AN It's amazing how easily I can be persuaded with lovely words of encouragement. So here you go…don't know if there'll be more…as per usual. Lol
Oh I'm gonna put this disclaimer in, while I get most chapters betaed the lil grammar problems insist on remaining…so I'm sorry. Right I'll shut up now.
Danny waited with two coffees in hand as the elevator brought him up to the familiar floor. He stepped off and turned right, a determination in his step. Flack came across him and smiled, "Are you double fisting caffeine Messer?"
Not answering Danny paused and waited; he looked at his watch then extended his right arm.
Lindsay spun around the corner reading a file in one hand she reached out without even looking at him and grabbed the coffee, "Thanks I got lunch." She said and kept going.
Danny took a sip of his coffee and smirked at his friend, "You plannin' to catch flies with your mouth open like that?"
"Do you guys practice on your days off for that little relay coffee thing?" Flack asked finally.
Sighing Danny explained, "I called her when I was getting the coffee, she said she had a meeting with Mac at quarter to," He tapped his watch, "She's never late."
Flack just shook his head, "You guys are so in sync you could be a boyband."
Not planning to elaborate any more Danny took another sip of his coffee and walked passed Flack on his way to start his shift. "Very droll." He quipped.
"You never get me coffee!" Flack called to Danny's retreating back. Danny's only response was to raise his hand in a wave.
A few hours later Danny got a text message Hot dog vender, twenty minutes. He smirked and shook his head; she'd gotten bossy lately like she was finally comfortable with him. He found that comforting and disconcerting. He kind of liked how the edge to his personality kept people an arms length away. The fact that this new girl from Montana managed to have this way with him, unlike anyone before her, really kinda freaked him out.
He hadn't intended to get so hooked on her talking when he had asked her to tell him about the country those many months back, but he had. They'd gone for a walk that night and found themselves at an all night diner talking till four in the morning. He absolutely never did that with any woman. Even Stella and Aiden were given just enough of him to placate. But Lindsay, there was just something about her, she fascinated him, drew him in, had him addicted to the point of wanting to know everything about her.
There was also the fact that her tight little body, smile and ease around him turned him on something fierce.
It was becoming a habit between them to share at least one meal a day, sometimes more. Danny was going completely against his character, he was actually interested in who Lindsay was, not just how her skin would feel against his. Although as of late the latter was running through his mind more than the former.
She handed him his hotdog and picked up both of their drinks indicating, a spot by one of the fountains near the lab building, with her head. He looked down at the food and shook his head, "You remember how I like it?"
"I'm paid to be observant," She smiled, "So did you get anywhere on that DB at 73rd and Park?"
"Nah, I swear to you I think the perp reads forensic journals, he's covered his tracks too well." He commented before taking a bite of the hot dog.
Reaching up Lindsay wiped a bit of mustard off the corner of his mouth with her thumb. He watched her lick the bit of mustard off her thumb and had to blink forcing his brain to return north.
Her thumb was in her mouth when she'd realized what she'd done. That was insanely intimate Monroe, she berated herself. What was she thinking! She tried to act casual and took a sip of her drink before responding, "Maybe he's severely OCD." She suggested.
"Ya think?" He asked, "The manager at the building where the vic lived said his brother was a neat freak, but the guy has a tight alibi."
"It would seem to me that if a murderer was OCD enough to clean up the scene immaculately he'd make sure he had a tight alibi." Lindsay said chewing on her lunch.
"Mmm," He nodded his agreement, "You've got a point, I'll get Flack to check the alibi with a fine tooth comb, thanks."
"No problem, so I have a question." She wiped her mouth with a napkin before continuing, "What is it about sex with two women that gets a guy off?"
Danny almost spit out what he was chewing, "You are really really going to have to explain that in context Montana."
She smiled at him, "Our vic appears to have been killed right after having a threesome with his girlfriend and her best friend. Now they insist they went out to get more condoms then came back and he was dead, Stella's convinced they are in on it together and wanted him dead. We've found enough evidence that when we interrogate them this afternoon we'll probably get a confession."
"Soo, why the question?" Danny asked, "It sounds like the case is wrapped up."
She turned to face him, "Just curious."
"And you figure I'm a guru on the subject?" He asked with a smirk.
"You're telling me you're not?" She said with a raised eyebrow.
He shifted a bit uncomfortably and made a big deal of taking the last bite of his hotdog so he could chew and think about the best way to answer that question. After taking a long sip of his drink he turned to look at her, "I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted."
"Your lack of answer to the question is speaking volumes," She said calmly. She didn't really want a run down of the man's sexual history, but she was curious how a guy like him managed to keep so many people at arms length. It also wasn't difficult to tell just by watching him with women that he had a healthy sexual appetite.
"It's a fantasy," He finally admitted, "I don't know why I can't explain it but there is just something about," He licked his lips, "Yeah, it's just hot."
"It's gross," Lindsay said wrinkling her nose in disgust.
He laughed, "To each his own I guess."
"So have you, uh…" She trailed off.
He stood and took a last sip of his drink, "Do you really want me to answer that question?"
Thinking about it for a moment she shook her head, "No, I retract it, I'd rather remain in the dark."
"Wise woman," He offered her his hand to help her up and smiled when she took it. He tucked her fingers in the crook of his arm and grabbed their garbage with his other hand, "Now I guess this means I've got dinner."
She nodded, "Name the place I'm done at 7 and barring any multiple homicides or trains derailing I should get off on time."
"I'm done at 6; I'll make reservations and call you." He said as the elevator doors opened on their floor.
"Okay," She squeezed his arm lightly before letting go, "See you later."
"Yeah, yeah, bye." He watched her walk away and shook his head, what the hell was he doing?
"Who are you and what have you done with Danny Messer?" Stella asked having observed the exchange from the exit off the elevator.
He tried to suppress the blush that hit his cheeks, something that rarely happened. "Don't know what you're talking about." He brushed off her comment.
"I've been working with her on this case for a week," Stella said as she fell into step with him, "She's either showed up with coffee from you, met you for lunch or left to have dinner with you. You call or text her at least once a day, Danny you do realize I'm not an idiot."
He grimaced, hearing that described to him that way made him think. Was he really around her that much? Honestly? He hadn't even noticed. The contact with her just fit so comfortably into his schedule that he didn't see the change. Although some of the women he used to see on a regular basis had given up a few weeks ago and what scared him now was he didn't care.
Stella was waiting for him to answer so he looked at her, "I don't think you're an idiot. I just uh, really don't know what's going on." He said honestly.
She smiled at him and patted his arm, "Never thought I'd see the day I have to admit."
This was becoming an uncomfortable conversation for him, "Uh, can I go to work now?"
"She's gonna want answers one of these days you know that right?"
"Answers?" He was confused.
"You don't spend this much time with a woman without her wondering what your motives are Danny," Stella said sagely.
"I am really feeling the need to work now." He put his hand to the back of his neck clearing uncomfortable.
Stella pursed her lips and stood in his way both arms crossed, "Don't hurt her Danny."
"Never intentionally." He said automatically.
"Then you might wanna assess your intentions." Stella advised, "She's not like the others, don't forget that." She squeezed his arm as she walked by.
How could he forget that? He was reminded of it every time he was around her. What were his intentions? He hadn't actually thought about that, just knew he really liked being around her. He figured dinner that night would be a better time than any to really figure out what the hell was going on.
At quarter after 6 Danny strolled into a small restaurant that oozed ambiance about a block from his apartment. He smiled at the long time hostess who just nodded and pointed to the back. He ambled back through the dinning area ignoring the curious patrons as he stepped through the back kitchen doors. "Hey Tony." He waved.
"Danny!" The head chief looked pleased to see him and waved back, "Rosie's gonna be pissed." He exclaimed.
Nodding his agreement Danny smiled, "I came prepared," he held up the violets that he had spent most of the afternoon tracking down by calling every florist he could find in the phone book.
"Always the smooth one aren't ya Messer." Tony said with a click of his tongue and shake of his head.
"You know it," Danny laughed, "Wish me luck."
"You won't need it." Tony went back to work.
Danny tapped lightly on the door of an office at the other end of the kitchen then turned the handle and let himself in. There she sat, hair tumbling out of a messy bun on the top of her head, glasses perched on the end of her nose and fingers tapping as she read some files. He leaned against the door and shook his head with a smile, "Don't ever change Rosie." He said holding the flowers behind his back.
"Daniel!" The woman exclaimed dropping the file to come around the desk and rush to him. Her short 4'11" frame stopped right in front of him. She swatted his stomach hard and glared at him, "How dare you show up after all this time!"
He grinned down at her and stepped back, shutting the door with his foot he handed her the bouquet, "I'm sorry Rosie. I know I'm an ass. Can you ever forgive me?"
Her face went from glaringly angry to beaming. She reached for the flowers like a young girl and giggled, "Oh Daniel you brilliant boy, you remembered." She took the flowers and grabbed his hand, "Sit, sit, sit, tell me what you want." She instructed.
He watched her bustle around the office looking for somewhere to put the flowers and smiled at how this room never seemed to change. From the first moment he had been hauled into it by his ear when his was thirteen this office had remained the same. "What makes you think I want something?" He asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"Don't even try to insult my intelligence gorgeous, your charms only partly work on this old woman." She said sternly although her eyes held the smallest hint of a smile.
He was used to the harshness in her tone and actually relished it. He finally sat in the overstuffed chair that was in front of her desk. It felt the same as it had the first time he'd been thrown into it, although it was a bit smaller now. "Could I bring a date here tonight?" He asked in a way that made him feel like he was thrust back into high school.
Rosie arranged the flowers in the vase then leaned on the desk in front of him, "You want to bring a date here Daniel?" She raised an eyebrow, "You haven't had a date here since you took out my granddaughter."
He grimaced at the memory, "Yeah, uh, I'm uh sorry about that."
She waved his apology away, "Pssh, don't be, she was obsessed with you, the restraining order was necessary. Anyway who is this woman and how did she manage to get near my Daniel's guarded heart?"
He blushed and looked down at his hands; Rosie always had this way with getting right at the heart of the matter. "I'm, uh, not sure exactly how close she is to it yet but I think she'd really like your place. It's completely up her alley."
"Well of course you can bring her here; I'll make sure your table is ready." She agreed quickly, "Now tell me," she patted his knee, "How has my favourite crime fighter been?"
Lindsay managed to get her paperwork done early and charmed Mac into letting her go home an hour early. Although, Stella seemed to be advocating on her behalf, which was a little disconcerting. She didn't have time to think about that right now. She got home in record time and checked her watch. If she was supposed to meet Danny at 7:30 she needed to hustle.
It was seven and she was just about to call the cab, the address to the restaurant clutched in her hand, when her phone rang. "Hello?"
"Lindsay Monroe! How have ya been girl?"
"Annie?" Lindsay asked in disbelief. What a time for this woman to call!
"I was starting to wonder, no Bobby dirt is not for eating, if you were every going to, Sally hunny keep your diaper on baby, call and give us an update about living in, Sage don't put dirt in Kyle's hair, the big city." Annie tone fluctuated as she spoke to her children and then back at Lindsay.
Used to the way her friend had to police the gaggle of children she had Lindsay just calmly waited till she got a chance to speak, "Sorry Annie, I've been really busy with work and getting settled, in fact I'm just on my way…"
Annie cut her off, "You work too much sweetie, that biological clock of yours is gonna start tickin' real loud if you aren't careful."
Lindsay rolled her eyes. While the two had been best friends in high school they had drifted apart when Lindsay went to college to pursue a career and Annie turned into a breeding machine. "I think that ticking you hear is one of the thousands of toys you have around that house." She looked at her watch, if this kept up she was gonna be late.
Chuckling Annie conceded, but only slightly, "They do tend to clutter up some, but it can't be helped, what with the fact that Ralphie and I are expecting."
"Again?" Lindsay was incredulous, what was it at now, seven? She felt a headache coming on.
"Isn't it glorious?" Annie gushed, "Nothing at all compares to motherhood let me tell you…"
Danny's cell rang at 7:35 just as he was starting to panic, "Messer."
"I'm sooo sorry Danny I got stuck on the phone I just got into the cab I should be there in fifteen minutes." Lindsay rushed her explanation.
He chuckled his worry subsiding, "It's all right Montana I'm not going anywhere."
"Good," She breathed, "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah, bye." He flipped the phone shut. It was sort of odd; they had gone out to eat many times in the last few months. But this time felt decidedly different. Maybe it had something to do with allowing her to come to this place and meet a very important person to him, or maybe it was because he was ready to clarify some things to Lindsay, things he hadn't thought he'd ever say.
Lindsay ran her hands over the material of her dress as she mentally urged the cab driver to move faster. She wasn't sure what it was about this dinner that was different. Maybe it was Danny's tone of voice when he had told her about where they were gonna eat. Whatever it was she was apprehensive. She'd gone out on a limb choosing to wear a dress to this meal, something he had never done with him thus far. She tried not to get nervous. Annie's phone call had put her on edge, much like they usually did, she tried to focus on the here and the now not the old emotions from back home. She wondered if Danny would mind a country story that didn't have an ending.
AN Oh there will be a dinner...yup...it's now a chapter fic of some kind...R&R cause I love them so! lol
