Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:NY.
Series: None.
Spoilers: Stuck on You; Charge of this Post.

Note: I'm uploading two chapters together, so if you've just clicked on 'last chapter' – which I do all the time – you'll want to go back one.

Chapter Sixteen – Stuck on You.

"Detective Angell!"

The unfamiliar voice caused Jess to pause as she reached her car. The man who called her approached slowly, but that seemed more to do with his injuries than reluctance.

Once again, her knowledge of the cases had been thin, just little comments here and there, but this time, Jess felt that she was being distracted more than anything, by the reappearance of Stella's boyfriend, Frankie.

Yes, the cases were happening now and that wasn't, but she knew they'd be solved without her help, whereas she was sure something was going to happen involving Frankie that she had to stop and that, in her mind, was her priority.

All she could offer Danny, Lindsay and Aiden on their case was that there was a music promoter that Danny hated.

And all she could offer Don was that one of his victims (the man that survived) was 'the world's biggest asshole'. They were her words, not his, composed after he'd described him to her.

Unfortunately, it looked like she was the next 'lucky gal' on the world's biggest asshole's radar. She wondered how he'd gotten her name, before remembering that Don had called her from the hospital, using her first name in the process.

He remembered and guessed.

"Can I help you, Mr. Franchetti?"

Carlo gave her a smile that she was sure had weakened the knees of many women before her, but after Don's it seemed weak and insincere. "I'm sure you can, beautiful. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"

Jess raised an eyebrow. "You know, given the stories I've heard from the many women we interviewed, I was expecting you to realise that every man I meet comes up with that line." She rooted through her purse for the keys. "And you can save your breath. There's a man I love very much and I would never do anything to hurt him. Dammit." She muttered. "Where the hell are they?"

The window in the driver's door rolled down. "You left them in your desk before you went to the crime lab." Don told her. "Mind if I catch a ride?"

"Looks like I don't have a choice." Jess teased. "You driving?"

"If you want." Don grinned.

"Goodbye Mr. Franchetti." Jess nodded politely. "I hope that injury doesn't give you too much trouble." She rounded her car and got in the other side. "Saved by the bell."

Don didn't respond, putting the car in drive. The ride to her apartment was quiet and it wasn't until the door was firmly shut behind them that he spoke. "I can't believe he actually used that line."

"You nearly used it when we first met." Jess commented absently. "But I stopped you."

"I did not." Don protested. "Oh …" He stopped. "You mean the first-first time, right?"

Jess grinned. "Right. Besides, why does it matter why Carlo Franchetti hit on me or not? It's not like I'd ever fall for lines like that."

"It's not that." Don admitted. "I just don't like other guys hitting on you."

"Well, then I suggest you do something about it." Jess said, more snappily than she'd intended.

Truth be told, she was starting to get a little tired. Despite spending a good hour a few weeks ago assuring Don that she could wait – and she would – she had noticed that her feelings were changing.

Now she'd admitted that there was a difference between them, however miniscule, and that she'd fallen in love all over again, it was becoming much harder to keep her feelings in check.

Although she'd never stopped noticing how good he looked in jeans, or when he stripped down to his wife-beater, which he had now (it was only March, but the heating was broken in her building, leaving them in an unpleasant heat), since they had started dating (the first time) she had stopped letting it affect her, knowing that, eventually, she'd be in his arms and in his bed, and that had continued when she fell back.

But now she noticed a familiar burning in her stomach, her eyes wandering over the muscles in his arms.

With great effort, she pulled herself together, noticing that he was talking to her. "Sorry, I was miles away."

"I said," Don began, then sighed. Without another word, he walked over and placed his hands on her waist, tugging her to him.

Jess didn't manage more than a surprised squeak, before his lips landed on hers, devouring them hungrily.

Her hands immediately shot to his hair, grateful for the slightly longer length as it better allowed her to slip her fingers into it, anchoring him.

Don wasn't complaining as she stumbled backwards, her back colliding with the wall of her apartment.

A voice in the back of her head told her she shouldn't be doing this; that she'd never recover if this turned out to be spur of the moment, fuelled by jealousy.

As if reading her mind, however, Don pulled away, keeping her pinned to the wall, his forehead resting against hers. "I love you."

Jess gaped at him for a few second. "I thought you said you …"

"I did." Don confirmed. "I also said that the thought of losing you scared me more than anything. And I know you said you'd wait," he added, stopping her protest, "but you're a beautiful, smart, sexy woman and I know I'm not the only guy who's noticed." He began trailing kisses down her neck. "I don't wanna miss this, Jess. And once I realised that, it became a hell of a lot easier to admit that I'm in love with you." He grinned against her skin, lifting his head to meet her eyes. "Ridiculously, unbelievable, undeniably in love with you."

Now that smile made her knees weak and she laughed aloud, rising up on tiptoes to kiss him hard. "I love you too."

Don grinned at her. "I know."

"Shut up." Jess laughed, smacking his arm lightly.

"And kiss you?" Don finished with a smirk.

"Mmm, something like that." Jess agreed, tilting her head back to let him do just that.

"How did I cope without you?" Don murmured against her lips. He threaded his fingers into her hair, needing her closer, and she gladly complied, hooking her leg over his, allowing him to press her harder into the wall.

The movement drew a moan from her and he froze, gently pulling away.

"Not like this." He whispered, kissing her forehead and stepping back. "Not like this."

"What do you mean?" Jess asked, painfully aware of the need in her voice.

"I'm doing this right, Detective." Don told her with a smile.

"And what part of that was wrong?" Jess retorted.

Don chuckled. "You know what I mean. I know, as far as you're concerned, we've done this before, but I haven't. So let me take you to dinner and we'll see what happens from there."

Jess sighed dramatically. "Okay. I see what you mean." She wrapped her arms around him. "You're staying here tonight though, right?" Jess asked softly.

"If you feel you can trust me to control myself." Don smirked. "I might end up with my hands in inappropriate places."

"They're only inappropriate if I complain, Detective." Jess pointed out with a miraculously straight face. "Do you see me complaining?"

"No." Don conceded. "I don't see you complaining." He pulled her to him again. "I'll stay then. If you want me to."

"I want you to." Jess sighed into his shoulder. "But we should probably order pizza first."

Several hours later, appetites taken care of, Don was sound asleep, dressed only in his boxers. His pants, jacket and undershirt were folded neatly on a chair in the corner of the room – Jess had claimed his shirt to sleep in herself.

He was pressed up against her back, his hands covering hers as she spooned against him.

But she couldn't sleep, no matter how right it felt. She wasn't sure why.

In the dim light, her gaze settled on her closet where, she knew, their guns were both secured in her safe.

His 'n' hers service weapons. She thought with a grin. Could be a market in that.

Giving up on whatever was bothering her, she rolled over to face her boyfriend and he shifted with the movement, ending up on his back.

Jess rested her head on his chest, her hand moving automatically to the scar on his abdomen.

She froze.

There was no scar.

Of course there was no scar.

Her heart began thudding in her chest and she winced, concerned she would wake him. But he didn't flinch, even when she lifted her hand to touch his face gently.

There's a bomb.

There's a bomb that's going to almost kill him.

There's a bomb that's going to almost kill him and change his life forever.

Jess closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, but she couldn't. She could see Don in the hospital complaining about bandage changing, in the locker room having a panic attack, in her living room sobbing into her shoulder, in his bed, asking her how she could even bear to look at the scars left behind …

I have to stop this.

Consoling herself that she had time and prior knowledge, Jess relaxed and let sleep drift over her.

But a horrible thought struck her before she could drift off, as horrible thoughts often do.

Inside the time frame of a month, she had no idea when the bomb happened.

She had no idea what building it was.

She had no idea who planted it; she was having trouble remembering why.

This was going to be a hell of a lot harder than she thought.

AN: Not sure I'm completely happy with the beginning bit, but I needed someone who'd give Don a nudge to make a move. Looks like Aiden had a point when she told Jess all she had to do was make Don jealous. And, don't worry, I have a plan for COTP XD!