A/N: Time to give this story a little love. Haven't had a lot of time lately, so hope you like!

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash

Then crash and burn

You're not alone

Savage Garden — Crash and Burn

Don watched Isabella go, feeling sorry for her. He shook his head and focused his attention on the victim.

"Man, I hope she's okay", he said aloud. Danny gave him a strange look.

"I meant Rocky. It has to be a blow that the people you've trusted with your life and your career get busted for drugs and now you're being called into question", he explained.

"Yeah. She's a tough woman though", his friend replied. Hawkes helped pull the body on the gurney and roll it away. Don got into his car and drove to the precinct where Isabella was being questioned. He liked the spunky, feisty southerner. One look at her, and anyone would pass her over because she was small. Second look, she'd prove you wrong. He respected the hell out of her. He got out and walked in, seeing Isabella sitting at a chair. She wiped her eyes and mustered a weak smile.

"Hey, Flack", she greeted him. He looked at her tear-stained face.

"You okay?" he asked. He instantly felt sorry for her. She shrugged.

"I've been cleared for the drugs, but the guy who was my mentor, my freaking mentor, was arrested for being involved. He tampered with evidence", she replied. He knew instantly how she felt. Don thought back to Officer Moran, the man who'd taken him in when he was just starting out as a cop.

"You may not believe me, but I know exactly how you feel on that. A few years ago, I had to arrest the guy who'd taken me in and mentored me. He even worked with my dad", he said. She looked up at him and wiped her eyes again. Man, this had really hit her hard.

"That sucks", she said, chuckling.

"Yeah, it did. He tampered with evidence, believe it or not. The guy was like a second dad to me", he replied.

"I'd known Adams since I was a teenager. He was the one who pulled the strings with the academy to let me in, they were going to reject me. Told them to give me a chance, that I might surprise them. I've spent every single day of my career trying to prove to everyone that I'm a good cop and I belong there", she said, pulling her knees to her chest. The precinct doors opened and one of the new detectives, Detective Frankie McElroy strolled in. Isabella's eyes snapped up and set on his face. She recognized him.

"McElroy?" she said. He looked down at her.

"Isabella Pacino! What are you doin' here, darlin'?" he said. She stood up and hugged him.

"I'm here on a case, I'm a CSI now", she replied.

"That right? You were always the smart one", he said. Isabella turned and looked at Don.

"Frankie was my partner back when we were unis", she explained, slightly smiling.

"So how's everyone back home?" Frankie asked.

"I don't want to talk about that", Isabella replied, shaking her head and sitting down again.

"Alright, well, gimme a call if you wanna talk, Bells. I'm always here", Frankie said. She looked up at him.

"Can I say it?" she asked with a tiny smile. He rolled his eyes.

"Go ahead", he replied.

"You're my pretty lady, McElroy", she said, the corners of her mouth twitching. Frankie kissed the top of her head.

"You're tough as asphalt, Killer. Whatever's got you down, you're gonna kick its ass", he replied.

"Thanks, Frankie", she said. She seemed lighter now.

"See ya later, Flack", Frankie said, nodding to Don and walking off.

FBI Agent Archer walked up, giving Isabella a sneer. It was always interesting how Isabella reacted to her, Don realized.

"So I heard you're under investigation for drugs", Sheila said. Isabella rolled her eyes.

"So are you. It all started a year before you left, dumbass", she replied. It was hard to believe the two women had once been co-workers. Mac came up to her.

"So I'd like to be the one to deliver the good news to you: You've still got a job and your record is still squeaky clean. Go on and finish up this case", he said. A big smile graced Isabella's features, her aqua eyes brightening instantly. There was that half-moon smile. She looked as if she were about to do a touchdown dance.

"Mac, that's amazing news! Thank you!" she replied.

"That's good, I almost had to work with Danny", Don teased. Isabella gave him a poke in the shoulder before walking off. Excitement was radiating off of her in waves, it was contagious.

"It's almost scary how clean her record actually is", Mac said, nodding to her. Don chuckled.

"I gotta get back to work", he replied, shaking his head.

A/N2: I wanted to kind of establish something between Isabella and Don, because I'm sort of losing the fire for this story...get kind of a wind of understanding, so to speak. In all my eagerness, I really just want to throw them together, but patience is a virtue I currently lack T-T.