Help a Sista Out
DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters. They're owned by CBS and its respective entities.
Synopsis: DL Lindsay goes out with a lab tech then uses Danny to get rid of him when things don't work out. DL
A/N: I'm trying to get over my writing slump. I'm having a terrible time doing as Barry Manilow says, "trying to get the feeling again."
CHAPTER 4 – COOL HUNTER
Maybe I'll see if we can step it up a bit to see how we really feel about each other. A hands-on experiment would be nice…
CSI:NY
There's Mac. I'll give him an update on my case and tell him about my experiment, then I'll call Danny for his help. Lindsay walked up to Mac, who was talking to Stella.
"Mac, the casts I took of the footprints in the flowerbed show that the heel impression was half an inch deeper than the toe impression. I'm going back to the water tower to see if I can recreate the results."
Mac eyed Perry who had been hovering close to Lindsay all day, and was still hovering, trying to look busy although it was obvious that the only thing he was busy doing was eavesdropping.
Mac nodded and said, "Take Perry with you." He turned to Perry and said, "I need you to help Lindsay with the experiment at her crime scene.
"Oh, and what experiment would that be?" Perry asked, feigning ignorance.
Mac glared at him, turned around and walked out of the lab. Sure, it seemed rude, but it was a lot nicer than voicing a response to that contrived line.
Perry turned to her with a bit too much enthusiasm and said, "What do you need me to do, Lindsay? I'm always looking for a reason to get out of the lab so this is right up my alley. Maybe on the way back we can stop for lunch?"
This was not the way Lindsay had planned this. It was supposed to be her and Danny alone on a rooftop with an innocent excuse to touch each other. She flashed a fake smile and said, "Perry, wait here. I'll be back."
She stepped just outside the lab doorway, took out her cell phone, and called Danny.
"Messer."
"Danny, I need you…"
"I knew you wanted me, Montana. What can I do you for?"
Danny is insufferable. "Will you just listen?" Her exasperation with Danny Messer was indeed evident in her tone. "I need you to help me with an experiment off site. Can you meet me outside in ten minutes?"
"I don't know, Montana. You're taking me away from my case. That would mean holding up my case to work yours. I might get in trouble with the boss. What's in it for me?"
"Danny, please." She would not have minded bribing him, but she didn't have time to joke around. "Name your price."
"My price…Does that mean you'd give me anything?"
"Nothing that would make me lose all of my self-respect, Messer." Actually, it wouldn't be so bad.
"That stings, Montana. I'm feeling very unappreciated right now." Can she read my mind?
"Alright, Messer. Drinks. I'll take you out for drinks. You name the place and the time."
After a brief silence Danny responded, "I guess that's fair compensation for my time and expertise."
Lindsay sighed impatiently. "Meet me outside. I'm going to pull the car around."
"And Lindsay?"
"Yes, Danny?" The fact that she was still annoyed came through loud and clear in her tone.
"I'm driving."
CSI:NY
Perry was none too pleased to see Danny crashing his and Lindsay's alone time.
This was my chance to finally get Lindsay away from the lab. If she keeps this up with Danny much longer, she's going to miss out on being my special lady. What does Danny have that I don't? He wears glasses, I don't. He has that mousy-colored hair, and mine is almost black – giving me that true Italian look. Which is why I wore this tangerine-colored shirt today – it complements my olive complexion wonderfully.
Perry slipped off his lab coat and put on his department-issued jacket, then slid his handheld mirror from his pocket to make sure that he looked his best. Messer wishes he could look this good.
CSI:NY
On the rooftop…
Perry's thoughts:
What did she need him here for? I could have picked her up and walked her across the flowerbed. I remained a gentleman and I even tried to smile when I handed those weights to Lindsay, or Montana, as he likes to call her. That's original.
Then he had to stuff the shoes to make them fit. My feet would have been a perfect fit. I do have rather large feet…
I can't believe she's taking him for drinks for this, as if the privilege of holding her isn't enough. Then he tried to get dinner out of her, but when it was time for the real work – collecting data – he's nowhere to be found. Typical.
I've got to give it to him – he kept his hands off of her important parts. I couldn't be held responsible for my actions if he didn't.
At least I'm not giving Danny the death glare.
Danny's thoughts:
Whoa…weights? What's this all about? It's a good thing I've been working out.
Let me see if I can get a dinner date out of this. "You promised me drinks for this, but I think I'm gonna need some dinner, too."
"I'm not gonna give you anything if you don't get going."
Well, she didn't say no.
And she's wearing that see-through thing so I can see her creamy skin… I need to stop this before I embarrass myself.
She's not as light as I thought she was, but she's light enough to… Again, I need to stop this before I embarrass myself.
At least Perry isn't giving me the death glare.
Lindsay's thoughts:
Our faces got kind of close for a moment and my stomach has been doing acrobatics ever since. This hands-on experiment cleared up an important issue for me. I definitely feel something for him, especially when he has his hands on me.
Now he's trying to hint at dinner? Who am I to refuse?
I'm happy I wore this see-through wrap sweater over my low-cut tank. It will be perfect to go to dinner in.
Okay, he carried me quite easily. I'll have to file that away for another time; might be able to apply it to other situations…
At least Perry isn't giving Danny the death glare.
CSI:NY
"So, Perry," Lindsay began as they loaded the equipment into the car, "you said you wanted to get lunch while we're out?" She smiled at him.
"Well…sure. Since we're out and all." This would be perfect if we could ditch Danny.
Danny fished in his jacket pocket for his keys and unlocked the doors so that the others could get in. He hopped into the driver's seat, started the ignition and asked, "Where to?"
"Café Brubeck," Lindsay chimed in. "It's just a few blocks from here. They have an amazing chicken salad sandwich."
"They do have food other than chicken salad sandwiches, right?"
CSI:NY
The busy café was full of bustling workers who were on their lunch hour. They managed to arrange themselves at a table meant for two by mooching an unused chair from another table. After they gave their order to the waitress, Danny decided to get to know Perry better.
"So, Perry, I hear you're a fan of the opera."
Lindsay kicked Danny under the table.
Danny flinched and innocently asked, "What? I wanna know about the opera."
Perry replied, "Yes, I'm a bit of an opera buff. What do you want to know?"
"I don't get it. My grandma used to listen to opera while she cooked and cleaned, but I never got into it. How'd you get into it?"
"Are you Italian, Messer? Funny, you don't look Italian." Let's see how the loose cannon reacts to that.
Lindsay couldn't help but snicker, and Danny glared at Perry.
Perry continued his assault, "And 'Messer' isn't an Italian name."
Danny was outraged by Perry downplaying his Italian-ness, but he calmed himself by thinking how Perry had pushed Montana into his arms. He smiled and calmly stated, "You're right. 'Messer' isn't Italian, but my maternal grandparents are Sicilian – my grandfather was a 'Giordano' and my grandmother was a 'Moretti." I was always closer to my mom's family than to my dad's."
Perry was disappointed that he hadn't successfully rattled Danny. Making him lose his cool would have been just the thing to make Lindsay kick him to the curb. Danny realized that Perry was trying to get him started and decided to come up with his own game plan. Now it's personal.
The waitress arrived with their food and they set to eating. The first bite that Lindsay took left some crumbs in the corner of her mouth. Danny used a napkin to gently wipe them from her mouth. She smiled nervously and thanked him. Perry gave him the death glare.
It didn't stop there. Danny paid for their lunch, including Perry's (what a great guy), and left a generous tip. When they rose to leave, he put his hand on the small of Lindsay's back and led her out, leaving Perry to follow behind them with no choice but to watch his display of affection. They almost look like a real couple.
Then and there, Perry made up his mind to break it off with Lindsay.
A/N: I know, I know – 'Italian-ness' is not a word.