A/n: The reason why I'm uploading this earlier than usual is because my muse went basically apeshit and wrote chapters 9 and 10 to be MASSIVE. So here's my offering for the day to speed things up a little because I'm so excited to unveil all the melodrama I've come up with (evil grin). To Kayla, JJ, Smuffly, SomebodyWhoCares and Leslie Emm, thanks for the reviews! Those reviews are partly why the muse went crazy after all…
Characters: Det. Don Flack Jr/OC – Savannah 'Anna' Patia Cormier, Danny/Lindsay, Mac Taylor, and other members of CSI NY.
Set: Mostly AU after season 6. Set about 3 months after 'On the Mend'
Rating: M
Warnings: Erm…more text conversations? Mild swearing.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way own CSI NY or affiliates. I'm using the characters to no profit. I do not own the song or song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter that inspire me. But I wish that there were a few clones of Don Flack…mmmm….Oh, but I do own Savannah Cormier.
Finding Our Way – Chapter 7 – Rippling Waves
Booty all out, tongue out her mouth, cleavage from here to Mexico
She walks with a twist, one hand on her hip, when she gets wit'cha she lets it go
Nasty put some clothes on, you look to' down
Nasty don't know why you will not sit down
Heels on her feet, swear she's in heat, flirtin' with every man she sees
Destiny's Child – Nasty Girl
Savannah was mid-way through a breakfast rush when her phone buzzed. She let it go unanswered as she had to finish off a special request of chilli eggs and bacon – which involved also mixing chilli powder with some butter to butter the bread. The customer who ordered this particular dish always came in once a week on a Tuesday and requested the exact same thing. He enjoyed everything (including his hot chocolate) with spice.
When she finally had a minute, she checked her cell and found she had a missed call from Don. She was about to check it when a new text alert popped up. She tapped to open the message.
Text to: Savannah
From: Don
Can't make lunch, got a body to get to on Jane St. Sorry :(
Savannah decided to have a little fun with him.
Text to: Don
From: Savannah
That body better not be your other girlfriend.
After a minute the reply came.
Text to: Savannah
From: Don
Thanks for that. I just spat coffee all over Graham.
Text to: Don
From: Savannah
Say sorry from me and that I'll give him a free piece of apple crumble when he swings by next time. Will that soothe his ruffled feathers?
Text to: Savannah
From: Don
He said it was worth getting a coffee shower now. That aside, you are hilarious. No, really. I have to be more careful the way I word my texts from now on ;)
Before Savannah could reply, another text came up on the display.
Text to: Savannah
From: Don
On another note, I would have to be the stupidest man in the world to go 'see another body' or have another girl over you. You're the only woman for me.
Text to: Don
From: Savannah
*heart* Now go and investigate.
Text to: Savannah
From: Don
This is going to be interesting. I'm taking Waverly on her first go with me.
Text to: Don
From: Savannah
That new girl? The one with the red hair?
Text to: Savannah
From: Don
Yep.
Text to: Don
From: Savannah
Good luck.
Savannah didn't think anything of it until later in the afternoon when Jo and Lindsay came in for a break and to say hello. She felt a moment of nostalgia as they walked in, momentarily imagining the big bouncy curls of Stella following them in, but knowing that the Grecian was in New Orleans as head of their Crime Lab. Leaving the cash register, she came around to give her friends a hug of greeting. "Hey girls, how're you doing?"
"Good, good. But I need some serious coffee," Jo said, heading to the CSI's usual table. Over the past few weeks the whole team had made her feel welcome enough that she was truly one of the group and felt no compunction about claiming the usual table with Lindsay. As she and the younger CSI sat, the older woman asked, "I would normally ask for one of your fabulous cakes but I'm trying to be good today. Got anything that isn't going to make me feel a little guilty?"
"I know just what you need," Savannah assured, looking to Lindsay. "You too?"
"Please and thank you," Lindsay replied sweetly.
Savannah went out the back and grabbed some berries and apples, prepping them and cutting them up to make a quick fruit salad and then put a generous dollop of yogurt on top, adding a mango dressing that she usually reserved for a specialty chicken salad. When she came out the front again, Jo and Lindsay abruptly stopped talking and looked up at her as she slid their food onto the table next to their coffees. She knew people only did that when they were talking about her. "Okay, what were you guys talking about?" she questioned them mildly, pulling up a chair and sitting down.
Lindsay seemed a bit hesitant, but Jo shared none of it. She looked Savannah in the eye and asked, "You met the new detective down at Flack's precinct didn't you? And you know he's partnered with her right now?"
The cafe owner wasn't sure if 'met' was quite the right word to describe her interaction with Kirsti Waverly, but she nodded. "Yeah, I've met her. Don told me he was going to a crime scene with her today."
"We're not sure if this is even an issue," Lindsay cut in.
"You're not sure, but I know that if I were Anna, I'd want to know," Jo explained. "And I think you should know that Waverly…she was acting a bit odd around Flack at the scene. I don't think you're going to like what I'm going to say next but I have to let you know."
Savannah looked between the two concerned faces. "Let me know what?" she asked.
"Waverly was not dressed for a crime scene. She looked like she was going out clubbing with this tiny little leather crop jacket and tight latex top underneath. Her jeans looked like they were painted on and had these studs on the pockets like most of the younger crowd do and she had these high heeled studded knee-high boots. And her top was only barely containing her puppies. She looked like she was going bounty hunting on some reality show, not investigating a homicide." Jo described this with a bit of trepidation, knowing that it could impact how Anna would feel about Flack and Waverly partnering together. But she felt like she needed to know. To hear about it from cruel gossipers would crush her.
Lindsay took her co-worker's pause to continue. "Yeah, it was like some weird Catwoman outfit. And the whole time we were at the scene whenever she bent down to look at something it was always like she was stepping into Flack's line of sight every time and bending straight from the hips instead of crouching like any normal person would do. It was like Waverly was trying so hard to impress just him, no one else," she said. Seeing Savannah's stunned expression, Lindsay reassured, "Flack thought that she was just being weird though. He told her that studded apparel was inappropriate for a crime scene because if it got caught on evidence she could destroy it or accidentally take some with her. When Waverly said that she wore that kind of thing back in Atlantic City, he shot back that she was with the NYPD and that this was the protocol for the detectives here. She shut up after that but she was never like that to other detectives she's been working with."
"Lindsay and I wondered whether to tell you. We didn't want to tell you because it's upsetting and could possibly be nothing, but on the other hand we didn't want you to hear a warped version from some other person," Jo reasoned gently, taking Savannah's hand. Savannah looked confused by the news. "Savannah...you okay?"
"So you're saying that the new detective is hitting openly on my boyfriend?" she clarified.
Her friends nodded.
Savannah's suspicions rose higher when it came to Kirsti Waverly. She knew there was something off about the redhead but she didn't think it would end up to be this. But she had one reassurance. "At least he didn't even look when she was offering up a view to him on a silver platter," she observed.
"Yeah…there is that," Lindsay mumbled.
"Flack's a good man. He doesn't seem like the type to cheat or openly check out other women when he's in a relationship, and his behaviour today proved it," the older CSI said.
"I know that," Savannah replied defensively, "I didn't think for one second that he would do that. It's her that I'm wondering about."
"Yeah, like out of everyone in the whole precinct, why the hell does a new detective in town who is still trying to find her niche go after the most taken guy in there?" Lindsay wondered aloud.
"Makes you wonder about her morals huh," remarked the cafe owner. She then looked up and said determinedly, "Don't even think about confronting her about it guys, and don't even mention it to anyone else."
The two CSI's frowned at her. "Why not warn her off?"asked Lindsay. "What she's doing is wrong."
"And what she's doing is no less than what other women do to men every day. As much as I'm liked by NYPD, I'm not going to make a fuss because of one idiot's flirting. She can go ahead and try all she wants. Don doesn't suffer fools lightly and he'll make her know that. Besides, my private life is dragged up too often when I'd like it to remain mostly private, and stirring this issue up is going to do just that. I think it's better to let her dig her own grave so to speak," Savannah replied softly. She looked between her two friends and favoured them with a grateful look. "I'm glad you told me. I really am. I just don't think it's worth making a big deal about."
Lindsay accepted this and nodded, but Jo was silently unconvinced. She returned the gaze evenly, letting her cousin know that this wasn't the end of the discussion.
Lindsay and Jo left when Adam called with information on their evidence and they promised to keep their observations about Detective Waverly's odd behaviour to themselves. It was not long after that while Savannah was at the cash register when another familiar face wandered into her cosy cafe. She looked up after serving a customer and her good nature was instantly restored.
"Sam! Hey!" she cried out, heading around the counter and embracing the smiling blue-eyed woman excitedly.
"Hey Anna," Samantha Flack replied, hugging the curly haired brunette back.
"Oh I've missed you. Haven't seen you in a few weeks, how are you?" asked Savannah, leading her to the CSI's usual table and calling for one of her new serving girls to make hot chocolates.
"Yeah, I'm good. I've been settling in that new job Don got for me with the reporters for the precinct, so things are really looking up for me now," Sam replied.
"I'm glad you got the job," the cafe owner said sincerely.
"Me too. It's nice to have something constant, you know?" the younger Flack mentioned. She gave her thanks as the hot chocolates arrived at their table and said, "I do have a little bit of a reason to swing by though."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. Want to come shopping with me? I need a break and I haven't seen you in a while and I need your help on a project I'm working on," Sam replied, taking a sip of her drink and looking at Savannah's curious expression. "I haven't seen Don since he told me about the job and I need someone's input on the project who knows him well apart from my parents," she explained.
Nodding, Savannah replied, "Sure. As long as you don't mind sticking around for a few hours while I close up. What's the project?"
"It's a surprise."
"Fair enough, count me in," Savannah grinned. "I swear you see more of me than you do your brother."
Sam chuckled. "I probably do, but I can't blame him – it's the career he's in."
"Being a detective is tough."
"I don't know how you do it Anna in putting up with it, but I know I'm grateful for it for my brothers sake," Sam admitted. They then chatted about their lives over the hot chocolates until Savannah had to close up for the day. The younger Flack was happy just to sit and watch as her friend and her workers wound the cafe down for the day. She thought about how it could have been so different if she had never met Anna, had never listened to her words. Where would her relationships with her family be now without her? Would she have turned back to the temptation of drink? It was scary to think how one person's actions had such a profound effect on her life.
Seeing Anna rush around, Sam wondered if she should get up and help. After all, she never asked for much and had done so much inadvertently for the Flack family. She stood up and offered, "Hey, Anna, I could always polish some cutlery if you want."
Savannah waved her off. "You don't have to. You can relax, we're on schedule."
Now that the idea was in her head, it wouldn't go. Sam shrugged and grabbed the cutlery tray and a cloth, heading back to the table, smirking as she heard Savannah huff, "Just as stubborn as your brother."
"And you are just as stubborn as us," Sam said.
"True as it may be, I think it might be a Flack family trait to be that stubborn," countered Savannah with a knowing smile.
The curly haired woman had just finished counting the cash for the day when her phone rang. It was a pleasant surprise to see Don's name come up on the display.
"Hey."
"Hey Anna. What are you up to?"
"Just closing up and then I'm going out," Savannah replied.
There was a pause over the line and she could instantly tell he was disappointed. Uncertainly, she asked, "Why? What was up?"
A heavy sigh came from Flack's end and he replied, "I was just going to see if you wanted to see a movie tonight. I managed to finish up on the Lobowitz murder and my sources and searches are still pending for a current case so I can leave on time today. But if you're going somewhere…"
"Don…I'm so, so sorry. Sam came in a few hours ago and wanted to go out with me."
"What are you doing with Sam?" he asked curiously.
"Shopping. She asked me before you did, and I haven't seen her in a few weeks."
"So you're picking Sam over me?" he said incredulously, feeling a little let down by this. Another moment that he can get free and suddenly Savannah wasn't able to be with him? It felt just not possible that they could be denied more than a few hours here and there along with the all too short nights and mornings. It was like they could never get a day off each week together.
"Just this once Don. Besides, it gives you a chance to catch up on the paperwork you've been whining about," Savannah reasoned.
"Yeah yeah."
"I'll make you cheesecake?" she offered hopefully, hating the desolation in his tone.
"I'm going to hold you to that." While it was clear Don wasn't happy, at least he felt a bit better that Savannah was going out with Sam and having some bonding time with her. He mumbled, "I hope I can see you tomorrow."
"If you can make it, I can always make that lamb casserole you like so much for lunch. Does that make you feel a bit better?"
Don let a slight smirk reach his face. "Yeah."
"Good. Well I'll see you then. Don't overwork yourself Don."
"Have fun with Sam."
"I will."
Hanging up, Savannah felt a touch on her shoulder to see Sam looking concerned. "That Don? He didn't want you to go out with me?"
"Not that he didn't want me to go out with you. It's just that we haven't been able to get a lot of time to ourselves lately. It's hard. But I don't care, I understand completely. Things kept coming up at the worst of times, and yes it's aggravating but I can't control it," Savannah exposed honestly. When the slightest bit of guilt crossed Sam's features she grabbed her in a hug. "I'm not skipping out on going out with you. I need some girl time and I can't wait to spend it with you."
"Okay. If you're sure."
"I'm sure."
Coming off the phone was bittersweet for Flack.
While he was happy that Savannah and Samantha were getting along great, he had really wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend. Just needing a little something to pull him from the seemingly endless tasks of interviewing witnesses, suspects, checking with the CSI teams on what leads could be found. It was a busy time. Stupidly busy.
"That your girl?"
Flack looked up to see Kirsti Waverly looking at him, having obviously asked the question. "Yeah," he replied.
"Didn't seem like she wanted to go out tonight," the redhead observed.
"Yeah, well, she's going out with Sam, a friend. But it's fine. I mean, more time for paperwork," Flack said. He shrugged. "Not a big deal."
He then got stuck into the forms he had to fill out, noting calls he had to make. As he worked, he didn't notice the scrutiny he was under from his new partner. Kirsti had listened very carefully to the conversation. From what she had gathered, this Sam guy must be a close friend of Savannah's and Flack didn't exactly approve of their friendship. Judging from the tone of conversation, Flack's girlfriend had ditched him for her 'friend.' Which usually meant from her experience that Cormier was a cheater, and was cheating with this Sam character.
Kirsti turned over the thought. Yes. That could be the only explanation.
This might be her chance.
From the second she had gotten the desk in front of Detective Flack's, Kirsti had wanted him. Oh she might be whistled at by a healthy percentage of the single population in here (and some of the taken ones as well), and all of them had complimented her indigo eyes, her red hair and her chest, but not one of them had really caught her interest. No one but the tall Irish detective. When she found out he had a girlfriend she had been annoyed. But to find out this nugget of information might mean prying him away from that Cormier woman.
Discreetly folding her arms under her bust to make her breasts even more noticeable in her top, Kirsti turned to Flack and interrupted his work with a slight 'ahem.' When blue eyes glanced at her, she suggested, "You know, if you're not going out, we could hang out at Sullivan's and I can get to know you better as my mentor."
"How about no?"
Kirsti was stunned by the flat, uncaring answer. Had she not affected him? She hid her frown and asked "Why not?"
Don put down his pen and turned to her, his face calm even as his voice conveyed his irritation. "First of all, you still have another two hours on the clock, I don't. Secondly, the shit you pulled at the scene didn't impress me. You acted like you knew everything when you didn't. I know you're trying to make yourself look good but you got the job. No need to make yourself so fake. It just pisses people off because you look like an arrogant shit. You want to be a good detective here then you don't go off with this diva thing."
Kirsti realised what she was doing wrong then and nodded. She realised that she would have to be sweeter. To pull this off, she would have to be.
"And lastly…I just don't want to. You know, ever hear of that rare phenomenon where some guys don't want to go out at the end of the day? Well I'm part of it at times and today is that time," Don finished, turning back to the papers before him with a obstinate air.
Kirsti recognised a shut down when she saw one and felt slightly humiliated. Was he so jaded that not only could he not see his girlfriend was cheating on him right under his nose but that he didn't see how she was basically putting herself on offer? She bit her lip to stay silent, focussing on her work to take away her impatience. She would have to get into Flack's good graces somehow to get what she wanted.
Him.
A/N: Just before anyone asks, yes, the song lyrics are about Kirsti. I was listening from the album the song was from (I was cleaning out my CD stocks) and the lyrics were perfect. Yes, it is quite obvious where I'm going with Kirsti but I'm meaning it to. It's just going to be an interesting conclusion to the arc. Regardless, hope you enjoyed the chapter and the mounting tensions.
Oh, and I just wanted to say I was really proud of how I managed to word the conversation between Savannah and Don so it would appear to a casual observer that Sam could be a man from listening to Don's words alone. :D