A/N: A little one-shot for an idea that cane to me. In a universe where Dan never used Tim's credit card and, hence forth, never got fired.. plus he has a thing for Marisol.
"This photographer must be an expert to get photos like these." Cooper said as he clicked through the shots of their victim and somebody from the MDPD in a condo.
Natalia rolled her eyes. "Coop, why'd you love so much drama?" The A/V analyst shrugged. He spent all day staring at a computer screen, while she spent her days processing DNA evidence of all kinds. Blood, saliva, epithelials.. it was a wonder to him that the brunette never really got a little conscious herself with how DNA can be extracted from almost anything. "Because my social life is about as exciting as that party we went to last night."
Dan liked partying. Usually he'd go to parties with Eric, sometimes with Valera and Natalia, and have an adventurous experience - until he met her. It was like suddenly fooling around with his friends on occasion was no longer of importance to him. He couldn't even care less about how many women flashed a little something to him. The A/V tech already had his heart set on a certain Latina that he knew he had no chance with.
"That's because you don't know how to talk to women, Dan." She countered with a smug smile.
Cooper scoffed. "Thanks for the vouch of confidence, BV." He was running facial recognition on the face of the other person in the photo, to see if it was who they thought they were seeing. "It's true." She mumbled, her eyes focusing on the screen as the program did it's thing.
"..I suppose Eric doesn't know about your little rendez-vous with Marisol." The DNA analyst said into his ear, the smirk not leaving her face.
"No, and I'd appreciate if you stayed out of it."
"Says the guy who can't keep his mouth shut about a few things in particular."
Just as Dan was about to reply, his monitor beeped and both lab techs saw the results had appeared on the screen. Facial recognition was a match.. to Stetler. The Sergeant from Internal Affairs. Cooper knew Horatio was gonna want to see something as shocking as this, especially since it seemed like Rick had some kind of vendetta against him. This was more than the type of gossip he and Natalia sometimes discussed in the break room - it was whole department kind of gossip.
Natalia pulled back from her closeness to Dan and sighed. She knew about Dan's crush on Marisol. And Marisol's liking for her brother's friend. It was obvious the two had something serious going on.. because Cooper didn't look at any woman the same way he looked at Marisol. Hanging out with the older Delko sibling seemed to have shifted his interests in partying and random hookups to wanting to commit and start a fully fledged relationship. It was a side to Dan that Natalia really liked. A lot more than 'party boy Dan'.
"I gotta go because Valera needs help with the heaps of DNA evidence from the other team's case.. but I hope things between you and Marisol go well because I know how much you like her - be aware that Eric might kill you first though!"
The A/V analyst spun around in his chair to face Natalia.
"Yeah, I know."
"Glad you're aware of the risk that comes with being involved with Eric's sister." She said, patting his shoulder before exiting the A/V lab.
On her way out, Natalia passed Calleigh and Ryan that were heading there to get the results on the files. Both CSIs stood behind Cooper as he shuffled back to the desk and stared at the monitors. Their faces changed as soon as they saw Stetler in the picture. Calleigh tightened her grip on Ryan's shoulder as Dan showed them the provocative photos. "We've got him."
"H is gonna love this." Ryan said. "Thanks, Cooper." He flipped open his cellphone and dialled Horatio's number.
"Marisol really likes you, Dan.. don't break her heart or else.. I'm sure Nat told you what to expect." Calleigh whispered as Ryan talked to their boss.
"She told me alright. I'm going to be dead before I even make it out of here."
"Hate to admit it, pal.. but you're screwed regardless of you breaking her heart or not. She's related to Eric, man." Wolfe said once he'd ended the call.
"We've got an interrogation with good ol' Stelter, Cal. We gotta head down to PD."
Cooper handed the balliatics expert the printed out versions of the pictures, along with the verification that it was in fact Sergeant Stetler. She slipped them into the case file she was holding in her other hand and smiled.
"Good luck." The two said in unison as they left Dan alone, sitting in his chair with one thing on his mind. Marisol.
He knew that it was a risk because she was Eric's sister. But he didn't want to let something like that influence how it went. They were taking it slow, and would see where it took them. All his friends warned him about it. How Eric would take the news. Although, even if Eric beat him to death over it, he knew that he loved the woman.. and would give his life if it meant she were happier.
Even if the DNA analyst had been looking out for him as Eric's girlfriend, and as his friend, he knew he had to be prepared to be confronted by Delko about his relationship with her. Truly, he never would be.. did he really have a choice though?
He loved the sister of the most protective man he knew.