Disclaimer: This is my first fic for CSI:NY so please be nice. For all of those DL fans out there I'm sorry I broke them up but I wanted to do something different. But I do agree their a good couple. I own nothing dealing with CSI:NY or Walker, Texas Ranger. All other characters belong to me. Enjoy and reviews are welcome; constructive critisiem only please. Forgive the spelling I'm quiet horrible at it. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Chapter One
The last thing Danny Messer wanted to do today was go over paperwork. But the criminals had decided to take a break which meant they got a chance to play catch up. Which usually would be fine with him; a way to get away from all of the evil he saw on a regular basis. To try to get the images out of his head of what human kind could do to one another. Today there was too many things running through his brain. Like the fact that after his last couple of cases he wasn't sure if he could even handle this job anymore. Sometimes he wondered why they did it; why they put themselves through long hours and a chance that they could be put in danger; to protect people who at times didn't apperciate it. To top it all off his mom kept harping on him that it was time to settle down; that it had been six months since Lynsday had left and that he should try to meet someone new. At times he thought about giving in; but then he thought back to the times when he saw relationships of fellow CSI's and dectectives go south because their spouse couldn't handle the kind of work they did. Honestly he wasn't sure if he wanted to put hisself through that. Though his motto had always been that life was about taking risks to get what you wanted he was a little skeptical since Montana had decided to break his heart. Closing the file he had been trying to concentrate on Danny just leaned back in his chair when there was a knock on his door. Praying that it was Mac telling him that they had a case he turned and lost all ability to breath.
Orbs bluer then his own looked questioningly at him from almond shaped eyes set in a heart shaped face with full lips, a delicate nose, high cheekbones and tanned, flawless skin. Auburn colored hair laced with streaks of blonde and light brown cascasded down her shoulders to stop at what he guessed would be the middle of her back. From the look of her and the color of her skin he surmised that she was a mix of Cacuasion and Native American. Toned arms were folded across her small but ample chest. A perfectly fitted black v-neck t-shirt showed off a tiny waist. That then led to long legs he would speculate were toned as well, dressed in a pair of wide leg jeans. Black hicking boots encased medium sized feet and a plain black belt held a police issued nine millimeter, a pair of handcuffs, a leather case with a knife of some kind, and a badge that he couldn't see too well from his vantage point. Not that he was paying attention to her badge at the moment.
Arianna Walker was use to people staring at her; it came with the territory of being a Texas Ranger and having your face plastered all over the newspaper. Which she guessed was why it did tend to tick her off from time to time when people did it in real life. Especially when they looked like they had been struck dumb. Of course she couldn't blame them; if she was in there shoes she would probably do the same thing. Not to mention that she was having a really bad day as it was. She was all for helping fellow law enforecement agencies but when that meant that she was going to make it home only a couple of days before Christmas; if at all depending on the weather; Arianna tended to be a little cranky. To top it all off the case that had orginally landed her in New York had gone completely south due to a lousy judge and a hung jury.
But taking it out on the unsuspecting man who was now getting up to greet her was not her style. The only thing he had done was not hide his shell shock upon first meeting her. That was no reason to lash out at him.
Finally gaining back his manners; and his tounge; Danny cleared his throat." Sorry about my lack of speech; can I help you?"
Noting that the grin he gave her would've been goofy on anyone else; but was sexy as hell on him; Arianna smiled. "I hope so. I'm looking for Mac Taylor. Detective Flack pointed me in this direction but after that I kind've got lost."
He had just met her but the fact that she had looked sheepish when admitting she had been lost endeared him a great deal. "Not a problem. He's actually in the trace lab. I can take you there if you'd like?"
"That'd be great. Normally I'm good with finding my way around but everything kind of looks the same." The young woman admitted.
The Texas twang in her voice mixed with the huskiness went straight to his brain and made him instantly think of a bedroom. Okay if that was happening then it had defiently been too long since he had been with a woman. Maybe after his shift he'd go to Sullivans and see if he could pick someone up; have a little fun like he use to in the old days. Deep down he knew that would never happen. He'd go to Sullivans; but he'd leave alone just like he had for the past six months. Placing those thoughts into the back of his mind he focused on the woman who was walking next to him. When he had walked past her to head out the door he had gotten a better look at her badge.
What the hell is a Texas Ranger doing all the way in New York ?Danny wondered? They were use to seeing the FBI or Deputy US Marshals because they had a wide range when it came to their jurisdiction. But never a Texas Ranger. Unless they had a case tied into the state some how that he wasn't aware of. Maybe Mac would be able to enlighten him when they found him.
As he was pointing out different parts of the lab his mind couldn't help but wander back to the woman in question. He noticed that she carried herself with grace; like she was a dancer or gymnast. He was moving more towards the latter due to the muscles that he could see when she folded and unfolded her arms. A smile was always plastered on her face; a casual hi to everyone she met on her lips. Underneath that all was a sadness that was evident to someone who was use to reading people. Like there was something that though it happened a while ago still hurt; still occupied a place in her heart that would never completely heal. Still he had a sense that she was no southren bell in need of protection. She wouldn't be a cop if she was. All in all he couldn't help but think that if she was there to work with them it just might be in his best interest to get to know her a little better.
Trying to get the lay of the lab; find things that made each of them different incase she had to find them on her own in the future Arianna couldn't help but study the man next to her. It was something she couldn't turn off when she wasn't on a case. A bane of her existance she guessed. Hopefully working with the CSI's wouldn't be another. Particulary the person who was being so nice as to take her to the man she needed to see. He was a pure New Yorker from his thick Staten Island accent to his designer clothes. But damn if he wasn't one fine looking one.
Blue eyes that matched her own in color but were slightly rounder apprasied everything as they walked from underneath lashes the same color as the his dirty blonde hair. The Itlaian in his blood gave his face slightly angular features. He was broad shouldered; his muscles straining against the fabric of his long sleeve wine colored t-shirt; the sleeves pushed up over strong forearms. From that his chest tapered into a narrow waist with long, leans legs encased in dark wash jeans. If she had to guess right off the top of her head she would say that he was about six foot two. And every inch of him exuded sex appeal. Though it was in a sutle way that was even more appealing then if it was broadcasted for every woman to see.
Remember you told yourself after Gage died that you wouldn't date another cop, Arianna reminded as they stopped in front of another set of glass doors that looked like the rest of the ones they had passed. This one had equipment just like the crime lab back at Ranger headquarters. With names that she wasn't even going to try to understand. What she did recgonize was the microscopes, tables, and various chemicals that the CSI's used to test evidence. Following the young gentleman to a table situated in the back she noticed the older man in a white lab coat hunched over something that she really couldn't get a good look at at the moment.
Danny knew it wasn't a good idea to interupt Mac when he was in the middle of working on evidence but he hoped he would consider it important.
"Mac; I have someone here who's lookin' for you." He told him.
Looking up from the clothing he had been going over Mac's gaze swung from Danny to the strikingly beautiful young woman standing next to him.
"You must be the Texas Ranger they sent us. Detective Mac Taylor; nice to meet you." He took off his gloves before extending a hand.
"Arianna Walker; likewise." She answered.
"I hope Danny hasn't been giving you a hard time." Mac smiled.
"No; however I was wondering when he was going to tell me what his name was. Now I don't have to wait; thanks." Arianna joked.
"Not a problem. You'll have to excuse Danny though. He's not always known for his manners." Mac stated.
"Actually he's been very polite to me. So far." Arianna added with a grin.
"Hey; do I get a chance to defend myself here or what?" Danny smirked.
"Normally yes; but I want you to go and get Ranger Walker settled. She's only here for a couple of weeks so we're going to put her up at the empty desk in your office." Mac grinned before going back to the evidence on the table.
For some reason that he couldn't understand Danny was slightly irriated that she was going to be sharing with him. Maybe it was due to the fact that she was going to be taking over Montana's old desk and he was in some strange way still attached to it. Man if that was the case then he really needed a life.
"You got it boss." Danny answered before turning to walk out.
Following his lead Arianna suddenly noticed an an air of tension around Danny. Apparently there was something about his office; particuarly the desk she was going to be occupying that bothered him. Sometimes it was better to wait for the other person to bring it up but in this case they were going to have to be sharing close quarters for the next three weeks.
Once they were back inside the office with the door closed Danny turned to see Arianna standing in the middle of the room; not sure if she should sit down or not. Obviously he wasn't as good at hiding his emotions as he thought or she was a lot better at reading people then he was. Before he was able to speak she had already begun.
"If me sharing an office with you is going to be an issue then I can talk to Mac about getting me set up at the precint. Detective Flack was assigned as my partner while I'm here so they'll probably place me with him." Arianna offered.
Great; it was only the first day and he had already alienated her. He was doing that a lot latetly. Straightening he came over a placed a hand on her shoulder. The urge to pull his hand back became almost unbearable at the heat that raced from her to him. A heat that went all the way to his below the belt region. But not wanting to offend her he kept it there; trying to get the images that sprang up in his head of what the rest of her body would feel like underneath his hands.
"It's fine. There's just a lot of memories here that are hard to ignore; to get rid of." Danny confessed.
Surprised at his confession and still reeling from the feel of his hand on her arm Arianna took a minute before she spoke.
"I know how that can be. It'll get easier with time." Arianna offered.
Nodding his head in agreement Danny walked past her to stand at the dark mohogany desk butted right up against his own length wise. This woman was starting to stir up feelings in him that he hadn't felt with another woman since Montana. Ones that he refused to let surface because he didn't want to get hurt again.
"This'll be your home away from home while your here. Feel free to bring any pictures; things you might have brought with you to make it more personal. The couch over there is were I try to catch some shut eye when I have to work a long shift. Don't hesitate to use it if ya need to. It may not look comfortable but you get use to it." He explained.
"Thanks. As far as the couch is concerned I'll be good. I've slept in worse places." Arianna confessed.
The haunted look in her eyes that had been there earlier was back again and it gave Danny the urge to pull her into his arms; take all her worries away. Put the smile back on her face that had been there moments ago. Before he could decided whether to give into the urge or stop his self Mac intervened.
"We've got a dead body at the Museum of Natural History. You guys are with me; let's go." Mac stated.
Grabbing her fleece lined suede jacket off the couch Arianna placed that and her leather gloves on as she followed Danny out the door. Some how she feared that being stuck in an office with him for three weeks was going to strain her will power and ability to keep her promise to herself about not getting involved with another cop. She had just met him less than two hours ago and already there was an attraction between them. One that she knew he was trying to fight for reasons of his own. Fine with her; that would make it all the easier to resist him. All of her reasoning went out the window the minute he turned to her with that grin of his as the elevator doors closed.
"Ready for a history lesson?" Danny joked.
"As I'll ever be." Arianna stated; hoping he wouldn't catch the double meaning of her words.
"I just got done talking to the curator. He said that there's been a bunch of people in and out of here all day. Employee's, musuem goers, and everyone in between." Arianna came to a stop next to the body that Mac was currenty photographing.
They were in the Native American History part of the musuem. One of the dancers that had been brought in as part of an exhabition on Cherokee dance rituals was found dead; hidden as one of many Indians sitting around the fake fire of the scene near where their victim now lay. When another of the dancers had found him after he had gone missing they had pulled him from where he had been placed after realizing he was dead.
"What about the rest of the dance group?" Mac questioned.
"Uniforms have them detained but they don't speak very good english. Apparently the translater they had left early due to a family emergency." Danny informed him.
"Arianna go talk to the curator and get the name of the translator. And see if they can get someone else here. We need to get any information from them we can." Mac ordered.
"Already got the name; Wendy Blackhorn. Worked for the musuem for the past five years as both a translator and front desk clerk. According to the curator she's never taken a sick day; until now." Arianna looked up from her notebook. "As far as the translators concerned they won't be able to get one to come in for at least another couple of hours."
"Great. Wanna go grab a cup of coffee after I'm done while we wait for them to show up." Danny aimed at Arianna.
"As much as I'm sure Mac would enjoy us taking a break in the middle of a case; we won't have to because I have someone else in mind." Arianna smirked back at him.
"How many people do you know that speak Cherokee in New York? I'd say it's about one in a million." Danny challenged.
"You'd be correct. But I was thinking more along the lines of someone out of state." Arianna told him.
It only took a couple of seconds for the realization to dawn on Danny's face. When it did it was in the form of a raised eyebrow and skeptical look. "You speak Cherokee?"
"My mother was full blooded Cherokee, my father was half, which makes me three quarters. Plus I pretty much grew up on the reservation that was a stones throw away from my house. So yeah; you could say I speak the language." Arianna winked at him before walking over to Mac.
Shaking his head he went back to processing the body. Out of everything that he was starting to like about the young woman her witty come backs and sassy attitude were on the top of the list. If it wasn't for the southren drawl and down home country charm people could easily mistake her for a native New Yorker. Behind the don't mess with me attitude, sweetness, and lethal moves he knew she possessed there was a sadness, a vulnerablitiy that she tried hard to hide. Again he had the urge to wrap her in his arms; to hold her close and never let go. And again he reminded hisself as she finished talking to Mac and walked towards the group of dancers that he wasn't looking to get his heart broken again. Wasn't looking to start something that would never go anywhere beyond the time she was here in New York. Sighing he closed up his kit and motioned for the coroner to take the body away. This was going to be the longest three weeks of his life.