Creatures Of The Night-

What happens when the staff of Shulman and Associates make a Halloween bet?

Disclaimer*** I do not own the Mindy Project

Chapter 1

Danny's P.O.V...

The Elevator is going up painfully slow today. I am stuck with Cliff the lawyer from the office building who is in a new relationship with one of my colleagues Mindy. Mindy is a beautiful, powerful woman who has had her heart broken too many times by awful men and she deserves better, but I'd never let her know that I think that.

"So Danny what are your plans for Halloween?" Cliff asked breaking the silence.

"Isn't Halloween just a hallmark holiday?" I responded, who actually does things on Halloween?

"I guess so, but it's also an excuse for the ladies to get scared and come running into your arms." Cliff winked.

The thought of Mindy popped into my head and I got a bit jealous... I don't get it, everything that Cliff just said goes completely against Mindy's idea of being an independent woman of color, why is she with this weasel?

I stayed silent but Cliff didn't take the hint.

"Mindy and I are going on a haunted walk through central park. She's so cute when she's scared."

I clenched my fists.

"Sorry we can't keep talking Cliff, this is my floor." I said through clenched teeth and left the elevator.

I swung open the door to Shulman and Associates to be greeted by the staff all in costumes. I guess I missed the memo.

"Danny, what the hell? Where is your costume?" Mindy screeched across the room.

"It's just a stupid hallmark holiday." I headed for my office. Everyone followed me.

"Your such a Grinch!" Mindy replied.

"Dr. Lahiri, that's Christmas.." Morgan added, not helping her case. I half smiled. Mindy shot him a glare.

"Your such a lame old man, Danny." Mindy snarled. The thought of her with Cliff made me mad.

"Oh yeah! Well if I'm so lame why am I spending the entire night at The House Of Death?" I spat back before I even knew what I was saying. "You wouldn't last an hour, Mindy!" She looked shocked!

"I would too!" Now I really got her going. She was so cute.

"Can I come with you Dr. Castellano? We can speak to the spirits." Morgan budded in. I forgot the entire office was standing behind Mindy.

"Oh, you guys disgust me. Halloween is for the children." Jeremy added.

"LAME!" Mindy, Morgan and Peter said together catching Jeremy off guard.

"There is no such thing as ghosts." Jeremy rolled his eyes.

"Well if your so sure, then Shulman and Associates is going to have a Halloween camp out tonight at the House of Death." Mindy crossed her arms over her chest. "Last person to leave the house gets to organize the Christmas party!" Everyone gasped. That was something that was always fought over every year. Two years ago Jeremy held it and since then everyone has always been trying to one him up.

"Deal!" Jeremy stretched out his hand to shake on it.

"Wait Mindy, don't you have some central park date to go to tonight?" I looked at her. She paused then continued to shake Jeremy's hand.

"I'll reschedule, besides Cliff should know better than to think that I'm going to be walking around Central Park all night." She rolled her eyes. I smiled knowing he wouldn't be getting what he wanted tonight...At least not with Mindy.

The rest of the day went by fast thinking about how I get to spend the entire night with Mindy...And Morgan, and Jeremy, and Peter. I packed up my bag and headed for the elevator. Once there me and Mindy went down together. She was on the phone.

(On Phone) I know Cliff, I'm sorry. Something came up with work...

No, I know you had it planned for weeks, I said I was sorry...

Cliff stop crying your embarrassing me. I'm hanging up now. Bye.

I couldn't help but laugh the guy apparently had his pride chopped off at one point.

Mindy started laughing too. I looked down into her beautiful brown eyes.

"Are you sure you want to do this Min?" I said touching her arm. She shuttered slightly.

"Yes. I want to do this." It was as though she was trying to convince herself.

"We would all understand if you wanted to go on your date with Cliff." I pushed. She looked at her shoes.

"I don't see much of a future with Cliff.." She trailed off. I hid a smile. I knew she would tell me the rest.

"He has just been so clingy. He doesn't trust me at all and thinks that I'm cheating on him. Actually its pretty funny. He thinks that I'm cheating on him with you, Danny. Like how does he even get that idea? We're polar opposites. We can't even tolerate each other. The only reason we spend so much time together is because we work together" She was so oblivious.

"Yeah.." I felt my chest tighten. I guess she didn't feel the same way I did.

"Earth to Danny!" Mindy nudged my arm. I realized this was the ground level.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." I hurried back to her side. We continued to the subway station in an awkward silence. Mindy was never quiet.

"So Danny, why aren't you doing anything with that girl from your building?" Mindy broke the silence once we were on the train.

"I'm in love with someone else." I said without even thinking. I would be kicking myself later.

"What! Seriously? Who?" Here we go. "Danny I have never heard you say the 'L' word before, why have I never met her? You sound serious!" Mindy looked shocked.

"This is my stop, see you tonight." I stepped off the train and Mindy's expression turned to a type of sadness.

I unlocked the deadbolt to my door and flopped down on my big leather sofa. Where did I go wrong? How the hell did I get myself in to this mess? The last he heard the House of Death on west 4th street had been closed down for years, at least to the public. My phone started buzzing.

"Dr. Castellano speaking." I answered.

"Danny, Why you always answering your phone like that, It's your mother."

"Hi ma." I looked out my window at the city skyline.

"How ya doing son? I haven't heard from you in so long. I just wanted to check up on you. It's Halloween, I remember how scary this day was for you when you were a boy." She sounded like a typical mother.

"I'm fine mom, I'm a grown man now. Halloween doesn't scare me anymore." I said in a defensive voice.

"Okay then Danny, don't forget about your ol' mother, visit once in a while why don't you. I love you." She was smiling into the phone.

"Okay ma. I love ya too. Bye." I hung up the phone and was about to place it on the arm rest before it started buzzing again.

"Dr. Castellano speaking." I picked up again now letting my eyes close.

"Danny, it's Dr. Lahiri." Mindy's voice boomed through the reciever.

"Mindy, ya don't have to be so formal." I sounded more annoyed than I was.

"Said the guy who answers the phone 'Dr. Castellano speaking.' Take a joke Danny." She shot back.

"What do you want Mindy?" I got straight to the point.

"Can I come over to your place before we go to that haunted house thingy." She asked.

"No." I growled in a husky voice.

"Okay, I'll see you at 7." I smiled at her response, it was the one I was hoping for.