Asked and Answered

By: ioanhoratio

A/N: This is a tag-on to the episode 6X16 Uncertainty Rules. Laurzz did a wonderful job adding on the DL (and DLL) that was missing from the episode (thanks Laura for doing that each week by the way!) so this isn't that kind of story. It isn't strictly DL--although it is definately a DL story (as if I would write anything else!). I really enjoyed the episode, so much so that this tag-on has been rolling around in my head, refusing to leave me alone. I hope you enjoy!

"Midnight," Detective Danny Messer mumbled as he ran a hand over his tired face. It seemed like ages ago when his phone had buzzed, notifying him of the quadruple homicide. The 5 a.m. wake up call had sent a bleary-eyed Danny out into the cold, dark morning--after, of course, kissing an equally bleary-eyed Lindsay and a wide awake Lucy goodbye. That had been over 18 hours ago. Danny loved cases that kept them moving, kept them searching and solving, as step by step they brought justice to the world.

It was days like today, the exhilaration of the chase, that reminded him why he loved his job. It was also days like today that reminded him why he sometimes thought a new line of work may be in order; four young people brutally murdered. It was all the violence; violence had kept him from his family. Another day in Lucy's life where he had only seen her for about half an hour.

Danny gave a heavy sigh. At least this time his time away from her and Lindsay had proven productive. There were two less bad guys on the street.

"Yo, Dann-o," a friendly voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts. Danny turned to find his friend, Detective Don Flack, approaching. "Hell of a day Mess, don't ya think?"

Danny gave Don a wry smile and agreed, "Yeah, don't tell Linds, but I'm uh think' about a career change."

Confused, Don asked, "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, professional Bingo player. I hear it's quite lucrative."

"I beg ta differ," Don shot back in his best snooty voice.

Exhaustion coursed through the two men making Don's quib seem funnier than it actually was, but after the day they had been through it felt good to be laughing.

"Man, I thought that old broad was gonna fly over the table at us," Don said.

"I'm a married man Flack, so she's all yours," Danny teased.

Don gave an exaggerated shudder. "Thanks Messer," Don's sarcastic tone belaying any true gratitude, "You headin' home?"

"Yeah, go home, eat dinner alone, see my sleeping child and sleeping wife," Danny grumbled.

Don frowned in understanding and invited, "Look since it's so late, you think one more hour would hurt? Me, Mac, Stella, and Doc are gonna grab a beer if ya wanna come."

Danny thought for a moment. What he wanted was to talk to Lindsay and play with Lucy, but he had called them hours ago to let his wife know he was going to be held up with the case, and to tell them goodnight. While he preferred his time with his family, he really needed a chance to unwind. He was beyond tired, but didn't feel ready to go home to his sweet family until some of the darkness of the day had worn off.

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" Danny finally answered.

"A'right," Don smiled, "Mac is with James Roberts. His family is set to arrive soon then we're gonna head out to the bar."

Fifteen minutes later Danny found himself in the corner of a booth, sipping a beer, surrounded by his friends.

"So, we're standin' there thinkin' we got the killer makin' a full confession except I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I mean, how tall did you say this guy was Hawkes?" Don asked mid-story.

"Three foot nine," Hawkes answered.

"Right," Don said, diving back into his story, "Then Danny dares to suggest this guy had help and he was insulted. Finally, he says it was the easiest grand he'd ever made, that's when I knew some how our lines of communication had gotten crossed."

Danny jumped in, "It was classic 'cause Flack just looks at the guy and goes, 'what're you talkin' about' and this guy shoot back with 'what're you talkin' about' and the look on Don's face was hilarious."

The group laughed as Don re-enacted his look of disbelief and confusion.

"It sounds like you guys met some interesting characters today," Stella laughed, "Speaking of interesting characters, how's Lucy doing these days?"

Danny couldn't help the grin that spread over his face at the thought of his baby daughter, "She is a character; an absolute ham, just like her mother."

"Why do I get the feeling Lindsay would say Lucy's just like her father?" Mac teased.

Danny just rolled his eyes but pulled out his cell phone.

"Ya gotta see this picture Linds sent me today," Danny told them as he scrolled through is picture mail, "She said she was about to load up the dishwasher when her phone rang and so she stepped out of the kitchen for a second, came back in and found this."

He passed the phone around which showed a photograph of Lucy sitting on the open dishwasher door, grinning.

"She is so adorable," Stella gushed handing the phone back to Danny.

"She's a stinker who climbs on everything," Danny griped, but it was clear to all present the father had nothing but love for the tiny girl in the photo.

The conversation grew quite for a moment and Hawkes turned to Stella, "I'm thinkin' we need some music. Want to help me pick a song from the juke box?"

Stella nodded eagerly, and the two slid out of the booth, talking about what kind of music they were in the mood for.

"And I need a refill," Don pointed out, "You two?"

Both Danny and Mac shook their heads and Don wandered off towards the bar.

The two men left at the table sat in a comfortable silence, each occupied with the events of the day. Finally, the silence was broken when Danny turned to Mac.

"Can I ask ya somethin' Boss?"

Mac nodded easily, though he heard the slight apprehension in the younger man's voice.

Danny slowly turned his beer, fiddling with the label as he asked, "Did ya ever lie to Claire to protect her?"

Mac was surprised by the question. He had lived with the loss of his wife for nearly nine years, and had even talked with Danny about his life with Claire, but sometimes he was still caught off guard by the twist in his chest when he heard her talked about in the passed tense. Mac took a swallow of his beer to allow his emotions to recover, then clearing his throat answered, "Yes and it was a mistake."

"She found out?" Danny pushed.

"Yes, but that's not why it was a mistake," Mac explained, "It didn't help things, but just getting caught wasn't what made what I did the mistake. The lying to her part was the mistake."

Danny nodded but wondered aloud, "Aren't there things in life that are just better left alone?"

"I thought so at the time," Mac agreed, "But what I learned was that when I thought I was protecting her I was really hurting her."

"I don't mean to pry..." Danny trailed off.

Mac knew Danny was asking for advice not details, but Mac wanted to see Danny and Lindsay succeed in life. They had been given an opportunity in life that Mac and Claire had been denied so he said, "It was after I got back from Beirut. I wasn't as honest with Claire about what had happened over seas. I thought I knew what was better for her than she did. I couldn't hide what I had been through; I thought I could. She saw though and it hurt her to know that I wouldn't talk to her about it. It took some time, but I finally opened up to her and I realized how selfish I was being."

"Lindsay...she wants, or rather expects absolute honesty about everything. It's a big deal to her ya know? And not that I think we should lie to each other," Danny corrected quickly, struggling to express himself, "I just don't know how to say things that will hurt her. Does that make sense?"

Mac chuckled, "More than you know Danny. Sometimes communicating your love for another persons means you're responsible for telling them things they may not want to hear. Lindsay knows what secrets can do to a person, to a relationship. It makes sense that she would resent being left in the dark."

Danny sighed as he pushed his beer away, "She's gonna ask me about the case. She always does...what am I gonna tell'er?"

Mac didn't need Danny to explain. The case was obviously a scenario out of a nightmare--to watch as one's friends are brutally murdered--but it was a nightmare the Messer family was all too familiar with. Instead of answering his question Mac began, "Tonight I sat across from Jason Roberts and told him he was going to be ok. Those weren't just words repeated in a rote presentation to make him feel better. I believe them because I have seen it with my own eyes. We both know the effect witnessing such a violent act had on Lindsay, the fear, uncertainty, and pain she lived with, but we also know that she was able to over come all that, and become a loving, strong, and confident woman. I know Jason Roberts will have a lot to deal with in the future, but it is possible for him to take his life back. Lindsay can handle the truth Danny and you need to trust her enough to be honest."

"It's not that I don't think she can handle it Mac," Danny declared defensively, "I know she can. If you don't think I live in awe of that woman every day then you're crazy. It's just..." Danny hesitated. He knew how important Lindsay considered her privacy and how hard she worked to ensure no one doubted her ability, but Danny needed some one to talk to about this so he lowered his voice to convey his need for confidentiality, "I've seen her toss at night caught in the terror of what she saw. I've held her while she cried for those who lost their lives. Despite how much she has accomplished I know there are days when she's still haunted by the ghosts of those girls, and now as a mom I know she struggles with the idea of Lucy one day experiencin' the realities of the real world. I just hate to remind her of all that."

Danny's expression showed a man who was pleading for help, a man whose love for his wife had brought him to a cross roads and he wasn't sure what was correct.

"I can't tell you what to do Danny or what is the right answer. Only you know how your relationship with Lindsay would be affected, but I can offer you an insight I learned. No matter what the topic of discussion, showing your wife your support, love, respect, and that she can lean on you when she needs the extra help is more important than words could ever be."

"Yeah," Danny agreed quietly. He glanced down at his watch and saw that it was nearing one in the morning. His eyes felt like cotton and his arms ached to hold his wife. He took one last pull off his beer, then stood. "Thanks Mac. I appreciate it, as all ways."

Mac put two fingers to his forehead and gave a lazy salute, "Good night Danny, and I want to say that I think Lindsay is very lucky to have you. A lesser man wouldn't waste time considering these things. I'm proud of you."

Danny was almost too tired to blush, but he managed as he ducked his head in embarrassment. "Night Mac."

Danny waved to the rest of the crew then ducked out into the night. As he made his way home he thought about what he was going to do. He knew Mac was right and that he needed to trust and believe in Lindsay's strength, but the idea of reminding her of the injustices of man made him feel sick inside. But was that just him being selfish? He knew he what he had to do, he just hoped he had the strength to do it. She deserved the best.

So I'm considering writing an additional chapter--Danny and Lindsay discussing the days events, but I'm interested in knowing if the story ends better here. It's ok to feel that way! Sometimes a story needs to end, but if you think one more chapter would be appropriate then please let me know!

Thanks for reading!!!