Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: NY
Danny Messer stretched out and sighed. It had been an easy day for him, spent mostly by watching the baseball game, refilling bottles, changing diapers, filling out paperwork, and playing with his little girl, all of which he was accustomed to.
He glanced at the clock, which read 5:51. He then reached over for his glasses, which he had placed in front of him- in full view- on the coffee table, but saw nothing. He let out a long sigh and, shaking his head, glanced around, hoping more than expecting, that they might of fell off the table, but found nothing. Not again...
He looked to his left, where Lucy was napping peacefully at his side, then stood, careful not to wake her. He raced across the room, down to the hallway to the doorway of Lucy's room and scanned it quickly, searching for possible hiding spots in her reach-no, correction-any hiding spots.
His eyes finally settled onto the crib, and he jumped into action, tearing it apart until all that was left was the mattress and its bare sheet covering it. He searched once more, shuffled through the pile of soft blankets, plush pillows, then placed it back into the crib. After finding the rest of her room completely empty, he sprinted back to the couch, and returned a moment later, gently holding Lucy. He tucked her into the cozy bed, then, after making sure that she didn't stir and wake up, he turned out the lights and walked into the hallway.
How could this happen again? What was he going to do?
He knew there was only one one thing to do at the moment, and he had to start somewhere. He glanced down the hall to the left, them the right, a confused and exasperated expression on his face. Now was just to decide on where to begin.
-CSI:NY-CSI:NY-CSI:NY-
When Lindsay first arrived home, she was greeted by the scent of the Messer's signature, wholesome lasagna baking in the oven. She inhaled the mouthwatering smell of one of her favorite meals as she set her bag down by the coat rack and hung her coat up. Smiling that she was home at last, she headed towards the living room to find her husband and daughter.
Her husband and daughter, however, were not what she found when she arrived in the living room. No, instead she found their rug turned over, the sofa slighty pushed back, and open cabinets with their contents on the floor, spread out amoung the mess. Danny's laptop case was on the floor opened, paperwork laid out on the otherwise cleared desk, books were piled up on the floor by the empty bookcase, and picture frames were pushed aside on the shelves.
Confused, she walk to the hallway, careful not to step on any of the DVD cases or folded laundry that cluttered the floor. She walked up to Lucy's bedroom and peered inside. Inside she found the toy box apparently emptied onto the floor and, in the crib, she found her daughter fast asleep.
She smiled, then turned on her heel and continued down the hall. She found both the bathroom and her and Danny's room empty, but luckily, clean. As she walked around looking for her husband, she was relaxed as she knew that, although the apartment almost looked like a tornado blew through it, it certainly wasn't a sign of struggle. The books were piled neatly, the paperwork seemed organized, and of course, Lucy was sleeping deeply in her bedroom.
Now that her crime scene investigator mind had let her relax, she headed for the kitchen.
Inside, she found Danny, pulling out fridge drawers, shuffling through them quickly, then forcefully shutting them, and moving on to another drawer. He was surrounded by a few pots and pans, and on the counter were an array of dishes, cups, bottles, more pots and pans, various cooking utensils, and silverware. Cabinets and draws were wide open, showing Lindsay that they were all fairly neat and organized. Her gaze traveled once again to Danny, who appeared to be totally unaware of her presence. She looked him over as the slide, shuffle, slam rhythm continued, as Danny triple checked the drawers and shelves. Slide, shuffle, slam. He looked like he had long day. His dirty-blond hair was a mess, his eyes weary, frustrated, and exhausted, and- where was his glasses?
"Danny..." she began, walking up to him.
Danny froze, thinking of how badly the living room was torn apart. He turned to her, then said nervously, a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar, "Um... hi?" He was at a loss of words, not knowing where to begin or when to start explaining.
"Uh, maybe you would like to tell me when a hurricane blew threw here, 'cause I didn't here about it on the news."
"Well, Lucy, she kinda, well, got a hold of my glasses..." he trailed off.
"Okay, but how was this necessary?" At the word 'this', she gestured around the two.
"I had to try looking for them. Lucy was sleeping, so I started searching, but I sorta lost track of the time and the mess I was making. But... if it's any consolation, I made sure I didn't burn the lasagna..." he said, grinning.
Lindsay chuckled. "Alright, fine. But you do realize you're cleaning this up right?"
Danny sighed. "I was afraid of that. Fair enough."
"But why is it so important you find them soon? They always show up at some point."
"I have to work early tomorrow, and I am not wearing my spare glasses again. And if something happens to them, same thing. I'll have to get them fixed, then I'll be stuck with my spare glasses again."
"What's wrong with you spare glasses?"
"There nerdy. And don't deny it, Montana."
"Well, just a little, but you make them look cute."
"Cute?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
Lindsay, laughed then changed the subject."When's supper going to be ready?"
"Oh, now you're changing the subject, huh?"
Lindsay laughed, looking down at him from her position leaning against the counter, Danny still on his knees by the fridge. "How long?"
"Fine." he said, letting the subject drop for the time being, "Five minutes."
"Okay, I'm going to take a quick shower, then."
"Alright." Danny closed the fridge, then began cleaning a few things. When the kitchen was clean enough to maneuver their way around it, he reached into the oven and took out the perfectly baked lasagna.
Lindsay returned few minutes later, holding Lucy. Lucy let out a small, squeaky yawn, then was set down in her high chair. Lindsay placed a small kiss on her daughter's forehead, then walked up to Danny and leaned onto the counter.
"Ooo, that smells, so good." She breathed in the scent of the steaming Italian food , then pointing to a specific piece, and said "That one, please."
"Really Montana? The one in the middle?" He asked, holding Lindsay's plate in his hand.
"Fine, they're all good." Danny took out a slice of lasagna for each of them, accompanied by a piece of homade garlic bread, Danny's treat. They sat down at the table, which Danny had cleared away, Lindsay taking small bowl of pasta and a bottle of apple juice over for Lucy.
They cleared their plates quickly, talking, laughing, and savoring their meal. When they finished, they cleaned the table, Lindsay starting on the dishes and Danny chipping away at his huge mess he had created earlier.
"Ironic isn't?" Lindsay inquired, after a few minutes of silence, her obeserving Danny's mess with interest.
"Hmm?"
"That we can catch criminals in a city with a population of over 8 million, but we can't find a pair of glasses.
Danny just laughed. "Yeah, true."
"Ahh! Ha, hee, hee" Lucy cheeped.
"I'm glad you're so proud." Danny said, as he picked up the last of his chaotic mess. "One room down, two to go." He sighed.
"You made the mess, your responsibility." Lindsay said, smugly, grinning. After a few minutes of watching him fidgit, wondering what to clean next, she gave in, her mood becoming merciful. "How about this: clean the living room tonight, and me and Lucy will clean her room tomorrow while you're at work?"
"Deal" he said, relieved.
-CSI:NY-CSI:NY-CSI:NY-
Later that night, once Lucy had taken her bath and was playing in her footsie pajamas and Danny had cleared away the floor, the three settled done in the living room.
"Wanna put on a movie?" Lindsay asked.
"As long as it's not a chick-flick." Danny replied with a grimace.
"I could say the same about some of your movies. Just pick something different from the same four movies you always watch."
"Alright."
Lindsay set Lucy down on the floor with her stuffed toy horses and some books, then sat down on the sofa where Danny was previously occupying.
"Did you come across your glasses yet?"
Danny stopped squinting at the movie titles, took out a case, and popped the movie in. "Nope, not yet. I don't get it. Where could they even be?"
"We'll come across them. We've found them every time so far."
"But we only lost them twice. Once in the toilet, once in the fridge. And when they weren't hidden, they were broken."
"I get your point. I can only imagine where she put them now..." she trailed off.
Danny sat down next to his clever little girl. He couldn't deny it: he couldn't stay mad at his precious little girl. Lindsay watched father and daughter intently, smiling at the beautiful sight. After a few moments, Lindsay remembered what was missing, besides Danny's glasses. She popped from her spot on the couch and walked towards the kitchen.
"I'm going to make some popcorn, want any?"
"Sure." he said, then turned back to Lucy, "Does my lil'Lucy want any chocolate milk?"
"Yaa!"
"Fine, but she's your responsibility when she's bouncing off the walls at ten tonight." Lindsay called from the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Lindsay returned in the doorway of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of chocolate milk.
"Alright, movie time!" Danny announced, picking up Lucy and the remote.
Lindsay sat down in the same spot as before, as Danny placed Lucy againt a pillow on the other side, so he would be in between his to girls.
"Alright, a bottle of refreshing chocolate milk for Lucy, and for Mommy and Daddy, a big bowl of buttery popcorn." Lindsay said cheerfully, as Danny started to sit down with them.
CRUNCH
Danny and Lindsay froze from their spots onthe couch and exchanged surprised expressions. Slowly, Danny lifted himself from the sofa and turned around. He lifted up a the cushion and found a pile of broken glass, bent metal, and disformed nose pieces.
Their stunned silence was broken by the sound of chocolate milk being slurped and sucked down swiftly.
How did I do? Constructive criticism and reviews are (as always) greatly appreciated!