A/N: Same disclosures apply as in all other chapters. Thanks for reading. Please remember to review.

Chapter 11

"Oh," I said pointing into the elephant's enclosure, "Isn't he cute?"

Danny laughed and kissed the back of my hand that was still intertwined with his. I never knew that Danny could be like this. I felt totally relaxed and at ease, a feeling that I hadn't felt in some time.

"He is a cute elephant." Danny answered.

"All animals are cute, especially when they're babies." I said, still staring at the little elephant.

"So," Danny said, "I have a question regarding our game."

"Ok." I said, turning to look at him, "What's your question?"

"Are we counting the elephant exhibit and an elephant ride as one exhibit or two?"

"What would you like to do?" I smiled wickedly at him.

"I think we should count each as its own exhibit." Danny said, answering me with an equally wicked smile.

"Ok, two exhibits it is then." I said, pulling Danny over to a now vacant bench.

We sat there for a few minutes watching the elephants. The baby elephant was adorable; he was running around then would stop and look around. Then he would run back to his mother and nuzzle her. He would repeat this pattern every few minutes, running in different directions each time. The very last time, another elephant moved so that it was standing in his "path" and he let out a little elephant noise, trying to locate his mother. He stayed pretty close to her after that.

"Do you want kids?" I asked out of the blue.

Danny sat there, quiet. At first I thought he hadn't heard me, but then he started to answer.

"A couple of years ago, I would have said no." Danny said, putting his arm on the back of the bench and scooted closer to me, "Now, I'm not so sure. I think that if I found the right person; I think with the right person anything is possible."

His answer warmed my heart, not exactly sure why. He wasn't saying that I was the right person for him, but I was beginning to think that Danny Messer might be a romantic at heart after all.

"Boxers or briefs?" I asked, laughing softly.

"You've seen me in the locker room." Danny said, looking at me and pulling me closer, "You're telling me you've never looked?"

We were staring directly into each other's eyes now. His baby blues, like pools of the bluest water you'd ever seen; they were clear, bright and I could easily have stared at them all day long. It was as if everyone around us, or around me atleast, just disappeared. I wondered if he was thinking the same things.

"Just answer the question Messer." I said, still staring at him

"Neither." He answered with a completely straight face.

I gasped slightly, picturing the sight. The look on my face must have been precious because Danny started to laugh.

"Neither?"

"Nope," He answered, "I wear boxer briefs."

"Danny." I said, swatting him lightly on the arm, "That was not funny."

Danny meanwhile, was now laughing so hard, he was nearly crying.

"The look on your face," Danny said, catching his breath, "It was priceless."

I tried to pretend I was mad at him, but failed miserably. His laugh was contagious, and I'm sure that the look on my face made me look pretty shocked. Soon enough I was laughing along with Danny.

"My turn." Danny said finally regaining some composure.

"Ok," I said cuddling into him a bit more, "Ask away."

"Have you ever looked at me in the locker room when I was wearing less than normal clothing?" He asked.

Now it was time for me to be silent for a few moments. Truth was that yes, I had looked at him in the locker room. Several times in fact. It seemed like every time I was in there lately, he was coming back from taking a shower or was in some half dressed state.

"Yes." I answered simply as if it were no big deal.

"Did you like was you saw?" He asked his second question.

"Are you sure you want that to be your second question?" I asked disbelieving he would actually want to ask that.

"Yes," he answered, "I want to know."

Again I was silent, watching the baby elephant again. I could've used my veto so I didn't have to answer his question, but he had already admitted that he wouldn't date an extremely gorgeous woman because she wasn't me; it was my turn to take a chance.

"Yes I did, very much." I answered, but didn't look at him.

Danny stood up and held out his hand. I accepted it and stood up alongside of him.

"What are we doing?" I asked, allowing myself to be led away from the bench.

"The line for the elephant rides is small," He answered, "I thought that we would get in line, but if you would rather wait some more…"

"Oh," I said softly, "No, we can go get in line."

"I'm glad that you liked what you saw." he said smiling broadly as we joined the queue, "Boosts my ego."

"Yeah like it needs it." I retorted, laughing.

"Hey now," He said, pulling me to face him, "Be nice."

Our faces were inches apart, and it was as if the world around us had disappeared completely. Slowly, almost movie like, our lips inched closer together, as if there were magnetic forces drawing us together. The moment they touched, it was as if someone had zapped me with an electric current. The kiss was intense, but gentle; I didn't want it to cease. I could have kissed Danny Messer all day long but like all good things, this too had to come to an end. His phone rang causing us to pull apart.

"Messer." He answered his phone, but held me close to him still, "Hi Stel, what's up?"

I listened to Danny's end of the conversation; it seemed as if they were discussing the case. When Danny closed his phone, I looked up at him.

"That was Stella," he said, as we moved up in the line, "She wanted to let me know that they are progressing quickly on the case. It seems there are five people who have regular contact between the care center and the trees that give off the sap we found."

"That's good," I said, "I wonder if they're going to have the case solved by tomorrow."

"Doubt it," Danny said, shrugging, "Stella said that they were still in the preliminary stages of getting suspects brought in. It's basically cooperative questioning right at the moment."

"Ah."

"So it's your turn I do believe." Danny said, as we continued to move forward.

"What's your favorite animal?" I smiled at him.

"Domesticated animal or wildlife?" He asked for clarification.

"All time favorite animal." I answered.

"Hmm," He said, "I think I would have to say that my favorite animal is the whale."

"The whale?"

"Yeah," He said, "I just find it amazing that something so large could be so buoyant and so amazing."

"Guess we'll have to visit SeaWorld someday then." I said.

"That would be nice." He said, "I think we could all use a vacation right about now."

"Isn't that the truth?" I agreed, "Where would your ideal vacation be?"

Danny thought for a moment. He had started rubbing my back while we waited in line. It felt really good.

"I think my ideal vacation would be somewhere warm, but not hot." He answered, "Possibly one of the Carolinas. I wouldn't be opposed to somewhere like Australia or London either. I'd love to go back to Italy."

"I'd love to go to Italy someday," I offered up to him, "Australia sounds like fun too."

Danny leaned down and kissed me for no reason but before I could say anything he started to talk.

"Looks like we're up."