Hi all! Thank you for the lovely reviews I got concerning the last chapter. I'm glad you liked it so much. :)

And thank you dark rolling sea for betaing once again (Is that even a word? Beta-ing?)

I have some stuff to take care of during the next couple of days so the next chapter might take a while to appear… But fear not, it will come as soon as possible!

Now read on!

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CHAPTER 13 – Of Distractions and New Beginnings

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Lindsay was sitting at her kitchen table, listening to the TV in the other room while she made herself breakfast. She was feeling incredibly refreshed and it wasn't just because of the shower she had just taken. Some of it, or should she say most of it, was because of a certain detective with whom she had spent her Saturday. She started to read the morning paper, but found herself stopping to reminisce about the day before. Lindsay could still feel Mac's touch and smiled at the memory. She sighed, but it was a happy sigh. Did she have it bad or what… Gathering her thoughts, she decided this was as good a time as any to call her folks back in Montana.

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It was late in the afternoon and Mac was sitting on his couch, catching up on some of the paperwork he had brought home during the week. Flipping through the various pages he was glad to find that he had just picked up the last stack. It took him a lot longer than he thought to finish it up and looking at the time he saw the clock spell 'coffee' – at least in his mind. Looking inside his kitchen cabinet, he was disappointed to notice that he was fresh out of it. He weighed his options and decided that if he was going to get coffee, he might as well get some company while at it. There was only one name that sounded like the perfect option.

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There was an old black and white movie on and Lindsay was curled up in the corner of her couch. Occasionally she laughed out loud or changed her position to get more comfortable. It was still early in the evening, around six, but she had no plans, so she had dug out a small bucket of ice cream from the freezer. She was slightly startled when she heard her cell phone ring. She wasn't expecting a call, so she was anxious to know who it was. She reached for it as it was on the coffee table and glanced at the caller ID.

"Hey! What's up?" she answered happily.

"Hi, how does coffee sound?" Mac asked.

Lindsay looked around her living room, her eyes landing on the half eaten ice cream bucket. "Wonderful."

Mac wondered what she had been thinking about during those few seconds of silence, but decided to just shrug it off. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Great!"

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Two minutes after the phone call Lindsay's doorbell rang. 'It can't be…' she reasoned, pulling on a clean sweater. She stumbled out of her bedroom and to the door. Unlocking it, her initial thoughts were overthrown and she saw Mac standing on her doorstep with two cups of coffee.

"Wow… That was fast," was all she managed to say.

Mac smirked and Lindsay stepped aside so he could come in. "I saw the light," he said, nodding at a table lamp. "Emanating from your window,"

"I see," she said, smiling.

"Did I interrupt something?" Mac asked, seeing the ice cream.

"No, unless you count watching a random movie and eating unhealthy food important," Lindsay said, making her way to the ice cream and taking it to the kitchen. "Make yourself at home," she yelled and Mac heard the distinctive sound of a freezer door. "I'll be right there!"

Taking off his coat Mac placed the two cups on the coffee table, along with a paper bag containing two bagels, and sat on the couch.

"I didn't know you had a personal coffee distributor outside your house," Mac said loudly enough for Lindsay to hear.

"You mean Mr. Ferguson?" she replied with a laugh as she returned to the living room. "He runs his little stall in front of the building every other weekend. Apparently he was sick yesterday…" she said, her gaze finding the bag on the table. Mac found her study of the tiny sack amusing; it was one of the things he found endearing about her.

"Go for it," he said.

She grabbed the bag and peered inside. "Courtesy of Mr. Ferguson, aren't they?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes, I was only going to get two coffees but apparently he'd seen me with you and insisted I take them. He said he figured I was on my way to see you. So, a friend of yours?"

"Yeah, I met him the day I moved to this apartment and I'm a loyal customer," Lindsay took one of the bagels and sat next to Mac. "So were you?"

"Was I what?" Mac asked in confusion.

"Coming to see me,"

"Yes," he promptly uttered. Lindsay was perplexed by the fact that Mac didn't even take time to think what he should say. There was no sign of hesitance and she felt a thrill travel through her body. "What's the movie?" Mac asked abruptly.

"I don't know, actually. Just started watching it because nothing else was on and I was bored," Lindsay admitted, letting the subject of his fortitude slide. "So, how was your day?"

The easy flowing conversation that had become so familiar during the past few weeks, resumed once again. It had become their way of unwinding while spending time together and learning about each other. Hours could be spent like this and given the opportunity it seemed to happen every time. Slowly the talk started to become more periodic, especially when a new movie came on and they started watching it. Sitting closely together they could feel each others every move.

It was well into the evening when Mac noticed Lindsay's breathing turn more even and her head inclined to lean against his upper arm. He couldn't help but smile – this was where he felt at home. Mac relished every part of the moment, especially the feel of Lindsay, her warmth, her beautiful features and the way the corners of her lips were slightly turned up, as if into a small smile. He could've watched her forever, never getting bored.

Mac knew he had to get going and gently laid Lindsay on her side, careful not to wake her in the process. He hypothesized it was his turn to get rid of the empty cups and he collected them and the empty paper bag, throwing them in the kitchen trash can. Turning off the TV, he headed for the door. While he was putting on his jacket Lindsay awoke. After a few seconds passed she was back in her senses, well as much a person can be after just waking up.

"You're leaving," she said, albeit stating the obvious.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Mac said apologetically.

Lindsay glanced around her, noting the absence of the used paper coffee mugs and the lack of noise and light from the TV. She smiled to herself and got up from the couch. "Thanks for cleaning up."

"I assumed it was my turn."

"I suppose so," Lindsay laughed lightly. "But thanks anyway."

"No problem," Mac assured.

"Want some company tomorrow morning while walking to work?" Lindsay asked and closed in the distance between them.

"I'd love some,"

Lindsay seemed pleased and they hugged goodbye, it was brief but Lindsay found the time to give Mac a little peck on the cheek.

"Night," they said and with that, Lindsay closed the door. She took a deep breath and decided to reclaim her spot on the couch. It looked empty, but it would have to do.

Meanwhile Mac was making his way downstairs, thinking about none other than Lindsay. He had run over and over in his head how he felt about her and he knew she reciprocated those feelings. After their close encounter the previous day, he felt it was time to face those feelings – together. Realizing this, he knew he had to go back and see her. Why he felt that this was the time to go and truly face her, he wasn't quite sure. All he knew was that he had to do so.

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Lindsay's doorbell rang for the second time that night and she wondered if Mac had forgotten something. She hopped up and went to unlock the door.

"Did you leave something behind–" she started but never finished the sentence. Before she even knew it, her lips had been caught in a soft but passionate kiss. She leaned in closer and closed her eyes. Almost as if in return, a pair of hands found their way to her waist, pulling her even closer and Lindsay threw her hands behind Mac's neck. They deepened the kiss, savouring the moment. All the emotion they held for each other was surfacing and they were willing to show it. When the two parted and opened their eyes, they were still lingering very close to each other. A content and a happy smile was evident on both of their faces.

"Well, that was… more than nice," Lindsay said, her voice more of a whisper.

Mac chuckled softly. "Definitely," he concurred and captured Lindsay's lips for another kiss. It felt right and natural and they clung to each other, still standing in the doorway.

"So, see you tomorrow morning?" Mac asked hoarsely as they began to let go.

"7:30," Lindsay elaborated.

"I'll be here," Mac assured her and Lindsay gave him one last, quick kiss, as they squeezed each other's hands before Mac left.

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As Mac was walking home he thought about what had just occurred. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt like he was feeling now. Obviously his decision to go back had paid off and he was more than pleased. Things were indeed starting to look up and improve by the day. He couldn't fathom why he had been so lucky to have Lindsay turn up in his life. Whatever it was that they shared, it was certainly something special.

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So here you have it! The long awaited kiss… well, you got a couple of extra ones too. Hehe.

Any thoughts on this "development"?

Thanks for reading! ;)