I would like to point out that I have changed this chapter from its original thanks to all of the reviewers. For my first NY fic, you guys have been awesome.

NOTE: the crime scene and case are not mine. I didn't make them up. They're actually from CSI Vegas. "No Humans Involved" is the case… Sara has issues with a dead kid in huge black Tupperware bin. If you remember, superb, if not, I wouldn't worry all that much.

Chapter 3

I Want This

Aiden woke in the morning with a pounding headache, an after affect of tears and emotional revelations, only to find herself alone in bed. However, upon a closer sniff, she smelled something that made her mouth water. French toast and not just any French toast, Danny's French toast.

It was a well-kept secret that one of Aiden's main weaknesses was pretty much any of Danny's cooking, but her very favourite was his breakfasts. She couldn't help the grin that blossomed over her face. She'd seriously expected him to leave, especially since they had to work today. Her bedside clock read 9:45…

"What the hell!"

In the kitchen, Danny smiled to himself and hoped Aiden wasn't going to kill him for not waking her up. He'd ended up sleeping over the time of his internal alarm and had awoken to hers instead. He'd turned it off quickly and smiled down at his best friend who'd slept though the loud beeping. In theory, it wasn't the best thing to do, let her sleep, and he knew he'd pay for it later, but emotional revelations required some serious recuperation time, time which he knew Aiden wouldn't take.

Instead, he'd contented himself with a shower and some pointless television before starting in on breakfast, remembering to call Mac and let him know Aiden hadn't been feeling well last night – not a complete lie – and they were both going to be late. Originally, Mac had questioned why both of them were coming in late. Well practised in dealing with his boss, and knowing Mac knew he and Aiden were not only two of the most responsible CSIs he worked with but also the best of friends, Danny had simply explained he was worried.

He was pulled from his musing by a frantic Aiden rushing into the kitchen.

"What the hell is going on? We are so late! Mac is going to murder us…" Danny only chuckled lightly.

"I fail to see the humour in this Messer," she pouted. Danny grinned and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back, her face turned up to his. As Danny looked at her, his eyes level with her forehead, he groaned mentally. Even still rumpled from sleep, Aiden pushed his control. He was pretty sure she wasn't interested in him, after all, she and Flack seemed to have something going, but that didn't stop him from wanting to kiss her.

She saw it flash in his eyes, something unreadable and virtually unrecognizable. He deserved the biggest thank you in the world for dealing with her and listening to the world of hell she'd been through. Acting on impulse, she kissed his cheek as she pulled away.

"Do I have time for a shower?" He grinned at her, even as his insides had sparked upon the touch of her lips.

"Probably. Just don't take too long. I told Mac we wouldn't be too late." She nodded and headed back the way she'd come. Once he heard the bathroom door close, he allowed himself to relax. This was going to be a long day.

She exited the bathroom no more than fifteen minutes later, hair still wet but pulled back from her face, knowing she wouldn't have enough time to dry it. Danny had a plate all set out for her, even if he was cleaning up his own.

"Mac called while you were getting beautiful. You and I have a DB in a Tupperware container." Aiden winced, motioning to her breakfast. He grinned at her.

"You're a CSI, Aid. You can deal with death talk at breakfast. Anyway, I'm going to head home to change. I'll meet you there?" Aiden nodded as she took another bite of her French toast. She swallowed quickly.

"Address?" He handed her a piece of paper on his way to the door. She followed him, holding the door as he stepped into the hall. He turned to face her.

"Aiden?" She smiled at him softly.

"You've done so much, Danny. Thanks." He nodded, stepping back to kiss her forehead affectionately.

"For you, anything."

And he meant it, with all of his heart.

She called him when she got to the crime scene.

"You going to be long?" she questioned, impatient to get to work on the Tupperware bin in front of her. Flack was standing beside her, chuckling at her impatience. She could hear his grin in his voice before she saw him, walking towards her, his silver kit in his hand. He shrugged, hanging up the phone.

"I figured you wouldn't mind. The door was open." She smacked his arm playfully even as she crouched beside the black bin.

"Garbage pick up found the box and dropped it. The lid came off and the kid fell out. Neighbour says her name is Shannon Palmer, 12. Said something about an aunt who's out at work." Both Aiden and Danny nodded absently, already starting to process the outside of the container. Finally, upon having nothing else but the inside to work with, Aiden stood surveying the scene around them.

"I hate secondary scenes," she pouted, hands on hips. Danny couldn't help the grin that blossomed over his face.

"Do you think the good old coroner would mind if we took the lid off?" Aiden shook her head affectionately.

"He'll be here, Danny, you just need patience." Danny only gave her a mischievous grin, already working the top out from under the girl. The bin was tipped on its side, such that the girl was sprawled on the ground. She was on her stomach, but her ribs were sticking out from her sides and her arms were bony sticks.

"Kind of straight forward, don't you think?" he asked conversationally. Aiden took in the body, generally thin, with an inward shiver. Finally, she shrugged.

"Could be. I'm still waiting for the post," she answered, already beginning to collect the evidence bags from where they were scatted across the scene. They both knew she was avoiding conversation quite content to play in pretend ignorance for a while. Danny, however, knew Aiden all too well and vowed to make a conversation of this later on. He knew she was dancing around the issue that was plaguing her. She was still raw from her memories last night and Danny mentally scolded Mac for sending them out on the case. At the same time, Danny really couldn't blame Mac for doing it. He didn't know.

"You want to head back? I'll wait for Sheldon." Aiden shot him a grateful look.

"I'll get these prints running through AFIS."

"What are you doing for lunch?" The question came out as nonchalant as he could make it. Aiden shrugged.

"Depends where we are on the case," she answered, turning her back for a reprieve. "I'll see you back at the lab."

Between Dr. Hawkes and himself, Danny found himself in the morgue, decidedly without Aiden. He hadn't seen her since he'd come back from the crime scene, but he'd been caught up with other things. Mac had pulled him aside when he'd returned and asked about Aiden, citing her unusual gusto as worrisome material. Danny had shrugged, but had filed the information away.

"Well she starved to death. Skin is pulled tight around the ribs, her stomach contents were virtually nonexistent." He lifted a container from a side counter and handed it to Danny. There was nothing in the container except a few chips.

"Any idea what they are?" The coroner shrugged and turned back to the body.

"Hepatic steatosis, ketoacidosis, rhabdomyolysis… all consistant signs of starvation. The body digested itself, muscles, fat, and organs."

"We're talking weeks," Danny said, disgust lacing his voice. Sheldon nodded. Danny sent a prayer to anyone listening that Aiden would be okay. Danny met Sheldon's eyes.

"Thanks doc."

Danny found Aiden with her head down on a layout table in the lab. He approached carefully, not wanting to disturb her and set her off.

"Aiden?" She looked up, eyes red-rimmed.

"Ran all of the trace from the scene. Doc tell you about the body?" She was all business. Danny rolled his eyes, something she caught.

"What?"

"Later. You okay to break? I need a breather." Aiden shrugged.

"We've got nothing?"

"Flack's going to page us when he's found the aunt." He conveniently left out the trace Dr. Hawkes had given him. She nodded, following him to the locker room where they both stripped off their lab coats. They made their way outside, strolling leisurely down the street. Finally, Danny stopped, turning her to face him.

"Are you sure you should be doing this, Aid?"

"You don't trust me?"

"You know I'd trust you with my life, Aiden, that's not the point. After what you told me last night, are you sure you should be on a case like this?"

"You think I can't handle this!"

"I know you could handle this on a regular day, Aiden, but this isn't a regular day. You're memories aren't buried; they're fresh in your mind. Are you sure you're going to be able to handle this objectively?" Aiden glared petulantly but her response, or lack of, gave him hope. Aiden closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. As much as she hated it, he made a good point. Her memories were remarkably fresh. For most of her other cases, it didn't matter, she was a professional and her memories were already firmly buried in her mind and stayed there. However, with her revelations last night, they were too fresh for her to really work this case objectively. Nevertheless, she was in too deep now. She was too attached to let go. Aiden looked up at Danny her eyes determined.

"I want this case, Danny." He was stupid to think she'd say anything else. He sighed heavily. Then he made a split second decision.

"This means a hell of a lot of hovering, Aid." Her gaze didn't waver.

"Then so be it."