Thought I'd shoot this off, let me know what you think!
A two parter or so….
Can't Do This
Chapter 1: Strictly Professional
She can't do 'this'…Whatever 'this' is… She can't do it…OK, I can deal with that. But now I'm supposed to act like there's nothing there? Like we're just co-workers!
"Danny, I can't do this." She'd told him. Two weeks ago, she'd told him she couldn't have a relationship with him, that she had some personal issues to work out.
Now, he was doing his very best to respect her wishes, to pretend like nothing was going on, pretending like they didn't have chemistry. He was doing everything he could to make the girl he wanted (who didn't want him) happy, comfortable, at ease, whatever the hell you wanted to call it. Why? Why do I even bother? She doesn't even notice. She's barely spoken to me since I confronted her.
Mac must've somehow sensed the trouble and they'd rarely worked a scene together in two weeks. It was killing him. And, as much as she'd hate to admit it, it was affecting her.
At first, she'd brushed it off, chalked it up to the obviously awkward conversation and figured it would blow over. She hadn't counted on feeling a little….. well, empty. Damn it… I can't believe I let this happen. She was mad at herself.
She hadn't meant for it to be this way… That's what happens when you say things like that kiddo. You don't get to have your cake and eat it to. She reminded herself that this was her doing.
For his part, Danny had done as she'd asked. He'd stayed away, spoken to her only on a professional level, he'd even starting calling her 'Detective Monroe'. He hated it. It was uncomfortable, and unnatural. But if that was what she wanted, he'd let her have it.
Mac and Stella were sitting in his office, going over the day's cases and having a slight disagreement. "Mac, they are barely speaking, they shouldn't be working a scene together right now. Their heads aren't in the right place." Stella protested.
"I realize that Stel. But whatever personal issues they have, they should be left out of the lab. When they're here, it's business. I've given them as much space as I can allow, I've shuffled people and cases and been overly accommodating to the awkward situation, but I've had enough. The other day I overheard Lindsay telling Hawkes that she was thinking about asking to switch her office. I can't have that kind of animosity in my staff. So I'm not going to do it anymore. They're working the DB in the elevator case today." He told her firmly.
"Brilliant idea. Put them in a confined space. See how well that goes." Stella shot back, glaring at him as she stood to leave.
"You'll see… This'll work out Stel. Better than you think." Mac said, his voice full of a mysterious confidence.
Mac watched her retreating figure with an amused grin. "Good thing she's on our side." Flack piped up, peeking his head in the door.
"Tell me about it. Hell hath no fury like a greek woman scorned." Mac replied as he strode past Flack to go deliver the news to the awkward pair.
"Lindsay, Danny. DB found in the top floor elevator of a 20 story apartment off 9th and Madison. Need you over there now." Mac announced as he walked into their office, dropping the files on Lindsay's desk.
He didn't even give them the chance to argue because he was already gone.
"I'm ready when you are Detective." He said, not even glancing up at her.
She sighed. "Let's go." With that, they grabbed their cases and headed to the scene.
After a silent 20 minute ride, they arrived at the complex. They made their way to the twentieth floor and split up. Lindsay started processing while Danny questioned the few people hanging around.
He put off joining her for as long as he could. Finally, he'd done all the questioning he could. The police secured the floor and were waiting a floor below and now he had no choice but to help her process the elevator.
"No signs of blood. Stangulation seems to be COD. ME took the body back to the lab. No real way to be sure if he fought back or not, he wasn't carrying anything with him, and so far, I haven't found any signs of struggle." She reported, as she focused on removing a print from the hand rail.
He nodded, knowing she wasn't even paying attention. "Elevator's been shut down. I told them they could turn 'em back on at 3. That gives us two hours. And without witnesses or evidence, we can't afford to not be thorough." He told her as he leaned over and set his case down. In doing so, he leaned back against the buttons, and came into contact with the "Close Doors" button. And just like that, the doors slid shut.
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