A/N: This was inspired by, and is indeed a shameless ripoff of, KarlieQ's Truth or Dare. I think it might fall under the category of Crack Fic? You'll let me know if I'm misusing the term.

Seth woke in the early hours of the morning, heart pounding. He fought against the blanket, which he'd somehow managed to tangle around his feet in his sleep. He reached for his glasses and, bleary eyed, looked at the alarm clock on his nightstand table. 3:45 AM. Something had to be done.

Jessica woke with a start and discovered she'd crushed her pillow to her chest in something approximating an embrace. She rubbed her eyes and noted the time. 4 AM. She couldn't keep waking up like this. Something had to be done.

It started out innocently enough. Jessica and Seth were returning from an evening at Mort's and Adele's. Adele had invited a few other couples and asked Jessica if she and Seth might attend to round out the number.

"Of course," replied Jessica graciously. "I've no plans, and I'm sure Seth will appreciate seeing some different faces."

Adele hid her smile and thanked Jessica. "I'm a little nervous. It's our first time hosting anything since we moved to Cabot Cove. Having you there to give me moral support will make all the difference."

"Not that you'll need me, but I'm happy to oblige you. Is there anything we can bring?"

"No, no. Just yourselves will be enough."

Seth's stony silence filled the car as he drove back to Jessica's. She felt a twinge of guilt, but really, how could she have known? She would admit to having been shocked, but Seth's overreaction was unnecessary and, quite frankly, petulant. For a doctor, he certainly was particular about his personal space. He was very sensitive regarding his body. She stifled a giggle. It had been amusing, and she had to admit that feeling his lips on hers was...nice. Surprisingly nice. Unexpectedly nice.

"I see you smirking over there."

"You're still upset?"

"Yes, I'm still upset, woman! And I don't understand why you aren't!"

"Oh, Seth. It was just a bit of harmless fun."

"Harmless? Harmless?"

"Yes, harmless! You're the one who made such a fuss. If you hadn't overreacted, no one else would have remarked on it."

"When I go to a dinner party, I expect to be served hors d'oeuvres on a plate. Not from my partner's lips!"

"It was just a silly couples game, Seth. Was it really so bad to be paired off with me? If I didn't know you any better, I'd think you were more upset about your lips touching mine than the actual game itself."

Seth sputtered. "That's not it at all, Jessica! It's just...it put us in an awkward position. That's all." He turned onto Candlewood Lane and pulled the car next to the curb.

"I didn't find it awkward," said Jessica breezily as she unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to open her door. Seth put his hand on her arm. "Wait, Jess." He exhaled. "I'm sorry I got so flustered. You're right. It was just a silly game, and I let it get under my skin and ruin a perfectly nice evening." He looked at her. "Forgive me?"

"This time," said Jessica tartly, and Seth leaned over to kiss her cheek. A mischievous impulse caused her to turn her face at the last minute so their lips would meet. She kept her eyes open and swallowed a chuckle as Seth's eyes flew open in surprise. She moved out of his grasp and exited the car quickly. "Good night, Seth!" she exclaimed as she shut the door smartly and walked to her front door. Seth watched as she unlocked her front door and walked in without looking back. He touched his fingertips to his lips. She must have intended to kiss him. What could it mean? He sat in the car for a few more minutes before he realized where he was. He started the car and drove home. Jessica had given him something to think about.

Seth observed Jessica carefully over the next week. She seemed to be her normal self, alternately teasing and chiding him, slipping her arm through his as they walked companionably through town, weaving around him in the kitchen as they prepared their weekly Friday night meal. Everything seemed normal enough. He just couldn't understand why she'd kissed him on the lips that night, but hadn't brought it up nor had she made any further attempts to kiss him. Did she expect him to make the first move? Did she even want a move? She'd certainly mixed him up. He didn't think that he'd be trying to unravel the mysteries of women at the age of 60. I wish you could give me a hint, Ruthie.

They shared an easygoing friendly meal that night, and Seth began to relax a little. Maybe the evening at Adele and Mort's was just an aberration, even as his traitorous heart lifted at the thought that it might not be. As she washed and he dried, Jessica suggested they turn on the television once they were finished.

"The public station is running a Hitchcock retrospective this month, and tonight's film is Notorious."

"Oh, that was a good one. Ingrid Bergman was awfully beautiful, wasn't she?"

"Indeed she was. That's one of my favorites of hers." Jess wiped her hands on a dish towel and hung it on its hook to dry. "Shall we?"

Seth nodded and followed her into the living room. Jessica turned on the television, adjusted the volume, then moved to sit on the couch.

"You don't want an overhead light on, Jess?"

"I don't think we need it, do you, Seth? Black-and-white films look so much better in the dark."

He grimaced and sat beside her on the couch. He put his hands awkwardly on his thighs. They'd missed the beginning of the movie, but soon enough the plot came back to him and he lost himself in the intrigue and romance of the film. As the famous scene between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman began, Seth realized how closely he and Jessica were sitting on the couch. Their shoulders were touching, and he felt Jessica reach for his hand. As she grasped it, Seth turned to face her, and he couldn't be sure which one of them leaned into the other first, but soon they were kissing passionately. Seth groaned as he felt Jessica's tongue brush against his lips. He began to drop kisses on her face and neck, and he felt the tantalizing clasp of her bra beneath his hands as he rubbed her back. That brought him back to reality, and he drew back from Jessica. She smiled, patted his hand, and turned her gaze back to the film while Seth tried to apply some discipline to his body. When the film ended, Jessica turned off the television and Seth walked toward the door.

He cleared his throat. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Jess."

She smiled. "You're welcome, Seth. See you tomorrow?"

"A-yuh," he said gruffly and, opting not to buss her cheek, he nodded good night to her and beat a hasty retreat. As he started his car, he gazed into the distance. What had possessed them? What did it mean? He couldn't deny his attraction to Jessica, especially after tonight, but he'd never intended to act on those feelings. He assumed she didn't want that from him, perhaps from anyone. Hers was the most important friendship of the new life he'd made for himself, and he wouldn't ruin it by trying to persuade her to move from friends to lovers. But had he kissed her first, or had she kissed him? He couldn't be precisely sure. But one thing he was sure of. Her kisses were passionate and loving. Whether she wanted more from him than just an amorous episode, he couldn't be sure. But he knew what he felt in her kisses, and he was pretty sure she felt the same from his. The question was what to do next.

As was his custom, Seth went over to Jessica's the following morning. He stopped by most mornings and enjoyed a cup of coffee with her, sometimes breakfast if she was inclined to fix something. This morning, he stood in front of her back door for a full five minutes, his hand on the door handle but afraid to turn it. Finally, he screwed his courage to the sticking place and opened the door. Jessica looked at him and smiled.

"Good morning, Seth! How are you this fine morning?"

"I'm fine, woman. You?"

"Just dandy! Care for a cup of coffee?"

"That's what I came by for!"

She raised her eyebrows, then turned and fixed him a cup. This would never do. But he couldn't bring it up! He had to wait for her to say something.

Seth sighed. And that's how they'd left it for the past several weeks. During the day, they were friendly, companionable, almost easy. In the evenings, they were friendly and companionable up to a point, then Jess would suggest they sit in the living room, where she would turn on the public station, settle in beside him and, after an appropriate amount of time had elapsed, turn and kiss him senseless. Or he would gather her in his arms first and place delicate kisses under her ear until she melted against him. They necked for a long, amorous while, until one or the other would draw back, each breathing heavily and readjusting clothing that had become rumpled.

They couldn't go on this way. She was driving him slowly mad, as evidenced by the dreams that awakened him every morning. Something had to be done...but what?

TBC