Disclaimer: CBS owns CSI:NY and Characters…I own OC's
A/N: I apologize because I wrote this extremely quickly…I'm considering re-writing it…let me know what you think! lol Thanks to everyone, especially CrazyGirlCass and Brown eyed Girl 78!!! You guys rock!
Flack pulled his uniform out from his closet and hung it on the back of his bedroom door. Two hours. He'd be meeting up with his date, Sara Novak, a finance consultant. I'll try not to fall asleep in conversation… They'd been set up quickly by one of his fellow detectives, saying that the blue eyed blonde had the most amazing legs he'd ever seen. But Don didn't care. Surprisingly his thoughts hadn't gone to her all that much. He'd been curious about Ava. Flack's mind had been racing ever since he found out that she was going to the event with Adam. She would never go for a guy like him. After toying with the thought, he was seriously beginning to doubt himself.
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He met up with Sara at the entrance to the hotel where the event was being commenced. She wore a plain grey gown that drooped over her fairly toothpick looking figure with a sweetheart neckline with a matching clutch. His night was slowly falling apart as soon as they entered the ballroom, as he was beginning to notice that Sara's blonde hair was, in fact, a true reflection of what lied beneath. Her whining and downright bitchy behavior was quickly beginning to annoy him; luckily she'd taken up a conversation with one of the budget officials, leaving him alone with Danny, Mac, Sinclair, and Scagnetti off on the balcony. Danny gave him a sympathetic look.
Telling old tales of busts made during their uniform days, Don caught sight of his father walking out on the balcony towards him with his mother, Lillian, proudly at his side. Donald Flack, Sr. still had the burly appearance with his grey hair, and piercing blue eyes that matched his sons were hid behind his softly square shaped glasses. He wore his uniform just as confidently as he held his wife's tender hand. His mother had light brown curly hair that fell to her elbows and brown eyes glistened as her husband looked at her and smiled.
"Detective Flack…" Sinclair welcomed. He shook his sons hand proudly first and followed suit with the other men at his presence while exchanging pleasantries.
Later in the conversation, Don's uneasiness was picked up by his mother as he caught her glancing at him questionably. He simply smiled reassuringly and hoped she wouldn't notice it in the future. Throughout the duration of the conversation, he noticed a tall, sturdy looking cop looking towards them while talking with a woman who appeared to be his wife. He looks familiar. Catching Don's look, the man set his drink down, took his wife's hand and looked at her lovingly as they slowly walked towards the relaxed group of detectives. Sinclair was the first to notice.
"Captain Messer… what a pleasant surprise. Here I thought you'd be the last person to be at this sort of thing." he shook the man's hand. Flack's body went stiff.
"What can I say; SWAT can keep a guy pretty busy…" he laughed. Taking the initiative, Danny introduced his father to the rest of his colleagues.
"Captain Andy Messer, this is Don Flack, Jr., Mac Taylor, Tony Scagnetti…" he stopped at Flack, Sr. as the two men exchanged a warm handshake. The rest of the group immediately sensed a familiarity between the two, which only Sinclair and the men's wives knew why. This had Don curious and made a mental note to ask his father later. His father never mentioned the name Messer before.
"Good to see you again, Flack." he said. The other man smiled warmly. "You too." he replied.
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Ava's eyes surveyed the large crowd of police officers and spouses, seeing many familiar faces. After all, she'd been well liked among plenty of NYPD's finest long before she herself earned her badge. A stuttering Adam was struggling to keep his composure not only because of his date's revealing dress but because of their secret plot to set him up with Kendall.
"Ava…I…I don't…think..I can…do this." he stuttered nervously, paying with his hands. Grabbing him by the arm, she quickly pulled him off into one of the empty corridors.
"Adam, you will be fine. You just need to relax…" she said calmly, holding his hand for support. Adam's demeanor didn't change.
"What if I'm making a stupid mistake…what if she thinks I'm not worth it." he said with even more anxiety. Ava realized that she needed to do something to make him snap out of it…so she slapped him just hard enough for him to come back to reality.
"Thanks!" he said blinking gratefully. She smiled softly and said, "Adam, you're worth it. You have just as much right to be happy as anyone else does. I tell you what…don't get so tied up on how you're going to win her heart. Just go in there, and be yourself…see what happens." she said softly.
"What if I screw up and say something stupid…"Adam said.
"People expect eccentricity from you, Adam…its part of your charm." She said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Adam smiled in appreciation and immediately relaxed. Nodding, he led out his arm and directed them towards the ballroom.
Ava knew the second that he'd asked her to go with him that she was not his first choice to ask. But she willingly obliged him, on the condition that he tell her what was really going on. After, three cups of Starbucks coffee, Adam opened up telling her about his crush on Kendall and about his doubt about her feelings for him. He found Ava to be a very compassionate person and was thankful for her presence as she sat and attentively listened to him.
"Sometimes you have to give things a little push." she simply said. Following their conversation she had set off to buy a gown for the event, dragging Lucie along for the ride. She'd settled for a white, tight fitting halter dress with the back showing dangerously low and elegantly fell off every curve. Adam looked handsome as well in his crisp tuxedo and fresh haircut. Their presence was immediately noticed by Scagnetti.
"Wo.." he said dazed. Don followed his gaze over to Ava and his breath was immediately caught in his chest. "I'm finding it hard to believe how someone like her could be related to you, Danny." The group laughed, and Don regained his composure. She had confidently embraced Adam's arm as they found themselves making their way over to the group, her dress seductively moving with her hips.
"Watch it, buddy…I own more fire power than a National Guard Amory…" Andy warned him as the group snickered. Don swallowed hard. Shit…if he ever knew what I did to his daughter…they wouldn't just find a body…they'd find pieces.
"I still remember that kid from when she was 12…" Sinclair reminisced. Danny scoffed.
"Funny…I don't remember her having that dress when she was twelve…" Andy jokingly said noticing her rather risqué look. Danny laughed.
"Come on, Pops. She's a big girl now." he said defending his sister.
Andy Messer was the first to greet his daughter, tenderly kissing her forehead and shaking Adam's hand. He sensed that they were just friends and didn't feel the need to make Adam any more nervous than what he already appeared to be. Ava kissed her mother on the cheek and turned to the group where she spotted Flack, Sr. He held out his hand and shook softly.
"Good to see you, kiddo." he said kindly. Ava smiled warmly.
"You too." Don's curiosity was about to get the better of him but before he could as Sara came over and threw herself possessively on his arm. Sara looked at her disdainfully. Ava put up her emotional barriers and slightly tightened her grip on Adams arm for support.
"Hi, I'm Sara." She said a little too enthusiastically holding out her hand. Ava sucked up the bit of courage she had and shook it. The announcement that the festivities were about to begin and they all filed inside to their respective tables. Don silently thanked the interruption, glad that Sara wasn't given another chance to embarrass him. The dinner went off without a hitch as people continued to enjoy the company of each other. Ava and Adam sat with Hawkes, Mac, Stella, and Kendall, with Ava making sure that Adam was next to Kendall. Ava was engrossed in a conversation with Hawkes and Stella, and Adam was with Kendall. The Ava took notice of their tender looks towards each other and knew immediately how Kendall felt. Hook, Line, and Sinker, she thought happily. Good, one of us deserves to be happy.
"Ava…" Kendall said quietly. "Can I speak to you for a minute?" Ava smiled at Adam and nodded to Kendall as they both stood up and walked out onto the balcony. She could tell Kendall was nervous.
"Would you be ok if I stole your date early?" she said hesitantly. Ava placed her hand on Kendall's shoulder.
"I'd be insulted if you didn't." she laughed and Kendall relaxed. "Just know that if you break his heart, I'll break your neck." Kendall laughed nervously and they happily headed back to their seats where Adam and Kendall left stealthily.
Little unbeknownst to her, Don had been watching her all night and saw Adam leave with Kendall. What the hell? Sara noticed his attention was drawn to Ava and was pissed. Regardless of being left dateless, Ava appeared to be happy. Once the dinner ended, Ava found solace once again on the balcony, admiring the beautiful view. Danny and Hawkes joined her along with a forced Don, greatly pushed by Sara. As Danny was about to ask her about Adam, Sara cut him off.
"So where's your date?" she asked rather bluntly. Ava kept her cool, as a surprised Danny and Hawkes stood quietly.
"He had other engagements he had to attend to." she said plainly.
"Pity, I would've guessed a girl like you would be able to keep a guy like that." she said snobbily. Ava had to hold all restraint from hitting the bitch for insulting a friend.
"We're friends, nothing more nothing less. Besides, I'm not the type to need to cling to a man for everything." she said slightly throwing it back at her. The guys noticed and saw as the argument quickly got nasty. Ava was quickly losing her temper with Sara.
"I guess that's what happens when you get everything you need from Daddy." Sara spat at her.
"Better than some dumb blonde whose fake tits match her personality." she scoffed. The guy's mouths dropped in surprise and stared wide-eyed at Ava who was seething.
"Excuse me." she said and stalked off toward the exit with Don quickly following behind.
