A/N: Sorry it's taken me so long to update, but I have been dealing with some difficulties in my life as of late. Usual disclaimers apply, I'm just borrowing the csi's!
Flack appeared in the throng of people gathered outside Karina's apartment building and zeroed in on his cousin sitting in an ambulance. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and Hawkes held her close.
"K, stai bene?" Flack asked. She looked up and smiled weakly.
"Sto bene." She replied. Flack turned his attention to Hawkes.
"What happened?"
"I brought her home, walked her to her door, said good night, and headed for the elevators. I heard a noise just before her door slammed shut so I went to check it out. Apparently, the guy your uncle chose for her husband wouldn't take no for an answer. He was waiting for her, and from the look of the things he had laying on her coffee table, he wasn't here to woo her into marriage." Hawkes explained, omitting the heated kiss between himself and Karina, and the fact that she passed out when she saw the instruments. Don looked at Karina, his stare unyielding. She sighed.
"Egli ha voluto batttere le ragazze tornare a casa. Penso che egli mento di male peggiore di me." She said quickly. Don's eyes darkened with rage and Hawkes quickly grabbed his arms.
"We got him before he could hurt her. He's already on his way to booking, and he won' be able to hurt her again." Hawkes whispered fiercely. Don's eyes still held murderous intent, and Hawkes looked to Karina for help.
"Il bastardo non sera in grado di toccare di nuovo me. Although, I do need a place to stay while the crime scene tape is still up." She said, seamlessly moving from Italian to English. Flack's shoulders slumped and he nodded.
"I'll get you some stuff and we'll go back to my place." He said.
"Aggiudicati la mia pittura furniture prego!" she called after him, and he waved a hand at her as he entered the building. Hawkes sat down next to her again and she chuckled.
"What was that?" he asked.
"I just asked him to get my painting supplies. Who knows how long I will be at his apartment." She replied. Hawkes had absently laced his fingers through hers, sending a little thrill down her spine.
"I was going to ask you, if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night." He whispered, his breath tickling her neck. She shivered slightly.
"Vorrei che. I'd like that." She replied. Hawkes smiled and gave her a chaste kiss, before heading over to speak with one of the officers that was standing nearby. Don returned shortly carrying a gym bag in one hand and a large artist's bag. She stood and took the ungainly canvas bag from him and followed him to his car. The drive was quiet, and Karina was dozing by the time they reached his building. Flack helped her up to his apartment and into his spare bedroom. She was fast asleep in moments, her face peaceful. Don sighed and went to his own room, changing into a pair of sweat pants before collapsing into bed.
A loud buzzing awoke Karina the next morning. She sat up and looked around trying to get her bearings. The buzzing continued, so Karina got out of bed and padded to the intercom near the front door, still half asleep. The buzzing continued until she hit the button.
"Chi e?" she asked. There was silence on the other end, so she tried again.
"Vi e qualcuno?" she asked, and a feminine voice full of venom responded.
"Who the hell is this? Where's Don?" the woman demanded. Karina's eyebrows raised in annoyance and slight amusement. Was her favorite cousin really dating such women?
"Hold on." She said, and moved to Don's bedroom door, knocking sharply. The door opened and Don stuck his head out, his hair dripping wet.
"Morning K. I just got out of the shower, but give me a few minutes and we'll go get some breakfast." He said.
"There is a very angry woman on your intercom looking for you." Karina said. Don rolled his eyes.
"Probably Devon. That woman does not get the meaning of the word no." Flack groaned.
"You get dressed. I will meet you downstairs." She said, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"K, please don't start any fights." Don pleaded.
"I do not start fights. I finish them." She said, shooing him into his room. She went into her own room and swiftly changed into a pair of dress slacks and a rust colored blouse with a suit jacket. She slipped her boots on and ran a brush through her hair, then hurried out the door and down to the street to come face to face with Devon. The socialite stood on the steps with one hand on her hip, her designer purse held in the other hand.
"Why are you wanting to see Donnie at 8:30 in the morning?" Karina asked, her eyes calm.
"Maybe because he is my boyfriend, or did he forget to mention it to you when he picked you up last night?" Devon was glaring at her, but Karina did not rise to the bait.
"Actually, he was a little busy wanting to rip apart the bastardo that dared to try and harm his favorite little cousin. He also has no desire to see you again, and I would take the hint, because the family doesn't take lightly to spoiled little brats laying claim to what is not theirs." Karina turned her ice cold glare on the petite woman and watched with smug satisfaction as she sniffed and stalked off down the street. Three minutes later Don came out the door, tentatively looking up and down the street.
"How'd you get rid of her so fast?" he asked. Karina shrugged.
"I threatened to sic the family on her. Give me a minute, I forgot my bag." She answered. A few moments later and they were walking down the street chatting amiably. When they reached the diner, Flack quickly found them a table and they sat. A waitress came by and set coffee down for them and menus. Karina slipped a sketchpad out of her bag and set it near her on the table.
"What can I get ya'll?" their waitress, a slightly pudgy girl with a nametag that read, 'Daisy' appeared at their booth. Flack ordered bacon and eggs, while Karina asked for a quiche and fruit dish. While they waited for their food, Karina began to sketch a face she noticed in the crowd. The woman had a look that could best be described as lost. As Karina drew her doe eyes and pursed lips, she noticed that the woman seemed lost in thought, and those thoughts were semi happy ones. She stood up and paid for her food and headed for the exit just past Karina. As she passed by, she noticed the picture.
"Wow, did I really look that depressed?" she said. Karina looked up at her. The woman was smiling, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"I wouldn't say depressed, more like, you are missing someone you love very much. I've seen this look before. My friend Mario had that look right before he moved to Naples to be with his boyfriend. He's never been happier." She replied. The woman's eyes softened at that.
"I think you've helped me make an important decision. Thank you Miss…?"
"Karina Santoro."
"Sara Sidle. You do great work." Karina and Sara shook hands, and Sara left the diner.
"Damn, K. You can make friends without even trying." Flack said.
"She just needed someone to tell her what she already knew."
A/N: Well, I just had to get that little crossover in. My muse demanded it! Anywho, I would love some more reviews, because I honestly am not sure where to take this from here.
