The bitter wind tore through the streets of Manhattan. Nipping at the unprotected faces that traveled through the streets. Without the wind chill, it was a bitter 45, adding the wind chill dropped it closer to 32. Snow was piled up o n the sidewalks and continued to fall from the thick grey clouds. Pedestrians rushed through the cold, trying to reach sanctuary in the subways or taxis.

Lindsay Monroe held her arms tightly around her body as she walked along one of the dock roads that lead to the loading dock. A large section of the walkway along the road had been taped off for processing. Lindsay saw Flack and Hawkes already at the scene. Stella stood at the other side of the tape, kneeling. Lindsay ducked under the tape, looking around for the body.

"Welcome to the party Monroe." Flack said.

"Hey. Don't we normally have a body?" Lindsay asked.

Flack nodded and smirked. "Well, we got one." He pointed over the edge. Lindsay walked to the railing and looked over. She could a large chunk of ice around edge of the water. Frozen in the center of the ice was their DB. More larger chunks floated the larger one. Lindsay couldn't believe this was New York. It looked more like the polar icecaps. Lindsay shook her head in disbelief.

"Mac and Danny are on their way in a boat." Flack explained.

"So, how do we process this?" Lindsay asked.

Stella stood up. "Well, Danny's going in the water and processing what he finds. He's also going to try and dislodge the body for the ME, unfortunately he can't do that alone. Someone has to go down, from up here, to help him."

"Great." Lindsay looked back down. Stella and Hawkes joined her. "That ice doesn't look very thick."

"Nope, and someone has to go down there and held Danny free that guy." Hawkes said.

Flack joined them. "So we need someone small and light, quick to work, but good, and force them to work with Danny." He turned to Lindsay.

Stella and Hawkes shared the same thought and looked over at Lindsay.

Lindsay felt their eyes on her. She looked to her left and then to her right. Lindsay sighed and lowered her head. "I'll go get my harness."

Flack pat Lindsay on the back. "What a trooper."

Lindsay geared up for her decent down the bridge. She shed her thick coat and settled for the jumpsuit and a more maneuverable jacket. Stella gave Lindsay a small earpiece for communication. Hawkes connected Lindsay to the rope and she took her position on the edge. Lindsay climbed the guardrail with ease. She nodded to Hawkes and Flack, who waited to lower her down. Lindsay released the edge and slowly began her repel toward the ice.

"How's it going Lindsay?" Stella asked.

"Good. It's not too slick. Can I get some more slack?" Lindsay replied.

Stella laughed. "Copy that kiddo."

Lindsay started repelling faster down the cliff side. Her boots crunched in the ice and snow. Her gloves were soon soaked form the snow, causing her fingers to grown numb. Lindsay held back the shiver crawling up her spine. She touched down on the ice. Lindsay looked at the ice chunk around her.

"I'm going off rope." Lindsay said.

"Be careful Linds." Stella warned.

Lindsay took careful steps out onto the ice. She tested it for soft points. "It's ok. Send down my kit."

"It's on the way." Stella replied.

"Welcome to the party, Montana. Enjoying the snow up there?" came another voice.

Lindsay recognized it as Danny's voice. But she could see her cocky partner anywhere. "Danny?"

"Yeah. How's the wind chill?" Danny asked.

"Are you under the ice already?" Lindsay asked.

"Yeah, so do me a favor, help me get him out so I can get out. This waters freezin' and filled with crap." Danny replied.

Lindsay smirked. She grabbed her kit that Stella had sent down. "Take it easy Messer. This isn't going to be easy." She grabbed an ice pick and small hammer. Lindsay knelt down on the ice and started breaking it around the body.

"How's it going Lindsay?" Mac asked.

"WE just started dislodging the body, Mac. It might take us a while." Lindsay said. She watched the boat Mac was on float past her.

"Stella, how's process up top?" Mac asked.

"Bagged and tagged." Stella replied.

Lindsay started humming while she hammered the ice. Usually it helped her during long tasks, it even kept her mind from the cold nipping at her body. She pulled her pick form the ice and moved to the next spot. She could hear Danny working below the ice, doing the same thing.

She heard Stella humming along to the same tune. The Stella's voice came over the radio, singing the words to the song. "Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special."

"Stella, what are you doing?" Danny asked.

Lindsay smiled and started laughing. She took a breath and joined. "Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special"

"What is this, Christmas carol time?" Danny asked.

"What's wrong Danny, you hate Christmas songs?" Lindsay asked.

"No, just that song." Danny replied.

Lindsay smirked. "Good to know. Stell, next verse!"

Stella kept singing. "Once bitten and twice shy. I keep my distance but you still catch my eye."

"Oh god, kill me now." Danny groaned.

Lindsay smiled. She loved annoying Danny. "Tell me baby do you recognize me? Well it's been a year it doesn't surprise me."

"Go ladies." Flack cheered.

Stella and Lindsay sang the next line together. "Happy Christmas. I wrapped it up and sent it. With a note, saying 'I love you I meant it'."

Lindsay yanked out her pick. "Now I know what a fool I've been, but if you kissed me now I know you'd fool me again."

"Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. This year to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special." Stella sang.

"Got it." Lindsay called.

"We're sending down the gurney." Stella said.

"Didn't know you had voice there, Montana." Danny joked.

"Why would I tell you?" Lindsay asked. She stood and turned from the body. She grabbed the basket and positioned it on the ice. "Ok, on three, push the ice up."

"Got it." Danny replied.

"One, two, three!" Lindsay lifted the ice block while Danny pushed. The body slowly came out of the ice. Lindsay hauled it into the basket and set it up for transport.

Danny appeared in the hole, wearing his thermal scuba gear. He gave Lindsay the thumbs up, which Lindsay returned. Danny swam to the edge and pulled off his mask. Danny slung his tank up into the ice. "God it's good to get that off."

Lindsay smirked. "Hey Stell, you think you can send down another line for Danny?"

"On the way, Lindsay." Stella replied.

Danny's line was launched over the edge with his harness. Danny picked up the harness and strapped himself in. He grabbed his gear and climbed to the edge of the cliff, far from the ice.

"Enjoy your swim?" Lindsay asked.

Danny shot her a look. "That's very funny smartass."

Lindsay smirked. "I thought so."

"Hey, I didn't volunteer for this, alright. So shut it." Danny snapped.

"You think I did? I was picked because I was the smallest, fastest, and probably the only one who can deal with you. At least, that's what Flack thinks." Lindsay replied.

Danny looked up. "Flack, you got a sick sense of humor, man."

Lindsay rolled her eyes. "Thanks for complement, Messer. Stella, bring up the body, we're heading up."

"Copy that kid." Stella replied.

Lindsay started climbing up the cliff wall. The basket crawled up ahead of her. She just wanted to get away form Danny before she killed him. Mac wouldn't like it if two of his workers were in one crime…and one ended up the victim with the second the murderer. Yeah, not a good idea. Lindsay focused on the climb, instead of her jackass partner.

"Lindsay, that wasn't what I meant toward you." Danny said.

Lindsay shook her head. "It doesn't really matter, Danny, cause I heard it and I understand what you meant." She grabbed the wall and hauled herself higher. "Look ,if I did anything to offend you since I came to New York, I'm sorry. But can you please stop taking everything out on me. I know I'm the new girl here, but that doesn't mean that gives you the right to make my job difficult."

"Hey, Lindsay, do you have plans the weekends before Christmas?" Stella asked.

Lindsay thanked Stella mentally for dragging her away from Danny. "No, why?"

"There's a Christmas party that weekend and I think you'd enjoy it. You up for it?" Stella asked.

"Stella, what's the status of the body?" Mac asked.

"Hawkes is helping load it into the van." Stella explained.

Lindsay felt her rope shutter. Lindsay stopped climbing instantly. She looked up the wall. Her rope was shaking from the tension. Lindsay frowned with uncertainty. The tension in her line grew, causing Lindsay to grown even more nervous.

"What the?" Lindsay said.

Danny looked over to Lindsay. "What's wrong." He saw the tension in her line. "Oh damn!" He jumped from the cliff toward Lindsay's line.

Then Lindsay's line completely snapped. Danny reached out for Lindsay, but failed. Lindsay lost her footing, sending her to the ice below. Lindsay slipped through the hole in the ice they'd made to free the body. Danny watched, waiting for Lindsay to reappear, but she never did.

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dun dun dunnnnn....typical me. enjoy!

i own nothing!