"I can't believe we're actually doing this," Angell muttered in disgust as she traipsed along after Lindsay down the hallway of an apartment block.

"Look, Angie, you wanna get with Flack or not?" Lindsay huffed as she stared at the door numbers they were passing.

"Well yeah but..." Angell started to say when Lindsay turned and stared at her crossly, hands on her hips.

"No buts. You're date with him went horribly because he was too shy to even look at you, let alone talk to you. And my date with Montana was dire because he was too busy staring at everything with his gob wide open rather than taking any notice of me," she said sternly.

"Yeah, but it's not like we don't see them at work, we can always give it another shot," Angell moaned grumpily, itching at her dress.

"Urgh," Lindsay rolled her eyes as she turned back and continued looking for the apartment she was after. "Angie, this is out of work, it's a whole different ball game. Montana has actually invited us to a party at his apartment. Do you realise this means I get to be in his house?! And Flack will be there too, so will the others and that will give him the confidence to talk to you."

"Hmm...well if you say so but I still think we shouldn't have bothered with the fancy dress," Angell muttered.

"Just be glad I talked him out of having that Wheatfield party," Lindsay replied.

"Oh and a cereal crop party is loads better," Angell snorted. "I don't even know that many cereals. I had to Google some."

"Which one are you again?" Lindsay frowned as she cast her eye backwards over Angell's costume.

"Oats," Angell grumped. "That's why I'm wearing this ridiculous beaded dress. The beads look like oats."

"If you say so," Lindsay chuckled.

"Oh alright, and what are you supposed to be then, little miss perfect Lindso?" Angell moaned.

"Millet of course," Lindsay replied. She was wearing a stripy brown and beige dress that brought out her eyes beautifully.

"How on Earth are you millet?" Angell asked.

"Because I'm all the different colours of it," Lindsay stated matter of factly.

"That's not millet," replied Angell.

"Well you don't look like oats," Lindsay snapped back.

"Hey Lindso?" Angell smirked.

"What?" Lindsay replied curtly.

"Why the hell are we arguing about cereals?"

Lindsay grinned and then burst out laughing. "You know, I haven't a damn clue."

The two girls giggled and then carried on along the hallway to the end where they came across the apartment they were looking for. Lindsay knocked hard and then waited for the door to be opened.

"Hey, sugar," she smiled as Danny opened it, dressed head to toe in yellow, including a yellow beret. On his clothes were glued what looked very much like strips of wheat.

"Hey, Oooo let me guess, hmmm... I know, millet and oats!" he grinned excitedly.

"You are one weird little man," Angell muttered as she pushed past and went inside.

"And I sure do like weird," Lindsay said seductively, raising one eyebrow as she walked past and went on inside.

Most of the others were already there enjoying their drinks and Dolly Parton was blaring out loudly from the stereo. Lindsay made her way over to Claire who was lounging back casually over the couch.

"Hey Claire," Lindsay smiled.

"Heya Lindso..." Claire grinned and then hiccupped.

"Lindso? You never call me Lindso," Lindsay frowned. "Are you drunk?"

"Sure am. Love the old bevy or two," Claire grinned. Her lipstick was slightly smudged and she wore a tiered green dress that was particularly short and left very little to the imagination.

"What cereal are you then?" Lindsay laughed as she took the drink Angell handed to her.

"Sorghum!" Claire giggled.

"What the hell is sorghum?" Angell frowned.

"It's not so widely known," Claire hiccupped. "But it is the fifth most important cereal crop grown in the world!"

"Trust you to come as something clever," Lindsay smiled. She knew Claire was highly intelligent; it was how she had got to her position as the head of the crime lab. However she also knew Claire was extremely social and loved a good party.

"I'm so glad you gals could both come to the party. I told Montana to have the party so that you guys would like him. He was so worried people were laughing at his country ways," Claire said as seriously as she could.

"And you thought this would help?" Angell scoffed as she gestured around at everyone dressed up as cereals.

"Meh, it's a party!" Claire laughed raising her glass and downing her drink in one. It was a pint of beer.

"God," Angell muttered. "I'm gonna find Flack."

"Flack?" Stella said as she came over to join them. "Why that pretty boy of yours is outside on the balcony cooking up the most delicious barbecue if ever I did see one."

"Oh hey Stell, what are you then?" Lindsay asked as Angell disappeared down the hallway.

Stella was wearing a pair of old dungarees, a green and yellow checked shirt, a straw hat and had a piece of grain sticking out of her mouth.

"Aw schucks girl, I'm rye."

"Rye?" Lindsay asked in confusion.

"Sure thing, hun. This here be a piece of rye" she said gesturing to the grain in her mouth.

"Fair enough," Lindsay nodded. "I'm millet."

"Well hickory dock me. That sure is swell," Stella gushed. "Doesn't that dress just bring out your eyes like I don't know what?"

"Thanks, Stella," Lindsay smiled as she felt something heavy hit her shoulder. "Oh..."

Claire had slumped against her, seemingly passed out from drinking so much.

"Ha ha ha!" hooted Stella in laughter. "That poor dear girl sure knows how to knock'em back. It's like my Mama always says, 'candy is dandy but liquor is quicker'!"

"What?" Lindsay frowned, completely confused y the older woman's words.

"My Mama," Stella grinned. "I was on the phone with her just before I came out to this ol' shindig. She said she had a date tonight."

"Your Mum has a date?" Lindsay asked, impressed. "Well she's doing better than me."

"You're right there hun. I don't know what's more depressing; the fact that my eighty year old Mama has a hot date tonight or the fact that I don't," Stella sighed.

"Ladies!" Sid interrupted, sliding over with a bottle of beer in both hands.

"Hey Sid," Lindsay smiled.

"Why Sidney boy, aren't you just looking fabulous!" Stella smiled.

Sid was dressed in an all brown outfit except for his usual purple Converse and cap. He had wound a piece of paper around his middle on which he had drawn the label for a bottle of Budweiser.

"You're a bottle of beer?" Lindsay asked.

"A bottle of beer that contains barely," Sid grinned, swigging down some of his drink.

"Clever," Lindsay nodded.

"Sure am," Sid grinned. "Hey, what happened to sleepyboss?" he asked.

"She passed out from all the alcohol," Lindsay replied.

"She sure knows how to party," Sid mused. "Hey, Stell, how about a dance?"

"Why you sweet little thing, I sure as dandy would love an old sweep round the ballroom," Stella replied.

"Huh?" Sid frowned.

"That's a yes," Lindsay giggled as she took the beers out of his hands and left him to Stella.

She slowly made her way round the apartment, examining every inch of it to gain insight into Danny's life. The lounge was mostly browns and greens with pictures of wheatfields up on the walls. The kitchen was full of food and it was obvious he liked to cook from the different herbs and spices stacked neatly on the side. She wandered down the hallway and poked her head into his bedroom. It was very neat and tidy, once again in greens and browns. In fact if she was honest the apartment made Danny seem a little boring.

"Nosing around?" said a stern voice and Lindsay turned to see the creepy M.E. standing beside her.

"Oh, hey Adam," Lindsay grinned. "You look great."

He was dressed in a white suit, a white shirt, a white tie and a white pair of shoes. He even had a white handkerchief poking out of his top pocket.

"Hello there," he replied. "And yes. Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear."

He stepped forward grinning at her creepily and Lindsay warily took a step back.

"I'm rice," he stated at her questioning look. "Nice bleached white rice. Just like bones."

"Oh!" Lindsay nodded, feeling rather sick at the mention of bones.

"Nice pure, white, ethereal, luminous bones," Adam continued. "A beautiful skeleton, carcass of the soul. So captivating, so enthralling, so delightful...oh?!"

It took him a minute to realise he'd been talking to himself, Lindsay had long since disappeared somewhere else far away from the creepy M.E.

Meanwhile Angell stepped out onto Danny's balcony and immediately burst into laughter.

"What?" said the figure turning around who then immediately blushed red.

Flack was dressed up like a corn on the cob, in a huge shapeless outfit much like a banana costume or the people you saw dressed as sandwiches in the street. Only his face peeked out from a circle cut into the front of it and a tufty bit of green leaf sprouted from the top of it over his head.

"Nice costume, Flack," Angell grinned as she leant against the doorframe.

"Hmm..." Flack hummed as he looked down at the barbecue.

"I think it makes you look incredibly hot," Angell said as she took a step in towards the shy detective.

"Well it is rather warm in here," he squeaked and then quickly shut up as he realised what she meant.

"Is it now?" she said in a low seductive tone as she took another step towards him.

"Um...yeah. I guess with the barbecue and the sun..." Flack stepped back warily as she advanced upon him like a lion on its prey.

"Well I could do with a bit of warming up myself," she smiled as she paused, right in front of him. "I'm so cold in this tiny little dress I'm wearing..."

Flack's face was a bright red as he looked round awkwardly for something to divert attention from himself.

"Um..." he squeaked as he took one final step back. His corn on the cob costume jostled as it bounced off the wall and then he stumbled and fell into the barbecue, knocking it to the ground along with himself.

"Oh gosh," Angell said as she watched the both of them tip over.

Flack rolled about on the ground, unable to right himself due to the ridiculous costume he was wearing.

"Aargh!" he squeaked as the leafy bits suddenly caught alight from the coals.

"Hold still let me help," Angell yelled as she tried to put it out but tripped over his costume and fell to the ground herself.

"Here!" Lindsay shouted as she ran out onto the balcony and grabbed a potted plant.

She chucked the plant over the balcony and then dumped the water in the bottom of the pot over Flack. The flames immediately went out and Angell managed to squirm away before she was soaked too. The two girls then each took an arm and tried to pull him to his feet.

"Here, let me help," Sid shouted as he rushed out to help pull Flack upright.

"You sure you can lift him?" Angell asked, eyeing the older man.

"I can lift the Titanic with the proper tools," Sid exclaimed and then the three of them grabbed hold of Flack and raised him up.

"My costume!" Flack exclaimed sadly as he examined his wet, blackened and now tatty outfit.

"Oh dear, what happened?" Danny asked as he came hurrying out to join them.

"My cob caught fire," Flack said sadly.

"Oh that is a shame, it was really lovely," Danny frowned. "Here, I'll take you to my bedroom and help you get changed."

The two men disappeared off, Flack wobbling from side to side as fast as his costume would let him.

"They are sooooo weird," Sid muttered as he went back to the lounge for another drink.

"'Lovely'?" Angell muttered. "What kind of a man uses the word 'lovely'?"

"Hey," Lindsay said defensively. "Don't you go insulting my man. You do realise you just hit on a corn on the cob?"

Angell shrugged and then grinned before turning to frown at the doorway.

"Sid's right though. They are both a bit odd," she mused.

"Yeah, they are," Lindsay agreed. "Bit weird going off together to the bedroom..."

"Helping him to get changed..." Angell added.

The two girls stood with their heads tilted in thought before they turned to one another and said simultaneously, "You don't think..."

They stared at one another for a moment in shock.

"Nah," Lindsay said after a moment.

"No way," Angell added.

But they both looked a little disconcerted and then made their way back to the lounge. Claire was still passed out on the couch, snoring a little and drooling onto the cushion beneath her head. Stella was dancing sexily around Adam who had almost frozen in shock as he watched her wiggle her ass into his crotch and Sid was jigging about crazily by himself, two bottles of beer back in his hands. Just then the doorbell rang and Lindsay went to answer it.

"Hey, am I late?" Hawkes grinned as he stepped inside. He was dressed in a matching pair of trousers and shirt that were multicoloured and hideous.

"What the hell are you?" Sid asked as he stumbled over.

"Fruit Loops," Hawkes grinned excitedly.

"Hawkes man, it's not that kind of cereal," Sid replied. "It's like grains and crops, not breakfast cereal."

"Oh!" Hawkes said in surprise. "Oh well, I like fruit loops."

"Yeah, because he is one," Sid whispered to Lindsay as Hawkes went over to ask Stella for a dance.

Adam quickly hurried over to Lindsay and Sid.

"That woman scares me," he whispered.

"Worried she has a crush on you?" Sid grinned waggling his eyebrows.

"Of course not," Adam frowned. "Hmm, maybe I should go and check on the barbecue..."

"No!" Sid yelled at the same time as Lindsay.

"Barbecue's off, Sid. It's just the food in the kitchen," Lindsay quickly said.

"Oh, I was so looking forward to some nice ribs," Adam sighed.

"I'll go and wake passed-outboss!" Sid grinned as he scampered away.

Danny and Flack returned to the lounge just then and Danny went over to put on a new CD. Flack stood shyly in the corner of the room, feeling rather awkward that he was now only wearing his white vest and jeans.

"Hey!" Angell smiled as she sidled over to him and stood gazing very obviously at his muscles.

Flack looked embarrassed and wrapped his arms around his body protectively.

"What?" Angell shrugged. "You look good in a vest!"

Flack blushed terribly and did everything possible to avoid her gaze.

"Hello hello," Hawkes grinned as he bounded over. "How you two doing?"

"Great thanks," Angell muttered, somewhat annoyed that Hawkes had interrupted them.

"I'm so glad I made it," Hawkes continued, oblivious to what he had interrupted. "I thought I'd have missed it. I got stuck in this terrible situation. You see I was on the loo and well, you know what..."

"Are we actually having this conversation?" Angell huffed irritably, not wanting to know anything about what Hawkes was doing on the toilet.

"Oh I'm sorry," Hawkes frowned. "By all means carry on your one sided chat with Mr Talkative over there. Cos that's a scintillating conversation right there."

Angell watched as Hawkes stomped off over to Sid and Claire, who was now awake.

"Hawkesy!" Claire grinned as he came over. "You're here! I hope you have one of your marvellous jokes to tell everyone!"

"Well..." Hawkes said, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Ooo I know what we should do," Claire interrupted before he could get a word out. "Drinking contest! Woooo!"

"Yeah Wooooo drunkboss!" Sid agreed cheering.

"Well you can sure as sugarsticks count me in, darlin'," Stella added.

"This is a bad idea," Danny muttered, knowing his apartment was about to be wrecked.

"Contests aren't against the law, Monty. Neither is stupidity or bad judgement," Claire slurred merrily as she, Hawkes, Adam, Sid and Stella all went to the kitchen to get started on their competition.

"Ho, ho, ho, to the bottle I go..." Stella sung as she danced excitedly with Sid to the kitchen.

"Oh God," Danny moaned, head in his hands.

"Don't worry, Montana," Lindsay smiled, coming over and patting him on the shoulder.

"I just wanted to have a nice party," Danny sighed.

"And you are. Though Dolly Parton and Shania Twain? Really? You gotta change your music list," Lindsay chuckled.

"Well, at least everyone seems to be enjoying the cereal crop idea," Danny smiled.

"I guess so," Lindsay laughed. "Though I'm afraid to these guys, New York will always beat your wheatfields."

"Have you ever even seen a wheat field?" Danny asked crossly.

"What's to see? It's just wheat," Lindsay giggled.

"I'm winning!" Sid yelled as he ran towards them from the kitchen and then tripped, falling flat on his face. "Ouch!"

"Are you okay?" Lindsay asked worriedly.

"Yeah," Sid grinned, sitting up, his nose all bloody.

"Here, let me take care of that for you," Adam said rushing over from where he'd been talking to Angell and a silent Flack.

"Urgh no, you're alright there, Ad," Sid muttered, trying to pull away from him.

"But the blood," Adam said in awe. "It's so fresh, so red. I miss that you know? I never get to work with such a clean, fresh wound down in the morgue."

"You keep your hands off me," Sid warned as he picked his cap up from the floor.

"So beautiful," Adam said, entranced by Sid's nose. "It looks just like wine."

"Wine?" Sid squeaked. "It's nothing like. And beer is where it's at, Ad!"

"God I love a good beer," Lindsay smiled.

"I quite like wine," Angell added, coming over.

"Really?" Lindsay exclaimed in surprise. "How do I not know this about you?!"

"Some of us have taste, Lindso!" Angell giggled.

"Angell, I think Lindsay's favourite kind of wine is Chianti," snorted Danny.

"No you're wrong. My favourite kind of wine is beer," Lindsay grinned. "And since when do you know so much about wine anyway, Montana?"

"I'm more than beer and buffalo burgers, Monroe," Danny muttered as he helped Sid up and over to the couch.

"Whatever, Montana," Lindsay replied as she turned to smile at Angell and Adam.

"You think Lindsay calls me "Montana" because I'm a 49er's fan?" Danny asked Sid quietly as he watched her, unable to fathom her.

"She calls you that because she has a crush on you," Sid muttered as if Danny was daft.

"What?!" Danny squeaked. "Really?"

"How do you not know this?!" Sid exclaimed as he lay back and tilted his head up to stop the bleeding. He caught Adam eyeing him rather suspiciously.

"I kinda have a crush on her too," Danny murmured to himself.

"Hey, have you ever seen anyone punch themselves in the face?" Stella shouted as she rushed into the lounge.

"No, why are you going to?" Adam asked, an eyebrow raise in interest.

"Of course not, you dear, but Hawkes is about to," Stella grinned.

"Oh God!" Danny replied as he rushed into the kitchen followed by everyone else.

Hawkes and Claire were in there giggling hysterically and the latter had his arm raised in front of his face. Just then there was another ring on the doorbell.

"Who can that be?" Danny asked, frustrated. "Everyone I invited is already here and it's nearly time to be winding down anyway!"

"It's for me!" Claire shouted and then stumbled to the door.

Everyone followed her back out to the lounge. Sid and Adam looking rather disappointed that they weren't going to see Hawkes punch himself in the face.

"Hey there, gorgeous," Claire grinned as she opened the door to a tall, tanned man with a mop of blond hair.

"Why, who is that fine piece of cattle meat?" Stella whispered to Angell.

"Everyone, this is Christian. He's my new boyfriend," Claire laughed and then hiccupped.

"Hmm," Sid hummed to Lindsay. "It's a little late in the day for him to show up."