A Staten Island Kinda Fourth of July
Summary: Meet up with the Messer's again in another Staten Island Holiday. Post Season 5. D/L/L
Disclaimer: I do not own a thing, really. I swear it. Promise.
A/N: Follows season 5…ye: Jess is dead, and they all dropped to the floor…here's where I see it going. =) Enjoy!
.
07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-
.
-JULY 01, 2009-
Lindsay Messer-Monroe was tired. That's the only way it could be put. She was exhausted. Not only was she still lugging around an extra 10 pounds of baby weight (from the precious angel that woke her up several times a night), but she was working full time, and it was the hottest July New York had seen in ages. You can't say Al Gore was wrong with the way this weather was acting. With the extreme heat came an extra number of murders, and being one (csi) team member down, Lindsay was feeling the heat. Literally and Figuratively.
Lindsay let out an audible sigh as she rounded the corner onto her street. She could see the building she called home just a few minutes down the road. However it seemed fate had other plans for her tonight as her cell phone let out a shrill cry. "Great." She muttered to herself as she reached into her pocket and pulled the small device out. She didn't want to go back in; she just wanted to relax at home.
It was July 1st, and she had a long weekend coming her way, thanks in great part to Godfather Mac. She had come back from maternity leave early because of the injuries sustained during the drive by the night Jess had died. Lindsay was one of the few uninjured—due in the most part to Danny. Good, God, Danny. She just wanted to get home.
"Monroe." She said we little emotion into the phone.
"Goodness, Lindsay, are you all right?" Came the voice of Maria Messer, Danny's mother and her new mother-in-law.
"Sorry Maria." Lindsay said with a little more excitement as she continued walking home. "Thought it was work calling me back in."
"Oh sweets, don't tell me they have you working round the clock again?"
"No, but its close, what with Danny gone, and Sheldon injured, it's just, we've been shorthanded..No worries I have the next four days off." Lindsay sighed
"Oh, well that's good…the reason I'm calling, actually."
"Uh Huh." Lindsay said whilst unlocking the front door to the apartment building.
"Well, I haven't heard back from Danny, he isn't even bothering to take my calls, since the hospital and all, but I was wondering if you would like to come out here for the Fourth, get you out of the city for the holiday."
"Oh, that sounds so nice." Said Lindsay, the thought of being away from the ruckus of the city for another holiday just seemed so appealing. She had so far spent both Christmas and Easter at the Messer's. And the small two story yellow house set in an old tree lined neighborhood just sounded so perfect, even if the Messer clan was just as loud and obnoxious as the teenagers running around their street, it was family, something Lindsay sorely missed, being as far away from her parents as she was. She was onboard for an extended family independence day: The only thing was Danny.
"So do you think you will come?" Maria asked hopefully, Lindsay could hear the elderly blonde woman on the other end of the line chewing her nails (the thumb more than likely) as a nervous gesture.
"Yea, we'll be there." Lindsay smiled, she may have her work cut out for her, but it was going to be worth it, a Messer family function was always a worthwhile time.
"But, what about Daniel? He is still refusing to talk to me." Lindsay could hear the sadness in her mother-in-laws voice. Her youngest son, the son who had given her the gift of grandmotherhood, wasn't talking to her. Apparently, this was the longest spell of it since the great coastguard incident of 1985. And that only lasted a week, here they were going on 4.
"Don't worry about him Mom, believe me, I'm not letting Lucy miss out on time with her grandparents, and he's being silly, I'll make him see the light before tomorrow." Lindsay assured.
"I do not doubt your abilities sweetheart; you have made him see the light many times over."
"Don't I know it." Lindsay laughed. "So what time would you like us over?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter Linds, but if you would like to come over the night before you are welcome, there is a small parade at 9am, if you are at all interested. It used to be Danny's favorite part of the Fourth as a boy…he was scared shitless of the fireworks." Maria laughed as she finished reminiscing.
"Figures." Lindsay laughed. "thats why he put himself in a field where loud pops and bangs are common."
"Yea…." Maria trailed off. She wasn't happy about what had happened 4 weeks ago, something she made known, the reason for the current argument.
"Maria, it is okay to be scared for us, for your sake, for Lucy's sake, and believe me when I say that shit like what happened, barely ever happens. Ah." Lindsay said as she felt Maria bubbling up to say something. "Yes Danny has been in his fair share of scrapes, but he is smarter now, he knows he has more to lose, that his actions will effect more than him, he knows, and so do I, it's okay"
"I'm sorry Lindsay, just a mother's worry wart qualities. I know you can handle yourselves, I was just scared, and…"
"I know. I've got them too, actually had them before Luce was born, but anyway, would you like us over for dinner on the third, or"
"Dinner would be good"
"Okay then, do you want me to bring anything?"
"No, no, Linds, just your presence is enough for me and Sal."
"Okay then, I'll see you around 5 on Friday?" Lindsay asked
"Yes, perfect, well I'll let you go Lindsay. Love you, kiss my granddaughter and son for me."
"Will do, love you too, bye." Lindsay clicked off. With a sigh she headed for the stairs, it was the least she could do to lose some of the baby weight.
.
07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-
.
Opening the door to apartment 3G was a relief like none other. The gush of cool air that engulfed Lindsay was enough to release some of the tension that had been building in her shoulders all day. But the waft of Italian seasonings that came with it brought her to heaven. Not to mention the sight before her after she locked the door and turned into the kitchen.
Lucy was laying on her tummy kicking and gurgling away. A soft grin stretched across her face, and she cooed noticing Mommy. Danny looked up from the sauce he was stirring at the sound of his daughter, face breaking into a full-fledged smile when he saw Lindsay bend down and scoop the little girl up. His girls.
Working with one arm as the other was still in a sling he put the spoon down and wiped his hands on the towel before approaching Lindsay from behind, and wrapping her in a one armed embrace, and kissing her bare, sun-kissed shoulder.
"Welcome home babe." He whispered softly before letting her go and moving to the sofa, propping his good arm up on the back inviting Lindsay to sit in the nook. Which she did so willingly. "How was your day?"
"Long. Hot. And Done." Lindsay said all while paying full attention to Lucy whose bright blue eyes were watching, darting between Mommy and Daddy. Her feet continued to kick, something Danny found quite entertaining.
Reaching out with what little movement he had in that arm he cupped a little foot and traced the arch just watching mommy and baby.
"Your mom called." Lindsay said softly as Lucy began to fall asleep.
"So." He said curtly.
"So? SO? Danny, she's you mother, she was worried can't you drop this juvenile act and forgive her?"
"Linds, it's not that." He said pushing himself up and following Lindsay into the nursery where she laid Lucy into her crib.
"Out." She said softly before clicking the door shut softly behind her. When they were back in the living room they turned to the kitchen and food as the discussion continued.
"What is it then Danny?"
"What she said, it wasn't true, it wasn't fair, and it just, everything she said is what I fear most, and I can't have that around, it'll scare me too much, it'll make me think twice, make me second guess, and instincts is what I go on Linds, you know this. I can't second guess them, because if I did, chances are we'd both be dead, it wouldn't be a bullet to the shoulder it woulda been 4-5 in both our backs. Linds, I can't hesitate, s-she makes me hesitate."
"Since when Danny?!" Lindsay asked slightly aggravated, they have had this conversation many times in the last few weeks. Granted this was the first time he really mentioned his feelings, ah, the joys of being married. She continued her voice elevating every so often. "Seriously, when did you hesitate for your Ma's sake? When you subway surfed? How about when you spent time with the Tanglewood Boys? Huh? When applied to the academy? Or when you hung suspended from the Statue of Liberty, or the Empire State Building? Better yet, when you egged on those imbeciles from the Irish Drug Gang, No, even more so, when you got me pregnant, or when we technically eloped? Were you thinking about your mom?"
"No." he said in a deflated voice.
"No, exactly, you were thinking about you, us, your friends, your daughter, your ma was back there, but it was an afterthought. It was a 'calm down Ma', when she rushed into the hospital to see you, A 'hey by the way Ma' what's changed?"
"She hadn't said…" Lindsay cut him off
"Said what? That she hated coming to the hospital to see you like this, that she was worried, that she wished we had a less risky job. Damn it Danny, she cares for you, for us, and god damn it she loves that you are doing this city a service, but just think about it. What if it was Lucy, would you wish Lucy was in a safer job even though she made you proud, what would you say if Lucy was making regular trips to the ER, what?"
"Geeze Linds, have a bad day?" Danny asked rubbing the back of his neck, It had been a long time since Lindsay let her emotions go like this, the hormones she had finally gotten under control, this had nothing to do with hormones, this was all Lindsay, a very aggravated Lindsay.
"Don't change the subject Messer."
"Messer, wow, ok, Linds, I'll talk to my ma next time she makes an attempt at calling." Danny said raising his hands in defeat.
"Don't bother, we are going over there for the fourth."
"What, Linds, I'll make amends, but the fourth?"
"And dinner the third, we are going to the parade, and you will enjoy yourself like you did as a kid."
"I better get tootsie rolls for this." He said, realizing it was over, that he would have to make up with his mom, that Lindsay was right, he hated it, but its marriage right? The Misses is always right, and unfortunately Lindsay was.
"Tootsie rolls?" Lindsay asked a laugh defying her want to stay mad.
"Oh, country girls." Danny sighed walking up behind Lindsay and massaging her shoulders to release some more of the tension he had no doubt put there. "Know nothing of big city parades, tootsie rolls are a staple. I promise, I'll be good, just please don't get worked up anymore." He whispered into her ear. "Now, Dinners ready."
.
07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-07-01-09-
.
Danny lay awake that night, sure Lindsay was right, he'd known it for the better part of a week, but he just couldn't admit defeat to his mother. But he had to, for Lindsay, for Lucy, for everyone. Sure his mother had been right and so had Lindsay, but he was still bitter as he thought back to that night 3 almost 4 weeks ago…