Chapter 78: Questions and Gifts
"Looks like we're spending Christmas in Washington Heights," Gus said, "I should have worn more comfortable shoes," she said looking down.
"What do we know?" Flack said, happy the streets were fairly empty.
Gus shook her head, "I don't know didn't get much info other than the address, uniforms were heading to the scene."
They pulled up in front of a decrepit house that looked like it could have been out of a horror movie. "Merry Christmas," Flack sighed as Gus got caught on a rusty gate.
A uniform met them at the door, yelling still heard from inside the house. "Fabulous," Gus quipped, taking in the man a young patrol officer was attempting to wrangle into cuffs and thus corrupting the crime scene by traipsing through the blood by the body.
"Stop destroying the crime scene, newbie," Flack said stepping in and dragging them both away.
"He do it?" Gus asked the uniform that had let them in.
"I dunno, not my job, he was here though, holding that candlestick," the uniform shrugged, his posture nonchalant.
"What is this Clue?" Gus quipped.
"What?" the uniform asked, only half paying attention to her.
"Candlestick in the parlor, Mr. Green." Gus gestured to the man in cuffs who was all in green.
"Look, I don't know lady, all I know is I am supposed to be off soon and I got about twenty toys to put together as Santa Claus before my kids wake up," the uniform rolled his eyes.
Gus heaved a deep breath and snapped, "It's Detective, and you want normal hours get an office job."
"Whatever, who pissed in your egg nog?" the uniform sniffed at her.
"Unless you want to be out canvassing, I suggest you tell me what you know, now," Gus said staring the man down.
The uniform weighed his options and finally came out with, "don't know much, got a 911 call, showed up, he's got the candlestick, chick dressed like Santa's Little Helper is dead on the floor, lots a blood, that's what we got."
"Great. Thanks for the wealth of information, now have a Merry freaking Christmas," Gus voice dripped with sarcasm, waving the man off.
A voice behind her announced, "Gus, you are starting to sound a little more New York than New Orleans."
Gus turned to see Mac walk in, suited but ruffled holding his kit. "Let me guess, Peyton picked Christmas Eve?" Gus smirked.
"And is none to hap- what happened to the scene?" Mac exclaimed at the obviously disrupted scene.
Gus chewed on her lip, "newbie, trying to link up a suspect, dragged him through, happened as we were getting here."
Mac surveyed her while starting to process the scene, "I am deducing no normal Christmas Eve in pajamas until time for Midnight Mass for you this year?"
"Nope," Gus didn't give him any more information and started to walk away.
"Augusta," he called with a warning tone. "We will discuss this tomorrow. No avoiding."
"Merry Christmas to you too, Mac," she said, walking quickly away.
Flack was questioning the protesting suspect.
"I found her like that man, I couldn't do that, I loved her!"
"Where were you then, Mr.?" Flack said poking at the guy.
"Porter." the man answered.
"Yeah, where were you on Christmas Eve while the woman you loved was playing dress up then?" Gus asked.
"I just got off work, I was just coming home." he protested.
"Hit the bar first though didn't ya?" Flack said, catching a whiff of him.
Mr. Porter mumbled, "a drink or two."
"Well give us all the details so we can go check it out." Flack said, flipping open his book. After getting the details he said, "why don't we go see what Mac has found so far?"
"How about not?" Gus grumbled. Flack just wrinkled his brow at her. Gus looked at him deflated, "I think my gift from Mac is going to be an interrogation about you and I."
Flack studied her, "what makes you think that?"
Gus stared down, "he wants to 'talk' tomorrow and I don't think it is about New Year's plans."
"Look, I'll go see what he has processed, and you check in with the uniforms on the street. Watch your step though and try to keep warm in your sorry excuse for a coat," he smiled and climbed the stairs back into the house.
It was a long night that stretched into the next day. Gus and Flack caught a nap on the couch before being called back out to another scene late Christmas afternoon. Finally back at the precinct, Gus was sure she was safe from Mac seeing as it was late on Christmas night.
"No such luck, fa la la la la," she grumbled seeing his office number appear on her phone. "Coming," was how she answered before immediately hanging up. Flack, of course, was not at his desk.
Gus tried to remain calm on her walk to the crime lab, deep breathing, visual imagery, chanting, the whole nine.
Mac's stare broke through all of it. "Sit," he ordered.
"Not unless you are," Gus retorted.
Mac looked taken aback, rubbed his hand over his face and resignedly sat. "I am only going to ask you this once, and don't lie, are you having a relationship with Don other than just your partnership. Don't be coy and ask me to define relationship or debate with me if sleeping together constitutes a relationship, just answer the question." His look wore her down.
She gulped, closed her eyes and quietly said, "Yes."
"Look Gussie, I-" he stopped.
Gus broke in, "What does it matter? How does it change anything?"
Mac fought to keep his voice steady and calm, he hated how Gus could make him crack. "It matters because you two work together."
Gus' voice replied full of both venom and ice, "I'm sorry was it you or Peyton that quit then?"
"I know you will think I am being hypocritical," Mac placed his hands on the desk, palms down.
"Damn straight I do!" Gus said leaning back in her chair.
Mac gestured, "you two are in the same department, partners, it could get complicated, it could impair your ability to do what you took an oath to do."
"How does sleeping with my partner prevent me from protecting and serving the public of this city?" Gus tried to keep her voice low and prayed the lab was empty.
"Gus, I am glad you have found someone and I am glad you are happy and have made a home here, you need to think down the road though. What about if things go bad, the relationship sours? Have you thought about that?" Mac could feel pressure in his temple.
"Who I sleep with is none of your damn business or the department's, as long as it is not effecting my work. He's not a criminal, he is one of us. And dammit Mac, am I not allowed to just enjoy life for once?" Gus sighed.
Mac almost caved, she did deserve someone like Don, he just wished it had been somebody from a different department or precinct or maybe even from Jersey.
Gus sighed heavily, "if it effects my work, I'll transfer. You know I put my work first, always."
He took a deep breath, not wanting to say it, but feeling her had to, "I know, but I think you should consider transferring before it's needed."
"And if I don't?" Gus was in full defense mode now.
Mac went gravely serious, stabbing his finger on the desk for emphasis, "if I even get a hint of whatever is going on between you two effecting your cases, I will go to your brass."
"If that happens, I will go with you. Goodnight Mac, and Merry Christmas."
Mac looked at the clock, "Actually happy birthday, take care and get some sleep."
Flack still wasn't at his desk. Shaking her head, she headed out to flag a taxi.
"Happy Birthday to me," she muttered softly. She let herself into her apartment and was greeted by a wrapped package on the table with a note saying:
Gus, Sorry to disappear on you. Mrs. Potter let me in. Figured you should have a real Christmas gift even if I couldn't give you a real Christmas. Keep your chin up about Mac. I'll see you tomorrow before shift for a birthday breakfast. -DF
Gus smiled to herself and then surveyed the box from Flack. It was big and slightly heavy. She lifted the lid up and peeked inside with one eye open and saw...nothing. And then Gus realized she was staring into a mass of black, buttery soft leather. She drew out a fabulous, lined three-quarter length leather coat. She gasped and noticed the card inside.
Sunshine, This should keep you warm when I can't. XO
Gus was floored, she debated immediately calling Flack but realized it was the middle of the night and hopefully he was asleep. She would see him in a few hours anyway, though with this gift it just might have to be breakfast in bed.
Gus woke up only when she heard a knock on her door. She pulled on her robe and padded to the door, happy to see who it was through the peephole. "You must have read my mind, blue eyes, I was thinking breakfast in bed," Gus said pulling Flack in and grabbing on of the bags he was holding.
"Hold your horses, birthday girl, this requires assembly and if it is going to be breakfast in bed, I'm serving you."
She gave him quick smooch and said "Fine, you know where everything is."
He came in shortly afterward, carrying a tray with a chocolate-chip waffle complete with birthday candle and chocolate syrup spelling out "happy birthday"along with bacon and steaming coffee.
"Don, you need to stop with the spoiling, I can't take it. This is too much, the coat was way too much, you are too much" she said.
"Just blow out your candle before you wax your waffle."
She licked her forefinger and thumb and extinguished the flame. "Geesh, I know you said you didn't do birthdays but-"
Gus cut him off, "I am not a moron, I just have nothing to wish for, don't want to jinx anything by seeming too greedy," she said licking syrup off her hand.
"I'm sorry, but that is my job" Flack said trailing a spot of syrup off her cheek and heading down her neck.
"You just squished my birthday waffle, Flack!"
"It's fine, I bought a spare," he said gently moving the tray to the floor and untying her robe, delighting that there was nothing underneath. A trail of kisses leading down her chest and stomach stopping for only a moment for Flack to growl with heated blue eyes, "am I still too much?" and headed down again. Gus could do nothing more than whimper and bite her lip.
There was not much time for pleasantries, barely enough time to shower off the sticky mess they had made of each other from the poor mauled waffle and to head in. Though Gus did take a moment in the car to attempt to protest the gorgeous coat gift once more.
"Forget it, you already put it on and you needed something warm."
"Yeah but my gift to you sucks in comparison."
"You mean this," he said flipping open the glove box and taking out the still wrapped gift, "I grabbed it last night. While Sam was giving me some sob story about not being able to find a job and wanting to move into the house with Bobby and I because dad will drive her nuts."
"Gee I wonder if that discussion or mine with Mac's was more fun?"
"He did talk to you?"
"Yeah."
"And..."
"Nothing, it was nothing really."
"We don't have to hide, we aren't doing anything wrong."
"I know," she slumped for a second and wanted to change the subject."You know if you would let me drive you could be opening your present right now."
He smirked at her, "Not happening." Gus grumbled as they pulled up to the precinct. Flack put the car in park, grabbed the gift from Gus' lap and tore into the paper, "I've been wanting to open it all night, but figured I should wait for you."
Gus' face fell, "I'm sorry, I should have done the same."
"Sunshine, stop, I told you to open it!"
Flack lifted the lid off the box. "If this is sucks in comparison, I would hate to see what you thought would be an equal gift!"
"I knew you had a good watch with all your suits, but I noticed you didn't have one for when you are all playing hero in swat gear. And since your good one was your dad's. I thought you might want one that could get banged up." Gus noticed the look of bewilderment on Flack's face, "Sam, very free with her information would make a great CI."
"So this is supposed to be not a good watch?" Flack said studying the titanium band and multiple dials.
"Hey it's only Swiss Army, I could have gotten you the Breitlin."
"If you buy me a watch that costs more than my first car, we are gonna have issues."
"Good morning Flick and Flack," Parker called from his jelly-filled desk.
"Morning Parker, what's got you in such a good mood?"
"I haven't been in since morning of Christmas Eve."
"I hate you" Gus said coming over and stealing a donut.
"Watch it girlie!"
"It's my birthday, I'll steal your donut if I want."
"So you are finally legal huh?"
"Cute Parker, very cute."
"Hey, looks like you got a real coat for Christmas. Maybe I can stop shivering every time I look at you now!"
"Like that was from her coat." Flack joked, also stealing a donut.
"I know it's not your birthday Donnie boy," Parker said slamming the lid closed on the donuts.
Chapter 79 Surprise! Birthday Wishes
"Apparently there was no boxing day massacres at Macy's," Gus commented nearing the end of their shift.
"Don't jinx us," Flack said, looking up from his paperwork.
"What's this crap about a huge departmental meeting tomorrow?" Gus whined reading the urgent message that had just popped up on the network.
"At least it is during your shift, I gotta come in two hours after being off!" Thatcher complained.
Flack shrugged, "we'll just have to wait. Now I gotta go check out something in the crime lab."
"Fine, run away, but I am not finishing your paperwork," Gus called. Flack just gave her a look and walked away. He was back 40 minutes later right at the end of their shift. "See, I didn't jinx us!" Gus said.
"Must be a departmental birthday bonus," Flack smirked, "wanna go catch a drink at Beekman's?" he said naming a pub right down the street.
"Over Sully's?" Gus asked with mock shock.
"It's closer, Danny said something about heading that way." Flack was stone faced.
"Sure why not, but I'm not buying first round!"Gus said grabbing her new coat and slipping into it happily.
Flack smiled, "don't worry, I'll make Danny."
They stepped out into the cold night air, both with hands stuck in respective pockets, puffs of air billowing into the darkness. "Thanks again, for everything," Gus said stopping and turning to face Flack.
"It really is nothing," he replied, cocking his head to the side to study her.
She closed her eyes for a moment and finally opened them saying, "really it is."
Flack tried to suppress a grin, chewed on the inside of his cheek and stated, "I don't know why it is so hard for you to understand that people genuinely like you and care about you Gus."
Flack tugged on her sleeve to keep her walking, knowing Lindsay was waiting on pins and needles inside the pub. The excitement had been clear on Danny's face as well when Flack went to the lab to ensure that everything was going as planned. However Flack was pretty sure his friend's excitement had more to do with a certain brown-haired country girl than his partner's birthday.
Flack held open the door to the pub, which was crowded with an eclectic mix of the downtown after-work crowd, plenty of people from City Hall and 1PP and of course, tourists. Gus curled her lip, "it's crowded" she sighed, "and I don't see Danny," she said surveying down the bar.
"Let's head to the back room then," Flack said pointing while giving a nod and wink to the bartender and owner, Eddie.
"Fine by me," Gus said falling in behind Flack, happy to have his height, presence and flirtations part the crowd before them. He stopped right on the threshold of the back room.
Gus knocked into him as he was turning around. "what, what is it, don't tell me Murphy or one of your exes are here!" Gus said looking up at him.
He broke into an easy smile, "calm down sunshine, and uh, happy birthday again," he said stepping aside and letting Gus see into the room.
"Surprise!" rang a chorus of voices among a sea of streamers and balloons and a grinning Lindsay.
"Linds! What did you do?" exclaimed Gus with shock and glee.
"What can I say, birthdays are a big deal in the Monroe household and I couldn't resist!" Lindsay said coming to give Gus a hug with a squeal.
"All for me?" Gus exclaimed, incredulous.
She surveyed the room which was filled with the whole lab it seemed, half of homicide, her old psych colleagues and even Flack's sister Sam and her friend Kelly. "Donnie wouldn't let Bobby come," Sam said, sticking her tongue out at her brother.
Danny swooped in with a pitcher of beer and some pint glasses, "figured the birthday girl needed a drink as did the party planner," he said pouring.
"Thanks, Danny," Lindsay said, taking a glass.
"Tasty!" Gus said after her swallow. She felt a bit awkward, normally she could be a social butterfly, but normally the events were not for her, she was certainly not used to be the center of attention. "So why did you feel the need to do this again, Lindsay?" Gus asked, her voice a little shaky.
"Because it is your birthday, silly, and we didn't even know when it was last year, I can't believe you didn't tell us!" Lindsay was positively glowing.
Gus couldn't help but catch her enthusiasm and was overwhelmed at the people that had come, even Thatcher, sans Lafferty of course. She went over to say hello and thank him for coming. "I figured why not, Junior told me there would be free beer and food," Thatcher said, not quite catching Gus' face.
She smirked and then broke into a genuine smile, "don't worry Billy, I won't tell Lafferty you came".
He looked up at her face and gave the smallest of smiles back, "Happy Birthday, Broussard, you know sometimes you ain't half bad."
"High praise indeed," she said walking over to Sheldon and Adam.
"Shel!' she exclaimed, hugging her friend, "how was Christmas?" she asked.
"It was good, heard you got called out," Hawkes replied, hugging her back and noticed she was glowing.
"Yep, no rest for the weary, I suppose," Gus laughed.
"Is that a new coat?" he asked, surveying her leather.
"Yep, maybe I can actually keep warm."
"Good luck with that!" Adam replied with a shiver.
"Thanks for giving me such hope, Adam," Gus laughed, giving his arm a squeeze. He blushed and turned to his beer. "Speaking of new coats, I think I am going to go hang this up before one of my fellow homicide guys dumps his beer on it," Gus said sashaying to the coat rack in the corner at the end of the bar.
Stella and Mac were in deep conversation on the last two bar stools. Mac looked up when Gus approached and gave a weak smile. Stella's face brightened when she saw Gus. Gus kissed both of them on their cheeks and hung up her coat. "Nice threads, birthday girl" Stella exclaimed seeing the label.
"Thanks," Gus replied, blushing and catching Mac's intense gaze. "And thanks for coming," she spluttered out.
"Wouldn't miss it, Lindsay has been so excited, I didn't think she was going to be able to keep it a secret," Stella said with tinkling laughter.
Gus shook her head, "I still can't believe it."
Mac still studied her, "you're fine with this?" he asked carefully.
"Who wouldn't be?" she replied.
He patted her hand, "Well, Gussie, I actually have to get back to the lab for a couple of things, so I will let you children play without a boss in their midst," he said, adjusting his scarf.
"Does that mean I have to leave too?" Stella questioned, "because I don't know if I qualify as one of the children anymore."
"Stel, you aren't that much older than us, only wiser," Gus said slyly.
"Ha ha!" Stella intoned, "Night Mac," she called to Mac's back.
"Come on, let's get some food before the guys eat it all!" Gus exclaimed, breaking into the line at the food table, "birthday privileges," she said to the slight protests.
"First my donuts and now you're cutting in line? Broussard, I am ready for your birthday to be over," Parker remarked, as she leaned over him to grab a piece of Shepherd's Pie.
Gus just patted him on the cheek, "Thank you Parker," she said sweetly.
Gus reveled in the good food, music, drink and friendship, flitting around the room feeling more and more comfortable. Cops came and went depending on shift, as did lab techs.
Stella come over to say she was ducking out early with a big smile on her face. "What's up Stella?" Gus whispered to her. Lindsay and Gus both studied their older friend carefully.
"I have a date," she whispered back.
"He's not an artist or a musician or anything right?" Gus asked gravely.
Stella shook her head, "No, no, he's an Associate Professor at NYU," she said softly.
"Good for you, Stel!" Lindsay exclaimed with a clap of her hands, "you deserve someone as smart as you!"
"Thanks you two! And I promise we'll do a margarita night to dissect it soon," Stella paused to laugh, her curls bouncing, "unless it goes really well!" she added.
The three friends broke in to such raucous laughter that Danny and Flack came over to see what was going on. "Nothing!" the trio exclaimed in unison.
"Good night, all!" Stella called weaving out of the bar.
"You get it?" Danny asked.
"Nah," replied Flack, shaking his head.
"Good me either."
The crowd started thinning as the food ran out until it was a core group of Lindsay, Danny, Gus, Flack, Hawkes and Adam.
"I am so glad they all finally left" Lindsay exclaimed.
"You can't be partied out already, Montana, you were the one that wanted this," Danny teased, pulling gently on her hair.
"No, not at all. But I think I know my friend well enough to know she wouldn't want a big scene for the most important part!" Lindsay said grinning ear to ear at Gus.
"Good Lord, there's more?" Gus drawled.
"Of course, it's wouldn't be a birthday party without cake!" Lindsay resembled a little girl, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her dress swaying around her. She was completely infectious, so much that all of them broke out into smiles. "Jimmy," she called, "I think it is time".
"You got it, sweetheart," he said smiling at her. Danny's eyes narrowed, the tiniest bit, but enough for both Gus and Flack to notice and laugh at him.
"Shut it," he muttered under his breath.
Jimmy came out a couple of minutes carrying a cake in the shape of an alligator, candles blazing on top of him. The group broke out into "Happy Birthday" while Gus tried to keep from tearing up while simultaneously praying that her age was not actually spelled out in the number of candles.
"Makeawishmakeawish!" Lindsay exclaimed as they finished singing.
"Geez, Montana, chill," Danny said, patting Lindsay on the back.
Gus bit her lip, looked at the candles, looked at her friends gathered around her, caught Flack's blue eyes across the way filled with something she couldn't quite take in right now, took a deep breath and blew out the candles in one fail swoop.
"That's some lung power, Gus!" Sheldon exclaimed, patting her on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Doc," she replied back with a satisfied smile. Jimmy moved the cake to the table and began cutting it. Sheldon, Adam and Danny made a beeline for the cake, while Gus rushed off to the bathroom, feeling she needed to collect herself.
She slipped back in, hoping her absence hadn't been noted. "This is really good," Danny said coming up, his mouth full of red cake.
"Is that?" Gus exclaimed, wrenching his plate from him.
"Watch it there, Broussard!" he said, twisting and walking away, guarding his cake.
"A-hem" Flack said, clearing his throat, and setting a piece by Gus, "isn't the birthday girl supposed to get the first slice?" he said, before heading back to get his own piece.
"Red velvet is your favorite, right?" Lindsay asked.
"How did you know?" Gus exclaimed.
"Flack," Lindsay said giving Gus a look.
"What?" Gus said innocently.
"Nothing, nothing at all, just wondering about you and your partner."
"Hey you have a lab to escape to, try spending every day in a car or at a desk, you get to talking about stupid crap like favorite cakes," Gus protested. After her chat with Mac, she didn't want to make a broadcast bulletin about her sex life.
"Sure, I see," Lindsay said, "though I have to say, I am glad you told him, I love red velvet cake too."
Gus noticed Lindsay toying with her necklace.
"That new?" Gus asked lightly touching the chain.
It was Lindsay's turn to be flustered. "Um, yeah, Christmas, Danny and I decided to exchange...I mean as friends, it isn't weird...it doesn't mean anything."
"Right, gotcha" Gus said with a nod of finality to the conversation, the point driven home by her massive yawn, "I'm not used to being the center of attention, it is exhausting!"
"I imagine you still are getting over your pneumonia," Lindsay said.
"Yeah, I thought I was over it, but I still get tired really easy, which is not normal for me," Gus said.
"Need a lift home there, sunshine?" Flack said coming up to Gus who suddenly looked dead on her feet.
"I do, before I fall out after all this excitement. You outdid yourself Linds," Gus said giving her friend a huge hug.
"No problem," Lindsay said, leaning back against Danny.
"Come on, before you drool in the car," Flack said to Gus helping her into her coat.
Gus was slumped in the front seat, already almost asleep by the time Flack got into the car after saying his own good-byes. "Wiped out, huh Gus?" he asked, gently stroking her cheek. She just nodded. "Let's get you home then," he said pulling out and heading toward her place.
Once home, Gus shrugged out of her coat and hung it up carefully saying, "You know you really shouldn't have," again, through another yawn.
"You need to learn to just take a gift, Gus," Flack said coming up and giving her a hug.
"It was hardly just a gift," she protested but snuggled into his chest, breathing in his scent, utterly content. "Do you need to go?" she asked, looking up at him, but not moving from his embrace.
"Not if you want me to stay," he replied.
Gus ran a palm along his cheek and then his jawline, "yeah, that would be nice," she said, tugging on his tie and leading him to the bedroom.
Chapter 80: Shifts and Margaritas
The next day, they woke to sunshine and a gorgeous day. Gus didn't want to move, but knew they had to be on time for the stupid meeting.
Gus doodled in her memo book during the meeting. She hated meetings, especially mindless ones with the whole department. Flack smirked at her until she flipped her book closed and sat up to pay attention.
"In summary," the homicide chief said, "you will all be present in some form or fashion whether it is as patrol, as plain clothes or with the counter-terrorism unit. You will receive your specific assignments by 5pm tomorrow. Any questions?"
Finally the meeting was over and Gus headed straight for the coffeemaker from the conference room. Flack came in behind her, "you don't have a clue what that meeting was about, do you?"
"Figured I would piece it together between the gossip, complaining and actual assignment," she grinned, pouring creamer in and kicking the fridge door closed.
"Come on, I'll fill you in," Flack said heading toward the crime lab.
"See, I have you too" Gus said smiling with a bite on her lip.
Flack filled her in on the plan to have all Manhattan cops work New Year's Eve to help with the recent elevation in terror threat level.
"So were are being reduced to beat cops? I didn't sign on to be some monkey in a uniform!" she whined as they walked into the lab.
"Hey, some of us started out that way!" Flack protested.
"I don't even own a uniform you know," Gus retorted.
"You aren't just a civilian anymore," Flack said with a flicker of annoyance.
"I know," she huffed.
"It won't be so bad, most likely we'll just get assigned to plainclothes patrol. I bet you've never been to Time Square for New Year's," he said trying to make the best of it.
"No I haven't and that's by choice. And I bet it is worse than Bourbon right before midnight on Mardi Gras. I avoided that too," Gus grumbled.
"It'll be fine, you'll be armed."
"Great, just great."
Right before five the next day they did receive their assignment, which was in fact plainclothes in Times Square. Gus noticed her Loo had sent an attached note, "Figured you didn't even own a uniform, though I debated putting you on mounted patrol figuring you had Mardi Gras experience."
"Hardy har, Loo is a freaking comedian now," Gus muttered as she clicked out of the message.
"I guess no roof party with the team this year, huh?" Flack asked clicking through his messages.
"Fine with me, I am about partied out anyway. God I am still tired," Gus said leaning back and yawning. "This massive weather change is not helping me out either. Holy crap!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Flack jumped up wondering if there was a call he had missed.
"They redid the shift schedule" she exclaimed reading the message that had just popped up.
"And why is this so amazing?"
"Because you and I are on day shift except for NYE and not one single on call shift," Gus did a little happy dance in her seat.
"I thought you didn't like mornings," Flack smirked at her.
"I don't, but it means I can go to margarita night tomorrow night!"
"Margaritas make you far too happy."
"Don't knock 'em and it's more the company!" Gus replied.
The next night, Gus slipped into a corner booth where Lindsay and Stella were already seated. She would have been earlier but Flack got her a little distracted after shift and she had made an unexpected trip home. "
Gus!" the women exclaimed. "I thought you were working!" Stella said.
"Changed the shifts because of New Year's," Gus said waving the server over.
"Yeah, heard about that, didn't extend to the crime lab, thank god, just regular on call," Lindsay sighed, dipping a chip into some queso.
"You guys still doing the roof party this year?" Gus asked, helping herself to guacamole.
"Probably, it is a Mac Taylor tradition, team camaraderie and all that," Stella said with a smile.
"You gonna keep ducking Messer when he inevitably tries to keep kissing you this year, Linds?" Gus asked in a teasing tone.
"I don't know, you gonna make out with Flack in Time's Square?" Lindsay teased back.
Gus choked on her margarita and tried to not turn purple. Lindsay laughed but Stella turned a pair of serious eyes towards her.
"Is something going on between you two? Mac and I were talking a while back and..." Stella let the question hang.
Gus could feel both women staring at her and felt painted into a corner, "why are people so interested in this topic? Why does there have to be something going on?" Gus protested.
"You two do spend most of your time together," Stella pointed out.
"Partners tend to do that."
"Not off the clock, not all the time."
"I'm here now aren't I?" Gus was more than a bit defensive, "and why are you discussing my love life with Mac?" Gus glared at Stella.
"I wasn't discussing your love life with Mac, Gus, I was merely talking to him about potential fall out with inter-department dating."
"And some how the conversation just happened to turn toward me? And falling out?" Gus tried to keep her voice down, but was failing.
Lindsay shrank into the corner and then sat up, "come on you two, let's just forget about it, if Gus says there is nothing going on, then there isn't. And even if there was, it is not like it is really our business unless she brings something to us as friends."
"Thank you Lindsay, I am glad for the voice of reason, which is really more of what I would expect from you Stella," Gus said, her voice like glass.
"Gus it is only out of concern for you. Brass can really frown on relationships if they want, and I don't want you to do anything to jeopardize what I think is a really promising career for you."
"Thank you for your concern Stella, but it is not necessary."
"Fine," Stella took a long drink, "but as your friend, I do have to point out he is really cute, even if he is younger than me." Stella broke into a wicked grin. They trio broke into laughter, the mood much improved.
"I take it margarita night was a success," Flack smirked as Gus came stumbling into the pit the next morning wearing sunglasses, hair in a messy ponytail sans make up, "or a horrible failure," he said when she grunted.
"I'm on time," she muttered snapping her phone to her belt and taking off her sunglasses.
"Didn't say you weren't."
"I couldn't get to sleep," Gus said, taking a long drink of coffee.
"Oh really," Flack asked with a slow sly smile spreading across his face.
Gus gave him a look but then grinned back, "yeah just couldn't seem to get comfortable," she said huskily. Flack was glad he was sitting, to say the least, suddenly finding himself wondering if the janitor's closet had a lock on it. "Just stop it, Flack," Gus said reading both his look and his mind.
Flack curled his lip in annoyance, "fine then, I gotta go check on something."
"Whatever, I need more coffee."
The day past by without incidence, which meant Gus felt it dragged on, but luckily her hangover prevented her from being too jumpy. The second their shift was over, sans any call, Flack was dragging Gus out the door. "What the hell, Flack!" she protested.
"Hush it!" Flack replied pulling her into the night.
"What has gotten into, blue eyes?" Gus questioned as soon as they were outside.
"First off, I find you with a hangover undeniably sexy, secondly, it has been three nights since I have gotten to spend the night with you and we are going to be working through NYE. Lastly, you haven't eaten today and I plan on getting some food in you before I wear you out."
The heated look he gave her stopped any protests Gus was about to give about independence and other friendships and whatnot. "Oh really? Just where did you have in mind?"
After a delightful dinner at a cozy and romantic restaurant, feeling very much like a real couple, Gus and Flack headed back to her place to ring in an early, but very happy, New Year.
Tangled in sheets but nothing else, Flack turned to Gus, "you better be careful."
"What are you talking about Flack?" Gus said exhausted, but enjoying the humming spreading through her body.
"You could make me hang up my bachelor card."
Gus snorted, "somehow I just don't see that ever happening."
"You might be surprised Detective Broussard," he said, rolling over to his side and running his hand along hers.