Sabrina spent extra time on her appearance Monday afternoon. She did her makeup a little differently (making sure to accent her green eyes more) and made special effort to shape her long, chestnut colored curls so that they weren't frizzy. She also wore a short sweater with snug jeans tucked into knee high boots because – to be completely honest – she wanted more of Dan's attention.

As Sabrina entered the courtroom, she waved to Christine and Mac and then walked to her normal spot and sat down. She shrugged off her coat and gloves, getting settled in for session.

When Christine walked over and asked how her weekend was, Dan walked in a moment later carrying his briefcase and coat and headed for his table. He wore a dark grey three-piece suit and a light purple shirt with dark purple accessories. Sabrina tried not to grin as she answered Christine's question. He'd learned from their first chat that purple was her favorite color – she hoped it wasn't coincidence.

When the defense attorney returned to her table to sort through files, Dan spun around in his leather chair to face Sabrina.

"Good evening, milady," he greeted with a smile that was not the usual forced one that made him look like he was up to something. It was genuine. She noticed that he purposely adjusted his tie while she was watching.

"Good evening, Mr. Fielding. That purple is mighty eye-catching."

Dan looked down to straighten his pocket square before lifting a sultry, half-lidded gaze to her. "Your eyes, I hope," he said, his voice quiet but predatory.

Recognizing the determination in his unwavering stare, Sabrina blushed and looked down, fighting the urge to grin like a schoolgirl under his scrutiny. Being around men – even ones like Dan – was nothing new, but somehow he elicited a different reaction then her usual. Just watching his mannerisms and listening to his voice was enough to cause her thighs to squeeze together.

"All rise," Bull began as everyone turned towards the bench, saving Sabrina from an even redder face.

When session broke for dinner, Roz walked over to Sabrina as she gathered her things. "You and Harry joining us? I'll make sure to pull a couple of tables together if you are."

Sabrina's heart pounded. She'd decided that morning that she was going to ask Dan to dinner; she just hadn't figured out how she was going to ask him. Roz's question was perfectly timed.

"Actually, Dan and I are going to the pizza place across the street."

Dan, who was standing by his table, spun around so fast to look at her in shock that he sent a stack of files to the floor in a flurry of folders and papers.

"We are?" he asked, eyes big.

She nodded. "We are."

"Yes!" he exclaimed, putting his arms straight up in the air with his fingers pointed as he bent his knees, making them touch repeatedly as if dancing.

Sabrina covered her mouth, laughing hysterically at him, as Roz shrugged, unfazed by his display of excitement. "Suit yourself then," she said, giving Sabrina a sly wink as she left with Christine on their way to the cafeteria.

"Did I hear that correctly?" Harry asked, walking across the courtroom from the bench and shaking his head at the touchdown-type dance that was still happening in the middle of the room. "Dan, stop celebrating already."

"Sorry, sir," he complied immediately, gathering up the papers and folders from the floor and putting them back on the table.

"You did, Harry. We're going across the street."

"To eat." It wasn't a question, and he glanced suspiciously at Dan as he crossed his arms.

Sabrina rolled her eyes at her cousin. She knew what he was thinking, and regardless of what they were going to do, she was an adult and could make her own decisions. Harry had always been protective of her, though. "Yes, to eat pizza. Want some?"

"No, no – that's okay," Harry said, shaking his head. "You two enjoy yourselves." Then he pointed at Dan. "And you behave yourself."

"Of course, sir," Dan replied with a mock salute.

Sabrina looked him then. "Ready to go?"

Dan winked at her. "I'm always ready to go."

She didn't doubt it.

The pizza place was rather cozy inside with small tables covered in red checkerboard tablecloths and hairpin chairs around them. Each one had a small glass vase that held two red roses with a frosted glass votive holder complete with lit candle beside it. Silver Christmas garland hung in soft swags along the walls, and there was a tree by the door that twinkled in brightly colored lights with an angel on top. It was so late that there were only a couple other customers there.

After looking over the menu, they ordered and eagerly reached for the breadsticks placed on their table a minute later. The dim light in the restaurant accented Dan's facial features, and Sabrina had to remind herself not to stare at him across the table. She could see the flicker from the flame dancing in his chocolate brown eyes, and it gave them a little sparkle. One side of her mouth lifted in a smirk as she imagined him in bed underneath her with candlelight surrounding them.

Dan was grinning when he asked, "So, why do I get the feeling that you planned this?"

"Because I did," she confirmed, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "You'd surprised me a few times with nice things; I thought it was only fair."

"It's very fair. I'm not used to fair," he told her, taking another bite of the breadstick

"And I'm paying, too."

Dan looked at her crossly, but had to finish chewing before he could speak. "You most certainly are not," he said, pointing his half-eaten breadstick at her.

"I most certainly am or there will be no future dinner." Sabrina knew that she had him on that one. Besides, he'd done so much for her already; the least she could do was pay for their pizza.

Dan grimaced and then pouted as he dropped the last of the bread to the small plate. "Come on, Sabrina. That's not right."

"It's very right. Those are my terms."

Dan pouted a minute longer before saying, "Fine. But just this once. Those are my terms."

"Agreed."

When session was over, Sabrina gathered her purse and coat and headed for Harry's chambers. They were having a drink before going home.

"Sabrina," Dan called out when she passed by his table.

"Yes?"

Dan glanced around briefly to make sure that he didn't have an audience as he walked over to her. "Thank you for your surprise," he said quietly, his hands clasped in front of him. "I enjoyed it tremendously."

Looking up at him and realizing just how tall he was, Sabrina bravely covered his hands with hers and gave them a squeeze. "Thank you for being patient. See you tomorrow."

Sabrina floated into Harry's office a minute later.

"How was dinner?" Christine asked the next day as they sat in the cafeteria having coffee before session. "I didn't have a chance to ask you last night."

Sabrina knew that the answer was written all over her face as she couldn't hide her smile. "We had a great time. He's so easy to talk to."

"You mean you talked about something other than sex?" Christine asked with a laugh.

"I know it must seem crazy, but yes…we talked about something other than sex," Sabrina confirmed. "Actually, we talked a lot about where he grew up; somewhere near a bayou outside of New Orleans he said. I'd love to go there. I've never been that far south."

Christine was impressed. "He usually doesn't talk much about his past," she remarked. "Sometimes I think he's embarrassed by it. Which he shouldn't be. I've met his parents, and they're lovely people. Very sweet and unassuming."

"Yes, I get that impression, too. I think he was teased when he got out of college and started working. You don't think he's sensitive, but – "

"But he is," Christine confirmed. "He must trust you, Sabrina. Too bad you don't live here. I think you could be the one to turn him into a pretty decent guy."

Choosing to stay quiet about her future plans, she replied, "Yeah…that is a shame."

That night found Sabrina and Dan joining the rest of the group during the dinner break. Harry pulled two tables together, as he often did, so that everyone could sit together. As they ate and talked, she could tell that Dan's co-workers were unaccustomed to his behavior – or more accurately his lack of normal behavior – by the expressions on their faces and side looks they gave each other. Sabrina wasn't sure if it was an ego thing or what, but she liked the fact that she had such an effect on him. He sure had one on her.

After the last pound of the gavel on Wednesday night, Dan turned towards Sabrina as she gathered her belongings.

"Do you have a few minutes?"

"Of course." It was nearly five in the morning, and her eyes burned from exhaustion, but she definitely had time for him.

Grabbing his briefcase and wool coat, he said, "Okay, great! Follow me."

They took the elevator up to the top floor, and then he led her up a staircase that ended at a grungy looking door. She looked at him questioningly.

"Go on," he told her as she pushed it open and stepped through.

The damp, early morning air immediately chilled her skin as she looked up to see slivers of purple and blue rising over the dark city beneath them. As her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit roof, she then saw the bottle of wine and two glasses sitting on a chair near them.

"Oh my gosh, Dan…did you bring – "

"Sometimes the Wednesday sessions have a longer docket to get through and end at sunrise, so every now and then, I come up to watch. I was hoping you might like to watch it with me."

Sabrina was momentarily speechless and overcome with a mix of feelings that she wasn't quite ready for. There was one feeling that she was ready for, however, and that was to feel him against her. Horizontally. In bed. Naked.

Dan took her silence as a bad thing. "If you don't want to stay, we can – "

"No! Sorry – I – this is beautiful," Sabrina said quietly as she joined him by the chair. "It's thoughtful and…and kind of romantic."

"Is it too much?" he asked worriedly.

"No. It's perfect. Really."

Looking relieved, Dan poured their wine – sweet and red, of course – and handed her one of the glasses.

"To beautiful mornings," he said, holding up his glass as they stood near the ledge overlooking the waking city.

Sabrina smiled up at him and clinked her glass to his. "To beautiful mornings," she repeated. There was only one faint light that hung by the door, but as the soft, warm glow cast shadows across Dan's face, it reminded her of how he looked at the pizza place, and she licked her lips. He had her attention.

They were quiet as they drank their wine and observed the city below. Traffic was still quiet, but she could hear garbage trucks in the distance making their early rounds and a couple dogs barking nearby. Sabrina was thankful for the wine to warm her up – it was definitely chilly. She wasn't going to say anything, though. She was enjoying the moment with him too much to end it just yet.

"The colors are so pretty," she said, wrapping her free arm around her waist in an effort to get a little warmer. "I don't see many mornings and especially not with wine and a handsome man by my side."

"I don't know if you'll believe me or not, but – um – I've never brought – I mean – I haven't done this for anyone else."

Sabrina looked up at him and resisted the strong urge to pull him down in a kiss that probably wouldn't have ended until the sun was high in the sky. She bit her lip and looked out over the city again. "Even if you had, that would be all right, you know."

"No, it wouldn't," he insisted. "The things that I've done for you – I haven't done for anyone else."

"Since I'm so different, huh?"

Dan sipped his wine and was quiet for a few moments. She could tell that he was thinking of what he wanted to say, and she was curious to hear his answer. His silence before speaking was always telling.

"You are different, Sabrina," he finally said, his voice quiet. "You're so intelligent. Many of my…um…lady friends…while blessed in the physical department weren't always blessed in the brains department. I – uh – I didn't want them to be."

Sabrina nodded in understanding. "Because you just wanted one thing."

He looked a bit sheepish as he nodded slowly. "Correct."

"It's okay to be truthful. I've had my share of male friends, too. Sometimes I only wanted one thing."

His wide eyes indicated that he had not expected her say that. "Really?"

"Yep."

They sipped more wine. When Sabrina shivered involuntarily from the cold – which she'd tried not to do – Dan immediately shrugged off his coat and started to put it around her.

A thought hit her, and she shook her head. "I have a better idea. Put it back on."

Once he did, Sabrina stood in front of him at the ledge and reached for his free arm to wrap around her. Her heart was pounding, but she wanted to touch him so badly. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to be close to him, and she didn't miss many of those.

"Isn't this better?" she asked as she leaned back against him. The spice of his cologne tickled her nose, and she breathed deeply. He smelled delicious, like leather and clove, and it made her want to wrap herself around him and use him like a body pillow.

"So much better," Dan answered, giving her a gentle squeeze.

Sabrina wondered if he might try more with her physically, but he did not. He held her tight against him, but that was all. With the dawn slowly rising above them in bright orange and pink hues, she wondered if her jelly legs were from the alcohol or him. Her decision was made – she wanted him. Not that it had been a difficult decision, of course. Everything about him was attractive and made her want to bang him like a screen door in a hurricane. She almost laughed out loud at her thoughts. They were true, though.

"So – um – dinner Saturday night then?" she asked, feeling his entire body stiffen in surprise.

"Really?"

"Really. You pick the place. But I am meeting you there and going home alone. Understood?" Sabrina didn't trust herself otherwise.

"Yes ma'am. Whatever you want. Something tells me that you're in control, which is perfectly fine with me."

Sabrina sipped more wine and grinned knowingly, glad that he couldn't see her face then. "Don't worry, Dan. You'll get your turn to be in control, I promise."

Dan wrapped both arms around her then and dropped his head to her shoulder. "God bless you," he murmured, making her giggle.

Thursday and Friday had to have been the slowest two days ever. Sabrina and Dan chatted whenever they could which earned winks and elbow jabs from Harry and their co-workers, but it didn't stop them. They stole moments together, but Dan was still respectful towards her. Sabrina was ready for him to not be.

Friday night, Sabrina and Harry had dinner at the pizza place that she'd surprised Dan with on Tuesday. She waited until their food arrived to tell her cousin that she was having dinner with his colleague on Saturday night.

"Are you sure, Sabrina? I mean, he has been acting a little differently lately, but – "

"But a leopard doesn't change his spots?"

With a grimace, he said, "Yeah. Something like that. Don't get me wrong. I've known him a long time. He can be a good guy. But he can also be a little – "

"Sex-crazed?"

"I would have chosen a different term…but yeah."

Sabrina finished her bite of pizza. "I'm not looking to pick out china with him. I just want a good time, too."

He sipped his soda and shrugged. "Well, if you just want a good time, too, why wait then?"

Sabrina batted her eyelashes at him. "Why, Harry, the chase is half the fun," she teased, making him laugh.

"Great," he said rolling his eyes. "Now you sound like Dan."

Sabrina went shopping for a new dress on Saturday morning. The only thing that Dan had told her was that they were going to a French restaurant in Manhattan and that he'd call her later with the name since she insisted on meeting him there.

Dinner wasn't until seven, but she started getting ready at four with a long bubble bath followed by a hot shower. She took her time with her hair and makeup, as well. She wanted to be sexy but not slutty – she was sure that he saw enough of that.

At six, he called with the name, and at six-thirty, she climbed into a cab wearing her new red cocktail dress with her heart racing. She knew tonight was not the night, but she also knew that it was not far away. She shifted her hips where she sat in the cab and bit her bottom lip, stifling a moan. Just thinking about being with him physically was enough to cause her lower regions to contract in anticipation. What was she waiting for again?

Dan was standing near the entrance of the restaurant holding one red rose when her cab pulled up to the curb. When Sabrina walked up to him, he handed it to her and reached for her other hand, placing a warm kiss to the top of it, his unwavering eyes never leaving hers.

Wanting to pounce on him right there by the door, Sabrina resisted the urge and quickly inhaled the sweet scent of the flower. "The rose is beautiful, Dan. Thank you."

"Not nearly as beautiful as you," he replied. She watched him lower his gaze down the length of her body before lifting his hungry eyes back to hers. If she'd been chilly from the night air, she wasn't anymore. The heat radiating from his stare was enough to keep her warm. He proffered his arm then and asked, "Shall we?"

Sabrina smiled and rested her hand in the crook of his arm. "We shall."

To the 'guest' that was kind enough to leave a review - THANKS! And I agree...there IS a serious lack of Dan fanfic out there. Hopefully you'll enjoy the rest of the story!

And to LadiePhoenix007, you are just so lovely to read all my crazy stories. I really appreciate that. :)

It seems Dan's charms - even his 'restrained' ones - are wearing our Sabrina down. Can't say I blame her. I doubt I would have lasted as long as she has! #zerowillpower