Title: "Patrol"
Author: carpesomediem
Feedback address: carpesomediem@gmail.com
Date in Calendar: 13 December 2009
Fandom: Women's Murder Club
Pairing: Lindsay/Cindy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1061
Summary: Sometimes new relationships bring out new traditions, especially for the holidays.
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW09

Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory or in any way factual.

Author's Note/Beta: This is part of the FemSlash Advent Calendar :: Dead of Winter. Thanks to grdnofevrythng for beta reading this.

Lindsay Boxer started in patrol, just like most other cadets fresh out of the Police Academy. It was only fitting, in her mind, to return to her roots for the holidays. After all, how many Christmases had she spent on the beat looking to put the bad guys away? It was only fair in her mind that if she didn't have anywhere to be for Christmas, why not offer to switch with a patrol officer so that he or she could be home for the holiday? So, for the last handful of holidays, she commandeered a patrol car and took on someone's beat so they could be home. It had become her Christmas tradition.

Except this year, Cindy had a different thing in mind.

"What the hell?" Lindsay yelled, startled by the wrapping on her passenger side window. When she finally turned to see who the offender was, she should've guessed only the redhead would be able to track down her exact whereabouts that night.

"Merry Christmas, Lindsay!" Cindy said the moment the window was rolled down. "I brought-"

"-It's not Christmas, yet," Lindsay replied. "You're early, go home to bed and maybe Santa will remember to still stop at your house this year."

"Ouch, that hurt," Cindy shrugged, used to Lindsay's demeanor. "But, anyways-"

"-What are you doing here?"

"I figured if you didn't want to celebrate Christmas, I'd bring Christmas to you." Cindy was beaming, and Lindsay couldn't help but crack a tiny smile as she shook her head.

"How did you find me?" Lindsay was seriously beginning to consider that Cindy was stalking her, or at the very least, had a lo-jack inserted while she was sleeping. If anyone could do that, it'd be Cindy Thomas, she mused.

"I have my sources within the San Francisco Police Department that aren't you, you know." Cindy looked smug. That meant only one thing.

"Tom told you."

"Tom told me," Cindy nodded.

"Get in," Lindsay said as she popped the locks and waited for the redhead to take a seat next to her. "Want some coffee? It's probably cold now that I think about it…"

"It's okay," Cindy reached into the small bag between her legs. "I have this, and this… Is better than coffee."

"What could be better than coffee?" Lindsay looked over at the redhead, amused by how excited she was.

"I'm not used to being in the front seat of a police car," she joked. "Here," she shoved a thermos cup into Lindsay's face. "Try this."

"What is it?"

"Just try it," Cindy rolled her eyes.

"Did Cindy Thomas spike the egg nog?" Lindsay teased, taking a drink.

"Cindy Thomas did."

"It's good," Lindsay nodded. "What else you got in there?" Lindsay eyed the bag and smiled. Sometimes, in moments like these, she thinks she could be happy with Cindy.

"I brought Christmas Eve dinner courtesy of the Thomas family."

"You skipped out on dinner to bring me leftovers?"

"No, silly." Cindy began pulling out Tupperware containers and setting them on the dash in front of her. She handed Lindsay an aluminum foil covered plate, followed by two a plastic fork, spoon and knife. "The family's already asleep, it's almost Christmas."

"Yeah, it is," Lindsay said with a sigh, looking at her watch. It was twenty until midnight, until Christmas morning officially started.

"Anyways, mom made ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and vegetables," Cindy started, pointing at the plate. "The mashed potatoes and gravy are in the Tupperware though, she didn't want you to make a mess while you ate. I told her you were working, and when she heard that, she insisted I bring you-"

"-You don't have to do that-"

"-Do what?" Cindy seemed flustered. "I just-"

"-I know what you are doing," Lindsay interjected before the redhead could start rambling again.

"Claire and Jill put you up to this, didn’t they?"

"They did no such thing… Honestly, well, maybe Claire said something about what you do on Christmas Eve and then Jill told me it was practically every Christmas Eve so I thought it was about time you had some company out here for this Christmas Eve."

"You realize you just said Christmas Eve three times in one sentence, right?" Lindsay couldn't help but tease her. Cindy made it so easy. It was one of the things she liked about the reporter from the start. The banter was easy; it was natural between them. Lindsay could relax for Cindy, just a little.

"Did I? Oh, well, Christmas Eve is just as important as Christmas," Cindy crossed her arms. "I just didn't want you to spend it alone."

"I'm not spending it alone, Cindy," Lindsay wanted to say more but stopped. She knew it was moments like this she cut herself off from her friends; she couldn't help it, being alone was her thing this time of year. Or was it? "This is nice, me and you. This Christmas Eve thing."

"Really?" Cindy's face perked up.

"Really," Lindsay smiled. "Now, how about you hold this?" She handed Cindy the plate. "And I'll take that." She reached for the mashed potatoes and on the way stopped for a split second to kiss Cindy's cheek as she relaxed back into the driver's seat. She popped open the lid and took a bite.

Cindy just sat there, a flush overtaking her cheeks.

"Did you really just kiss my cheek?"

Oh, shit… Did I really just say that aloud? Cindy's mind was racing again.

"Did you really just ask that out loud?" Lindsay looked at Cindy, smiling. She took another bite of mashed potatoes, shaking her head and listening as the police radio began filtering out information about a call. "You ready to partake in some Lindsay Boxer Christmas Eve tradition?"

"I… Um… Yeah, sure… Definitely," was all Cindy could get out.

"Good," Lindsay put the patrol car in drive and took Cindy's shaking hand in her own. "We're on patrol for Officer Gonzales tonight and we got to answer his call."

"You're not going to get in trouble for me riding shotgun are you?" Cindy couldn't help but ask; she still couldn't look at Lindsay, but even that didn't seem so bad.

"Nah," Lindsay smiled. "Everybody's home for Christmas. Merry Christmas, Cindy."

"Merry Christmas." Cindy just smiled. She never would've guessed patrolling would become a new Christmas tradition.