Chapter Twenty One

Hands up
I must done whatever you accused me of
I stand up to hear your judgement
It's always guilty

Tose Proeski - Guilty

Sam was in her office, her head bowed as she worked over the ballistic reports from the rifle they'd found in Brown's house. The bullet unfortunately had not been a match to the rifle. Leaving all of them with a sense of complete frustration.

Flack lingered in the open door way for a second. He thought about knocking but decided the element of surprise may be fore helpful in his situation. He closed the door behind him quietly. Sam's head darted up at the sound of the click, her expression sour as she realized who her visitor was. She ducked down again, to scribble on the report before speaking.

"You come to yell at me too now?" she asked, her tone said it all.

Flack crossed his arms over his chest, standing legs apart in front of he desk.

"You should of told me, Sam." he informed her, his mouth setting in a grim line.

"I didn't see how it was any of your business, Don." she returned, refusing to look up from her report, although he noticed she had stopped writing.

"It's my business to know who else my little girl is calling daddy." he snapped.

Sam raised her eyes to meet his.

"Is that what this is about?" she exclaimed. "For the record Teagen doesn't call Sheldon daddy, she called him Uncle Shell, like the sea. Just like she always did."

"Sam, you know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you rushing into something with someone you work with." Flack informed her.

"Do not act all concerned about me Don, I'm a grown woman. You're pissed that I found someone else." Sam growled.

Flack couldn't deny that.

"I'm pissed you didn't tell me." he redirected.

"And you're pissed because of who it is."

"I care for you a lot."

"As the mother of your child." Sam reminded him, rising to her feet. "Look Don, who I date is non of your concern. I will never and have never put our daughter in jeopardy."

"No, thank God Hawkes was there to yank her out the way of that run away horse, huh?"

The minute he words erupted out of his mouth he regretted it. Sam's eyes darkened and her knuckles went white a she clasped the pen tightly.

"Get out." she snarled, her voice full of rage.

"Gladly." he retorted, turning on his heel and storming out of her office.

Mia was feeling quite down, when she met the pregnant woman on the steps, she was attempting to balance a brown paper bag, two cups of coffee and her hand bag as well as waddle up the stairs to the precinct.

She had to be almost ready to pop, Mia thought as she hurried forward managing to grab the brown paper bag as it slipped from the woman's grip.

"Here let me help." Mia said, unloading the woman of both coffee cups as well.

"Thanks." Soon to be mom mumbled, before righting herself.

"No problem." Mia said taking each step with the woman.

"I don't remember there being any pretty female detectives around here." the woman uttered as she made it to the top of the steps.

"Nah, I work CSI. NYPD is still a boy's club at heart, but there a few women that stick it out. Those ones are the tough ones." Mia told her as she reached for the door handle juggling the coffee and bag, of what smelt like fresh muffins.

She held the door open while the woman tottered through.

"How far are you along?" Mia asked more for politeness than interest.

"Eight months. I'm telling you I can't wait to have this baby." The woman said rubbing her swollen stomach.

"You want me to see if I can find your husband?" Mia asked, trying to eject herself from the conversation.

"It's ok, he knows I'll be waiting here." Mom to be said taking the coffee and the bag from Mia.

"Cool, well congratulations on the baby." Mia said taking a step back.

"Thanks for your help." Jenny said, resting her ass on the nearest seat and watching the red head detective leave.

Mia was fully prepared for the tongue lashing she was going to get from Aiden. She knew that she was out of her depth, that she had over stepped the mark and if she was honest it did matter. Her office was meant to be a place of comfort, or at least refuge, but as son as Mia saw that dark head sitting in the seat across from her desk she wanted to turn tail and run.

Yet she was responsible. She was an adult now, she'd made a decision and she was accountable. It was time to face the music.

She closed the door behind her quietly, Aiden was already on her feet and spinning around to face her.

"I know what you're going to say..." she uttered holding her hands up in surrender.

"Do you?" Aiden countered folding her arms over her chest.

"I have an idea..."

"No." Aiden snapped. "You don't have a clue why is going through my mind right now. You're thoughtless and reckless. What is it Auster? You want all the glory is that it?"

"No... You were busy. I know that being on a case with me is the least thing you wanted. You wanted to help out on the cop case. Velásquez was your mentor. I know you should have been on that case, helping find who killed him. I just wanted to help." she bowed her head feeling tears well up in her eyes. "I made a mess of it. I did the wrong thing."

Aiden stepped forward.

"You did do the wrong thing, but I can see you did it for the right reasons, and that's why I'm not telling Mac." Aiden said quietly, as she stood in front of the other woman.

She remembered what it was like being a rookie, trying to prove yourself against the world, against the men of the NYPD. She saw a little of herself in Auster, the eagerness to be accepted and good at the job.

"Thank you." Mia said quietly.

"It happens again, I'll be marching you in there myself." Aiden informed her before moving back to the guest chair and addressing the situation.

"So fill me in on where we are."

I'm posting this at half five in the morning as usual before work! It's that time of the year again folks! Vote for me and Mia at the Fan Fic Awards! Nominations are currently being drawn up as we speak.

mustlovecat: I'm glad your still with me on this. lol Everyone things Pat's like hat and I'm glad you like Mia. lol You should see what happens when he does find out it did not o as I expected.

CSINY: lol this one is a little on the short side too, but I promise chapter 23 is long and enertaining.

Nik: There's a fine line between getting yourself kiled for the sake of your pride, hence when this ep was aired Aiden walked out without a word. People like that are two unpredicatable and she was outnumbered. lol Wait until you get to chapter 24. You'll wanna butt her. lol rust me he's defo in love.

JoanneF: lol he does genuinely care for her! lol you'll have to wait fr ch24 for a Jenny and Mia clash.