Disclaimer: I don't own Cold Case or anything related to the show! All I own is my imagination whilst writing this story.

Chapter 1

Lilly sucked in a deep breath as she picked up her briefcase from her desk and started to head out of the building. It had been a hard day at work; a rape case. A ten year old girl had been kidnapped on her way home from school, raped and later dumped in a park near her own house. Turned out it had been her next door neighbour, not her brother's friend, which had been the prime suspect years before.

She was the same age that Lilly had been. It had been a month since she had been in the woods. It had forced her to relieve memories; ones she had forced down and kept locked in her heart for years. After actually having shared this with someone, someone despite her not wanting to admit it, was a lot like her. It had opened the door to a place that had been off limits for years. At least she had gotten through it. This girl hadn't been so lucky. She could feel tears threatening to fall.

'No,' she thought to herself. Not here in the hallways. She was not going to show any signs of weakness. Being the only female in the homicide division, she experienced enough discrimination because of her gender. Crying at work would just give them an excuse to alienate her further. She walked quickly down the hallway and out of the building. She sucked in a breath of crisp winter air; the cold filled her lungs. She shivered. When she was little she had always loved the winter. Mainly because her and Chris would always go out and play in the snow, creating their own fantasy world of snow figurines and castles. Everything Lilly had ever dreamed of. Looking back, it was merely an escape from her life at home; if you could even call it that. When it snowed she would always make a wish. The snow always gave her hope. Lilly had to smile despite the pain that lay behind the memories. Sometimes she wished she could go back to the times it was only her and Chris, when they were still friends, when she still had a real sister.

She hated not having anyone. Over the years her and Chris had drifted apart, mainly due to Chris's actions. Sleeping with her fiancée wasn't exactly something that was going to bring them closer together. Then of course, there was Kite. The only man she had opened up to since Patrick. He left her because of her work. Yes, work seemed to be the only constant in her life; her life was her work. But over the years it had become more. That was when she met Scotty. Though not wanting to admit it, Lilly's feelings towards Scotty were more than platonic. Though, there had always been someone else. First Alyssa, then Christina. It was something she still hadn't gotten over. She had been there the whole time. If he had just said the words she would have been there in a flash. Christina again had to ruin everything.

Lilly was starting to feel angry and frustrated. It was perhaps the lack of sleep and her lack of somebody to just care for her that caused a single tear to make a trail down her cheek. God, she thought. Here I am crying like a teenage girl over a crush.I am not going to stand out here feeling sorry for myself while freezing my ass off, Lilly thought and started to make her way to her apartment.

Scotty rubbed his eyes and stole a brief glance around the office. His eyes found the desk to which he often stared at, perhaps more than he should. He saw her pick up her briefcase and head out. God she was beautiful. Many a time, he longed to just grab her and take her right there on her desk. Her beautiful blonde tresses, always done up with just a simple clip, though still elegant. Her pale skin, her plump red lips, her impossibly blue eyes. Man, she had to be the sexiest woman alive. He was like a teenager all over again when it came to that woman. He had blown his chances though he knew when he had gone with Christina. God how incredibly stupid he had been? There was no respect in that relationship, if you could even call it that. He had been hurting and vulnerable; she had been available; she had been the closest to Lilly that he could get. Even back then it had all felt wrong, Lilly had warned him about her and now he had paid the price. He had lost her respect but mainly, her friendship. After the episode with George where he had been so close to loosing her, it had slowly started to rebuild. Scotty was doing everything in his power to repair the damage.

Without wasting another second, Scotty grabbed his coat and ran out of the building to catch up with the woman who he could not seem to get out of his head.

'Hey Lil wait!' Scotty shouted to the retreating back of his colleague.

Lilly stopped walking, her stomach however doing a little flip at the sound of her partner's voice. She cursed herself at the effect the simple sound of his voice was having on her. She forced back the smile that was tugging at her lips as she turned to face Scotty. God, he is gorgeous, she thought to herself as she took him in.

'Hey, where are you heading?' Even in his head the question sounded stupid. Obviously she was going home; after all it was twelve, unless she led a secret life that he did not know about. He chuckled to himself at the idea. Homicide detective by day, Super Lilly by night.

'Well I was just planning on heading home actually.' She responded as calmly as she could. A part of her wished that he would ask if perhaps she would be up to doing something else, like go over to his place and – 'stop it!' she scolded herself. After all, this is the guy who slept with your sister; and with that her lust for Scotty Valens was temporarily and successfully squashed.

The cold had caused a red flush in her cheeks and the tip of her nose to turn a light shade of pink. Scotty thought it made her look extremely cute; innocent and sweet. Not that she wasn't, but with the question he was about to ask next he half expected her to flat down reject him.

'Well, if you feel like it, I know a great place around the corner that is open at night. You know, if you would like to go?'

Did he just ask that? Yes, it was on his mind, but it had just slipped out before he could stop himself. Damn Valens, control yourself!

Lilly was slightly taken aback. Yes, she absolutely wanted to go to dinner with Scotty, but she didn't quite know what to make of the situation. Was it a date or was it just dinner? She wanted to go oh so badly, but then she thought about Christina and again felt that temporary flash of anger. The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

'Sorry Valens, not tonight.' With that she turned and continued her walk home. Arg, why did she have to have said no, why? Lilly scolded herself as she walked. Well, it's not like it would have made a difference anyways. She never had or ever would be more than a friend in his eyes. Yes, good old Lilly the friend.

Scotty stood there slightly dejected. Her words were not harsh, yet they stung. He had badly wanted to spend some time with her. Though, it was late. What did he expect? That she would drop everything and eat with him at twelve at night. Besides, she would never look at him as more than a partner. With his behaviour he couldn't blame her. However, if it was something he had learned from Alyssa's sudden death, it was that nothing in life is there forever. There was no way in hell that he was going to let Lilly get away.

It was at that moment that Scotty Valens vowed to himself that he was going to win Lilly back, not just as a friend, but if she wanted, his girl friend- whatever the price.

AN: Read, rant, rave and review! I would greatly appreaciate any feedback on thischapter whether it beinconsistencies, how to make it better or most importantly; if you're enjoying it! Til the next chapter...