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Continued thanks and disclaimers, yadda yadda yadda.

Chapter Three: Laughter in the Rain / Neil Sedaka

Sheldon looked up from the papers on his desk as his friend and colleague walked into the room, shut the door and sat wearily in one of the chairs in front of him. "It's not what you think it is, Hawkes. I mean, God, it's been almost eight years! I just, it can't, it can't be…"

"It can and it is," he said again, echoing his words from their conversation just minutes before. "It's not like you're too old for it, and word on the family grapevine is that you and Danny have been closer than ever lately, so…"

"That's just it, Sheldon, we've finally worked things out, found our identity as a couple again somewhere in the chaos of our lives with the kids and the job, and I just don't know how this will affect that. How will I even tell him?"

"Well, hopefully not the same way he found out the first time. I don't think we need you to faint on us. Though I can call Don to catch you again if you think it's necessary."

"Ha ha, very funny, Dr. Hawkes. No, I don't plan for there to be any fainting going on. Though it doesn't seem like I'm very good at planning anything these days, so maybe you should take precautions." She slumped forward, her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. "What am I going to do, Sheldon?"

Four weeks ago…

"What am I going to do with you, Sheldon?" Lindsay rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

"Sorry, Linds, I'm having to deal with budget cuts down in the M.E.'s office as much as you are up here in the lab. We're doing our best to get you results as quickly as we can, but we have to prioritize and some things have to get pushed aside." Hawkes crossed his legs and looked as weary as she probably did. The city's latest budget hadn't been kind to the law enforcement community. How the local government expected them to get just as much done but on a smaller budget was beyond her.

"Has Tessa decided for sure whether she's going to run for the City Council yet? Because I'm starting to think we need someone on there who will understand our woes."

"She hasn't made a final decision yet." Just then Danny stuck his head into the office.

"Hey you two. Montana, can I borrow you for a second?"

"What do you need? Hawkes and I are trying to figure out how to squeeze some more blood out of this rock the city council has given us."

"It's better if I show you. Can you guys take a break for a few minutes?" Lindsay eyed her husband warily. What was he up to?

"Yeah, a break would be great," Sheldon said while standing. "I could use a cup of something caffeinated anyway."

"Boom." Danny came over and took Lindsay's hand. "We'll be back in a few."

Lindsay let herself be led out of her office and into the elevator. "Where are we going? I thought you had a case you needed to ask me about."

"I didn't say this had anything to do with a case." Danny smiled that mischievous smile she saw often on her ten year old son's face these days. "Just be patient, Montana. All will be revealed soon enough."

She bit her lip to keep from badgering him with questions. This was a bit more spontaneous than they had been in a long time other than their dinner date a week ago and she was liking the return to their old form. Ever since that night it was like a weight had lifted off of them and they were stronger than ever as a couple.

The elevator pinged and opened at the lobby. Danny led her out and towards the front doors and she didn't have time to comprehend what they were doing before he had pulled her outside and they were immediately drenched by the downpour hammering the city.

"Danny! What the hell?!" She turned to go back inside, but Danny tugged on her hand to keep her in the rain.

"Don't you remember, Montana?" he yelled over the sound of the water pelting the sidewalk, ignoring all the looks they were getting from passersby.

And then it clicked. They had once been walking through Central Park, fairly early in their relationship, when a sudden downpour opened up and surprised them. Danny had started to run for cover, but Lindsay had spun in place with her arms out wide, for some reason feeling like she just wanted to stand there and take it all in. It wasn't like she could get any more wet than she already was anyway. Eventually Danny joined her, talking about how crazy she was and how it probably had something to do with her country upbringing, but it didn't take her long to persuade him that it could be fun to get caught in the rain. And he certainly hadn't minded how they had dried off and warmed up back at his apartment afterwards.

Now, on the sidewalk outside the lab with strangers all around them holding umbrellas or newspapers over their heads, Lindsay couldn't help but grin. It was like ten years or more had fallen away and they were young lovers again. "And here I didn't think you liked the rain, cowboy."

"A certain Montana girl taught me that getting drenched can be fun." He pulled on her hand to draw her close. "It started pouring as I was coming back from my scene and I just thought of you and how I wanted to share this with you. Getting rained on isn't fun if you're not with me."

She smiled and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling down on it to bring his face closer to hers. "Shut up and kiss me, Messer. And yes, that's an order."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with that predatory look that always turned her knees to jello. Damn, but she loved the rain.