Hostage

Chapter Six

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. I'd drive anywhere with Nico…

Author Notes: Last chapter. Time for romance. Let the fluff begin.

Dani watched out the window as the buildings passed them by. She would occasionally look over at Nico and the arm where the bandage was. His white dress shirt was covered in blood. It reminded her how close she came to losing him. She decided she would focus on the fact that he didn't die and that he was here with her, taking her to his home. His home. Sigh.

Nico turned into an old industrial area near downtown. Lots of the old factories there had been renovated and Dani began to picture just where he might live. They turned down a backstreet and came to a gate that led to an underground parking area. Dani looked up at the building. It looked like an old woolen factory. Nico pressed some keys on the pad and they drove in. After he found a space, he came around to open her door.

"You don't need to be opening doors."

Nico ignored her.

"Let's go upstairs and I'll change shirts before we grab a bite."

He lifted the gate to a huge freight elevator with his good arm and Dani grinned at him.

"Of course you'd live here."

"Just wait."

Nico hit the button for the top floor. He turned and pulled her to him and looked down into her eyes. His voice was filled with emotion.

"I was afraid today for the first time in a very long time."

Dani's voice came out softer than she expected.

"You didn't seem like it. You seemed totally in control."

"I had to be…for you."

The elevator rumbled to a stop and they stepped out on Nico's floor. His door was huge. He unlocked it and slid it open. Dani was amazed at the sight. They entered a huge loft with windows on two sides. The floor plan was wide open and Dani caught a glimpse of Nico's bedroom area. There was a huge California King and a doorway leading into a bathroom and dressing area. She looked around the huge space as Nico began to unbutton his shirt and head for his dressing area. She caught a glimpse of his strong back as he pulled the shirt off and headed into the bathroom and what looked to be a walk in closet.

The view from his windows was amazing and Dani could see the street below had lots of little shops and restaurants dotting its sidewalks. She saw what looked like an Italian restaurant across the street. Carboni's. She had heard of it before.

"Can we get Italian?"

Nico's voice came from right behind her.

"Sounds perfect."

"Your place is perfect."

His arms wound around her waist, pulling her back into his once again crisp white shirt. He nuzzled her neck.

"Was it what you expected?"

"I'm not sure what I expected your place to be like, but this suits you."

"Good. You like it?"

"I do."

"I'm glad because I plan for you to spend a lot more time here."

Dani turned in his arms and slid hers around his neck, playing with the curls at the nape of his neck.

"You do?"

"I most definitely do. Now, let's feed you."

He took her hand in his and they walked to the door. After he locked up they followed the hallway to a different elevator that took them down to the lobby and the street exit. It was really nice and there was a coffee shop right in the lobby.

The restaurant was wonderful and Dani's dinner was absolutely amazing. Nico ordered his favorite wine and Dani decided then and there it was hers as well. His eyes twinkled as he watched her taste the rich flavors and groan in bliss.

"Nico, that's so good."

"It comes from a vineyard near Sonoma California. I'd like to go and visit it one day. I'd like to take you with me."

Dani felt the wine slide down her throat. She realized sitting there gazing into Nico's eyes that she was truly happy for the first time in a long time. She sighed.

"After today I'd follow you anywhere. Don't worry. It isn't some sort of hero worship. I just trust you and I know you just want to take care of me and love me. You gave of yourself for me today. Everyone else in my life wants something from me, not to give something to me. Nico, do you have any idea how wonderful that makes you?"

Nico's eyes darkened and he was looking at her as if he would take her then and there. His voice came out low and filled with need.

"Let's go back to my place."

Dani stood immediately and smiled when he took her hand, pulling her quickly through the restaurant and across the street. He hit the elevator button and as soon as the doors opened he pulled her in with him and pressed her against the back wall. Dani prayed no one else got on with them. Nico was kissing her in a way that made her dizzy and she slumped against him.

As soon as he locked his door back he was pulling Dani towards his bed. He stopped just before they reached it.

"Tell me you don't want this."

He was giving her an out, always caring more about her needs than his own.

"I can't."

"You can't be with me?"

Dani smiled at the confused look on his face.

"No silly. I can't tell you I don't want this because I do…want you…want this…"

And then he was on her, kissing her everywhere. His lips alternated between tender and searching and fierce and possessive. He lifted her easily in his arms and deposited her on the bed. He continued to kiss Dani until she was trembling in his arms with need.

"Nico…"

His name from her lips brought his eyes back up to meet hers.

"I need you…"

Nico's eyes never left hers as he began unbuttoning her shirt. As he slowly and deliberately removed each piece of clothing he took time to worship every bit of flesh it revealed. Once she was naked, he stood, never breaking eye contact with her and undressed, allowing her to see him, scars and all. Dani watched as he searched her face for a reaction each time a new scar was revealed. He only found a loving gaze.

Dani suddenly sat up on the edge of the bed and pulled him between her legs. She tenderly kissed and traced each one of his scars with her feather light touch, making Nico shiver. She finally rested her palms on the large scar he had shown her earlier that day.

"I love each and every one of these because they make you who you are. And I love who you are. I love the man you've become in spite of the things you've been forced to deal with. I love you Nico."

She looked up at him and saw tears brimming in his eyes waiting to fall. He gently pushed her back onto the bed and they made love for the first time. For both of them something clicked into place. Each one was finally complete…finally whole. It was as if they each closed the wounds of the other one. Nico whispered her name over and over and she found herself doing the same with his name.

Moonlight spilled across the bed as they lay in each other's arms afterwards. Nico was stroking his fingers across her bare back as she lay across his chest. It was mesmerizing.

"Tell me what happened after you left me."

Nico thought about what to say. It had all happened so fast. He reacted the way he had been taught. Verbalizing it was a different experience for him.

"We broke the window in the locker room door. Jennings, one of the guys, came outside to check and see what happened. Marshall drew down on him, but he wouldn't surrender and he had to shoot him. The other two heard and pulled back behind a row of the lockers, forcing the team forward as a shield. We knew they would and went through the duct system to reach them. Unfortunately they had TK and Gabrielle with them. Marshall was able to drop straight down on the one with Gabrielle, but all I was able to do was drop down in front of TK. I couldn't take a chance on him getting hit. Biggs, the one with TK got off a shot at me before I charged him and took him down."

Dani lifted her startled eyes to meet his.

"What part of I promise I'll come back to you did you not mean?"

"Danielle. I knew my surprise drop in would throw his aim off and I had my eyes on the gun at all times. I knew he wouldn't kill me."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"You said you trusted me and I'm here, right?"

Dani refused to answer him.

"Then what happened?"

"All hell broke loose as both SWAT and the CIA burst in the doors. All I could think about was getting back to you. Tell me what happened when I left you."

"I paced that room forever and then two SWAT guys burst in the door and almost killed me. They tried to make me leave with them, but I was not going until I saw you. I wasn't prepared for what I did see when we walked in that locker room."

She punched Nico hard in the stomach.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again. Do you hear me?"

"Yes ma'am, but just so you know, I'm probably going to scare you once or twice over the next fifty years or so."

"What?"

"Well, I'm planning on staying in your life so it may come up again, especially if you are ever in danger again."

"Oh. I uh…I guess I can live with that."

Nico wrapped his arms around her and rolled her over and under him again.

"Good, now no more talking. You're my hostage now and I plan on keeping you forever."

Dani smiled against his lips.

"Then I guess you'll have to show me your terms."

"Gladly."

A/N: That's all folks. I can't believe we still have five months before we get to watch these two again. I hope there's some spice between them in season two.