A/N: See the intro for the standard stuff. Please R&R.

RoadRunner: your review means a lot since I love your stuff. I'm not worthy. Maggie: too bad the Mets choked. That would have been interesting to explore. DS: Thank you, glad you're ejnoying. Hope I keep your interest. TylerH: everyone is a fan 'round here for the moment. (okay, no stalkers coming to the metro-area to find me.) Little Corinthian: Flack is just yummy isn't he. I hope you stay intrigued.

"Whatdaya like?" asked Don as they walked along.

Tess shrugged. "Whatever. I don't have any hang-ups regarding food. I eat just about anything."

"Really?" Don glanced over at Tess.

She raised her eyebrows. "What? You're looking at me like I'm some sort of freak."

"This is New York. Every girl has hang-ups about food," stated Don.

Tess shook her head and clicked her tongue. "You need to get out more."

"Ya know if I wanted to get hassled, I'd have gone for burgers with Danny."

Tess laughed. "Fine. It just doesn't matter where we go, that's all."

Don stopped. "Okay. What planet are ya from?"

"Toledo."

"As in Ohio?"

"Well, not Spain, that's for sure."

"Do yer parents know yer such a smart-ass?"

Tess shook her head in mock disgust. "Ya know, Don, if this is flirting, you're doing a miserable job of it."

Don looked down at the sidewalk. He looked up at Tess. She was trying hard not to smile. Her lips were impassive, but her chocolate eyes were dancing. "Okay. Let's start this over. Tess Nagy. Would ya like to grab a bite to eat?"

Tess looked up at him a sort of half-smile on her face. "You mean like a date?"

Don shrugged. "Yeah, I guess like a date."

Tess gave him a more impish smile. "You know a girl generally likes to dress for a date."

Don huffed, shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Look, if you don't want to do this."

Tess chuckled. "Sorry. Yes, Don Flack, I would like to grab a bite to eat with you."

Don started walking again. "Okay then."

"You know if this is a date, you should be paying."

"I could do that," he agreed.

Tess smiled. "Cool."

Don grinned. "Don't think I don't know what ya just did. I'm not stupid, ya know."

"Never said you were." They walked along in silence. Don stopped and held a door open for Tess.

"Here we are." He waved toward the building.

Tess looked around at the building's facade. "Another bar? If we were eating pub grub, we coulda stayed where we were."

Don smiled, blue eyes snapping. "Na. Ya go to Sullivan's for the game. Better TVs. Ya come here for a good burger."

Tess grinned. "Ah, quite the connoisseur you are."

"Yeah, all of my friends tell me that."

Tess laughed. "I'll bet." She walked in and Don followed close behind. Once her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, Tess looked around and nodded. The décor was akin to a 1950's rec room including a vinyl padded bar and carved ducks flying up the wall.

"Cool. Looks promising."

"Glad you approve." Don placed a hand on the small of Tess' back to direct her. She jumped a little. He pulled his hand away. "Sorry." He reached past her and pointed at a booth. "There's a spot over there." They wound their way over and slid into opposite sides. A barmaid came by. She smiled warmly at Don.

"Been a while, Flack. The usual?" She leaned in toward him, shutting out Tess.

Don looked over at Tess a little sheepishly. "Do you need a menu?"

Tess shrugged and gave him a reassuring smile. "Depends. What's the usual?"

"Cheeseburger, fries and a beer. Toppings come on the side."

Tess looked at the barmaid, who was still ogling Don. "I'll take the same, except do you have Killian's on tap?"

"Mm-hmm," she replied not even looking Tess' way.

"Then I'll have that. Thank you." Tess leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.

She watched the pair with a little half smile.

"I'll be right back." The barmaid flashed Don one more brilliant smile then sashayed off.

"Sorry about that," he mumbled shifting a little.

Tess shrugged a little and uncrossed her arms. "Hey, it's okay. She's got a thing for you. Can't really blame her." She looked over at him through her lashes.

Don grimaced a little. "Yeah, but it ain't cool."

"I've got tougher skin than that. Can't teach in the Bronx without developing a thick skin."

Don nodded. "Ya said something about grading papers. Whatdaya teach?"

"English at Hunter."

"Ya jus' said ya teach in da Bronx."

"I did. Try and keep up. Started with Teach for America at Kennedy. Did my time, got hired regular. I've been at Hunter for two years." The barmaid set their beers on the table. Tess took a sip. She looked up through her lashes at Don. She leaned in. "So, this is the part where we do the background thing, right? I tell you about what I do, where I came from, my family and you do the same?" Tess rocked her hand back and forth as she talked.

Don grinned. "Yeah. Generally how it's done. Ya got a better idea?"

Tess ducked her head trying to hide the blush that accompanied the thoughts that raced through her mind. She took a bigger drink of her Killian's. "Um. No. You want to start, or me?" She glanced back up at Don.

"Ya were doin' fine. An' the Cliff's Notes version is fine."

Tess grinned and shook her head. "Don't you know that's cheating? You'll get detention for that." Don started to reply. Tess held up her hand. "Let's forget I said that. I'm gonna step back now until the ground quits crackling."

"Afraid of thin ice, Tess?" inquired Don leaning towards her. She smelled of cinnamon, sugar and something warm. Like toast or sticky buns, he thought. Tess caught his eyes and almost drowned in them.

Tess sat back in the booth and took a deep breath. Thank God there was a table between them. What the hell was her big mouth getting her into? She tilted her head and crossed her arms. "I can skate with the best of them. I just didn't take this to be a speed event."

Don sat back suddenly. "Yer probably right there. Retreat to neutral corners?"

"Good idea." Tess sipped her beer for a few moments and got her thoughts in order. "So, we've established that I'm an English teacher from Toledo."

"And a Tigers fan."

Tess shook her head. "Only by default. I follow the Toledo Mudhens more, but they don't really come around here. My dad's fault."

"So you have a dad?"

Tess smiled. "And a mom and an older brother and sister. Dad is a professor at UT, mom is a painter, Adam is a cellist and Stephanie sculpts." Tess waved her hand in the air. "I'd be the athletic one. You?"

"Yonkers born and bred."

"Gee, couldn't tell that," teased Tess.

"Ya gonna let me talk?" Tess smiled and indicated he should proceed. "Dad is a cop, older sister, younger sister."

"Ah, the middle child. And the only boy. I'll take bets you're a junior."

Don ducked his head. "Yep, I am. And you're the baby."

"We all gotta fit in somewhere."

Their burgers came. Don ordered them each another beer. Tess loaded her burger with onions, pickles and mustard. She pooled mustard and catsup next to her fries for dipping. They sat eating silently for a few minutes. Don glanced over at Tess there was a glob of mustard and catsup near the corner of her mouth.

"Ya gotta a…" He touched the side of his mouth. Tess unconsciously snaked the tip of her tongue out flicked it away. Don could only stare at where the mustard had been. He glanced up and met Tess' eyes. Melted chocolate met sunny blue. Tess looked away first. Don shifted in his seat.

"Neutral corners," reminded Tess.

"Yeah. Right," he agreed. They were quiet again for a bit.

"So, you're a cop."

"Homicide detective."

"From a family of cops."

"Yep."

"And a man of few words," grinned Tess.

"And yer a woman of many."

Tess lifted her glass. "Remember, English teacher. Comes with the territory."

"So, you came to New York to teach."

"I come from a very civic-minded family." Tess took a breath. "My dad and grandmother emigrated from Hungary in '56. They were lucky. My grandfather wasn't. We were taught to appreciate that and give back."

Don nodded. "Kinda why I'm a cop. Not the immigrant part. My family's been here forever. The being involved part. But there was nowheres to teach in Toledo?"

Tess smiled. "Oh, plenty of places. I got sucked in by a cute recruiter. I wouldn't go back though. Well, not to stay at least."

"Gotta watch them cute guys."

Tess laughed and shook her head. "Oh, I'm well aware of that. And yet, here I am." Tess popped her last fry in her mouth. She glanced at her watch, scowled and checked it again. She pulled her coaster out from under her drink and flipped it over. She patted her pockets. "Be right back." Tess got up. She went over to the barmaid and asked for a pen. The woman reluctantly gave it up. Tess stood at the bar, wrote on the coaster and handed back the pen. She came back to the table. "I really hate eat and run, but I gotta eat and run."

"Oh." Don looked down, then looked up and smiled. "Not a problem."

Tess read the hurt in his eyes easily. How was he a cop with eyes that open? She closed her eyes briefly and sighed. "I'm sorry. Really. I had a great time." She grinned at him. "I wasn't sure I would, but I did. And if I didn't have to go, I wouldn't. Believe me. You don't meet too many genuinely nice guys. Or at least I don't." Tess looked down, tugged on her braid and shifted her weight from foot to foot. She pushed the coaster over and slid it under his fingers. "Listen, there's my cell number. Please, call me. And if you're anywhere near Hunter, drop by. Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay. See ya 'round, Tess."

"See you around," she agreed. She started to leave, but turned back around. "I do want to see you around, Don Flack, Jr." A spin, a swinging braid and she was gone.

Don finished his beer, paid the check and left. As he stepped outside, he reached in his pocket and fingered the coaster. She called him 'a genuinely nice guy.' If that wasn't the kiss of death. Better not let her ever say that in front of Danny. He'd never hear the end of it. If there was ever a time when the three of them were out together again. Gawd, now she's got me thinkin' like a girl. He shook his head. That coma affected me more than I thought.

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