CSI:NY How Does Your Garden Grow

Angel

Chapter 17: Angel

Gus would have protested her uncle ordering her around, but she had received a phone call earlier in the day and she had a quick errand to run.

Errand completed, the perfectly wrapped box was nestled in the bottom of her overnight bag, she headed back toward Don's. He had already called wondering where she had disappeared to and she hoped she hadn't sounded too odd.

He called again to let her know despite Mac sending him home, he was now accompanying the head of the crime lab back to the department store to retrieve the pickpocket's bag. He apologized, seeming worried until she requested he pick up something for dinner to make it up to her.

She was fiddling nervously with the ornaments on the tree, rearranging them until she was convinced they were perfect, when she heard Don's key in the lock. She whirled, looking almost guilty, a bow from the tree in her hand.

"I thought you were done playing elf," Don said after putting down the food in the kitchen, taking in the rearranged decorations.

"I was. I am. I just had some nervous energy," she explained.

"Nervous energy, huh?" he said, hanging up his coat before closing the distance between them, gently removing the bow from her hand and putting it back on the tree. "You didn't rearrange my dresser again did you?" he asked, forcing himself to keep the panic from his eyes.

Gus shook her head, "nope, I've learned your sock drawer is a sacred place." She laughed, slightly nervous, calming when Don moved in for a kiss.

"Are you alright, babe?" Don asked as broke the kiss off, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. He looked at her for a long beat. He had been feeling solid about them, about her settling in. Sure she had seemed a little pensive the past couple of weeks, but he had attributed that to her having attending the funerals of her surrogate mother figures. He was really hoping the universe would give her a freaking break already so he could move forward with this plans for their life together.

Gus nodded, a lump in her throat making it impossible for her to say everything she wanted to. "Trying to be. I just...I want you happy, that's all I have ever wanted, you know that, right?"

His blue eyes locked intensely on her green ones and he gave her a slow, dimpled smile. He knew he should not smile at her earnestness but the fact that she seemed so unaware that the only way he could be happy was with her made him unable to keep from smiling. Gus had seen him through his darkest hours without balking and had in many ways brought him back to life, their bond was powerful and enduring. "I am happy, sunshine, what do you need me to do, dance a jig?"

Gus gave a more sincere laugh at the thought, "nah, don't want you to embarrass yourself, Donnie boy." She took a deep breath, debating.

Don wondered if he should say something, though he stopped himself as he saw her bend down and reach for something underneath the tree. She emerged, clutching the gold and blue carefully wrapped package in her hands, still looking apprehensive.

She tried to ignore her rapidly beating heart, feeling suddenly ridiculous, Don was going to find this silly or he wouldn't get it and she would be crushed. Maybe she could just lie and say it was for Stella and she was just about to go mail it...

"Sunshine?" Don asked carefully, looking concerned.

Perhaps it wasn't the wisest move to have turned her down when she asked him to move back in. Sam seemed to think so, when she had finally extracted that tidbit of information from her brother after incessantly asking his what 'had crawled up his ass' when last over at Gram's for dinner.