Story Title: Revenge

Chapter Title: She Wonders

Author: BlondeNeko (fanfiction) Weisy (livejournal)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything besides the plot.

Friday evening, Aiden usually found herself curled up on her couch with a popcorn bowl by her side while she watched movies until the wee hours of the morning.

But this night was different. This time Aiden was eating dinner with Flack. Aiden kept telling herself that he was just worried about her and that in fact it wasn't a date at all but more of a get together with a friend.

Yet, Aiden admired Flack. Admired the fact that he wouldn't back down from what was bothering her. He wasn't turning away but instead taking her by the hand and leading.

It was something she desperately needed.

Aiden and Flack chose a small, close restaurant near the Crime Lab. Once inside and seated both had ordered and now sat there, waiting. Aiden stole a small glance at Flack and quickly looked away when she noticed that he was too in fact looking at her. He wasn't smiling but instead it looked like something across the lines of deep in thought.

And then, "it's the case isn't it?" Flack asked. It was what he had been trying to figure out the whole entire time.

She didn't reply.

"Aiden," Flack said, his voice taking a softer tone that she was sure she had never heard before, "we all get emotional when a kid is a victim but you have to understand that the only thing you can do to help is to stay focused and find the killer."

"That's not it," she said, staring up at him. "It's because of what happened to me when I was younger."

Flack felt slightly uncomfortable about where their conversation was going. He was beginning to think that he shouldn't push her any further; afraid that he would be invading her personal space and that would defiantly be a strike against his part.

He was about to change the topic when Aiden started talking again. "I was nine and my younger cousin, Corrine, came over to play. Since money was low, my home was located in probably one of the worst spots in all of Brooklyn. I remember my mother telling us to never go more than five feet from our home because gang's roamed the streets and bad things happened if we came across them." She paused and looked away from him. Why the hell was she suddenly spilling out all this information to him?

"You didn't listen to her." Flack said softly and Aiden sharply looked at him.

"Yeah…" She said, still a little taken back that he had actually said that, "you're right though. We didn't listen…" She paused and thought if she should entirely come out and tell him. Aiden wasn't so sure if she was ready and she wasn't even sure if he would look at her the same if she did.

"Food looks pretty good." She said as she smiled down at her plate.

Flack noticed how she changed the topic and he didn't bother to change it back. She had done it for a reason.

Plus, he wasn't so sure what he would have said if she told him. Hell, he might have not been able to see her in the same light that he has seen her in the past recent years they've been working together.

They left the restaurant later that evening, never touching the bases of Aiden's childhood. Flack had tried his best the whole night not to bring it up and he was so far proud of himself for not pushing her. She didn't deserve it.

"Thank you." Aiden said as the two of them made their way down the streets of New York, the February winter air brushing against their bodies.

Flack smiled at her. "It was just dinner."

Aiden laughed, a real hearted laugh, before shaking her head at him. "No, thank you for just being here with me. It really helped me a lot."

Flack had to turn away from her so she wouldn't see the blush that had spread across his face. "Um…anytime."

And then, Aiden locked arms with him, her smile wider than he had ever seen before.

Flack couldn't help but return her smile and pull her body closer to his. He needed her warmth and she needed his.

And they walked like that, arm in arm, until they arrived in front of Aiden's apartment complex. Aiden begin to feel her heart drop when her apartment came into view and the thought of going inside, falling asleep and having a nightmare made her grip on Flack's arm tighten. She felt safe and she didn't want that to leave.

He noticed her change and pulled her aside. "Are you going to be okay?" He asks his voice full of concern.

She begins to shake her head yes, but someone or something inside of her mind tells her no. Tells her to tell the truth because he can help. He can help her overcome the nightmares and maybe finally her past can leave her alone.

"No," she says truthfully as she looks into his deep blue eyes, "I'm not going to be okay. I don't want to sleep alone and fight the nightmares by myself."

Oh fuck. She told herself, as she played her voice over and over in her head. She had just told him that she didn't want to sleep alone and how she didn't want to fight the nightmares. Why don't I ever think before I speak?

"I'll stay with you." He says, taking her by surprise. "I'll stay on the couch and if you have a nightmare you can always talk to me about it."

"Flack…"

He presses his fingers to her lips and just smiles at her. "Sh. Don't worry about it. I want to."

TBC.

Fourth chapter should be up soon. I think I may have all weekend to myself with the computer so I may get four and five up!

Thank you to…

Sodapop15- Thank you! Here's another chapter that I hope you liked. :D

Hockey Gurl- What can I say? I tend to update fast sometimes. Oh, sorry about not seeing the episode. I tape them to re-watch 'em over and over again.

Yaba- Thank you. I have fun writing the dream and don't worry, there is more where that came from. It doesn't only happen once. hint hint

Dutchtulips- I'm happy that I'm staying in character with Flack and Aiden. Even though the show is fairy new, I still tend to try and stay true to the way the characters interact on the show.

Bigandcarrie- here it is for you. :D The dinner chapter.

Kyra- If you notice at most of my CSI fanfics, they do center around a case because I like to keep it true to the shows. More realistic in a way and gives readers more than just one thing to focus on:D

Starpiper:D I'm glad people are liking the way I'm portraying Flack and Aiden and I hope that I keep that up in future chapters.

Dopeyidiot- Loved your review. :D Very to the point and you know, the case is going to keep coming up in recent chapters by the way.

XxBandGeekxX- Thank you! PS; I'm a band geek myself. ;D Your penname caught my eye.