AN: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.
2. Back with the team
The elevator door opened on the 35th Floor of the Crime Lab and Laura stepped out and looked around. Mac was working in his office so she headed there first, pulling her coat around her.
"Mac Hi. Have you seen Don around?"
"Laura! Welcome back." He replied his lips curling into a wide smile. "He left with Danny a few minutes ago. They're at Sullivan's." He continued looking at her. "You look well, Vice take care of you?"
"I'm doing great and can't wait to be back at my own desk tomorrow. ... Are you coming over to join us?" She asked referring to the team meeting at the local bar.
"Nice idea, but I'm backed up on paperwork, I'll be here a few more hours yet." He sighed.
"Come on Mac, please, even just for a little while." She pleaded good naturedly.
"Another time." He answered as he took looked her over. "Nice haircut."
"Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow then." Laura turned and left Mac's office as he watched her go.
Stella had been in the lab at the end of the corridor and was going back to her office to finish up when she saw the figure at the elevator. Curiosity getting the better of her she picked up her speed, not instantly recognising them.
"Excuse me? Can I help you?" she asked.
"No thanks Stell, I'm just chasing my elusive husband." Answered Laura as she closed her eyes but didn't immediately turn around.
"Laura! ... What are you doing here, thought we were meeting later? ... Is everything ok?" Stella asked walking around the younger woman, who immediately plastered a smile on her face and looked up.
"Everything is really good, but I don't want to talk right now, can you get everyone to meet us at the bar and we'll fill you all in at the same time." Gushed Laura, hoping Stella wouldn't press for more information. Stella opened her mouth to ask something else as the ding from the elevator announced an escape route and Laura quickly slid into the opening doors and pressed the button quickly to close them again. "See if you can persuade Mac too." She added as the doors finally closed. Laura breathed a sigh of relief that she had got off so lightly. She was sure Stella would know what was going on instantly she got a good look at her.
Stella stared at the elevator doors for a moment tapping her pen on the folder she was carrying and a thoughtful expression furrowing her brow. Hawkes found her like that a moment later.
"Penny for them?" He asked, bringing her attention back to the lab.
"Huh?"
"Your thoughts? You were miles away. Tough case?" Hawkes asked kindly.
"What? Uh no, Laura, she just breezed out of here wanting us to meet them at Sullivan's, Flack said the same earlier. ... you seen them recently?" She questioned, her mind still in investigator mode.
"Flack's working the case, he's been edgy today, but then he's been wired since she came back from LA a few months ago. You think something's wrong?" Hawkes returned.
"I don't know, but they're ready to tell us, I'm gonna get Mac and head over to meet them. You coming?"
"Meet you back here in 10 minutes?"
--
Don & Danny were seated in a booth of the local bar on Friday night waiting for the rest of the team to arrive.
"So what happened to your wife yesterday, she left early. She avoiding us now Vice have got their claws back in her?"
"Nah, early meeting, they were planning a big raid last night, she needed to prep her team"
"Her team? She in charge now?"
"Nah, a temporary thing, they're after the other branches of the gang we busted last year, they wanted her inside knowledge, she co-ordinated all the raids across the city, it kept her off the streets." Don answered, relieved that she was no where near the raids. He didn't think he could handle another day like the one a year ago when she had been abducted.
"Everything go ok?" Asked Danny, noting the tense expression on his friend's face.
"Yeah, thank god, she's spent all night and most of the day knee deep in interrogation and paperwork." Don concluded.
"... Thanks for letting me crash at yours." Danny finally broke the silence which had descended between them. Acknowledging the support from his friends the day before.
"What are friends for? ... You talk to Monroe yet?" Asked Don, referring to the discussion they had in the early hours of the previous morning.
"Nah, what do I say, oh sorry Linds, I love you but I slept with another woman." He answered looking around warily, rubbing his neck at the same time.
"Just talk to her, Danny." Advised Don, knowing that the longer things remained unresolved the worse the situation would get. He drained the last of his beer and got up to go to the bar for another round, leaving Danny at the table staring at his almost empty glass.
Don had just placed the order when he felt two hands cover his eyes. "Guess who." A soft feminine voice commanded. He gently pulled the hands away from his face and half turned to her, while slipping an arm under her coat around her waist, then giving her a deep intense kiss.
"My favourite girl." He whispered as he looked at her. "You look tired, babe."
"I am, I've just almost clocked a triple, but at least I'm off the hook until tomorrow afternoon."
"You sure you want to be here? We can just head home." He offered.
"I'm ok, besides you promised to take me to dinner, Annie even dragged me out to buy a new dress for the occasion." She pouted. He looked her up and down.
"New coat too?"
"Yeah, you like?" She asked a little hesitantly. He pushed aside the flaps of her coat and caught a glimpse of the dress and grinned at her, his mind mentally undressing her. She saw the look in his eyes and felt her cheeks flush. Self-consciously she pulled her coat around herself. He chuckled.
"You're beautiful babe." He answered as he pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I promise I'll behave ... in public." He added before turning his attention back to the barman and adding another drink to the order.
Heading back to the table Laura glanced at him. He looked a little tense. "... you ready for this?" She asked, knowing what reaction they would get from some members of the team.
"They've gotta know some time." He grinned. "It'll be all round the department tomorrow."
Don deposited the two beers he had carried and then helped her off with her coat and lay it at the back of the seats, then slipped his arm around her waist as they turned to take their seats Danny looked up and whistled. "Hey! You look fantastic Kat!"
She grinned nervously. "Thanks Danny, ... and regardless of the dress, you call me Kat again and I'll kick you're ass!" She teased. She knew he had used Don's pet name for her to wind her up and he succeeded every time.
"Easy babe." Cautioned Don as they took seats in the booth.
"Don't worry sweetie, he lost the last challenge, he knows I can take him anytime." She answered referring to the challenge laid down during one of their first meetings.
"Hey guys!" Greeted Danny as Stella, Adam, Kendall and Lindsay arrived.
"Hi! Finally we get you two together in the same place!" Greeted Stella looking between Laura and Flack. She noted the way he protectively wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"It has been a bit chaotic the last few months. But you'll be seeing a lot more of me from tomorrow, I've escaped vice again." Laura answered as they shuffled along the bench making room for the others.
Danny got up and went with Adam to the bar as the girls edged into the seats with Lindsay next to Laura. Stella slid in next to Flack to let Adam sit next to Kendall and Lindsay.
"Flack said you want to go shopping tomorrow."
"Not sure want to is the right word, need to might be more accurate, I'm fed up living with Teresa's cast offs." Answered Laura as she looked around the table.
"And why would you want to live with his sister's cast offs, you've got such a great wardrobe?" Asked Stella.
Mac and Hawkes arrived and the conversation momentarily changed to case discussion. As Danny and Adam returned to the table and everyone sat down Laura whispered in Flack's ear and he turned to Stella and flapped his hands at her. "Shift Stell, Kat needs the little girl's room." He commanded.
"You could have said before we all sat down." Stella moaned good naturedly as she stood up.
"Sorry not exactly my decision." Laura replied as they slid out. As they stood up Don offered Laura a hand to help her out.
I hope to update soon, but have rather a hectic weekend planned, as always reviews will help...