Iceberg

Now there was a gigantic iceberg between them that would never melt. A case brings the two closer, offers a chance for their relationship to strengthen, and slowly melts the ice. DL

The day had started out like any other. Lindsay's alarm clock had woken her up at 5:45 A.M. like any other workday and instead of repeatedly hitting the snooze button like any normal person, she immediately got up and headed for the bathroom.

As she started brushing her teeth, her phone buzzed and vibrated her nightstand. Incoming text message from Mac. Flipping open the cover, Lindsay saw the address for a DOA on the Upper East Side and who else was working the case: Stella and…Danny Messer. Okay, awkward.

With her toothbrush still hanging out of her mouth, she slowly took a seat on her bed and her mind brought her back to the hallway outside of the interrogation room in the precinct after she and Danny had worked the dead vodka spokes model case.

"I can't…do this." Judging by the look on Danny's face, Lindsay could tell that she was confusing him. The whole week, he'd been subtly dropping hints on why she didn't show up on their date. She tried to casually drop the subject, but afterwards, there was always an uneasy silence hanging in the air.

"Can't do what?"

"Be in a…relationship…with you,"

Those words had hurt both her and the man she had said them to. She'd spent her free moments coaching herself and deciding what to say, rehearsing the lines over and over, but when the moment finally came, the words wouldn't come. It wasn't that she didn't want to be in a relationship with him, because she really did want to. She just couldn't.

Danny tried to cover up his shock, "I'm just talking about some dinner, a few laughs—"

Lindsay couldn't say anything. She would have loved to go out to dinner with him, laugh with him, but she couldn't. She gave him a look and he immediately drew back, "I just…I just have some….stuff to take care of."

Danny nodded, his disappointment obvious, "Well, I'm here if you need me, okay?"

That time would have been appropriate with a hug, but instead, all she said was "I'm sorry…maybe we should both just do our jobs," and walked away. She walked away from the man she honestly wanted to be with and back into the nightmares that had haunted her for years.

CSI:NY

Lindsay was out of the door by 7:00 A.M. and took the subway to the crime scene, looking over the pictures of the scene so far sent to her phone. When she arrived at the scene, she processed the body with Stella, took pictures, collected evidence, all the routine things.

Their work was interrupted by Stella's pager, which was beeping like crazy.

"Lindsay, could you and Danny take this case? Mac says he and Hawkes need some help in Central Park."

"Sure…where is Danny anyway?"

Stella shrugged as she walked away, "Why don't you call him? You have his number don't you?"

Lindsay sighed and returned to processing the scene. She and Danny hadn't worked a case in almost a month, only exchanging a small wave or greeting when passing in the halls. She was interrupted by approaching footsteps. Danny.

"What do we got, Lindsay?"

Lindsay. Not Montana, not Linds. Just her name. She wouldn't admit it, but she almost missed her nickname, it always broke the ice, eased the tension between them. But now there was a gigantic iceberg between that would never melt.

She calmly briefed him on the victim, "Jade Littlewood. You're looking at Hathaway Prep's Student Body Secretary, swim team, and orchestra member."

Danny snapped on a pair of gloves and bent down to get a closer look, "Involved. Sounds like she was on the fast track to an Ivy League. Signs of blunt force trauma…lacerations to the face…some bruising on the shoulders…a beating maybe?"

"Maybe, I'm going to see Sid for the autopsy report."

"I'll make sure this evidence gets back to the lab."

They both awkwardly nodded, then returning to their job.

"And Linds?" Lindsay almost grinned when she heard the first half of her name. "Don't let Sid go to his creepy place."

Her smile widened and walked towards the car. She could feel the ice thawing.

CSI:NY

The rain hit the crime lab's window with small thuds. It was pouring in New York City.

For the rest of the day, Danny had spent his time processing evidence while Lindsay was with Adam in Trace or Reconstruction. They'd found Jade Littlewood in the hallways of Hathaway Prep, an awfully obvious place to hide a body. There had been minimal trace, only a bite mark on the neck and bruising around her shoulders. Her clothes showed nothing obvious, so there wasn't much else they could do.

The rain started pouring around mid-afternoon, the sky had turned to a dark gray.

It was almost as if night had taken over day. Lindsay shivered as she headed to the break room for a coffee. "It's pouring pretty hard," She turned around and saw Danny standing behind her, holding out a couple reports in a manila folder.

"Yeah," she leaned against the counter, stirring her coffee. "So…any leads?"

"Yeah, actually," Danny passed her the folder. "That guy. Did some time in juvie for plagiarism. Other than that, nothing. Zip. Nada. So you up for a ride?"

They sat in silence as they rode to the suspect's apartment. The rain was coming down as hard as ever. Their suspect's name was Nick Buchanan who lived on the Upper East Side as well.

"Detectives. Come in. Awful weather isn't it?"

"Save us the formalities," Lindsay said. She wasn't in the mood for being lied to. "Tell us about your relationship with Jade Littlewood."

"We had a lot of classes together and we're both in the school orchestra. I'm Student Body President and she was Secretary. The four executives do a lot of work together. Why? What happened?"

"She's dead," she stated flatly.

"W-what? Jade? She's…dead?" Nick covered his face with his hand. "N-no! That can't be possible!"

"Where were you last night at around eight?"

"I was with the Treasurer, Samantha Ting, w-we were just discussing ideas for the upcoming Formal. W-wait, Jade's dead?"

Danny held out a picture of the autopsy photo. "We're sorry for your loss. Were you two close?"

"Not romantically involved, if that's what you're asking Detective. She had a boyfriend." Danny and Lindsay both glanced at each other. Crime of passion?

"This is the part where you give us a name," Danny said.

"Steve Banks. I knew him pretty well, I can't imagine him doing anything like this," Nick scribbled down a phone number. "Please, keep me updated."

Danny nodded and took the slip of paper, "Will do. Thanks for your time."

"So…guilty, not guilty, what's the verdict?" Danny asked as they got into the elevator.

"I don't know," Lindsay confessed. "His shock seemed real and he seems to genuinely care about what's happening…but…"

"Anyone can do anything to anybody," Danny finished. She nodded. The iceberg had returned along with the awkward tension.

"Whoa!" the two stopped in their tracks as they stepped into the lobby. The rain had started coming down so hard that it had turned into a torrential downpour. The sky didn't even have the slightest hint of light and it was only 4:00 P.M.

"No way are we going back out there," Danny said. "We'll be soaked the moment we step outside!"

"Come on, we've got to go see if we have any other leads and if Nick's alibi checks out."

"Ah fine…" Danny sighed, but then stopped in his tracks as he saw an Asian girl walking through the lobby, heading for the elevator.

"A bit young, even for you, Messer," she scoffed.

Danny chuckled, "Nah, I only got eyes for you, Montana."

Lindsay stiffened a bit, but then relaxed when she heard the familiar nickname given to her on her first day.

"I'm thinking that might be Samantha Ting, the Treasurer?" he pointed to the girl waiting for the elevator. "Thinking what I'm thinking?"

The two made their way back to the elevator. Danny casually whistled and raised his eyebrows at Lindsay.

"Are you Samantha? Samantha Ting?" Danny asked.

Lindsay rolled her eyes. Real subtle, Messer. If that was the way he introduced himself to girls, she had no idea how he earned his 'player' title.

The Asian girl had a confused look on her face, "Yeaaah…I don't mean to be rude, but do I know you?"

Danny lifted his jacket briefly so that she could catch a glimpse of his badge, "NYPD, we're investigating the death of your friend, Jade Littlewood."

Samantha was so startled she almost dropped the expensive cell phone she was holding, "T-that's not possible! I just saw her l-last night!"

"When?"

"Around eight, I think. We were having dinner downtown at uh…Giordano's Pizza."

"Eight?" Danny hinted at Lindsay. "Really? Was Nick Buchanan with you also?"

"No, he said he would be out with Steve. Steve Banks. We invited him and Jordan, but he said he already had plans."

"Jordan? Lemme guess, Vice President?"

"Yeah, the four of us are pretty close. In fact, I was on my way to see Nick now, um, do you mind?"

Danny stepped aside, "Thanks for your time."

After the elevator doors closed, Danny faced Lindsay, "You hungry?"

"For Giordano's. One of their alibis isn't right."

CSI:NY

They sat in silence for the ride downtown, but this time, they seemed to be much more at ease with each other's presence.

Giordano's Pizza was warm and cozy inside, the exact opposite of the freezing temperatures outside. There were red booths with red leather chairs and the room was alive with talk and chatter.

"Waitress," Lindsay called as they stepped inside, shaking the rain off their jackets.

"Welcome to Giordano's. Do you two have a reservation?"

"We're not here to eat," Lindsay held up her badge. "Could you pull up the list of guests who ate here last night?"

"Sure, right this way please." The waitress led them back and punched a few buttons on the computer. "Anyone in particular?"

"A uh, Jade Littlewood or Samantha Ting?" Danny held up Jade's photo.

"Oh, yes, I saw those two come in with another boy. Here's their receipt."

"Do you remember what time they were here?"

"They came in at around…eight I think? The girl in your picture left a little after the rest ordered. The other two stayed until nine thirty."

"Thanks," Danny waved. "So…I'm thinking that Nick Buchanan is looking to be a pretty good suspect by now."

"Yeah…but we still need to go back to the evidence. What about the boyfriend? Steve Banks?"

Danny looked outside. Night had fallen, but the rain hadn't stopped. "Come on, Linds. We've gotten a lot done today. We'll go to the evidence tomorrow. Let's just eat here. Best pizza in the world."

Lindsay sighed. She couldn't resist. She'd tried so hard and she was like a spring wound too tight. All of that energy suppressed inside was now released, "Fine."

Danny grinned and called the waitress back, "I think we'll take that reservation."