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 Five: Wine and Dine
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Author's Note: Sorry it's taken so long to update! But I haven't forgotten this story entirely! Thanks for all the reviews!
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By the time Aiden finally managed to haul Mrs. Wellington out of the apartment, it was well past five. Still in her pajamas and her bath robe, Aiden picked up the cordless phone off its receiver in the kitchen. Clicking the TALK button, Aiden pushed the first speed dial button. The phone began to ring and Aiden waited impatiently for someone on the other end to answer. After three rings, Aiden heard a click of someone picking up the phone. "Jackson and Bay Brokers," a young, female voice answered.
"Daniel Herts, please," Aiden requested by heart. She didn't have time for small chat with Marie, the beautiful receptionist that almost all the men at the firm adored. As she held on hold for a response from Daniel, Aiden picked up the two coffee mugs on the table, cradling the phone between her shoulder and her neck. She put the mugs into the dishwasher before closing it back up and leaning against the counter behind her.
"Daniel Herts speaking," the all too familiar voice finally spoke on the other end of the line. Aiden shifted the phone into her hand and placed it against the opposite ear. "I am very disappointed you left me to fend all by my lonesome self."
There was a pause on the other end and Aiden could mentally see the grin on his face. "I am terribly sorry, Darling. I know how difficult my wife can be sometimes, but all Aiden really needs it just a little attention."
"Cute, Danny. Real cute." She meant to sound agitated, even a little bit hurt, but she couldn't help the smirk that was covering her face. "I finally got that miserable excuse of a women out of my apartment- our apartment- only to have to get ready for a party at said crazy woman's home in less than an hour. It hardly seems just."
"Yes, yes... I know." Aiden could hear the rustling of papers, as well as the bustle of people entering and leaving Danny's small corner office. "Look, I'm getting ready to leave for the night and come home. We'll get ready, go to the party, and stay until everyone's drunk. Which you know won't take very long. Then we'll slip out and no one will even notice we left. And, because we went, we will still have our image as respectable neighbors."
Aiden groaned, knowing her chances for getting out of having to go to the party were slim to none. But at least she'd tried. Sort of. Aiden said a quick good-bye before hanging up and placing the phone back onto the charger. She'd survived the entire day with Mrs. Wellington, with no help from Danny, so Aiden guessed she could survive a few more hours. But any longer than that and Aiden feared for Emily's life, not to mention her own.
Aiden slowly made her way upstairs to the master bedroom. One of the things she hated most about living in their neighborhood was the constant stream of parties. Aiden and Danny soon discovered that the wealthy lived to party. And they weren't particular about who they partied with. If you were alive and lived relatively close, chances were that you received an invitation to the party.
What to wear, what to wear. Another disadvantage to unlimited money and wealth was the fact that Aiden had so many different articles of clothing that she never knew what to wear. So many choices, and yet none of them screamed 'Aiden Burn'. Although they weren't supposed to. They needed to scream 'Aiden Herts' instead. She opened the door to their huge walk-in closet. Danny's clothes took up the left wall, while Aiden's clothes covered the remaining space in the closet.
She'd already been to one of the fancy parties during the week they'd spent in the neighborhood, so now she knew what to expect. A bunch of executive businessmen and their trophy wives gathered, sipping their wine and whiskey while trading stock tips and the latest gossip, all of which Aiden was more than happy to miss. Aiden headed straight to the back corner of the closet, looking for the black little number she knew was hiding in the far corner of the closet. If Danny was going to force her to go, the least she could do was look presentable, just like all the other wives. Pushing away the other dresses, Aiden slipped the dress off of the hanger and brought it back into the bedroom with her.
Before changing into the dress, Aiden walked over to the night stand, picking up the ear piece resting there. Aiden turned it on before placing it in her ear. "Flack," she said out loud into the empty bedroom.
"Burn," came a reply shortly after Aiden picked the dress back up and headed towards the bathroom. "What's been going on over there? We haven't heard from you two in a while."
Aiden kicked the door shut behind her, setting the dress on the counter. "I hate to admit it, but we aren't much closer than when we started." She began to pull off the robe as she continued to talk to Don Flack through the ear piece. "Besides being a lightweight, Michael Waters just doesn't stand out from the rest of them. I'm not sure if he's our guy or not. We're trying to keep tabs on him and his wife, but so far nothing suspicious had come up."
She heard Flack chuckle in her ear. "So I assume you and Danny have just been having a fabulous time staying in an apartment surrounded by the wealthiest people New York City has to offer." Aiden pulled off her pajamas and added them to the robe on the floor. She was quite thankful that their communications systems didn't include a camera as well. "So how is the life, Aiden? Anything worth dreaming about?"
"Oh, I don't know," Aiden smiled to herself. "Danny complains about his job every night when he gets home from work, but I believe doing absolutely nothing rather suits me. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to have to end this conversation so that I can shower and ready myself for our cocktail party in less than an hour."
"Yeah, enjoy it while it lasts, Burn, because once you get back to the lab, you won't be seeing any parties at all." Aiden pulled out her ear piece and turned it off before Flack could add anything else. Setting the ear piece on the counter next to the dress, Aiden slid the shower door to the side and stepped in, pulling the knob to get the water flowing. She would have to take a quick shower if she wanted to have enough time to get ready and still be on time.
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Danny opened the front door of the apartment, pulling out the keys and setting them in the little dish that sat on the table in the main hallway. He shut the door behind him and clicked the lock into place out of habit. The apartment seemed oddly quiet as Danny walked down the hall towards the living room. Checking his watch, Danny realized how late it already was. And after a day of work, doing a job he didn't understand, Danny wanted to do nothing more than to kick back in front of the TV and watch a baseball game. But he'd been the one who talked Aiden into going to the party, so he knew she wasn't going to let him off the hook now. There had better be a lot of alcohol at this party, Danny thought as he made his way back down the hall to the stairs, looking for his acclaimed wife.
"Aiden!" he called out, knowing that they should have left by now. They wouldn't be late, but Mrs. Wellington loved having them over a little early so that she could chat Aiden's ear off. As he called her name, Aiden came gracefully down the stairs. When Danny looked up at her, his heart skipped a beat as he wondered where in the world she'd found that dress. It barely covered anything. It ended an inch or two above her knees, while the neck line dipped dangerously low, showing more than a hint of cleavage, which Danny realized Aiden had more than enough of.
Aiden paused at the bottom of the steps in front of him and turned around, pulling her hair over her shoulder and exposing what else the dress failed to cover. "Zip me up?" she asked politely and Danny's hands automatically reached forward. The zipper started at her waist and traveled to her middle back, where the fabric of the dress split with a gapping hole in the middle. The hole was a circle and at the top, the dress met up with the straps from the front. All and all, the dress left little for Danny to imagine.
"You look absolutely ravishing," Danny drawled out as he finished pulling up the zipper. Aiden let out a small laugh as she turned around to face him, tossing her hair delicately over her shoulder. As her hair fell into place behind her, Aiden extended her arm towards him. Danny took Aiden's arm in his before escorting her to the door. He opened the door, letting her walk out first as he quickly grabbed the keys and dropped them into his coat pocket. "Quick and painless," he promised her as he led her down the hall and out the front lobby of the building.
The cold New York air hit their faces as soon as Danny held open the front door of the apartment building. They hurried across the quiet street to the building in which the Wellingtons lived. Emily Wellington opened the door before Danny even had a chance to knock. She grabbed Aiden's arm and pulled her away from Danny.
"Thank the heavens you're arrived!" Emily exclaimed, leading Aiden away from where the men were gathered. "I'm afraid dear Julia came down with a flu and couldn't make it. For a moment, we feared you weren't coming either." Emily rambled on and on about poor Mrs. Julia Granger and how she missed the bridge game earlier that evening. Aiden tried to look interested as she scanned the room for any type or brand of liquor. "Although, I can't be angry at Julia, because I missed the game myself while we had our little chat."
Little? Aiden thought to herself. You call a seven hour rant about your husband little? I'd have to see her when she's really upset. Aiden bit her tongue and simply nodded. Her hopes of making it out of the party in one piece were already shot, so she hoped she could just get drunk enough that she wouldn't remember it in the morning.
"Did I tell you what Jason said to me when I got back home this afternoon?" She didn't even pause to let Aiden answer. "He began to ask me all these ridiculous questions, wondering if I was cheating on him. And I was so appalled that he asked, I didn't give him a straight answer."
She seems so proud of herself, Aiden thought as she half-heartedly listened. I hope that if I ever get married, I don't ever turn out like her. Aiden looked down at the ring on her finger. Absentmindedly, she used her thumb to slowly rotate the ring. I'm so glad that Danny isn't portraying someone like Mr. Wellington, someone who'll take whatever he can get. And I'm glad I don't have to put on a brave face like Mrs. Wellington. Although Aiden felt like an observer around these people, she couldn't help but pity Emily Wellington. It must be a horrid life, never knowing where your husband is and which of your friends he's been with.
Aiden listened as Emily continued to talk, about what Aiden wasn't quite sure. As Emily introduced her to new people, Aiden nodded and exchanged 'How do you do' with them. Yet, her focus remained on the time she had left until she could finally make her silent retreat back to the other side of the street. After about an hour of small talk and local gossip, Susanna Waters stood up from her seat on the couch next to Aiden. "I believe I'll run make sure Michael's still standing on his own two feet." They all laughed, but Aiden decided to check on Danny as well, even if she could only escape for a few moments.
"Has Emily talked to you about Jason yet?" Susanna asked as they got out of ear shot of the others. Aiden nodded, causing Susanna to sigh. "Poor thing, she really doesn't know when to let go. We've told her time and time again that Jason isn't going to change his ways, but she just refuses to listen. I guess we're just thankful she hasn't caught any of us with him yet. If she ever found out..." Susanna trailed off as they reached the front room where the men were gathered. Aiden watched Mrs. Waters disappear into the large group of men, wondering if she had misunderstood what Susanna had said. Are they all sleeping around with her husband? It amazed her the way these people lived and carried out their lives.
"Ah, Mrs. Herts," came a deep, slightly raspy voice from behind her. Aiden slowly turned around to face it. Well, speak of the devil, she thought as she came face to face with Mr. Wellington. "All that gossip have you desiring some real conversation?" He smiled as if it was a joke and Aiden wondered what all those women saw in Mr. Wellington. He certainly wasn't handsome or charming. "Come, you must join in our discussion." He placed his hand on Aiden's arm and guided her into the back corner of the room where a small group of men stood in a circle. "We were just discussing who has the harder role in a marriage, the husband or the wife."
"It's hardly a discussion," Jack Holder informed her as he took a long drag from his Cuban cigar. "After all, what do you women do besides spend the money we men make?" His comment earned him a few chuckles from the others around him. Mr. Wellington turned his attention to Aiden, actually expecting her to reply.
"Oh, Aiden has many talents," a voice chimed in beside her as an arm wrapped itself around her waist. Danny took a sip from his wine glass before continuing, "In fact, if I didn't have her to come home to everyday, I don't think I would survive work."
Mr. Wellington frowned, "You can tell he's a newlywed, can't you boys?" All the other men around them nodded in agreement. "Just give it some time and work will seem like the best thing you've got going for you, Daniel." Aiden watched as Mr. Wellington quickly polished off his shot of whiskey. "We've all been there before. Just wish for it to last as long as it will and then pray she doesn't figure out when you discover other women have even better traits."
I wonder if he could have possibly forgotten that I'm standing right here next to him as he talks trash about me. Aiden couldn't believe her ears, but at the same time it didn't surprise her at all. What pigs. Danny tightened his grip on her waist, sensing that she wanted to shoot back a foul comment at Mr. Wellington. Danny didn't really blame her, but at the same time, he didn't want her getting into a heated discussion with one of his coworkers. As the men continued to talk around them, Danny pulled Aiden closer, until her back was up against his chest.
"Just stay calm," he whispered into her ear, hoping that none of the others could hear what he was saying. His breath tickled her hair around her ear as he talked to her. "It'll be over before you know it." Aiden reached up and wrapped her hands around his hand he held protectively on her stomach. She threaded her fingers with his, remaining silent as they laughed and joked around them.
"So I heard you aren't playing polo this year," Jason Wellington said to Robert Granger. "I must admit, we were all quite disappointed when we heard the news. How are we supposed to win the championship again this year without our star to carry us to victory?" Robert explained that Julia wanted him to spend more time with his family than with a bunch of filthy horses. "They really don't understand the word Thoroughbred, do they?" Jason asked. The men shook their hands in sad agreement before Mr. Wellington excused himself to go freshen his drink.
The conversation soon turned from polo to business as Mr. Wellington departed. The husbands began debating with terms Aiden didn't even understand. In fact, she was surprised when Danny spoke up from behind her and joined in the friendly debate. As he discussed something to do with CDs, which Aiden doubted referred to music, she took Danny's wine glass from his hand and finished it off for him. Standing with the men was almost the same as listening to the women, except it made her feet ache more.
Finally tiring of the talk around her, Aiden tried to pull away from Danny. His focus immediately shifted from the conversation to her. "What's wrong?" he asked softly as she turned around to face him.
"Nothing's wrong," she told him, handing off the empty wine glass to a hired waiter passing by with his silver tray. "But I'm going to go find the bar while you chat with your comrades." The sarcasm in her voice wasn't lost on Danny. He nodded, giving her a knowing grin in return. Knowing that the conversation around them had slowed and that attention was focused on them, Aiden leaned in, reaching up at the same time to wrap a hand around the back of Danny's neck. "If I'm not back in five minutes, send a search party," she kidded before pulling his head down to hers in a short kiss.
Once she let go of him, Aiden headed out in her search for a bar. She wove through the people, some more off balanced than others. She searched the huge room, wondering around the outskirts of the room until she ended up at the bar, only a few feet away from where she started. Go figure, she said to herself as she sat down on the only available bar stool. She immediately ordered herself a dry martini with an olive. While she waited for her drink, Aiden tapped her long fingernails on the smooth, wooden counter, loving the soft sound it made.
"Enjoying yourself?" Mr. Wellington asked, turning in his seat to face her. He finished off his drink just as the bartender set her drink down on the counter.
Aiden gave him a weak smile before turning her attention to her drink. She picked up the long, plastic stick and shoved it into her mouth slowly, closing her lips around it before pulling it back out, leaving the olive behind her teeth. She felt Jason's eyes on her while she did this motion and it caused her stomach to ache a little. Just remain calm, she told herself as she lifted her glass up and slowly took a sip.
"Did you know," Jason asked, leaning in a little closer to Aiden, causing her to shiver slightly, "that a martini is my favorite drink?" As he got closer still, Aiden could smell the alcohol in his breath.
Setting her glass back down, Aiden forced herself to breathe. "Is that so?" she managed to barely choke out as his fingers ran up and down her upper arm. Aiden flinched, pulling away slightly, only to have Mr. Wellington grip her arm tighten and force her to face him.
"Mrs. Hert, I don't play games," he whispered harshly against her ear. "When I tell you something, I don't expect you to challenge it." His grip tightened again, past the point of pain. "Now, I thought we would be able to be civil tonight, but clearly I was mistaken."
Aiden fought back the tears that threatened to overflow. She let out a weak, soft sob before looking directly at Jason. "You're hurting my arm." Her voice barely came out above a whisper. Usually Aiden didn't find herself intimidated by anyone, but something about Jason Wellington scared the crap out of her. It had to do with the look in his eyes he had when he grabbed her arm and hissed at her. Fire mixed with alcohol, burning deep and clean.
"Darling, this is nothing compared to what will happen if you don't cooperate with me in the future," Jason hissed.
Cooperate with what, Aiden never found out. Danny appeared by her side, clearing his throat loudly. Mr. Wellington pulled away, giving Aiden one last glare before walking away calmly into the crowd. Aiden reached for her martini glass, but Danny pulled her to her feet before she could claim it. "Let's go," he demanded softly, already pulling her towards the front door of the Wellingtons' apartment. She could tell he was upset, even if he wasn't shaking as much as she was. She followed him without a word as he pulled her out of the apartment, not bothering to say good-bye to anyone. Neither one of them uttered a word until there were safely back in their own apartment with the door tightly locked.
Aiden headed up the stairs without a word. She knew Danny would follow her, but she was too embarrassed, too shaken up to say anything. She tried to get the awful smell of Jason Wellington away, but it followed her all the way up to the bedroom, where she sat down on the edge of the bed and buried her head in her hands. She didn't hear Danny enter, but she felt the bed shift as he sat down next to her. "Aiden..." he whispered her name as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Aiden turned to Danny, burying her face against his chest while she sobbed tearlessly. All the frustrations of the past week had been too much for even Aiden Burn to handle. Jason Wellington had simply pushed her over the edge. Aiden gripped Danny's shirt, feeling the soft fabric between her fingers.
"He won't touch you again," Danny whispered, wrapping both arms around her. "I won't let him near you," he promised her, saying the words into her hair, knowing she could hear them. Aiden held on a little tighter, finally feeling at least a little safe for the time being. Tomorrow would be a different story, for Aiden knew that Danny wouldn't be able to keep Mr. Wellington away forever.
Danny kissed the top of her forehead as Aiden stopped sobbing. She simply closed her eyes and took deep breaths, comforted by the familiar smell of Danny. Minus the glasses, he was still the same Danny she loved to work with as a C.S.I. For the first time, Aiden was truly thankful that Mac had chosen Danny to act as her husband for the assignment.
"Thank you," Aiden told him, her words muffled against the side of his head. Aiden kissed his neck, loosening her hand on his shirt. "Thank you for not being like Mr. Wellington or any of those other men you work with." Danny nodded, understanding where she was coming from. Aiden pulled away, forcing herself to stand up as she headed for the bathroom to rinse all the make-up off her face before she went to bed. Danny watched her without a word, trying to clear the image of a broken Aiden out of his mind.