Title: Dilemma Part 5
Author: sportysmurf
Pairing: Lindsay/Cindy
Rating: PG
Summary: Oh, this is gonna be good. Right?
Word Count: 3,089
Notes:. A plot bunny influenced by something noted by demeter94. 
Beta: emthefrootloop
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine they’re James Patterson’s and I’m only playing with them.
Archiving: Only with permission from the author.  

 Dilemma Part 5
by sportysmurf

“Nice. Wear something nice, she says. What the hell is nice?” ranted the nervous redhead as she stood in front of her closet. “And I’m pretty sure that we’re not looking at casual-nice,” she muttered, dismissing a third of her wardrobe. She plopped down on her bed and rested her chin on her hand, staring at her clothes. Seconds later she leapt up, grabbed her purse and headed out the door. “She wants ‘nice’? I’ll show her nice.”

A few hours later, at Casa Boxer…
Assistant District Attorney Bernhardt took a deep breath and looked at her best friend in exasperation. “Linds, it’ll be perfect. That dress – which by the way, I can’t believe I managed to get you to buy, let alone wear, looks great! I’ve done, you’re wearing make-up and there’s nothing I need to do to your hair. I’ve confirmed your reservation – all you have to do is go pick her up!”

“No, Martha, Mom needs to be dog-hair free tonight.” Jill shooed the dog into the kitchen.

“What if it doesn’t go great? What happens if there is no, no, anything? And are you sure this isn’t too much?” Lindsay indicated the backless, midnight blue above-the-knee dress she was wearing.

Jill looked the inspector up and down and grinned. “Even if there were any question about it, there is no way in hell she could resist you in that!” She winked and said, ”In fact, I might even call first dibs and jump in myself.”

“Jill!”

“Ok, ok. But if it doesn’t work out…”

“Jill!”

Jill patted her on the cheek. “Go get ’er. You know you wanna!” 

“Right. Go get ’er.” Lindsay said with all the enthusiasm of attending her own funeral.

“Linds!”

“Right. This will go right. I’ll make it go right.”

The diminutive blonde shoved her friend out the door towards the Jeep. “You won’t have any calls from work, it’s all worked out with Jacobi and…Tom. Now get going!” 

“If this doesn’t prove that I am not twelve years old, I don’t know what will!” crowed a triumphant Cindy Thomas as she twirled in front of her mirror to the strains of ‘Legs’ by ZZ Top. “This is definitely it. If this is the one and only time I get the chance to make a real impression, I can’t say I didn’t try.” 

Glancing at her bedside clock, she noted that Lindsay should be arriving in just under 15 minutes to pick her up. With a happy grin, she conducted an inventory in the mirror. Hair, she gave it a little toss, check. Make-up? Impeccable. Brand new, sleeveless, deep-green dress with just enough cleavage showing? Absolutely check. Add the low-heeled shoes and, “I’m gonna kill!” she exclaimed, breaking into a little dance. 

25 minutes after six, just five minutes before she was due to pick up Cindy, Lindsay Boxer pulled up in front of the reporter’s building. Taking a deep breath, she exited the Jeep and walked up to her friend’s apartment. After a quick once-over, she knocked.

The knock, while expected, did not produce the expected result. So she knocked again. And again. Swallowing against an unsettling fear, Lindsay checked the lot for Maggie and was slightly relieved to note she was parked in Cindy’s space. Resting her ear against the door, she understood why Cindy might not have answered when the strains of ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ came screeching through. Deciding that their date might never get off the ground, she knocked once more and opened the door.

Poking her head around the door she called, “Cindy?”

The music abruptly stopped and the redhead strutted out of the bedroom to an absolutely awe-struck police inspector.

“Hi! Sorry I didn’t hear you knock. Er, what’s wrong? Aren’t I dressed ‘nicely’?” she asked with an internal smirk. Score one for the home team, she thought.

“I, uh, I… That’s ok, you probably couldn’t hear me over the music,” replied the brunette while she tried to process what she was seeing. “And you look… uh, you look great!” Nice one Boxer, she’s not Tony the Tiger, she groaned to herself. “Ready to go?”

“Come in for a minute, I just have to grab something. I’ll be…” Cindy’s own jaw dropped as Lindsay entered the room, all long legs, smooth skin and beautiful dark tresses. She felt like she was back at the moment they’d first met, when she’d been all fumble-fingered and clumsy from the effects of her instantaneous attraction. Now, on the verge of their first date, she felt all those things again and more. 

She muddled her way back into the bedroom to retrieve the gift, her clutch and a wine-red pashmina. Taking a moment to breathe assisted in the process of not falling over her own feet the moment she re-entered Lindsay’s presence. 

“Your chariot awaits, ma’am,” said Lindsay, extending her hand. Thankfully, the time Cindy had taken to fetch her things had also provided her date with a convenient moment to collect herself. A moment she’d used to burn the image of a sassy redhead clad in a stunning green dress into her brain. 

“Thank you,” Cindy gave a little curtsey, and taking the proffered hand, followed her out to the Jeep. 

Lindsay helped her into the passenger seat and strode around to the driver’s side. She noticed that Cindy had yet to take her eyes off of her since they’d exited the apartment. Maybe Jill was right, maybe the little reporter really was interested and things would go right. So far, so good, she thought and permitted herself a little surge of pleasure.

“I’m assuming I’ve dressed appropriately for the occasion. So, where are we going?” asked Cindy, the minute the door was closed.

“Wait and see. I’m hoping you’ll like it, it came with the best of recommendations,” replied her driver.

Several minutes passed before “Just one hint? Like what kind of restaurant is it?” wheedled the redhead.

“You’ll know in less than 2 minutes. We’re coming up on it right now.” Pulling into the parking lot, Lindsay grabbed her own purse and coat and went around to help Cindy out of the Jeep. “If you please?” she said, offering her arm.

Cindy linked arms and they walked through a rather dimly lit wooden entrance arch in the shape of a torii, surrounded by white gravel beds and several small juniper bushes. They paused at the edge of an elegant but simple rock garden lit by ground level lanterns, with a koi-filled pond and many different examples of bonsai. 

Lindsay looked down at her friend and asked, “How’m I doing so far?”

Cindy’s brilliant smile and whispered, “Fabulous,” filled her with so much confidence that she forgot their difference in height until the redhead tugged on her arm and asked her to slow down.

“Not everyone can take three foot strides with the grace, and speed I might add, of a gazelle. Try thinking, oh, say – a graceful um, tiny lemur.”

“Sorry, I guess I forgot. Your legs really are quite a bit shorter than mine, aren’t they!” Lindsay paused and cocked her head at her companion, “Wait a second - lemur?”

“Er, Madagascar? Cute, little dancing, um… lemurs?” Cindy blushed as she realized that her friend quite possibly had no idea what she was talking about.

“I’m a graceful, speedy gazelle and you, you’re a dancing lemur?” Lindsay frowned for a moment then offered, “How about a tenacious, graceful mink?”

“A weasel? I liken you to a gazelle and I remind you of a weasel?” 

“Would you prefer a penguin? They’re cute and short and apparently they dance too!” This was definitely not going in the right direction. “Right, next topic, shall we?” gesturing to the entrance into the dining room.

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten!”

“I know, but even without an eidetic memory, you’d never forget that one. But will you forgive me?” she asked with an overly facetious and pitiful look that earned her a quick rabbit punch to her bicep. “Ouch. I guess not. But since you’re still here, I assume you’d still like to eat?”

Receiving a rather bland look, she beckoned to the hostess. “Boxer reservation for two, please.”

“Right this way, Miss Boxer,” said the tiny Asian woman, indicating that they should follow her towards the windows. She guided them to a table for two at the windows looking out onto the garden they had just viewed. After seating them, the hostess left them to peruse the menus.

“Do you have any recommendations?” asked Cindy.

“Have you ever eaten Japanese food?” returned Lindsay seriously. “And how hungry are you?”

“Well, I’ve tried some sushi and I generally like seafood. And I’m always hungry!” replied her companion.

“Let’s try a variety and share a few things, that way, you’re sure to have something you like.”

Their waiter arrived with a pot of green tea and topped up their cups before asking, “Would you ladies like something to drink before you order?”

“No, thank you,” they replied in unison, looking at each other in startled amazement.

“Very well,” the waiter continued, smoothly ignoring the looks, “Are you ready to order?”

“We’d like a few more minutes if you please,” said Lindsay, looking to Cindy for confirmation. At her nod, the waiter returned to the wait station.

“I don’t drink if I’m driving,” stated Lindsay, immediately noting how clinical she sounded.

“I don’t want anything to affect this night…” started the redhead, blushing when she realized what she’d said. Quickly regaining her courage she continued, “because this means a lot to me and I truly don’t want anything to, to impair my enjoyment of this – everything.” She indicated air around them with a wave of her hand.

“So let’s order and see how things go?” offered Lindsay. “I think a few appetizers and maybe a platter of assorted sushi/sashimi should be good.”

Receiving an eager head nod, Lindsay waved over the waiter.

“We’d like an order of edamame, mixed tempura, yakitori and the small assorted sushi/sashimi platter, please,” she said, motioning to the menu. “I’ll have bowl of rice as well.”

Turning to Cindy, she asked “How does that sound to you? Is there anything specific you’d like to have or would not like?”

She simply responded, “I trust you.”

A simple answer, but the look she was giving Lindsay was anything but simple. In fact, the brunette was so intent on trying to fathom exactly what she was supposed to infer from the response that she missed her cue from the waiter. Several times.

“Linds? Hey – are you there?”

Finally noticing the small hand waving in front of her face, Lindsay realized that the waiter had been waiting for her to acknowledge him.

“Sorry, pardon?” 

“Will there be anything else?”

“No, that will be fine, thank you.” 

“You’re blushing!!!”

“No I’m not!”

“Ok, then you must be having hot flashes,” smirked Cindy, “Maybe you are a bit too old for this sort of thing.”

Lindsay was saved from having to respond to that comment by the arrival of the appetizers. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, she proceeded to introduce the dishes.

“This,” she said, pointing to a small lacquered dish of what appeared to be beans, “is edamame. Steamed soybeans – a little salty starter, just peel and eat. Just right for you, I think.” Lindsay winked at the redhead.

Noting the ensuing blush, she smiled and continued, “this is tempura – deep-fried veggies and shrimp. My favorite happens to be the sweet potato. It comes with a dipping sauce. And this,” she indicated a plate of skewers, “is yakitori. Teriyaki chicken skewers. Slightly sweet and salty.”

While Cindy was still processing the initial comment that had caused her to blush, Lindsay suddenly realized that she had a terrific opportunity literally staring her in the face. All of these appetizers were small enough… ‘Oh, Jill, I owe you!’ she thought gratefully.

“Lean forward.” Receiving the redhead’s version of laser vision, which she easily brushed off, “You said you trust me, right?”

Dutifully, Cindy leaned forward. 

And received a freshly-dipped piece of deep-fried sweet potato to her lips. Licking a small drop of sauce from the chunk before it could drop, she opened her mouth and accepted the offering. Closing her eyes, she chewed and swallowed the small bite before flashing a wide smile across the table.

“Good?” Asked the rather smitten inspector, realizing that this could totally backfire on her if she couldn’t do more than concentrate on the actions of Cindy’s lips and tongue.

“Heavenly,” came the reply.

“And this?” Lindsay offered a piece of yakitori. Which was promptly accepted in a similar manner to the potato. 

“Linds, are you planning to feed me my entire dinner?”

“If you’re planning to do that the entire time, yes!”

“What am I doing?” replied Cindy with a smirk.

“You know, that whole – tongue, lips, eyes…”

“Right, do you mmph -.” Cindy’s remark was cut short by a small California maki and a grin. 

Their waiter had managed to unobtrusively deliver their platter and a pot of fresh tea without interrupting and Lindsay had decided further banter was unnecessary.

Several pots of tea and many pokes of their chopsticks later, they both realized that the restaurant was nearly empty and it was entirely dark outside. Their food was exhausted, but their senses both seemed to be heightened.

Having paid their bill, they walked quietly out through the garden and were now standing by the Jeep.

“So…what now?” asked Cindy with a little smile.

“Well, I had only planned the dinner, because,” and she hesitated, all hint of the cocky, confident police inspector melting away, “well, because I wasn’t sure how it would turn out,” she confessed with lowered eyes. 

Cindy knew that she now held her friend’s heart in her hands. Lindsay had offered up everything she was to move their relationship to another level. It was up to her to accept it and step forward or refuse, wonder what-if forever and possibly lose the most important person in her life. In either case, today would always be the day that her life changed forever.

She looked over at the beautiful brunette who was nervously staring down at the toes of her shoes, scuffling about and looking fervently like she wished she had somewhere to put her hands. Ever since she’d met this woman, she’d been wishing for the moment when she could express the degree of love she felt for her. Now that moment had come and she had no words.

She reached out and tipped up the taller woman’s chin and gave her best smile. An answering smile almost exploded across Lindsay’s face. The delight she showed was nothing short of ecstatic.

“Linds, this was nothing short of perfect. We’ll have come here again sometime.”

Lindsay’s face fell as she instantly interpreted Cindy’s statement to mean ‘thanks, that was nice, but not what I’m looking for.’ 

Seeing her expression, Cindy quickly explained. “I meant what I said at the beginning. I want to enjoy everything. I want don’t want this to be some sort of instant relationship. I want to work at things slowly. Savor all the little moments, of which this is one.”

“Meaning, there will be other moments?” asked Lindsay hopefully, the flicker of a smile returning to her face.

“Indeed, unless you intend to leave me to walk home or hail a cab?” 

“With a remark like that, I might just think about it!” Even though, as she spoke, she was motioning the redhead into the passenger seat.

The short drive back to Cindy’s apartment was quiet and uneventful. Both women were privately turning over every moment of their date and its outcome, trying to interpret every word and action. 

Before Lindsay could exit the Jeep to assist her to her door, Cindy stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I almost forgot! I have your Christmas present!” she said excitedly. At Lindsay’s startled expression, she said, “your gift to me was this date and the cute little card – and by the way, why is that angel sooo tired-looking?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “and this is your gift.” She presented Lindsay with a bright red gift bag.

“Thank you!” Lindsay didn’t even try to state that she wasn’t expecting a gift because Cindy had been twittering for months about Christmas gifts. She flipped open the tag to see ‘to: My Hero, the Leader of our Non-Club from: Cindy in gold script. Blushing, she opened the bag and extracted a photo album bound in matte brown leather with an embossed gold border.

With Cindy leaning over from her seat, she opened the album to the front liner, which held a picture of all five members of the non-Club sitting on and around the sofa at Lindsay’s apartment. Jill sat beside Claire with Lindsay leaning on the back of the sofa, Cindy on the arm and Martha on the floor at Cindy’s feet. As she leafed through the album, Lindsay noted it wasn’t just pictures; there were clippings of Cindy’s published stories, sticky notes asking about lunch, emails, a muddy paw print, and receipts from Papa Joe’s. 

“I left space at the back… for when you – we, have more moments.” Cindy said shyly.

Lindsay looked at her with glassy eyes. “I love it, thank you.” And she stretched over the console to place a kiss on the redhead’s cheek. 

“Much better than a wall full of serial killer notes, right?”

Lindsay gave a wry smile and nodded her head while she assisted Cindy out of the Jeep. Walking up the stairs, Cindy suddenly stopped and glared at her date. “That had better not have been my good-night kiss!”

Her comment produced a full-blown belly laugh from the tall brunette at her side. Continuing up the stairs to her door, Lindsay looked down at her friend and cocked an eyebrow at her before swinging her up against her own door and smothering her with a very serious kiss on her lips. Finally releasing Cindy’s lips, she smirked down at the stunned little redhead and asked, “Is that more like what you were thinking of?” before shooing her into the apartment and shutting the door.

Resting her head against the door, she breathed in and out heavily for a few seconds before turning and heading for the stairs. The opening of the door turned her head and a quietly whispered “Yes!” was thrown at her before the door shut again.

BACK