Disclaimer: I obviously do not own CSI: NY. I wish I did because then Danny and Lindsay would be together already! Anyway, I do own any characters that you do not recognize. You can borrow them if you ask permission first!

A/N: Here's the next chappie!! Thanks to all who reviewed. As always, please R&R. My muse loves the attention. :D

Chapter 8.

Clandestine Meetings

When Rebecca got home from the hospital, she looked in on Cory and her kids. She smiled. Two of her kids were snuggled up against her. All of them were fast asleep. Her oldest son, Nathan was watching cartoons on the television. "Nathan," she whispered.

He turned around. "Hi, Mom."

"How long have they been asleep?"

"Um. Right after lunch. We were watching Sponge Bob."

Rebecca raised her eyebrows. "Wow." She turned to Cory. "Hey, Cory. Time to wake up!"

Cory opened her eyes. "Hey, Rebecca. What time is it?" She carefully moved off of the couch to stretch, trying to avoid waking the children up.

"It's a little before three."

Cory nodded her head. "How's David?"

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Being a big baby. I mean, come on! He's on morphine for Christ's sake! How much pain can you be in?"

Cory just laughed. "You know that men are just big babies when they are hurt or sick. Cut him a little slack."

"I will. Do you have to go now?"

"Yeah. That way, I'll be in Texas by tomorrow. I can crash for a couple of hours, go see my informant then drive back. I should be back by Saturday morning. Then, I have my return flight at 10 a.m."

"Seriously. When are you going to sleep?"

Cory smiled. "I just did." She saw the look on Rebecca's face. "I'll crash for a couple of hours after I meet with the informant. I'll probably leave Texas around seven a.m. Friday morning."

"Okay. Just be careful."

Cory waived goodbye to everyone as she left. Twenty hours later, she was pulling up to a small motel outside of Houston. She wearily paid in cash for the room and went take a shower. Thirty minutes later, she was on her way to the prison.

About five p.m. she was at the prison, checking in. She watched as Ortiz walked in. "Ortiz."

"Chica. How are you?"

"I'm fine. What was so urgent that I had to go all James Bond to get here?"

Ortiz looked at her, concern in his eyes. "The Martinez Brothers have put a hit out on you."

Cory laughed. "That's all. I kinda already figured that they would do that."

"There's more. Your life is valued at ten million dollars."

Cory raised her eyebrows. "Wow. They really want me dead. Still not surprised."

"That's not all. They have called in Antoine Frasier. They don't have the power to do that. They have some major backing here. They've tried to call in Antoine on other hits, but he would not work for them. I honestly think that they are fronting this hit for someone else."

"Ya got a name?"

Ortiz looked away. "I have a suspicion. The only person that they have that kind of credit will is Javier Montoya. He's the leader of the Los Dios cartel. He's the only one with enough power to pull this off. From what I heard, they are not stopping at just you. They will go after your friends and family, too."

Cory sat there, shaken. Javier Montoya? He's big time. He's completely out of our range. I have no way to monitor him. Why would he want me dead? Cory looked up and saw Antonio standing behind Ortiz. She looked at him, a question in her eyes.

Antonio looked at her and smiled. "He's telling the truth. Ask him why Javier would try to kill you."

"Ortiz? Why does Javier Montoya want me dead? I'm not even working with the agents that are trying to shut him down."

Ortiz sighed. "They've gotten in to more than drugs. Word on the street is that they are trying to bring down the American economy. What better way to do that, then domestic terrorism? I honestly think that they are working with some outside interests in trying to…for lack of a better word, fuck us over."

Cory felt her anger rise. "So those sorry SOB's think that my getting me out of the way it will open the door. Why would I leave America vulnerable?"

"I don't know. I wish I could tell you."

Cory stopped for a moment and looked at Antonio who said, "He's telling the truth. More things are going on here than he knows. He's just one piece of the puzzle."

Cory nodded and exhaled. "Okay. I'll work on the information that I have. I'll try to figure out this puzzle. Do you have anything else?"

Ortiz smiled. "No. Go get some sleep. I bet you drove straight here, with no sleep."

"How did you know?"

"My love. I watched you for seven years. I can tell when you haven't been sleeping well."

Cory repressed a shudder at the memories that his comment raised. "I'm leaving now. No more clandestine meeting, okay?"

Ortiz nodded and got up to leave.

Drained, Cory made her way back to the hotel. It was a little after nine when she got back. She laid her head down on the pillow and within minutes was fast asleep.

Cory woke up at six a.m. the next morning and quickly got ready to leave. She decided to stop for a good old fashioned Texas breakfast on the way out of Houston. When she was halfway through her breakfast, her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Ciao, Bella!"

"Hi, honey. How are you?"

"I'm good. Did you get what you went there for?"

Cory smiled. She knew that he was trying to be careful. "Yes. I'll tell you all about it when I get home."

"Good. As much as I like what we did over the phone, it just wasn't the same. I miss you."

"So do I. So do I. I'll be home tomorrow. Then I plan on crashing until we go to Trance."

"Good." Cory heard a cell phone ring in the background. "I'd better go. That's Mac. Ti amo, Bella."

"Je t'aime. I'll see you tomorrow."

Cory smiled as she hung up the phone. Quickly, she finished her breakfast and left.

(Meanwhile in New York)

Danny smiled as he hung up the phone. Then he picked up his cell phone. "Yeah, Mac. What's going on?"

"Danny. We have a third victim that fits the description of the serial case that you and Hawkes are working."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Third and Broadway."

"Got it Mac. I'll be there in ten."

(Crime Scene)

Danny walked up to crime scene, kit in hand. "Hey, Hawkes. What's going on?"

Hawkes looked up from the body. "Danny. Looks like the same as the other two. Staged scene. She's blond, college age. It all fits. I don't like this, Danny. Whoever is doing this is smart. Smart enough to not leave any evidence."

Danny nodded his head. "He is consistent, though. Relatively the same amount of time between murders. Let's get everything back to the lab. Maybe we can get an ID on her."

Hawkes nodded. "So, have you heard anything about our first vic?"

"Naw. Cory's not able to check her email right now, so hopefully I'll learn something when she gets back."

Hawkes looked at Danny. "You miss her?"

"A little. That's alright. She'll be back tomorrow and then we all get to go out." Danny realized something when he said that. "Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Stella convinced Mac to come out with tomorrow. I'm trying to wrap my head around the thought of him in a techno club."

"Mac? In a techno club? I can't wait to see that!"

Both guys started laughing as they tried to bring that picture in their heads.

(California)

Cory pulled up in front of Rebecca's house about six a.m. She wearily got out of the car and stretched to pop her back. Sighing in relief, she felt her muscles stretch. She smiled as Rebecca walked out of the house.

"So? How was your trip?"

"Informative. Listen. I know that this won't make sense right now, but be careful for a while. There are some…evil men who want me dead. I think that they might come after my family."

Rebecca grew concerned. "You really think that we will be targeted?"

Cory shrugged her shoulders. "I honestly don't know. I just want you to be careful."

"Okay. I will. Have you eaten?"

"Yeah. A couple of hours ago. I could use come coffee, though. Then I need to leave for the airport."

The two women walked inside and decided to talk for a bit before leaving for the airport.

(New York)

When Cory got off the plane in New York, she saw Danny standing there, holding a bouquet of yellow roses. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so glad to be home."

Danny just smiled and bent his head to capture her lips in a kiss. "I'm glad you're home, too," he said as he lifted his head. "You look exhausted."

"I am. Take me home. I need sleep. Lots of sleep, so I can go out with y'all tonight."

Danny laughed. "We're not going out until 10. That gives you a good four hours of sleep and two to get ready."

Cory nodded, her eyes closing briefly. "Kay. Let's go."

Danny picked up her suitcase and they walked out of the airport hand in hand.

AN: Okay guys! I'm sorry for the wait...Things got a little crazy last week...But here's a little tranistion before the big night out!! Which, I'll give you a hint...You'll get some SMacked in the next chapter!!! I'm going to start working on the naughty portion to this story...Anyone have any ideas for a name???

kasmith101- I'm glad you like Flack! He is definitely a hottie! He's my normal type, but for some reason, I'm just drawn to Danny!

Soccer-Bitch- I hope this turned out like you expected it...I didn't even know what was going to happen until I wrote it.

chili-peppers- I'm sad that they left Paris, but it will be nice to have the team back together. It's much easier to write them when they are in one city. Any suggestions for the name of the M rated chapters???

mj0621- I have no idea who would turn the offer down...I promise...There will definitely be some SMacked in the next chapter...I'm thinking it's time they came out of the closet to the team. Plus, that means that Cory will not have to lie to Danny anymore!!