Disclaimer: They're not mine... Just having some fun. :)

A/N: This is my first fic. DL of course! A bit AU..

Summary: Danny & Lindsay are together and happy... until someone decides Danny's a bit more trouble than he's worth.

And so, without further ado... Courtesy of Mickey

Lindsay pulled the collar of her jacket tighter around her. The winds were blowing fiercely and she was cold. She had almost gone out that morning with only a light sweater on. It was early for this cool weather. I'm going to have to dig out my coat. Looks like winter's coming early this year.

She turned and opened the door to the apartment building. A blast of warm air met her as she stepped in. As she waited for the elevator, she rubbed her hands together and shifted from one foot to the other.

"It's a cold one tonight," a voice said. Lindsay looked up and smiled at the elderly woman. "Sure is, Mrs. Emerson," she replied. "I'm glad to be out of it. It's really brutal out there… It wouldn't even be so bad if not for the wind." The two of them stepped into the elevator car.

Mrs. Emerson reached over and patted her on the arm. "You're young, dear. Just be glad you don't have to deal with arthritis." The elevator chimed and the woman smiled at Lindsay. "You stay warm dear. Speaking of staying warm, say hello to that gorgeous Mr. Messer for me." She threw over her shoulder as she stepped off onto her floor.

Lindsay chuckled. "All right, Mrs. Emerson. I will. Good night." The elevator doors closed and she was alone. She took a deep breath and let it out through her mouth. The elevator chimed again and she stepped out, glancing at her watch as she made her way down the hall to Danny's apartment. Five-thirty. She had about an hour and a half before Danny would be home and she wanted their dinner to be ready by the time he got there. She pulled out her keys and opened the door.

She tossed her keys onto the table by the door and hung her jacket in Danny's coat closet. She rushed into the kitchen and got started on dinner

Danny stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets and picked up his pace. It was freezing! He couldn't wait to get to his apartment. His nice, warm, apartment where his fiancée was waiting for him. He smiled to himself. His fiancée! A couple of years ago, the very idea would have been hilarious to him. Marriage? Family? That was never what he saw for himself.

Then she waltzed into his life and turned it all upside down. She made him want more. When they started dating, he found himself thinking about marriage and children. Suddenly, Danny Messer was that guy. I woulda' never guessed it.

Thinking about her brought a smile to his face and his hand out of his pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial button for Lindsay's cell.

"Hey, gorgeous," she answered. "Where are you? Dinner's ready."

"I'm about twenty minutes away. It's freezing out here!" he told her.

Lindsay chuckled. "I know it. Hurry and get here so I can see about warming you up."

Danny grinned. "I'm hurrying, Montana. And I'm holding you to that."

"Alright, cowboy. I'm waiting... Love you."

"Love you too, Montana." Danny snapped his phone shut and shoved his hand back in his pocket.

Suddenly a dark figure blocked his path. "Aaw… Ain't that sweet?"

Danny looked up sharply and said, "Can I help you with somethin'?"

The man smiled cruelly and said, "Whaddaya think fellas? Can this punk help us wit somethin'?"

Danny looked over his shoulder and saw two other guys pulling up behind him. He held up his hands and said, "Alright, guys. Whaddaya say we all go our separate ways, eh? Nothin' has to go down here tonight." Inwardly, he groaned. These guys were obviously looking for trouble and this was the last thing he needed.

The first man, who appeared to be the leader of the pack, stepped closer to Danny and said, "We say no deal. See, we gots a bone ta pick wit you, Detective Messer. And we ain't goin noplace till we handle business."

"I'm sorry, pal. Have we met before?" Danny asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. They didn't look familiar. But they obviously knew who he was and it seemed as if they'd been looking for him. And it didn't look like it made any difference to them that he was a cop.

"Nah, we ain't never met before. But we have a, shall we say, common acquaintance." The three thugs stepped in closer, surrounding Danny. The leader lifted his jacket to reveal a gun. When he saw it, Danny felt vulnerable and exposed without his own weapon. "And that acquaintance wanted to send you a message."

Then, he felt the first blow. The last thing Danny heard before his world went black was "Courtesy of Mickey."