Chapter 7: Kidnapped: Tiffany and Stuart

Tiff should have known that her partner is up to something. Sure, they haven't been partners for a long time but she'd like to think that she knows Stuart. And he's been acting really strange lately.

Like this morning when she saw him hunched over, talking to someone on the phone. But when she walked to her desk, he immediately ended the call. She asked him who it was and he said it was his phone company. Then around mid-morning when she saw Stuart with Maggie and OA but they stopped their conversation when she approached them. She also saw him in the SAC's office, talking to Isobel and Jubal. Maybe it's just about the case.

Fortunately, they were able to finish the case by the end of the day. She was exhausted and ready to go home when her partner asked if they could go have a drink. They began this tradition of hanging out at the bar after work, especially after tough, emotional cases. A way to strengthen their partnership.

He offered that they take his car and started driving. Looking at the sights, Tiff was startled when they were going in the opposite direction. "Ah Stuart, the bar's that way."

"Yeah, we're going to a different location today. Just relax."

Tiff looked at her partner suspiciously. "How could I relax when I'm being taken to an undisclosed location."

Stuart laughed. "Don't you trust me, partner?"

"Of course I do, but I don't like not knowing where we're going," she said with a sigh.

It had been a struggle for Stuart to execute his plan - with Tiff unknowingly thwarting his every move. In a last ditch effort to get the plan going, he was forced to do this.

"Are we there yet?" Tiff asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Relax, Tiff, you'll know when we get there," Stuart assured her. Even reaching out to squeeze her hand to calm her down.

When they reached the "location", he gave her a black blindfold. She stared at it, "Do I have to?"

"It's tradition," he smirked.

Rolling her eyes, she tied the blindfold on. He guided her to the steps and into the bar.

When he removed the blindfold, Tiff saw everyone - the team and her siblings - were there to celebrate her birthday.

She turned to Stuart, "My birthday is still tomorrow."

"I know but I found out from two reliable sources that you will take the day off. So I called your siblings and they told me that you would go visit your parents' and spend the day together. This is what I can do last minute."

Amazed, Tiff asked, "You did this?"

"Well, everyone helped."

Hugging Stuart, she whispered, "Thank you, partner."

Notes:

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