AN: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.
3. Friction to Amy 1
He had been talking to Stella in the Jewellery store when he heard HER call from the vault at the back, her tone immediately sent him reaching for his gun, but he never got there before the shot echoed around the store. He didn't wait for back-up, just ran straight into the vault, afraid of what he might find.
She was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall. He dropped to his knees at her side as he holstered his weapon. His eyes checking her over. She was breathing heavily and her skin pale. His took a breath trying to calm his nerves when he realised there was no blood. He never heard Stella follow him in. Nikki did and said something; he never heard what. Before he knew she was pushing herself up and staggering across the room. He watched her for a moment then rose and stepped over to her and rested a hand on her shoulder. He could feel her trembling, finally he found his voice again and suggested she got checked out by the medics who had been loitering outside a few minutes earlier. His hand felt suddenly cold as she stepped away from him and pitched forwards. His arms caught her. His stomach felt like it was being strangled. She again declined help and moved towards the wall after the bullet. He watched as she staggered again, using the wall for support this time. He knew she wasn't right, this time he'd make her listen. Harsh words were exchanged, he watched the little colour she had drain from her. Her eyes glaze over. He was glad when Stella agreed with him, effectively dismissing her from the scene. If he thought he could have got away with it he would have carried her out, but he had to be grateful that a hand on her back wasn't rejected.
He waited at a discreet distance as the medics looked her over, the sound of the shot echoed in his mind, each time he felt like his insides had been ripped apart again. He thought about what could have happened if he had met her for dinner the other night. Her acceptance of the olive branch was still pending. Dinner had been a blow-out. He'd caught another jewellery store heist with Danny and Lindsay and practically stood her up. He was grateful she understood the job and had easily accepted his apology. Everyone was relieved that Lindsay had come out of everything relatively unscathed as her brief under-cover ploy failed. Don watched Nikki talking to her boss for a moment before they walked back into the store. He opened his mouth as she walked past, she kept her eyes on the store and just put her hand up.
"Just don't." She seethed and stepped inside.
--
The next time he saw her she was in the lab with Stella. He pushed the door open and walked in. He looked at Stella briefly, but his focus was on the blonde woman with her. He asked how she was feeling, still concerned about the bang on the head she received earlier. She wasn't interested in him taking care of her, she wanted to solve the case, so reluctantly he fed her the information he had discovered from his enquiries. He revealed there was a suspect being brought in and thinking there was no way he was going to let her go into the interrogation, he looked at Stella. He knew he'd put his foot in it again when she looked up from the microscope. The look she gave him seconds before her mouth opened told him that he'd gone all protective big brother on her again. Whatever he knew it didn't stop him from yelling back at her though. He thought she was taking the whole almost being killed thing a little too lightly. He wanted her to realise that it was a near miss, that she was lucky. She lowered her voice and told him something about using the evidence. Stella passed some smart ass comment causing him to totally lose it as he yelled at Nikki again. She replied and stormed out. He heard Stella comment and looked at her. She didn't understand. Inside he was crumbling, he didn't want to lose her again, that was a defining moment. Stella's words of counsel made him realise that they were right, he would have to let the evidence talk, but most of all it was that moment when he realised how much she meant, that he didn't want her walking out of his life again. He would be the one to crumble this time. He knew it wouldn't be easy, she still wasn't ready for another relationship, but he needed to build some bridges, that would be a step in the right direction.
It wasn't often that Don Flack admitted he was wrong, he did once over a case to Stella, but never to anyone he was in love with. Wait ... where did that come from? He wasn't in love with her. Was he? Stella was waiting for him to acknowledge what she said. She was right he did know Nikki best, he also realised that she was probably still in shock, not to mention having a hell of a headache from the possible concussion. He nodded at Stella, resolving to start making amends.
--
Stella was sitting at the table in the interrogation room watching the slime-ball in front of them. He was a sleazy S.O.B.. He was playing them and Don knew it. He clenched his fists trying to keep his temper under control as the guy gave them another sly grin in response to questions about ownership of the safety deposit box.
Don slammed his fists on the table making the file jump. Valdez, smirked. "You're really wearing my patience Valdez, if the gun isn't yours and the diamonds aren't yours then why have the box?" Spat Don as the door opened and the lawyer called a halt to the interrogation. Stella stood up. Flack slammed the chair against the table.
"We're not done here." He threatened and stormed out. He knew he needed to get his temper under control and walked off leaving Stella to return to the lab.
He wanted to hit something. He wanted to hit Valdez, but that would be career suicide, he went outside and dropped onto the bench by the entrance. He leaned over and ran his hands through his hair, if he was off the clock he would be down the street at Sullivan's with a bottle of scotch, but he couldn't do that now. He let his mind drift for a few minutes before he realised what he had to do. With a deep sigh he stood up and headed back into the building. He searched the lab for ages until someone mentioned she was doing a reconstruction with Mac. He was grateful the older man let her take a break. She still looked pale, her features tense. He knew she still had a headache. He lead her to the locker room where they could have some privacy and his mouth engaged before his brain, spewing some random stuff about apologies. She wasn't happy and she made sure he knew it. She thought he was talking about Valdez. He told her to speak to Stella. She wasn't prepared to listen and turned away. Instinctively he had reached out and grabbed her arm stopping her. He begged her to listen, a little surprised when she agreed.
In two breaths he apologised to her and almost told her how he had felt, what he was feeling about her. The look on her face told him she wasn't ready to hear it and he stopped himself and let his mouth spew some crap about not wanting her to get hurt. It was an admission of sorts. She had always known, right from the moment they met, but this was the first time he had openly admitted it. Something must have reached her, because he saw the anger in her dissipate before his eyes; he watched as she sighed heavily before answering him. Her words came from the heart telling him what he really knew, what he would have said himself it had been anyone else. Then came the bombshell. She hinted at the bombing. When she reached out and rested her hand on his stomach, she hit the exact spot which bore the scars. He felt like his stomach was on fire. How she knew where he'd been injured, then she told him. Cassie, his sister in law, had kept her in the loop, rang her as soon as the family knew, so she wouldn't hear it on the news. He should have guessed.
She removed her hand and he felt his stomach tingle still from her touch. He watched her walking away. He hung his head and rubbed his hand across his stomach.
"The bombing affected me too, Cassie protected you, that was when I decided to come home." He looked up at her. He caught the tears in her eyes as she turned and left.
He wondered then if there would ever be a chance of her returning permanently to the city or whether all the memories would be too much and she would cut all ties completely. If she came home, it would mean a chance to spend time with the daughter he barely knew, if she didn't Amy would be lost to him for good. They really needed to talk, about a lot of things and soon.
--
He really wished Mac had sent her home to rest. She still had a killer headache and insisted she was fine. No one prepared to argue with her. He glanced at her slumped in the passenger seat as they fought the evening traffic. He smirked and shook his head when he saw her head rested on the window. She opened an eye, knowing he was looking at her. He passed comment. She sat up and snapped at him. He was ready this time. Promising to try and ease off a bit over protecting her. She eased back in the seat and closed her eyes.
He glanced at her and grinned, he still couldn't figure out how she could sleep almost anywhere. He thought again about their encounter in the locker room earlier. The look on her face when she told him that the bombing had affected her too, that it was the catalyst for her coming back had surprised him. They really needed to talk without any distractions. But despite running several ideas through his head, he still hadn't worked out how to make it happen when they reached the station.
--
It was the end of his shift and he thought he would try and persuade Nikki to take off with him. He already knew Mac and Stella were on the verge of sending her home. It had been a hell of a day and they both needed time out, maybe she would agree to him taking her home. He called her as he entered the lab. Her phone answered, but there was no response.
"Nikki? Talk to me, where are you?" He knew something was wrong, he felt his gut tighten for about the hundredth time that day. He was about to call again when she whispered back. One strained word told him she was in trouble. He practically ran into her office, cancelling one call and making another. She looked dazed, tears on her cheeks. He gently pushed her into a chair asking her what was wrong. He let his eyes follow her hand as it wafted over the desk. He saw her wedding ring, a package and a bouquet of yellow roses. He didn't know much about flowers, he only ever really bought them for his Ma, but he knew Jason had always bought her yellow roses. He was at a loss what to say to her. He eyed everything again and tried to reassure her only to have her cut him off, her shock wearing off now and anger starting to build. She pushed a letter at him, with a photo attached. He looked into the crystal blue eyes of the young dark haired girl. He was quickly brought out of the moment of reverie when she told him where the photo came from and the realisation hit her that Amy could be in danger. The fear hit him too. He dropped the phone, his hands on her gaining her attention as he bent to look in her eyes. He tried to calm her down, reassured her that he would have someone check on her mother and Amy. It seemed to work. She started to relax a little, allowing him time to complete the call to Mac.
The evening was a blur, a trip to her house, Hawkes processing it like a crime scene, reporting back to Mac. Now he was alone with her in the locker room again reassuring her that her daughter was alright. That he had spoken to her himself. They had had a few shaky moments after that, but for the moment had agreed a truce. With her house currently a crime scene, she was going home with him. He'd promised to try and rein in any overprotective tendencies, but that didn't stop him from taking her hand or carrying her bag as they left the locker room.
The ride home in silence allowed him time to reflect on the conversation he'd had earlier with the little girl who was practically a stranger to him.
"Amy? I'm a friend of your Ma's she's been real busy and asked me to call and say hi to you."
"Do I know you?"
"Sort of, I haven't seen you in a few years, the last time you were only two so you won't remember me."
"But I do, she told me all about you, you're a 'tective in New York. ... Mummy showeded me pictures and film. ... Are you my Daddy?"
Don found himself almost in tears as he choked up at the girl's words. "Yeah, sweetheart I'm your Daddy and I'm really looking forward to seeing you soon."
"Me too, tell Mummy to bring you home with her, you can take me to the park."
"I'd like that a lot."
I had to include his conversation with Amy at the end.
