Authors note - this will be a short multi chapter bit of Dandy, a little more angsty than my other stories but all's well that ends well, right? Wanted to get one more in before the show returns and gives us all new inspiration...

"Girlfriend?"

Mindy was dumbfounded. Though her past few weeks had been a whirlwind of excitement, with the holidays and a new romance of her own, she had no idea that there was someone new in Danny's life as well.

Danny shrugged and flipped through a file, trying to look busy. "I guess you could call her that. We're not, like, engaged or anything.

Mindy snorted. "Duh. But you haven't mentioned anyone... Danny, is she real? You talk about web dating. Have you met her, like, in person?"

"I just told you we went to that damn restaurant last week. Did you think I brought my phone and texted dinner to her?"

Danny was a little irritated by the question. He had met Denise in person, at the newsstand of all places, not by browsing online. They had struck up a conversation about the demise of the print industry and things just clicked. She was cute and funny, didn't sleep with him right away, but when she did, they clicked there too. He liked her, he had fun with her, and she took his mind off of work and... other things. But he hadn't meant to talk about her to Mindy.

Stupid Peter had spotted them together at that trendy restaurant and of course he had to bring it up, in the office, in front of everyone.

"Hey Danny, who was that hot little pixie you were with in Saturday? That teppan wasn't the only thing smoking at Nishi's!"

Of course, that started the barrage of questions, though surprisingly, Mindy didn't say anything till he had escaped to his office. Then she casually strolled in asking about a patient before starting to grill him.

"Ok, so tell me about her? Where is she from? What does she do?"

Danny really, really didn't want to do this. He doled out a few answers, knowing it would never be enough. Mindy was unrelenting.

"She sounds great, Danny. I can't believe we haven't met her yet! You've been going out almost as long as Cliff and I have! Of course everyone already knew him from wiener night. OMG Danny, has she seen the pictures?"

Danny needed to end this line of questioning. "She doesn't need to see the pictures, Mindy." The implication was clear, and Mindy wasn't sure why the idea of this random woman seeing Danny in the flesh, so to speak, should bother her.

But it did.

"OK, Danny, whatever. But we need to meet this young lady! Let's do dinner, this weekend!"

"Mindy, if I have any shot of a relationship with this woman, I am not going to drag her to some crazy thing with the whole office."

"Fine, Danny. I only meant us. Cliff and I. A double date! What could go wrong?"

Danny thought for a moment. What couldn't go wrong? He had done this with Mindy before and needless to say they were no longer with those respective partners. It was a horrible idea.

"Fine. You make the plans, since I know that's what you want to do. I'll make sure Denise is free first though."

Mindy went full speed ahead and made the plans anyway.