Author's Note: Okay we have to get this show on the road and get these two in bed by Christmas time... don't we? So on with the story! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews... you keep me writing!
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Jerry Bruckheimer and the wonderful writers for CSI: NY. Any resemblance to scenes from the episodes is included for clarity and continuity and I do not claim any of those as my own work. However everything else is mine.
The Dress
When Danny pulled up outside IAB, five minutes before Lindsay's appointment she quickly leaned over to touch her lips to his. He captured the back of her neck with one of his hands and whispered into her ear. "You'll do fine, but call me when you're done, okay?"
He dropped his hand and she pulled back nodding her head at him as she slid out of the SUV. He watched her walk quickly across the sidewalk and into the building before driving away. Ten minutes later he was in the lab running the stray prints through the databases. He narrowed the search entries to prints, which had been entered within the last 24 hours, hoping it would yield something new.
Beep!
"That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!" he said as he rubbed his hands together in hopes of a break in the case.
The match displayed a picture of a woman, in the missing person's database, who looked vaguely familiar. Where had he seen her before? He racked his brain! It didn't take long for the memory to return. There had been a framed photograph beside the bed of the second oldest murdered child. The photo was of the child and this woman. He remembered the father saying that this child was his, with another woman. That woman was his first wife, who had been absent from the child's life for the past 2 years, for mental health reasons. He also recalled the father saying that his current family had only lived in the apartment for the past six months. So, there was no apparent reason that the woman would have been in the apartment before that time, so he reasoned that she must have been there within the last 6 months, possibly as late as yesterday morning. Bingo! This was the kind of lead for which he was looking.
He made a quick call on his cell.
"Flack… gotta hit on some prints, both in and out, of the apartment from yesterday's family murder case," Danny blurted out.
"Yeah, she's a missing person from an outpatient mental health program in Brooklyn," he explained, as he glanced back at the computer screen.
"Great, I'll meet you outside in five!"
He sent the info to the printer and glanced at his watch. Better send Lindsay a quick text message. He'd have to talk with her later, as he had no choice but to run with this right now.
He grabbed the printouts, hurried out of the lab and down the hall. He practically knocked Stella down by studying the printouts instead of looking where he was going.
"Hey, where's the fire?" Stella said as Danny grabbed her arm to keep her upright.
"Gotta a lead on yesterday's family murder… meetin' Flack outside," Danny said in a rush.
"Anything I can do to help out? My case is wrapped up and I'm on my way out for the rest of the afternoon."
"Nah, Stel, it is okay, I know you deserve some time off as much as the rest of us."
"Okay, I won't keep you, but quickly, how's Lindsay?"
Oh right, Lindsay. Ignoring Stella's question he said, "Stella, maybe you can help me out. Lindsay is wrapping up her psych eval at noon today and now I've got to track down this suspect, can you…"
"Say no more," as she held up a palm in understanding. "I'll swing by IAB and pick her up for lunch."
"Thanks, Stella!" he said, as the relief shown on his face. "I know she can probably handle it, but it would be nice if someone were there for her, just in case."
Stella gave Danny a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder. "Don't worry, she'll be in good hands. Now get going!"
-------------------------------------------------------
Lindsay read her text messages as she stepped out of the shrink's office. She had felt her phone vibrating, when she was finishing up her eval.
Got a lead. Call you later.
"Lindsay"
She turned toward the voice, to see Stella walking towards her.
"Hi Stella," she replied with a smile, as she put away her phone.
"How about lunch?"
Lindsay nodded, "Sure."
They found a little deli a few blocks from IAB and chatted amicably as they ate their sandwiches. When they finished, they left the deli and began strolling back to Stella's car.
"Look at that!" Stella exclaimed as she veered suddenly over to a boutique window. She was eyeing a red, tight, plunging neck-lined number that had called to her from across the sidewalk. "Isn't it just gorgeous? You could really turn heads in that!" she commented appreciatively as she glanced at Lindsay for confirmation
Only you, thought Lindsay. She could never pull something like that off. She didn't have Stella's tall willowy figure and ample bosom. But, to save face, as to why she would never wear something like that, she replied, "Stella that is definitely you, but this one over here is more my style."
Stella looked at the dress Lindsay was indicating and snorted, "What? Lindsay, that is for women, who either can't wear anything else because they have no assets, to speak of, or they just don't give a flip how they look."
Lindsay rolled her eyes slightly. Sometimes Stella could be so dramatic.
Stella continued, "Lindsay, you have great taste for the understated, professional work look, but I know hot and if I were going to choose for you…" Stella trailed off as she surveyed the dresses in the window. Deep in thought, she murmured, "Know what?" She glanced quickly at Lindsay with a glint in her eyes, and said, "They don't have the perfect dress for you in the window; we'll just have to go in."
"Stella," Lindsay exclaimed, as Stella grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door.
"Lindsay, do you have something better to do this afternoon?" Stella asked, with a laugh in her voice.
"Well no…" Lindsay replied shaking her head.
"Neither do I! Besides, I'm off and one of the best ways I know to enjoy my time off is to shop."
They whooshed into the shop and elegance overwhelmed Lindsay in sight, sound and smell. This was no bargain shop with racks and racks of dresses to choose from. This was exclusive! The dresses were strategically displayed here and there, coupled with accessories to suggest a complete ensemble for any special occasion that one had in mind. With soft lighting, classical music throughout and a slight scent of musk hanging in the air, Lindsay knew this was a posh shop from which she could never afford to buy. Stella; however, ushered her forward as a discreet saleswoman greeted them in a low, husky voice.
"Can I help you find something?"
With all the confidence of a native New Yorker and a woman of style, Stella oozed, "Why yes, we are looking for an elegant ensemble for my friend here. She has a special evening planned, with a very special someone, and she needs just the right look."
The woman gave Stella a knowing look and scrutinized Lindsay up and down for a moment, before turning and calling over her shoulder, "I have just what she needs, this way please."
Lindsay looked incredulously at Stella, clutched her arm and whispered frantically, "Stella! What are you doing? I have no special evening planned!"
Stella looked at her slyly, "You will after that special someone sees you in this getup."
Stella was following the woman now and Lindsay kept pace with her, trying again to deter her. "Stella, there is no way I can afford to spend this kind of money." But Stella was ignoring Lindsay, as she pulled up short next to the saleswoman.
Lindsay turned her head to the display. "Wow!" was all she could say. The dress was a rich chocolate hue, in a soft draping fabric that clung to the curves of the mannequin seductively, without being vulgarly tight. It fell in a soft swirl, a few inches above the mannequin's knees. It was a halter style dress, similar to the red one in the window that Stella had admired, but not in that dramatic plunging way. It had just enough plunge to hint at the curves hidden beneath the shirred fabric in the bodice, but enough cover to tantalize and tease as to what lie beneath the silky fabric. But the most beautiful aspect of the dress was the delicate flowers worked subtly across the surface of the dress in a light catching bronze filigree. The effect was astounding, as the light was mirrored across the filigree in an undulating manner.
Lindsay felt compelled, beyond reason, to own a dress such as this, so she gulped and squeaked out, "Do you have it in a size 2?"
The saleswoman smiled, at the assurance of a major sale, and Stella wrapped an arm around Lindsay's shoulders in a quick squeeze. "Nothing like an exquisite dress to make one's day, is there?" Stella gushed.
All Lindsay could do was nod in agreement. Oh, this is going to cost me so much money!
Exiting the shop, much later, Lindsay could barely believe what she had purchased. Not only had she purchased the exquisite cocktail dress, but a pair of delicate, bronze colored, strappy, high heeled sandals, a pair of dangling bronze earrings to match and two pairs of nude colored thigh high stockings. Backups, Stella had knowingly called the extra pair of stockings. Stella had said even if you don't need stockings, the thigh high variety was worth wearing just for the hotness factor alone. It drove men wild, when you dropped the dress to the floor and they saw you in those high heeled shoes and thigh high stockings. Lindsay had blushed when Stella had revealed this last nugget of wisdom to her and Stella had laughed endearingly at her as she said, "We'll make a New Yorker out of you yet!"
"Oops the time," Stella exclaimed as she glanced at her watch. "I'm meeting someone for drinks? Do you want me to drop you somewhere?"
"No Stella," Lindsay said with a small slightly rueful smile. "You've done more than enough for me already. In fact, I'll be working quite a bit of overtime, from now until Easter, with all that you've done for me today."
Stella grinned. "It will be worth it, I promise!" Stella assured, as they embraced quickly.
Stella walked quickly off to her car and Lindsay hailed a cab.
When Stella was in her car, she pulled out her phone and keyed in a quick text message and hit send. She smiled as she put the phone away, started her car and maneuvered into the afternoon traffic.
Two minutes later, Danny received a text message which he promptly checked in hopes that it was from Lindsay. But it wasn't, it was from Stella:
You owe me, BIG!
Hmmm! Danny thought, as he rubbed his chin in vexation. He hoped everything was okay with Lindsay. He was dialing Lindsay's number when Flack called him over. Later, he thought, as he put his phone away.