One or two things you should probably know -

Firstly the disclaimer - I am in no way affiliated to anyone to do with CSI:NY and am in no way mnaking any profit from this.

Secondly this IS a DL story, even if Lindsay hasn't made an appearance yet, but it is also a Don/Danny friendship story, cos you have to love the bond they have, the teasing, the wisecracks, the loyalty - perfect combination really.

Thirdly, if you are reading this, it must mean that you are a fan, and as such may I ask if anyone knows when the Series 3 DVD is going to be released in Australia, as I am going seriously nuts here. I only started watching CSI:NY a few months ago, and haven't seen the third, possibly most important D/L wise, series!

Lastly, I am not American, have only been to America when I was 8, and in the process of emigrating to the UK, so I apologise for any 'Americanisms' that I have got wrong, seeing as this has not been beta read by anyone who may know better.

So, there you go. Happy reading, and feedback is HUGELY appreciated.

C

Drink and Ink.

"So, tell me again," he paused, hefting the extremely heavy box up slightly higher, glancing over at the man at the other end of the box, who nodded. "Tell me exactly why it is that – "

"Mark" came the strained reply from the other end of the box.

"Mark, yeah, so tell me exactly why it is that Mark and I get to lug this thing out to the van, and you get to stand there and watch?"

Danny Messer worked hard to hide his grin at his best friend's words. Really he did. "Hey, come on, I'm carrying something too." He lifted the bag in his hand, and the bottles of beer clunked together with a satisfying clink.

"Yeah, right. Sure you are. Meanwhile the MEN around here are doing the hard work, and – Messer, for god's sake, open the door will you?"

They'd come to a stop beside the SUV, and Danny gingerly dug into his pocket for the keys with his free hand, before pulling the door open. With a lot of huffing and puffing, Mark and Flack managed to get the box safely stowed in the back seat, Mark's eyebrows raising at the meager twenty tip that Danny offered, not at all impressed by Danny's excuse that they worked for the city and he wasn't made of money.

Back in Danny's flat, having shoved the box in the lift (which had helpfully chosen today to be it's annual day that it worked), slid it down the hall, installed and tuned the shiny new television in, both Danny and Flack sat back on the couch, a beer in their hands, and rerun's of last night's game on the screen.

"There you go. All's well with the world again" Danny said, satisfaction written all over his face, his grin widening as the Giants scored another touchdown.

"That's as may be, " Flack said, clinking his bottle against Danny's in appreciation of the score, "But you still haven't told me why it was that I had to do all of the lifting – "

"And Mark" Danny grinned.

"Yeah, right. Little runt barely did anything. All these beauties, I tell you!" Flack said, flexing his muscles, muscles that, Danny had to admit, were pretty good. Not as good as his own, mind you, but not bad. "So, anyway, Messer. Don't think you're getting out of it. What've you done that you can't lift stuff? You've not been in a fight lately; I know that, so what is it? What've you done to your arm?" Flack reached over and poked Danny, who winced painfully.

"Talk to me Messer, or things are going to get - "

"Ok, Ok," Danny gave in, reaching up behind him with his good arm for two more beers, uncapping and handing one to Flack, and taking a good long drink from his.

"This is only between you and me. Goes nowhere else. No one else. You got that? Not a single soul, Flack, you swear."

By now, Don Flack was very interested. Danny Messer was begging. Meant it had to be huge, whatever it was. And, although it seemed serious, it didn't seem SERIOUS serious, not something that he should be worried about. More something, that was going to be fodder to a rather long blackmail streak, if the resigned look in Danny's eyes was anything to go by.

"Flack!" Danny's blue eyes were now glaring at him. "You got to swear. You can't tell a soul!"

"Ok, ok!" Flack held his hands up in surrender, and Danny groaned at the grin that had pasted itself across Don Flack's curious face.

Danny took his glasses off for a second, running a hand across his face before replacing them. "Ok."

It was important to have another swig of beer before the story of what had happened last night unraveled, and Danny made sure that the remaining bottles were nearby.

"So. I got home last night, late, around ten, I think. You know what yesterday was like, you know how frustrating it was, how nothing tied together until Montana worked her magic and connected the trace to West and got him square in our sights."

Don grinned at the smile that escaped Danny when he said her name. Why those two weren't together, he'd never know, but he'd got a twenty riding on next month being the date they'd wake up to it and come to their senses.

"Hello? Anyone in there" Danny was waving a hand in front of Flacks face. "You were the one who wanted to do this, I don't have to tell you, you know"

"Sorry, just thinking there. Go on, oh injured one" Don teased.

"Shut up Flack. Ok, so where was I? Oh yeah. So, I got home last night, crashed down on the couch, finally found the remote, and nothing. TV wouldn't turn on. Got it to work after a while, but the colour's all funny, and then there was a spark, and – "

"Boom?" Flack couldn't resist it.

"Wise guy" Danny eyed him with a grin. "Yeah, ok? Boom."

Another swing of beer, another bottle opened. At Danny's insistence, Flack had got up and taken the next six-pack out of the fridge, and when they were safely situated within easy reach, Don gestured for Danny to continue.

"Right. So Boom went the TV, which did not make me a happy camper, let me tell you. Anyway, there's this bar I know that have the footy reruns on all night, so I made my way over there, and settled in."

"All night?" Don asked. Now that sounds like the sort of bar I should know about, he thought to himself, wondering why Danny hadn't told him about it before. "Where is it? What's this oasis called?"

He looked over at Danny, when Danny hadn't replied straight away. Danny's head was back against the cushions, and he appeared to be cursing under his breath.

"Danno?"

"Finn's" Danny mumbled.

"Finn's? That's on the other side of town! That's way out over near – "

Back against the couch, Danny opened one blue eye, watching understanding race across his best friend's face. "That's over near Lindsay's place, young Messer. Pray, continue this little story of yours," Flack's wide grin making Danny slouch into the cushions even more.

"Yeah, well. Ok then." Danny took a deep breath, a hand absentmindedly coming to rest against his sore arm, groaning inwardly as he remembered exactly why that particular part of his arm stung so much.

"Keep it coming Messer. This is getting interesting."