Chapter 9: Friends will be Friends

It's not easy love but you've got friends you can trust

Friends will be friends

When you're in need of love they give you care and attention

Friends will be friends

Flack was waiting at the door for her when she came running down the stairs. Her shift was finally over, and she couldn't wait to go home, grab a shower, and then veg out in front of the TV. She had pulled a double shift already this week, and needed some serious downtime. When Flack looked at her with that half-smile on her face, Stella sighed. Her plans had probably just been shot.

"What? Don't tell me there's another case, Flack! I just booked out." Usually Stella, even after a double shift, would have managed a growl, but today she was afraid it came out more like a whine.

Flack looked a bit chagrined. "No, no. I just wondered if you'd like to catch a bite with me. I just got off shift too, but I can't go home yet."

"Can't go home?" Stella looked at him, a bit worried. "What do you mean, can't go home?" She was surprised to see a faint blush rise in his cheeks.

"Well," he was definitely embarrassed, "Ever since the … you know … bomb, my aunts and cousins have been taking it in turns to clean my apartment." The flush rose higher as Stella laughed. "I mean, it's nice of them and all, but … I have a lot of aunts, Stel! And they leave me food, which is great, but they also leave me phone numbers and …" his voice trailed off, one eyebrow quirked up to see if she got his point.

"Oh, I see. A kind of Merry Maids/Matchmaker service all in one!" Stella tried to muffle her amusement. Damn it all, Flack had had a rough time; he didn't really need her razzing him about his family. Still, the thought of Don Flack being haunted by a group of little old aunts was irresistible. (Stella couldn't help but see a whole troop of little Greek grandmothers dressed all in black, chasing him with plates of moussaka and trailing lists of "nice girls".) She looked up at his quizzical face and had to laugh as she slipped her arm into his.

"Come on, you big baby. I'll rescue you from your aunties. But you are buying me dinner, and don't try to fob me off with pizza! I want something exotic."

They found a Thai place a few blocks away, and found a seat near a window. Although Stella and Flack had worked together for some time, they were nearly always in a crowd. They'd never spent much time just talking. The first thing Stella learned about Flack was that he liked his food hot, so they shared a red curry dish that nearly blew them out onto the street, matching that with Pad Thai noodles and satay because Stella told him it was the only way she would eat peanut butter.

"Really?" Flack said, "I still eat peanut butter and toast for breakfast nearly every day. My father thought it was one of the four food groups. I just never outgrew the habit, I guess."

Stella shook her head in dismay. "You need the proper training. I ate porridge every day from the time I was 3 until I was 17."

"Wow," Flack looked impressed. "So do you still eat it everyday?"

Stella laughed at him. "Are you kidding? Croissant and coffee, when I can grab something!"

Dinner was over, and their plates had been cleared, but they lingered, enjoying each other's company. Finally, Flack leaned closer and said, "Stel, I did want to ask you something."

"Here it comes," Stella thought with a sigh. "Why does no one ever just want to spend time with me? Why does it always have to be work?" She thought with a slight frown about the lunch she and Mac had shared, when she felt he was examining her technique at presenting a case. Still, she schooled her face to look nothing but interested and asked, "About a case? Sure, what?"

Flack cleared his throat. "Nah, not a case. Stella, I wouldn't ask you out and then bring up a case!"

"Oops," thought Stella, "Ask me out?" Out loud, though, she just gave a non-committal, curious murmur.

"Actually, though, you may think this is just as bad," Flack admitted. "I wanted to ask you if you'd had any luck with Danny or Lindsay yet."

"Not a case, but not quite a date, either, then," Stella thought. Still, her own worry was evident as she answered, "I can't get him to talk to me at all. When he sees me, he goes the other way, or makes sure he has his hands too full to stop."

Flack nodded, "Yeah, me too. What about Linds? How's she doing?"

Stella had to stop and think about the last time she had actually talked to Lindsay. Although they worked cases together some times, they didn't share lab or office space. Stella wondered what the office Danny and Lindsay shared was like these days. "You know," she said slowly, "I think Lindsay is avoiding me too. I wonder why?"

She and Flack looked at each other for a moment. Flack cleared his throat again. "You know, Stella, I'm thinking Lindsay could use a friend right about now. I know that Danny could, but he won't let me near him. I think an ambush may be in order."

"Mac told me to stay out of it. I told him that I'm afraid …"

"Afraid of what?"

"That I'll miss it – that moment when I could have stopped something before it becomes … very bad." Her voice had dropped to a whisper.

"Yeah," Flack finished his coffee and pulled out his wallet. "Me, too. I don't think we should wait any longer."