Anne Osborne, Assistant DA to the New Orleans Police Department, sat at her desk in a daydream. She thought about her kind-of-partner, Remy McSwain, and about the existing (nonexistent) relationship. She liked him but with his reputation of being such a ladies man she felt intimidated but nonetheless she found herself drawn to this sexually desirable, Cajun man. She remembered being in his arms several nights ago at the club and since, has been all she can think about. It was after they had caught a double murderer. This was when Anne had met Tawney, the cross-dresser. She helped Anne see the beauty in being a woman and that night, being in his arms led all her insecurities away. She could feel something between them and couldn't think of what to do or say.

"Ms. Osborne," Remy called at her. She stayed in her state of reverie unaware of his presence until he called to her again. "Ms. Osborne."

"Oh, Remy," she said looking up at him from her seat. She could feel her face getting hot, as she grew embarrassed by her personal thoughts. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."

"Why Ms. Osborne," Remy said teasingly, "I do believe you're flushed."

"Remy."

"Detective McSwain," called C.D., "I'd like to see you and Ms. Osborne in my office."

"Sure thing C.D.," Remy drawled, "Come along Anne."

They went into his office and Remy took a standing pose behind the chair that he left empty for Ms. Osborne. She took the seat with an inaudible 'thanks'. 'This means something,' she thought to herself. 'This must mean something.'

"Ms. Osborne," C.D. said puffing on a cigar, "is something troubling you?"

"No," she said quickly. "I'm sorry please continue."

"As I was saying," C.D. continued, "we have come across our second mysteriously dead body. No scrapes, no marks, no nothing."

"Maybe they died of natural causes," Anne supplied.

C.D. shifted his hat. He held the cigar, with all fingers and took the cigar out of his mouth.

"Ms. Osborne, that would certainly be my first guess as well had it not been for the fact that both dead bodies belong to women who were having sexual activities previous to their death."

"C.D.," Remy began, "Are you sure there is no possibility that they are just as Ms. Osborne suggested."

"These are rich socialites, Remy. They don't die of natural causes at the age of 24 and 27."

"That just sheds an entirely new light on this," Anne said perceptively. "But there's nothing to go on. Neither body has a bruise, scar or inclination offeree on it."

"Look into it," C.D. said settling back into his chair. This was his way of letting them know he's through.

"Come along Ms. Osborne."

They were driving along when Anne turned to Remy. She looked at him and thought of what it would be like for him to kiss her as she stared at his lips. "Yes Ms. Osborne," Remy said smiling that seductive smile of his. Her heart started doing flops in her chest.

"What did you say Remy?" she said shaking her head to get out of her cloud.

"You were speaking to me Anne."

"Why do you do that?" she questioned.

"Do what?" he drawled.

"Call me 'Ms. Osborne'. It's so formal. We've been working together for quite some time now. You can call me Anne."

"I'm tryin' to maintain dat 'professional relationship' dat you talk about so often."

"Call me Anne."

"Whatever you say 'Anne'."

The rest of the ride was in silence. They were going to the site where both bodies were found. They parked the car and got out. As they walked toward the site they caught a glimpse of a man standing near there. "Excuse me sir," Remy said to him. "Do you know that this is the site of a police investigation?"

"Yes," the man said turning around. He had tears in his eyes and his hand reached up to wipe them away. "It was my ex-girlfriend and my fiancee. They both died in my arms, in this very spot."

"I'm sorry about your loss," Anne said sympathetically. "Is there anything that stands out in your mind about when it happened that you could tell us?"

He looked at them with a confused expression on his face. "Who are you?"

"I'm sorry sir," Anne said pulling out her badge, "I'm the Assistant DA, and this is Detective Remy McSwain."

They asked him a few more questions and the only thing they seemed to gather was that they both went into spasms and complained about loss of breathing before dying. "Thank you for your time," Anne said to the gentleman, extending her hand in a friendly gesture.

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "My pleasure."

Remy saw the look in the man's eyes as he looked at Anne's face. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her along. "Come along Ms. Osborne."

"Remy! Good bye," she said waving as she got dragged away. When they got to the car he had long since let go and she glared at him hotly. "What was that all about!"

"You were making eyes at a prospective suspect Ms. Osborne, I mean, Anne," he said opening the car door on the driver's side.

"I was being friendly," she said hotly as she glared into the car through the window.

"Get in the car Anne."

She got in refusing to say a word. She was afraid of what would come out if she tried. His touch had sparked so many things in her at that very moment. When he let go it was as if she were crashing off the best high of her life.

"Anne," Remy said hesitantly.

"What!" she snapped.

"I was gonna ask you if you'd like to have dinner with me, but with that attitude, I'd rather you didn't."

"I can't anyway," she said clearly upset over something, "I've just remembered that Jeffrey will be here this evening."

"Another time then," he said stopping in front of her car at the station. "Have a nice evening." He bolted from the spot as she stepped out. She got in her car and beat her hand on the steering wheel. Damn Jeffrey for coming tonight! But at least after tonight it would no longer be a problem.

Anne got to the airport just in time to see Jeffrey heading towards her car. He still looked as handsome as ever but her heart didn't and never leaped like it did when she would see Remy. "Jeffrey it's so good to see you," she said getting out of the car to hug him.

"Well Anne," he said putting the bags in the car before returning the gesture, "Not only have you gained weight, you've developed a tan."

"I have not gained weight Jeffrey," she said in shock. 'Was he always this crass,' she wondered.

"We should go," she said to him, "I made reservations for 7."

Dinner was a comfortable shock for her.

"Anne," he announced after dinner, "I'm engaged."

"I know you are Jeffrey, to me."

"That's what I came to talk to you about. I'm engaged to someone else, Anne."

She looked at him in shock. She was prepared to hear something but not this. That was Jeffrey's MO. He believed whole-heartedly that things should be done person-to-person. He thinks that the telephone ruined communication, as we knew it.

"That's quite a shock Jeffrey. I didn't expect it."

"I wanted to tell you when it first happened but I wasn't sure how to approach it. I know how important it was to you to get married and have a family," he said sounding sincere.

"It's okay," she said more calmly than she thought she would have, "I wanted to call off the engagement anyway. As much as I want it, I don't think I'm ready to be married."

"Let's be honest with each other Anne, we don't want each other. You didn't want me no matter how much I wanted you. Now we can both be happy."

"Did you come all the way here to make me miserable?" she asked him.

"Anne please. You make this sound as if it were a personal vendetta."

"Isn't it?" she retorted. He held her hand in his own.

"Not at all. Natalia and I couldn't think of any easy way to do this," he said in a condescending tone.

"You're marrying my cousin?" she said even more surprised than when he burst the 'good news'.

"It just happened Anne. We..."

She cut him short. "Go to hell Jeffrey. In a fucking hand basket." She got up very dignified and picked up her jacket to put it on. He walked over to her to help her and she politely told him to fuck off. "Your baggage will be waiting," she said walking away.

She got to the car and left all his bags on the side of the road in front of the restaurant. She got in the car and drove away. For the first time in a long time, Anne Osborne was pissed. She didn't mind him calling off the engagement or marrying her cousin. It was the pure principle of it. Nobody said anything. Not even that ungrateful cousin of hers that she housed for an entire semester at her home. She had been more than gracious. She picked up the phone and dialed her cousin's number.

"Hello." "Hi, Aunt Gracie. Is Nat there?" There was a short pause. "Can I speak to her please?" "No. I'm not upset Aunt Gracie. No I won't yell... Thank you." Pause Again. "Hello you little bitch."

"So good to hear from you again Cousin Anne."

"Don't play smug with me Natalia."

"Honestly Anne. You said you were apprehensive from the beginning."

"That's not the point, Nat. You could have given me some warning."

"Well... Jeffrey said he wanted to talk to you about it in person."

"Shut the fuck up," she said as she hung up the phone on her cousin. She didn't feel the least bit better but she knew going home wouldn't do it either. The phone calls would start tonight until she apologized, and there was no way in hell she was going to. She found herself heading back towards the precinct.

She went in the dark precinct and sat at her newly acquired desk that she now shared with Remy. She turned on the small light and put her feet up. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. She fell asleep and started dreaming.

The restaurant was decorated almost like a prom, elegant yet not with too many extras. He came into the club like a fox on the prowl. Every woman had her eyes on him and he only had eyes for her. Without words he took her hand and they went to the middle of the dance floor where they danced all night. As people began to leave he took her outside under the moonlight. There he took her in his arms for the first time and kissed her. It was sweet and loving like a lover should be. He escorted her home and kissed her again at the door. It became too much and could not stay contained. He entered into her home and picked her up. He laid her on the couch and began to ravish her body.

"Oh Remy, " she moaned.

"Anne."

"Anne," Remy said calling her from life outside of her fantasy.

"Remy," she said still in her fantasy.

"Ms. Osborne," he said this time shaking her.

Her eyes flew open and as she saw him standing in front of her she felt her face get red. "Did I say something stupid?" she asked totally and utterly embarrassed.

"No, however, you did call my name. Thinking about me in your dreams Anne, I'm flattered," he said teasingly.

"Oh shut up Remy," she said getting up out of the chair. She continued to embarrass herself when she fell out of the chair and on to the floor. Remy outstretched his hand to help her up and she took it. He pulled her so close to him that they could feel each other's breath. She leaned in to kiss him.

"Are you making a pass at me Anne?" he asked breathing on to her. Utter Embarrassment. She ran into the bathroom and hid.

"Now Anne," he said entering the ladies room, "there's no one here but you and me. I'm coming in." He found her on the floor crying. She didn't acknowledge him nor did she stop. He felt like a heel. "Anne," he said kneeling down in front of her. She paid him no attention and continued to cry.

"I was just teasing Anne. Jeffrey wouldn't approve of knowing that I made you cry." She looked up at him, tears fresh in her eyes.

"I don't know anymore, you'd have to ask Natalia."

"Your cousin?"

"No," she started crying again, "his soon to be wife." She started bawling again and Remy really didn't know what to do. He was relieved to know she was now available but upset to see her so anguished.

"I'm sorry Anne," he said rubbing her back.

"Why?" she asked, "because you can't make fun of him any more?"

"It was getting boring anyway." She looked up at him and smiled, just a little, and her fantasies came true.

Remy pulled her to him and kissed her with such intensity that she felt as if she were lost. She could feel him touching her every where and his hands hadn't left her side. It was just his kisses that were doing this to her. It was this level of wanting that was unreachably high for her. She never wanted anything more.

"If you don't want this Anne," Remy said pausing, "you have to tell me now."

"Remy I want it," she said hoarsely. She felt as if her voice was going to give out on her as he picked her up from the bathroom and took her to his car. "Where are we going Remy?" she asked.

"To my apartment. You didn't very well expect us to make love for the very first time on the NOPD's bathroom floor." Now she felt embarrassed. She was no longer in that spell that his kisses put her in and she had the good sense to be embarrassed.

"Remy I..."she began.

"Anne," he said turning of the car engine, "You're sending me mixed messages here honey."

"I'm sorry," she said now totally embarrassed about being in this situation. "I didn't mean to come off as a tease."

"That's not it Anne," he said looking into her eyes. "I know how beautiful you are and Jeffrey must be one hell of a fool to let you go but I want you to be sure you want this. I don't think your teasing, I think your unsure."

"I do want this," she said looking away. "I just don't think that I should."

Remy put his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. He cupped his hands around her face and drew her to him. He brushed her cheeks and eyelids with his lips and then covered her lips with his own. She tasted like a sweet fruit. 'It would have to be passion fruit,' Remy thought to himself as the kiss got deeper and deeper. He let his hands drop from her face to where they settled on her thighs. He could feel her muscles tense up automatically and instead of moving them he began making circles with his fingertips. He could feel moans escape through her breath as they kissed. She had begun to relax when she pushed him back and took a deep breath. She looked at him with fire in her eyes and a smile on her lips.

"We'll got the beach then," he said putting his hands back on the steering wheel. He turned the car on and took off to the beach.

"Let's sit near the spot where we saw that guy," Anne said hand in hand with Remy.

"People died there, Anne. Let's not."

"But it has such a beautiful view," she said in a dreamy voice.

"Okay," he conceded.

They sat there holding hands, kissing, and talking for hours. Then around three in the morning they were getting ready to leave. Remy stood up first and put out his hands to Anne to help her up. "How nice," she said pushing her feet into the sand to get up then all of a sudden she felt limp in his arms.

"Anne," he called.

Her body started to convulse and she screamed out his name in pain. He scooped her up in his arms and took her to the car. The convulsion became a little less active but all the same Remy rushed her to the hospital. They took her in the ER immediately. He followed them into the prep room where he drove the nurses crazy asking about her condition.

"She'll be fine Remy," a cute nurse said to him. "How about you meet me after my shift?"

"What about her?" he asked directing her attention to Anne.

"She'll be fine. She's just lucky that you found her before she inhaled the nerve gas."

"Nerve gas?"

"Camille," someone called.

"I have to go Remy. Bye."

He was still confused about what she said. Nerve gas? There wasn't any...

"Remy," Anne said coming out of her sleep. He had sat there all morning and night waiting for her to wake up and she had, in fact, woken him up instead.

"Anne," he said coming out of his sleep. He looked at her face. She looked a little paler than usual but otherwise, she looked good. "How are you feeling?"

"A little out of it but fine," she said still sounding a little weak.

"Well they want you to stay for a few more days to be sure you'll be okay but other than that you should be fine."

"Remy," she asked, "what happened?"

"Well, Anne," he said with a smile, "it seems you solved our case but ruined our first date."

"Date!" he heard boom from behind them. He turned around to see C.D. standing in the doorway. "Ms. Osborne and Mr. McSwain I do hope that you both remember the rule about dating in my department."

"Well you see C.D.... what you thought you heard...." Remy said becoming uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

"Be quiet Remy," C.D. said walking over to the bed. "How are you feeling Ms. Osborne?"

"Fine C.D. but I could be better," she answered.

"Well you don't have to worry about that case," he said patting her hand that Remy had let go, "It seems that your accident told us that those women died from inhaling the gas. Lucky for you," he said shooting Remy a glance that was matched by Remy's killer smile, "Remy took you out of there before you inhaled too much of it."

"It seems," Remy finished, "that the gas was buried under the sand and when you removed your body weight from it was when it triggered."

"Well why didn't it affect you too Remy?" She asked.

"Because darlin'," he drawled, "You were the one sittin' on it."

"Remy!" he heard an out of breath voice from behind him for the second time. "Remy!"

"Yes Smiley," he said turning around.

"Get this woman away from me!" he said before he took off running again.

"I think she likes you Smiley," he yelled after him.

"I think I'm keeping my ten percent," Smiley said running.

Remy looked at Anne and C.D. and said, "Excuse me," and took off down the hall behind the woman who was chasing Smiley. He got her to stop chasing Smiley then she started chasing him instead.

"Anne!" he screamed down the halls and out the door.

"And here I was thinking his woman hunting days were over," Anne said smiling, as she spoke in a whisper.

***** This is a disclaimer. All characters, Anne Osborne, Remy McSwain, Smiley Dupree, Jeffrey, Tawney, and C.D. LeBlanc are copyrighted by the USA Network and are used without permission. All original material is copyrighted 1997 by Tamika Wamer. Permission is granted to browse and distribute but not to modify. The following is for mature audiences only and should not be viewed by children under the age of 13. Watching "The Big Easy" on the USA Network is advisable before reading. *****