Chapter 10:
Fixing Relationships
Jess took a sip from her coffee as she sat on their bench in the park waiting for Don to arrive. He texted her a few minutes ago that traffic was causing him to run a bit late for their chat. Jess was feeling alot better after getting some rest and eating her hangover food, chili cheese fries. Although she felt better, her stomach still had knots in it. However, that was more to do with the conversation she was about to have, she was afraid that Flack was going to end their friendship. It had happened before. Growing up a tomboy meant having more guy friends than girl friends. And normally they stayed guy friends but when she was 20 her best friend, Issac who had been her friend since they were 15, had wanted more she said she didn't feel the same way and then he was gone. This situation was different. She hated to admit it but if it wasn't for the fact Don outranked her, she would not have said no to the kiss the other night.
"Jess" Don said walking up to the bench and interrupted her thoughts "sorry, I'm late"
"No worries" Jess replied, passing him the coffee she had picked up for him. Don sat next to her on the bench.
Neither of them spoke for a few moments. Don took a deep breath and broke the silence. "Listen Jess, I'm really sorry about the other night. I had too much to drink but that's no excuse. I want you to know I wouldn't have taken advantage of you. I need you to know I'm not the type of guy who takes advantage of drunk girls."
"I never thought you were," Jess replied "and I didn't feel taken advantage of. I don't want you to think I'm a tease or that I was leaning you on"
"Jess, I never thought that" Don said
"I've been accused of that before" Jess replied shrugging
"You are not a tease. I know we are just friends" Don said "I know how professional you are and want to prove yourself...I should have never try to kiss you"
Jess smiled. "So we have two chioces let it affect our friendship and stop hanging out or let it go and continued being friends.I vote for option B"
"That's my vote too" Flack smirked at her. "Let's go to Tilary's"
"I can't" Jess replied
"Wouldn't that be letting things be affected" Don said
"I'm not I swear I just promised Lindsay I would meet her for breakfast" Jess replied "sounded like she wanted to talk about something. But I can do dinner and we still have to have our star wars marathon"
"Sounds like a plan, Linds ok?" Don asked "I know she was shaken up about the hostage situation."
"It doesn't sound like work" Jess replied "It sounded more personal"
Don nodded "dinner then" He really wanted to hang out with her again.
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Lindsay sat at the table at Tilary's waiting for Jess. She had really needed someone to talk to and Jess had become a great friend. She was really understanding and compassionate.
"Hey, Linds" Jess said walking into the diner and walking over to the table, "sorry, I'm late"
"No problem" Lindsay replied as Jess joined her. How did your talk with Flack go?" She asked.
"We're good" Jess answered
"What happened anyways?" Linsday asked
"tequila " Jess replied "it was nothing"
Cece came by to take their order; she didn't really need too, she knew what both detectives would order. Two eggs over easy, turkey bacon on the crispy side, coffee and OJ for Jess, Linsday was pancakes and coffee.
"Thanks," Jess said to Cece as she left the table with their order.
"What's up?" Jess asked
Linsday's gaze fell to the table and she started to play with the salt and pepper. She wanted to tell someone but it was so hard to talk about. "DId something happen with Messer?" Jess guessed "he took you home last night right?"
"Nothing like that" Lindsay said "I said I go out on a date with him next week."
"A date?" Jess smiled "I say go for it"
"Really?" Lindsay replied "would you say that if Flack asked you out?"
"Different situation" Jess said simply "I'm new, Don outranks me. Also, we are just friends. You and Messer are the same level of CSI. If Mac is fine with it, I say go for it. You two clearly have a thing for each other."
Lindsay gave a giggle, "It's not work, it's…"
"Your past?" Jess guessed "a guy hurt you?"
"Something like that," Lindsay said. She had seen Jess' ability to read people in interrogations. Now she was reading her.
Jess reached out and placed her hand on her friend's hand as support "whatever it is you can tell me"
Lindsay hesitated, she trusted Jess but this was something she had never told anyone from work. "When I was 13, my three best friends and I were at a diner. We were like sisters. I went to the bathroom and this guy came in to rob the place. He murdered Caroline, Charlotte and Kelly as well as the waitress. I was the only survivor. I got a call last week, the police made an arrest. They want me to I.D. him and I probably will have to testify if it is him." she shared her past "That's why I'm so hesitate to start something with Danny right now, I'm having a hard time with it all being dug up again and I don't know if I can handle dating too" Linsday said
Jess squeezed Lindsay's hand for support again. Jess knew how difficult it was for Linds to tell her about her past. She also knew Lindsay didn't want her sympathy.
"This all must be difficult. Here's my advice, talk to Danny" Jess said "tell him you need time, he likes you enough to wait for you and he would be there for you 100%"
"I know" Linsday replied simply
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"Beer?" Don asked coming out of the kitchen to where Jess was sitting on his couch.
"No thanks" Jess replied "I'm sticking with water for awhile"
Danny laughed at her "still not over Sully's?"
"It was bad," Jess laughed. Don sat down next to her and passed Danny a beer. It had been a week since the night at Sully's and her talk with Linsday.
It was Saturday night and they were having a Star Wars night. It was supposed to be just Don and Jess. First, Jess thought Don had asked Danny so they wouldn't be alone. As much as they said they weren't going to let that night affect their relationship, they had been very cautious about their alone time together since that night. However, this time that hadn't been the reason, apparently Lindsay had stood Danny up earlier that week. He was really bummed over it so Don asked him to join their marathon.
Lindsay had gone dancing with Stella and Kendall. Jess had made sure she was alright before she came over to Flack's.
"Angell, I never peg you as a star wars geek" Danny said
"4 older brothers" Jess replied "and I'm a nerd not a geek"
Don and Danny laughed at her.
The knock on the door indicated that the pizza had arrived. Don got up and headed out to get it leaving Jess and Danny alone.
"So Angell, did Linsday say anything to you about what's going on with her?' Danny asked
"Remember, Messer, who the girl is here" Jess joked
"Seriously Jess," Danny asked "is she ok?"
Jess sighed and looked at Danny "Don't be mad at her. Just be patient and have compassion. Just be there." Jess said "I can't say anymore than that. I promised."
Danny opened his mouth to argue with her "patience and compassion, Messer" Jess repeated "Linsday is tough and I'm watching out for her. I know you care for her, just give her time."
"Promise you will watch out for her" Danny said "I just want her to be ok"
"I promise and she will be" Jess said
Don came back into the room with the pizza and placed it on the coffee table "are we starting with Episode IV or Episode I?' Don asked
"Episode IV" Jess and Danny said at the same time. "Always Episode IV" Jess went on
"Ridiculous question" Danny said
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Jess' eyes were closed. Her head was resting on Don's shoulder. It had fallen there sometime during Episode I and he had left her alone. Danny had given up on the marathon during Episode VI leaving them alone.
He smelled in the watermelon from her hair. Jess was so beautiful, he thought.
Don knew he couldn't cross anymore lines with her or he would lose her as a friend. And he loved their friendship and didn't want to lose her. He also didn't want to make her uncomfortable.
However, knowing all these things didn't change the fact that he was beginning to have feelings for the dark hair detective who was sleeping on his shoulder.
Don sighted and carefully got up off the couch without waking her. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom and lay her in his bed. He covered her with a blanket and walked back out, closing the door behind him.
Don lay on the couch and pulled a blanket over himself and slowly fell asleep.