Author's Note: MJ Taylor is my creation. I have no claim to established CSI: NY Characters, they belong to CBS.
Secrets
Don surprised by the question. "What does that have to do with anything?" MJ looked at him. "A lot actually. Don, you should know some things about me and my past. Things I've never talked about with anyone." Don amazed at the idea. "No one?" She shook her head. "Mac and his parents know only because it's in my file. They've never heard it from me." Don trying to lighten her mood and gave her one of his cocky grins. "You have a file?" MJ rolled her eyes. "Don, I'm trying to be serious. Yeah, I have a file and it's about 2 inches thick. All before I was 14 years old." Don shocked and realized she was deadly serious. "Don, I made a promise." Don cocked his head. 'Promise? To who?" MJ smiled. "Claire." She sighed and pushed forward. "I promised her that when I thought the right guy came along there would be no secrets, no half-truths or sugarcoating my life before the Taylors. She along with Mac's parents always believed, as well as tried to convince me that it made me who I am. They thought I was pretty special." Don smiled at her and agreed. "They are right." MJ shrugged. "That's still a work in progress for me." Don didn't want to push but his curiosity was peaked. "Were things that bad?" MJ silently nodded and reaffirmed. "Oh, yeah. They were that bad and worse." Don intrigued. "And you think you've found the right guy to tell all your deep dark secrets too?" MJ shook her head. "Don, don't joke. This is important." Don opened up his arms and invited her to sit closer. MJ shook him off. 'Mags, I'm just teasing. I just can't imagine any secret, changing how I feel about you." MJ gave him a small smile. "I should hold you to that, but I won't, because you have no idea what you're saying." Don insisted she come sit by him and she finally relented. "MJ ,listen, nothing you tell me is going to change how I feel." MJ still unsure but pushed forward. "How about the fact that I became a Taylor because Mac's dad arrested me for B&E when I was 12 and that was after I had been living on the streets for a year?"
"Are you kiddin' me?" A shocked Flack blurted out. MJ felt him tense but he never let go. She gently shook her head as she looked down at her hands. She was desperately fighting tears. She didn't realize how hard this would be. Flack was the first one in a long time whose opinion of her mattered. "I wish I was and unfortunately that's just the middle." Flack gently guided her to look at him. "So are you telling me I fell for a bad girl?" MJ looked at him. His eyes were bright and caring as they had always been. There was no sign of disappointment. MJ gave him a small smile. "No, not really. Most of my charges stemmed from hunger and homelessness." He gave her a squeeze realizing there was truth to her words. "I was only joking, honey." MJ shrugged. "It's just your opinion matters to me. I've never known for sure, if you've heard stories." Flack taken back by her comment then questioned. "What stories would I hear?" Taking a deep breath, MJ took another step. "It's no secret, but because of my background, the department's utilized my knowledge to work with a couple of the Task Forces that focused on teenagers, including gangs. I've worked some cases that some of my past has slipped out. I just didn't know what you already knew." Don shook his head. "Do you think that I would believe department gossip about you, even if I heard any, without asking you first?" MJ remained silent for a moment. "I hope not, but things get out and people talk. I just wanted to be the one to tell you. Don, some people would be embarrassed by some of the things that I've done in my life…" Don stopped her with a kiss. "Listen to me and listen good, I could never be embarrassed by you. Ever. Do you understand me? I'm crazy about you MJ. I don't care how, when or why you came into my life. I'm just glad you in my life." Don kissed her gently and a little bit longer this time. "My plan is to keep you here for a long time. Okay?" MJ wanted to believe so badly that this was true, she teared up. "But Don?" He kissed her again. "No buts. You can share whatever tales and secrets you want but no matter what the stories, it's not going to change anything." MJ looked into her favorite blue eyes. "How can you be so sure?" She asked. Don wrapped his arms around her, gathering her close. "Because I know you Margaret Joanna Taylor, like I know my own heart. Whatever you've experienced in your life, good or bad, it's helped you become the person that I think is incredibly smart, funny, as well as beautiful and the person that just happens to hold my heart. That's how I know." MJ curled up in his arms and for the first time since Don was pulled from that building slept peacefully. Don never let go.