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.

10. Surprises

A knock on the apartment door startled everyone. Danny jumped up and checked the peep hole in the door. "Laura take a look, you know this guy?" He asked as he stepped back. Laura walked over and peered into the hallway through the viewer, before Danny could stop her she had yanked the bolts and flung the door open and thrown herself into the arms of the greying older man standing there.

"Hey sweetheart. Are you alright?" he asked as he hugged her. She nodded and started pulling him into the apartment. He deposited a suitcase inside the door.

"Laura, don't ya think-?" Danny began as Laura pushed the door closed.

"Dan it's ok" she gasped, controlling the sudden surge of adrenalin which had overtaken her. "Sorry, guys this is my father, Andrew Stevens, Dad meet Danny Messer and Lindsay Monroe, we work together." She finished slightly breathless from excitement.

They all shook hands. "What are you doing here, I didn't expect you until Monday." Laura asked her father, her excitement contained.

"I thought I'd come and lend you a hand to settle in and your mother wanted me to check some details about the wedding. If it's not a good time I can come back after I've checked into my hotel."

"... Its ok. I actually need to talk to you." She answered then looked at Danny and Lindsay "Would you do me a favour? Go grab a coffee or something across the street I'd like to talk to my father alone." She asked.

"Laura we shouldn't-" Danny began.

"Please, Don's still here, I'll be fine besides you'll see anything happening from the coffee shop." She urged.

Lindsay nodded. "Call us when you're ready." She added as she reached for her jacket and bundled Danny out the door.

"Laura? ... are you in trouble?" her father asked. She nodded slowly as they sat down. "Where's Don?" he questioned.

"Bedroom, ... he's reading the Diaz transcript" she answered flatly. "I was called out last night, turns out he's the suspect."

"He's out of jail?" he asked gently. Laura nodded.

"He broke parole 3 days ago." She looked up as she heard the bedroom door bang and Don walked in.

"Kat we have to move" he looked around "Mr Stevens! ... I'm sorry sir, but for Laura's safety we have to leave now." He was surprised by his future father in law's visit, but business came first. No one else was present " ... Where are Danny & Lindsay?" he asked.

"I sent them for coffee across the street." She answered.

"Don, if my daughter is in danger you do what whatever's necessary to keep her safe, call me later sweetheart" he said as he kissed Laura and went to the door to pick up his suitcase as there was a loud bang and the door flew in. Andrew Stevens jumped back against the wall as Don pulled Laura aside. A moment later police swarmed in shotguns in hand pointing at the 3 occupants. Angell followed them.

"Angell! What the F-!" Don shouted as he was relieved of his gun.

"-Shut up Flack. You're being disarmed for our protection, we're here for her, you can pick your gun up from Gerrard later." She interrupted as she thrust a warrant at him and then started to cuff a stunned Laura. "You're under arrest for the murder of Jason Crowe. You have the right to remain silent---" Angell continued reading Laura her rights as she lead her out of the room securing the cuffs as she went. The rest of the police retreated to the hallway.

"What is going on?" demanded Laura's father. "Does she need a lawyer?" he asked Don, who shook his head.

"I don't know." He muttered as he opened the warrant and read it, when he had got the gist of it he grabbed his phone and hit a speed dial.

"Stella! ... What the F+++ is going on over there!?" he yelled. "Angell just blew in here and arrested her for Crowe's murder!" he continued to rant hardly stopping for breath. "I'll be there in 10 minutes and I want to know where the hell this all came from!" he hung up resisting the urge to kick something. Laura's father could see he was annoyed and went over to him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Don, listen to me, you can't help her like this, you know that. We both know she's not involved. Diaz has got to be behind this. ... the question is how do we prove it?"

Don let out a long breath trying to focus and cool his rage. Her father was right. Two CSIs from another unit entered the apartment. Don glared at them. It was inevitable that their place would be processed. The murder weapon was still missing.

"I want a second opinion on everything you find with a team of my choosing" he growled at them as he walked out with Laura's father right behind.

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Danny and Lindsay had just sat down with their coffee when several police cars pulled up outside the building. They got as far as the door to find out what was going on when Stella rang Danny he told her what was happening and he pulled Lindsay back to their table when he hung up.

"We're going back to the lab" he muttered as they watched Angell lead Laura down to one of the waiting cars, her hands cuffed behind her back. "Flack is steaming, we need to get to him before Gerrard sees him." He told Lindsay then held out the keys for his vehicle. "I'm parked around the corner, I'll meet you there." He told her firmly. She nodded as most of the cars pulled away and two CSIs they didn't recognise went into the building with their silver cases and cameras. This time Danny and Lindsay did leave. Don and Andrew Stevens were leaving the building as Danny crossed the street, he pointed to the direction Lindsay had already gone and Don started heading that way as Danny caught them up. Surprised at how calm Don seemed compared to what Stella had told him.

"We'll get Diaz for this." He stated. Don just nodded.

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At the lab Stella, Mac and Adam were in Mac's office when Gerrard walked in.

"Taylor your team will hand over everything they have on the Diaz case and have no further dealings in this matter. Laura Stevens has been arrested for the murder of Jason Crowe. She will be questioned by IAB and my team and arraigned this evening. None of your team will have any contact with her or Flack, who with immediate effect is suspended pending an internal enquiry. Detective Angell is delivering his gun to me and I will relieve him of his badge when he comes to collect it. The first one from this lab to break the order will cause the firing of everyone on your team." He ranted. "I expect all evidence to be handed to the two police officers outside within 15 minutes. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly although you do realise that she is being set up don't you" hissed Mac waiting for the next bombshell to drop.

"Who on earth would want to set her up Taylor? Those were idle threats made by a petty crook. How many times do we see that in out job? ... 15 minutes with full chain of custody logs" he answered and walked out.

"Mac! What are we gonna do?" Yelled Stella furious that he had the upper hand in one of their cases again, just because of his rank.

"Stella, there's not a lot we can do for now. He's splitting the team and using threats. ... Give him everything you have." He conceded sadly then turned to the other member of the team present. "Adam we need a couple of prepay cell phones, preferably ones with no GPS locators." He said.

Mac took his cell phone from his desk "I'll give Danny a heads up" he said as he hit Danny's speed dial number, as Stella and Adam left.

Thanks to everyone who is reading this.

I have chapter 11 ready to post and chapter 12 is half done too - there are more fireworks to come so if you don't want to wait too long press that nice button down on the left and let me know if you like this.