Disclaimer: I don't own anything here but my own thoughts. Really, if I did do you think I would be sitting on my couch in Texas! All belongs to the fab people at CBS who bring us CSI:NY every week! I wish I was one of them!

Summary: This is a DannyLindsay story. If you don't like 'em together, don't read this. No flames as per their relationship. This is why you have a choice to read this or not:D

A/N:I am so sorry that this took so long to get up. I swear my muse has disappeared. If anyone finds her….Will you tell her to come home? This is a shorter chapter than the last two, but it was probably the hardest one that I've written. As always, please R&R…maybe it'll help my muse come back!

DistractedlyHere- Thank you! I hope you like this chapter!

ladyerudite- Thank you so much! I'm glad that you liked it! I'm sorry about the long update!

The Little Corinthian- I'm glad that I you like it!

brainDamage089- Thanks! I'm glad your enjoying it!

AkimaDoll- Thank you. I'll need the luck! I'm glad that the premise is going over well.

chili-peppers- Diolch!

Mrs. Fitzgerald- Thank you so much!

pnkrckprncss- Wow...You've been busy! I'm glad you could find the time to review! Thank you for the compliment on Danny (it's only b/c he preoccupies my mind so much!). Hopefully you don't have to wait to long for the next chapter!

Okay, kiddies...On with the next chapter!

Chapter 3.

Smell

Smell. To perceive the odor or scent of through the nose by means of the olfactory nerves; to inhale the odor of, to test by the sense of smell, to perceive, detect or discover by shrewdness or sagacity; to give off or have an odor or scent; to give out an offensive odor or scent; to have the appearance or suggestion of guilt or corruption.

(Danny's POV)

Danny Messer appreciated his sense of smell enormously. He sometimes thought of himself like a bloodhound when interrogating a suspect. He could almost smell the fear coming off of them when presented with the evidence. He picked up on the scent and ran with it, until he had a confession.

He loved the smells of New York, with the exception of the smell of garbage and decomp. He put up with those smells for his job, wrinkling his nose and trying to breathe through his mouth to save himself from the unpleasant smells.

Most of all he appreciated the smell of a woman. After all, he reasoned, every woman smelled differently and their differences were appreciated. He smiled as he walked into the New York Zoo. He noticed all the different women. Tall, short, skinny, not so skinny. He was a man who did appreciate women, no matter what size or shape.

On his mind as he walked was of the loss of one of his friends. Aiden. He knew he would miss her. From her laugh, her sarcasm, to the light flowery scent of her hair after she washed it. Gawd. I love the smell of her hair.

Mac had told him that her replacement was starting today and he was not looking forward to meeting them. The closer he got to the tiger cage the smells of the zoo changed. The smell of the animals was more prominent here.

He walked into the enclosure and after consulting with Mac began to photograph the scene. When he saw the woman go up to Mac and realized that she was the new CSI, he decided to have a little fun with her. As he walked up behind her, a scent wafted up to his nose. It was fruity and he decided it was pleasant. I wonder if that's her perfume. It smells nice. What the hell am I thinking! This is the girl who is going to replace Aiden. Bad thoughts, man. Bad thoughts!

Weeks went by. Danny was starting to get worried when he realized that he could recognize her scent. What the hell am I doing? No. I've got to stop this madness now. He tried to keep her out of his mind, but he found that she was popping up at unusual moments. He always thought about her when he smelled fruit. He didn't understand the connection.

He was glad to get a break from his thoughts when he was called to a case at the San Gennaro festival. He took a deep breath in as he walked in front of the stalls. The different smells of the food reminded him of home. Sunday dinners with his family. Smell is the one sense that will trigger memory the fastest. It will trigger a memory without one even realizing it.

Danny was confused and excited when she asked him to meet her at Cozy's. He walked in and saw her sitting by herself at a table. As he walked past her, he recognized the fruit smell that seemed to follow her around. He inhaled deeply, his heart racing.

He thought that she smelled different that night. A little sexier. He swallowed, to try to calm his nerves, but it didn't help. After he realized why she had brought him there, he was a little disappointed. He decided to take the time to enjoy the time that opportunity gave him.

Weeks later, Danny realized that he was beginning to like her, really like her. He passed her in a hallway. She always smells so good? How is that? Even after dumpster diving, she still smells good? Damn. I'm in deep!

When they were working the case about Sarah, he knew that she was having a hard time. All of his senses told him this. It was like he could smell her frustration. He followed her after the interrogation of the killer. She was pacing in their office, asking why he could do something like that. Danny decided to try to comfort her, so he took her into his arms.

As she started into the comforting gesture, he caught a whiff of her shampoo. So that's the fruity smell that I associate with her. It smells good. He was reluctant to let her go, enjoying their time together.

Danny smirked inwardly. He knew that he was addicted to trading words with her, but now he realized that his subconscious was addicted to her smell. He decided to back off. To try to be a friend. He thought that he didn't have a chance with her.

Finally, his choice was taken away from him. When he heard about the bomb, his heart stopped. When he arrived at the scene, all he could smell was acrid smoke. The smell of fires burning, God only knows what. He heart was racing until he found her. Unbelievable, he could almost smell the fear and desperation coming off her as she tried to reach Mac.

He tried to get her to recognize the fact that she, too, was hurt. He leaned in close, smelling the smell of smoke coming off her clothes. He tried to shut down his emotions while working on that case. He knew that emotions would overwhelm him, if he thought about how close he had come to losing her. Gallantly, he offered her a ride home. He felt he had to. It's the least I can do for the person who kept me from going insane with worry.

As they walked out of the hospital, he put his hand on the small of her back, to guide her to his car. He smirked when he caught the familiar smell of her shampoo. I know I'm making the right decision. It's time to take the first step.

(Lindsay's POV)

Smell, Lindsay realized was the one thing that would overwhelm her if she thought about it. After her first week in the city, she realized that she missed the smells of home. The scent of the flowers, fresh cut grass, even the smells of the horses and cattle on her parent's ranch.

When she got to her first case, it was almost like home. She breathed in deeply, drawing comfort and strength from the familiar smell of the animals. That was the one thing that helped her get through the day. Especially after the prank that Danny had played on her. She tried to calm herself down and the familiar smell helped her.

Only a short time later, she got a chance to show how science can fool senses. When she looked at the results, she decided that she had to try to new gel herself. So she smeared the gel under her nose. Drawing a breath, she waived an open bottle of hydrogen sulfide under her nose. She was amazed when it smelled like vanilla. Man, I wish I had some of this around when I have to dumpster dive. That would make my life so much easier! Feeling smug, she walked into Mac's office to perform the experiment on him.

A couple of cases later, she was assigned with Danny again. When they were walking into the doll hospital, she caught a whiff of his cologne. Smiling to herself she decided it was sexy. He doesn't smell like the guys at home. They're all about the smell of hard work and leather. That is sexy though. Danny's smells differently. Still kinda sexy, though.

After she had invited him to Cozy's, she had paused at her locker, debating whether or not to wear perfume. She finally decided to dab a little bit of perfume on her wrists. As she made her way to the club, she was silently debating with herself. Why did I put perfume on? This isn't a date? What the hell am I doing? Girl, get a grip on yourself!

When he walked by her, she almost sighed in pleasure. The cologne he was wearing teased her senses. Wow. He just smells…wow. She tried to bring her mind about to the reason that she had asked him there, but it took a couple of minutes for her brain to process her thoughts.

He walked her home that night. She decided it was sweet. He didn't put his arm around her, as if they were on a date, but the closeness of him made her very familiar with his scent.

Over the next few weeks, she realized that she was putting more effort into getting ready for work. She always made sure that she put on some perfume and her make-up looked just right. What the hell am I doing? Am I trying to impress Messer? I don't get it. Linds. Ya got to get over it. He is so far outta your league that you are in different galaxies!

It didn't help matters when she asked him to help reconstruct her crime scene. She drew in his scent like it was baking bread when he carried her across the dirt. When he put her back on the ground, she was almost a little lightheaded from the deep breaths she had been taking.

She finally admitted defeat the day the building exploded. When she saw Danny, she had to stop from throwing her arms around him, just to breathe in the comforting smell of him. She was so focused on him, that she almost didn't hear him point out the fact that she was bleeding. She drew strength from him. He was the reason she didn't go insane with worry.

As she walked out of the hospital, in front of him, she questioned her actions. Am I ready for this? Am I making the right decision?

TBC