I'm back again! Sorry I take so long anyways….here's a new chapter, I hope you enjoy it!!! xxxx

The Returning Warrior

Against the dark outlines of Coney Island two figures walked together, laughing and watching the sun go down. They halted by the railings overlooking the beach, both leaning forwards. One nudged the other who nudged her back. They were still for a while, watching the last of the yellow rays disappear over the dark water.

Stella tossed her hair out of her face as the wind grew stronger, hugging her jacket close to her. She glanced sideways at Mac who was gazing at the sky, and smiled. He sensed her looking and smiled as he turned to face her.

"Thank you for tonight" Stella said. "I really enjoyed it."

"So did I," Mac replied. There was a comfortable silence between them until Mac spoke again. "I feel we should be more cautious about this, at least that's what my gut is telling me."

"Your gut is hardly ever wrong," Stella quipped. "it got us through a lot of cases."

"Stella…"Mac laughed slightly. Stella laughed too, then a thought stopped her and she stood up straight.

"Mac," she began, she twisted her fingers together, "I don't want to ruin our friendship…"

"Neither do I." something in the way Mac was looking at her made Stella relax. She dropped her hands by her sides and sighed.

"This isn't wrong, is it?" she asked. Mac smiled and shook his head, standing as he did.

"No. It's right." there was another silence, in which both looked at their feet. Stella raised her head so she was watching the waves roll steadily in upon each other. Her hair was still blowing across her face, and as she tucked it behind her ear she felt Mac's hand do the same. She turned back to gaze into his eyes. Mac rested his hand on her cheek. "You should buy a hair grip." He said it seriously enough, but there was that twinkle in his blue-grey eyes that Stella loved so. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Maybe you can buy one to give to me on our next date." Mac laughed gently and raised his own eyebrows.

"Maybe!" there was a pause where they just looked at one another, then as Mac leaned forwards, Stella put her hands on his chest, and he kissed her. Stella slid her hands up his chest to around his neck while he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. Stella ran her fingers through his hair, pressing closer to him as the kiss deepened.

Meanwhile, far across New York, Danny and Sheldon wandered into the precinct looking for Don, who happened to have his feet up on his desk, catching forty winks. Danny sat on the edge of Don's desk, vividly remembering the last time he did this was when Sheldon was still in hospital, the memory of that situation still made him shiver with anger.

"Don! Hey Donny!" Danny pushed Don's feet off the desk which woke the detective up with a start.

"Woah! What the hell-!" he rubbed his eyes and sat up. "What was that for?" he asked indignantly.

"For sleeping on the job." Danny picked up Don's notebook.

"He's still mad you've kissed me and not him," Sheldon chuckled. Don made suggestive eyebrow movements at Sheldon who laughed. "Stop it! You look ridiculous."

"Yeah, you really do," Danny chipped in. Don grabbed his notebook off Danny and hit his friend with it.

"What do you two want?"

"Harvey Midston." Danny replied. Don pressed a couple of keys on his computer.

"In lock up, " he leaned back. "Why, what do you want him for?"

"He's linked to our case." Sheldon came round to look at the screen. "Half-brother of a suspect."

"The usual." Danny tossed a paper weight up and down, as he did he caught sight of a man in army uniform sitting in one of the waiting areas. He put the paper weight down and stood up. "Hey Don, who's the returning warrior?" Don looked over.

"Oh yeah, Sheldon, that guy was asking for you." Sheldon looked up.

"Who?" he scanned the room with his light brown eyes.

"Him." Don indicated to the man in desert uniform. "Jacob something…" Don trailed off as he saw the look in Sheldon's eyes. Danny glanced up.

"Doc? You ok?"

Sheldon could hardly breathe, his heart was pounding fast as he recognised the battle scarred man sitting on the other side of the room.

"Jacob…" Sheldon didn't even notice himself moving as he ran towards him, calling out, "Jacob!" Jacob looked up and immediately rose from his seat, running to meet Sheldon. He caught the African in his arms as Sheldon's hands clung desperately to his shirt and kissed him passionately.

Danny and Don had stood up when Sheldon had started to run, they both watched the scene unfold as Jacob and Sheldon broke apart, Jacob put his hands on Sheldon's face and leaned his forehead against Sheldon's. He was smiling, almost laughing but he was also close to tears, as was Sheldon who kissed him again. Everyone else who was in that room at that time could feel the relief, the excitement and the happiness from these two men who clung to each other so tightly. Even from where he was, Danny could see Jacob whispering 'I love you' in Sheldon's ear, and while he and Don were close to tears at the sheer joy of the scene, in the pit of his stomach, jealousy growled and was ignored.

Danny and Don joined the others in the break room, having already agreed they wouldn't say anything, it was Sheldon's news to tell. After a little while Danny saw Sheldon walk along the corridor alone and enter the break room.

"hey Sheldon!" Adam tried to greet him 'coolly' (as he does) but Stella saw immediately what Adam had missed.

"Sheldon, have you been crying?" she put an arm around his shoulders. "Are you ok?" Sheldon smiled.

"I'm fine," he replied, "never been better!" he laughed slightly at himself. "My boyfriend's back from Iraq."

"Sheldon!" Stella stared at him open mouthed. "Who went to Iraq?"

"Jacob."

"You never said," Mac came forwards. "How long has he been in Iraq?"

"Five years."

"Woah," Danny stood up, "five years? Your boyfriend's been away five years and you didn't say anything." Sheldon shrugged.

"I didn't know what to say." He admitted. "He broke up with me before he left so I wouldn't feel tied down, but no other relationship's felt right."

"Did Jacob fight in Afghanistan?" Stella asked, a memory stirring in her mind. Sheldon nodded.

"Before I met him." As the questions went on, Danny noticed Lindsey sitting at the table, quietly and almost awkwardly, then she slipped out when she thought no one was watching. Danny frowned. What was up with her?

A little later on, when Sheldon had faithfully promised to introduce Jacob to them, Danny found Lindsey sitting in the lab peering down the microscope. He felt a sudden loathing for her which made him sharp with her.

"What was that about?" he demanded brusquely. Lindsey was surprised at the harsh tone in his voice.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"When Sheldon was telling us about his boyfriend," she looked away, "What Lindsey? What?" Danny started to get aggressive as he felt the need to defend Sheldon.

"Danny," she moved away from him. "You have your views, Hawkes' has his, and I have mine." Danny nodded, understanding.

"Right, right, you can't stand the fact that Sheldon can love men as well as women. How narrow minded are you?"

"Danny, I respect that you think it's ok for Sheldon to…"she searched for the right word, "…be with men, but I don't, can't you accept that about me?" she gazed pleadingly at him, but Danny shook his head forcefully.

"No," he said angrily," no I can't." With that he left the room.

Kisses to all! xxxxxxxxxx