A/N: Thanks for reviewing! Keep on reading because more stuff may be coming up.
"Stella."
Detective Bonasera turned around at the call of her name. "Yes?"
It was Hawkes. "About the Harding accident, did Danny recognize the car or perhaps the number plate?" he asked, tapping his clipboard thoughtfully.
Stella was surprised that the news spread so quickly. "Oh, you heard," she said, raising her eyebrows. "Danny's in the hospital with Elliot. I'll get him later."
"Right."
CSINY
Blue…a lovely shade of blue against white. But why were there two specks of blue in the midst of red blood? What was it? She couldn't decipher. The more she thought of it, the more her head ached. She felt rather dry in the throat. Water was all she wanted. Where could she get it? She had to get out of this psychedelic atmosphere. She opened her eyes slowly.
She squinted as she opened her eyes. The white of the walls were so blinding. She blinked awhile and looked around. She was lying down on a bed. She couldn't see much around her and she tried to get up in vain. Something heavy was resting on her right arm. It wasn't painful, but it was downright heavy. She tried moving her arm away from whatever it was - until it moved. She stopped and swung her head to her right. The quick movement sent a wave of immense pain through her body. She shut her eyes and cried out softly. She saw a brown hairy mop of God-knows-what leaning on her arm. She blinked hard to clear the bleariness out of her eyes. She jerked her arm a little. Gingerly, she lifted her left arm and touched the hairy mop. It moved. She squinted again. Her head was aching and she couldn't concentrate much. She saw an arm. It was somebody. But who? After all, she had just come to New York. She barely knew anybody - except for that noisy landlady. Slowly but surely, the head began to rise.
The man's eyes were still closed, partially hidden by glasses. He ran his hand through his hair and opened his eyes. Blue…a lovely shade of blue against white. Those beautiful blue irises against the white of the sclera. Instinctively, she raised her hand and touched the skin around his eyes.
"Blue against white…" she mumbled.
"What?" he asked.
"The last thing I can remember," she said, her voice hoarse.
"You feeling okay, Elliot?" he asked.
She stared at him. "Who are you?"
He leaned back on his chair. "Danny. Danny Messer."
She furrowed her brow a little in confusion. "But, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I work for the CSI and - "
"You mean, you're my colleague?" she interrupted.
"Not just colleague," he corrected. "Partners."
Partners. She stared at him. His bright sapphire eyes so distracting that they were hypnotizing. She coughed and swallowed a little saliva down her dry throat. She winced.
"Could I have some water?" she asked.
"Water? Oh, yeah, sure."
Danny got up from his chair and went to a small table by the window. He took up the jug and poured some water into a glass. He came back to her and put the glass on the bureau.
"Come on," he said, gently. He raised the bed slowly. "Comfy?"
She nodded her head. He picked up the glass and held it to her lips. She raised her hands and tried to take the glass from him. But, he gently pushed her hands down. She looked at him, her hands ready for protest. He shook his head. She sipped the water. Then, he removed the glass for her parched lips. He pulled a tissue out of the tissue box and wiped her mouth dry.
"Thanks," she murmured. "Thanks for saving my life. It was you, right?"
"Oh, yeah…that," he said, taking of his glasses. He ran his hand down his face. "It was nothing. I saw you, I helped you. That's all."
"Just say, I owe you one, okay?" she said, coolly.
"Okay, okay."
CSINY
Stella opened the door slowly. She could hear sounds of laughter coming from within the ward. Curious, she stepped further in.
"You really thought I was a guy?" asked Elliot.
"Really!" laughed Danny. "I mean, Elliot Harding. And you know what I thought?"
"What?" she asked.
"Great. Another young, egoistic guy," he said.
She burst into a fit of laughter.
"Better watch yourself, Ell. You're wounds may just reopen with your laughing," warned Danny jokingly. He smiled at her kindly, his face bright red with laughter.
"Looks like you guys have a lot of fun here, huh?"
Danny and Elliot turned to the doorway. "Stella!" exclaimed Danny. "Didn't know you were coming."
She smiled at the young detectives. She had not seen Danny so happy for a long time since… His face was shining with unbound joy and happiness that she almost did not recognize him. Elliot looked slightly pale from the painful ordeal, but she, too, looked happy.
"Elliot, how do you feel?" she asked.
"Great, except for some pain in the ribs," she said, beaming.
"The doctor said you have some broken ribs, so just be careful, okay?" said Stella in her usual motherly manner.
Elliot nodded her head like a dutiful daughter.
"Danny, can I have a sec with you?" asked Stella.
"Yeah, sure." Then, he turned to his injured co-worker. "Be back with ya."
She smiled back warmly and he followed Stella out of the ward. "So, what's up, Stell?"
"Well…I've never seen you so…vibrant," she said. "What's there in Detective Harding?"
"Come on, I've just got to know her 45 minutes ago," reasoned Danny.
"Okay, okay, I was just kidding," laughed Stella. "Don't need to get all defensive."
"So, what's the real thing?" he asked, seriously.
Stella stuffed her hands into her jacket pocket. "Hawkes needs your recognition for the car or the driver to identify whether this accident is related to…Lindsay's."
Danny took a deep breath. "It was a green Mustang. A sports car, I think. The windows were heavily tinted."
"What about the license plate?"
"It…umm…it was smeared with mud. But the last number was 9. I'm sure," he said, fingering his chin. "Just like Lindsay's accident."
She held his hand. "Thanks, Danny."
He smiled a sad smile and turned back into the ward.
"Take care of Elliot. And say bye to her for me, Danny. Thanks!" she said, waving her hand.
"Yeah."
A/N: This was more of a "Danny-get-to-know-Elliot" chapter but there'll be some involving Lindsay. That is, if she'll wake up. Thanks for reading. Please review! ryu