Dani stared at herself in the mirror. She sighed loudly as she threw a shirt across the room. Dani decided to just put on jeans. But...Nice jeans. Not because Neal deserved un-ripped jeans but because...Ugh. She doesn't know why. Maybe she likes him a little bit? He is easy on the eyes after all.

Dani finished applying some mascara and eye-liner then heard the doorbell ring. She changed into (my Polyvore link will be in my about, click the link and go to the collection called "The Niece", the set for this chapter will be titled "Chapter Two") Dani walked down the stairs, pushing some hair behind her ear. She opened the door to find a one, sharp dressed man, leaning against the door jam.

"Hey there." Neal said, throwing in a smile. Dani's knees felt weak but she regained her posture from slouching slightly.

"Hi." She said. She closed the door, right at the moment he pushed himself off the jam. Standing in front of Dani, Neal's eyes met her's as she stood against the door. She sucked in a breath and looked up at him. Neal took note on how she was a bit shorter than him. About three inches shorter than his six foot self. Neal stepped back, letting her walk in front of him. Checking her out a little bit then walking next to her.

-xXx-

By the time they sat down with coffee they were laughing and telling stories. Neal took a sip of his coffee and looked at Dani. "So, what's the deal with your last name?"

Dani looked at him. "I...Uh...My mom's last name is Collins. And my mom and dad didn't get married till I was five."

"Oh." Neal said. "Then how are you so close in age to Peter?"

"Because my mom had me when she was seventeen and my dad was seventeen too. He joined the army the day after I was born." Neal nodded. His blue eyes following her green ones.

"Okay."

"And uh...My mom...She's the reason I'm in the FBI business. She was kidnapped by a drug cartel and went into a prostitution ring and when my uncle...When Peter found her...She...She wasn't alive. She had been missing for three years...And..." Dani said, tears clouding her eyes. Neal reached out and grabbed her hand, rubbing her knuckles with his thumb.

"Its okay. You don't have to talk about it." Neal replied.

"My dad was twenty six when he stole sixteen works of art from a museum in Chicago. He got arrested and got sent to jail. He served the rest of his time in the army, still, and is still in it. Being in his forties." Dani finished. Wiping her eyes and standing up.

"Thanks for the coffee." She whispered.

-xXx-

Dani hit her head against the door to the women's rest-room at the bureau. I can't believe I told him all that. She thought to herself. I'm so stupid. I blew my chance trying to talk to him.

She finished touching up what little make-up she had on when Diana walked in. "Hey!'' She said.

Dani nodded to her and walked out, walking over to her small desk and sitting down. She set her bag in her lock drawer over a few things and closed it back up, locking it and looking at the set of files in her little box on her desk for files to be copied. Dani started to the copy machine and followed the instructions on the multi-colored sticky notes. She filed them properly and delivered them back to the people who asked for them.

She got back to her desk when she saw another file in the box. She sighed and picked it up. The sticky note on it said:

"If you could copy this for me and put it on my desk and file the copy, that'd be great. And so would another cup of coffee with you on Tuesday at eight. - Neal"

Dani smiled to herself. I didn't scare him away after all.

-xXx-

After Dani made the copy she walked over to Neal's desk and set down the file. Dani accidentally kicked his trash bin and stumbled. She bent down and picked up the things and put them back in the basket. But she took note of all the sticky notes she was putting back. She uncrumpled one and it said

"Hey Dani. :) Coffee at eight on Tuesday?-N"

She uncrumpled another really quickly and read it. "Hi. :) Could you copy this for me and catch coffee with me sometime on Tuesday?-N.C." Dani smiled slightly. He had a bunch of other sticky notes. She heard the talking of Neal and Peter getting louder and quickly threw the sticky notes back in the trash. She grabbed a pencil off his desk and the second they came over she stood up and set the pencil on his desk.

"Got that copy for you." She said quietly, drumming it with her fingers and walking over to the coffee machine. Neal smiled over to her and sat down as he asked Peter a question.

"Is she even an FBI agent?" Neal asked and Dani over heard as she walked back to her desk.

"Yes. She is. She just doesn't like walking around with a badge and gun all the time. Guns aren't her favourite thing in the world." Peter said. "At least she doesn't want them pointed at her."

Neal nodded. ''I get that." Peter clicked his tongue and walked back to his office. Neal turned his head to look at Dani, who was typing without looking and staring at a case to her right. Neal smirked, noting her little 'talent' that wasn't super uncommon but that isn't that easy to do.

-xXx-

Dani was outside, on her break, smoking. Neal walked out to her and looked at it.

"Do you do that often?" He asked, trying to make conversation and realising how rude it sounded after it came out.

Dani shook her head. "Not that often. I usually do it when I'm stressed out."

"Why would you be stressed out?" He asked, sitting next to her on the cobblestone front, where the small rose bushes where.

"The case I've been working on...Something doesn't add up with it."

"And what would that be?" Neal asked.

"This guy...He stole three ancient Greek pots from a museum but there is no sign of the guy getting in, or out."

"SO how do you know they were taken?" Neal questioned.

"Because they were there a week ago but they haven't been there sense Thursday." Dani replied.

Neal nodded. Dani glanced to him, putting out her cigarette. "If it were you, what would you do?" Then she rubbed her elbow and quickly added. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Well... If it were me," He started. "I'd make sure I knew where all the cameras were, then I'd make sure I'd have a way to go in and exit without anyone seeing me or notice me."

Dani nodded.

"Then I would, y'know, I'd check the routine of everyone there. I would hope to make sure that no guards were guarding my target item."

Dani nodded. "But like...How would you know if someone were to sneak up on you?"

"You wouldn't. You need to be a quick thinker. If you aren't...You need to have a friend with you who is. Or just a person. Someone you're comfortable with losing."

Dani's eyes widened slightly. Neal looked at her. "I know, I know. It sounds kinda cruel but in that line of work you can't really get close to many people but you need someone you can trust."

Neal shrugged. "That's about it."

Dani gently nudged his shoulder. "Thanks Neal."

He smiled and nodded. "Any-time. It is literally what I'm here for." She smiled back and walked back inside.

Neal watched after her and made a little "humph" noise.

"You hittin' that?" Someone asked.

Neal looked up, shaking his head. "Nice way to say hi, Max."

Max rolled his eyes. "Are you?"

"No." Neal said.

"Then she's up for grabs." Max replied with a smirk.

Neal gritted his teeth. "Stay away from her Max."

Max smiled. "Sure thing bud."

Neal watched Max walk away and turned around.

"I'll see you at your place in half an hour?'' He shouted.

"Sure." Neal shouted back to the blond haired man.

If you don't touch Dani we won't have a problem. Neal thought to himself.

~XxX~