A/N: Well, this chapter came out pretty quickly, I must have been really inspired :-) This one is for all the Danico fans out there, I think you'll like it! Thanks again for all your encouragement and compliments, hope you'll keep reading!

Chapter 3

"When all this is over, we should um… we should go somewhere," she all but purrs.

Nico feels like he can't stop smiling. His chest aches with the love he feels for this beautiful woman. "Where?" he asks.

"Meow!" Dani answers.

Nico raises an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Meoooow!"

Nico opened his eyes, only to find Onyx sitting on his chest, giving him an impatient look. "Meow?" the cat tried again, and Nico groaned. When would he stop dreaming of her? He'd tried to stow his feelings for Dani, along with his thoughts and memories of her, in one of the compartments she had accused him of keeping in his head. But they just wouldn't stay there… Onyx started kneading the duvet with his paws, looking increasingly cross at being ignored. "Yeah, allright, allright, I'll get you your food!"

After he had fed his cat, Nico hit the shower and got dressed. He had a busy day today. His security firm was really starting to take off. For today, no less than three meetings with potential clients were scheduled. But first he was supposed to meet with agent Bennett and the DA, to give deposition about his part in the uncovering of the V3-scandal. His thoughts threatened to wander back to Dani, but he wouldn't let them. The dreams were bad enough – although he'd also had a couple of dreams about her that he'd describe as… satisfying… rather than bad – Focus, Careles! His phone buzzed. Shaking his head to get certain images out of his mind, he reached for the phone and, without looking at the caller ID, answered the call. "Careles."

"Yo, Sneako! What's up man?"

"TK, what can I do for you?"

"Y'heard the news? Doctor D is back in town! So, I got to thinkin' maybe we can all get together, ya know, for drinks or somethin'? Do some catchin' up?"

Nico sighed. "Really, TK? That's why you're calling me at 7 a.m.?"

"Uhhh… Well, one o'the reasons…"

"Okay, spit it out, TK, what is it this time?"

"Yeah, allright… so I'm kinda nervous, ya know man? I mean, 'bout this deposition thing and all…"

"What's there to be nervous about? You go in, tell your story, then get out."

"Y'think so? I mean, I've done this testifying thing before, remember, with that nutcase that shot me? Now that, that was definitely not like what you're saying now, if ya know what I mean."

"Trust me on this, TK. No judge, no jury this time. Think of it as an interview. You'll be fine."

"You sure, man? C-Mac or that creep Strauss ain't gonna be there?"

"Nope."

"Allright, if you say so… Thanks, Sneako. Now what about those drinks, huh? You, me, Dr. D?"

"Bye, TK." Nico ended the call, trying to get rid of the image the wide receiver had put in his head: Dani in that green cocktaildress, drink in hand, smiling at him. With a heavy sigh, he put his phone in his pocket and got his car keys. Seemed like it was going to be one of those days…

The man with the grey eyes walked hurriedly towards the SBG building. He was later than he had planned, but he hoped it was still early enough to deliver his package undetected by any member of the SBG personnel. That wouldn't do at all. He especially wasn't ready to be seen by any of the key players yet. If he saw anyone that was remotely familiar to him, he'd just have to keep on walking and try again tomorrow. His mind wandered to Santino. What had she been doing here yesterday? Was it possible that Bruce actually had need for the doctor's services? And if so, was it for one of SBG's clients or for Bruce herself? He rather liked the second possibility. Because if that was the case, he must already be getting on her nerves. Not so tough after all, are you, dear Abby? The thought made him smile. He slipped his hand in the pocket of his leather jacket to retrieve the package and looked around one more time. The building seemed deserted, but he would have to be careful nonetheless.

Dani looked at herself in the mirror and was content with what she saw. Okay, there may be a hint of dark circles under her eyes, but they were almost invisible thanks to her trusted concealer. Her shortsleeved navy blue dress made her look businesslike, an effect that was further enhanced by her hairdo: a low, tight bun that was already starting to give her a slight headache. It's just for a few hours, she reminded herself as she went looking for a pair of shoes that would match the dress.

"Wow, mom, you look like a school teacher today! Am I in trouble?" Lindsay joked as she came bounding down the stairs.

"What? Oh, no, at least not that I know of… Got something to tell me?" Dani had settled on a pair of brown low wedge sandals, and now looked at her daughter over her shoulder while trying to get her feet in them.

Lindsay looked a bit uncomfortable. "Uh, no, nothing at all! So, where are you off to looking like that?"

"Well, I have to give a deposition today, about the whole V3-thing. Figured I might as well dress the part of a reliable witness. You think it's too much?"

"No, I was just kidding, you look great. Oh, gotta run. Goodluck, bye!" Lindsay ran out the door, leaving Dani wondering if she had imagined that look of discomfort on her daughters face. Was something seriously wrong, or was it just teen stuff? Dani sighed. Lindsay had been right yesterday, they had a lot to talk about on their girls night tomorrow.

Three hours later Dani walked out of the DA's office feeling tired. Her headache had only gotten worse, and while waiting for the elevator she brought her hands up to her hair. After a moment of hesitation, she decided screw it, and freed her hair from the bun. Her headache started to subside immediately and a relieved sigh escaped her. The deposition had felt like a waste of time: the DA had asked her the same questions over and over again, and she had given him the same answers she had given the FBI during her debriefing a month ago. Then, when the deposition was over, she had tried to get agent Bennett to vouch for Abby and SBG, but he'd just told her he couldn't reveal anything about the operation before the trial was over. So now she was wracking her brains trying to think of another way to verify Abby's story. She could ask Paloma or TK, as Abby herself had suggested, but would their answers be enough for her peace of mind? Not that she didn't trust them, but both of them had also been fooled by V3 – just like you were fooled by them, she reminded herself.

When she walked out of the building, the sun had come out and she squinted her eyes, while digging around her purse for her sunglasses, her headache once again cranking up a notch. At last she found the sunglasses and put them on, only to start digging around again, this time looking for her car keys. While searching for them, she headed in the direction of the parking garage just around the corner, where she had left her car.

Just when her fingers closed around the elusive keys, she walked right into what felt like a solid wall. She would have lost her footing, but strong hands gripped her upper arms and held her up. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry about that! I…" That's when she looked up and saw a pair of amused hazel eyes looking back at her from a very familiar, slightly smirking face. "Oh! Um… Hi. Nico."

"Hello, doctor," he answered, the sound of his voice sending shivers down her spine.

Nico had to work hard not to kiss her senseless right then and there. But he figured that wouldn't go over well, not with their last confrontation and more than a month of radio silence still hanging in the air between them. He let go of her arms, his heart missing a beat at the slight disappointment that flashed in her eyes when he took a step back. He couldn't help drinking in the sight of her. The snug dress she was wearing hit her curves in all the right places, and her hair fell freely around her shoulders, just the way he liked it most… Quit staring and say something, you idiot! He cleared his throat. "So, how was your vacation?" was the only thing he could think of – well not the only thing of course, but his other options would go over about as well as kissing her.

Dani seemed a bit startled, as if she had gotten just as distracted as he had been. "Uh, fine. Well, great actually. Barcelona's beautiful, and, you know, Jeanette was there, so… Yeah, it was fun… Um, and how have you been?"

Missing you. For a second he thought he'd said that out loud, but she didn't react, so he figured he was safe. "Busy, mostly."

"Lots of things to… fix… for Mr. Cuban, huh?"

"I turned down that job, actually." As a matter of fact, Dallas had been off the table from the moment he had followed her up to her bedroom that night before everything went to hell. But she didn't know that, of course, because he hadn't gotten around to telling her before Alex had shown up at V3.

She raised her eyebrows and eyed him sceptically. "Really. Another 'change of plans'?" Her fingers made quotation marks in the air.

"That's one way to put it."

She sighed. "Okay. Well, Nico – it was great to see you and all, and I would just love to stay and chat, but I gotta run. You're not the only one who's got a busy life, ya know!" She smiled awkwardly.

He knew that he couldn't just let her walk away. "Dani. Wait… Let me buy you a cup of coffee." He held his breath as he waited for her response, although he fully expected to hear a definite no.

"I really don't have time now…" She seemed to think of something suddenly, "But, hey, maybe we can have lunch later?" She checked her watch, "Say… one o'clock? I know a nice place in Soho."

He blinked. Had he heard her right? She wanted to have lunch with him? "Uh, yeah, sure," he managed.

"Allright, I'll text you the address – um, you still have the same number?"

"Yeah."

"Okay great, I'll see you at one then!" She gave him a another quick smile and walked away, leaving him staring after her and seriously considering pinching himself to make sure this wasn't a dream.

Dani got behind the wheel and jammed the key into the ignition. Then she hit the AC button. Her heart was still racing and she felt like she had a fever or something, so she decided to just sit there for a minute or two. Did you really just agree to have lunch – with Nico? The voice in her head sounded a lot like Jeanettes. Dani leaned her head back and closed her eyes. So, yeah, it seemed like she did have a lunch date. Nu-uh, not a date, she corrected herself. Just lunch. With Nico. Who she had thought she'd never see again. And who, once again, had not gone to Dallas. What was up with that? She frowned. Next time the man said he was gonna go somewhere, she might want to consider dropping him off at the airport personally, just to make sure he was really going! Cut it out, Santino, there won't be a next time. Right. Just one lunch, that was it. And only because he may be able to verify Abby's story about the FBI. All business, no pleasure. Dani nodded her head once to confirm that last thought. Then she blew out a heavy sigh and started the car. She was more than halfway home before she realised that her headache was gone and that there was a big, goofy grin on her face.