Chapter 4 – December 4, 2006

He could not believe he was doing this. New York shopping centres on weekends were normally crazy, but add the fact that it was December and thus, Christmas shopping time, it was absolutely insane. The lengths he would go through for his Montana. Of course, it wasn't like he was doing anything that night anyway, regardless of the fact that it was a Friday night.

For that was the reason he was strolling through a mall with Stella. As a guy, he had little idea of how to estimate a woman's size and had brought Stella along. His goal was to fulfil one of Lindsay's Christmas traditions: a new pair of pyjamas. Stella was one of the few people he trusted completely to keep a secret like this and keep the teasing to a minimum.

From what he'd gathered in the break room the previous day, she hadn't received a pair the previous year, her first year away from home. Danny seriously felt that traditions were things that were more than necessary to maintain and he wanted to make Lindsay's second Christmas one that would be much more memorable than her first.

"So explain something to me, Danny," Stella started, glancing around at the stores as they walked. "You'd rather spend your Friday night in a crazy mall?"

"I didn't have anythin' else planned, Stel. You know that."

"Again, a mall? Not going out with Flack?"

"Date night for Flack," Danny answered. "I'm over the days of playin' the third wheel."

Stella laughed. "Whatever you say Danny. You have something specific in mind?"

"Other than PJs for Montana, nah. I'm savin' my shoppin'."

"You're mental," she said. "Shopping this time of year is crazy stuff."

He raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're done."

"I'm a woman, Messer. Of course I'm done my shopping."

Danny sighed. "I'm going to be so dead, aren't I?"

"If you leave it too late, yeah. But, we have a goal tonight and I don't want to stay any longer than I have to. Christmas shoppers are completely insane."

Lindsay couldn't stop the large smile that blossomed over her face as she noticed the white wrapped gift on her desk when she stepped in the next day. She and Danny had been called to a scene that morning and this was the first chance she'd had to get into her office.

She sat down, carefully examining the package from all of the angles she could see. Rectangle, fairly non-descript… the paper was gorgeous. She sighed. There was nothing on the outside that would give away what was on the inside. Slowly and carefully she removed the ribbon and slid her fingers between the paper and the tape.

Unfolding the paper she came across the box and finally decided what had to be inside. The box was the perfect size and shape for clothing of some sort. Checking the underside of the box, she quickly slit the tape holding the box closed with her finger nail and opened the lid. Inside was green, snowflake-patterned cloth. Pulling it out of the box she found herself looking at a warm flannel pyjama shirt. Since it didn't seem like the box had been sent from any far distance, she raided the tissue paper for a note or card of some sort. She found it hidden beneath the pants.

Traditions are traditions, Monroe. Maybe you should get two pairs this year to make up for the one you didn't get, huh?

Danny

She grinned widely. Sometimes he could still surprise her.

Danny looked up as the door to the layout room opened and Lindsay stepped in. Adam had tracked him down and was explaining something about one of the test results from their case and thus, didn't really think twice about Lindsay's presence.

Danny tried not to jump when he felt a weight settle in his lab coat pocket. Glancing down at her briefly, he noticed her focus on Adam and nonchalantly put his hand in the pocket. Sure enough, there was a piece of paper and another Kiss. He looked at her again, but her gaze hadn't moved from the lab tech babbling on in front of them. The tell was the quirk of her lips.

Once Adam left, he was about to ask her about the gifts in his pocket, but she opened her mouth first.

"I have to go talk to Stella. You okay to hold down the fort for a few minutes? Then I'll come back and help you process the vic's clothes?" She didn't give him a chance to reply.

That didn't stop him from withdrawing both items from his pocket and reading over the little note.

You spoil me Messer. Soon I'm going to come to expect this from you.

It was short, sweet and to the point, so much like Lindsay herself that Danny couldn't stop himself from chuckling. Quickly, he unwrapped the Kiss and popped it into his mouth before gloving up and getting down to his work.

Lindsay was completely surprised by the note in her locker at the end of the day.

For you, Montana, anything.

Four words that had a million and one interpretations. He didn't know what to think of it, really. He could have meant something completely platonic about it, but with the way he'd been acting, she wasn't so sure. She knew she technically shouldn't be encouraging him but really couldn't help herself. His attention was flattering, especially since it was oh-so-coveted by most of the female staff of the building. Between Danny and Flack, the entire lab was involved in a fan club.

She sighed, trying to remember why she'd turned him down.

Don't go down that thought path, Monroe, she scolded herself. With another sigh, she pocketed the note and grabbed her stuff to head home.