Prompt: save
She sat in her office, bathed in darkness as she stared at her computer screen. She'd stopped pretending to be doing work hours ago because there was really no point.
She'd come back to do some paper work, but ended up doing nothing at all. It was nice to be able to hear the sounds of the lab around her. At least it was better than being at home where there would be nothing to distract her from the fact that she made an idiot of herself…again.
She'd fallen for Drew's crap, just like she'd fallen for Frankie's less than a year ago. It was pathetic really, a CSI who couldn't read the men who pursued her. In this case, it was a man that wanted to kill her best friend.
It was enough to make her sick.
"Stel," a voice said quietly from the door, "What are you doing sitting here in the dark? For that matter, what are you doing here at all? You need to be home getting some rest."
She shook her head and was horrified to feel tears come to her eyes, "I can't."
"What's wrong?" Don asked, coming closer to her, kneeling so their eyes could meet, "Are you sick?"
"Yes….sick of myself and my horrible taste in men. Oh god, Don, I can't believe I ever even thought Drew was a good guy. He gave me attention and I fell for it."
"Whoa….whoa….hold on. First of all, why wouldn't you fall for it? You had no idea who he was. Second of all, if I remember correctly you were uncomfortable with Drew. You kept putting him off and putting him off."
"But I didn't know."
"What? That he was a raging lunatic. How could you know that? Stella, none of this is your fault."
She took a deep breath, "Okay, okay, but still, I'm so bad at finding men, Donnie, I'm miserable at it. I don't want to be alone forever because I keep ending up with jerks."
Smiling Don lifted a hand to her chin and tilted her head up so her eyes met his, "Well, you'll just have to keep trying until you meet the right one."
Stella sniffled, but smiled a little, "Do you think I will?"
"Stella, I know it."
He kissed her forehead, "Come on, let's get you home. I'll even get you ice cream along the way."
"Okay," she said, "Thanks Don."
"Anytime."
&&&&&&
i1 year later/i
"Your Rocky Road," Don said as he handed her a cone filled with ice cream and covered with sprinkles, "just the way you like."
"Thank you," she said, cuddling up next to him on the couch, "Have I mentioned you're the best boyfriend ever?"
"Yes, but I'm not averse to hearing it again. Or maybe you could just tell me you love me.
"I love you," Stella said, leaning back kissing his chin, "I love you, I love you, I love…"
Stella didn't even care when her ice cream melted. She didn't need it now that she had the perfect man.