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.

25. Surprise!

Most of the team were gathered in the foyer of a 5 star hotel later that evening. Everyone was there except Lindsay. Don was standing awkwardly with them, wishing he was anywhere but there, things with Mac were still strained and he was only with the team because Danny and Stella wouldn't let him go anywhere else, not that it would have made a difference, half the people in the room still weren't talking to him, those that were did it only out of respect for his father. He was seriously considering incurring his captain's wrath and bailing on the whole thing, he decided to wait until Lindsay arrived just to see the look on Danny's face and what he would do when she arrived. After all there was no reason for both of them to be miserable.

Danny looked at his watch again. "Wasn't she with you Stel?" he asked. Stella turned from her conversation with Sheldon and looked around.

"No, we had to change our plans, something came up. She said she would meet us here, but a bit late. Don't worry she said everything is fine" Stella tried to reassure him and everyone else. Lindsay had been very distant from the team recently, but had finally confided in Stella what was going on and the ball was meant to be a distraction for her.

General conversation started again, Danny and Don stood on the edge of the group lost in their own thoughts and Danny continuing to check his watch. After a few minutes Danny cast his eyes around the crowd and looked towards the door and his mouth dropped open. Stella caught the stunned expression and looked over and a grin spread across her face, as Danny found his voice now attracting everyone's attention.

"Wow! Montana!"

The team looked up to see what had caught his attention. Don saw the amazed expression on Danny's face first then followed the direction of his gaze, he wasn't prepared for the sight which met him. His stomach was doing somersaults and he felt like he couldn't breathe.

Lindsay looked sensational in an emerald green off the shoulder dress with an A-line skirt. Her hair softly curled around her face. But she wasn't alone and it was the woman beside her who had caught Don's attention making him gawk like a teenager. Stella knew their entrance would cause a bit of a stir but she hardly expected the guys to go all silent. She gave them both a nudge.

"Well, don't just stand there, go get them." She instructed, still beaming at the look on their faces and wishing she had a camera to capture the moment.

As the guys moved forward Lindsay spotted the group and they headed towards them. Danny ran his arm around Lindsay's waist and escorted her back to the group. Leaving Don and Lindsay's companion staring at each other.

"Hey, Princess" He croaked as she looked into his eyes, then in an attempt to prove to himself that she was real he ran his hands down her arms taking her hands, then as she ran her hands up his arms to wrap them round his neck his circled her waist and lifted her up and he spun her around. As he set her down he lowered his lips to hers. In that moment no one else existed for either of them. Nikki was first to pull back, slightly breathless.

"You like my surprise?" she whispered in his ear.

He thought he was going to explode with the intensity of the emotions rushing through him, then he realised she was talking to him. "... I thought you weren't talking to me" he stammered.

"You'd know if I wasn't talking to you. I'm sorry about this week, I've just been so busy trying to wrap everything up so that I could get away. ... you didn't answer my question"

He answered her with another kiss, and holding her close. This obviously caught the attention of people around them, especially the team who were watching the reunion.

"Looks like he's gonna be in a better mood for a while" quipped Sheldon.

Mac grinned. They watched the young couple break apart and walk towards them arms round each others waist. Nikki suddenly felt very self conscious realising that the few of Jason's colleagues and friends who survived 9/11 could have witnessed what just happened, she shivered. Don noticed the slight tension creep across her and noticed the nervous look on her face as she glanced around the assembled throng. Don tried to pull her a little closer, however she stepped away widening the gap between them, but she did slip her hand into his. He stopped and pulled her to face him, his free hand fingering her hair. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I'm sorry its just .. nerves I guess. I hadn't thought about tonight beyond seeing you, now its real and I just realised that everything's changed, the last time I went to one of these I ... I was with Jason." She answered honestly. Don hung his head for a moment cursing himself for not thinking about it. Of course the implication was that to a lot of people she would always be the widow of a 9/11 hero and now he thought about it news would probably reach his father about what he'd just done too. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Nikki didn't move. Suddenly he felt her pulled away and looked up to see her embraced in a hug from Jason's sister, Jenna and he relaxed a bit.

"Wow! You two know how to make an announcement." She gushed, grinning at the horrified looks on their faces she smiled. "Its cool, You two have pulled each other through a hell of a lot over the years. I'm glad you're together. So I take it you just got into town?" She turned to Nikki.

"Yeah, plane was late, anymore and I wouldn't be here, but I managed thanks to Stella and Lindsay." Nikki answered

"You mean Stella and Monroe knew about this?" Don whined. Nikki laughed.

"I had to get someone to get me a ticket and pick me up at the airport and it wouldn't have been a surprise if I asked you would it?" She teased him. He grinned. Jenna butted in.

"Listen guys, I've gotta go my date probably thinks I just ran out on him, but I just wanted you to know, I think its great you two are together, its taken you long enough. Nik, don't worry about what other people think. What the family wants is for you to be happy and looking at what just happened I think you are. Call me while you're here and we'll catch up."

Nikki agreed. Jenna hugged them both and left. Don took Nikki's hand and felt her curl her fingers around his.

The CSI Team were standing waiting for the couple to join them, but saw Nikki almost wrestled over by a young woman and they watched with some amusement, unable to hear what she said. When she left they fully expected Don and Nikki to join them but they stayed in the middle of the room, clearly only aware of themselves.

"You feel better now?" Don asked her as Jenna left.

"Maybe I shouldn't have done this, I should have caught the earlier flight come to see you first" He could feel her shaking.

"No, this is good, ... Nikki" He cupped her face in his hand and made her look at him. His eyes searching hers, "you can do this, don't run away again, its time some of these assholes realise that you deserve more than what they've given you the last 5 years. ... Hey, no tears, not tonight Princess." He wiped away a stray tear with his thumb as she closed her eyes a moment. She squeezed his hand. "I know you're scared, this is a big deal for both of us, different reasons, but its ok to be scared. ... You know, I've never brought a date to one of these before." She looked surprised.

"Never?"

"Never, you're the first"

"Well technically you didn't bring me and I wasn't aware I was now your date." She teased. He grinned at her.

"OK Princess, that how you want it? Play hard to get, but I'll tell you one thing you're not leaving here alone tonight and don't expect to speak to anyone else either coz now I've found you you're not getting away. If they want to talk about us let them. You never took notice before, you don't have to start now." His eyes darkened as he spoke. Nikki knew he was leaving a lot unsaid.

"Even if they talk to your father?" She asked.

"He's just as crazy about you as I am and if you'd heard him at Thanksgiving you can't do anything wrong. Me on the other hand... " He trailed off, he didn't want to get in to all the bad stuff again, not then. "We'll talk about that another time, tonight Princess we are gonna have a ball! ... and you ain't Cinderella so there's no escaping at midnight, ... seriously, I'm glad you came, I needed this." He brushed his lips across hers as she started to lean into him.

"Hey Flack, don't we get to say hello, to the prodigal daughter" breezed Stella as the team surrounded them, "you can't monopolise her all night" Don and Nikki both almost turned the same shade of red and he stepped back and held up his hands in mock surrender. After all who argues with Stella Bonasera?

There are a few more surprises in store to be revealed in the lead up to Christmas...

I would love to get some reviews to know what you all think of this ... please!!!!

Story is already worked out until after New Year, then ... suggestions???