Author's Note: Got CSI:NY Season 3 for Christmas, and I've watched "Not What It Looks Like" twice today. My favorite scene (aside from the ending- LOVE IT everytime!) is Danny and his puppy dog. I decided the puppy needed more screen time. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of CSI:NY, they are the property of CBS and Anthony E. Zuiker. Wouldn't mind owning the puppy, though.

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The day had been so chaotic that Danny Messer didn't even want to go anywhere after work but home. More importantly, Lindsay hadn't let go of him since he'd found her in the apartment. He'd held her hand while she filled out her statement. He'd threatened to kill Flack when he got a little pushy with her when she had a tough time remembering who the second guy in the room was. Afterward, they were leaving the precinct together. "Montana? Do you want me to drive ya home?"

"Danny, I can get there. Besides, you didn't drive."

"But you did, and I'm qualified to drive everything but an eighteen wheeler," Danny replied. He got her to smile, which is what he was going for.

"I think I'll be okay."

Then a car backfired outside, and she jumped. She looked at Danny, who was grinning, his eyebrows raised. "On second thought-would you mind?"

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Danny unlocked his apartment door and was greeted by a slobbering, four-legged furry mess. "Get down there, you mutt," he teased the dog as he managed to fight his way into the apartment. He scratched the puppy behind the ears and the dog yipped in excitement. "Such a good boy. Been a good day, there, puppy." He looked down at the dog. Hawkes's earlier statement rang in his ears, "Well, you know how they say pets look like their owners..." He sat down on the couch and patted the cushion beside him. "I gotta find something to call you, huh? Can't keep callin' ya 'dog'," he said. After he'd rung the poor dog's ears with the sine wave generator, something about the dog just wouldn't let him go. So, against his better judgment, he'd brought the dog home with every intention of dropping it off at an animal shelter the next day, where he'd borrowed it from that afternoon. But as the dog settled into his lap, he realized there'd be no way he could give the dog up.

Geez. Danny Messer got a dog. If Flack could see me now. Then he smiled as he reached for his phone. Maybe Lindsay would be free tonight. He didn't want her to be alone if she was still stressed from earlier.

Besides. Girls love dogs. Boom. Great idea.

He looked at the dog. "Hey, Boom."

The dog's ears perked and he cocked his head at Danny. Danny ruffled the fur on the puppy's head. "Fetch me my phone, will ya?"

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