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.

7. Set up

Laura was in the kitchen arranging the flowers in a vase when Don walked in his jacket now discarded. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder. She leaned against him. "Who was on the phone?" she asked.

"Stella ... She's got some more information" he said trying to stay calm.

"Do you have to go again?" she asked, hoping he'd say no, but in reality would probably say yes.

"Not yet. ... Laura .. we need to talk" He said slowly. She felt a chill down her spine again, this was serious. It wasn't very often he called her Laura outside of work. She nodded, as he eased his hold on her and lead her into the lounge.

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Danny and Lindsay were in the locker room collecting their stuff when Stella rushed in.

"Hey guys, glad I caught you, do you have plans this afternoon?" she asked.

"Only to go shoot some pool, why?" Danny asked.

"Would you take Laura? ... Flack needs to get back here and he doesn't want to leave her alone." Stella explained.

"Danny said your case is mixed up with an old one of hers." Stated Lindsay a little confused for the need to baby sit their friend.

"Roberto Diaz" Stella answered as if it was to mean something, then realised Lindsay probably hadn't heard of the case. "... Laura took him down about 4 years ago on dealing and rape. 3 years ago at the trial he threatened her, you know the sort of thing, most of the time they're empty threats, this time we get the feeling he intends to follow through and his were very explicit ." She informed her stressing the "very".

"I'm starting to remember the case now, it made the headlines for a while, that was Laura?" Danny asked.

"Her name was never released to the press, but yes. ... That case got her promoted to Detective and into vice. ... Diaz got out on parole a month ago and we think he's renewing his connections. ... He dropped off the radar 3 days ago, we haven't got enough evidence to get protection for Laura yet, and there may be another complication-." Stella explained.

"Can't homicide work something out? Put her on desk duty or something? .. Isn't that what normally happens?" asked Lindsay, interrupting Stella, still a little frustrated that her afternoon with Danny was going to turn into something else.

"This isn't normal Linds. Laura was on secondary call last night, we weren't busy enough for her to get that call, I think someone on the inside is manipulating the situation. Which is why we're keeping this very low key right now, I don't want to risk anyone finding out what we know." She informed them. "Can we keep it just between the team?" she asked finally. Danny nodded.

"Tell Flack we'll head over ... I'll swing by my place and pick up some stuff first." he answered looking at Lindsay who nodded, indicating that she would do the same, now she understood the implications.

Stella gave Danny an envelope. "He needs to see this before he comes back. It's the trial transcript. I flagged some pages he may need to ask Laura about, I haven't finished it yet, I'll let you know if there's anything else."

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Having talked to Francesca Collins Mac allowed her into the bedroom to pack a bag. When she emerged she had also changed. Hawkes noted also the change in footwear for a pair of red stiletto shoes. Something about them seemed odd.

"Mrs Collins, do you have a problem with your shoe?" He asked.

"The heel cap is missing, I'm gonna get it fixed at the place down the street on my way out." She muttered.

"Can I take a look?" Sheldon asked, she shrugged and dropped onto the sofa and slipped off the shoe. Taking it in his gloved hands he inspected it. Mac returned to the room and watched the scene unfold. "When did you last wear these Mrs Collins?"

"Last night. I changed here before going to stay the night to look after a sick friend."

"What time were you here?" Mac asked as Hawkes opened his case an removed a couple of items.

"Around 10. I'd been out with some clients for dinner." She answered warily, wondering what was going on and why the interest in her shoe.

"Mac, I got blood." Hawkes announced holding out the heel of the shoe indicating that's where it had come from, along with the pink stained swab he had used to test it.

"Mrs Collins, I think we need to have a talk at the precinct." Mac told her. She sighed

"Why can't we talk here?" she asked a little agitated.

"Because we believe that the shoe you were just wearing is what killed Mr Braddock. So we're going to have a few more questions" Mac stated as he indicated for the uniformed officer in the doorway to escort her out.

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Laura sat on the sofa, Don sat on the coffee table facing her. Her eyes flicked across his face, noting his tight jaw and subdued eyes. He was holding her hands. "What's wrong?" she asked, the chill now apparently a permanent fixture in her spine. His phone beeped with a message, which he read before looking at Laura.

"I will have to go in, but not for a little while. ... Stella's uncovered something, we don't know yet how important it is." He began, his eyes not leaving hers. "Danny and Lindsay are on their way over to stay with you-"

"What don't you trust me not to shoot the next person to knock at the door?" She asked icily.

He squeezed her hands. "It's not that, let me finish." He replied with a calmness he didn't feel. "I trust you to do what's necessary. What I don't trust is Diaz and whoever is working with him. ... you shouldn't have been at that scene last night Kat. Someone changed the on call list, and told dispatch you had to take it." He paused for a moment to let things sink in before delivering the final blow. "We think he's trying to set you up babe ... I won't let him do that, we've got a date at St Mark's in a few weeks and he's not going to stop us, OK?"

Laura nodded. "I love you" she whispered as his lips touched hers.


Thanks for the reviews. I hope you like this chapter it has had several re-writes over the last few days while I try to piece together where the cases are going, especially as my writing partner has lost interest!

Is there anyone that would like to Beta for me to offer advice and help keep me going?

I hope to post the next chapter before the weekend, as I am away next week and am unlikely to have internet!!!!