A/N: See intro..blah, blah. I own pretty much nothing. Please R&R. Thank you.

RoadRunner: Complications are interesting. Demolished: Thank you. I do like to try to weave things into a context. RS: Thank you, thank you. Always enjoy your reviews. All of you keep me on my toes and my writing good.

Sullivan's was crowded. Tess stood in the doorway looking for Don. He was nowhere to be found. A little panic crept in. As she made her way over to the bar, she spotted Danny. She wound her way to him and waited for him to finish his order. She tugged at his sleeve. Danny spun around and came eye to eye with her. He gave her a big grin.

"Hey, Tiger Girl! So you are still seein' Flack."

Tess smiled back. A little blush crept up her neck as she remembered how much of him she'd seen. "Hi, Danny. Yeah. Don here yet?"

"Yeah. He's…" Danny glanced back to where he had left the detective with the rest of them, but he had evaporated. "Where the hell did he go? He'll be back. Hey, what are ya havin'? This round's on me."

"I'll take a Killian's." Danny nodded and put in her order. She grabbed her glass and Danny grabbed the pitcher.

"Come on back." Danny led her to the usual spot. He was just getting ready to introduce her around when she felt a tug on her hair. She turned around to find Don standing behind her. Relief flooded her body. She smiled at the answering flicker in his eyes.

"Ya made it." He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I was just tryin' to call ya."

Tess pulled her cell out and looked at it. She rolled her eyes and dropped her head. "I'd turned it off. Sorry."

"'Sokay."

Tess raised her eyebrows. "You didn't think I would show. Do you think it's that easy to spook me?" She ran her hand up his chest and looked into his eyes. Don took her hand and brought it back down beside them.

"Well, ya did practically run from the room." Don shrugged, dropped Tess' hand and took a drink from his beer.

Closing her eyes, Tess sighed deeply. She looked down at the floor. "This isn't the place to talk about that. Ask me another time and I'll explain things a little more."

"Ya don't owe me an explanation."

"Yes, I do."

"No, ya don't. We're good."

Tess gave him a saucy smile. "If I remember correctly, you were better than good."

Don flicked her nose and shook his head. "If you remember, there's a game on." Tess' grin deepened. Clear blue locked with brown. Don watched the flecks of gold in her eyes dance.

"Yes, there is." Her voice was low and warm. She loved watching the play of emotions running across his face as he fought for control.

"I meant on the TV, Tess." Don shift position, trying to get comfortable. Geeze, ya'd think ya were still in high school, he chided himself.

"Hey, you two in the corner. There's a game on here. If ya wanna make kissey faces, ya shoulda stayed home."

Tess spun around. "Danny, you should have brought your own girl to the game. Then you wouldn't have to keep an eye on what we're up to."

"I ain't really into watchin', Tiger Girl."

Don grinned at his friend. "Ya ain't into much of anything right now, Messer." That brought a round of catcalls from the group.

"That was low, Flack even for you." Danny turned around mumbling about bringin' girls to the bar for the game.

Don introduced Tess around. Everyone gave some sort of acknowledgement and turned back to the game. Don looked down at her. "Aren't ya warm?" Don nodded at her jacket. Tess slid it off to reveal a t-shirt the exact color of their dinner last night. He grinned and shook his head. "Nice color."

Tess grinned back, eyes sparkling. "Paprika."

"No kiddin'?" Don smiled and shook his head. He looked around making sure that no one was really paying attention to them. Don leaned down and brushed the hair away from her ear. "Ya left yer hair loose. I like that," he whispered. Tess shivered at the rumble of his voice in her ear. His breath was warm against her skin.

Tess gave her head a little toss. Don caught a whiff of something fruity. "Thought you would," she said. He stepped back and looked at her again. Don's eyes darkened a little, remembering how her hair had felt sliding over his skin. Her smile took on a mischievous edge. "I hear the rink at Rockefeller Center is open."

Don groaned, spun her around and pointed over her shoulder at the TV. "Game. Yer team. There," he growled in her ear. Tess just laughed. He left his arm draped over her shoulders and Tess leaned against him. Again, a hint of fruit assailed his nose. He leaned down. He had to know. "What are ya wearin'?" He felt Tess chuckle. She tilted her head back so her lips were next to his ear.

"Sex on the Beach." Tess heard his breath catch. She smiled. "The drink, not the act. Get your mind out of your pants."

Don stepped a little back from her. "Yer killin' me, Sweetheart. Ya know that, don'tcha?"

Tess wouldn't let up. She turned. "I aim to please."

"Am I gonna have to plant ya next to Messer? Jus' so I can watch the game."

Tess held up her hands and shook her head. "No, no. Please anything but that," she said in mock terror. "I'll behave." She flashed him a heated look. "But for you, I'd suggest a looser cut of pants," she taunted as she turned back to the game. Don growled and reached past her for his beer. He took a long draw and stepped close behind her. Tess took a small step forward. Don hooked his fingers into a belt loop on her hip.

"I don't think so. Ya better stay where ya are. Preserve my dignity." Keeping his pinky hooked into the loop, he slid his other three fingers under the edge of her t-shirt. He drummed his fingers on her bare skin. "I think someone needs to wear higher cut jeans," he whispered in her ear.

Tess blushed a deep red. She was glad that his hand was under the table and that everyone was focused on the TV. "Game," she croaked.

"Ya started this one yerself." Tess bit her tongue on the retort that came to mind. She'd already dug herself in deep. Don chuckled. "So you can dish, but have trouble takin' it." Tess shook her head. Get your mind out of the gutter, Teresa Susanne. She kept her eyes glued on the game.

The game ended, Tigers topping the Cardinals. Tess had enjoyed herself. Arguing about stats and the play during the commercials had been an added bonus. It was something she'd done with her father during games and she missed it. Bette and Peter thought her obsession with baseball was weird.

"Hey, Tiger Girl. Winner buys."

Tess shook her head. "I'll have to owe you guys. It's a school night and close to midnight. I'm about to turn into a pumpkin. Sorry."

"I'll hold ya to that," assured Danny.

"I'll remember," promised Tess. "There are at least three more games. Night guys." Don helped her on with her jacket and walked her out. As soon as they got outside, he swung her into his arms. Tess wrapped her arms around his waist.

"A pumpkin, huh. You've got the color right."

"I do have to get home. And it won't be before midnight. And it's going to be a long lonely ride."

"Ya want me ta walk ya home?"

Tess smiled up at him. "Thank you, but I know it's way out of your way. I'll be fine."

"Ya sure? It's no trouble. Really."

Tess sighed. She ran her fingers over his cheek. "I really, really would like that, but then after all that way, I'd want to invite you in and it is a school night."

"I don't expect ya to invite me in." Don played with her hair, rubbing it between his fingers.

"I know." She stood on tiptoe and gave him a light kiss. Don kissed her again, lingering.

"Jus' can't keep your hands off me, huh?" he teased.

"I think that was your problem."

"You wore the low riders, Sweetheart. And the perfume." He bent and nuzzled her neck. "Ya always smell so good."

"I'll try Vinyl next time."

Don straightened up and looked in her eyes. "That's jus' wrong, Tess."

"There's Rubber too." Don groaned. Tess opened her mouth slightly and ran her tongue over her teeth. She toyed with his shirtfront. "I think though, that you're partial to the food scents."

"Yer killin' me. Ya know that?"

"Yep." She kissed him quickly again and stepped away. "I meant it about the pumpkin. I've got to go. Besides, I'll bet Danny's timing you."

"Worried about my rep?"

"If I was, I'd keep you out here. I know it takes you a little longer."

Don shifted and shook his head. "Time for you to go home, Cinderella."

Tess laughed. "Told you. Looser cut. Call me." Tess reluctantly turned around walked off. Don watched her sashay down the sidewalk. He thought about heading back in, but decided a few more minutes in the cool night air would do him a world of good.

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