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.

71. I’m sorry

Nikki was completely focused on the screen in front of her when Stella slipped back into the AV lab. Stella watched her peering intently at the screen and manipulating the various controls to clean up an image.

“Nikki?”

“I’m sorry he showed up here like that.” Nikki answered absently without taking her eyes from what she was doing.

“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Stella.

“No, I’m more interested in solving this case.” Nikki responded, her focus still intent on the screen and not once having looked in Stella’s direction. “Where did this footage come from?”

“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask the intern who shot out of here just now. Why?”

“I’m not sure at the minute, can someone find him for me and rescue my crutches, I left them in your office?” She requested, still working on the image.

“Nikki, take a break, go put your foot up for a while.” Stella encourage, noting the strained expression the other woman had.

“I can’t, if I’m not working I’ll be- .. never mind, I’m gonna hang on here for a while and work out a hunch.”

“Can I get you some coffee or anything?” Stella offered.

Nikki half turned and looked at Stella for the first time and half smiled at her. Stella noticed the watery eyes and drawn features and decided not to press for any explanations. “... That would be good, ... Thank you.” Nikki answered. Stella nodded and turned to leave but Nikki stopped her. “Stella? ... Can I ask you something?”

“What’s on your mind?”

“You’ve known him for a long time, what do you think he wants most?” Asked Nikki, hoping that Stella could give her some insight. Something which she was feeling she lacked right now and couldn’t figure out why, when they had always instinctively connected.

“I assume you’re talking about Flack, ... I don’t know, there are things he’s kept to himself, ... none of us knew about Amy until Christmas-“

“-but you suspected, I could tell in the way you looked at them back in October.” Said Nikki.

“I’ve realised lately that I don’t know when it comes to you and Amy. He’s kept that private ... why did you ask?”

“I thought I knew, now I wonder whether I know him at all.” Sighed Nikki and turned her attention back to the image she had been processing. “I’m sorry he brought it into the lab.”

“... What was it all about?” she finally asked.

“... Amy, ... I’m sorry Stella I don’t want to talk about it right now. I need to work this out.” Nikki answered. Her attention fully focused on the screen in front of her. Stella opened the door to find the young intern hesitating about going in.

“Chris, it’s ok she doesn’t bite, ... she needs some information from you. Go ahead.” Stella encouraged with a smile. Chris entered warily.

“Um Detective Bonasera says you need um.. information.”

“Hi, I’m sorry if we scared you away, but I think it’s helped my case, can you tell me where this was taken?” She asked indicating the screens behind her as she turned round and tried to stand up, but sat straight back down when the pain shot through her ankle and up her leg.

“I’ll need to ah- are you alright, is it painful? Should I get Dr Hawkes?”

“No, yes and no. ... I’ll be fine, I just shouldn’t be trying to put weight on it for a few more days.” A phone on the table began to vibrate and she picked it up looking at the caller display, before answering. “Hey Danny!” She greeted. She began to frown as she listened to the caller. “... That’s a cheap shot Don, tell Danny he better be the one calling me next time or I’ll stop his calls.” She snapped and hung up. Chris edged towards the door. “Sorry about that, things are a little crazy at the moment.”

“Detective Palmer? ... That dark haired detective from homicide gave me this just now, insisted I gave it to you before he left.” Chris told her anxiously.

“Detective Flack, ... Don’t worry, he won’t take it out on you. It’s me he hates right now, ... you read the note?”

“No! ... it’s addressed to you.” He stammered as he held it out. Nikki took it and stuffed it in her pocket. “Don’t you want to read it?”

“I don’t need to, I know what it says. ... How would you like to help me solve a case?”

“Really?” He beamed at her. “A real case, not some simulation?”

“Yeah Chris, a real case, serial murder, high profile and all that. ... I think I’ve found something on these videos you were going through, we need to prove if it’s connected.”

“Wow! Detective Palmer do you think I could?”

“Two sets of eyes are better than one, and you’re new, so you may see something we’ve all missed.” She encouraged. “and drop the detective stuff .. it’s Nikki.”

--

Mac entered his office removed his jacket and was hanging it up when Stella entered. “Well you’re still in one piece, what did the Chief have to say?” She asked light-heartedly, but her face betrayed her inner turmoil over the afternoon’s incident.

“I got a slap on the wrist, it could have been worse. ... I still came off better than ESU. ... What have I missed around here?” He asked noting Stella’s tense expression.

“... You know I don’t like telling tales out of school Mac, but we had a little blow up of our own, ... actually it was Flack and Nikki. ... Something ticked him off and he took it out on her in the middle of the lab. ... He’s out with Danny at a scene in the Bowery, Nikki’s spent the last few hours in the AV lab with the intern reviewing video footage which she thinks is somehow connected to the Firework case. ... She’s a good teacher Mac. ... Whatever happened she’s getting on with the job.” Stella advised. It was no good trying to hide what had happened, someone would mention it, so it was better he knew now.

Mac grinned slightly, he had encountered their fights before, although not for sometime in the lab. “What happened this time?” He asked.

“Something to do with Amy, she doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“You know what I think?” He looked at her the grin gradually spreading across his face and lighting up his eyes.

“You know something?!” she grinned.

“Maybe, ... But maybe I’ll just let them work on it first.”

“Mac Taylor, you are so mean!” she shrieked.

“OK, but you promise not to say anything until they tell you.”

“I promise, please Mac.!” She pleaded.

“Nikki asked me a few days ago for the name of a good family lawyer. Something about making proper provision for Amy. I know she already has arrangements in place, but I think she’s changing them. If anything happens to her I think she wants him to have custody.” Mac confided.

“But for a lawyer to serve him with papers?”

“It’ll be a formality, there will have to be a hearing, to check both parties are agreeable since he’s got no rights at the moment. Custody would default to her mother in the absence of any documentation.”

“But why would that piss him off Mac?” Asked Stella.

“That Stella is something only he can answer.”

--

Nikki and Chris has spent several hours pouring over the video footage until they cleaned the image enough to put it through the database for a facial recognition. The search was running and Chris had gone for more coffee when her phone buzzed on the desk for about the 20th time that afternoon. She sighed and picked it up and scrolled through the accumulated messages. All from Don.

I’m sorry.

I was a jerk.

I do want it.

I’m really sorry.

Luv Amy.

Forgive me?

Luv both of you

Dinner tonight? we talk?

I’ll cook.

Please?

I screwed up. I’m sorry.

Answer please.

OK, you’re upset. I know.

Forget dinner, Coffee?

I know a place.

What will it take?

I’ll be at the hearing, agree anything you want.

Pick up the damn phone and call. Please?

I’m worried about you.

She pushed her hair off her face and dropped the phone on the desk as it buzzed again. Her foot was throbbing, which probably meant it was swollen, which also meant she should have it propped up and take some of the pills prescribed by the hospital, but she didn’t want to do any of that, but weighing up the lesser of two evils she slouched in her chair and propped her foot on the desk. Hardly ladylike or professional, but at least it brought some relief. Her phone beeped again. She groaned and picked it up.

Please tell me you’re ok

She quickly typed a message and sent it back.

AN: FanFiction Awards: on CSI:NY Forums - lots of categories - please vote. My Crossed Paths series has been nominated.