Chapter 17 – December 17, 2006

Danny, Becky and a spattering of children and other volunteers wandered through the tree aisles at a tree farm an hour outside of the city. They could have simply bought a fake tree for the community centre, but the more consistent volunteers had decided that it was important for the kids to get a chance to find one of their own. Danny toted an axe as he strolled through the snow.

"I got one!" Danny heard from the next row over. He and Becky poked their heads through the bushes and saw a tree that was perfect in shape, but probably a little bit short.

"Don't you want a tree that's going to hit the roof of the centre?" Becky asked, reading Danny's thoughts.

The kids standing around the tree looked thoughtful for a minute before nodding resolutely and heading off into the trees again. Danny, however, couldn't take his eyes off the greenery in front of him. It really was a perfect tree.

Without really considering anything else, he pulled out his cell phone, hitting her number on his speed dial.

"Monroe," she answered swiftly, sounding slightly distracted.

"You still at the lab, Montana?"

She sighed. "Got a break in my robbery-murder case and Mac figured we should probably work through it. Hawkes agreed and it wasn't like I had anything to do tonight."

He chuckled. "I invited you to come tree huntin' for the centre," he told her.

"I know, I know, but I would have probably been called back anyway. What's up?"

"I am lookin' at the most perfect tree you'll ever see."

"I'm from Montana, Dan, I've seen some pretty spectacular trees."

"This one's perfect."

"So cut it down and take it back to the centre," Lindsay suggested, her tone implying that it was probably the most obvious answer.

"The kids want a bigger one," he said with a laugh. "What about your tree?"

"I work. I haven't had a tree since I moved here."

"It's only one Christmas," he pointed out. "Want one?"

"A tree, you mean? I hadn't thought about it."

"Doesn't answer my question."

She laughed. "I don't know, Danny, when am I ever going to get a chance to decorate it?"

"Tomorrow," he said on impulse. "I'll even help. We have the day, right? We're only on call."

She went silent, thinking.

"Linds?"

"I think I brought my tree ornaments. They might be in storage though."

"In your building?"

"Yeah. I can see if they're there, but I think I'm going to need some new lights."

He felt excitement well in his chest. "You want the tree?"

"You've convinced me, Messer," she agreed. "You going to bring the tree here?"

"I'll be by after we figured out how to get the centre tree up. Do me a favour and tell Flack to meet me? There might be a bit of trouble gettin' it up to your place."

"It can't be that big," she protested.

"It's not, but I ain't carryin' this thing all the way up your stairs by myself."

She could have taken that offensively, but she laughed instead. "I'm not an invalid, you know. I can help."

"Make me feel better, Montana. Plus, this way you can direct us where to put it and you won't have to lift a finger."

She laughed again and he realized he was getting far too attached to that particular sound. "You've convinced me. Call me when you're on your way, okay? I'll probably just have Flack over for dinner."

"Save some for me?"

"Yeah. I'll see you later."

Flack and Lindsay were laughing when her phone rang. Flack shook it at her and she nodded. "Probably Danny. I told him to call when he was on his way."

"Because you drafted me into working on this tree thing, I know."

The caller ID did say 'Messer'. "Hey," she greeted softly.

"I just left the community centre. How do you want to do this?"

"If you want to buzz the intercom, I'll send Flack down to help you," she suggested.

"You've got everything, right?" he asked, referring more to the tree stand and something that would catch the falling needles.

"I found all of my Christmas decorations in storage downstairs," she promised.

Lindsay stood leaning against the back of her couch, the tree set up in the corner of her living room, by the window. She chuckled slightly as she remembered the curse words of both men as they manoeuvred the plant up the stairs of her building. It had taken them the better part of twenty minutes to get that far, then they had to contend with the tree stand and moving and balancing the tree.

Danny had even brought new lights and convinced her to let him string them.

"So?" he asked, coming from dealing with the dishes and the containers their dinner had come in.

"What possessed you to ask me if I wanted a tree?" she asked on a laugh.

"Part of Christmas is a tree, right? We always seem to end up here anyway, so I figured your apartment was probably the better one to decorate."

She raised an eyebrow. "You sound like you're planning to spend Christmas here," she said, definitely not all that opposed to the idea.

He pulled her in front of him, facing her and locking his blue eyes on her brown and continuing to hold her hands. "I know we haven't made anythin' we're doin' permanent, but you know I like the time I spend with you and I don't mind takin' this thing at your pace. I'd like to spend Christmas with you if you're not doin' anythin'."

She smiled, tears coming to her eyes. "How do you always know what to say?" she asked affectionately. "Sounds like a deal, Messer. We'll spend Christmas here."

He smiled and pulled her close for a hug.

As per usual, life decided to shove itself in the way of the story, hence the reason that again this is being posted technically on the 18th. I've been working hard to get them up, but I didn't turn my computer on until 8pm EST and didn't start working on the chapter until 9, so I apologize for the lateness of this chapter.

Again, as per usual, you guys have been fantastic with the reviewing. I was actually and honestly surprised to break the 100 review mark and thus, my day was more than perfect when I found out. You guys have been awesome with the feedback, keep going! Not only does it seriously motivate me to write more, but when you tell me the lines you enjoy and the scenes that make you all warm and fuzzy or the ones that make you laugh, it gives me inspiration for what you like and don't like so I can incorporate them further.

Hugs!