Wouldn't you know, Danny's girlfriend called him in the middle of the day after they had questioned Eddie about his DNA on the rug they found their victim wrapped in.

Even though he called Cindy his girlfriend to Hawkes, he ignored the call. Part of him wasn't interested anymore. He and Cindy had a good run but they didn't have a lot in common. Growing up in the Bronx isn't enough to base a relationship on. Whatever Danny's ideal was, he knew it wasn't Cindy. He just didn't want the headache. Answering his phone on the street would involve questions like: "Where were you last night?" "Why was your phone off?" "Why didn't we watch the game together?"

Just the thought of that conversation was already giving him a headache. When he put Talk by Coldplay on his phone last week when he realized he wasn't in it for the long haul. He would have to have the "better off as friends" discussion with her.

When he talked with Griffin Holden's brother, he used Lindsay's Big Labowski fan remark without even thinking about it. It occurred to him during the interview he should run things by Lindsay more often.

When he finally got around to calling Cindy back he was on his way to the subway. True to her character, she spent the first ten minutes of the conversation talking about what she did last night when she realized he wasn't coming over. It wasn't surprising women were talkative creatures but Cindy was way beyond the extreme.

For this CSI, there were enough of details in his work. Sometimes, he just wanted a simple answer.

The other end of the phone finally fell silent and Danny realized she must have asked him a question.

"What?" he said.

"I said what did you do last night?" Cindy repeated.

Danny cleared his throat. "I watched the game."

"You turned your phone off," she replied. "And you weren't at home. I just don't understand why you'd make plans with me and then just not show up."

"I tried calling," he said.

It wasn't a total lie. He made the attempt as he walked up the stairs to Lindsay's apartment but hung up after the first ring. Part of him was regretting calling at all but stopping any contact from Cindy was going to be hard. He might not have a new girl in line but he was making plans.

"What are you doing tonight?" he asked.

Seeing her one last time wouldn't hurt, he rationalized.

Cindy sighed and described a long drawn out story which eventually explained she was going to go grocery shopping and call her mother.

If Cindy was any clue, the mother would talk just as much as she does. How the hell would either get in a word in edge wise? Danny thought. That's gonna be one expensive phone-bill.

"So you want to rent a movie or what?" he asked, checking his watch.

He figured if he got there by eight he could be home and in bed by midnight.

As Cindy was contemplating out loud how long everything would take her before he could come over he stopped where he was when he saw Lindsay push past him and several others to run down the stairs to the subway.

"How about I get there at eight?" Danny suggested and Cindy agreed. "I'll talk to you later."

He put his phone back in his pocket and ran down the stairs to catch up with her.

"Hey, Montana!" he called on the stairs and Lindsay turned around without thinking. He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes as she moved to get on the open subway car.

"Wait up, Monroe," he called as he caught up with her.

Danny put his hand on her upper arm and guided her onto the subway, the pair just making it onto the car.

As the crowd moved, Danny and Lindsay were pushed to the centre of the car. Danny looked around them and realized she was without anything to hold onto without seriously invading the personal space of a perfect stranger. If the subway made any more sudden movements she'd be on the floor before Danny could say Whoa, Montana.

Lindsay looked around and noted Danny had the last grip. Looking at his hand and then into his eyes, she looked at him like she was waiting for him to give up the handrail for her.

With another smirk, he took a handful of material of jacket at her waist. He could feel the cold buttons in his hand and their proximity allowed him another taste of her perfume. After an eight hour shift at work, the scent was less noticeable than this morning but still a joy to his senses.

"Don't worry, Monroe. I'll hold you steady," he said with a raise of his eyebrows.

Lindsay tucked her hair behind her ear. "Thanks."

Her hand reached out to grab his jacket but she hesitated. Danny glanced around the car, trying to ignore as she gingerly reached for his coat.

"How's the case going?" he asked casually.

With her hand on his waist holding his jacket, he could feel her fingers at his sides. She was so damn distracting.

Lindsay shook her head with a contemplative look. "The Manhattan Minx were all dosed with DNP and had no idea. I worry they could have all ended up like Rose."

"DNP is pretty dangerous stuff," Danny agreed.

"There's so much pressure for those women," she said contemplatively. Lindsay shifted her weight and shook her head sadly. "And all to be just to be some ideal."

A gorgeous young woman stood near the door eyed Danny and then gave Lindsay a smirk. The young woman couldn't be a day over 25 and the look she gave him told Lindsay she would eat him for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

"There's a lot of pressure here," she said with a sigh and looked around the crammed car.

Danny gave her a look. "Who puts the pressure on who?"

Hearing that from a woman like Lindsay didn't surprise him but he wasn't expecting to hear it. Danny was tempted to point out if Lindsay were any smaller she might disappear. If she was inherently petite, she might not understand what a woman who wasn't went through. Whatever her situation, he had to be impressed at her wisdom. Risking one's health to be an ideal weight was a ridiculous trend men and women were both guilty of.

"We're all guilty of it. Men and women put the pressure on each other risk our health like some sort of trend," she replied and Danny looked at her with raised eyebrows. "You disagree?"

"No, I was just thinking the same thing," he retorted and looked at her innocently because he didn't want the next thing out of his mouth to come off like a pick up line. "All women are beautiful. It's about attitude, not the low number on your jeans."

"And Cindy is what? A size two?" Lindsay retorted.

"Four," he replied without thinking and closed his eyes briefly.

Danny wanted to tell her the truth but it wasn't the right time. If he told her he broke up with Cindy, she'd assume it was for the wrong reasons.

"You just proved my point."

Danny eyed her small frame, knowing under her jacket was a very slender woman. He scoffed, "C'mon, what are you? A barely a two?"

Lindsay tugged at her jacket self-consciously. "No."

"They don't have size charts in Montana?" he teased as the subway pulled slowly into the station.

Lindsay rolled her eyes. "Supermodels don't walk around the streets of Bozeman. We don't have photo shoots in our national parks or on our rooftops, so it's not like we're seeing these women in person. There aren't plastic surgeons on every block or health clubs. The pressure isn't as evident. And I'd like to believe if I happened to gain weight because I had a child or because I'm getting older and that's what happens to my body then-"

"Then what?" he interrupted with a grin. She was too adorable, worked up with flared nostrils and slightly flushed cheeks. He wondered if all women in Montana were sensible about their weight or it was just Lindsay being Lindsay. He liked to think it was the latter.

"Well I'd deal with it," she replied. "There's nothing wrong with curves."

Danny looked at her body and she glared at him. He gave a boyish grin. "What?"

The car jerked as the subway began moving again and she fell into him. To keep her from a face plant into the floor, Danny wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her body to his.

"We should get you a pair of subway shoes," he teased with a wink as she regained her balance and stepped away from him. "Cement in the soles and-"

Lindsay cut him off with a playful smack in his stomach and they shared laugh. As they pulled out of the station Lindsay turned her focus to something outside the car.

Danny followed her gaze and frowned. There were Jenna and James, coming down the stairs and just missing the subway. Jenna waved to Lindsay excitedly and Lindsay held up her hand to wave back.

"Too bad they missed the train," Danny retorted dryly and waved to James and Jenna.

James forced a smile and waved back.

"Real New Yorkers pick a team," Danny repeated.

Lindsay looked up at Danny and grinned. "So, thanks for the coffee this morning. I'll buy next time."

Danny nodded. "Two sugars, one cream."

As they pulled into the next stop Lindsay gave his jacket a gentle tug. "See you in two days."

"Are you off?" he called to her as she moved to the door.

"My case is solved," she retorted smartly and he shook his head.

As much as she was a pain in the ass, Lindsay Monroe was proving herself every day.