Author's Note: This story got really long, really fast. Also, since I had no real plan when I started it, it got waaaay out of control. That's not necessarily a bad thing or anything, but I really need to kind of rein it in a bit. This is my attempt at re-writing or editing it so that things can hopefully be a bit shorter, clearer, and maybe even funnier. If possible. We'll see.
Chapter One: First Impressions
Lindsay Monroe had barely walked into the CSI lab of the NYPD before she was told to turn right around and go out again. She had a case, already, at the Central Park Zoo. She took a deep breath and, checking that the kit she'd received was fully stocked, reentered the elevator and withdrew her map of New York from her purse. She'd only arrived in New York a few days before and hadn't even had time to find an apartment yet, let alone figure out her way around the city. Setting her jaw, she refused to let go of her nervous good mood. She'd wanted change, and she was getting it.
-------------------------
Boy, when I want change, I really get change, Lindsay thought as she approached the tiger cage. Inside, she saw two men. The younger one was taking pictures of the scene and the older one, no doubt her shift supervisor, was inspecting the jaws of a sleeping tiger without the slightest sign of fear. Pasting a smile on her face, she approached him.
"Detective Taylor?"
The man looked up briefly before returning to the tiger, "Yeah."
"Lindsay Monroe."
How can he be so calm with his hands in the mouth of a tiger that is quite literally a man-eater and whose teeth are bigger than my head She only half-paid attention to their conversation as she tried to take in the man and the tiger and the fact that she was now a full-fledged New York CSI on her first case. She wanted to jump right in and start processing, immediately. Her adrenaline was pumping, due to fear or excitement or nerves or all three, and she needed an outlet for all of that energy.
"Danny's got that covered."
"That'd be me, Danny Messer. Howyadoin?" Danny held out his hand and took a look at the young woman who'd be replacing Aiden. Gimme a break. Stiff breeze'd knock her over. She'd prolly puke if she had to take the pictures.
Lindsay turned and smiled at the friendly face of the young man she'd seen earlier. That accent's going to take some getting used to, but he's kinda cute. "Hi"
Not wanting him to see the new girl scared, she put on her most professional exterior. He did make her worried with that comment about Mac sensing her fear, though. Is he just messing with me? Looking at Mac, she couldn't really tell, but the fact that he took her nervous trivia-spouting so kindly, she figured Danny was just trying to spook her.
"Oh yeah," Danny added, barely able to contain his mischievous grin. "Don't forget to call him sir." That should piss him off, nicely.
-------------------------
"Can I help?" Danny asked as he watched Lindsaysearching the lab for something.
"No thank you. You helped enough already this morning." Punk jackass.
"Oookay." Eesh. You have a little fun with the new kid and she gets all in a huff. Some people just can't take a joke.
He started processing the tape from the victim's hand, but he couldn't help but look up every once in a while to watch what she was doing. She'd better be damned good if she's gonna try and come in here after Aiden. He looked up again and caught her looking back. Prolly trying to pick up some tips from the master. Though he had to admit, she seemed to know her way around a tapelift, at least.
He looked up one more time and stared a bit longer, noticing she was engrossed in whatever she'd found on the bottom of that shoe. She wasn't his usual type. He liked his brunettes with long, dark hair and curves that could kill, but she was kinda cute, in a way. You know, for a farm girl.
-------------------------
Getting lost, obnoxious New Yorkers with even more obnoxious nicknames for her, tigers (and their dung)... she stopped reciting the litany of reasons for her bad day and started concentrating on the good things. Stella's sage advice, getting to try a wound reconstruction, capturing a suspect, and possibly finding an apartment in Manhattan....
Letting herself into her Uncle Freddie's house, she closed her eyes and sighed at the sounds of her rambunctious cousins squealing and running around the living room. She waved hello to her Aunt Maureen who was on the phone, slalomed her way between the kids, toys, and furniture in the living room, and made her way out the back door to the small backyard. Looking up, she wished she could see the stars. That was one thing she didn't think she'd ever stop missing from back home.
She cringed as she heard a crash in the house behind her and her aunt yelling something indistinct at the children who hadn't missed a beat in their carousing. That apartment is definitely required. Taking her cell phone off her hip and getting her notebook out of her back pocket, she dialed the number and arranged to go over and see the place in an hour.
-------------------------
She carries a freakin' knife with her? What kinda girl carries a freakin' knife around and still manages to look like Susy Sunshine?
Danny was sitting on his couch, watching the game and puzzling over his new coworker. She looked like she'd be scared of her own shadow, but Mac said that she'd body-checked a suspect into a car like she was a starter for the Rangers. She hadn't even let a tiger phase her. He whistled. They sure do breed 'em tough out there in Montana. Not as tough as New York, of course, but he'd see if she could keep up the tough act for more than a day.
Taking another sip of his beer, he grinned. Let's see just how tough our little Montana is, shall we? If she couldn't take the heat, maybe she'd get out of his kitchen.