A/N: So sorry for the long delay on this one. I must admit I have debating been how to tie things up and now I think I may have found a way to bring everything back together.

Meredith Brody couldn't deny the fact that she'd fallen a little bit in love with her partner as she watched him kneel at the gravesite where he had nearly been entombed and place a large bouquet of purple tulips at the foot.

Savannah Kelly had been a lucky woman she thought intently staring at his chiseled jawline. But as evidenced, not everyone had shared that sentiment. Chris LaSalle was blessed to be alive and Brody had to wonder how he was going to cope with the idea that the mystery woman who had taken care of him after he'd been rescued from the grave was still out there.

Further questioning of Russell Mathers revealed that the caretaker had paid for the room they had found Chris in, but only for one night. He'd hoped that the maid would find the agent the following morning and get him the proper care that he needed. But someone else had slipped in and paid for three more nights, with an added note to refuse housekeeping.

AKA: LaSalle's mystery woman.

Part of Brody hoped that he would just take solace in the fact that he'd been well cared for and chalk it up to a Good Samaritan who preferred to remain nameless. But a few long stray blonde hairs found at the scene would make anonymity impossible. Pride had already taken the samples back to Sebastian for processing.

"You ready?" she asked watching her Bama Boy rise to his feet and turn to face her.

"Yup, in fact why don't you drive," Chris shoved his hands into his pockets as he fell in line with his partner and walked back to the truck. "I'm kind of tired."

"You just slept for two whole days," Brody grinned at him easily as she climbed into the driver's seat. He did still look a little worn out. But then who wouldn't be after being drugged, stalked, and entombed alongside your dead girlfriend. Then there was the whole nearly be charged as an accessory to murder part. No matter how much put on his famous grin, Chris LaSalle had been through more than his fair share of tragedy lately.

"Believe it or not, bein' buried alive takes a lot out of ya," Chris said, watching her press the keyless ignition. "I was lucky you were there for me, Pride too. If you hadn't of called me when ya did, I might have-"

"Pride and I would have never let that happen." Brody pulled the truck on the narrow asphalt path, slowly heading for the exit. "Sonja on the other hand…"

"Oh man, that's a scary thought." Chris let out a slight chuckle as Brody burst out into a fit of giggles. As funny as it was he still had to find a way to make amends with their fiery new team member.

"She's still pissed at you, you know." Brody commented looking in the rearview.

"Fer what exactly? Still lovin' Savannah?"

Brody's face fell slightly at the comment. Not that she could blame him. Six months was still a relatively short amount of time to grieve over someone you loved. "I think there's a little more to it than that."

"Percy and I'll be fine," he scoffed before breaking out in his signature grin before slouching down a bit and crossing his arms over his chest. "But you best just keep yer eyes on the road. Wouldn't want ya messin' up my truck."

"Oh…because you've done such an excellent job taking care of it the last six months," she laughed grinned, motioning to the pile of clothes and jackets that were taking up the back seat. "When was the last time you did your laundry, LaSalle?"

"It gets done. But for your information, I hardly need to do it at all." He was about to say that it because one of his many lady friends helped him out, but Brody cut him off.

"That's because you wear the same pants for three days in row."

"Nothin' wrong with that." LaSalle quipped pulling his Alabama baseball cap down over his eyes as he settled in for the near two hour trip home. "According to Gentlemen's Quarterly, you can wear a good pair of jeans for up to five days before washin' them. It helps to ensure that they maintain their shape and don't fade."

"Funny, I didn't know you could read." Brody said mischievously.

Chris lifted his cap and opened one eye, glaring. "Magna Cum Lade or have you forgotten?"

"You never cease to amaze me." There were things that Brody wished she could forget about her partner during the last six months, but for the moment things seemed to be back to normal and for that she was grateful.

Maybe that was why, she just kept driving when she saw a woman with bleach blonde hair step out from the shadows and pick up the flowers that Chris had left on Savannah's grave.

It was wrong for her not to stop, this Meredith Brody knew, but for LaSalle's sake she thought it was best to just let it go for now and give her partner a chance to recuperate. The evidence to the woman's identity was waiting for them at home and if Chris chose to pursue it would be his choice.

"Why do you say we stop at Chubby's on the way home and pick up some wings?" she asked, turning onto the main road that would take them out to the highway.

Chris looked at her again. "Chubby's twice in one week? There's something wrong with you." Either that or she was trying to smother him with comfort food as a means to cope with her own ride on the emotional rollercoaster of the last several days. "How about a nice Louisiana Strawberry Salad from Commander's Palace instead, my treat?"

"Whatever you want, LaSalle. I was just trying to look out for you but if you'd rather have salad, I'm all for it. Just so you know you will have to change your for pants for that." Commander's Palace was an upscale restaurant that required a certain dress code.

Again with the pants. LaSalle rolled his eyes as he pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial for the preferred restaurant. When the time came he would make certain that he was dressed appropriately. "Reservations at 8 and when we get home, I'll rifle through the back seat and see if I can find my good jacket, but I might need a place to shower."

Brody sank her teeth into her bottom lip, recalling the Molotov Cocktail that had all but destroyed his only bathroom and had them barely escaping with their lives. "Does that mean you're finally taking me on my offer to sleep on my couch?"

LaSalle sat up readjusting the seat. "It's kinda tough ta stay at my place when it doesn't have a bathroom, but I suppose I could use the one at the pizza place next door. They don't have a shower though."

"So, it's a yes," Brody smiled largely at him. Finally, he was getting out the place that she had longed believed was the trigger to his restlessness and womanizing.

"But it's temporary, when the bathroom's fixed I'm going right back."

"Chris-"

He could see the look in her eyes and knew where she was headed. "Look, it was my house before I started datin' Savannah and it'll continue to be my house long after, ok?"

"Ok, but I just think-"whether he wanted to or not, Brody was determined to get him out of that house and into something that didn't have the ghost of a dead woman staring at him every time he walked into the bedroom.

"Stop"

Obeying his request, Brody pulled the truck to the shoulder and slammed on the breaks before throwing the vehicle into park. She knew he wasn't speaking about stopping in the physical sense, but it seemed like a good avenue to get him to see reason. "Staying in that house is going to kill you!"

The last several days had been a good indicator of that so had the months of endless womanizing and partying before that. Chris was a cop and good one at that, ex-Vice in fact. How could he not be aware of the danger in city that was crawling with murderers and sexual deviants? More importantly, how could he not care?

"Start the truck." LaSalle clipped shooting her a murderous glance. He debated about adding in a few choice words for spite but then thought better of it.

"No."

"Just start the damn truck!" He said a bit more forcibly.

Brody shook her head. "I won't, not until this is settled."

Intense brown irises met angry blue ones in a standoff built up emotions, Merri being the first to speak, "You were stalked and buried alive because you can't handle sleeping in your own bed and an innocent woman was murdered with your badge pinned to her chest!"

Alexandria Hale was killed because she unfortunately resembled Savannah.

Chris tore his eyes away from her and rubbed his clenched jaw before tugging on the door handle. "Get out, I'm driving."

No. Brody held her ground, locking the doors as he circled around the truck, anger flashing hot. There was no way in hell she was giving up the driver's seat.

Chris tugged on the door handle, snapping it back. When it didn't open he snaked his hand down into his pocket. The door locks suddenly popped granting him access to the driver's side.

"Keyless remote, remember," he said dangling it in her face as he pulled open the door. "Now, ya gettin' out or do I have to take you out myself?"

Brody pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes as she reached to undo the seatbelt. She would get out but this conversation was far from over. Swinging her feet to the side, she saw him extend his hand in a gentlemanly fashion that was indicative of his Southern charm, even when angry; he managed to keep his manners intact.

Begrudgingly, she reached for it debating about smacking the shit out him as his trademark grin started to climb across his lips. But she had done that once before and now sorely regretted it.

Perhaps it was time for a different tactic? Placing one foot on the running board, she graciously stepped down onto the asphalt, keeping a hold his hand as they passed one another in the transition. When she was certain his guard was down, Brody jerked his hand and spun back into him creating a faux dance move of sorts as his arm involuntarily wrapped her into his chest, making him grunt in surprise. Nose to nose, her hand instinctively reached up and cupped the side of his face, as her eyes shone with wanting.

"Brody-" Chris started to protest, but it was too late. She was already kissing him.

A/N: OMG Meredith Brody what did you do? And why did you let the blonde woman who took Savannah's flowers get away? For those who are still following this wild ride still has a couple of chapters to go!