TITLE: Temporary Girlfriend (1/20)
PAIRING: Lindsay/Cindy
DISCLAIMER: Women’s Murder Club does not belong to me. The characters do not belong to me. They are the property of James Patterson, 20th Century Fox Television and ABC. I have no problems with that as long as I can borrow them for short bursts and use them in pursuit of my own enjoyment. I am not trying to infringe. Though, I don’t know why anyone has a problem with fan fic. After all, it really is a compliment. If anyone wants to write fan fiction about my book, feel free.

(Lindsay’s POV)

“I have to go undercover,” Lindsay said, keeping her voice low.

It wasn’t exactly a highly confidential operation, but not everyone in the place needed to know about it.

“Oh yeah? Where?” Jill asked.

“There’s a gay and lesbian thing coming up.”

“Otherwise known as Pride,” Jill said smugly. “You are going to study up on the vernacular before you dive in, right? No pun intended.”

“Yeah,” Lindsay responded, feigning offense. “They’ve given me a manual. ‘Going gay in twenty-four hours’.”

“That was really funny, Linds.”

“Don’t act so surprised,” Lindsay said, this time offended for real.

“Straight people afraid those naughty gays are planning a revolt?” Jill asked with a snigger.

“No. Actually, there’s been a threat made against the naughty gays.”

“What kind of threat?” Jill asked, all humor fading.

“Nothing specific,” Lindsay explained. “More of a ‘cancel or else’.”

“But they’re taking it seriously?”

“Seriously enough to send me,” Lindsay answered.

Jill looked queasy.

“So, the fact that they are sending someone from homicide, does that mean that they are expecting… homicide?”

“They are preparing for the worst. Not expecting. Just preparing,” Lindsay responded, trying to put Jill at ease.

She could see Jill internally pondering the information. Then Jill apparently came to the determination that Lindsay’s presence would be security enough, because she relaxed again. And smirked. Again.

“You do realize those chics get one look at you and you’re gonna be too busy to investigate.” Jill’s enjoyment of this particular scenario was blatant.

“Not to be egotistical, but I did, in fact, have the thought that it might be simpler to have a girlfriend,” Lindsay enlightened her.

“Linds, I’d love to help out,” Jill said carefully, “but I’ve got to work on the Dominguez homicide. If it weren’t such a big case for me…”

“No,” Lindsay responded, trying to figure out how to backtrack out of the misunderstanding she’d just fashioned. “That’s um… I actually already…”

“Hey,” a familiar, and chipper, voice saved her the trouble.

Lindsay glanced up at the advancing reporter and then back at Jill, whose eyebrow was raised so high, it should have been painful.

“You already called Cindy,” Jill said.

“I already called Cindy,” Lindsay confirmed.

“You already called Cindy,” Jill repeated. Unnecessarily, in Lindsay’s opinion.

“And Cindy’s already here you guys. Hello,” Cindy cut in, waving her hand around in an effort to be noticed. “You have a special assignment for me?”

Jill’s amused expression and pronounced throat clearing as she got up aggravated Lindsay to no end.

“You have no idea,” Jill said, putting her arm around Cindy’s shoulders. “Good luck kid.”

She gave Cindy a departing squeeze before heading off, then rounded back.

“So what did you need me for?” she asked.

“I just wanted to let you know that I wouldn’t be around next week. You’ll still be able to get a hold of me on my cell though.”

“You’re going somewhere?” Cindy pouted.

“Not without you, sidekick,” Jill answered for her. “Though I’d really like to watch this awkward exchange, I should really get back.”

It was a rare occurrence, but Lindsay was actually glad to see Jill go.

“That was weird,” Cindy said, taking Jill’s vacated seat.

“Yeah,” Lindsay agreed, suddenly nervous.

“So, what do you need?”

Cindy pulled out a pen and notepad and readied herself for any pertinent information.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” Lindsay asked abruptly.

Cindy’s wide eyes indicated that the statement could have used a bit more preamble.

“Whahuh?” Cindy eventually, sort of, voiced her retort.

“I, um, I have to do some undercover work at Pride,” Lindsay did her best at offering a reasonable explanation, “and I kind of need a girlfriend.”

A uni walking past behind Cindy caught the last part, drew up short, and looked over at them.

“Keep walking rookie,” Lindsay said, and the uni continued on his way.

Cindy glanced over her shoulder, turning back with a smile.

“Jill say no?” she asked.

“No,” Lindsay responded, what ended up sounding, much too adamantly. “I asked you first.”

“Really?” Cindy sounded surprised.

“Yeah, really.”

Cindy’s eyes squinted.

“Why?”

What was it with this girl? Was it an inborn trait or a matter of breeding that had made her this annoyingly curious? Couldn’t she accept anything as just the way it was, without needing a motive behind it all? Of course, Lindsay knew the answer to that question. She also knew that Cindy wasn’t going to agree to anything without an adequate reason.

“You’re good at gathering information,” Lindsay muttered, pretending to look over some papers on her desk as she said it. She really hoped Cindy couldn’t see that it was just her cell phone bill.

“Could you repeat that? You kind of mumbled it.”

“No,” Lindsay said.

“If you want me to be your girlfriend, you’re going to have to get substantially better at wooing me.”

Cindy was taking far too much pleasure in this, and Lindsay wished that she could determine that she was making the wrong decision about taking Cindy, but, as much as she hated it, she needed Cindy badly on this one. So, she took a deep breath and prepared to suck up.

She raised her eyes to Cindy, noticing a patch of blue just beyond her shoulder. The same rookie cop was standing three feet behind Cindy, eavesdropping yet again. Lindsay didn’t have to say anything this time, because as soon as her steely glare made contact with his eyes, he kept walking without having to be told.

Lindsay shook her head and dropped her gaze to Cindy, who was watching her expectantly.

“You are good at getting information. I could use your help,” Lindsay admitted.

She was surprised to find that complimenting Cindy wasn’t as painful as she always imagined it, and it clearly worked.

“Okay,” Cindy responded.

“You won’t have any trouble with the paper? You know, taking the week off?”

“Not as long as I can cover the story.”

“Is that your boss’ stipulation or your own?”

“I’m making a safe assumption,” Cindy grinned.

Lindsay stared at her, pretending to mull the proposition over, but she knew that she was going to give in. She usually did. Not only did Cindy have a way of extracting information from strangers, she possessed an uncanny knack for getting what she wanted out of Lindsay even while offering assistance.

“Fine,” Lindsay agreed.

“Groovy,” Cindy responded with a very satisfied smile, and dropped her pen and paper back into her bag.

“So, that’s a yes then?”

“Absolutely. It’ll be fun. I love Pride,” Cindy said, then sighed. “Now, sadly, I have to go take care of some work that isn’t club-related. But, how about I come over tonight and we can work out the details?”

“Sure,” Lindsay nodded. “I’ll be home.”

“Okay. See you later.”

Cindy got up and Lindsay watched her walk off. The rookie cop who was so engrossed in their conversation was standing nearby, showing way too much interest in Cindy’s approach. Cindy was, seemingly, unable to resist the obvious temptation. When she was standing right beside the rookie, she stopped and looked back at Lindsay.

“I’ll bring over a bottle of wine,” she said, what could only be described as, seductively, and winked.

The rookie spilled hot coffee down the front of his pants, and Cindy proceeded to leave the premises with an extra bounce in her step.