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.

Thanks to Lily Moonlight for the Beta work.

13. Working Together

Mac remained motionless, his eyes on her badge on his desk, his hands on his hips. She was too good to lose from the team, but at the same time she had been right about what she could safely do without compromising evidence. His first thought had been to call her back tell her she was wrong, but maybe it was a better option, she already had a daughter and with the new baby to think about maybe some time out with the family was what she needed. A knock on his door drew him from his thoughts.

"Mac? If it's a bad time-" Don hesitated in the doorway.

Mac finally looked up and realised he had been standing staring at his desk quite some time. "Don, no, you got something?"

"I was looking for Nikki, she was with you last anyone saw her."

"She was here, ... you got a couple of minutes?" Mac asked warily, unsure if the latest developments had been discussed with her husband. Don nodded and entered the office properly and stood in front of the Crime lab boss' desk.

"What's up?"

Mac slowly circled his desk and closed the door then turned to the detective. "Nikki came to see me a while ago, ... I don't want to tread on anyone's toes here."

"You got something on your mind Mac, just come right out and say it."

".... She was in here to admit to making mistakes. She almost compromised evidence this morning, and her photos of the scene earlier weren't clear."

"Mac, she's my wife, we're both part of this team, but she works for you, ... you talked to her about all this?"

"She came to me, ... She says she's a liability, she doesn't want to compromise the lab's integrity especially right now with us being inspected."

"So what have you two agreed to do?"

"She hasn't talked to you?"

"I just got back with Stella." Don eyes flicked over Mac's desk and saw the badge. He frowned. He noted the number, and suddenly his face changed. "So that's it, ... she tells you she's a liability so you fire her!?" Don drew himself up to his full height to stick up for her. "After all what she's done for this place and the shit she's been through lately, she doesn't meet your standards of perfection on one day and you pull her badge!"

Don opened his mouth to deliver another tirade and Mac held up his hand. "Don wait, calm down, I didn't fire her, she quit. I've just spent the last ten minutes trying to work out how to keep her on the team. Find something she can do until she's recovered."

Don's shoulders sagged and he looked a little embarrassed. "Oh."

"I take it she hadn't discussed it with you?" Mac asked a frown forming across his forehead. The question answered itself he realised when the words came out; if she had, then Don wouldn't have got so agitated.

"Nope. ... I'm sorry Mac, I just-"

"Why don't you give this back to her, tell her I'm going to find her something she can do." Mac picked up her badge and handed it to Don. "Find her and take her home, tell her to come and see me tomorrow and we'll work something out."

"What if you can't?"

"She's a trained detective and a lot of units would be happy to have her expertise."

Mac noticed the look of concern cross his face and the momentary pause as he collected his thoughts. "You mean being out there in the front line again? She's 4 months pregnant Mac, I'd be damn scared of something happening to her and the baby."

"She wouldn't be the first Don, there are guidelines to protect women in her condition."

"Yeah and a desk job from 6 months, which she would bitch about constantly. ... Tell you the truth, I'd rather see her resign than go to a regular squad, ... apart from training to get her shield, she's always worked forensics you know that and I'm proud that she's so damned good at it, but a regular detective job? I wont agree."

Mac raised his eyes and looked at the detective with a wry smile. "That's a conversation for the two of you, but it's a last resort. I'll do what I can to keep her employed here for as long as I can, but there may come a time where she really will have to decide what's best for her."

"I appreciate that Mac." He watched as Don stared at the shield in his hand and ran his thumb across the lettering. "I'll tell her, you know where she went?"

"I assume she went to her office."

"No, I checked."

"Locker room?"

"Checked there too, ... I may know where she is though." He answered thoughtfully. "I'm going to take your advice and take her home."

"... Tell her if she's serious about resigning next time I'll need the official paperwork to go with the badge."

Don nodded. "Thanks Mac, I just don't think she's thinking straight right now, I'll talk to her." He tightened his grip around her badge and left Mac's office.

----

Stella had watched the intense conversation taking place in Mac's office and when Don walked away she decided to go in herself.

"Mac? Everything OK?"

"Hey Stella." He answered his eyes still on the file he had picked up and was trying to read. She waited for a moment and when she didn't get anything else from him she pressed.

"You didn't answer my question. Something's bugging you, I can tell."

He finally looked up and smirked at her. "You can huh?"

"How long have we worked together now? I think I can read you like a book."

"That so?" He paused a moment then decided to challenge her. "OK then, you tell me what's bugging me."

Stella leaned her head to one side and frowned a little as she thought. Well, made it look like she was thinking anyway. She knew what bugged him, but she kept the suspense. He sat down in his chair and steepled his fingers, resting them against his chin as he waited. They had played this game before, but each time they did it created a little secret energy between them and that's what kept life interesting. Finally she decided she had made him wait long enough; she knew he was taunting her, he had that look in his eyes.

"Apart from the usual? The lab accreditation, but you seem more than OK with Quinn Shelby poking her nose in, then it's Nikki's first day back and you know she's still not 100% even if the doctors have declared her fit. Then there's Danny and Lindsay and I would say all is not rosy in that camp. Anything I've missed?" She asked looking at the things across his desk and back to him a smirk of delight on her lips as she rose to his challenge.

The gleam in Mac's eyes seemed to dance as his lips curled into a smile. She always noticed his eyes, sometimes they could tell her more about what was going on in his head than what he said. This was one of those times. He was amused, but he wasn't done letting her off the hook yet. "I think you got the important parts. What do you make of Danny and Lindsay lately?"

"I can't put my finger on it. Until a couple of weeks ago I would have said they were starting to get things together again after Reuben Sandoval, now he seems to be avoiding her and she's been far more fractious around him."

"Danny will bounce back, he's actually been doing better lately, but Lindsay concerns me." He said, his brow furrowing; the only outward sign of his concern.

"So have you talked to her?"

"No, but I'll have to, unless you care to?" There it was again, that gleam in his eye setting her a challenge. Only this time he was going to lose.

"I know I do a lot for you Mac, but personnel issues are your job, so that one's yours."

"Even if I offer some incentive?" He cocked his head to one side. She wasn't quite sure what to make of his "request" - was he talking professionally? No, he would have just come out and asked her to talk to the younger woman. She couldn't quite put her finger on where this conversation was going. Never one to back down though she decided to play along.

"… then it's definitely your job, but I'm up for incentives." She answered raising an eyebrow at him letting him know that she wanted to see where he was going with this.

"Without performing the task, I think not." He shook his head and grinned at her. Stella shivered involuntarily as a tingle ran up her spine. Something about the way he spoke those last words set her senses on edge. It was getting decidedly hot in his office, a quick reply played on her lips, but she fought it back, as it would have definitely crossed the line of professionalism and friendship. She was relieved when his phone rang. As he reached to answer it, his eyes still on her she managed to make some inane excuse and rushed back to her office, the image of Mac's teasing grin and sparkling eyes refusing to leave her.

----

Flack pushed open the door to the roof, he wasn't surprised to find her leaning on the wall and looking out over the city. The roof was a common place for staff to come when they needed some peace and quiet and it wasn't the first time he'd found her up there after some emotional blow out.

Her posture as she leaned on the wall told him she was deep in thought and unaware of his presence. He didn't want to startle her, but it was almost inevitable. He approached her slowly and leaned on the wall next to her, then reached for her hand and began massaging it gently.

"Mac told me what you did." His voice was barely more than a whisper.

He felt her shift slightly as she rested her head against his shoulder. "Are you mad with me for not talking to you first?"

"No, you know I'd love for you to give this up, find a safer job, stay at home, whatever, but I know this is what you've worked damned hard at since college and I'm proud of you for that."

"You are?"

"Sure I am, I just don't tell you often enough." He chuckled.

"So I guess now you get your wish, I'll be looking for a new job."

"Is that what you want?"

"Of course not. But I can't be here, I could have blown the case today, I came so close to compromising the evidence. ... I have to face it things aren't getting any better. The pain has been so bad, ... I take anymore pills and the baby will be a junkie as well as me. .. I want this baby Don and I'm going to do whatever it takes to make it happen."

He felt her move and looked at her. He felt his gut twist as he noted her red eyes and pale skin. He grazed his fingers across her cheek and felt her shiver. "You're no junkie, and the doctors have said that the pain pills for a few days wont hurt either of you. Come here."

He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head against his chest. He tipped his head so his lips were close to her ear. "Listen to me, I know you're scared, but we're all here to help. You just have to let us. Mac doesn't want you to go, and as much as I would love you in some safe place, I'll miss working with you more. Some days, it's the only thing that gets me through a shift, knowing that if we're not working the same case I can come up to the lab and spend five minutes with you. ... Thing is babe I don't want you making rash decisions you'll regret later. I know it all seems pretty impossible right now, but trust the doctors and have a little faith that things will get better."

She pulled back a little and his stomach flipped when she looked up at him. "Some speech detective. You been practising?"

"Me practice? That was straight from the heart Princess. .. Has it done any good?"

"Maybe a little." He watched a tentative smile creep across her face, it didn't quite reach her eyes, but that was OK for now. He pushed a stray hair from her face and ran his hand around the side of her head and drew her closer again. This time instead of pulling her against his chest he drew her close enough to claim her lips in a slow sensual kiss.

As he released her he noted the flush to her cheeks and a softer look in her eyes and he smiled. "Mac gave me something for you." He reached into his pocket and drew out her badge and clipped it on her belt. Her look of confusion amused him. "He's not ready to let you go, he wants time to consider the options and to see you tomorrow. Until then I'm taking you home."

"I thought you had to work?"

He shook his head. "Called in a few favours, we're going home, just you and me. Amy's staying the night with Erin. ... Think you could handle having me all to yourself for a night?"

He raised his eyebrows and grinned at her, he got his answer when she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

-----

Danny walked into the precinct the following day and headed straight for Don's desk, then flopped into the chair at the side and groaned.

"You having a good day too?" Don asked as he tossed his pen onto his desk and leaned back in his chair.

"It's Lindsay, ... I just think we're making progress and then boom- she's all PMS and it feels like a tank just ran me over."

Don paused for a moment in thought. "Don't get me wrong here, but didn't you forget her birthday? Have you fixed that yet?"

"So that's it I suck up to her and she'll forgive me?"

"... Honestly Mess, I have no idea. I'm still figuring out how my wife's brain works and I've known her half my life. ... You want insight into how women think why don't you ask Stella or even Nikki?"

"Nah, I talk to them then they'd talk to Linds and I'd be in the dog house for that too."

"Sure of that?" Don asked raising an eyebrow.

"Since when don't women gossip about that kind of stuff?" Danny grumbled as he wondered if he could perhaps swear one of their colleagues into silence if he talked to them.

"Sometimes you just need to take the bull by the horns and lay it out. ... You got it tough with Linds, maybe you gotta do something she doesn't expect. ... Don't recommend you do what I did with Nikki though, I got lucky and things worked out, she could just as easily have scratched my eyes out and landed me in court."

Danny stared at his friend, wondering what was actually going through his friend's mind, neither of them had ever discussed the details of their reunion, but Flack's words had his attention. "What did you do?"

He waited as Flack rubbed his hand over his face before looking up. "That's between her and me, let's just say I could've handled things better. So what are you going to do about Monroe?"

"I haven't got a clue, sure you can't throw a few ideas my way?"

"That's up to you Danno, I have enough problems with Nikki, and I tell ya, watch it if you ever get Monroe pregnant, the hormones are a killer."

Danny saw the smirk roll across his friend's face and despite the words the look told the opposite story. The detective was loving every minute of his wife's pregnancy, especially now they were past that magic 12-week barrier, and that she had come through the attack with confirmation that the baby was developing right on schedule. He wondered if he would ever feel the same way if he found out he was going to be a father.

He watched the detective as he chuckled at the comment. "But it doesn't scare you? Settling down? Having kids?"

Don shook his head and leaned forwards resting his arms on his desk. "It terrified me at first, ... suddenly having a 5 year old to look after, one who asks incessant questions and expects real answers, trust me that's scary. But settling down? Not so much. When you meet that one special person, you just know it. Might take a while, and I sure as hell wish I could have known before she married that ass hole Jason, but we got there and now the scariest thing is if I lost her. This whole thing last month? ... Life's too short to worry about it. You just have to take what's thrown at you and deal with it. Hormones and cravings, cramp and hysteria you take it all."

"Philosophical Flack, wow, never knew you had it in you. So how about some pearls of that wisdom being aimed in my direction?"

Don looked up at him. "Fight your own battles Dan. .... You're the only one who can figure out how to get her to listen, I know it's tough, but that's life."

"So I'm on my own?"

"Told you, talk to Nikki or Stella, they'll be more help than I will, might seem like I have my shit together, but I'm learning just as much as you are about what really makes a woman tick."

Danny shook his head and grinned. "Alright Flack, I'll let you off the hook. I'd better head back to the lab before the inspector notices I'm missing on lab time."

"She giving you all a hard time?"

"... Just feels like we're living in a goldfish bowl. About the only one not affected by it all is Nikki. It's like they're best buddies or something."

"I guess that's 'cause she used to work for her, knows how she thinks."

"I've worked for Mac for 6 years and I still don't get how he thinks." Danny scoffed as he stood up.

"I'm with you on that one." Danny left leaving the detective to resume his paperwork.

----

Lindsay entered the break room to find Nikki sitting exercising her hands. "Hey, how are you?"

"Hi Linds, not too bad. You?"

Lindsay reached for the pot of coffee and poured herself a cup. "Wishing I could be someplace else right now, between the inspection and Danny, it's all wrong. I was so stupid getting involved with a co-worker. She shopped me to Mac for leaving evidence out after Danny and I- How do you do it? You and Flack?" She asked as she let out a deep sigh and slid onto the stool across the table from her friend.

"It's not always easy, but we don't work as closely as you and Danny either. .... For a long time I hid my emotions, my personal life was left outside the job. The last few years have changed that, a lot, but I still try and leave them at the door. Of course it helps that Don and I talked about working together. ... I don't say it always works either, take yesterday, I completely lost it in front of Adam and later with Mac and Don had to come rescue me both times. I'm not saying I can't do it on my own and I know he's really protective of the women in his life, but sometimes it's just good to know he's there to pick up the pieces. ... I don't know, I'm not explaining it very well." Lindsay sighed, the look of peace that crossed Nikki's face along with the soft sparkle in her eyes as she spoke of the dashing homicide detective, she wondered if she would ever feel that content. She sipped her coffee as she watched the other woman pick up an object from the table and wrap it around her wrist and secure the straps.

"Still having problems?"

"Yeah, Don took me back to the doctors again this morning, they're arranging some more tests. I woke up to find my wrists swollen, he suggested I try these for a few days see if it helps." She answered propping her elbows on the table and holding up her hands, each bearing a wrist brace. "Weird thing is this doctor isn't concerned about the loss of function in my hands, he thinks the wrist and hands are linked and it could be a relatively rare side effect of the pregnancy. ... I've heard of swollen ankles, but swollen wrists?"

"Seriously? Is it dangerous?" Lindsay felt herself staring at her friend, her own problems fading into the background.

"No, at least they don't think so. It's just weird." Lindsay watched the smile form on her co-worker's face and felt relieved, she didn't think she could handle it if anything happened to her friend, just as they were beginning to get to know one another better. Also it was good to know she had someone she could talk to about Danny and know that she wouldn't gossip. She smiled.

"Is it doing any good?"

"Actually it is, I've not been in as much pain today. All I need now is for Mac to find me a job to do. ... So what did happen between you and Danny yesterday?"

"One minute we were laughing then it just hit me how hard the last couple of months have been, watching him fall apart and not let me in. ... He just doesn't seem to get what Reuben's death did to us. ... He's been spending a lot of time with the kid's mom, and I get that, but he's been forgetting stuff we've arranged, my birthday just made me wake up and wonder what's going on and ... that I've fallen in love with him."

"I wish I could tell you it's all going to get better, but love isn't always easy. You have to fight for what you want sometimes. ... You have to decide what you want Linds then go after it."

Lindsay sighed again. She knew exactly what Nikki was saying, she just wished it wasn't all so complicated, that the answers were even just a little easier. "How did you decide what you wanted?"

"I didn't. Well not directly, .... A couple of things happened to make me see sense. But what worked for me won't necessarily worked for you, so you've got to make your own mind up. .. Oh by the way have you seen your desk? Someone left you a present."

"Who?"

"I have no idea, it was there when I walked in a little while ago." Lindsay's eyes lit up like a little kid, she loved surprises, but she had no patience to unravel them.

"So what is it?"

"I guess you'll have to go find out." Lindsay was far too excited to notice the amused look on Nikki's face.

"I will. I'll see you later." With that she rushed from the room to the office she shared with Danny. As she practically flew through the door she noted that she was alone, the mysterious package sitting squarely on her desk. As she reached for the attached note a frown appeared on her forehead. The only thing on it was a neat typescript with two words:

Lindsay Monroe

Did you really think I would let Nikki resign? It doesn't mean that things will necessarily work out how everyone expects though.

Anyone want to suggest what is in Lindsay's present? Please review and let me have your thoughts.

If you haven't checked it out already Lily and I are collaborating on Hidden Agenda under the name Woodland-Flower.