Re-edited to fix various mistakes: 18.05.07.

(Disclaimer in first chapter)

Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your wonderful comments. Ya'll are AWESOME!

Oh, I'd like to thank my friend Carmen for suggesting I put more of their thoughts in.

I know I'm writing it but even I can't wait to see where this is going.

Don't worry Don won't be depressed for long:devious smile: LOL

Sorry it took so long! I was trying to calm my nerves about Grillows and D/L so I was reading Fics rather than writing them. Btw I made it extra long because I took so long to update. x

Okay-- I'll stop making you wait and just get on with it.

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Break Room Coffee and the Mystery Woman

Chapter 3

"Heartbreak, Bizarre Moods and a Whole Lot of Explaining."

Quietly tiptoeing down the hall in her socks at about four in the morning Lindsay had always been a early riser and it didn't help that her job required odd working hours.

Just as she was going down the hallway she paused by Danny's door and took a peek through the gap in the doorway. She smiled at the sleeping form of Danny and how cute he looked; one arm falling off the edge of the bed the other hugged around his pillow. Trying not to wake him up she made her way to the kitchen. Once there, she started looking through the cupboards.

Hmm. No-- no. No. Not in here. No... ah - got it.

Lindsay pulled out the coffee. Turning on the kettle she leant up against the counter and closed her eyes, still tying to wake up. She let out a yawn as the kettle made bubbling noises and turned off. She poured some coffee into a mug, went into the living room and sat herself onto a armchair near the window.

It may not be wheat fields, but the New York skyline first thing in the morning is pretty amazing.

She smiled as she took a sip of coffee. Hmm... caffeine. She laughed silently to herself at how one sip of coffee could wake her up just like that.

Staring out at the orange tinted sky, Lindsay's thoughts started to wander to the recent days events. A lot had happened; she got thrown out of her apartment, Mac had moved on from his late wife, she had moved in with Danny-- Danny the man she had always thought to be a pain in the ass who seemed to take special interest in teasing her had become sort of a friend. Pulling her out of her thoughts and back to reality her cell started ringing from her bag in the hallway.

Getting up she placed her mug on the coffee table and quickly ran over to her bag and started rummaging around for her cell so she didn't wake up Danny. Finally finding it she looked at the display and answered it.

"Mom?" She said into the phone.

"Hello? Lindsay? I hope I caught you before you went off to work," Geena Monroe asked her daughter in a warm country accent.

"Is everything alright?" Lindsay inquired, she was quite concerned, she talked to her mother every weekend so this phone call immediately seemed odd to Lindsay.

"Yes dear, everything is fine. I just wanted to tell you that Carter is coming over to New York with some friends for his birthday on Saturday."

Carter was the youngest of Lindsay's three brothers, him and Lindsay were close in age him being only two years older, they had a very strong relationship.

"Really? I thought he was going to go to Vegas."

Her mother had told her all about her brother's birthday trip which most definitely involved lots of partying, gambling and drinking beer with his old college buddies.

"He was. But your father and I persuaded him to go to New York, also that way he can visit his baby sister."

'Persuaded' was her mother's way of saying that she had taken all his credit cards off him. Banned him from using his car (their parents had got him a brand new car for last christmas because he had got a job offer in Philadelphia with a successful art company) And grounded him until he changed his mind. Even if he was 30.

After getting the details about her brothers flight and they gave their good-byes, Lindsay hung up and sighed. "Parents." She muttered as she threw the phone in her bag.

"Why are you standing in the hallway talking to yourself at four in the morning?" Came a voice behind her, she turned to see Danny leaning on the wall in just his boxers and football jersey.

"I always get up early-- and I wasn't talking to myself, I was on the phone to my Mother who decided to call me so she could complain about my brothers old college buddies. And how my Father is driving her mad with his new obsession with power tools. You see, he has a new obsession every year last year it was gym equipment... and for some reason my Mom thinks that I'd be interested." She finished by letting out a deep sigh and walked back into the living room.

"Sorry I asked," Danny replied as he yawned, stretching his arms and followed her in.

Lindsay sat down on the sofa and lay down. "Did I wake you up?" She asked staring at the ceiling.

Danny came around to the end of the sofa and looked down at the upside-down Lindsay.

"No technically I'm still half asleep," he said giving her a grin. Then he went and sat down next to her feet. "Budge over will ya?" He said trying to move her feet.

"No," she bluntly replied. So he lifted her ankles, put them on his lap and leaned back.

"Comfy there Messer?" She asked taking her gaze off the ceiling and looking down the end of the sofa at him.

"Yes, thank you." He smiled when he caught her looking at him, she just rolled her eyes.

"You hungry?" He asked making circles on the base of her feet which caused her to squirm.

"Hey! Get off," She said giggling as she tried to kick him away but he was too fast and had already moved.

"We can have burnt toast here or we can go have some pancakes out, it's up to you," he offered sitting down on the edge of the coffee table and looking at her.

"Hmm. Burnt toast or pancakes with maple syrup and cream," she said while motioning with her hands like she was was weighing something. "It's a tough decision." She turned on her side and smiled at him.

"Pancakes it is then," he laughed. "Well why don't you get in the shower, I can have mine after you, we'll go and have breakfast then we can go and get some of the stuff from your place," Danny said while standing up.

"Okay. Sounds good, but I can't... too tired," she pouted and looked up at him.

Getting a devious smile on his face Danny grabbed her wrists and pulled her up onto his shoulders.

"Oye. Put me me down!" Lindsay said from behind him, she meant for it to come out in a angry do-what-I-say tone but instead it just came out in giggles.

"No-can-do, Miss Monroe," he said while walking down the hallway.

"You are so going to pay for this," she warned him through her giggles.

"That's not very convincing, Montana," he said as he placed her in front of the bathroom door. He took her hand and kissed it and smiled. "Door to door service." Lindsay blushed, then Danny turned and walked off in the direction he came.

She smiled and closed the bathroom door behind her. Ten minutes later she stepped out of the bathroom in only her towel, because of Danny carrying her down the hall she had forgot to get a change of clothes.

Taking a risk she sprinted down the hallway hoping that Danny didn't see her, she grabbed her bag and ran back toward the bathroom but stopped dead in her tracks when she heard Danny's voice from down the hall.

"You should think of a career change! Montana."

She turned pulling the towel tighter, the last thing she wanted was for it to fall off.

Oh god. This is so embarrassing. Why? I get changed in-front of him every day at work - still.. I am only in a towel.

"I-- uh. Forgot my clothes," she mumbled and ran into the bathroom and closed the door, leaving Danny standing there smiling. But then a look of complete horror passed over his face.

Since when did I feel like this for Monroe? I mean I know I have always liked her but this is different. No I can't... not her... no way... oh no.

Running his hand through his hair he walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge and pulled out a beer, a little early for drinking but he didn't care.

Maybe getting drunk at five in the morning isn't the smartest idea..

He put the beer back, closed the fridge and leant his head on it. "This is gonna' take awhile to get used to." He muttered to himself while pouring the rest of the coffee in a mug and drinking it black. Anything to wake me up.

The whole ride to Lindsay's apartment was silent and Lindsay was getting frustrated and fidgeting.

"You okay?" Danny asked looking side-ways at her, trying to keep his eye on driving.

"Yeah," she said flashing him a big smile that always made his heart melt.

After another minute of silence Lindsay turned to Danny. "I don't have much to get, half of it can go in storage."

Danny felt a lump of disappointment rise in his throat.

It's only temporary... it's only temporary.

"Okay," he said and turned his attention back to the road as the light went green.

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NYPD Crime Lab

Mac woke up and tried to sit up, but regretted it instantly. His neck ached and his lower back was sore.

He looked around his office, got up off the sofa and looked at his watch.

Only and hour before everyone comes into work, I better get organized.

Having had a shower and changing into fresh clothes, Mac closed his locker only to come face to face with Stella.

"You slept in your office again didn't you. I thought you said you were heading straight home," she asked with her hands on her hips.

"I was just getting some things done, I must of fallen asleep," he replied shrugging his shoulders unaware of Stella's annoyance.

"Some things never change," she remarked then she pulled him toward her and kissed him. They pulled back and Mac smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Okay. Maybe some things," she admitted with a smile, smoothing down the wrinkles that she had caused on his shirt.

"Good morning," Mac said. His smile permanently fixed to his face.

"Good morning indeed," she commented, then opened her locker, put her badge and gun on the bench behind her and took off her jacket.

Mac sat down on the bench and watched her with a grin.

Turning around Stella caught him looking at her. "What?" She asked picking up her badge and placing it on her jeans waistband.

"Nothing; just looking at the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he replied, as she put her gun in it's holster.

"Oh really? You are aware that that sounds like a pick-up line right?" She said moving in-front of him and placing her hands on his shoulders.

"What if it did?" he said still smiling.

It was Stella's turn to raise an eyebrow, then she blushed trying to avoid his gaze, but she decided that he wasn't going to win this game. She bent down and whispered something in his ear. Mac's eyes widened and his jaw dropped, Stella patted his shoulder, gave him a kiss on his check and turned off out the door.

"Oh hey, Mac," Sheldon said coming in the locker room door.

Mac still had a shocked look on his face.

"Uh, Mac. You okay?" Sheldon said waving his hand in Mac's eye-line.

Closing his jaw and shaking his head Mac's face lit up into a smile.

Stella's good. But I'm better... let's just wait and see.

Turning his attention back to Sheldon he replied. "Yeah I'm fine... better than fine," Mac said then he walked out the door. Leaving Sheldon kinda confused at his boss's odd behavior.

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After taking what turned out to be more than just a few boxes off stuff to Danny's apartment. Lindsay and Danny had just finished eating breakfast and were walking to the car.

"So what do want to do on your sort of day off?" Danny asked turning to look at her.

"Um, I don't know. What about you? What do you want to do?"

Danny felt like saying a lot of things that happened to involve him and Lindsay in more than a 'Just Friends' type situations but he bit his tongue, other than those there was one thing he would want to do especially when he had the time.

"Do you want to come with me to see Louie?" He casually asked.

He wants me to come with? Well... he must really trust me.

"You want me to come with you?" She asked out loud in a slightly shocked tone, slowing her pace, she stopped to look at him.

"Yeah. Is that okay?"

Maybe I'm pushing it, I might have feelings for her, but I don't know if she has feelings for me.

"Sure, I'd love to." Her face broke out into a warm smile and she looped her arm through his. "Come on Messer, let's go," she said looking up at him.

"Uh, Okay."

Hmm... maybe I have just a very small chance.

He smiled back and they got into the car.

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Standing outside of Louie's hospital room with Danny looking through the glass at his brother, Lindsay turned to him.

"Are you gonna go in?" She asked as she placed her hand on his arm.

He looked at her, his face like someone else. Not the self-confident, cocky, Danny the Joker - but a broken, scared and lonely man.

Lindsay felt her heart break. She hated seeing him like this but she knew he needed her and she sure as hell was going to be there.

"Do you want me to come in?" She asked softly, he nodded solemnly as a reply.

"Come on," she encouraged as she opened the door and lead him into the room.

She let go of his arm and nudged him gently toward the hospital bed, but Danny didn't move instead he looked at her and smiled a weak smile but she could see the sincerity in his eyes.

Moving over to his brother who lay in a coma, wires everywhere. The room was silent except the for the faint 'Beep Beep' of the life support machine. The sound of Danny's voice broke the silence.

"Lou. It's your brother Danny..." He said taking Louie's hand as he tried to hold back tears.

Lindsay put her hand to her mouth to hold back her own tears that were welling up. She wanted to just hold him and tell him that everything was going to be okay but she didn't think that it would be right, they weren't like that

We're friends right? Friends can comfort each other right?

But she stood rooted to her spot near the door when Danny spoke again.

"I just want you to know again, that I- I don't blame you. For what ya did." Danny's voice cracked as he started to cry, his emotions falling free now.

"Just wake up Louie. You're family we don't leave family. I love you, ya know." Danny's shoulders began shaking as he let the tears out.

Lindsay had been looking away when Danny was talking but seeing him like this was too much, she walked and stood next to him, Danny felt her put her hand in his, no words just actions, just knowing she was there meant more to him than anything.

His other hand went to his face as he cried his heart out, Lindsay let go of her hang-ups, excuses and pulled him into a hug, his head on her shoulder she gently rubbed his back. Her other hand on the back of his neck.

Had this been any other time Danny would of felt nervous and made a joke when they pulled back but he didn't, what she had just done had shown him that she cared and he wasn't about to change that, not in a million years.

Wiping the tears from his face with the back of his hand he looked at her shirt and laughed at the wet patch on her shoulder.

"Sorry bout your shirt," he said tying to lighten the mood.

Lindsay knew that they would never talk about what had just happened, the side of him she now knew, his confession to his brother, him crying, their hug. But just the look in his eyes she knew he was tying to say thank-you.

"Don't worry bout it," she said tying to imitate him, this caused him to laugh. He was shaking his head with laughter.

"Don't - ever do that again."

Lindsay joined in with the laughing even though it was at her expense. They stopped laughing and Danny looked at her, she looked at him then just as he moved in closer to her.. their beepers went off.

They looked at them, then at the same time they both said: "Mac."

Lindsay put her hand on his arm once again. "Let me drive," she smiled.

"Ok." And he handed her the car keys.

Danny said goodbye to his brother and they headed to the car in silence, but this time in a different type of silence, a nervous silence.

That was what? The second time, we have gotten this close to kissing. Oh damn... Linds you've got it bad

Was I about to--- kiss Montana? She probably thinks that it was just a moment of weakness. Do I tell her? Yes... no... yes- no... oh man.

When they stopped at the red light Lindsay decided to say something the silence was killing her.

What do I say? He was going to kiss me do I, just dismiss it? Or do I... let him know I like; maybe even love him. Oh my god. Did I just think-- I love Danny Messer?!

"Uh--"

She felt like hitting her head against the car window for how stupid she sounded, but he would probably think she had lost her marbles.

"Look about before, um. Do you, maybe-" She started to work up the courage when Danny put his hand up and cut her off.

"Don't worry. Forget about it, it's fine."

What did he think I was going to say? What do I say now?

Lindsay was about to reply when the light went green and the cars behind them started honking, so sighing silently she went back to driving in silence.

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NYPD Crime Lab

Sheldon was just going over some test results with Adam, when Don came in.

"Hey, Mac wants all of us in his office.. he didn't say why," Don said shrugging his shoulders.

"Uh, alright," Sheldon said as he started to walk out.

"You too Adam," Don said waving his hand.

"Me?" Adam pointed to himself.

"Yeah." Don rolled his eyes.

"Okay," Adam said taking off his lab coat.

The three of them were heading to Mac's office and speculating what Mac might want when Danny and Lindsay stepped out of the lift. Don, Sheldon and Adam noticed the tension between the two, they looked at each-other then at Danny and Lindsay.

As Danny and Lindsay stopped in-front of them and said their hello's, Don saw that Danny was slightly on edge and that Lindsay was very confused and frustrated all at the same time, he was about to ask what was going on when they heard Mac call them from the doorway.

"Have you seen Stella? And are you lot going to stand there all day or are you going to come in here?" Mac asked in a annoyed tone.

But Don's gaze was still looking between Danny and Lindsay.

What the hell is goin' on? I'll get it outta Messer one way or another before he ruins his relationship-- friendship, whatever he wants to call it, with Lindsay.

Sheldon turned to Mac and answered when he saw that Don was occupied with Danny and Lindsay.

"Stella just came back from a crime scene. I think I just saw her go into the locker room."

"Okay I'll go get her, you six get in here. I don't have the patience to wait all day, I have a lot to do today," Mac said, the with that he walked off to find Stella.

"What is up with him?" Adam spoke up, he didn't like this weird mood between the others.

"Don't know. Lets find out," Don finally saying something while sending a questioning look to Danny.

Ignoring Don's looks Danny started walking to Mac's office, Lindsay following close behind.

"What's going on between those two?" Sheldon asked watching Danny open the door for Lindsay.

"Haven't the faintest clue," Don said with a perplexed look.

"That's why you're the detective. And not the CSI," Sheldon joked but stopped laughing when Don hit his arm.

"Ouch," Sheldon complained.

"Yeah well. That may be true but one thing I am good at is interrogating, so; I'm going to get Danny to talk one way or another," Don stated, and Sheldon nodded his head in understanding.

"Another being?" Adam asked, Sheldon and Don just looked at him like they had just noticed he was even there.

"Uh. Right. Okay. Mac's office." Adam walked off as fast as his feet could carry him into Mac's office.

Then Don saw something - actually someone in Mac's office sitting in a chair next to the desk. He didn't take his focus off the Brunette who had her Auburn Dark Red/Brown hair in a pony-tail and dark blue eyes, she was about in her mid 20's. Then he saw something else glinting... a badge.

Noticing Don's sudden mood change Sheldon looked at the Detective and asked, "You okay?"

Don didn't answer he just walked off into the office so Sheldon followed, interested to why Don was acting so bizarrely.

Danny and Lindsay were sitting on the sofa, one at each end of it, they couldn't be further apart if they tried. Danny saw Don's behavior and was going to ask what was going on when he noticed that Don's eyes hadn't left the woman.

She turned around and her face mirrored Don's. Sheldon, Danny and Lindsay looked between the two and waited for a reaction, Don's face broke into a huge smile.

"Well, well, well," the woman said.

"I don't believe it," Don said his face still very happy, he moved over to her as she stood up.

"Hi, Don," she replied with a big smile.

"I heard rumors you were back in New York."

"Well. You heard right," she said as Don gave her a hug, they pulled back.

"It's been a while," he said, completely oblivious to the fact that Danny, Sheldon, Lindsay and Adam were even there watching the whole thing.

"Two years, three and a half months and one week," she replied smiling at him.

"I also heard, that you turned CSI. How's that working out for you?" He asked leaning on the edge of the desk.

"What? Compared to being a Detective?"

"Ouch. Nice to see being a CSI hasn't effected your mood swings." He laughed when she just sent him a look.

"Very funny." She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Out of maybe twenty cops I got stuck with you," she said taking a seat again and leaning back to look up at him.

"Ah, come on. It wasn't that bad being my partner was it?" he asked looking mock hurt.

She smiled, "No."

"Wait a minute... slow down. She's a cop. And you know her. And you two were partners?" Danny asked the question that was hanging in the air.

Don and the woman turned around and looked at Danny as if he had just said he was going to join a circus or something equally strange.

"Yeah," Don answered simply as if it was stating the obvious.

"Huh?" Danny was most definitely confused as were the others.

Don suddenly realized that not everyone knew what he did. "I'll explain..." He started to say when Mac entered the room.

Mac looked around the room and then at the woman. "I see you all have already started without me," Mac said taking a seat behind his desk.

Stella walked in and saw the faces of her coworkers that sat on the sofa. "Okay, who died?"

Everyone turned to look at her.

"What? It's just that the mood in here is so weird, even if this is a crime lab," Stella commented and took a seat on the edge of the sofa next to Sheldon.

"Okay I can see that everyone is very confused." He addressed the woman, "I'll let you explain."

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Flashback

After four boring hours in court she headed to get some coffee. Maybe decaf, she didn't get much sleep as it was.

She loved new york. When she was a little girl she would cut out clippings of the statue of liberty and the empire state building. But at lunch time at rush hour.. even she wished she was at home. Knocking her out of her thoughts a man rushed past her nearly making her spill her coffee.

"Hey watch where your going!" She half yelled, then let out a frustrated breath. "Jerk."

She picked a table outside in the sun, now that it was coming into Autumn she took every chance she could to stay outside. While most New Yorkers hated it, she loved the heat. She grew up in a desert state where the summers were scorching hot and the winters bitter cold.

Watching the buzz of people rush past her something caught her eye.

A woman wearing a tan skirt suit and a string of black pearls came out of the building across the street. The woman looked calm, then - her expression changed to shock. Then fear, then horror.

'Bang'

A gun went off, and as the sound echoed down the street, people screaming, chaos and madness. the woman fell backwards as if in slow-motion, her once silk white blouse now a dark rich crimson. Now just lying there still.

She picked up her coffee and threw it in the trash, running across the street, one hand getting her cell out the other stopping the traffic. Reaching down she checked the woman's pulse, she was dead.

Hearing another shot fired, she turned her head to see a man in a navy blue sweatshirt and black jeans running towards a dark green pick-up; he got in and sat there waiting. Seconds later, out of the doors in building next to the Starbucks she was just at, two men dressed in maintenance clothes come running out carrying four duffle bags. Yelling something at the man they then run up and got into the car, the green pick-up then peels off down the street.

As the car speeds off she grabs a napkin from her pocket and writes the license plate number down, only getting the first half of the number. She gets up and goes inside the building, looking around she sees a security officer, probably didn't get into the Police force because of his height, maybe 19 with golden blonde hair and a oval size face, it was obvious he was from a small town.

"Excuse me?" She asked looking at his name tag, "Patrick Harold?"

"That's me. Can I help you ma'am?"

"Yes, you can officer Harold. I would be right in thinking you've been to the police academy, correct?"

"Yes ma'am, two years. Fifth in my regiment."

"That's impressive."

She knew the best way to get him to help would be to treat him like a member of the police force.

"Now we have a 419 outside, female Caucasian 35. One shot to the stomach. The suspect fled the scene in a dark green Ford pick-up. To preserve evidence I need you to corner off the crime scene and about three feet around. You got that?"

"Yes ma'am."

"My name is Detective Mellisa Thompson, should you get asked any questions."

"Wow, a real CSI. Are ya from New York?"

"No. Now why don't you go and protect my crime scene," she replied. And Harold's walks outside.

Mellisa pulls out her cell phone and dials the number she needs.

"Taylor."

"Hello Mr. Taylor," she smiles. "This is Mellisa Thompson we met once at New Jersey CSI."

"Mellisa, it's nice to hear from you. But I'm guessing this isn't a social call."

"No, I'm down by the West Side Court House. I was a witness to a shooting the victim is dead. Suspect fled the scene."

"Alright, I'll send an officer down there. One of my CSI's will take over the

investigation."

"No offense, Mac. But I really want this case."

"You can't, you're a witness. And there-for you are emotionally involved. All of us know how it goes."

"Mac, I'm a cop. And a CSI. I think I know well enough not to."

There was a pause. Then she heard him sigh. "Fine, but you have to let one of my team work with you on this one. Okay?"

"Okay."

"When you're done there, come to the lab and we'll get started."

"Kaythanks."

"Sure no problem." And they both hung up as Patrick Harold came running up to her.

"I--- huh... uh..." He stuttered trying to catch his breath.

"Breathe."

He let out a deep breath. "I cornered it off like you said."

"You didn't touch my crime scene did you?" She asked. Her professional side getting the best of her.

"No ma'am, I walked round it real' carefully." He said in his country accent as he shook his head.

"Stop calling me ma'am, it makes me feel old."

"Sorry ma'...er-"

"Mellisa is fine," she said smiling at him.

"I um, also cornered off the tire treads, just in case they were important," he said with a proud expression.

"Good job," she commented and gave him a pat on his shoulder, he smiled.

End Flashback

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"I was in New York on a case. I'm a CSI out in New Jersey. I was outside the courthouse having coffee while the court was in recess, when I witnessed a murder. Anyway, long story short... I met Mac on a case in NJ last month, so I called him and here I am," she said then looked at Mac for him to take the lead to explain the rest to his team.

"Stella is going to work this one with Miss Thompson, now I need one of you to help her out around the lab even though most things will be relatively the same as in the New Jersey crime lab," Mac said looking at them.

"I'll do it!" Don said a little too enthusiastically.

"Okay Don. Seeing as you two already know each other. I'm sure that's fine," Mac directed that more to CSI Thompson.

"Yes that's fine," she said smiling at Don.

"Okay, well now that's all sorted can you all get out of my office. Please. I have a lot of paperwork and phone calls to make." This caused laughs, rolling of eyes and murmurs from the group.

"Out!" Mac said pointing to the door, more laughing than angry.

They all stood in the hallway except Stella who decided to help Mac out with all the paperwork. Then Adam said, "I have to get back to the evidence I was processing." And he walked off.

Don turned to Mellisa. "Don't worry about him, he's always like that," he explained.

"I figured as much," she smiled.

"Uh- hello?" Danny was getting frustrated because he and everyone else still had no idea what was going on and being a CSI that really annoyed him.

"Let's all go into the break-room and I'll tell you everything," Don said.

When everyone sat down, Lindsay and Sheldon on the sofa, Danny in a chair next to the table, Don leaning on the counter and Mellisa sitting in a chair opposite Danny.

"Before we forget. If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?" Lindsay asked.

Mellisa put her hand to her mouth and gave a chuckle. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot. Um, well I may as tell you my full name since I'm getting to know you all... Mellisa Claire Thompson," she finished, looked around at them to see if they had any questions and was about to continue when Danny spoke up.

"How do you know Don?"

Mellisa looked at Danny and explained. "Okay maybe I should start from the beginning. I'm originally from Vegas, Nevada. Grew-up there. Went to college there, then I came to New York to go to the Police Academy. I trained to be a Detective and got partnered with one; Don Flack. We were partners for six and a half years then I moved to New Jersey. Became a CSI and you sortaknow the rest," she said looking at them for a response, but Don spoke first.

"Hey 'Lisa I have to leave you here for a second. I just got something I gotta do, you gonna be okay?" Don asked.

"Yeah. I'll be fine," she smiled at him with a wink. He laughed and walked off out the door.

Mellisa turned to look at everyone who had seen the whole exchange between the two.

"So.. you and Don as partners. What was that like?" Sheldon asked, he was as was Danny and Lindsay very interested in the turn of events and this new person from Don's past.

"Don't tell him this cause he'll never let me forget it, but it was really good," she answered and smiled at the fond memories of their partnership.

"You two get on really well," Lindsay commented referring to their re-meeting in Mac's office.

"It took a lot of fine tuning. But yeah we do." She smiled at Lindsay. Mellisa had relatives that were from country states so she liked the fellow CSI.

"So, do ya have lots of stories on him," Danny asked with a smile, he was still kinda taking in all this information about his friend.

"Yes. But - he has ones on me, so I'm not going to tell." She smiled right back.

"Fine," he relented. Turning to Lindsay instead. "Hey... Montana?"

"Montana?" Mellisa asked.

"Nickname," Lindsay answered.

"Ah." Mellisa nodded.

"Yeah." Lindsay smiled. I like her she's nice. I wonder why Flack never said anything, hmm.

"What does that mean?" Danny asked a bit confused.

"It's a girl thing," Mellisa said while getting up, she patted Danny on the shoulder. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it. I'm gonna go find Don," she said walking toward the door.

Danny had a look of both confusion and shock on his face, Sheldon was laughing but stopped when Danny sent him a glare and Lindsay was smiling..

I really like her now, I'll go with her and maybe we can talk some more. "Here I'll come with you," Lindsay said getting up and walking out the doorway with Mellisa.

"Thanks," Mellisa said.

As they walked down the hall Lindsay said something to Mellissa and they both looked back down the hall at Danny and they laughed as they turned the corner.

"What was that about?" Danny asked Sheldon who was smiling. "What are you smiling at?" Danny said his brow frowning slightly.

"Don't you see it? She's like a female Don," Sheldon explained.

Then it made sense to Danny. "You're right. But I get the feeling he learnt it from her," Danny agreed.

"Yeah, it's like the 'how to' guide to Don," Sheldon laughed.

"A scary thought. Plus she's a woman," Danny shook his head in worry.

"And a cop," Sheldon said, both their eyes widened. "Lord help us," he said before walking out.

This is going to be interesting, very interesting. Danny smiled a devious smile and went and got some coffee.

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"I think we found him," Lindsay said as they stood outside an interrogation room where Don was sitting down with his head on his arms on the table.

"Don't worry he's okay. We just have a lot of unresolved things to talk about," Mellisa said.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later?" Lindsay asked, she understood what Mellisa meant.

"Yeah sure... oh here. I always take some with me when I go to court," Mellisa said handing her a business card.

"Thanks, I'll see ya." Lindsay smiled while putting the card in her pocket.

"Yeah." And with that Mellisa took a breath and opened the door, closed it behind her and walked over to Don.

"Hey," she said taking a seat next to him.

"Hmm," he replied, his head still down.

"I guess we should talk, huh," Mellisa said looking at her hands.

Don lifted his head and looked at her. "I'm not upset, just a little thrown is all. We haven't spoken in two years. I just don't know what to say," he said shrugging his shoulders.

"Well I'll start. I'm sorry I left," she said looking up at him.

"Hey, what happened... was not your fault, you shouldn't keep feeling like it is," he said as he put his hand on her shoulder.

"I know," she said and gave him a small smile.

"It's nice having you back in NY. I kinda missed you and your weirdness," he

said grinning at her.

"Hey," she laughed, playfully shoving him. "God... I leave you alone for two years and look."

Don laughed, "There's the Mellisa I know."

She smiled, then she gets more serious. "Uh-- look I'm- sorry I didn't come to see you when you were in hospital. I guess I was... well scared."

"You? Scared? You are the toughest partner I've ever had."

"Only partner you've ever had," she smirked. "And no I'm not."

Ignoring her comment he smiled. "And you're the most softest person I know."

"Are you trying to make me cry?" She said biting her lip and smiling.

"Come here," he said and hugged her.

When they pulled back Don tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

"So only partner I've ever had. You planning on staying in New York?"

"Why?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"No reason," he replied with a smile.

"I don't know. I'll get this case solved then maybe, I'm just gonna see how it goes first."

"Well if you need anything I'm here for you," he said rubbing her arm.

"Thanks," she said smiling at him.

"Now... Mac filled me in a minute ago." He pulled out his note pad and told her all the same stuff that happened. "Anything else I missed?"

"Nope. That's everything."

"Now here is the stuff you don't know. Victim is a Mrs Ellen Dawson. Age 35, divorced, from Arizona. She was bank accountant for 17 years, moved here last October. No living relatives, ex-husband went missing last September," he said reading from the the note pad then looking up at her.

"What is her husband's description?" Mellisa asked.

"I thought you said you couldn't see the shooters face cause you were taking cover..." Don looked at her.

"Well I kinda did," she admitted, shrugging.

Don stared at her, "A maniac killer is shooting in broad daylight and you stand there, in plain sight I might add. Just to get a good look at the suspect?"

"So."

Don laughed, "It's good to have you back Mezz."

"Hey-eh. Only Rebecca calls me that," she said shaking her head smiling. "I knew I should never have told you that." Then she looked him straight in the eye and in a serious tone she warns him, ".. you tell anyone... I'll..."

"You'll, what?" Don pushed with a grin. Then as he saw she was getting annoyed he put his hands up in mock surrender. "Ok. Alright. You want to punish me, lets go for dinner."

That wasn't what she was expecting. "What?"

"Ya know, the Vegetarian tofu loving restaurants you eat at," he said waving his hand in the air.

Mellisa placed her hand on his shoulder to stop his babbling. "Why don't we just get take-out," she replied.

He nodded in agreement and they both smiled. "Sounds good."

TBC

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So what did you think? I know that the scene with Danny and his brother was done on the show but I thought that Lindsay should be there too and I figured that he would be like that every time he saw his brother.

I wasn't sure about what to do with Mellisa and then boom it happened. She was originally meant for another CSI:NY fic, but I'm happy I put her in this one. The thing that happened to her wasn't anything romantic with Don but something that caused her to move and change jobs. (You'll find out soon enough) Her and Don are just close friends that were partners for a long time. He cares a lot about her and vice-versa.

I might do something with those two or I'll move her back home (Vegas) What do you all think? Don or Vegas?

Let me know. x

Lila.