Ok guys you twisted my arm. Here is another chapter and I'm pretty sure there will be one or two more. I really suck at endings though, so this could run on and on. Ideally I'd like to have it finished by the 14th cause I'm going on holiday then and I'd hate to leaving you waiting.
Probably not as good as the other chapters, but I hit a problem with the Lindsay/Danny conversation so I thought I'd chop the chapter in two.
"Flack. Wait up" Stella called out as she exited the lobby of the building, her eyes immediately spotting the tall, dark haired detective walking off down the street, intent on finding some sustenance, and probably some warmth. She hadn't noticed before but it was still freezing outside.
Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk when he heard his name being called, Detective Don Flack felt his face break out into a smile when he saw who it was, and he stood waiting till she had caught up with him.
"Hey" he said when she did.
"So, how'd it go?"
"He's still got all his teeth, if that's what your wondering" he said, sticking his hands in his pockets against the cold chilly breeze wafting its way down the street.
"Not really but that'll do" Stella said with a smile, glad that things hadn't deteriorated enough for them to be playing fisticuffs with one another.
He ducked his head "You fancy getting some lunch?" he asked hopefully "I know a great Thai place a couple of blocks away. It'll be warm and we can chat some more"
"Sure" she said instantly, not pausing to think the question through, and linking her arm through his they set off down the street.
It took them a couple of minutes to reach the restaurant, a walk that was taken in companionable silence. Entering, they where seated quickly and gave their orders a minute or so later. They kept the conversation to non Danny related topics till the food came.
"So," she began after taking a drink "How was he?"
"Honestly?" Flack asked as he looked across at her. She nodded "He wasn't Danny. At least, not the one I know"
She nodded again "He's been through a lot"
"That's no excuse" Flack said, spooning another mouthful of food into his mouth, savouring the rich spicy texture and taste. Feeling it warm him up from the inside.
"I know," sighed Stella as she watched him, trying to twist the noodles on her plate onto her fork and have them stay there. "Did you manage to talk things through?"
"Talking things through generally requires two people having a conversation. More water?" he asked, holding up the jug of water. She held her cup out and he poured the liquid into it "When I got there I kind of said something that got his attention in the wrong way and he flew at me, fists raised"
"What on earth did you say to him?"
Flack shrugged "I asked him why his girlfriend had spent the night in my bed"
He looked up when she didn't respond and caught her just staring at him. "What?" he shrugged again "I was only telling him the truth"
"I'm surprised you made it out of there with your nose in place" she admitted as she began eating again.
"You don't think I could take him?" he asked honestly before laughing "Messer my be able to throw a good right hook but in any fight, I'd win hands down"
"You sound certain about that"
"It's a tried and tested method" he said as he finished what was on his plate. Picking up his napkin and making sure his face was free of any particles of food.
She shook her head at him
"I just hope he sorts everything out"
Flacks trade mark smirk appeared on his face as he stood up and offered Stella her jacket, holding it as she slipped her arms into the sleeves "Don't worry" he said as he dropped a few dollar bills down on the table "I told him you'd be the next one round if he didn't get his act together. It kind of jump started him"
"Really?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him as he held the door open for her to exist out into the cold street. When Flack closed the door to the small restaurant, she huddled up to his large frame and linked her arm with his, taking her fair share of the body heat that seemed to be radiating from him. Flack glanced down at the woman on his arm and smiled.
"Stella, the boys scared witless of you"
On the other side of the city
He only had the chance to get out the customary "Hey" before the door slammed shut in his face.
He turned in the corridor and ran his hand through his hair, trying to figure out how he was going to talk to her if she wouldn't even open the door to him. He spun on the spot when he heard the door click open again.
She stood there in an oversized sweat shirt and a pair of sweat pants that hid her feet entirely from view because they where so long. He knew that they must belong to Flack, and for a moment he couldn't see anything through the rivers of jealously that where coursing through him.
He took two steps towards the door when Bam, it shut in his face again and he stumbled backwards slightly before leaning forward and coming to land on the door. One hand on the painted white wood on either side of the door, resting on the door frame, bracing himself.
His other hand came up to smack the door frame "Damn it Lindsay" he muttered to the wood, starting as the door opened once again. Slowly this time, her face came into view.
"Like that?" she asked, one hand still holding onto the handle on the inside.
"No. You keep shutting the door in my face"
"Good" she said before slamming the door closed again.
Danny stood with his face inches from the door, his face still screwed up from the wince that had automatically occurred. He opened his eyes and his vision was filled with white once more.
He placed his head on the door and breathed deeply. As he listened carefully he could hear the sounds of her standing just behind the door, shuffling her feet from one side to another, no doubt pondering whether she should open the door one more time and whether she should let him in this time.
"Come on Lindsay" he breathed against the door. Willing her to open the door and let him in, to let him get the ball rolling. To apologize.
"I just wanted you to know what it feels like" she said, stepping away and into the apartment.
"To have a door slammed in his face?" he asked as he entered the room and shut the door quietly behind him.
"Yeah" she said as she flung herself down on the couch. Pillows where piled at one end while a duvet cover lay dripped over the back where she had thrown it off then the door had sounded. On the table in front of her sat the remote for the telly and an assortment of other things. Including a box of tissues, a jug of water and cup, and an array of food items. Food delivery service leaflets lay in a pile at the far end, waiting to be picked up and perused.
"Its happened a few times before" he said, looking around the familiar apartment and rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, suddenly unsure of what to say or where to start.
"Bet you no ones been stupid enough to open the door to you again once they've closed it once" She glanced over her shoulder at him and he ducked his head, unable to meet her gaze right then.
To him she always looked beautiful but today wasn't one of her better days, and he couldn't help but feel he was slightly responsible. "Ok," he thought, "Strike the slightly." He was responsible.
When Stella had left Lindsay had decided to take a shower and try to wash away the last 24 hours.
It hadn't helped.
Being a guy, even one who took pride in his appearance, Flack didn't have any conditioner so she had to make do with just shampooing. Since there was no conditioner she didn't even bother to look for straighteners, hence her hair was a small frizzy explosion on top of her head. The water had gotten rid of the final traces of makeup but did nothing to the bags under her eyes or the red colouring of her eyes. Being overcome with tears several times during the day didn't help much either. The lack of good sleep and her hangover gave her a pale, drawn complexion.
"What are you doing here Danny?" she asked when he didn't say anything. Twisting on the sofa to glance over her shoulder at him, standing uncomfortably in the hallway just inside the door.
He dragged his gaze up from the floor and locked his eyes with hers. He was the first one to break off, returning his gaze to look at his feet once again.
Lindsay turned on the couch with a sigh. Nervously picking and poking at her nails as she waited for him to say something, anything.
She heard him move from where he stood, round the back of the couch and towards one of the hard backed chairs set up around the small table set in the corner of the room that Flack often used as a makeshift dinning table, or somewhere to place the nibbles at a party.
She didn't look up, didn't even raise her gaze to acknowledge his move.
Till he spoke.
