-1"What the hell do you think you're doing, Mars?" a voice bellowed over the music as a single, steely hand clamped down over her bicep.

Veronica tried in vain to wrestle herself free from his grip but gave up when she nearly spilled her drink in the process. "What does it look like I'm doing, Deputy? I'm getting jiggy wit' it. Seriously, don't you have some poor, hapless victim to torment?"

"Time to go," he said, tugging on her arm.

"Hey!" she shouted, indignant. "What are you…? I'm not even finished with my drink yet!"

Don rolled his eyes at her whining, took the red plastic cup from her hand and drained its contents in a single gulp.

"There. Now you're finished. Let's go."

By the time he poured her into his squad car, the alcohol was beginning to catch up to her. Unfortunately for them both, the sheriff hadn't eaten anything that day and that single, hastily downed Jack & Coke was rapidly catching up to him as well.

His apartment was halfway between the bar and the station and since the last thing he wanted to do was kill himself, Don took a left towards his complex. Veronica moaned as the car began to spin.

"If you puke in my car, I'll leave you to sleep in it," he warned as he shut off the engine.

Somehow they managed to make it inside before she started asking shouting at him. The next day, neither of them would be able to say who moved first but one minute Veronica had been grilling him about why he hadn't taken her home - it was just as close - and the next Don's hand was fisted in her hair as their tongues battled for dominance.

Clothes were practically ripped off, seams torn and buttons popped, in their haste to touch skin to skin. He took her against the living room wall the first time, the second over the back of his couch. By the third they finally made it to the bed where they remained well past sunrise.

Sore and sated, Veronica didn't speak as she tip-toed through his apartment that morning in search of her clothing. Her fingers had just closed over the doorknob when she heard him say her name.

"What?" she asked in a small voice. "Is this where you gloat and tell me to go see the wizard or some other bullshit?"

"No," he replied then yanked her forward into his arms where he kissed her long and hard. "This is where I tell you to get your ass back in my bed 'cause I'm not finished with you yet."

Later that afternoon, Veronica wondered just what sort of rabbit hole she'd fallen down the night before. She'd been out celebrating being alive after her latest brush with death when Deputy Dumbass had shown up, effectively ruining her fun. How that had led to her participation in a marathon of some of the best sex she'd ever had was anyone's guess.

A few days later, he was dead and it didn't matter. Six weeks after that, she found out she was pregnant and suddenly it mattered a lot.