Monday, October 13, 2014 – 4:22 PM

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"Alisha's threatening to call the police and ask for a welfare check if we don't surface soon." Kara sat down at the table across from Danny, watching as he demolished the container of ice cream. Picking up the second spoon - bowls were apparently too much to ask for - Kara dipped it into the peanut-butter and chocolate swirl. To save time, Danny had decided to simply reorder his prior Peapod list as well as the items Kara requested, which meant that Kara's fridge was now filled with whole milk, deli meat, frozen pizzas, and ice cream.

Danny lifted his head, a wrinkle appearing between his eyes. "What's she worried about? We saw Carlton on Friday."

Kara scowled at the mention of Carlton's name. Her friend's decision to show up unannounced, and Danny's decision to answer the door, were still a sore subject. "She's worried that you are an axe murderer using my phone to keep them off the scent while you chop me up in a million pieces and dump me in the harbor."

Danny paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. "You have a really vivid imagination."

Without a word, Kara held up her phone. Failure to appear at Shippers at 9 pm tonight will be deemed proof that one Lieutenant Daniel J. Green is a serial killer who has chopped Lieutenant Kara E. Foster into a million pieces and dumped her in the harbor. If my body is found tomorrow, these are my last words. Alisha A. Granderson. P.S. Copies of this message have been made.

Eyebrows lifting, Danny offered her the ice cream, which she declined, before standing and putting it back in the freezer. "I stand corrected. If we're going out tonight, we should probably get ready."

Scrambling up from her chair, Kara followed Danny towards the bedroom. "Going out?"

"I told you, I refuse to have our first date be with Burk and Granderson." Picking up his phone, Danny dialed a number. "Melissa! How are you? Got a favor to ask..."

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Ninety minutes later, Kara waited while Danny pulled out her chair. Maestros was everything that Danny promised – low lighting, romantic atmosphere, and attentive waitstaff who took one look at Kara's blouse and Danny's sports jacket and swapped out the white napkins on their table for black. In other words, the perfect spot for a first date. Behind Danny, Kara could see the sunken dance floor where two brave couples swayed to the music. The waiter hovered, waiting for their drink order.

"If you could give us a moment?" Danny's dismissal of the man caught Kara by surprise and she gave him an inquisitive look. "I wasn't sure, well, I didn't know if we should get wine. I've never seen you drink."

Kara blinked, once again touched by his thoughtfulness. "I would love wine. I'm a red girl. You?"

"Have to admit that I'm more of a beer guy. But we can get whatever sounds good to you."

"Beer sounds good too." She reached across the table to clasp his hand, realizing that, despite having spent the last week together twenty-four seven, Danny was nervous. It was endearing. "How about you get a beer and I'll have a glass of wine? No reason we need a bottle. I rarely have more than one anyway."

Danny visibly relaxed, waving to the waiter. "Works for me."

Kara flipped open her menu. "Now what is good here?"

Order in and first date jitters calmed, the conversation flowed easily. Danny launched into a series of stories about Bercham and his ex-wife, who was apparently still annoyed at Danny for running out on his last minute reservation the week prior and only agreed to make him a reservation tonight when she was promised tickets to the next Wizards' game. Kara was taking her first bite of her perfectly-cooked salmon when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar face. Staring at Danny wide-eyed, she asked. "Is that..."

"Commander Slattery." Danny finished the sentence before taking a healthy swig of his drink. "And he's headed this way."

Praying that, somehow, the man would miss them, Kara's hopes were immediately dashed.

"Green, didn't expect to see you here," Mike Slattery stopped, and Kara though he might have actually done a double-take when he realized who it was sitting on the other side of the table. "Kara."

"Hello, sir," Kara replied. She nodded to Christine Slattery, who she had met a few times previously. "Ma'am. You must be happy having your husband home."

Christine Slattery beamed at them. "I am. Even better, it was just in time for his birthday. We're celebrating tonight." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "This is a big one, if you get my drift."

"Happy birthday, Commander." Danny stood, moving to shake the man's hand while Kara settled for a head nod. Although Commander Slattery was saying all the appropriate things in response to Danny's questions, his smile was strained. Kara had to wondered whether he felt as awkward as she did right now.

As the conversation faded, Christine turned to Danny, smiling warmly. "Are you two celebrating anything tonight?"

Panicking, Kara tried to think of something - anything - to say, but fortunately Danny was not so tongue-tied. "Actually this is our first date, ma'am. So I guess I'm celebrating the fact that Kara agreed to go out with me."

"A first date! How special! Oh, and we are interrupting you. We'll leave you alone." With that, Christine slid an arm through her husband's and steered him towards a table only two spots away from where Danny and Kara sat.

Eleven painful minutes of silence passed while Kara tried, without success, to pretend that her commanding officer was not sitting behind Danny staring at them. Giving up, Kara leaned over her mostly-finished meal. "What do you think about getting out of here?"

Pulling out his wallet, Danny flagged the waiter. "I think that sounds like your best plan yet."