Title: Make Tracks, Cowboy
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Danny/Lindsay
Summary: With nothing else to do on New Year’s Eve, Lindsay decides to take an invitation from a friend and attend a party. And she’s shown how to celebrate the holiday the New York way.
Author’s Note: Submitted for the New Year’s Eve Challenge. Which I won!!
A/N 02: Spoilers-->Possibly season three.



It wasn’t to say that she was new. Truthfully speaking, she was the newest member on the CSI team, but it was unnecessary to call her “new” anymore. Lindsay Monroe had been a crime scene investigator in New York for at least six months now. The term “new” shouldn’t be brought up, in her opinion.

At least when it came to the lab. Concerning anything else but the lab, Lindsay would concur that she was much new to the city. Since moving to the Big Apple, Lindsay hadn’t been more than a handful of places, excluding the places her work sent her. There was that little coffee shop by her apartment that she went to every day, and Sullivan’s, where she had went with the team maybe twice. And her apartment certainly didn’t count. She had been to Stella’s place a couple of times after her ordeal with Frankie, to make sure that she was okay. But other than that, honestly, she could say that she hadn’t experienced the city.

Every time she thought about this, her mind convinced herself that it was because she was always working; that she never had time. And now it was the day before New Year’s Eve, and Lindsay was sorely short on options. The truth in the fact that she worked more than the average twenty-five-year-old should, had resulted in her missing her chance to call home to see if Mamma had plans for the New Year. So, home was out of the question.

So, with a resigned sigh, Lindsay chalked it up to bringing in the New Year with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and watching the ball drop on her old television.

<--10-->

Lindsay’s heels clicked and echoed on the linoleum floor of the crime lab, as she walked at a brisk pace to trace.

“Lindsay, hey.” Lindsay’s head turned left to the sound of Stella’s voice, smiling at the curly-haired brunette, as she fell into stride with her.

“Stella. What’s up? Did you get the prints back on the Thompson case?” Lindsay pursed her lips, as she and Stella turned a corner, approaching the trace lab. Lindsay pushed the glass doors open with her back, as she continued to look at Stella.

“Yeah, Adam just gave me the results.” Stella handed a folder over to Lindsay, who opened it on auto-pilot. A smile lit her face; the smile she saved for great triumphs. As in, catching the bad guys. “All evidence is pointing towards the father.” Lindsay frowned.

“Montana, I got our trace back. The fibers we found on Madison’s clothes are a perfect match to-” Danny lifted the result-ridden paper in his hands, an accomplished look on his face.

“-Let me guess. A match to the father, right?” Danny lowered his hand and nodded. Lindsay turned back to Stella. “We got him. I’ll let Flack know. He can set up the interrogation.”

“Lindsay, let me do it. You look exhausted. Look, I’ll call Flack and do the interrogation. You handle the paperwork, since there’s not much of it.” Lindsay smiled gratefully at Stella.

“Thanks, Stella.” Lindsay handed the prints results back over to the female CSI. “Okay, I’m going to go get that paperwork finished. With any hope, I can finish before the New Year begins.” Stella nodded her head and opened the door for her and the other female to exit.

“I’ll see you at the party tonight, Messer.” Stella smiled at the blonde before she left, turning back to Lindsay, who looked quite surprised.

“Party?”

“Yeah. The New Year’s Eve party we have every year. Mac makes it mandatory. You’re coming, right?” Lindsay thought about it. It sure beat sitting at home, watching the ball drop on TV.

“Uh, yeah. Of course. Is it at Sullivan’s?” Stella shook her head and scrawled an address on a piece of paper. Handing it over to the petite country girl, Stella smiled and walked away with a, “See you tonight. Semi-formal, don’t forget!”

Lindsay looked at the paper in her hand, reading over the address at least a dozen times. She had no idea where this place was.

Thank God for taxis.

<--9-->

Paperwork had been simple. Much like the case her, Stella and Danny had been assigned to. A seven-year-old girl had been found murdered. Her father, who had wanted out of the ties that bind with a child, had done it. Prints and fibers connected him to it. Danny had called her after the interrogation to let her know that he had confessed to it as well. This was the reason why Lindsay worked the job she did. To put away the people who hurt others.

She had left the file on Mac’s desk and headed home, feeling somewhat light for the first time in weeks. The case had been simple. She was actually going out. Blaring the speakers in her car, she sang along to Faith Hill, reveling in the years old lyrics of “This Kiss”.

Her thoughts couldn’t help but swerve to her partner. She wasn’t ready to share her secret with anyone, but dare she think she was ready to share her heart? Although, being truthful, she knew her heart was taking the reins in this situation.

Lindsay unlocked her apartment door and entered inside, setting her keys, badge and cell phone on the table near the door. Lindsay tucked her piece carefully into the top drawer inside her bedroom, taking precautions ever since the Frankie case. Lindsay rummaged around her room, finally settling on a simple black dress with a neck line that showed off just enough cleavage to make her feel comfortable in front of male company.

A quick shower later, Lindsay carefully slipped the black fabric on and slipped her black heels on as well. Her hair set to her natural curl and a sleek shine to her plump lips and Lindsay was ready to go. Hailing a cab was easy now that she had experience in it. She gave the address to the driver and waited for her arrival.

<-- 8-->

Lindsay entered the fancy bar, smelling the alcohol the moment she entered. Many choruses of “Lindsay!” and a faded “Montana!” were heard by entry and Lindsay smiled and walked over to the group. Stella was the first to meet her, embracing her with a warm smile. “You look great, Lindsay.” Lindsay smiled and nodded.

The second person to greet her was Flack, who had crashed into her on unsteady feet. Lindsay caught him, albeit uneasily. “Um. Hi, Flack.” Lindsay looked up at Stella, who mouthed back ‘hammered’ to her, at which she nodded.

“Lindsay, I’m so glad you’re here! You’re so pretty. And good! Good at finding the bad guys.” Lindsay looked at him with wide eyes, hearing snickers from her co-workers and Flack’s state of mind. “You’re-you’re good with the um…the DNA.” Flack turned around suddenly, forcing Lindsay to reach out again and catch him. “Hey, Danny, buddy! What’s DNA stand for again? Deidohcom-nunndin-aimstray?”

Lindsay smiled at her friend’s inebriation. “Deoxyribonucleic Acid, buddy ol’ pal.” Flack made an ‘ah’ sound and walked away, most likely in search for more alcohol. Danny smiled and approached Lindsay, shaking his head at his friend’s behavior. “He’s an entertaining drunk, I’ll give ‘im that.” Lindsay nodded and smiled.

“You look great, Montana.” Lindsay blushed, looking down. “Th-” Lindsay’s reply was cut off by a monstrous roar.

Danny and Lindsay looked over to see a sheepish Flack and an enraged Stella. “This was a new dress, Flack!” Flack visibly swallowed and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, at least you smell good now.” Stella’s eyes narrowed and she advanced on Flack, who took off in the opposite direction. Danny laughed outright. “Serves ‘im right. I ‘ope she catches ‘im.” Only Flack could manage to spill a drink on Bonasera.

Lindsay laughed and turned to the bar to order a beer. Grasping the neck of the bottle in her hands, she took a sip of the liquid. “So Montana…” Lindsay looked up as Danny spoke. “I take it this is your first New Year’s Eve?”

<--7-->

Lindsay smiled and went to nod her head and stopped. “Messer, I have celebrated New Year’s Eve before. Just not in New York.” Danny snorted and Lindsay huffed indignantly.

“So, what does that mean, Montana? You and everyone else square-danced with cactuses and watched the ball drop from your rinky-dink televisions?” Danny flashed his trademark smirk. Lindsay put her hands on her hips and glared at him before responding.

“Messer, I bet you’ve never even seen a cactus.” Though the snipe about watching their rinky-dink televisions was mostly correct. “You know, Montana celebrates the same traditions as New York. Well, most of them.” Lindsay had seen some things she thought she’d never see on this job.

“Really, Monroe? Montana has the same traditions as this…teenaged wasteland?” Danny swung his arms around dramatically, making Lindsay wonder if he’d been drinking as well.

“Who are you, The Who?” Lindsay smiled at Danny, but decided to humor him. “The same traditions, Danny. Counting down the last thirty seconds, yelling ‘Happy New Year’, kissing someone once the countdown stops.”

Danny smirked. “Okay, Montana. Prove it.” He looked to the TV in the bar, smiling as the countdown started.

<--6-->

Lindsay smirked and shook her head. “I swear, Messer.” And although she told herself that she wouldn’t fall into his games, or his arms, anymore, she heard herself shouting along with the rest of occupants in the bar. “Thirty, twenty-nine...twenty-eight…” Lindsay looked to see Mac and Stella standing close to each other; no doubt using the excuse of the New Year to kiss each other.

Lindsay was happy for them. Looking over at Flack, she laughed. Seeing her passed-out partner, face down on a table, she guessed he wouldn’t be ringing in the New Year with the rest of the team.

She then looked to Danny.

<--5-->

“Fifteen…fourteen…thirteen…” Danny shouted with everyone else, a hidden smile on his face, glancing at Lindsay from the corner of his eye.

Lindsay turned toward Danny, taking a deep breath. She didn’t have to tell him her secret yet. But would it kill her to let him into her life? Lindsay watched as Danny turned toward her as well, as the countdown continued. She had made her decision.

<--4-->

“Ten…nine…eight...” Lindsay felt herself drawing closer to the New Yorker she had come to adore, with each shouted second. Her breath quickened, as she felt Danny place his hands on her hips, the heat from his palms bleeding through her dress.

Without thinking, she lifted her arms to connect around his neck, bringing their bodies into touching distance. Lindsay watched Danny’s eyes shift from surprised to happy in seconds flat and tightened his arms around the country girl’s waist.

<--3-->

“Five…four…three…” Lindsay tilted her head forward, and parted her lips. Danny’s head came forward as well; his arms bringing their bodies flush up against one another.

“Montana, you sure about this?” Lindsay looked into Danny’s eyes, reading the uncertainty there. She smiled, as she heard, “ONE!” and stood on her tiptoes to reach her partner’s lips in answer.

<--2-->

Lindsay stood lightheaded, glad for Danny’s welcome strength, as he gently bit into her lower lip playfully. A chaste kiss it was, as after he did this, he pulled away and searched her eyes for any sign of what she was thinking.

Lindsay stood rooted, and slowly opened her eyes to gaze into his. She smiled and bit her lip; the same spot Danny had been moments before. Danny’s eyes lightened and he smiled with her, following her gaze, as he (as well as she) took in Mac and Stella kissing rather intensely.

“It’s about time.” Danny smirked at his comment, stopping when he felt a hand on his face, drawing his gaze back to the petite brunette in front of her.

“You’re right about that. Oh, and Danny? Happy New Year.”

<--1-->

“Come on, Cowboy.” Danny smiled at her nickname and brought her closer to his body. Lindsay placed both hands on his chest, reveling in the solidity she found there. Tilting her head up at him, she placed a light kiss upon his lips and pulled back.

“Let's go make tracks.” Danny smirked and nodded his head. “Where were you thinkin’, Montana?”

“Oh, I was thinking my place. The kitchen…most definitely the bed…maybe the shower…”