A/N: Alex's dress I found on the Neiman Marcus website, look it up. Its gorgeous!

Esca is a real restaurant but I've never been there either. The menu sounds like heaven though.

Please read, review and enjoy!

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Chapter 7: Champagne and a Gun

Alex awoke the next morning with a dry throat and pounding head. She got up and drank a glass of water and swallowed down a couple of aspirin. She glanced out of the kitchen window and did a double take when she noticed her car was sitting in the driveway. She shrugged into her robe and went out to the car. It was locked up tight with a note under one wiper that said the keys were in the obvious place. The note was in Bobby's handwriting.

Alex swore under her breath, long and with feeling. The obvious place, where was that? She found them under her front porch mat. She swore again and went in to make coffee. After several cups, a bagel and a shower, she was ready for work. She was going to be late but she would be there.

Deakins called her as she was headed out the door. Bobby had asked for the day off and since they had just finished up such a nasty case, he told her to take the day off too. "You know how this City is, we may all end up working on Christmas, so enjoy yourself today." Deakins had told her. He was right, Christmas was only four days away. She sat down at her kitchen table with the last of the coffee from the pot and thought about what had happened last night.

She sighed deeply when she analyzed the evening and realized that she had not only asked her partner out to dinner but had proceeded to have too much to drink, forcing him to bring her home. She had even had the audacity to ask him in. She groaned out loud and laid her head on the table. Bobby had been sweet and a perfect gentleman. She wished he hadn't behaved so well. Alex banged her head once on the table and her coffee sloshed over the side of the cup.

Why had she yelled at him for checking Dante out? It had been such a normal, human thing for Bobby to do, given the fact that she had been keeping him in the dark. It showed he cared, didn't it? Did it show that he was jealous? Alex got a paper towel and cleaned up her mess.

I can't go on like this. My feelings for him color everything I say to him. They seep into everything we do, now. She sat in her kitchen listening to the clock tick and decided on a course of action. By that evening she was ready.

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Alex checked her reflection in the hall mirror as she went to the door to let Dante in. She was wearing her new Jean Paul Gaultier dress. It was by far the sexiest thing she had ever owned, except for maybe the leather mini she had worn for good luck during her days in vice. The dress was black with patches of fishnet strategically placed at the sleeves and up the side panels. She had stockings to match with sheer panels running up the front of the legs. Alex had chosen a pair of wine colored strappy heels to complete the outfit. Her hair was swept up off her face by a small gold clip. She knew she looked good. She also knew she was wasting it on the wrong man.

"You look amazing." Dante told her when she opened the door. He looked good too in a dark suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie. They were dining at Esca and Dante had hired a car for the evening. He held the door for Alex as she slipped into the dark sedan. Their reservations were for 8pm and the place was full to capacity with New Yorkers enjoying the holiday season with good wine and good food.

"That is the most dangerous dress I've ever seen." Dante purred in her ear as he held her chair at the table. Alex blushed, knowing what else he was probably thinking. This was the infamous third date. The date after which men might expect to get something and the date by which most women have made up the their minds whether to continue the relationship or not.

Dante ordered a bottle of champagne. Alex took a sip but had no intention of drinking anymore than a glass tonight as her stomach was still remembering the tequila. They ordered their appetizers and made small talk about the food and lack of snowfall this winter season. Dante reached across the table to capture her hand. There didn't seem any harm in allowing him to hold it, so she didn't protest.

"You look like an Empress tonight, Alex."

"You told me I looked like a princess, Dante." Said a woman who had just walked up to their table. Alex pulled her hand away and stared at the woman and then at Dante.

"Anastasia?" Alex could hear the man's voice crack. "What are you doing here?"

Alex let her detective skills take over. The woman was about her height and size but several years younger. She had long dark hair set in soft ringlets. She was dressed plainly. Her face was pale and her eyes seemed slightly unfocused. She was also wearing a small diamond ring on the third finger of her left hand.

"I followed you. I knew what you were doing." The woman said with a pout.

"Listen, I should really leave the two of you alone to talk," Alex said rising from her chair.

"No, I want you to stay and hear what I have to say." The woman was now pointing a very large gun straight at Alex's nose. She sank back into her chair, her heart sinking into her shoes.

Dante had risen to his feet, as well, and then the gun swung in his direction. He followed Alex's example and resumed his seat. The other diners were just beginning to realize there was a person brandishing a gun in their midst. The ones closest to the doors were inching their way out.

"Anastasia?" Alex asked, hoping it wouldn't be the last thing she ever did.

"That's not my name," the woman said, "it's just something he decided to call me." She pointed toward Dante with the gun. "I'm Allison."

"Oh, Allison. I'm sorry to have to meet you like this." Alex began. Allison had turned her attention back to Dante. "Allison, I think the other diners are wondering if its okay for them to go."

"Oh, sure," she said with another flip of the gun. Alex motioned to a nearby waiter to begin clearing out the room. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing that she had eliminated a great many possible hostages.

"Alex?" Dante looked at her questioningly.

"So how long have you two been engaged?" Alex asked him coldly, knowing her only hope now was to get Allison to believe she was on her side.

Dante said nothing and stared at his plate. "Dante asked me to marry him last Christmas." Allison informed her.

"I didn't know, Allison but I realize I should have guessed, he's such a great catch and all." Alex said pleasantly.

"He's a rat! The woman yelled. "Your not the first one I've caught him with."

"Oh really, tell me?" Alex asked invitingly. "Does he saddle us all with these ridiculous Russian names?

"Oh, you know it," Allison said warming to her subject. "The last one was Natasha."

Alex spared a contemptuous glare for Dante but he kept his eyes focused on his plate.

"He really does sound like a rat." Alex had worked her hand into her purse under the tablecloth her fingers were now around her cell phone. "I had no idea," trying to imply that Allison had saved her. She pushed the speed dial button for Bobby's cell.

"He won't stop cheating." Allison looked at Dante and shook her head.

"Why don't you put down the gun and we'll talk about it? I think you and I probably have a lot in common, Allison."

"No, you'll just run away." She motioned to Alex. Alex felt her confidence in the situation slip a notch at Allison's words. It sounded like she was Allison's scapegoat. She was going to have to be very careful.

"Have you planned your wedding yet, Allison?" She asked with enthusiasm. "Are you having it at St. Nicholas's on Tenth Street?" She hoped fervently that Bobby was listening. She knew the cops should be on their way but Bobby was one of the best negotiators she had ever worked with. If she wanted to get out of this alive, she needed all the help she could get.

"Oh, you should see the dress!" Allison said cheerfully, she almost set the gun down on the table but then thought better of it.

"What does it look like?" Dante groaned and both women looked at him with matching expressions of disgusted.

"It has the traditional long train of the most beautiful lace." Alex could hear the siren's outside the restaurant, she could only hope that Allison was too wrapped up in her dress description to realize the sirens were for her.

"What are your colors going to be?" Alex asked madly, feeling like this time, it was she who had fallen down the rabbit hole.

"Claret red and topaz. The bridesmaids will be in the red with a topaz sash and the groomsmen will have the red ties with the cummerbunds in the topaz.

Alex felt her stomach hitch a little, she didn't know whether it was in response to the situation or the awful color scheme the woman had described.

"It sounds beautiful. You know, I'll bet that Dante realizes you mean business about him not cheating anymore. It sounds like he really loves you and you're going to have a beautiful wedding." Allison's face softened until she heard the rude snort from Dante.

Jeez, the guy is a complete idiot. Alex decided to change tactics. "I think you could be happy with him but have you ever noticed how he chews his food?"

Allison had been studying Dante but her head snapped around at Alex's words.

"We've talked about that." The woman simpered.

"He makes this slurping noise when he swallows." Alex pretended to shiver. Both of them were looking at her now with displeasure. Oh boy, I hope I know what I'm doing? "Then there are all those dumb Russian stories." Alex rolled her eyes. "I don't know how you can listen to that stuff, Allison."

"His work is very important and it's very interesting." Allison said indignantly.

"Thank you, Allison." Dante said staring daggers at Alex.

"Oh, Dante. I've always cared about your work." Allison leaned over to kiss her fiancé and Alex launched herself across the table at the gun.

She struggled with Allison and then realized that Dante was fighting her off as well. How did I get myself into this? Suddenly, she felt a strong hand join hers in her struggle for the weapon. At the same time, four uniform cops grabbed Dante and Allison and hauled them away, leaving Alex sitting on top of the collapsed table, broken glass and china strewn about, with her skirt hitched up around her hips. She was staring up into the amused eyes of her partner.

"He wasn't married yet!" Alex said defensively.