When It Rains In New York
A C.S.I. New York fan-fic
Written by: Anti Darth Ani
Edited by: Anti Darth Ani
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Chapter Three: Morning Visitor
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Author's Note: Thanks to all my readers who have reviewed. I noted how many of you liked the older version a little more. To you, I have a small announcement. I've got about possibly doing the other one as well. But this will only happen once I finish this one and if you still like the other one more by the end of this fan-fic. So thanks, and read on!
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Aiden awoke to filtered sun rays slipping through the white blinds. She judged she'd only slept for no more than two or three hours, but she did feel a little more relaxed, ready to take on the day with a fresh look. She felt like they were on the verge of something great, something that would crack the case wide open. But she didn't know what that was, at least not yet. They only needed just a little more time and Aiden hoped they could afford a few more days.
Slipping her feet off the side of the bed, Aiden pushed the sheets down so that she could sneak quietly out of the bed without stirring Danny. She paused, watching him sleep peacefully. Very carefully, Aiden reached back and brushed a few strands of his dirty blonde hair out of his face. Guilt overcame her, and she felt bad that he worried about her as much as he did. Yet, she was thankful to have someone to watch over her and to be on the same page as her. She didn't think she'd be able to handle the case all by herself. Of worse yet, with someone she didn't know well, someone she'd feel uncomfortable around. Aiden had learned early that you had to be able to trust the people around you, or you always had a hidden doubt that threatened to break you.
Pulling her hand away from Danny, Aiden got out of the king sized bed. Walking over to the closet door, she grabbed the bath robe off of the hook and slipped in on. Tying the cloth belt around her waist, Aiden pushed back her terrible bed hair and slid her feet into the bedroom slippers that she put next to the closet door every night. She padded her way down the hall, making sure she shut the bedroom door silently behind her. The least she could do was let Danny keep on sleeping, since she'd woken him up in the middle of the night.
Thinking of nothing but her need for her morning fix, Aiden automatically headed down the stairs, not even glancing at the case file, and into the gigantic kitchen located just through the living room. Flicking the overhead lights on, she went straight for the cabinet above the microwave. Opening the cherry wood cabinet door, Aiden shoved around the boxes until she found the one she was looking for. Pulling it out, she closed the door and opened the one to the left of it. She retrieved the coffee pot before abandoning the cabinet for the sink, where she quickly filled the pot with the hottest water the sink's tap would allow. Aiden plugged in the coffee machine before sliding out the top filter. Using her teeth, she then tore off the top of the bag of coffee beans and quickly dumped the entire contents of the bag into the top of the machine, before snapping it back shut.
Now all she had to do was wait for the water to boil. Easier said than done when you were working off less than six hours of sleep. Inwardly groaning, Aiden decided she might as well make breakfast, just to give herself something to do in order to pass the time. Walking over to the refrigerator, she pulled open the door and bent down to take stock of what they had. Discovering a dozen eggs, Aiden figured an omelette wouldn't be a bad idea and decided to make one to compliment her coffee, whenever it was done. While the stove began to heat up, Aiden began to beat the egg yolks. While she whipped the eggs with a metal fork, she heard the plumbing in the walls give a quick shudder and she figured Danny had woken up and was getting his morning shower.
Leaving the eggs in the small mixing bowl, Aiden went to the pantry and got the cooking spray to grease the pan. After quickly covering the pan in a light film of spray, Aiden dumped in the eggs just as the coffee finally finished, the pot giving off a painful wheezing sound. Looking up towards the ceiling, Aiden muttered a few words of thanks before pulling two coffee mugs out of the cabinet and filling them to the rim with the steaming, black liquid. She placed the mugs on the marble kitchen counter and then turned her attention back to the omelette on the stove.
As Aiden flipped the omelette over in the pan to allow the other side to cook properly, the door bell sounded loudly throughout the downstairs of the apartment. Damn, Aiden thought, setting down the flipper. The last thing I need right now is some noisy neighbors visiting. Nonetheless, Aiden walked through the living room and out to the main hallway towards the front door. Quick and painless, Aiden promised herself, although it was hardly ever the way she hoped it would be.
She didn't realized she was still in her robe until she'd opened the door and saw the surprised look on the face awaiting her. Looking down at her attire, Aiden swallowed a curse and coughed. "Oh, good morning, Mrs. Wellington. I beg your pardon, I'm usually dressed when I open the door, I promise." Aiden tried to turn the situation into a joke, but Mrs. Wellington, like all the others in this neighborhood, didn't appreciate Aiden's sense of humor. "I've just woken up," Aiden went on to explain, "and I haven't had the time as of yet to make myself presentable." Aiden wasn't embarrassed with the situation. In fact, she was about ready to wipe that nasty look of disgust off of Emily Wellington's face if she didn't say something soon.
"Believe me, I understand," the bubbly blonde finally responded, her face turning from a frown into a smile that stretched across her entire face. "And, if it were up to me, I'd still be in my robes too, Dear." Aiden tried to smile back, but it came out more as a grimace. Oh, what she would have given in order to clutch her hands around Mrs. Wellington's frail little throat. Before she could think up a semi-kind remark, Mrs. Wellington had squeezed between Aiden and the doorframe and was currently making her way towards the kitchen, where she could smell Aiden's cooking.
Just make yourself at home, Aiden thought, the idea of killing the woman still fresh in her mind. As Aiden began to follow Emily Wellington back to the kitchen, Danny came pounding down the stairs, wondering what all the noise from downstairs was about. "Danny," Aiden waited at the bottom landing for him, "you'll never guess who's stopped by for a little morning chat." Danny raised a single eyebrow and then groaned softly, knowing exactly to whom Aiden was referring.
"Ring?" she questioned. Danny held up his left hand to show her his wedding band before lowering his hand back down. He placed it on her lower back and guided her towards the kitchen and their waiting unwanted guest.
When they arrived, Emily had already made herself at home, sipping out of Aiden's coffee mug while waiting for her to show up. Aiden tended to the omelette while Danny greeted Mrs. Wellington. Emily immediately drew her attention directly to Danny, who was one of her favorite men in the world since she'd met him the previous week. She commented on how nice he looked, all decked out in his black slacks and pressed white shirt, his clothes for work. Danny gave her a bright smile, not as disturbed by the woman as Aiden was.
Aiden watched the interaction between Danny and Emily, and smirked. It's a wonder she doesn't faint from being so close to him. After splitting the omelette onto two plates, Aiden fixed another mug of coffee, seeing Emily consume all of hers in less than a minute flat. Just let it be over, Aiden begged silently as she sat down on the bar stool next to Danny, as far away from the other woman as she could manage.
"So what brings you to our side of the boulevard?" Danny asked politely before he took a bite of his breakfast. Mrs. Wellington lived just across the street, in another apartment building similar to theirs, and she was a common guest at their residence, whether they wanted her or not.
"Oh," Emily tried to wave the question off as if it were nothing. "I'm afraid Jason came home last night, tipsy from far too much whiskey, and we got into quite a little row. I'd rather not listen to him complain about his roaring headache again this morning, thank you very much."
Danny heard the grandfather clock from the living room strike nine. "Well, I do believe that's my cue to exit, ladies." Danny quickly took his dirty plate and mug to the sink and both Aiden and Emily silently watched his movements. Aiden had caught the slight indications that Mrs. Wellington had quite a little thing going for Danny, and she still wasn't sure how she felt about that as Emily watched Danny move around the kitchen.
"I will be home by six, Love," Danny announced, coming back to the other side of the kitchen counter and quickly giving Aiden a small kiss. It was unexpected, since Danny never kissed her, and caused Aiden to look up at him in surprise. Then she remembered Emily Wellington watching their every move, and understood his motive. "Which will give me plenty of time to ready myself for your party tonight," he directed his sentence to Emily, who blushed slightly at the attention.
I'll give her something to redden about, Aiden thought to herself. She shifted in her seat, reaching forward and grabbing Danny's tie. She pulled him closer to her before she proceeded in straightening and tightening his tie. Danny noted the twinkle in Aiden's eyes as she imagined the look on Emily Wellington's face behind her. "Behave," Danny whispered, the corners of his mouth turning into a grin as he gave her a quick wink. Knowing, as Aiden did, that Mrs. Wellington was watching them, Danny leaned in towards Aiden. He caught her lips in another kiss, this one slightly longer than the previous one. His tongue darted quickly into her mouth, swirling hers around once before he began to pull away. He nipped her lower lip playfully with his teeth before he finally broke the contact, ignoring the bothered look Emily was sporting across her face.
Without another word, Danny slipped out of the apartment for his job. "Well..." Emily dragged out the word as she turned her focus back to Aiden. "It would seem things are going well in the Herts household."
Aiden smiled to herself. Quite well indeed, Aiden thought to herself, running her tongue lightly over her lower lip, still feeling Danny so close. She finally nodded, bringing her coffee mug up to her face to mask the emotions on her face. "Daniel and I are really happy here," Aiden replied truthfully. If it wasn't for the case, Aiden would have loved to live in such a wealthy community, even if it did have its share of pesky neighbors.
Mrs. Wellington nodded, pushing the empty coffee mug further away from her. "Jason and I loved the neighborhood when we first moved here. Everyone seemed so kind, so willing to kelp us adjust to the craziness of New York City. But with the disappearance of the poor little girl recently, we're not sure what to think." She let out a deep sigh and turned to face Aiden more clearly. "We were so happy when we first got married and moved here. But then Jason just got caught up in his work, and before I knew it, he was spending nights at the office with his secretary. And she's ten years older than I am!"
Aiden didn't know what to say, but she suspected that Mrs. Wellington had already dipped into the gin bottle at her home this morning. Aiden sighed, finishing her coffee off. Fabulous, emotional baggage. Exactly what I need at nine in the morning.