The Moment
By Heather Hinam
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to CSI New York, just the thoughts in my head.
Rating: T, for vague innuendo.
Summary: Thing - def: a persistent illogical feeling
Spoilers: None, though it takes place after the end of the second season
Author's Notes: Here were are, folks, chapter 2. I never intended this to become a multiple chapter work. Apparently I don't have much of a say when it comes to my muses. I hope this continues to make you chuckle. I'm finding it fun to write.
Again, a big thanks as always to my dear friend Joy. Thank you for being the Toby to my Sam.
Chapter 2 – The Thing
The evidence room was dark and still, which is why Stella Bonasera very nearly dropped her coffee when Lindsay seemed to materialize in front of her when Stella switched on the light box.
"God! Lindsay! You scared me!" she exclaimed clutching her steaming mug in an effort to still her shaking hands.
Unaware of the peculiarity of her situation, Lindsay glanced up, apparently surprised to suddenly find herself no longer alone.
"Oh! Sorry, Stella. I guess I lost track of time."
Stella studied the younger CSI for a moment as she watched the woman return her eyes to the lighted table under her fingers. Had she not just run into Danny and got wind of what had happened earlier, she might have been a bit concerned to find Lindsay sitting alone in the dark. Instead, she found it amusing to discover that Lindsay was just as affected by whatever had happened between her and Danny as he apparently was.
Still, she could tell that the girl could use a little help. Bringing her steaming mug to her lips, Stella asked before taking a sip.
"Are you alright, Lindsay?"
Suddenly, Lindsay swung around, snagging Stella's gaze with her deep, brown eyes.
"Do you think Danny and I have a thing?"
It took everything in her power not to spit out her coffee.
Sputtering slightly, Stella swallowed hard before asking, "What do you mean, a thing?"
Stella wasn't sure if it was the weird play of the shadows from the light box, but for a moment Lindsay appeared mildly annoyed.
"Y'know," she answered, waving her hand in front of her like she was trying to cool some imaginary soup, but what Stella figured was actually meant to represent some sort of connection between her and Danny. "A thing, thing."
"Oh," Stella replied, taking a seat to Lindsay's left at the light box. She had absolutely no idea how to answer her. Everyone in the lab could see that there was a connection between Danny and the young woman in front of her, everyone, that is, but Danny and Lindsay themselves. If it were Danny, Stella would have no trouble smacking him upside the head and opening his eyes to what was in front of him. After all, she'd known him a long time. However, she'd only worked with Lindsay for less than a year and Stella had no idea if honesty would really be the best policy in this case.
Stalling, Stella continued, "I don't know, but I've always found that a good cup of coffee helps clear the head." She hoped that Lindsay would take the hint and head to the break room, giving Stella a chance to make a run for it.
Instead, Lindsay absently reached out and took Stella's mug from her. She brought it to her lips and drank deeply. "Thanks, Stella. How did you know how I take my coffee?"
Stella could only watch bemusedly before muttering, "Lucky guess."
Apparently this was going to take a while. She'd only intended to duck into the evidence room to grab a report from her latest case on her way to a meeting with Mac. Now, however, Stella suddenly found herself council for the lovelorn. This was not how she had planned to spend her Wednesday morning. She longingly eyed the pilfered coffee mug. She could really use some of that caffeine at the moment.
"It's not like I planned this or something."
Lindsay's sudden exclamation startled Stella from her pining for her lost coffee. She opened her mouth to respond only to close it again as the younger woman launched into what was likely a long-in-coming rant.
"In fact, I was trying to do the exact opposite. I'd promised myself that I wasn't going to get involved with any of my co-workers. It never goes well. Though, it's not like we're actually involved or anything. Just because he carried me across a roof a few months ago doesn't mean we're dating or something."
Stella's brows furrowed as she considered the image that came with Lindsay's last admission. She could not come up with any reasonable explanation as to why Danny would be carrying Lindsay anywhere, but she wisely kept her mouth shut and let her companion continue.
"Besides, we can't have a thing." Lindsay sighed. "We work together. It would be bad for the lab." Stella again tried to interject, only to be cut off again. "I'm mean, Mac would probably have a fit if something like that happened."
Stella finally managed to get a word in edge-wise. "Actually," she said almost slyly, "I'm pretty sure Mac wouldn't mind all that much."
Totally forgetting that she was trying to talk herself out of having any feelings for Danny, Lindsay turned and met Stella's gaze, her eyes shining with hope.
"Really? You don't think it would be a problem?"
Stella fought hard not to chuckle at Lindsay's wistful gaze. She was caught between amusement and a small amount of jealousy at the younger woman's situation. More often than she'd care to admit, Stella had found herself entertaining similar thoughts of 'what if', only instead of Danny, it was in regards to their boss. She and Mac Taylor had been friends a long time and despite their closeness, she really had no idea if he felt anything deeper for her than friendship. She'd resigned herself to not knowing a long time ago. At least Danny and Lindsay had a chance… if they could just get their act together.
Stella was dragged from her thoughts as Lindsay's tone again shifted radically to self-flagellation.
"What the hell am I thinking?" she cried. "Even if I did lose my mind and suddenly started considering Danny as a prospect, he doesn't see me like that. I'm just some hick from Montana. He takes every opportunity to remind me of that fact."
Stella cringed inwardly. Danny really needed to remember that he had long-since outgrown the playground method of courtship and that pulling a girl's pigtails was not an acceptable method for winning her affection. She was about to interrupt when Lindsay cut her off yet again, almost oblivious now to Stella's presence.
"I mean, he's always making some snide comment about wheat fields and cowboys, like it's some sort of Montana-New York pissing contest. Then, next thing I know he's bending over backwards to help me with an experiment. Hammerback…" Lindsay stumbled over her words as she remembered the knowing look in the coroner's eyes when he'd decided to play matchmaker a few months ago. "Hammerback thinks Danny has a crush on me. The thing is, how can I believe it when Danny's such a player? He could have any girl he wants and if I believe the stories, he's almost had. I'm not a one-night stand kind of girl. It's just that he has this way of getting under my skin… and then we had to go and have a…a moment this morning and now I don't know what to do." Lindsay sighed in frustration. "That man is so infuriating!"
Stella did laugh this time, finally drawing Lindsay back to the present. The younger woman glanced up at Stella sheepishly as she realized the extent to which she had just revealed herself.
"God, Stella! I'm so sorry. I must sound like some stupid teenager. I really didn't mean to drag you into all this."
Glancing quickly at the clock, Stella realized that she was going to have to sprint to Mac's office to make their meeting. Still, she couldn't leave Lindsay in the state she was in. Gently resting her hand on Lindsay's shoulder, Stella made sure that she held the other woman's gaze before continuing.
"Don't worry about it, Lindsay. We all have moments like this. I'm going to have to run in a second, but I want to leave you with a few things to think about." Standing, she glided over to the worktable in the corner of the room and picked up the file she'd originally come for. Turning, she met Lindsay's curious stare.
"First, you know as well as any CSI: don't believe everything you hear. The stories that are floating around about Danny are just that, stories. You need to follow the evidence. I think you'll discover that his reputation is greatly exaggerated."
Lindsay opened her mouth to object, but Stella cut her off, deciding that honesty was the best policy in this case. "If you truly want my opinion, you and Danny do have a thing. What that thing is, exactly, is up to you. But, I want you to remember that you're a brilliant, intelligent and caring woman and if you ask me, Danny doesn't deserve you."
A gentle smile tugged at Stella's lips as she watched the blush rise in Lindsay's cheeks. The younger woman was having trouble meeting her eyes.
"Whatever you do, don't let it slip through your fingers. He may be a bit of an ass now and then, but Danny has a good heart and if his obvious interest in you is any indication, he's finally grown a brain too. Talk to him before it's too late."
Suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable, Stella shifted the report in her hands and made her way to the door. She muttered a congenial "Get back to work" as she passed Lindsay before stopping at the threshold.
Turning back one last time, she added, "Oh, and I'm taking you for drinks this weekend. I want to hear more about this 'moment'."
Lindsay laughed, relieved that she hadn't lost the respect of a woman she had come to admire greatly since she'd arrived in New York. The blush finally started to fade from her cheeks as she started to sort through her reports in an effort to pick up where she'd left off.
Slipping out into the hall, Stella made a beeline for the break room. Mac was just going to have to wait. She needed coffee.
ooo
