Terra - Earth
PragmatismFrom day one, Danny Messer knew what kind of person Lindsay Monroe would be. She was a scientist after all, just like he was, and scientists thought in a certain direction. It didn't matter that he came from one of the biggest and best cities in the world, and that she came from a town effectively in the middle of nowhere. The fact remained that both of them were scientists.
And for the most part, they were alike. Neither of them would have admitted it in the beginning, but looking back, Danny recognised the undercurrent of practicality, realism, that flowed through the both of them. Part of her character, it would have been one of the aspects driving her to become a scientist. Or, maybe, her career just happened. The common-sense solution to the way in which she viewed the world.
From what Danny had observed, her life was an assemblage of practicalities. Her work dress was chosen with a pragmatic eye – low heels, trousers, shirts or sweaters. Her attire was always professional and suitable for the job. Attractive, but professional, he decided.
From a conversation with Mac, he'd learnt she likely had as many (or few) hair and beauty products as he did. Not exactly much call for it if you're dumpster diving, or stuck in a lab for hours on end. She still looked gorgeous though. In his scientific opinion.
He'd overheard her on the phone, just after she'd started at the lab, talking to a landlord about an apartment in Manhattan. In about two minutes she'd introduced herself, asked about the location (40 minutes from the lab), rent (same as what Danny was paying), utilities (included), subway stops (two minute walk away), access (stairs and occasionally working elevator), number of rooms (living room, kitchen-diner, bathroom, bedroom) and taken it there and then.
"You aren't gonna look at it first?" he'd asked as she hung up, smiling.
"Why would I need to do that?"
"What if it's a bad neighbourhood?"
"I know it; it's not. The rent is fine, it's close to work, has enough rooms, and I'll get fit walking up the stairs 'cause it's the fourth floor," she had replied simply. Danny frowned.
"Don't woman like to, y'know, get a feel of the place or somethin'?" At least, that was what his sister had said as she dragged him around the eighth apartment in two hours. Lindsay had just looked at him strangely.
"What's to feel? – it's just a building."
II
There seemed to be a little more to the newest CSI than simple scientific practicality. During their first meeting and case together, he had teased her about coming from a small community in Montana. Her retort – "Have you ever seen what a fully grown black bear can do to a man?" – had been fired back at him almost before he'd finished speaking. He smirked and shut up. And thought. Something told him that had he asked what, she would have reeled off a gruesome list of those debilitating injuries with no qualms, ever the scientific one. Probably would've smirked at him too. Damn pragmatism.
He noticed she fell back on pragmatic comments when he teased her. Like the first case, in the freezers of the meat-packing factory (he seemed to have teased he a lot that first case). She said that in Montana, people kept that much meat in their freezers; it was a fact, a statement. It didn't need a response (though he heard her small laugh when he did), and she appeared oblivious to the nature of the comment.
They worked a case involving a music promoted who'd had glue poured over his face after being hit in the throat with a bass guitar. Danny joked to Mac that they were on the case 'like glue' as they passed in the corridor. He'd chuckled, and Lindsay looked at him indulgently.
"He doesn't think that's funny you know. He's just humouring you," she said with a smile, walking off.
"You don't know him like I do," he called after he retreating form. Apparently that was an invitation to investigate. Two nights later, they were sitting in Cozy's jazz bar, listening to Mac play bass in his band. Danny couldn't decide if Lindsay was showing off her investigative skills, or if she just did what came naturally to her and worked from 'a' ('you don't know him like I do') to 'b' (how he held the bass; a standing appointment on Wednesdays) to 'c' (Mac played in a band, present the results to Danny). Either way, it was impressive (he didn't think he would have had the same view when she first arrived at the lab, but things changed). Though he couldn't help but wonder if she was hinting at something as well. The way she'd said 'maybe you didn't know him as well as you thought', looking straight at him with her head cocked. If she used pragmatism to deflect his teasing (good-natured or not), what's to say she wouldn't use it for something else? He sighed. It was bad enough that she was a woman – she had to be a scientist as well?
III
Daisies were her favourite flower, Danny discovered. A normal, everyday, common daisy. He asked why, wondering if she'd sigh and launch into some wistful story about childhood and first dates. Instead, she grinned:
" I love how they grow anywhere they like; muddy soil, immaculate lawns, the cracks between paving slabs." She wrinkled her forehead, thinking. "Plus, they look happy."
He gave a short laugh. Who could argue with that?
They went back to her hotel after the trial since he hadn't had time to check in anywhere. He approached the desk to ask for a room (preferably near Lindsay's), but she'd tugged on his arm.
"What are you doing?" she asked, leading him to the elevator bank.
"Erm, getting a room?"
"Why?" She sounded puzzled.
"Because you only have one bed in your room?" He didn't mean to answer everything with a question, but she was looking at him as though he should know the answer to whatever she was asking, and he didn't.
"It's a double bed," she said matter-of-factly. "Y'know – for two people?"
Sometimes, Danny Messer really did like Lindsay Monroe's pragmatic nature.
AN: Considering I had the most trouble writing this chapter, it is actually the longest... go figure. And thank you to everyone who has reviewed/continues to review - you really do make my day :) And I'm replying to all reviews (promise!) but I don't know whether anyone's receiving them or not, because alerts are still down grumbles. People are gonna have nice full inboxes when the thing does get sorted out...
Also, I'm now back at uni (yay!), and am revising for exams (doh!) so updates may be on the sporadic side for a little while; I do apologise.
