Title: A Start
Category: CSI: NY
Rating: K+
Genre: Drama/Romance
Pairing: Don Flack/Lindsay Monroe
Prompt: Coffee
Word Count: 519
Summary: He knew what he wanted and he was willing to try.

A Start
-Drabble-

Some might say he must've been hit in the head by a suspect too hard, but he knew what was what and he'd thought it over before stepping into what he did.

He knew she was still hurting over Danny; their relationship hadn't ever really recovered after Louie and while it had been some time, she was still suffering a broken heart. He also knew she was pregnant; with Danny's kid no less. And much as Danny said he wanted to be a whole family, she just couldn't trust him. He knew that she was more than a little stressed, scared, and overwhelmed; that this might just be the last thing she needed. But... He also knew that whatever she said, whatever happened, he'd thought it over and he was more than willing to see this through to whatever end was destined.

So when he walked over to her at shift change, his eyes catching the roundness of her stomach beneath her shirt, he didn't pause or rethink or even question himself and his decision. Instead, he smiled at her like it was any other day and she grinned back warmly, her brows slightly knit in wonder.

"You free this morning, Linds?" he asked, casual as ever.

She nodded, eyes darting back to the lab for just a split-second. "Yeah. Just finished. You need my expertise for anything?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "You can tell me if I'm right or not. I think I just found New York's finest coffee, you interested?"

She stared at him and for a moment, he couldn't read her expression. All of his years in the force and he could usually read a person like the writing was imbedded in their skin. But right then, he couldn't figure out one iota of what her face was trying to say. And then she smiled, and he knew her answer before she even spoke it.

"I am." Her hand briefly fell to her stomach. "I can't exactly drink you under the table - caffeine isn't high on my menu these days - but I'm willing to be a taste tester in the name of discovery."

He grinned toothily. "Great." He held his arm out for her to take and she laughingly hooked hers around him. "If you're really good, I might just treat you to pie."

Chuckling, she beamed up at him. "Careful, Don, I might just get attached to this soft side of you."

He would've winced had anybody else said it, but instead he just smiled to himself. He was willing to be a little soft if it meant he got a little closer to earning a more important place in her life.

So yeah, he had some complications ahead. Even if he did manage to get her to fall out of love with Danny and even the tiniest bit interested in him, she was still pregnant with Danny's kid. She was still a co-worker and emotionally run over and the scar of betrayal might leave her a little suspicious of him. But she'd said yes to coffee and maybe even some pie; it was a start.