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.

19. Aftermath

The case may have been resolved and he’d been given his badge back, Gerrard would be watching him closely for a while, but that was normal, every one watched him closely, that was nothing to do with her that was because of his father the great NYPD legend, Donald Flack snr. But that wasn’t what he was really thinking about. He wasn’t sure how long it had been since he got Stella’s call. What was supposed to be a quiet weekend couldn’t have been more explosive if they had tried.

He was sat on the sofa staring into space, events from the previous afternoon replaying in his head. He didn’t know what he expected when he burst into the interrogation room, but he didn’t expect her to be mad at him. To push him away. Stella had since tried to explain, but it didn’t really make sense. He had no idea what to expect when she got home, he hadn’t talked to her since she had thrust her ring at him, sure he wanted to, but he didn’t know what to say to her, well not anything he thought she wanted to hear. Now they had to sort through the debris and pick up the pieces.

She noted the door had been fixed as she pulled the crime scene tape from the frame and then she slowly stepped through the open door and looked around, dropping the tape on the table. Evidence of their move scattered around with half full boxes, at least the search had been focused. They had been conveniently tipped off on where to find the murder weapon. But this wasn’t her home anymore. She was only here to collect some of her stuff. She would need to find a new place. As she glanced around she saw him sitting on the couch. She felt the knots in her stomach tighten and tears flooded her eyes, guilty for destroying him. She pushed the door closed. Not sure if she was shutting the world out or them in, she had no energy to fight, but it’s what she expected and for that they needed to be alone, she had to face him properly, deal with the hurt and anger she knew he would have.

He heard the click as the door closed then he turned and stood up. He flicked his eyes over her. She had changed and her hair hung limply over her shoulders. She looked tired, more than that he couldn’t tell right now, her eyes were cloudy, like a veil over her true feelings. She flicked her eyes over him. “I’ll just pack a bag, Stella’s offered me a place to stay for a while” she told him, her voice flat and unemotional. “I’ll be out of your way soon.” She turned to go to the bedroom.

“Laura, wait.” He croaked. She stopped but didn’t turn around. “You’re leaving?”

“I think its best. I’ll request a transfer to another unit as soon as they give me back my badge.” She answered quietly.

“You don’t have to do that” he replied as he took a few steps towards her. She turned around. His eyes intently fixed on her, she felt like they were drilling into her.

“Yes I do, ... Nothing’s going to be the same now, they’ve all been talking behind my back ever since Mark was killed, this isn’t going to be any different, it just gives them more ammunition. Doesn’t matter that I’ve been cleared. Suspicion stinks. You were there Angell thinks I’m guilty she never even tried to figure out my side. ... Maybe I should just tell them where to stick the badge-“

“-Kat” he tried to interrupt

“- maybe I’ll go home, go back into the family business, it would please my mother, she can’t understand why I love the city and my job. To her everything-“ He tried to interrupt again. “-is measured with money and social standing. I really don’t care about that-“

“-Kat-“

“I just want to live my life the way I want, she can disinherit me if she wants I don’t-“

“-Kat-“

“I don’t want to be like -“

“Laura!” he yelled at her. “Shut up-“ he reached his hand into her hair and his arm around her waist and pulled her close and crashed his lips on hers before she realised what was happening. His kiss demanding and hungry. He pulled back after a moment and rested his forehead against hers. “I don’t care what they think, I know what I think, ...” He rasped, his breathing ragged from the kiss. “You’re the most amazing woman I know and I love you. ... Don’t leave.” He murmured as he tipped his head and his lips made contact with her ear, causing her to jump as his breath caressed her neck.

“Don” she breathed, “I’m sorry”.

“I know babe, ” he murmured before capturing her lips with his again and caressing her neck with his fingers. She pulled back, keeping him at arms length, but he never let her go completely.

“This isn’t fair” she panted. “Please let me go.”

“I understand now what you did. ... You think I’d let you walk away for trying to protect me? ... No one has done that for me before.” He told her. “You’re tired babe, we’ll talk later.” He murmured as he drew her back into his arms and guided her head onto his chest.

Laura took a couple of deep breaths, the smell of his cologne assaulting her senses and combined with the feel of his arms around her she melted a little. Maybe there was hope for them. She eased out of his grip. “You don’t have to do this ... pretend everything is ok, I know I screwed up.”

“Nothing’s changed Kat, you did what you thought was right at the time, I’ll never hold that against you.” He assured her, unable to read the look on her face he reluctantly conceded that she might need more time “but, if you really want to go ... I won’t stop you.”

She looked up at him uncertainly for a moment then turned and went to their bedroom. He waited for several agonising moments, almost holding his breath before following her. She was standing outside the door to their room. He stood behind her and ran his arms around her waist, pulling her against him as she stared at the scene before her.

Her ring was hanging by a thread in the doorway, the room was bathed in candlelight and music was quietly wafting from the music centre in the corner. She shivered in his arms as he planted a delicate kiss on her neck. He reached out and broke the thread suspending her ring, then he lifted her left hand and slipped the ring back on her finger. “Forever babe, that’s what I want ... with you” he growled seductively in her ear and turned her around to face him. This time his kiss was tender but still demanding, she couldn’t resist any longer. Her tired mind caved in to the sparks running down her spine, not to mention his hold on her. He felt her relax a little and her fingers catch that sensitive spot behind his ears, he broke the kiss and glanced at her before sweeping her off her feet and carrying her to the bed.

“We’ve got time now, if you want to finish what we started earlier” he whispered as he lay her down.

She grinned up at him mischievously, her arms locked round his neck. “What do you have in mind Tiger?” He gave her a questioning look.

“Tiger? ... where did that come from?”

“Well it is your Chinese birth year, you’ve got a magnetic personality, you’re loyal and affectionate, not to mention-“ she began like reciting an encyclopedia.

“Kat, shut up” he murmured against her lips as he trailed kisses across them. “sometimes you talk too much” he continued as he ran a finger down her neck making her squirm.

“and passionate” she breathed before his lips captured hers again.

I do have a sequel. - Master Plans, now posted