A/N: This is sort of an in-between, transitional chapter. Not exactly the Fundraiser you've been waiting for, but necessary to set the stage for it.

A/N2: We've moved the ante up a bit, and now this story is officially a T+. If you'd like me to move towards the full M, meaning I get to write about what happens AFTER the Fundraiser, please raise your hands.

Xxx XXX xxX

In the days in between their shopping expedition and the actual Fundraiser, both Stella and Lindsay tried to behave as normal as possible. And they almost pulled it off. Almost being the operative word here. Mac Taylor was watching them closely, and, the more he watched, the more he was dreading Friday evening.

He had put two and two together after watching a couple of exchanges between his female CSI's. Whatever it was, it was related to the Fundraiser, and damned if they weren't making him nervous.

Wednesday afternoon Lindsay had had some sort of breakdown, as she virtually begged with Stella, claiming that "she just couldn't do it" to which Stella had calmly stated that "not only she could, but she was going to. End of story". Lindsay tried changing Stella's mind for a couple more minutes, until the taller woman got stern and admonished the younger woman for "chickening out after wasting her hard earned money at Stefan's".

Hearing the designer's name, who had been for many years his wife's adoration, brought a smile to Mac's face. Having been on the receiving end of Stefan's creations a couple of times, he could understand Lindsay's apprehension in wearing whatever it was that she had gotten. He almost felt sorry for Danny. Poor guy would never be the same. On the other hand, high time those two did something about "it", whatever "it" was.

If knowing that Lindsay was going to put up an Oscar-worthy appearance on Friday was not enough to get Mac a tad worried, the scene he saw Thursday noon sent him running for the hills, or, at least, seriously considering calling a SWAT team on stand-by outside the banquet hall.

Lindsay had nearly ran over Stella on her nervous eagerness to find her at the lab. Barely containing herself, the young woman had dragged her into the nearest office, not really bothering to secure the door behind her. That's how Mac had found out that Lindsay had been coming back to the lab from her lunch break when she had been intercepted by Emma Lou Stevens who had pumped up Lindsay for info regarding Stella's dress and date for Friday. Stella kept a noncommittal expression and thanked the younger woman for the info, quickly returning to her work at the lab.

If Mac hadn't known Stella better, he might have felt as confused as Lindsay probably was feeling at the moment. But he knew Stella almost as well as he had known Claire, and that cool lack of response worried him even more than what a full fledged temper tantrum would have.

And if knowledge wasn't enough, then there was memory.

And if memory served right, Emma Lou Stevens and Stella Bonasera put together were, indeed, a bad mistake. A VERY bad mistake. He had been there the first time around, and he wasn't sure his mental health, or his job for that matter, would survive another clash of the female titans. Why on Earth had Stevens actively sought to push Stella's buttons just now was beyond his understanding, but it clearly explained why his coworker had sought Stefan's counsel.

And suddenly Mac Taylor began dreading attending the fundraiser. For the briefest of seconds he considered calling Lt. Tenorio and casually mention what was going on. But only for the briefest of moments. Mac knew without a doubt that Stella would never forgive him if he did so. And Emma Lou would certainly be clamoring for his head to the HR department, alleging harassment or something equally career damaging.

Finally, Mac decided to let sleeping dogs lie for the time being. And prayed that the worst wouldn't happen.

XXX

If Danny Messer were to be asked under oath, pleading to say nothing but the truth, so help him God, he would have willingly committed perjury. He'd much rather do jail time than admit his fondness for checking Lindsay Monroe out. Damn fine woman that she was, and Messer was sure no male jury would convict him for his mostly innocent habit.

At least during working hours. As soon as he was alone at home, "innocent" became the farthest from his mind and his fertile imagination, paired with his investigator skills, examined every lil piece of information his gazing had accumulated to set up different scenarios in which he could let his lust roam free without the actual threat of a sexual harassment suit.

It had been a while since Danny began using bits and pieces of Montana's imagery to fuel his fantasy sex life. He wasn't getting any, probably wouldn't if he had the chance, but the sexual frustration was there and he had to find a way to blow some steam off. Was it really that wrong to masturbate to images of her on an almost nightly basis? That woman drove him crazy, and Danny had the slight impression that, even if they were involved, he'd still masturbate in the shower whilst thinking of her.

He was certain he knew many things about her, and he only wished for a chance to put that knowledge into practice. He knew she was ticklish. He knew that her lower back was an erogenous zone; having placed his own hand there a couple of times whilst leading her to and from a crime scene. Her reaction to his touch had been kept professional, but Danny knew a strong female physical response when he saw/heard one, and Montana's reaction every time had been loud and clear.

He knew her skin was soft, although her hands were rougher, signaling years of hard work back at the ranch. He knew she favoured citric smells for her bath products and floral-based essences for her perfume. He knew her nipples hardened easily with temperature changes, and that when she blushed, the rosy colouring covered her whole upper body and not just her cheeks. He even knew that her heights were complementary in such way, that they could probably have sex against the wall or on a desk and his knees and lower back wouldn't be screaming murder the morning after.

On the other hand, there were so many more things he was dying to learn about her. He wondered how her skin would taste like. He wondered if she got aroused quickly or if she took her sweet time getting ready for sex. He wondered if that naughty streak he'd seen a glimpse of now and then translated to her bedroom moves, and, if so, how far was she willing to go. He wondered if she was bossy, a takeover, or of a more passive nature. If she was a screamer or a moaner. If she was adventurous or straight-laced. If she was keen of blowjobs or not, and, if she was, if she was a half-way or an all-or-nothing advocate.

But on top of everything else, Danny Messer wondered what would it feel like to finally make love to someone. Sex he knew. Love was an entirely different ball game, one he was willing to learn for Montana.

XXX

Stella laid in the arms of her lover, wondering how to break the news to him.

"Hey, lover boy, you free on Friday, right?"

"You know I'm not on call and that WE both have to attend the Fundraiser, so don't start fucking with my mind, hun, please." He was still coming down form his post-orgasmic high and he would really, really appreciate it if the darn goddess that had gotten him there mere minutes ago would allow him a couple more of perfect bliss before dragging him down to reality.

"You know, I was thinking…." Stella propped herself up a bit, resting her chin on his chest, mass of curls tumbling all over the place. "Perhaps it would be best if we arrived together…"

"Who are you and what have you done to my lover? She's never in a zillion years agree to make a public entrance… at least with me at her side."

The pain and recrimination in his voice was not lost to Stella, who was thankful for this man's understanding, and yet understood herself how he must be feeling by her paranoid sense on secrecy when it came to their relationship.

"I'm right here, lover boy." And if to make her point even clearer, she swiftly licked his left nipple, making him squirm in delight. "And I think it's about time we went public."

Stella bent forward to lick his other nipple, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look him in the face. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

Stella nodded. "Are you 100 certain that this is only about us?"

Stella nodded again. "One last chance Stel. Is this really about us or does a certain Stevens bitch have something to do with it?"

Damn. Caught! Stella knew she couldn't lie to him. "It's… complicated. It's about us, but it's also about her. If you don't want to do this, I completely understand…. I'd feel used in you place and…."

He quieted her with a kiss. "It's ok, hun. You want to do this, we'll do this. I'd feel better knowing I don't have to hide my feelings for you anymore. And if we get to screw Stevens in the process, well… more power to us, right? Besides, I'm dying to see how THAT", and he motioned towards the plastic covered dress that hung in the closet, "looks on you. No, scratch that. I want to see THAT falling off of you."

"You swine!"

"I love it when you go all British prude on me. Now tell me, my precious one, does that fabric wrinkle easily? Cause I'm getting a couple of ideas as to how…."

Xxx XXX xxX

A/N: Telling what Stella did to interrupt her lover's train of thought would be a tad redundant, don't you think? Please do tell if I should go back to the Holly-Go-Lightly tone of the first chapters of if you prefer this one better. But hurry up! This blue light offer will expire in 12 hours, and then I'd proceed to write the Fundraiser scene as I see fit!