Final Chapter!! Woooo! :)
It's a little shorter than normal, but this chapter is mainly for wrapping up each character and his or her situation. Enjoy!
Chapter 11
Despite the perp's attitude and feigned innocence, the arrest went rather quickly. He was transported to the NYPD station and immediately taken to interrogation. Tension was running high as Flack and Mac stepped into the small dark room that held the confessions of many criminals in its walls. The reflection in the two-way mirror revealed two tired men who just wanted the ordeal to be over. In front of them should have been sitting just another typical criminal, but the men would have been lying to themselves if they didn't have a personal stake in this case.
The questioning began.
......
The evening breeze wafted down the city street as Lindsay sat on the concrete steps outside of the crime lab building. Giddy couples walked hand-in-hand down the busy pathways off to dinner or a show. It didn't really matter, the only thing that did was that they had each other. A cool burst of wind whirled around Lindsay as she shivered and pulled her sweater tighter. In spite of the chilly air and busy noise Lindsay was able to close her eyes and finally...relax. The sound of someone clearing his throat to announce his presence cut into her meditative state and she cracked one eye open. Danny stood in front of her, grinning.
"Almost like Montana, isn't it?" he joked.
"Mmmm. Not quite," She responded with eyes closed and head turned upwards toward the Manhattan skyline.
"Listen, uh, we're both off duty now, so I was thinking that maybe we could get a bite to eat. You know...catch up? It's not every day that you get kidnapped, and I kinda wanted to spend some time with you in case it happens again." He winked and dodged a smack to his leg.
"I am pretty famished," she began.
Danny reached down and pulled her up beside him. Putting an arm around her waist, he guided her down the street. They melded into the crowd as just another happy couple making their way through life.
......
The interrogation was complete and Flack watched as one of his officers snapped the cold metal handcuffs into place on the man's wrist. He had wrestled the names of his co-conspirators out of the dirty criminal and arrests were being made at that very moment. Justice had been served. He let out a sigh, his final release on the situation. He had helped to save the lives of two people he held very close and was reminded of why he loved his job.
"Flack," an officer called down the hall to him, "that new detective is here. I figured you might want to, y'know, introduce yourself. If not, man, I am so totally staking claims on her!" The officer's words came across as if he was a lovestruck teenager with a crush on a girl that was way out of his league.
Flack looked down the corridor and met eyes with his newest member. She was stunning. Her long dark hair fell in waves across her slender shoulders and even from his spot way down the hall he could see the dark chocolate color of her eyes.
"Welcome to the NYPD, Detective Jessica Angell," he quietly whispered to himself as he closed the distance between them.
......
Stella sat in her office and quietly gathered all of the case papers together. Shuffling them into an organized pile she placed them in the marked beige file folder and closed it. She pushed the folder aside and sat back in her chair. It was finally over. She had survived yet another brutal crime and somehow came out of it stronger. A knock on the glass door interrupted her thoughts and she looked up as it opened.
"Just the person I wanted to see," she smiled at Mac and studied the tenderness of his grey-eyed gaze.
"Listen, I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner. With all that you've been through, you just need to, well, relax. And to be honest, I'd really just like to spend a quiet evening with you that doesn't require guns or bullet-proof vests." Mac held his hands up as he offered.
"Mac Taylor, are you asking me out on a date?" Stella narrowed her glittering eyes at him playfully.
"No...I mean, I don't think I am," he paused, am I?"
Stella's crystal clear laugh eliminated the awkwardness of the situation. "Either way, detective, I accept. Now let's get out of here before I find something else to work on." She stood up and walked around her desk into the waiting arms of her best friend. A simple hug was all that she had needed, yet she found so much more in his embrace.
They linked arms and walked out of the lab. The evening held so much promise, and Stella couldn't help but wonder how much of it had to do with her and the man at her side. Perhaps the future didn't look too bad after all...
......
Finished
25 July 2008
So I really hoped that you all enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it! I wasn't expecting to post this soon, but inspiration struck as I was floating in my pool this afternoon, and I just had to write it. haha
Thank you so much for reading! Keep your eyes out for a new story soon...