Their "real first date", as they half-jokingly called it, couldn't have gone any better. Jamie outdid himself as they went to an art museum he knew Kara liked. They held hands, looking at various paintings and talking not just about the art, but life in general. Every so often, Jamie took her hand in his and kissed it.

"Jamie!" Kara chastised in a whisper after the third time, her cheeks blushing. Her eyes darting back and forth as if to tell him, People can see us!

"What?" Jamie asked innocently, a smile on his face.

"You're trouble," Kara said with a smile and a roll of the eyes.

"I'm worth it, though."

After a few hours, Jamie walked Kara to her apartment door as they both had to report for Roll Call the next morning at seven o'clock and it was already eight in the evening.

"Thank you for a lovely evening, Jamie."

"This was great," he agreed.

They hugged, and what should have been a five second hug turned into 10 seconds.

Then 15 seconds.

Then 20.

Then 30.

Kara looked up at Jamie only to find he had been looking down at her. "Please don't leave," she pleaded.

Jamie wanted her. But he needed to be certain.

"Yes," she said as if reading his mind. "I'm sure." She took his left hand into hers, using her right hand to unlock her apartment door. Once Jamie was inside her apartment's entryway, she closed her apartment door and locked it.

Inside, they stood in Kara's living room, the room where Jamie had made his contrition just the other night, holding each other and swaying side to side. Swaying to the music only they could hear…

Later that night, they laid in Kara's bed, bare bodies pressing against one another. Aside from the auburn glow of a small nightlight in her tiny bathroom, the only light that shone in her bedroom was the moonlight through the window, shining light on her curves and her hair, which cascaded down the side of her breast. She was like a vision.

"God, you're beautiful," Jamie sighed.

Kara lifted her head off Jamie's chest, looking into his eyes, smiling. "You're not so bad yourself." She tenderly kissed his right pectoral muscle, her tongue gently grazing his nipple.

"Aaahhh, don't do that," he said, groaning with pleasure. "I can't do anything right now, I'm spent."

Kara snorted and let out a playful giggle. She reached down and felt his manhood, once hard and firm, now limp and satisfied, still wet from having been inside her.

"Officer Walsh," Jamie said, feigning shock, "are you touching me in an inappropriate manner?"

"Well… Officer Reagan," Kara said, barely suppressing a laugh. "I just wanted to make sure you were telling me the truth."

A few beats passed as they bathed in the peaceful silence, which was interrupted by sniffs coming from Jamie.

Kara looked up amused, only to have her amusement stop cold when she saw tears. Her eyes grew wide with concern.

"Jamie? Jamie! Jamie, sweetheart, talk to me. What's wrong?"

Jamie tried to speak, but where the words should have flowed, only tears came.

"Jamie, baby, tell me what's wrong," Kara said, wiping away the tears. "Please, you're scaring me."

"I'm – I'm sorry," Jamie offered, "it's just… I didn't think…"

"Didn't think what, Jamie? Baby, talk to me."

"I didn't think I could find this… This happiness. And it's with you. I just wish I had gotten with you sooner."

Kara just smiled warmly. "Jamie, I understand completely," she said. "I've had a couple of relationships. Not the worst relationships in the world, but nothing like what I feel when I'm with you. I feel like being with you on the job, I already know you and… I feel safe, Jamie. I always feel safe when I'm with you."

Jamie continued to hold Kara, his right thumb and pointer finger gently caressing the top of her shoulder.

"You know we're going to have to talk to the Sarge, tomorrow, right?" Jamie asked. "Tell him about us and how we can't ride together, anymore, however infrequent that may be?"

"Yep," Kara acknowledged. "But it's worth it for this."

And with that, the sleepy peacefulness they had both been fighting finally took over as they drifted off into sleep.

Thank you, Jamie silently whispered to the Universe. Thank you.