Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of "CSI:NY" they are property of Anthony E. Zuiker and CBS.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

Messer spends the night crashed on the floor of my office. I figure if they're gonna come lookin' for him, my office has already been cased, and I also think they'll wait to see what we do, then worry about killin' two birds with one stone. Sassone is cocky like that- he would be the one to let us get within spitting distance before pullin' the trigger.

As for me, I spend the night in the backseat of my car, my finger on the trigger the entire time. I wake up with a helluva headache.

Stella's already inside when I make my way in. "Mornin' Stella," I say as I enter the office.

She's starin' at a pile of paperwork I know can't be all that interesting. "Aw, come on, Stel. You still sore about last night?"

"Naw, I ain't sore."

"Doll, what's wrong?" I ask her. Somethin' ain't right. She finally looks up, and I want to go crawl under a rock. Damn it, she's been cryin'. The worst part is I know I had something to do with her current state.

"You know, for the smartest man I know, you're a real dope, y'know?" Stella says finally.

"I said something last night, didn't I?" I kick myself; I think I just proved her statement. Then it finally hits me as the smell of coffee invades my nostrils. "Aw, Stella. I don't just keep you around for your coffee."

"Yeah, yeah, I knew what you meant." She flicks the tears away with one manicured nail. "I think your boy is awake in there-"

"Stella." I sit on the edge of the desk and tip her face to look at mine with a finger. She's tryin' not to look at me, even though I know she wants to. "I was scared to death yesterday. When I saw you in there, with a gun to you...I've never been more scared in my entire life."

"You're just sayin'-"

"I ain't just sayin' that, now let me finish!" I take a breath. "Damn it, Stella, do you know what you do to me?" I ask her. "I gotta catch my breath every time you come in a room. When you say somethin' smart, I gotta stop myself from pullin' you into my arms and goin' at it right there on my desk. You may have started off writin' appointments for me two years ago, honey, but..." I take a good look at her now. She hasn't said anything. She's just...starin' at me. "Stella, doll, I think there's a good chance I might be fallin' for you."

I stand again, and head for my office. I put my hand on the door knob.

"You're a damn softie, you know that?"

I smile as I turn around. "One of my personality flaws."

"Damn it, Donald Flack, you're impossible," she says. She stands. "But it's about damn time." She walks over to me and stands there, her arms crossed. "Do you know how long I've been waitin' for that speech you just made?" She tugs my hat off my head and tosses it across the room as she wraps her arms around me and presses her lips to mine. I return the gesture, picking her up and walking her across the room, sitting her down on my desk as I kiss her back. Damn, but I've been waiting for this moment. She smells amazing. She tastes even better. We spend a full five minutes in that position before I finally have to come up for a breath of air. She looks at me with a pouty smile.

"We'll continue this discussion later," I promise her.

"I'm holdin' you to that," she tells me. She goes back to sit behind her desk again. "Coffee's on, and like I said, I think your boy is awake. I heard him pacing when I came in this mornin'."

I only nod. I think she's forgiven me. I open my door, and sure enough, Danny Messer is awake. He's used my bathroom and I also think my razor, because he's lookin' a little smoother than he did. "Heya, Flack," he greets me. He's got this little half-grin thing on his face. I have to keep from rollin' my eyes. Think there's a good chance he caught my "conversation" with Stella out there. "Mornin'," I reply cautiously, waiting for his response.

He looks around. "I, ah, sorry I kicked ya out of your office."

Smart man, not sayin' anything. Otherwise I might have to kill him before his girlfriend gets to see him again. I wave it away. "Don' worry about it."

"So..." Danny opens his mouth, then closes it again. "Never mind."

"What?" I ask him. But I can see it in his eyes. I know what he wants before he even says anything.

"Do...is there any way I could see Lindsay today? Or just talk to her. God, I feel like I ain't seen her in years."

I smack myself mentally in the head. I completely forgot to call my 'client' and tell her that I sorta did my job. "Matter of fact," I say, "I think we can arrange that." I open the door a tinge. "Stella, darlin' you mind getting' Lindsay Monroe for me?"

"Replaced me so soon?" she teases as she reaches for the telephone.

I roll my eyes as I close my door again. And she thinks I'm impossible.

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It's at least a half hour before Monroe shows up, and I spend the entire time laughing at Messer. He's been pacing my office, running his fingers through his hair. "What are you so worried about?" I can't resist asking him.

"I-I don't know," he tell me honestly. "I spent all of yesterday and a little before wonderin' if I'd ever see her again, y'know? I mean, God, I disappeared on her for a whole day. I bet she was goin' crazy."

"She was," I tell him. I think it's funny. If a day is the longest these two have ever spent apart, and they act like this...but then again, there usually isn't the threat of imminent death hangin' over them.

He looks at me, shakes his head and starts pacing again. I burst out laughing. "Messer, take it easy before you wear a hole into the office downstairs."

Then we can hear a knock on the outer door. "Miss Monroe," I hear Stella say. Danny's head snaps up and he looks over at me in panic. I have to bite my tongue. "He's in his office. Go on in."

Her silhouette stops in front of my door before she opens the door. "Flack?"

"Yeah, Miss Monroe, I'm in here." She steps into my office. "Your secretary said you had some news for me?"

I prop my feet up on my desk. "Matter of fact, I do. I found your boyfriend."

Her eyes light up. "You found my Danny? Where is he? Is he all right?"

Danny steps into the center of the room. "Yeah, baby. I'm all right."

She whirls around, and her eyes widen. Her jaw drops to my floor. Tears start fallin'. In about two strides, Messer crosses the room and the two have their arms wrapped around each other. He holds her face in his hands and they just look at each other for a few moments before he's kissin' her again.

I suddenly feel very Peepin' Tom-like.

"God, I thought I'd never see you again," Danny is telling Lindsay.

"I was so scared for you," she replies. "When you didn't show up for dinner..."

"Sassone's boys tossed my place, I had to get outta there fast," he explains. "I'm sorry I stood you up, darlin'. I'm gonna make it up to you when this is all over, baby girl. I promise."

"Just havin' you here right now is enough," she tells him before she buries her head in his shoulder.

Aw, hell. Now I feel really awkward.

I stand. "I'm gonna give the two of you some time alone," I say. They don't hear me. Probably better that way. I close the door behind me. Stella looks up with a knowin' smile.

"Happy reunion?" she asks me.

"Yeah," I say. "Happy reunion. I'm gonna run down to the precinct. I need to talk to some people. Don't let those two leave. If you gotta, order Chinese or pizza from Ray's. They don't leave that office."

Stella smirks. "Don't think you'll need to worry about that, hon."

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Author's Note: In tryin' to answer everybody's requests, there's some more with Hawkes next chapter and Sid Hammerback makes his debut!