Chapter 42: Surprising Engagement

A couple of weeks later, having not heard from Colin Murphy, Gus was debating calling him when her phone rang in from Flack. "Hey stranger, you ever coming back to your desk, because otherwise I think I am going to take it over," Gus teased at him.

"Very funny, Broussard." Flack's voice was harsher than he wanted it to be, but he was feeling like he should focus on just being businesslike with her.

Gus wrinkled her brow, he usually called her Gus or sunshine, he only called her by her last name when trying to create distance between them. She didn't like it. "I'm just saying you don't call, you don't write, you got yourself another partner I don't know about?"

"You haven't exactly been accessible yourself," he remained serious.

"I'll work on that okay, so what do you need?" Gus couldn't figure out what was going on with him, though she had her suppositions that it had to do with what was or wasn't happening between the two of them.

"I need a consult on this bitch I can't seem to get info out of. We got called to the scene of a vodka launch party and the whole crime scene is melting away and I can't, pardon the pun, crack this freaking ice queen and I know she knows something!" Flack was having a bad day and he didn't like having a bad day.

"What's the evidence say?" she started with, without meaning to.

"Who are you, Mac?" Jesus, Flack thought, he didn't need her to give him a hard time too.

"Come on Flack, I'm in here I don't know what's going on walk me through the scene." Flack was walking her through the scene when her call waiting beeped, it was Colin. "Dammit!" she swore.

"What- is that your phone beeping?" She was on desk duty why was someone calling her?

"Call waiting," Gus said angrily.

"You need to take it?" Flack hoped the answer was no.

"Nah, it's just Colin, probably a booty call," Gus seethed.

Flack felt the hairs stand up on his neck, "you still dating him?

"I don't know if I would call it that." Gus was having a bad day and she didn't know why, all she knew was she didn't like the heebie jeebie feeling she was getting.

"Whadyamean?" Flack felt something in the pit of his stomach, and he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

"We just don't, um, go out much. Listen Flack, I don't really want to discuss this with you. Can we get back to the scene and your suspect?" she huffed.

"Fine, I just- never mind. So this waitress," Flack went on to describe her demeanor.

Gus chatted with him a few minutes giving him some suggestions and ended with, "she sounds savvy, if she did anything, she'll lawyer up."

"Great." Flack paused, not able to let the subject drop, "Gus just watch yourself with this guy, okay? Something is up."

"How do you figure that?" Gus considered that maybe he did have insider knowledge, having done more detecting. Or maybe just like her, he knew something was up but didn't know what.

"If it was me, I would have you out on my arm everywhere. I would want to be a part of your life. And while I am certain you are more than adequate in the bedroom, you do really well in the outside world too. Face it, sunshine, you're the total package and if he isn't taking advantage of that, something isn't right." Gus just exhaled. "You think something's up too, don't you?" he asked. Gus didn't respond. "You are a detective too, and you know when something isn't right. Don't let him mess with you. Look I gotta go, maybe we can have a drink or something later?"

"Yeah maybe so." Gus debated what she was going to do. Flack was right, her gut did tell her something was going on but...the thing was she liked having string free 'relations' with an extremely hot fireman, it was like some romance novel. She got plenty of companionship from everyone on the team, she didn't really need another friend. And not having to explain herself or reveal her past was a relief for her. Still, she knew something was going on with Colin, and she didn't want to be duped.

Squaring her shoulders she called the engine house. A gruff older voice answered, "Smith."

"Um hi, is Colin there?"

"He's out on a call, is this Christina, how you doing sweets, how are the wedding plans coming?"

Gus felt her blood boil and freeze at the same time. "Actually, Smith, this is Detective Augusta Broussard with NYPD homicide, and I have a few questions for Mr. Murphy if you could just have him call me," she snarled and slammed down the phone. "Why do you have to be right Flack?" she said pounding her desk.

"What's up Princess?" Parker said from his desk, trailing food down his front.

"I hate men!" she snarled again and hobbled off to the canteen.

A while later over at the engine house, Colin Murphy and his fiancée where discussing wedding plans in between calls when Smith came over. "Hey, Murphy. Christina, how's it going, I thought you called earlier, but here you are in the flesh, beautiful as always."

Christina smiled at the older man, "such a flirt. Nope, no calls, I know I can't ever get him on the phone," she beamed at her fiancée, content she had bagged such a hot fireman, so what if he was divorced, he had been young and foolish.

Colin caught what Smith said about someone calling. "Someone called?" he questioned.

"Yeah, a Detective Augusta Broussard, with homicide, said she had some questions for you. Didn't leave her number though." Colin blanched.

Smith was walking away already but Christina caught the look, it wasn't a good one, one she had seen before. They had been through this once, and she thought it was over, something he just had to get out of her system. She tried to stay calm, her hysterics last time did no good. "What's a detective calling you for, baby?" she questioned as sweetly as possible.

"Nothing, just a case. She's down at the 12th, I uh, had to remove her from a scene a little while ago, might be an incident report thing." Christina nodded, knowing it was more and plotting...

Flack called her for a drink the next night. "Fine, but can we go some place other than Sully's?" Gus huffed not wanting to be in a cop/firemen/medic bar right now.

"Maddigan's?" Flack suggested.

"Fine, meet you there in about an hour. I got to get checked out at the docs so maybe I can get back out on the field sometime this century."

"You need someone to take you?" Flack offered.

"I'm good, but thanks."

Danny came wandering up to Flack, looking like his puppy had been killed. "What's up with the long face Dan-o?"

"Guess," he said mooning over Lindsay through the glass.

"I see," Flack said, trying to imagine if things were as confusing between the two of them as between him and Gus. "Whadya do kiss her and get rejected? I know that sucks."

Danny studied him out of the corner of his eye, was that why he had been spending so much time in the lab and avoiding the pit, did Gus reject him? He had heard she had gotten cozy with the fireman who pulled her out of that building, "Did you, nah, never mind, it's just Montana here running hot and cold, I think I have a chance and then boom, door slams in my face."

"I feel ya," Flack said looking truly like he understood.

"Listen you want to go get a drink or something?" Danny could use a drink with him and was also curious to know what was going on with his friend, he had been withdrawn and moody lately.

"Nah I got plans," Flack said, jangling change in his pocket.

"You going out with that chick again who we met at the bar, Paige or something?" Danny was fishing.

"Not tonight, I'm, ah, going to grab a drink with Gus, but you can come if you want, be like old times," Flack shrugged.

Danny did not want to step into that one, "No, no, I'm good, I'll see if Sheldon or Adam are busy. So that Paige girl, can I give her a call if you aren't dating her?"

"Not a chance, I'm seeing her Saturday, if I don't get called out."

"Saturday, huh, so you aren't going to Cozi's then?" Danny was shocked, he would have figured Gus would have invited Flack, them being two peas in a pod and all. Though not lately now that he thought about it...

"Why would I go to Cozi's, is Mac playing?" Flack was confused, he liked Mac and all, but come on. Didn't they spend enough time together during already?

Crap, Danny thought, she hadn't invited him. Maybe she didn't want him there because she was bringing the fireman? "Ah, yeah, but no big deal, he plays all the time...listen I gotta go check on some fingerprint, see ya" Danny rushed off to see Lindsay.

"See ya," Flack said thinking he would head to Maddigan's early.

Flack was in a booth and absorbed in his thoughts and beer when Gus came sliding in the booth. "Flack, you didn't even notice!"

His head shot up, "Notice what?"

"No crutches!" Gus said excitedly pointing her foot out the booth and rotating her ankle, "ow, crap" she said sliding back in.

"That's what you get for showing off. What did the doctor say?" He couldn't help but smile at her.

"Sadly, my career as a football kicker is over before it even began, but I can be back in the field for 'light duty' which essentially means no runners for me, and I know you are jealous of that!"

"I would say so," he couldn't help but smile back at her, her excitement was contagious. He motioned for the waitress, "what you want, my treat?"

"Blue moon, orange not lemon," she told the waitress who didn't bother to look at her but made sure to give Flack a view of her ample cleavage. Flack didn't notice, studying Gus and wanting to ask about friggin' Murphy.

As soon as the waitress walked away Gus snorted, "why is it women overly blessed by the breast fairy think they can just undo a few buttons and not have to be nice to other females?"

Flack was momentarily confused until Gus gestured her head toward the waitress who was coming back with the next round, carrying the drinks in such a way to maximize the view. She slammed Gus' drink in front of her and languished over slowly setting down Flack's and lingering.

"See?" Gus said raising her eyebrows.

"Can I get you anything else?" the waitress said practically lying on top of Flack.

"A vomit bag," Gus muttered.

Flack broke out into laughter, "we're good. We'll let you know."

"I'll be waiting," the woman said huskily.

Gus gulped her beer.

Flack jumped in with,"I don't see what you're worried about, not like the 'breast fairy' as you called it passed over you and you treat other women just fine."

"As I recently told Lindsay, it is all trompe l'oeil."

"You gotta stop it with the French, sunshine."

"Illusion," she translated.

Flack snorted into his beer, sure she wasn't a playmate, but he had seen her in just a sports bra on a number of occasions and she was perfectly proportioned in his book. He took a long drink and said, "why has fireman Bill complained?" he loved teasing her, she didn't reply, but a storm cloud gathered, maybe he had teased too much. "Fine, Murphy, how are things going with Murphy?" Gus played with her orange peel, practically doing origami with it. "Sore subject?" he asked her.

She dropped her orange peel and knotted her hands, she leaned down not looking at him.

He let her sit in silence, even though it was eating him up. He would kill the guy, or at least rough him up, firefighter muscles be damned. "

You were right, Flack, you were right".

"Right about what?" he did enjoy being right but he wasn't so sure what he had been right about. "He is a jerk, he's engaged, so revel in that, Sherlock!"

Flack reached a long arm across the table and freed the coaster Gus had been shredding from her hands. He didn't let go, "I'm not gonna revel in that, Gus, I didn't want to be right. I want you..." he dropped her hand, "I just want you to be happy, I think you deserve that more than anything." He stared at her so intently, Gus thought the booth behind her head was going to catch fire.

"Stop wrinkling your forehead at me, Flack," she said reaching across and rubbing out his furrow. "I'll be fine." He still looked at her. She smiled slightly, "I'll be fine after I tell him off and kick him the balls," she cracked.

"Just don't hurt your ankle again," Flack replied acerbically. Gus switched gears, "what are you doing Saturday night?"

Flack was caught off guard, "I um, uh, have a date."

"Oh."

Flack couldn't take the saddened expression on her face, looking similar to the one Danny had earlier. "Why what's going on?"

"Oh, no big deal, just playing with Mac at Cozi's, but now the whole gang is coming because Lindsay wouldn't stop inviting people," she brushed off the fact that he had a date.

"I guess I could stop by afterwards if you think you'll be there late."

Gus weighed what she would say to this, "you could bring whatshername if you wanted if you think she'd be in to that," she rushed out.

"Paige, I don't know if she would be, but I could bring her. It'd be great to see you play," he grinned at her, not really caring if Paige wanted to go or not, he was curious. And he wanted to make sure she was fine with this whole Murphy thing as she claimed to be. He hoped to god there wasn't a scene where they ran into each other because there would be a turf war to say the least...

"Flack, you still with me, I said I am gonna go home and dump a philanderer. You want me to close us out?" Flack nodded, still thinking about punching Murphy's slick ass.

Gus made her way home, angry at the world. She tried to sort through her feelings before she called Colin. She had never really asked him, so maybe it was just a lie of omission. But then he was still cheating on his fiancée, and that made her the other woman and she didn't like being that. She knew first hand how much that hurt. She was angry at herself for getting involved in a purely physically relationship with a guy just so she could say she had this stupid fairy tale white knight thing. She was mad at Flack for being right and also for him not getting the full story and stopping her before she started this whole stupid relationship. And and crap, she was mad at this girl named Paige just for existing. "Get a grip, Gus," she called to herself as she let herself in to the building.

Mrs. Potter was in the lobby, dusting the fake plants. "Augusta, deary, you lost the crutches, do you need another pair?"

"No, Mrs. Potter, the doctor told me I could stop using them."

"I haven't seen either of those handsome men around here lately, only that pretty little girl with the brown hair. Don't tell me you are munching on the tile now."

Gus shook her head, munching on the tile...tile munching...tile...carpet...whoa wait a second, "lesbian, you don't think I am a lesbian do you Mrs. Potter?"

"We discussed it at bridge, we know all about you crazy youngsters, can't decide what you want. That's what is wrong with this world..." the older woman started to go on a tangent.

"Mrs. Potter, I assure you I like men and only men and only one at a time. Which apparently is something men can't get used to. I would also appreciate it if my love life was not the main topic of discussion at your bridge games!"

"Oh it's not deary, your cases are."

"That's not any better, Mrs. Potter. Listen what are you even doing out here, don't we have people to handle the plants?"

"I was just bored."

"Well how about we go back upstairs and you can watch some television or something." Gus could feel a headache starting.

"Fine, fine," Mrs. Potter said shuffling off.

Gus took an aspirin and felt briefly better, munching on the tile, the team would get a kick out of that. She dialed Colin's cell phone debating what to say...

"Murphy," came the quick response of someone who answered their cell without looking at the caller id.

"Good evening Murphy, I hope I am not interrupting anything I just wanted to see where you and the future Mrs. Murphy were registered so I could make sure to send a gift."

"Gus...I just..." he stammered.

"Don't, just don't bother, alright? I didn't ask you directly, you didn't reveal. Fine, now the truth is out there and I am not into that, so nice knowing you and thanks for pulling me out of a burning building," Gus huffed.

"Not into that, I figured you would be, didn't seem to be the type to have a problem with not being exclusive," Colin sneered.

"Excuse me?" Gus couldn't believe what he was saying.

"Well you and that Detective Flock or whatever his name is, aren't you two?"

"Flack, no dumb ass, he's my partner. At work. Listen, just have a nice life and try to keep your dick to yourself, wives tend to want that!" She hung up on him saying, "good riddance to bad rubbish," as she poured herself a double neat and went to work on her set.

Very late on Thursday Flack came into the pit saying, "it's far too early for this kind of cal!l"

"What are you talking about, it's very late," Gus said, she hadn't heard anything on her radio.

"Frat party out of control, girl found hanging from the ceiling fan, a real drunk fest and its not even Friday, yet," he said looking at his watch.

"Thursdays a weekend night for most kids, I know I tied one on on many a Thursday nights. Drunk college kids, I can hardly wait," Gus said checking her clip and getting up.

"What are you doing, sunshine?" Flack said.

"Figured we might want to go to the scene?"

"You aren't going any where, Loo hasn't signed off yet."

"Dammit, but I'm fine, the doctor said I was fine, let me come!"

"No way, they would have my ass, you know protocol better than anyone Gus."

"Fine, but I just, really need to get out of here and here," she said tapping her head.

"I know, sunshine, look if we bring anyone back for questioning, you can help. Otherwise, don't move from that desk," he looked at her knowing she might fight him.

"Fine," she snarled, "freaking paperwork, he probably had a golf game."

Eventually, Gus gave up and went home to catch a few hours sleep. About four hours later her phone rang, "Broussard," she yawned.

"Rise and shine, Gus we might have a serial killer," Flack said morosely.

Gus practically flew to the lab. "Body was found decapitated wearing a freaky t-shirt. Her head turned up in the park about 5am, dog walker, and then another body was found pinned to a tree wearing a similar shirt about an hour ago. They seem to have codes in them. Hawkes and Stella are in there right now trying to decipher them," Flack read from his memo book and gestured into the lab.

"Like edoc laundry?" Gus asked, those were some cool shirts.

"Yeah. You know about them?"

"I've seen them around, I think Adam may have one."

"Well Danny and Mac are going to try to talk to the guy that makes those, waiting for the market to open in Washington Square."

"And us?" Gus asked.

"Well I get to go bug some college kids with hangovers and you get to help them figure out the code on the newest shirt."

"Woot!" Gus did a happy dance.

"You are so weird," Flack said shaking his head and walking off.

Gus entered the lab. "Calamity Jane back in the saddle," Hawkes grinned at her.

Gus set down to help with the shirts. "Huh," she said.

"What?" Hawkes asked knowing that 'Huh'.

"It looks like there's numerology stuck in with the messages. And the images seems to revolve around Greek myth. Stella, isn't that your department?"

"I will admit I do have a little bit of knowledge in that realm," the woman smiled.

"Look the other t-shirts are based on a website and clues to solve a mystery right, so these are a knock off maybe. Though I have to say a rather interesting and morbid way of advertising," Gus said with a shiver.

"You might be right," Stella said typing on the computer. A video came up on the website.

"Kids playing street hockey, well that's helpful," Gus sneered.

"I wonder where that is?" Stella studied the skyline.

"We need more data," Hawkes interjected.

They went back to the t-shirts to find another password. Success. Stella typed it in and a new video came up.

"Kid blowing bubbles, I am not really seeing a mystery here," Gus said trying to figure out the connection. If this was a serial killer, he wasn't following a normal template...

"No, we're not, but I am getting enough information to triangulate where that building is," Stella said working with Hawkes on some fancy software.

"Long Island, here we come!" Hawkes said.

"Great, that's all you can use me for, you got me out of bed for this?"

"I didn't get you out of bed," Hawkes said.

"Me neither," Stella agreed.

"In that case, kick Flack's ass for me since I am still not allowed out of here," Gus groaned heading for coffee and the pit.

Chapter 43: Strong Enough

It was much later that night at Cozi's before Gus found out what happened with the case. Mac was at the bar talking to some friends, Danny and Lindsay were in a world of their own and Gus was trying to get the story from Hawkes and Stella. "So this guy was seeking revenge from his brother being imprisoned and he was going after people connected to the case, including you, Sheldon?"

"Yep, so now I get my own bodyguard," he said gesturing to the uniform sitting uncomfortably at the next table, "for a couple of weeks at least."

"Because he escaped after Danny and Don chased him down? How the hell did that happen, someone's head is gonna roll for that one!"

Stella groaned, "Gus!"

"Sorry, I forgot about the decapitation," she made a face, "Listen I am going to confer with Mac and grab a drink, but ah I'll catch you in a few?" Gus surveyed the room, Flack must be off somewhere else having fun with Paige. She wandered over to Mac, "heard you lost a suspect today."

"Well not personally, but yeah. It would have been nice to have you question him."

"Loo hasn't signed me back to the field yet," Gus grumbled.

"I know, I will have a chat with him on Monday, I need you back. And try to not get hurt again."

"I will." She never actually meant to get hurt, but she could only imagine how she looked to everyone else.

"Speaking of which how is your ankle doing?" Mac looked at her concern clear on his face.

"I can't do faster than a jog, for another couple of weeks, but I am otherwise fit as a fiddle. Speaking of which are we gonna play or just chat?"

"Sure, head on up, I'll follow."

They played a few standards, both on guitar, having a good time, the gang enjoying watching the duo. "You know they actually look related up there together," Stella said. "

"And yet they share no DNA," Angell said sliding in beside Hawkes. Stella looked over at the two of them, was that...

"You've been hanging out in the lab too much, Jess," Hawkes said. "I wonder if Flack is coming?" Stella asked.

"He had a date with a hot girl we met at Sully's a coupla weeks ago," Danny interjecting tearing his eyes away from Lindsay. Lindsay wrinkled her nose, wondering if Gus knew.

Just then Mac announced, "I know you have seen enough of my ugly mug, so I am going to give this pretty one here a turn at the piano," and he slid off stage leaving Gus alone.

"That wasn't the deal!" she called out, he responded by taking her guitar and pointing at the piano. "Men, they always leaving you hanging," she quipped sliding to the piano bench to laughter. "But I'm going to need some help up here, because I barely even sing in the shower. Jaden, are you out there?" she said, calling to the resident songbird cocktail waitress Cozi's employed. Jaden was on the stage in a flash and with a brief conference, was at the microphone. Gus took a deep breath, feeling a little less exposed with the gorgeous Jaden singing. She started familiar, "summertime and the living is easy..." before moving on to another standard.

"Play us some N'Awlin's music, sweets!" the bartender called.

"Fine," she huffed playing with the keys, "while some of you might think I am just a girl in the big city, to the people who really know me, know I am just a little ol' swamp rat at heart," she said as she broke into "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans." Jaden started in, though Gus could help but sing along at what had become a defacto anthem for her beloved city over the past year. She felt suddenly vulnerable, almost naked on stage and she almost froze caught sight of Flack and a unnaturally gorgeous creature on his arm. She swallowed repeatedly as her heart caught at the look on Flack's face.

"Donnie, I don't want to stay if it's sad. I don't like sad," Paige said staring up at the detective. It didn't matter how handsome he was, she was in a jazz bar, not some trendy Tribeca place like she thought when he said, "let's go to a club". At least dinner was good and he made great arm candy and he could probably get rid of her parking tickets.

"Justa coupla songs, look there's the team," he said pointing.

"Team?" she said following behind him.

"Co-workers," he said.

"Oh, so do like know her?" She gestured to the girl at the piano who was playing something more upbeat, but still jazz. Paige shivered.

"She's Gus, and she's my partner."

"I thought Danny was your partner?"

"Messer's a CSI. Gus was out, injured."

"Oh," Paige felt herself becoming petulant, "I think I want a drink," she said going over to the bar. "I'll be right there".

The gang all clapped and cheered as she finished a Doctor John tune and Gus felt an innate sense of belonging. "I need a drink now, which means I also need to steal Jaden back," she said hopping down, "back to the 'ugly mug' for a couple of songs" she said gesturing to Mac. He took the stage and Gus clamored down. She caught sight of Flack standing off the side of the stage and tried to ignore her heart swelling.

"You were amazing" Flack said, not able to contain his shock or excitement, he pecked her on the cheek, "but I didn't think you sang," he teased.

"Thanks and I didn't, really, just back up. So that's Paige?" Gus pointed her chin, her hands stuck deep into the pockets of her jeans.

"Yep, that's Paige, you want to meet her?" Flack bit his tongue as soon as it came out of his mouth.

"Nah, I'm good. She doesn't look so thrilled to be here, did you tell her you were bringing her?"

"I told her we was going to a club to hear a friend play."

"She probably was thinking more Whiskey Blue trendy, Flack, especially the way you are dressed tonight, new threads?" she said taking in his outfit.

"Yeah, figured I would give the pastels a rest for the night, you like" he gestured at his black shirt open at the collar, suit jacket and jeans.

"Tres chic, sorry I forgot stop with the French."

"It's good, I got that one" he studied her for a moment, sipping her drink. "You need another one?"

"I'm fine."

"Did you call Murphy the other night?" he asked nervously.

Gus slumped a little, "yeah, it wasn't so pretty, but it had to be done."

"I'm sorry I didn't know to warn you."

"You tried to warn me but I did listen?" she looked at Paige who was flirting with the bartender while still glaring at Gus and Flack talking. "Look I think your date really wants to get out of here, but thanks for coming."

"I want to stay," he said not turning around to where Paige was.

"I don't think that would be a wise relationship move there, blue eyes."

Flack really didn't care, he didn't want to miss out on this chance to get to know another side of Gus. Especially since everyone else seemed to be there. "She can go home then."

"Don't let her hear you say that, she's giving us the death stare."

Flack turned around and caught the very unattractive and contempt look. He gave her the one minute gesture. "I can get her a cab."

"And I can get you a shovel."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're burying yourself here." He shrugged. "You need take her somewhere trendy with your new duds, I can't have your new girlfriend hating me before we get back on the field together."

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Whatever Flack, look, I'm going to go sit back in with the band and I think you should probably go."

"Fine, we'll leave soon," he said slinking off to join Paige.

"Baby, are we leaving now that you've talked to your little friend?"

"Partner, she's my partner and maybe one more song."

"Okay because then I want to take you home," Paige purred wrapping around him.

Gus was about to go back on stage but looking over at the bar and Paige practically inside Flack's clothing and thinking about Colin and his fiancée all her feelings of belonging went out the window. She shook her head heading to the table where the team was sitting, motioning for a drink even though it meant having to look at Paige and Flack. She realized Danny must have seen the look on her face when he spoke up.

"So I guess things with the firefighter ain't going so well?" Danny said.

Gus shook her head, downing her drink and motioning at Lindsay to tell him.

"He's engaged," Lindsay supplied.

"Jerk," Stella agreed, before noticing Mac on stage, "hey, Gus, I think Mac is trying to get you back up there."

Gus locked eyes with Mac, who seemed to see every emotion she was trying to hide. She reluctantly got on stage, sitting beside him with her guitar, playing a couple of songs, though her heart wasn't in it.

"Gussie, what do you want to play?" Mac asked, sensing the shift in her mood.

She played a couple of chords of the first song Mac ever taught her, one of Claire's favorites. "Is that alright?" she asked, hoping he still could listen to the song. He gave a nod, looping the rest of the band in. Gus introduced the song, "I am not singing this one, because I can't do it justice, but this is the first song I ever learned how to play on the guitar, thanks to this guy here," she hooked her thumb toward Mac, "and it was one of my Aunt's favorite songs, so this one is for Claire," she said, before the band broke into a rousing version of The Band's The Weight. By the time they finished, both Mac and Gus were looking misty and wistful.

Danny leaned into Lindsay, "You think that was just about her aunt?" he said a flash of the look Gus had given Flack and Paige on the way out.

"Not tonight, not lately," Lindsay said, worried.

"I wish they would both wake up and just admit the truth," Danny soberly stated. He couldn't take much more of Flack in denial. Or Gus' for that matter.

"Sometimes the truth is too big to handle, Danny," Lindsay whispered, her own eyes filling with tears.

Gus came back to the table with a pitcher of drinks, "Figured I owed y'all for listening to me," she said shyly.

"No way, it was great, Gus," Lindsay piped up.

"I'm glad it wasn't country!" Danny joked.

Gus smiled at Mac as he sat down. "Thanks for making me play alone."

"Thanks for coming out, it is nice to see you playing aga-" he broke off, studying his drink, "there appears to be organic matter floating in my beverage."

"You seriously need out of the lab more, Uncle Mac, it's a mojito that's mint," she said with a smile, grateful Mac was back in her life. She wondered how his relationship with the ME was going and hoped better than her latest disaster.

Flack had walked out of the jazz club with Paige and was trying in vain to hail a cab to head uptown when he heard Gus announce the last song. The doorman had kept the door open, letting the music out to the sidewalk and Flack nearly went back in when he heard Gus mention her aunt. He had the urge to go back in and just steal her away, but of course Paige was dragging him into a cab and chanting out her address. Flack tried to shake the heavy feeling in his heart. Arriving in front of Paige's building Flack paid the cabbie and got out behind her. She tried to lead him up the stairs but he said, "Look Paige, I don't think I'm gonna come in with you tonight".

Paige looked him, discontent narrowing her eyes, "Tonight or ever, Donnie?"

"Look you're a real great girl."

"Oh give it up, this is about that chick, your partner," her voice dripped with contempt.

"No, I'm just not feeling it and I don't want to string you along."

"You would have to be dead to not be feeling this. Or in love with someone else. Food for thought Donnie," she said storming up the steps.

"It's Don or Flack," he called after her, "only my family calls me Donnie!" And with that he walked into the cool October night, pondering over his circumstances.