Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except Rebecca Rhodes

Chapter 2: Brand New

Flack smiled to himself as he lifted a bottle of beer to his lips. He'd gotten a good look at his new neighbor while she'd been messing with the entry system. Pretty, slim, but with curves in all the right places, although the tank top had hid most of her top half. But the legs – the legs were just right; long. The long dark hair and brown eyes were a definite bonus he mused. Damn she was distracting, even keeping his mind of the Knicks game he was trying to watch.

Then he had an idea – a brilliant one. Finishing his beer, he headed out of the door.

Two minutes later, he found himself knocking on the door of 3B

"Just a minute!" called Rebecca. Flack heard the sound of bolts being drawn back, before the door opened. "Hey Irish! Come on in!"

Rebecca looked hot, her skin covered in a light sheen of perspiration. She patted her face with a small towel. She had changed into workout gear that left even less to Flack's already overactive imagination. Her face was flushed.

"So, Irish, what's up? I was just kicking the crap out of the bag."

"Hey," said Flack, "I was just, uh, wondering if you wanted to come over and watch the Knicks game. I mean, if you have plans and all."

"Only for yet more unpacking," said Rebecca, waving her hand around the apartment to where there were still packed cartons everywhere.

Looking around, Flack saw that aside from a coffee machine on the kitchen counter, an open laptop on a small table in the window space and the over-sized punch bag hanging from the new hook in the ceiling, there were boxes everywhere. He could see the same state in her bedroom through the open door, where a lamp was perched on a box and it looked like a bomb had hit it.

"Why don't you come over," he said, smiling persuasively, "I do a mean beer and chips and I can even call out for pizza. I mean, it doesn't look like you've even unpacked the kitchen yet!", he said waving towards the kitchen.

Rebecca put her head on one side and crossed her arms.

"Tempting, Irish, but I need to shower first. I have some beers in the refrigerator and I'll be over in ten."

"Ok," said Flack, "I'll call for pizza. Any preferences?"

"Only for pepperoni, extra pepperoni on the top!" she said, "Can you let yourself out?"

"Sure. See you soon," said Flack.

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Flack didn't know when his mind had been less on a game and more on his company. Rebecca was sat on the other side of his couch, feet crossed underneath her, beer in hand. She was dressed in jeans and another tank, sleeveless this time, in a soft fabric that clung to her. The remains of their pizza was on the floor, although neither had drunk much. Flack cleared his throat.

"So, what do you do, Hook?" he asked, thinking that he should make some conversation.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she replied, with a smile on her.

"Try me," he encouraged.

"Ok, you asked for it!" she conceded, "I'm a forensic anthropologist. I study bodies. My specialty is looking at remains with wounds. I also studied forensic archaeology at school and minored in psychology."

"Wow," said Flack, thinking there was more to this girl than met the eye, "So what brings a forensic archaeologist, with an interest in martial arts and vandalizing private property doing in New York?"

"New job," she said, taking a handful of chips and tipping them into her mouth, "My parents weren't pleased I moved back here."

"How come?"

"My parents live in D.C.," she said, "Dad's a busy attorney with extremely well-off clients, who is really pissed at my new job, which he thinks is beneath us and Mother is a society shopaholic who thinks her only daughter is letting the side down. I have an older brother, Harrison, he's the perfect one." Rebecca's eyes hardened and she took another swig of her beer.

"Hang on, you have a career and a job and they have issues?"

"Dad thinks I should have stayed at the Jeffersonian, or at the very least, gone to the FBI. He knows a lot of people and he set up an interview at Quantico for me. I got it, but I wasn't interested."

"And your Mom?"

"Mother is always disappointed. I was not blond and blue-eyed like the rest of them. I did not do a feminine subject," she said making the imaginary quote marks move, "I had two left feet, so dance class was a bust and I talked my figure skating coach into letting me take hockey classes instead. Plus, I haven't married any of her rich society friends' really boring sons."

Flack laughed. "Chalk and cheese, huh?" he said.

"We're all convinced I got swapped for the real Rebecca at the hospital," said Rebecca, "They're furious I moved back to New York for a job. They think it's totally blue collar. But, I have my own money from my Grandma and plus, I went to school in the Big Apple and I loved it here!"

"I don't know you that well yet, but I think D.C.'s loss could be New York's gain," he said, taking a drink from his bottle.

Rebecca stretched and stood, moving gracefully and stretching her back.

"Don, this has been great, but I really gotta get back to trying to sort out my bomb-site of an apartment."

"Sure," said Flack, a little disappointed the evening was coming to an end so early. He got up too and showed her to the door.

"I had a nice time," said Rebecca, "Next time I hope the Knicks win, although basketball isn't my favorite sport!

"Let me guess," said Flack, "Hockey?"

"Yup," said Rebecca grinning, "I've been a Rangers fan since I was a college student! See ya!"

And with that, Flack was treated to the sight of Rebecca sashaying down the hall back to her own place. He watched till she was safely indoors, being the good cop that he was, before he went back to his couch to watch the post-game analysis.

Living in the block had definitely taken a look up.

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Monday morning came and Don ran into Rebecca on his way out the door. She was dressed casually, in track shoes, a Rangers cap and a backpack over her running gear.

"Hey Rebecca," he said, smiling, "Going for a run?"

She smiled. "Yeah, sort of," she said, "I'm off to work. I'm gonna run through the park."

"You sure I can't give you a ride," he said hopefully.

"Nah. I like to run in the morning, helps clear my head." She said.

"OK," said Flack, "I might join you one of these days!"

"Yeah right!" said Rebecca, taking off down the stairs. As she got to the sidewalk, she stretched for another couple of minutes, a sight Flack took the time to appreciate, before taking off running in the general direction of Central Park. Flack tossed his car keys into his other hand and headed to his car.

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The team was all in the break room, grabbing coffee before the start of the shift. Danny was tired, as he'd been on call the previous night and he's been called out to a scene in the early hours. Besides, Mac had asked them to gather, as he was bringing the new CSI in to meet them before taking her to do some essential paperwork and get her ID, badge and gun. Stella and Hawkes were discussing Dancing with the Stars for some reason, Hawkes being a little sarcastic about men dancing in sequins, while the ever-graceful Stella was making some dance moves with her upper body. Danny and Adam were analyzing the Knicks game. Then Mac – and a pretty brunette – walked in.

"Good morning everybody," said Mac, "I'd like to introduce you all to Dr Rebecca Rhodes, our new CSI. We're very lucky to have her here. She used to work at the Jeffersonian in analysis, with Dr Temperance Brennan's team."

The team all said hi and Rebecca acknowledged them all with a nod and shy smile.

"I'm taking Rebecca to get processed and her ID. After that, I thought you could get to work with Danny. He's the lead on a case you might find interesting."

"Sure," said Rebecca, smiling at Danny. Danny grinned back, thinking he was sure he'd seen her somewhere before. Then Mac took her off and the team went off to the day's tasks.

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Later, Danny was back at the scene where the PD had found some more evidence. Rebecca wasn't finished with personnel, so Danny had headed to the scene alone.

"So, I hear on the grapevine there's a new CSI," said Flack, leaning against a tree watching Danny bagging evidence.

"Yeah," said Danny, "And if I wasn't a happily married man, I might take a second look. She's seriously hot, man. Maybe I should introduce her to you!"

"Always my wingman, huh Danny?" said Flack, laughing.

"Nah, more like you were always mine!" said Danny in reply. He stood, finished with his collecting. "Actually, I think I've seen her before at some lecture that was being given on forensics, yeah, that's it, last year's conference. This chick took the place of some keynote speaker who called away on a case and she took the job. I have to admit," he said shaking his head, grinning at the memory, "If memory serves, that was just pre-Lindsey and I don't think I took in one word she was saying, I was distracted by her figure!"

"Really?" said Flack, "So did you get lucky?"

"No," said Danny, "She had to leave right after the conference, so I never got to work the Messer magic on her. But I'm a happily married family man now."

"Yeah!"

"Yeah, she's highly respected in her field, so it'll be good to have her around. She'll be joining us this afternoon processing. You should swing by the lab. I'll introduce you."

"You trying to set me up, Messer?

"You know it Flack!"

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Back at the lab later that day, Flack headed down the corridor to find Danny. Danny had called him telling him they had some interesting news on the case; the body of the girl found the previous night in Central Park. Walking past the glass offices, he saw Danny and his new partner bent over the microscope. He turned into the room.

"Hey Danny, what's up?" he said.

Danny turned to see him standing in the doorway.

"Hey Flack, yeah, something interesting came up that might be important. Dusty, this is Flack, Flack, this is Dusty," said Danny.

The brunette straightened and turned to Flack with a grin on her face.

"Hey Irish," said Rebecca.

Can I just say thanks to everyone who's reviewed already! I have an idea of where this is going, but if there's anything you'd like to see, let me know! And, I know, I'm mean leaving it there!