Disclaimer: I am not Anthony Zuiker, Ann Donahue or Carol Mendelsohn. All the characters of CSI: NY are not mine…I'm just borrowing them for a little bit. I promise that I will put them back, exactly the way I found them when I'm done….Oh, Cory Reid is mine and I will take credit for anything she does. :)

A/N: Okay, shift the scene to Dallas, the Friday before the trial! As always, please, please, please R&R! My muse loves the attention!

Chapter 41.

Preparations

Cory sat at her desk. It still felt weird after being back for three weeks. She looked out her window into the hot Texas sun and sighed unhappily. She thought that she would have been re-acclimated to the Texas weather, but the bright blue sky's and abnormally hot October sun just drew her deeper into her depression. The highs were still in the upper nineties.

She turned back to her desk as the phone rang. "Agent Reid."

"Cory?"

"Hey, Linds! What's going on?"

"I was just calling to see how your preparations for the trial were going. You all set?"

"Yeah. I've spent the last three weeks going over my testimony with the assistant district attorney for the case. I know that our evidence is strong; I'm just ready for it to be over. Linds, I want to move on with my life."

"I know, Cory. It'll be over soon. How long is the trial expected to take?"

"A couple of months. I'm hoping to have it over by Thanksgiving. I don't want that shadow over my holidays."

"Well, on the bright side, you'll get to see all of us in a week. I miss our talks already. It was nice to talk to someone about horses and stuff without having them give me a blank look!"

Cory laughed. "Oh, Linds. You crack me up sometimes. All you have to do is talk to the mounted officers! They know which end of a horse is up. A few of them are really nice. If you were single, I would definitely tell you which one to date!"

Lindsay laughed in response. "You are crazy."

"So, how are things with you and Flack? Y'all getting married yet?" Cory noticed that Lindsay was very silent at that statement. "Lindsay? What did you do? Did you and Don get married?"

"Um…No. Almost. But no one knows!"

"What the hell do you mean almost? You've got to spill, girl. Come on!"

"Well…It was the Sunday that you left. We went up to the Empire State Building, at night. It was so romantic…"

(Flashback)

Lindsay waited impatiently as the elevator made its rise to the 102nd floor observatory. "Don, this is so romantic. What made you think about it?"

Flack looked embarrassed. "Um…I really don't want to admit this, but what the hell. Watching how you guys reacted to Sleepless In Seattle. It got me to thinkin' and here we are."

Lindsay was incredibly touched by Flack's comment. "Aw. That's so sweet!"

Flack blushed. "Don't go spreading it around, Linds. If you do, I'll make sure that Danny will call you Montana until the day he dies!"

Lindsay laughed. "Fine. I won't mess with your macho image! That's all it is anyway. An image. You are nothing like I thought that you were. Why were you so…"

"So what?"

"You were trying to be a player. I know that you aren't, so why pretend?"

Flack got a serious look in his eyes. "It's because of Elena."

"You're ex-girlfriend? What's she got to do with this?"

Flack exhaled a breath of air. "I was in love with her. I proposed and she basically shot me down in flames. It took me months to get over her. I didn't want to go down that road again, so I thought the best thing was to act like Danny. Nothing ever hurts him."

Lindsay made a sound suspiciously between a laugh and a snort. "Are you kidding me? Of course Danny can be hurt. Did you see the look in his eyes when he found out Cory was leaving? He'd never felt like that with any of his girlfriends. He hadn't found that one special person that he was meant for. You thought you had. Can I tell you something?"

Flack felt a little better at her observation. "What?"

"I'm glad that Elena broke your heart. If she hadn't, we wouldn't be here right now." Lindsay smiled. "I love you."

Flack bent down to kiss her. "I love you, too."

Just then, the elevator doors opened up. Flack and Lindsay walked onto the observation deck. Lindsay looked out over the city. "Wow. It's so different from up here. It's almost peaceful, like at home."

Flack guided her over to the railing. He always felt at peace when he was around her, but tonight was different. He watched her pure joy as she gazed over his beloved city. She was falling for New York. Seeing it in a different light than she normally did. That was his intention. He wanted her to know that New York offered more than the violence that they both saw on the job. Slipping his hand into his pocket, his fingers caressed the box in it. Somehow he knew that it was the right time.

Lindsay turned when Flack said her name. She looked deep into her eyes and in front of the people on the observation deck, went down on bended knee. "Don?" she said, her eyes full of emotion.

"Lindsay. You are my soul mate. You complete me in a way that no one else can. I was dead before I met you. You are my reason for living. Will you please do me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?" Flack waited for her answer, his heart beating frantically.

"Oh, Don! Yes. Yes…" She trailed off as Flack stood up and enveloped her into a passionate embrace. They did not even hear the cheers and catcalls coming from the other people on the deck with them.

When they finally broke apart and saw what kind of a spectacle that they had caused, Lindsay flushed in embarrassment. A woman who had been standing next to her winked at the pair. "Honey, if you had said no, I would have taken him up on the offer!"

Lindsay just smiled as she felt Flack take her hand. He slipped a ring onto the third finger on her left hand. It was a gorgeous ring, a single solitary diamond that sparkled in the moonlight. The setting looked old so Lindsay decided to ask him about it. "Where did you get the ring?"

"It was my mothers. She passed it onto me before she died. When I saw it after going through some stuff after the bombing, I knew that it was perfect for you."

Lindsay sighed in contentment and lifted her head to kiss him again.

(End Flashback)

Cory sat on the other end of the phone, stunned at the romantic gesture that Flack had made. "Wow. That was so amazing. Flack's a romantic! But that doesn't explain the 'Almost married' thing."

"Well…We decided when we got home that night not to wait. With our jobs, we didn't want something to happen. We were going to go the courthouse the next day, but…"

"But, what?"

"Cory. Think about it. What was the Monday after you left?"

Cory thought for a second. She didn't have many memories of that day. After she had talked to Nicole, she had gone home and slept for close to a day. Finally it dawned on her. "It was Labor Day. Everything was closed."

"Right in one! We decided that it was a sign that we were moving a bit too fast and decided to actually plan a wedding. I'm thinking the Saturday after Valentine's Day right now."

"I'm stunned. I can't believe it. Y'all are getting married! Does anyone else know?"

"Not yet. I haven't even told my family. You have to promise not to tell anyone when we are down there next week. I'm not quite ready to tell anyone yet."

"Understandable." There was a knock at her door. "Linds, I hate to do this but life is intruding and I should probably let you go."

"Stay sane. I'll see you next week! Bye."

Cory murmured bye as she hung up the phone. "Come in!" she called in response to the knock on her door. Her mouth dropped open as she saw who entered. "Danny? What are you doing here?"

"Hi, to you to, Feebie. What, can't I come see the woman that I love at her job?" As he said that he took his hand from behind his back.

Cory gasped. He was carrying a bouquet of yellow roses. She got up from behind her desk and threw herself in his arms. "I can't believe you're here!" She couldn't get anything else out after he claimed her lips.

When Danny lifted his head, he looked at her. "Do you know that it is hot as hell outside?"

Cory laughed. "It's not so bad. You should be here during the summer. Temperatures in the upper nineties will feel cool to you then."

"You've got to be kiddin' me."

"I'm not. Do you even know what it feels like when it's 115 degrees in the shade? Then you can tell me that it's hot as hell outside. You never answered my question. Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you. I had some personal time, so I decided to come down early and keep you company. What's the weather supposed to be like tomorrow?"

Cory thought for a moment. "Well, we're getting a pretty strong cold front that is supposed to move through sometime between tonight and tomorrow night. Temperatures are supposed to drop with the highs in the sixties, lows in the forties. Sweater weather."

Danny raised his eyebrows. "Sweater weather?"

Cory smiled. "It's a joke, Messer. Anytime when it's really hot, whenever a cold front comes through we say it's time to break out the sweaters. Even when it's still 90 degrees outside. It's a Texas thing."

"Ohhh-kay. I'll take your word on that. When do you get to leave today?"

Cory looked at her clock, it was almost four. "I have a short meeting with the ADA about Ortiz and then I'm free. Do you need a ride to your hotel or are you staying with me? I have a spare room if you want it." She was trying to be nonchalant about Danny staying over at her house.

Danny waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "I'd love to stay with you, but not in your spare bedroom. Am I welcome?"

Cory just rolled her eyes. "Of course you are. Are you okay to stay here until I get back?" At Danny's nod, she started to leave. "Oh, Messer? Don't touch anything!"

Danny just rolled his eyes at her.

(An hour later)

Cory walked back into her office to see that Danny was looking out her window. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"They aren't worth that much. I was just thinking that I am going to have to revise my plans for this evening. It's too hot to do anything."

"Don't sound so depressed, Messer. I do have a pool."

"You have a pool?" Danny sounded excited at the thought. Then his face fell. "I don't have a swimsuit with me."

"Geeze, Messer. Is the glass ever half-full with you? We do have stores here. You can buy one."

"Stores are still selling swimsuits?"

"You can find a few. Come on. We'll go shopping and I'll cook dinner. I think I might grill tonight. You have to promise not to be a typical guy and try to take over my barbeque grill."

"Okay." Cory grabbed her purse and they walked out of the building.

Two hours later, they were at Cory's house.

Danny felt his jaw drop in amazement when he saw her house. "Wow. I was expecting…something less than this."

Cory looked at her house. It was a fairly large house, 3600 square feet. She tried to imagine how Danny felt. "Why?"

"You said that it wasn't much."

Cory felt a light go on in her brain. She had never told him about her financial history. "Oh. It is compared to my parent's house. I guess I never told you." She looked at Danny's face, which was a picture of puzzlement. "Let's just say that I choose to work for a living. Both sets of my grandparents made it big in the oil industry. When my Mom and Dad married it was the merging of two oil families. Now, my parents wanted me and my sister to grow up with the appreciation for hard work, so I never knew we had money until I was a teenager. When I bought this house, it was the first and only time that I touched my trust fund. I grew up like a normal girl, Danny. I don't live off my trust fund."

Danny looked a little skeptical at that. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Danny was in shock. "She is so out of my league."

Cory rolled her eyes. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want this reaction from you. I'm not out of your league, Danny. Far from it. I hope this doesn't change the way that you think about me."

Danny shook his head. She was right. She didn't act like the spoiled rich girls that he had come into contact with. "Okay. I'll trust you. Show me around?"

Cory smiled, relived that Danny was being so understanding. "Sure, but first I have to get the grill going."

Cory walked through the house and out to the deck. She bent over a small grill and put some charcoal into it. Carefully she started the fire and once she was sure that it would not go out, she turned to walk back inside.

Danny had followed her outside. He looked around the backyard that was lit by lights. There was a fairly big in-ground pool; the deck and what looked like a garden. "This is a great backyard."

"Thanks. It's my pride and joy. I love entertaining outside during the summer. Let me show you the inside of the house." She led him into the house and showed him around. "I have three bedrooms, a formal dining room, a game room and my favorite room in the house. The gourmet kitchen!" She said that as she was walking into the room.

Cory walked to the refrigerator and got a package of hamburger meat out. "Let me go change and I'll start dinner. The fire should be almost ready by now."

Cory went into her bedroom and looked through her swimsuits. "I think I'll wear the purple bikini." She changed into the bikini quickly and put on shorts and a tee-shirt over it.

(After dinner)

Danny and Cory sat on her deck. It was about nine at night. Both were drinking beers. Cory sighed contently. "You ready to swim?" It was still fairly hot outside.

It took a moment for Danny to answer her. "Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking about how full I am. Those were some good hamburgers. Gawd, you sure can cook!"

Cory blushed at the compliment. "Thanks. It's my way to unwind." Cory got up and slipped out of her tee-shirt and shorts.

Danny couldn't help but stare at her. "You are so beautiful."

Cory looked at Danny and saw her looking at him with lust in her eyes. "Come on. The water will feel so good." She turned and walked towards the pool, casting a look at Danny over her shoulder.

Danny didn't have to be told twice. He quickly stripped down to his new swimsuit, which was the same shade of blue as his eyes. He watched Cory as she gracefully dove into the pool.

When he dove in after her, he noticed that the water was warm. "Why is the water so warm?"

"It's a heated pool. What can I say? I love to swim at all times of the year. It's an indulgence." Quickly she turned playful and began a splashing war with Danny.

When it was over, both were laughing like children. Danny made a move to grab Cory and she slithered away. "Uh-uh. Catch me if you can." She swam away from him, but he caught her.

"Gotcha!" Danny was completely aroused at the feel of their wet skin rubbing against each other. He turned her around and began to kiss her.

Cory sighed into the kiss. His lips were soft and demanding all at once. She felt herself floating on the water as Danny made his way to the side of the pool.

Danny braced her against the side of the pool and his lips became more insistent. He moaned in pleasure as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Cory decided to be carried away by her passion and gave herself up to his touch.

A/N: Okay, guys. I have absolutely no idea where this chapter came from. This was so not what I had planned on writing, but I hope you enjoy! I think my muse is trying to make up for the fact that she left me by myself to write chapters 38-40. I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks about Flack's proposal! By the way, I have a friend that the married thing actually happened to. She was driving back to Texas with her fiance and stopped in Louisiana and decided to get married. The only problem was that it was Labor Day and they had not realized it. It was a good thing for her, though!

screaming-poetically- Yeah! A long review! I was so excited to see it. Yeah, she is heartbroken, but it'll work out in the end. I can't decide if I want Danny to make the grand gesture and move to Dallas or have Cory move to New York, yet. The angsty romance is fun to write (a la, Nora Roberts whom I love by the way!). Of course Cory and her bf get on well...They've been friend for a long time! Danny came to Texas, but unfortunately as of what I've written, he's not staying. :(

chili-peppers- I'm trying to get a few chapters ahead since school starts in 3 weeks (:0) I want to have this completely written by then! I'm glad you liked the letter!

pnkrckprncss- Going home is something that she has to do. She has to finally free herself from Ortiz, so she can move on with her life! This begans 2 chapter's of fluff, so enjoy! Nope. I posted 39 on Saturday (pretty early) and 40 late last night. I have no idea why you didn't get the email (growling at FF).

the little corinthian- I'm glad you liked the CD (it's got some great songs on it!). They will be happy then miserable then happy then miserable...for a while yet!