Chapter 11 – Just call on me (Part 2)

'Congratulations, Lily,' Sam Martinez shook her hand.

'Thanks, I'm going to like working as a partner with you.' She left the office of her former boss.

Mary intercepted her on the hallway.

'Congrats on your new job!' they hugged.

'Thanks, how did you know so fast? I found out only a couple of minutes ago.'

'You know how things are around here; news travel fast. By the way, Kelly Roberts has been spreading the rumor that either you killed Jeff or you're sleeping with one of the other partners,' Mary shrugged and smiled.

'Thanks for the heads up, I think I'm going to pay her a visit,' Lily smiled mischievously and Mary winked before running to her desk to pick up the phone.

Fifteen minutes later, the whole firm was at the meeting room and Lily's promotion was announced. Several people look disgruntled and others satisfied but no one was surprised.

'You can all keep working now,' John Daltry (another partner) spoke.

Most people left the office except for a few who waited to congratulate her. After the greetings she got back to her office. Not half an hour had passed when a guy in his twenties entered and sat opposite Lily.

'At last you got the job! You deserve it.' he smiled sincerely.

'You must be the only one who's happy for me and doesn't want me to trip and ruin everything. In this place where everyone wants you out of the race; you've got no idea how much this means to me,' she returned the smile.

'Now you've got to show them how good you are,' he stood up and motioned with his arm. 'C'mere!'

Lily got to where he was and hugged him. 'You're the best Nicky but if you want special treatment because you're my protégé; it's not going to happen.'

'Never would have expected it,' two pairs of brown eyes locked in understanding and he squeezed her one last time before letting her go and leaving the office.

Two days later Lily and Flack met for dinner.

'Thanks for coming,' she told him.

'No problem,' he sat in front of her. 'Why did you call me?'

'What? Are you implying I don't enjoy your company?' she raised and eyebrow.

'Just saying there's something more to this dinner …'

'Okay, I'll cut to the chase: I'm the new partner. Go me!' she gulped down half of her Cosmo, guilt gnawing at her.

'Congratulations, you deserved it,' he squeezed her hand.

'My conscience would have preferred it some other way … I'm sad about Jeff's death but it gave me what I've wanted for so long,' she drank again. 'If only the firm had other rules for getting a partnership … Why does someone have to die or retire?'

'Blaming yourself or getting drunk isn't gonna solve anything, so you might as well avoid it.'

'Thanks, that's exactly what I needed and why I called you to have dinner with me.'

'Glad to have helped, now if you don't mind, I'm hungry,' Flack tried to lighten up the mood, knowing how Lily could get when guilt attacked her.

Lily looked at him with admiration. He could be serious and sensitive and then become a total idiot. But the total idiot you knew would always be there when you needed him. The kind of idiot who was just so easy to love … She'd been falling for him for such a long time and hadn't realized it until that very same moment when he gave her a small smile and she felt safe. Because Don would always be there for her.

Later in the evening, Flack sat there, watching her laugh at one of his stupid jokes and couldn't believe it. She was the kind of woman who was comfortable in any situation. A woman who could dress up for a fancy party and then go and have a burger with you at the park. She was the sort of person who would laugh or smile even when she was sad and heartbroken because she was a firm believer that a smile could change the world. And that was what she was doing now.

'You are beautiful when you smile, you know that?' he told her and then regretted it after seeing her shocked expression.

'Do you use that line often?' she asked curiously.

'Only when I mean it,' he looked straight into her eyes.

'Should I be flattered?' asked Lily a bit ironically.

'I was just telling the truth, take it as a compliment if you want,' he pierced her with a glare to tell her he actually meant it. but she didn't catch the hidden meaning.

'Always the charmer …'

'Me?'

'You know you can have any woman just by giving her a look or saying a few words.'

'Not true!'

'You can't deny it! I'm right. You've been like this ever since school.'

'I can never seem to get the women I want …' he sighed. You'd have been mine a long time ago if I could.

She smiled and couldn't help making the next comment.

'Shouldn't take it personal; models usually go for producers and directors.'

'That's not what I'm talking about and you know it,' he gave her a warning look.

'Just joking!' she ran her fingers down his cheek. 'And I'm sure you'll find someone who loves you and you love back. It just takes a bit of time …'

'Corny much?'

'Forgive me for believing there is a person for everyone!'

'You were always too optimistic. After dating for many years, I'm not so sure about that.'

'And you always tried to hide how romantic and sensitive you truly are,' she patted his hand. 'Guess only time will tell …'

'Guess so,' he smiled at how she glowed. 'Any prospects for you?'

'No, I never had much luck with men …' she shrugged.

'Can't understand that.'

'What you mean?'

'You're smart, beautiful, nice; perfect combination if you ask me.'

'Not so sure about it,' Lily shrugged and smiled sadly, ignoring the compliment.

'Idiots! They lost a wonderful woman and they're probably regretting it.'

'Always a kind word from you. Even if you try to hide it, you're too sweet Don.'

He blushed and she laughed at his reaction.

'You mind if I leave? I'm really tired,' she rubbed her eyes like a small girl.

'C'mon, I'll take you home.'

They spent the trip to her place in silence, Lily almost asleep, Flack too caught up thinking until he parked. Why was Lily so out of his league? She clearly didn't want him. What could he give her that she didn't have already? As usual, he accompanied her to the door.

'If you want to come in …' she offered and yawned.

'Nah, you're gonna fall asleep in a second,' he smiled.

'I think you're right. Thanks for everything. It's good to know I can always count on you.'

'I'm always here, babe.'

They hugged and she kissed him on the cheek. Lily entered the apartment with a wave and a soft goodbye. Flack went home with a huge grin; he was happy and he didn't know why.

His good mood carried on until the next day.

'Why are you so cheerful, Flack?' asked a peeved Danny, who hated rainy days like that one. It always ruined the evidence, especially on a scene outdoors like the one he was processing.

'No idea, that's the beauty of it.'

Flack yawned.

'Stayed up late?' Danny raised an eyebrow.

'Sort of. Lily and I had dinner together.'

'As in a date?'

'Nope. As in two friends having dinner,' Flack gave his friend a sharp look.

'Still think you should tell her. And don't even try to feed me the 'we're just friends' bullshit 'cause I know you're in love with each other.'

'Mind you own business. You've got enough on your plate with Monroe.'

'Montana has nothing to do with you two. Get defensive all you want but you know I'm right.'

'I'll go talk to the neighbors.'

'Yeah, you run away.' Danny shook his head in resignation and kept processing the scene.

'It's called a job, Messer, you should try it,' he smirked and left.

* * *

'How's life as a partner?' asked Flack one afternoon on the phone.

'The same as before but with a formal title, actually,' Lily sighed. 'Still working the same hours, earning a bit more. The only big difference is I get to be part of the decision making process.'

'That's an improvement, isn't it?'

'Yes, I love it. It makes me feel all powerful and fuzzy on the inside,' she grinned.

'So maybe it's a dangerous thing. I can see an evil grin pasted on your face.'

'Ah, you know me too well …' she laughed.

'I won't let you take over the world, Brain,' he joked.

'Then I guess I'll have to do something about you.'

'You wouldn't dare.'

'And why's that?'

' Just 'cause It'd be assaulting a police officer.'

'Details, details. Look, honey, I've got to go since loads of cases are piling up on my desk. Talk to you later.'

'Ah, yes, the downside of jobs: working. Bye.'

Flack grinned and couldn't stop smiling for the rest of his shift. Talking to Lily somehow got him in a good mood. There was something about that woman!

* * *

'Don't worry Mac, I'll take care of it. Thanks for calling,' Lily hung up the phone with a decided look on her face.

It had been a long week for Flack; the cases had been getting to him (he didn't know why, they just did) and he was in a really bad mood so when his phone rang, he was pretty close to throwing it to the wall and releasing his frustration but quickly decided against it and took the call.

'I don't want to hear any excuses; you're coming to dinner with me tonight and that's it,' Lily commanded on the other side of the line.

'I don't wanna argue with you.'

'Great. I'll pick you up at seven and we'll go to your place.'

'Lily, that's not what I meant. I just wanna be alone,' he said trying to control his voice.

'Tough luck! That's life. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to.' She hung up.

A few hours later Lily waltzed up to Flack's desk.

'I've got the food,' she lifted her right hand to show him the paper bag. 'And you're coming with me,' she informed him in a no-nonsense tone.

He grabbed his jacket and led her to the parking lot.

'Taking a suspect home, Flack?' Hawkes joked.

'The other way around, rumor has it he's been quite a pain the last few days,' Lily answered.

'Better straight him out. It's good to see you,' Hawkes hugged her and went to his car.

They drove in silence and no word was uttered until they got inside his apartment.

'You go have a shower while I get dinner ready.'

'Maybe later.'

'It wasn't a question, Don,' she said seriously.

He obeyed while she moved expertly around the kitchen and arranged the food. He emerged from the bathroom a bit more relaxed.

They talked and ate for some time, leaving their worries behind, just enjoying each other's company until she had to go home.

'So, you feeling more calm?' she asked.

'Yeah, thanks, I really needed this. But did you have to be so bossy?'

'It was the only way you'd stop being an idiot. Believe me, your colleagues are going to send me flowers after tonight,' she patted his knee.

'They're gonna think I got laid.'

'Not with me, I presume?'

'The guys are working crazy hours and they aren't getting any, so they live vicariously through the ones who are.'

'But you're not,' she reminded him.

'Yeah, but I left the Precinct with a beautiful woman and we were coming to my place,' he didn't finish the sentence.

'Men!' she rolled her eyes. 'I hope rumors don't start spreading.'

'I wouldn't mind. Especially if they became true …' he smirked. But of course, they won't. 'Cause you're too good for me and there's nothing I could give you.

'Dream on, sweetie,' she patted his cheek.

'Oh, I will,' he hugged her and watched her leave. You bet I will.

Lily smiled, the Don she knew was back.

Here's the second part (uploaded two minutes after the first one!). As usual, please leave comments, suggestions, questions or anything in a review or a message.

LaUrIsHa-just me