Liz POV

"You know, you're really starting to get on my nerves."

"Why is that?"

"You're smiling. Again. No one should be that damn happy."

I laughed as Sarah flashed me a mock scowl.

"You want me to be bitchy?" I asked her.

"No," she admitted on a sigh. "I just want to have that smile."

"Which one is that?"

"The one that says I just had the best sex of my life."

I barked out another laugh as I pulled my hair into a ponytail and then grabbed a fresh pair of gloves.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"I shouldn't say. I'll just make you mad."

"Say it."

"Are you sure?"

She rolled her eyes at me, so I said, "I've had the best sex of my life every night for the past month. Most mornings, too. And sometimes at lunch…"

"Okay, enough!" she interrupted. "You're right. It's just pissing me off."

But she was smiling as she efficiently worked with me, prepping the latest victim for an autopsy.

And I was definitely smiling because I was still thinking about last night.

"You outed us to a reporter," I'd said to Mike as we made the short walk home from Pete's.

"Are you mad?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because. You're a private person."

"I'm not when it comes to my relationship with you. In fact, I had this nice little fantasy the other day about taking over one of Alex's press conferences so that I could lay you out across the podium on national TV."

"Really?" he asked with interest.

"Really."

"I'm pretty sure she's got one scheduled for tomorrow…"

I'd started laughing at his mischievous accompanying expression, but then he'd pulled me into his arms and started kissing me.

"Or we can always hope there's a cameraman lurking around here somewhere," he'd practically growled as he moved his lips along my jaw, back to my ear.

I'd teased him Saturday night about having skill with his night stick, but the truth is that he's skilled with everything.

He can so easily make me forget about my surroundings, sometimes even with just a look or a touch.

So despite being on a public sidewalk, still more than a block from my house, we made out for several minutes.

"Walking home with you is dangerous," he said when he finally pulled away from me.

"I could say the same thing about you," I replied.

I watched him as his eyes moved over me hungrily, and I swear, if he'd suggested that we go over to the bus stop and make good use of the bench, I probably would've done it.

"We'd better go home," he said at last, his tone low and rumbling. "What if Theresa's watching?"

"Then we should give her a show," I suggested as I leaned in to kiss him again. I did it slowly and purposefully, enjoying the fact that I'd gotten him so worked up.

Of course, I was right there with him.

And I mean right there.

But I wasn't so far gone that I was actually willing to go further out here on the sidewalk, so I reluctantly ended the kiss and then I ran my hand down his chest, along the length of his tie, stopping only when I got to his belt.

His eyes darkened as I slipped my fingers inside of the waistband, just enough so that I could get a grip on his pants. I held on for a moment, keeping him close, so close that I could hear his labored breaths as he worked to get himself under control.

"That's enough of a show," I said finally. "Let's go home."

So we'd walked the last bit of distance to my place, and once we were inside, we were all over each other.

My foyer seems to get a lot of action these days and last night was no exception.

It usually works out that the first time is all about need and passion.

And then he's almost always good for a second time, and that's always about love.

And really, even when he's not physically ready to go again, it's still about love because despite what a lot of people might think of Mike, he's an extremely demonstrative man.

So last night, after we ravaged each other against the wall, we went to bed and he wrapped his arms around me, running his fingers lightly over my back.

"I wasn't going to say anything," he said quietly after a minute.

"About what?"

"Us. To that reporter. But I figured it has to bug you, at least a little, that people keep suggesting I'm with Alex."

"Well, she did kiss you tonight," I teased. I didn't want him to feel bad about what reporters were saying.

I know the truth and that's all that matters.

"To thank me," he reminded me.

"I know," I said as I turned in his arms so that I could look him in the eye. "You know I know. I don't care what other people think. I know what you think."

"Yeah, but I'm not sure even you realize the truth."

"Which is what?"

"That I'm so in love with you it scares me to death. I mean it, Liz. And Ross coming back…it messed with my mind."

"Mike…"

"Not like that. I mean, maybe like that for a little while, but…it's really gotten me thinking about how I'd feel if you weren't with me anymore."

"And?"

"I'd be a broken man," he said and then he leaned down to press a kiss against my forehead. "You know, I swore to myself that I'd never give a woman that kind of power over me. I guess it's out of my control though, huh? Because I've given it to you."

"Well, we're both in the same boat then."

"How did this happen?" he mused as he rolled us over so that I was on my back. He looked down at me and said, "How in the world did you fall in love with me?"

"How could I not?"

And I wasn't being glib about it.

I was being honest.

He's just the most loveable man.

He smiled at my response and then kissed me deeply as he slowly pushed into me.

And what happened over the course of the next hour or so was without a doubt one of our most sensual experiences to date.

"It's been two weeks," Sarah said after we'd worked for a couple of minutes in silence.

"Two weeks?" I questioned as I forced my focus back to the present.

"Two weeks since…you know. And even that wasn't anything to write home about. The dickhead. And then he had to hook up with that little hussy..."

"Better to find out now than two years into a marriage," I said practically.

And really, I was proud of her for dumping the guy. Too many women put up with infidelity, and if the guy was cheating on her already, then how was she ever supposed to trust him?

"Is that experience talking?"

"Yeah, only I was ten years into a marriage," I admitted.

"Ouch."

"Uh huh. Wasted some of the best years of my life. Only I guess not really," I said thoughtfully. "Actually, right now…this is the best time of my life. And I suppose I had to be there to get here, so…"

I trailed off as my mind wandered again.

Last night, after we made love the second time, Mike had gotten up to get a drink of water. That was when I noticed his leg.

"Mike, what happened?" I asked as I took in the sight of the entire length of his thigh covered in a myriad of blues and purples.

"What? Oh…a taxi," he said dismissively.

"It usually works better if you wave one down while you're still standing on the sidewalk as opposed to walking in front of them," I said as I got up to get a closer look.

And I felt kind of bad, not only for not noticing sooner, but also about the amount of physical activity he'd been doing since we got home, because his leg looked really sore.

"I was catching up to Bobby," he said quietly, standing still while I knelt down for a closer look. "He chased that guy into the alley, and I was across the street…"

"And you caught up to him," I reminded him. "And took down the suspect."

"I know, but…Liz, it was close. When he went down…for a second there, I wasn't sure."

I stood up, satisfied that there was no structural damage done to his leg, and then I wrapped my arms around him.

I hadn't considered how much the incident had thrown him. I mean, I knew it at the time, but the lingering effect was unexpected.

He hugged me tightly, swaying slightly as we stood together in the darkened room.

"I don't know what I would've done," he continued. "If something had happened to him…"

"But it didn't. And that's because you're a damn fine cop."

He didn't reply but just held me tighter and several minutes passed before he spoke again.

"I love you so much," he whispered.

The intensity with which he said the words caused my eyes to fill with tears.

I was married for ten years and never once felt so indispensable.

"I know you don't want to get married or anything, but I want you to know…I need you to know that I would, in a second. I need you in my life, Liz, and I don't ever want to be without you."

And he worries about lacking in romance.

I was too overwhelmed to respond one way or the other, except to return the sentiment of love, but later, once we were back in bed, I ran my fingers through his hair and thought about his words.

Sarah cleared her throat loudly and I realized that she was staring at me.

"What?"

"Did I lose you for a minute there?"

"Yeah. Sorry. I was just…thinking."

"He's really it for you, isn't he?" she asked, guessing the direction of my thoughts. "Logan, I mean."

"Yes," I answered immediately.

Sarah sighed heavily and went back to work, taking pictures as I did an external exam.

"God, I want that," she said quietly.

"Hey, Doc!"

I looked up and saw Yuille breezing into the autopsy suite.

Talk about timing.

"Good morning, Detective. Where's your sidekick?"

"He's making the coffee run, so I said I'd stop by here to pick up that report."

"Drew the short straw, did you?" I joked.

He's a pretty amicable guy, now that he's not trying so hard to be an ass. We're on much better terms since he made things right with Alex.

And I have to admit it. He's cute in a Matt Damon kind of way.

"No, I'm here by choice," he said with a grin. "I love the morgue."

"You can't charm me, Detective. I'm immune to your type."

"My type?"

"Bullshitters," I replied. Then I turned to Sarah and said, "Would you mind? I've got that report in my office."

"Sure," she agreed. She stepped back from the table and set down her camera and then looked shyly at Yuille. "Come on. I'll get it for you."

Yuille followed her into my office and I heard him say, "It's Sarah, right? I'm Nick."

I watched for a moment as the two of them chatted, and then I got back to work.

A few minutes later, she came back out and looked at me quizzically.

"Doc, I can't find it. Do you remember where you put it?"

"Oh, you know what? It's over there on the table," I said, nodding my head towards the table right next to where Yuille had been standing when he'd first come in.

Because of course I'd known he was coming to get it, so I was ready for him.

But since he'd come alone, and yesterday Sarah had asked about him…well, what can I say?

I'm in love, so I'm a sucker for romance.

She looked at me for a second and then flashed me a grin as she went over and snagged the report from the table before going back to my office where Yuille was waiting.

It was several more minutes before they came out.

"Thanks, Doc," he said as he headed for the door.

"Oh, and Detective," I called out. "What you did for Captain Eames yesterday…"

"It was everybody."

"I know, but still…"

"So am I officially off your list now?" he asked with a smile.

"For now."

He waved and then looked in Sarah's direction one more time before leaving.

"So?" I asked her once we were alone and she was back at my side with her camera.

"So what?"

"Don't be coy with me. You've been quizzing me on my sex life. The least you can do is tell me what he said."

"I have a date," she admitted.

"You work fast."

"Well, it was kind of the perfect opportunity. I couldn't pass it up."

"You asked him?"

"Yeah. Well, sort of. Anyway, if I get off in time, he's going to take me to dinner tonight."

"You'll be off in time."

"Good, then maybe tomorrow I'll be the one smiling," she said with a grin.

"After one date? You'd better not be."

"Yes, Mom," she joked. "Because I should be like my role model and wait…how long did you and Logan wait?"

"I've known Mike for years," I deflected.

"In a work environment," she clarified, not letting me off the hook. "But when you started seeing him outside of work…"

"Dr. Rodgers?"

I looked up to see that Luke was sticking his head in the room.

"What is it?"

"We got a call. DOA in Red Hook."

"Isn't Mitchell up next? I'm right in the middle of taking care of Mr. Horton, here."

He nodded in understanding, but then said, "Dr. Mitchell thought you might want to take this one, since you've got experience with it. It's another FBK."

TBC...