It Takes a Thief

Lindsay Monroe thinks her new home is secure until two former burglars turned security experts set her straight.

Pairings: Lindsay Monroe and Danny Messer friendship (possible romance, but I haven't ruled it out)

A/N: This is my first CSI: NY fan fiction story. Please go easy on me! Also, this may be slightly lighter that any CSI: NY story I might write in the future. All of my CSI: NY fan fiction stories will be darker and edgier my CSI and CSI: Miami fiction.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of CSI: NY, I only own my original characters. I also don't own 'It Takes a Thief', that's property of the Discovery Channel.

Lindsay Monroe's Day Off

Lindsay was happy to come home after pulling a double. All she wanted to do was to take a lavender scented bubble bath, fix herself a meal, watch a show on Comedy Central and just collapse in bed. The extremely traumatizing case that she was working with Stella Bonasera, Sheldon Hawkes and Detective Don Flack was getting to her. She was glad that Mac Taylor gave her the day off to recover.

Before she could do anything, there was a knock on the door. She hoped that it wasn't Mac telling her there was a new case being assigned to her.

"Who is it?" she asked before looking into the peephole.

"Montana, this is Danny Messer," the voice on the other end said.

"Danny, if you call me Montana once more," Lindsay replied. "I might have to kick your ass!"

"Lindsay, are you going to let me in?" Danny asked. "I think one of your neighbors is staring at me like I have the plague."

She opened the door and he immediately waltzed in. He looked around her place to see how she decorated her place. He had hoped to see any evidence of Montana in his friend's new place.

"I love what you did to this place," Danny smirked. "It has an air of Montana in it."

"Well, I wanted the place to remind me of my old home," Lindsay explained. "Something to come to home to after a stressful double or triple. Why are you here? Don't tell me I have to get back to work!"

"No, you are off the clock until tomorrow," he smirked. "I just wanted to hang out with you. Besides, I always wanted to see your place."

Lindsay couldn't decide whether to laugh or experience shock. She restrained the urge to give in a good swat in the arm. Danny looked at her like he was a cat who ate the parakeet.

"Don't you have to go to work?" Lindsay asked.

"Mac gave me the day off too," Danny chuckled. "So, are you going to give me the grand tour of Montana away from Montana?"

"Since you put it that way," she smiled. "I'll give you a tour of the apartment."

She showed Danny around her place and invited him to sit on the couch.

"I was just about to make lunch," she said. "Care to join me? I make a mean stick to your ribs baked ziti with zucchini and Portobello mushrooms."

"Now, you're making me hungry," he smirked. "I'll join you for lunch. Do you want some help?"

"I am fine!" she shouted so she could compete with the noises of pot and pans clanging as she prepared to make lunch. "Thanks for the offer! You can watch TV or read a book!"

An hour later, Danny and Lindsay were sitting at the table eating the baked ziti. They also had a salad with a spicy ranch dressing. There was a half full bottle of water they managed to finished.

"Danny, what made you want to be a CSI?" Lindsay asked.

"I come from a family of troublemakers," Danny replied after swallowing a bite of his baked ziti. "I grew up around the Tanglewood gang and decided that I wanted nothing to do with them. With a family like mine, I had to create my own set of ethics that were a compromise of the good and the bad. I joined the NYPD after graduating from college. A few years ago, Mac Taylor recruited me to join his team. It was an honor and a responsibility that I took on and try to live up to everyday. What about you?"

"I have never told anyone about this," she said. "A few years ago, one of my sisters was brutally raped and murdered in a rural area of Montana. My family tried to get the local police department to investigate, but either they were low on staff or thought a rape/murder was a low priority. I was in college majoring in biochemistry and minoring in criminal justice. My family tragedy turned my criminal justice minor into a second major. I got my degree in biochemistry and criminal justice. I was hired by a crime lab in Montana and now I am here."

"I am sorry to hear about your sister," he said softly. "We are glad to have you in the NYPD Crime Lab."

"Thank you," she was nearly in tears.

There was silence as they took in what they told each other. Danny was stunned that Lindsay's sister was brutalized. Lindsay was amazed that a good man could come from a bad family. They were quite a pair. Ever since Lindsay started working for the NYPD, they have been friends. It was Danny that showed Lindsay around town after her first day in New York. He showed her where are the cool places to eat, shop and just looking around. After her first week, he took her to the American Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space.

"Hey, did you bake these?" Danny asked taking a small chocolate chip cookie from a plate that Lindsay put without him being aware of it.

"No, I bought them from a bakery near my home," Lindsay responded with a hint of remorse. "Sometimes, I go there to get goodies whether I am entertaining guests or not."

"You have to give me the address and phone number of the place!" he smiled. "These are awesome! You should bring some to the break room!"

"My next door neighbor introduced me to this bakery," she happily explained. "I have been hooked ever since."

"Your neighbor has really good taste," he smirked.

"I'll tell him that!" she winked at him.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent watching a comedy Lindsey had on DVD. Danny was sitting with her on the couch and they were laughing. She wanted to have her day off for herself at first, but she was glad that Danny Messer had paid her a visit and kept her company.

Somewhere in New York City

What the pair was unaware of was an SUV carrying two former burglars casing various neighborhoods. Their intent was to simulate a burglary at a house and give the resident(s) a free security makeover.

TBC