when he took a phone call right outside the office he heard that she was talking about him once he hung up.

"He is opaque to most, but transparent when he looks at you," he heard her say, and his breath stopped. So much for hiding his feelings. So much for pushing her away. So much for not letting anyone know what she meant to him. He heard Dani's harsh dismissal of the topic and slipped around the corner when Paloma left Dani's office a second later. He hoped even more now that she would show up at the party. Maybe then he could talk to her and make sure she wouldn't shut him out again like she had done after their first kiss. Sure, there hadn't been another kiss, but being busted by Paloma while having an intimate moment, even if it was just looking into each other's eyes, could make Dani shy away from him once more.

While Nico changed at home, he contemplated how he should proceed. The FBI knew about his infatuation with the good doctor, and now Paloma knew as well and had told Dani. Even if she didn't believe it, it would still make her doubt his stand-offish behavior. That well he knew her.

He wasn`t sure if he should hope for or dread her presence at the party. He looked into the mirror as he tied the knot of his tie with practiced ease. Could he really push her away now? Could he really hurt her on purpose knowing that to do so would ensure she stay away from him?

"You`re a damn fool, Careles, " he sighed as he looked himself in the eyes. He had fought with the SEALs, he had kept football players in line, and he had been able to fool a whole organization without once lying, but one woman was enough to reduce him to a sentimental simpleton who would do anything just to keep her safe, even if it meant jeopardizing the mission. He could ruin the investigation, he could lose the job offer in Dallas and all the money that came with it, and still he wasn`t able to stay away from one Danielle Santino, even though she had made it very clear in the past that she wasn`t interested in him as more than a friend. He still wanted her. He still loved her. And he still wouldn't be able to deal with her getting hurt.

"So you came," he said as he came up behind her and startled her on purpose. He hadn't done that in a while and he had missed it, missed her flustered little jump of surprise.

"Oh you know I figured if I work here then I better act like a part of the family. Like you," she replied, her lips pouting on the last word in what Nico firmly told himself wasn't a flirting manner. Nico couldn't help but stare at her. She looked breathtaking in her green dress.

He looked her deep in the eyes. "You look beautiful," he said honestly, and his pulse sped up when she smiled and cast her eyes down in reply to his compliment, a blush rushing quickly to her cheeks. He knew that she wanted to say something, but then Connor announced himself obnoxiously and interrupted their moment. Nico excused himself, not interested in any small talk with Connor. He didn't need anyone else seeing right through him, and he knew that as long as Dani was dressed the way she was dressed that night, that he wouldn't be able to hide the admiration in his eyes.

He got himself another drink and retreated to the balcony only to see Dani dancing with Connor. They were laughing and talking, and Nico could feel the jealousy blaze inside of him. He wanted to be the one to sway her around the dance floor and hold her in his arms, the one to bask in the warmth of her smile. It wasn't fair that he couldn't be the one. It just wasn't fair.

Just like it wasn't fair that Dani once again fell for a man that wasn't Nico. Sure, it was only a brief affair, but still it wasn't fair. Strangely enough, Nico was more amused by it than hurt, because he just couldn't take the guy seriously. What Dani saw in him was beyond him, though he doubted she'd see it for long. Were blatant flattery and coming onto her stronger than a car salesman's aftershave really the way to get her into bed? It had obviously worked for Donnally, he supposed it was the way it had worked for the professor, and now this guy. But the thing was that he wanted so much more than a brief affair. The way Dani acted around her new lover let Nico know that they were like him and Vera, just with less understanding for each other, and not like him and Gabrielle had once been. Who was he to judge if she wanted to have a fling? It didn't mean he had to like it, but it would have bothered him more if she had started something serious under his watch again.

Still, he wasn't sure what to do. The moments when she held his look and smiled at his compliments had become more numerous. But should he make his move? Could he do it in all this mess or would it just be egotistic of him? What if, against all odds, she had feelings for him, and they started something? Should he tell her about his FBI job? Dani would never be able to lie to Connor. But he couldn't lie to her either. And what about after this was done? What if V3 didn't survive? Would she be angry with him? What about his job in Dallas? Would she go with him? Not likely, since her daughter was still in school here. Did he even still want the job? The most painful thought, however, was: what if he told her again what he felt for her, and she rejected him once more?

Nico knew he needed some perspective and some friendly, or not so friendly, advice. He would use his connections for himself for once and go visit Alex.

It had been a good but painful talk, and afterwards, he knew that he just had to stay away as long as he couldn't tell her everything. Especially after Carl's suicide, he just couldn't risk dragging her into any of it. She had trusted him with the USB drive after some consideration of her options, and she had let him bring someone in to decrypt it. It stung when she initially didn't allow him to take the drive, but he knew the emotional turmoil she was going through, had gone through it himself. And, when she decided to trust him over herself, he was so warmed by her faith that he had to leave quickly lest he wrap her in his arms are refuse to let go.

The suicide of her client had shaken her badly, and he knew she wouldn't rest until she found out what exactly had happened to him. He had to be faster, had to work better and more thoroughly than before to keep her safe and out of harm's way

Of course, she didn't accept it. She called him, sent him texts and emails, left messages on his voice mail, and cornered him at V3 when he hadn't been able to dodge her after being gone for a while. When he heard from Connor that she had quit her job at V3 he should have felt relieved, but all he felt was worry. So when she sent him a text with an SOS message, he was mad with fear. What had she gotten herself into this time?

He burst into her office the instant she unlocked the door. He didn't have time for waiting, he just wanted to know what was wrong. "You're alright? What's going on? The text said you're in danger," he asked breathlessly. The way she looked at him with a half smile on her face and her arms crossed in front of her chest let him know that she had set up a trap for him and he had walked right into it. "I guess I deserve that," he admitted, having a rough idea of about how mad she was.

Dani raised her eyebrows and snapped, "You deserve a lot more than that." With those words, she turned around and walked away from him further into the room. Her whole body language screamed defense, screamed that he'd hurt her.

"So," he started and closed the door. He hoped that by getting her to talk he could distract her enough to stay away from topics he couldn't talk about. "You quit V3?"

"Ah-ah. My turn to ask questions," she shattered his hope that the 'offense is the best defense' tactic would work this time.

"Look Dani," he sighed, partly exhausted and partly annoyed that she just wouldn't stay out of his business and let him do his job like he used to. He walked towards her, "I know I've been elusive."

"You're too kind... to yourself", she shot back.

"I need you to be patient with me," he practically begged her.

"Oooh sorry, that flew out the window four days and three phone calls ago," she said in a harsh tone. Nico knew that he wouldn't get out of this talk unharmed. This was it. He felt resignation settle upon him. He would lose her. "No. What's more important is the safety of one of my patients, and I think that there is someone out there that might have answers for me, someone that you can help track down," she explained and he was surprised that they were suddenly back to business. "I need to find Jospeh Crabcheck," she admitted after taking a deep breath and surprised the hell out of him.

"So do I," he admitted without thinking about it.

"Why are you looking for Crabcheck?" she wanted to know.

"I wanna tell you everything, but I can't risk putting you in jeopardy. Can you accept that?" he asked her, because even more than normal the only thing he had left was the truth. Admitting that he didn't want her to get harmed or compromised in any way. The truth that he was holding back information.

"No! I can't," she fumed, but he could see something else now as well. She wasn't only angry. She was deeply hurt by his behavior, and she didn't even try to hide it. "If you shut me out this way, if you shut me down this way after everything that I have been through with Carl then you really... you don't care about me at all," she said in a tone that made his gut twist. He had wanted to keep her away from and out of this mess so she wouldn't get hurt too deeply. But now she was standing in front of him radiating pain because she felt betrayed by him. He had caused this. She looked like she didn't believe in anything anymore because he had been so busy protecting her that he hadn't realized the wounds he was inflicting.

"It's more complicated than that!" he told her, making one last attempt to make her give up.

"Oh, ok, then let me simplify it for you. If you don't tell me everything that is going on right now then you can walk out the door and never come back," she told him, still in that wounded tone. He knew, however, that this wasn't just her lashing out in pain. She meant every word. When she marched towards the door, he felt himself panic. Ever since she had arrived at V3 he had wanted her gone, but now that she was actually offering him a real chance to have her out of his life forever, he felt himself being gripped by fear. He didn't think when he grabbed her arm and swung her around. She was still furious but when she saw the look in his eyes she stopped struggling. That was all it took for him to lean down and kiss her like he had wanted to all this time. He stopped when he felt her tugging her hands out of his grip. She didn't move away however, but ran her fingers through his hair and slung one arm around him when he kissed her again. He dipped her lightly, felt her cling to him and gave as good as she got. When they broke the kiss she looked stunned, but remained in his arms as she looked up at him.

"Sit down. I'll tell you everything," Nico said and slightly tightened his grip on her as he held her in his arms.

TBC