A/N: Since FF mail service ain't working just now, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Kavi Leighanna, all the glitters, SallyJetson (thanks for the "spiritual" offer!), cyko1003, dddyanmite (you have my blessing to start Emma Lou's anti-fan club), I Can Hear the Sea, mercy4vr, imaguestage (IMHO, Danny Messer is the perfect mix of gentleman and caveman), pico-mundo-resident, chili-peppers, wolfsong98, Little Corinthian and wolfmyjic for the kind reviews you've sent my way. Hope I don't dissapoint!
A/N2: Happy New Year to all of you!
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Stella went looking for Lindsay and found the young woman a bundle of nerves.
"I'm not going to be able to do it, Stella. I'm gonna blow it, I know. I'm a total klutz! You can pull it off, but I can't, I mean, I'm not tall, I'm not pretty, I .. I... and then... oh Lord what was I thinking? Danny. Danny wants to dance with me and.. and... Oh FUCK!"
Stella was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over her chest, allowing Lindsay to let it all out. "You done?"
"Huh?"
"I asked if you're done talking shit. Looks that way. I got us appointments at 4:00 pm with Victoria for hair and make-up..."
"Make-up? But I..."
"Lindsay... please don't tell me you were planning on doing your make-up yourself cause I might for one minute forget how much I love you and slap you back into your senses. Now, as I was saying, we're leaving at 3 o'clock, sharp. Don't make me come looking for you!"
And with that, Stella left, leaving behind a dumbstruck Lindsay. "Make-up" she thought once more. "Dear Lord, what have I gotten myself into?"
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At 7:00 pm Lindsay was nervously pacing up and down her apartment, waiting for Stella and her date to pick her up. Every 12 steps or so, she'd look at her reflection in the hallway mirror, wondering every time who exactly was this stranger looking back at her. The revealing dress, the hair piled up, with loosened tendrils here and there, the smoky eyes, the dark lipstick that made her mouth seem voluptuous and luscious...
Lindsay shivered and was, once more, grateful for the crushed velvet at the bodice of her dress. The softer fabric used everywhere else wouldn't do anything to disguise the fact that her nipples were hardened due to the cold, or the excitement, or both. She couldn't quite believe she was actually fully naked underneath the dress. Except for the stockings, that is. She had found, and fallen in love with, a pair of rich dark red hued pumps with 4 inch heels. They were taller than anything she'd ever worn, but they complemented the dress so perfectly, they were worth the effort.
Her buzzer rang and Lindsay grabbed her coat and purse, keys jingling in her hand due to her nervousness. "If only dad could see me now", she thought, "On second thought, better not go there" she mused, remembering all too vividly how vocal Mr.Monroe was regarding modesty in dress and how he "hadn't raised his daughters to behave like tramps".
Lindsay reach the bottom of her building's stairs and greeted Stella, who managed to look even better that she had back at the beauty parlor. "You look great!" she squealed.
The older woman hugged her and held her at arm lenght, appreciating the final effect. "You are gorgeous... bebe."
Lindsay laughed out loud, fondly remembering the huge designer who had somehow managed to give her a Cinderella experience. Just then she heard the car's door opening, and her mouth fell open when she realized who was the man getting out from behind the driver's seat. She stood there, speechless and slightly shocked, while Stella's date appraised her with a smile and a low wolf-whistle.
"You look real good, kiddo."
Lindsay couldn't think of a single word to say to him. Instead, she turned to Stella and whispered: "You...you! No wonder you look so happy these days... Man... he looks so fucking hot in that tux... Emma Lou is going to have a friggin' heart attack once she sees you two together..."
"That's more less the general idea, Linds", Stella replied, getting into the car, still smiling from Lindsay's reaction.
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At 7:30 that evening Danny Messer was beginning to wonder what on Earth he was doing there, dressed like a fuckin' penguin and what could be keeping Montana from showing up.
The minute he had sat down at the CSI's table there had been a continuous flow of women dropping by just to "say hi" and he had been attentive, yet dismissive with all of them, and all of them had taken the hint amd moved along. All except this one trampy bimbo from admin who didn't seem to be getting his "not interested" vibe. She was wearing a tacky, trashy white dress that was barely on this side of decent, and she was putting all the by-the-book moves on him: leg crossing, leaning to give him an even better view of her boobs, touching his arm and leg ever so slightly, making a point of getting close to his ear when talking...
Danny was honest enough with himself to admit that 6 months prior he would have gone for that. Heck, he'd probably be banging her by now and most probably would end up at her place fucking away the rest of the weekend. But that was then. Right now he couldn't wait to get rid of her. All he wanted right then and there was Montana, and she was taking her sweet time arriving.
"So, ahh, Detective Messer, I was, like, thinking, and uh, maybe we could just, like, forget, the dancing part and like, move, to a privater place to , you know, like, get to know each other better?"
The voice, the words, her looks... everything was grating his nerves. Danny Messer decided that enough was enough.
"Listen, Brittany Mae or whatever your name is. I. Am. Not. Interested. You're NOT my type and you're NOT the woman I want to leave with tonight, ok? So do us both a favour and leave me alone and go find a lab rat or a number cruncher who hasn't gotten laid since this century began and make HIS day, k? Bye"
And with that, Danny Messer stood up and left the table, leaving behind a very bewildered young woman.
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Mac Taylor was having second thoughts about the whole deal. He loved her, he was certain of that, but despite what he'd told her, he wasn't 100 sure that going public with their relationship right then and there was the most intelligent thing to do. Of course, he would never tell her that. He knew women well enough as to realize that she would take it as a personal rejection, and that would surely damage beyond repair their budding relationship.
It's just that... he doesn't like feeling vulnerable, and that's exactly how she made him feel. She also made him feel alive again, when he thought he'd spend the rest of his life mourning for his loss. There were so many things he was thankful for, and she came first place in his list.
Whom wasn't on it, however, and was headed his way with a malicious grin plastered on her face, was Emma Lou Stevens. Mac felt himself grimace and wondered why Stella was taking so long...
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"Lindsay? You coming?"
Stella was starting to feel nervous. As soon as they had arrived Lindsay had headed into the bathroom and was taking so long that Stella was beginning to wonder if the young CSI was planning to spend the whole night holed up in there.
"Go ahead, I'll be right out."
"Are you sure?"
Lindsay sighed. It was now or never. She took a deep breath and came out of the stall. "I'm ready. Let's do this before I change my mind".
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At 8:00 sharp, the two female CSIs made their entrance in to the banquet hall: Lindsay Monroe holding her breath, Stella Bonasera holding the hand of her lover, whom, in turn, was holding her lovingly in his gaze.
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Emma Lou Stevens was feeling confident. Why shouldn't she, if she was leaning on Mac Taylor's arm whilst drinking from a champagne flute? She was really the belle of the ball and had confidence that nothing, abolutely nothing could ruin her night. Granted, she wasn't a young spring chicken anymore, and time hadn't been all that generous with her, but she still had a nice enough figure and the expensive black designer gown she was wearing made her feel like a million dollars. Plus, she WAS with Mac Taylor, who was acting nervously around her, which was an inequivocal sign that he was interested.
When she heard some hushed murmurings around her, she turned around to see what the conmotion was all about. Then she saw Stella Bonasera looking even better than she had 15 years ago. And then she saw a very un-country pumpkin Lindsay Monroe, exuding sophistication and sex-appeal. And then she saw that man that was KISSING Stella Bonaser for the whole world to see.
And then her champagne flute shattered on the floor.
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Brittany Mae was nursing a drink and complaining to her buddy about the humiliation Danny Messer had just inflicted on her, when she noticed that Anabella Sue had stopped paying attention to her and was staring open mouthed towards the door.
"Bitch! I'm like opening my heart in here and you're like so not paying attention! What can be, like, so interesting, that you stopped listening?"
Anabella Sue grabbed her friend's face and without much ceremony yanked her until she was watching Lindsay Monroe come into the room.
"Her. That's who I'm watching. She's like, HOT. No wonder Danny boy dumped you, bitch, you look , like, skanky, next to her! So NOT hot..."
Brittany Mae took one look at Lindsay and turned back to the bartender. "I wanna get drunk, like, fast."
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Danny Messer had ordered a glass of wine and was on his way back from the bar when he happened to glance towards the door... and the world around him ceased to exist.
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A/N: Whatcha mean, not fair? This is, like, the longest chapter I've written so far!
You wanted to know what happened when those two got the party, right? You wanted to know who Stella's lover was, no? You coulnd't wait for Danny's rection now, could you?
Oh.,.. you mean you want MORE? Oh! My bad!