Note From the Author—This style is a little bit different for me, but I really didn’t want to bring dialogue into this at this point. It felt completely wrong when I tried to add it in. So I guess I’m just hoping this works : ) It’s a little playful in places, but I hope that for the most part it fits.

Another evening, another fight; in the morning it was the only thought that ran through Flack’s head. After he stepped onto the elevator he leaned against the cool wall with a sigh and shut his eyes.

Jess had started to sense that something was off weeks before, and things had been rocky ever since. They were picking fights over nothing, he couldn’t remember the last time they had shared a kiss that had actually been sweet and he didn’t even want to think about the sex.

It was becoming rapidly clear that their professional relationship was very soon going to be their only relationship, and that was only if they managed to salvage that. The bottom line was that neither of their hearts were in it anymore. Deep down he knew that his heart had never been in it. It never was.

The doors slid open and he dropped his sunglasses into his pocket as he stepped off the elevator. The last thing he wanted to deal with the morning after what was probably the fight that tore him and Angell apart was deal with the woman who unknowingly had a large part in said fight. Yet her he was, and there she was…. with a man gripping her arms hard enough to bruise.

Don was taking off for the office before he noticed that Danny was coming up behind him. The latter noticed his friend’s path and settled himself strategically in the hall so he could see every move he made. Danny and Hawkes had been betting for months on how long it would take for Stella and Flack to finally break down. He wanted a front row seat for the show when it finally happened.

The hand that landed gently on Stella’s shoulder was very clearly intended; and if the intent was to scare the shit out of the man standing across from them then it was incredibly effective. Danny couldn’t tell what was being said, but it didn’t take long for him to end up packing. The guy sailed by, but he kept his focus on the office.

Stella immediately closed in on herself, hugging her arms around her body as Flack’s hand fell from her shoulder. Danny still couldn’t hear a word, but he could tell from body language that Don was being gentle with her. For a while she had her back turned to him, and the look on her face seemed disturbingly close to shame, but his face stayed soft.

For a moment it seemed as if he would walk away, and the CSI in the hall cursed that his friend might go yet another day without finally doing something about how miserable he was. Then after what seemed like forever, Don crossed the room, and that hand went back to Stella’s shoulder. Danny barely managed to contain a whoop. After all, the last thing he wanted was to interrupt what had been so long in coming.

He kept up hiding in plain sight as he watched Stella’s face fall and her eyes fill with tears. Don turned her gently to face him and his eyes were full of conviction as he spoke. She shook her head, her eyes dropping from his face. Flack reached out to gently tip her face back up to his; and if Danny could see the tremor that went through her, there was no way the two of them could ignore it.

They spoke for what was, in his opinion, way too long. Still, the hand that had been gentle against her skin never moved, at least not until it reached up to brush against her cheek. That was certainly a victory. Still, they seemed to be doing nothing but talking even though the oh my God kiss her already vibes from the hallway should have been strong enough to knock them on their asses.

Danny was seconds from walking away, when suddenly there was a turning point. Something Don said surprised the hell out of Stella; bad enough that for a moment it looked like she may have to sit down. That would be the admission of how Flack had been feeling for God only knew how long. Now it was getting good.

It seemed like they stood there forever staring at each other. Then, with the slightest of smiles, they leaned together, their foreheads softly touching. They managed to completely block out the world even as they looked completely and heartbreakingly vulnerable. Time seemed to stand still, and the mantra in Danny’s head changed to come on, come on.

It didn’t take long. Stella nuzzled against him briefly, and then finally their lips met in a slow kiss. They pulled away gently, their eyes still locked together. For a moment both faces were serious as Stella spoke. Don shook his head, then leaned down to capture her mouth again.

To Danny it seemed perfectly clear that Don and Stella were finally done thinking of anything but each other.

Note From the Author—Cop out? I don’t think so, but some of you may and I wouldn’t blame you. I only ask you to keep in mind that it’s like completely difficult for me to leave anything unhappy. Also, yeah, Don’s still technically with Angell. I get that. Not advocating cheating here