Johnny found himself in the strange position of being led up and down Bourbon Street by this tiny redheaded woman and enjoying every damn minute of it.

Normally he would have resisted being bossed around, but something about this felt different. He was in a strange city all by himself, and had he not run into Laurie, he'd most likely be dozing off in front of the TV back in his hotel room.

This was far better. Sure, he probably could have done this himself, but it was far more fun with company.

Well, once he'd gotten over his initial apprehension at the utterly overwhelming atmosphere of it all. The noise and the crowds were a bit much, to say the least, and going into that first bar damn near had him immediately looking around for the exit.

But then Laurie had pulled him out onto the dance floor and well, that was it. Her energy and spark were undeniable, and Johnny couldn't help but get caught up in it. She didn't even seem to mind that he'd stepped on her toes more than a few times.

Now they were headed into yet another club, the music of this one distinctly different, though Johnny couldn't pinpoint it. No horns, more guitar, and now a fiddle. And was that an accordion?

"What is this?" Johnny leaned down and spoke into Laurie's ear.

"Zydeco." She answered back.

"Zyde-what?" Johnny was thoroughly baffled.

Laurie merely rolled her eyes. "Zydeco. Just roll with it."

"If you say so." Johnny shrugged and followed Laurie to the bar. He was just about reaching his limit, but Laurie was clearly far from done. As long as one of them kept their bearings about them, they should make it back to the hotel without much incident.

"Don't you want anything?" Laurie asked him as she sipped on another drink.

"Think I've had enough." Johnny told her.

Laurie's expression immediately changed; her chin set at a stubborn tilt. "Well, I haven't."

Johnny was a little taken aback. "Didn't try to tell you otherwise."

Laurie's expression softened. "Sorry. Jumping to conclusions, I suppose."

Johnny reached out and brushed back a bit of her hair. "I'm not the boss of you. We're just two people out to have a good time, okay? Do what you want. Short of giving yourself alcohol poisoning, of course."

"Right." Laurie smiled at that. "Wouldn't be right to make you have to work."

Johnny couldn't help laughing. "I'm definitely not here to work."

Laurie held out her hand. "Exactly. All work and no play makes John a dull boy."

Johnny took her outstretched hand, and they made their way out to the dance floor. The music was odd, but Johnny found himself getting into the rhythm of it, watching other dancers out of the corner of his eye to get some idea of what the hell he was supposed to be doing.

Eventually he gave up trying to figure it out. Laurie didn't seem to care anyway, easily going along with whatever Johnny was doing. At some point someone bumped into her, sending her flying into his chest, and Johnny quickly caught her before she knocked him over.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Laurie looked up at him with that same smile that had caught his attention back when they'd first met in San Francisco. "You're very cute. I don't know if I've ever told you that."

Johnny managed to suppress a laugh. The drinks must have really started to hit her. "No, I don't think you have. You turned me down flat the first time we met, remember?"

"Well, maybe I wouldn't have if it weren't for Pete." Laurie answered, suddenly looking a little pensive. "God, I can't believe I was so dumb."

"Forget it." Johnny pulled her in as the band went into a slower song. "And I don't think you were dumb. I mean, you loved the guy, right?"

"Right." Laurie sighed into his chest. "Did you know he asked me three times to marry him before I finally said yes? That should have been a sign."

"Maybe."

"You know that first place we went?" Laurie continued as if she hadn't heard him. "That's where he asked me to marry him the first time. I mean, not the same place. Because that one got closed down. You know what I mean."

It occurred to Johnny that perhaps he should get Laurie back to the hotel. It was obvious the fun was about to end.

"Why haven't you ever gotten married?" Laurie suddenly asked him.

"I don't know." Johnny answered. "Never met the right girl, I guess."

Laurie pulled back to look up at him. "It's not too late, you know."

"I know that." Johnny was a little baffled at the turn in conversation. "I mean, the pressure isn't on guys like it is on girls, right?"

"Right." Laurie responded. "Who knows? Maybe I blew my chance when I broke things off with Pete."

Something in the tone of her voice gave Johnny pause. He lightly rested a hand on the small of her back and gently kissed the top of her head. "You're a great girl, Laurie. I don't think you've blown your chance at all."

Laurie wrapped her arms around him, hugging Johnny tightly. "You're a good guy, John."

God, he wished that were actually true.

"Maybe we should call it a night." He ventured. "Or at least get outside for a minute."

Laurie nodded, and the two of them left the club, the notes of the band fading out behind them. It was a little quieter now, though the street still buzzed with activity. It seemed like one big, never-ending street party, and Johnny was just as content to observe the goings-on as he was to be a part of it.

He'd made a wise decision to stop drinking after the last club, he knew that now. As it was, he had just a bit of a pleasant buzz, just enough to take the edge off and relax him a bit.

Laurie, on the other hand, seemed to have a bit of trouble putting one foot in front of the other. She slipped an arm around his waist as they walked down the street. "Told you this was a wild place."

"You did." Johnny agreed. "Suppose I should have believed you."

The further they walked, the further they were from the bars and clubs, and into a quieter part of the district. Here there were more restaurants, and it occurred to Johnny that they hadn't bothered to get anything to eat before they set out on their little adventure tonight.

"This looks interesting." Johnny nudged Laurie. "You hungry?"

"I should eat a little something." Laurie smiled slightly. "All that booze on an empty stomach was a bad idea."

Johnny had a brief moment of dread. What went down might not stay down, and he'd be stuck taking care of a sick Laurie. Not a great way to start things. "Well, maybe we should find you something a little easy on the stomach, huh?"

"Don't worry." Laurie waved her hand around. "I know how to handle this."

They ducked into the small café and found a table. The waitress seemed none too happy to see them, setting down their menus with a scowl. "You two want something to drink?"

"Uh, two coffees." Johnny told her. "Maybe some water, too."

"Comin' up."

Johnny looked over the menu, settling on something simple, and had his order ready almost as soon as the waitress returned with their drinks. Laurie's order was slightly more exotic, at least by Johnny's standards.

The waitress took their order and left them with their drinks. Laurie fumbled with a couple of packets of sugar, scowling as she tried to tear them open. "Dammit." She grumbled.

"Here, let me help." Johnny gently plucked them from her hand and tore them open, pouring them into her cup. "That enough?"

Laurie nodded, stirring for a long moment, seemingly lost in thought. "It's kind of funny, you know."

"What's that?"

"Meeting you here." Laurie answered, finally setting the spoon aside and taking a long drink of her coffee. "I suppose I just assumed after the last convention that I'd never see you again. Didn't give it much thought, really. No offense."

"None taken." Johnny replied, running his finger around the edge of his own coffee cup. "I mean, once you turned me down, it made things pretty simple."

Laurie reached out and lightly slapped his hand, or tried to. "You are just never going to let me forget that, are you?"

"Oh, I don't mean anything by it." Johnny quickly explained. "I just know when to cut my losses. Mostly. And anyway, would have been pretty tough even if you hadn't turned me down. You know, with you being in San Francisco and me being in L.A."

"True." Laurie nodded. "Anyway, thank you for tonight. It's been a lot of fun."

"Night's not over yet." Johnny reminded her. "Still have to eat."

Laurie smiled and laughed a little at that. "And find a cab back to the hotel."

"Let me worry about that, huh?" Johnny suggested as the waitress came with their food. "You just get something in you so you can sober up a little."

They fell into more casual conversation after that, and Johnny found himself genuinely enjoying Laurie's company. There was an ease between them now that Johnny couldn't even recall feeling back in San Francisco.

It wasn't that he was necessarily trying to get anywhere with Laurie this time, either. Sure, she was still as cute as ever, sweet and funny, and if things went in that particular direction, well, he'd be hard pressed to turn her away. But it wasn't his goal.

After all, it would end the same way, with them being over half of a very large state away from each other. They might as well be half a world apart.

Finally, the waitress brought their check, and Johnny laid down enough to cover it plus a hefty tip. "Ready to go?" He asked.

"Ready." Laurie replied, slowly pushing herself out of the chair and steadying herself. Johnny was ready in the event she needed a little extra support, but she waved him away. "John Gage, I am perfectly capable of standing on my own two feet."

Johnny was doubtful but didn't say anything. He simply followed closely behind Laurie as they left the café and started back down the street.

Laurie suddenly hooked her arm through his, just like she did back when she had so sweetly turned him down. But something about this was different, somehow.

Things had quieted down somewhat, though there was still music and the sound of laughter and conversation spilling out of the bars and clubs as they walked on. Johnny kept an eye out for a cab, though he suspected flagging one down at this time of night would be a challenge. Still, it was a pleasant night and he had a lovely woman on his arm.

Things could certainly be worse.

Laurie squeezed his arm and rested her head on him, and Johnny impulsively turned to kiss her on top of her head. "Doing okay?"

"Mm-hmm." Laurie replied absently. "I think I'm sobering up a little. Good grief, what a night."

Johnny couldn't help laughing at her just a little. "We'll get you back to the hotel. I'll even tuck you in if you want."

"I knew it." Laurie pinched his arm. "You're just trying to get me into bed."

"I—what? No, no." Johnny quickly reassured her.

Laurie looked rather pleased with herself. "So you don't want to sleep with me."

"I didn't say that either." Johnny was completely flustered now, feeling the heat rushing to his face.

Finally, Johnny spotted a cab and waved it down. The cab rolled to a stop at the curb and Johnny opened the door to let Laurie inside. Once inside, he gave the name of the hotel to the driver, and the cab pulled away from the curb.

He felt Laurie slip her hand into his. "You know, I was just teasing you. You're very cute when you get all flustered."

"Glad you think so." Johnny muttered.

Laurie let out an almost girlish giggle, moving in closer and kissing him on the cheek.

Johnny froze at the move, his brain almost immediately going into panic mode. Laurie had been drinking. She didn't know what she was doing. She didn't really want what she thought she wanted. Or what Johnny thought she wanted.

Did she?

"What's wrong?" Laurie asked, a note of worry in her voice.

Great, now she would think he was trying to turn her down.

Johnny took a deep breath and exhaled, stroking the back of Laurie's hand with his thumb. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong. Just, uh, not sure we should be doing this."

"What, this?" Laurie's hand was on his cheek, turning his head toward her. Before he could respond, Laurie's lips were on his, and what little was left of Johnny's resolve crumbled.

"Yeah, that." Johnny murmured as he leaned in, capturing her mouth with his own and letting it linger for a long moment before pulling back.

Laurie's eyes fluttered open, and she smiled ever so slightly. "Hmm, that wasn't so terrible."

That one kiss sparked something in Johnny, a desire that sure as hell hadn't been there when they'd first met. But that desire was making itself known now, and Johnny wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to act on it.

Laurie sighed and settled against him for the rest of the cab ride, and he turned slightly to kiss her on top of her head. "Doing okay?"

"Mm-hmm." Laurie answered sleepily.

"Sounds like you're wearing down." Johnny couldn't help teasing her a little. "I might have to carry you back to your room."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Laurie replied. "The big, strong firefighter carrying the little lady."

He had to admit that there was something appealing about the idea. "Wouldn't say I'm big. Strong enough, maybe."

"Definitely strong enough." Laurie told him.

"Keep talking like that and you'll give me a big head." Johnny responded casually.

Laurie merely laughed softly in response without saying anything else. Soon enough the cab pulled up in front of the hotel, and Johnny immediately paid the driver before they both slid out and headed toward the elevator.

It was quiet now, and they were the only two on the elevator. Johnny pushed the button for his and for Laurie's floor, and the elevator started its ascent.

He leaned against the back of the elevator, closing his eyes for a moment. The long day of travel and the night spent out and about with Laurie were finally catching up to him, and a yawn suddenly escaped him.

Laurie laughed softly next to him as she took his hand. "Maybe you're the one that needs to be tucked in."

"Are you offering?" Johnny couldn't help teasing her.

"Maybe." Laurie replied, an equally teasing tone in her voice.

"Hmm." Johnny murmured, pulling her in closer and sliding a hand to her waist, letting it spread out across the small of her back.

Before he could make another move, Laurie pushed herself up on tiptoe and kissed him lightly. That was all it took to spark that desire again, and Johnny pulled her even closer to him, his hands sliding up her back as he kissed her deeply.

He was so into it that he barely heard the elevator chime when it reached his floor, only breaking away and pulling back when he heard the doors open. "Suppose this is my floor."

Laurie stepped back, and Johnny moved toward the open door, resting his hand on the frame as he looked back over his shoulder at Laurie. She was leaning against the back of the elevator with a little smile.

God, he was sorely tempted to ask her to join him.

Instead he flashed her what he hoped was a quick smile in return. "It was great to see you. And thanks for dragging me out tonight."

Laurie tilted her head and regarded him curiously. "You aren't going to tuck me in after all?"

Johnny paused at that. Again, a tempting thought.

Finally, he shook his head. "Maybe not tonight. Got a couple more nights though, right?"

Laurie looked slightly disappointed but nodded. "Definitely."

"You wanna get together for some breakfast before the panels start?" Johnny asked.

Laurie brightened at that. "I'd like that. When does the first panel start?"

"Uh, nine o'clock, I think." Johnny answered. "So say, eight? Eight-thirty?"

"Eight sounds just fine." Laurie told him. "See you then."

"See you." Johnny replied. "Sleep tight."

Laurie smiled more fully then as Johnny stepped off the elevator and let the doors close with just a twinge of regret.

He shoved it aside as he made his way back to his room. There was no rush. They had three more days of this convention. If something happened during that time, it happened. No point in pushing it.

Right?