Prologue
Disclaimer: I own nothing apart from some of the plot and a couple of characters.
''Case closed,'' Mac Taylor announced to his team which consisted of Stella Bonersera, Danny Messer, Sheldon Hawkes, Adam Ross and the newest member to the team Lindsay Monroe. Detectives Don Flack and Jessica Angell were also present to hear the good news.
''Boom!'' Danny said with a smile, they were all relieved since it had been a hard case, long hours and over time. ''How's about we go out for celebratory drinks?'' He asked the team.
''Sure Messer I'm in,'' Flack called out, as he high fived his best friend. The whole team agreed apart from Adam and Hawkes who seemed to have plans of their own. Adam was going to catch a movie with Kendal and Hawkes was going to order a Chinese and get a good night's sleep for once.
They all said their goodbyes and headed out of the crime lab. Adam and Hawkes shared a cab out as the rest of the team headed to their cars. About 10 minutes later they arrived at Sullivan's, the bar that had become their regular celebratory hang out. They took refuge in their usual booth which seemed bigger to them despite the fact that only two of their team were missing. Mac and Stella sat together then beside them were Danny and Lindsay then finally Jess and Flack sat opposite Mac and Stella. The men all had beers while the girls stuck to Vodka and Coke since they actually wanted to remember whether they had a good time or not.
''So I can't believe Hudson hid in the closet and locked himself in,'' Stella laughed causing the team to burst in laughter too.
''I know, how stupid do you have to be to lock yourself in,'' Flack said rhetorically as he chuckled placing his arm around Jess' shoulders. Kevin Hudson was the perpetrator in the case they just closed. He murdered his work rival, Jameson Rodgers and his family after 10 years of bad blood between the two families. ''Linds, I liked your tissue box on the table strategy when I showed him the photos of Kevin's daughter,'' Flack smiled.
''We work well, good cop bad cop routine there,'' Lindsay replied before she took another sip of her drink. ''Say, are we all going to the funeral tomorrow, Stella told Kevin's mother and father we'd be there?''
''Yeah, I think we should. Since we worked so hard and put the hours in it would be nice to see his parents have closure now.'' Mac answered, they all nodded in agreement.
Mac and Stella left first, they said their goodbyes and headed back. Mac dropped Stella off at her new apartment, she recently moved after her near death experience with Frankie. Then the remaining couples left, and headed to their cars. Jess and Lindsay drove off together leaving Danny and Flack stood talking.
''So, you and Jess huh?'' Danny asked his best friend as he lit his cigarette. Flack took a drink of his beer he was finishing then answered.
''What about me and Jess. Yeah man we're dating but that's about it. Don't be expecting church bells and a stroller anytime soon Messer,'' Flack joked. ''So, you and Lindsay huh?'' He asked in the same sing-song voice Danny spoke in moments ago.
Danny took a drag of his cigarette, ''nothing Flack. Just colleagues. She's the new girl from Montana, not my type.'' He confessed to Flack, however something in his voice hinted he was lying and Don picked up on it.
''That's why you call her Montana then is it?'' He pressed, knowing what the answer would be.
''I call her that to annoy her, that's all.'' They both said at the same time, when they both finished the burst out laughing.
''Am I that predictable?'' Danny asked as he threw down is cigarette and crushed it with his foot.
''Yeah, that's what you said whenever anyone mentions the pet name,'' Flack laughed as they walked over to their cars. ''See you tomorrow.'' And with that Danny got into his car and drove off to his apartment all the way thinking what Flack said.
The service was beautiful. Lindsay, Jess and Stella all had tears in their eyes when Kevin's parents red out their speeches. The team sat at the back of the church in pairs, Stella and Mac, Adam and Kendal, Sid and Sheldon, Danny and Lindsay and Jess and Flack. They were all dressed smartly, the men in suits-which was not unusual for Mac and Flack- and the girls in black dresses. But what they didn't know was that they were being watched, watched from a close distance. He could almost touch them, taste them and kill them.
Just as the ceremony finished they were called to a scene. Flack and Jess went by the precinct first so Jess could change then they headed off to the scene. The rest of them went back to the crime lab to change into their work outfits and then headed out while Adam and Sid went to the respective work stations.