Hello all. This is Aly with yet another one-shot. It is my first solely CSI: NY thing though. Slightly AU, seeing as Danny never died in Snow Day and he never got shot in the abdomen.
Disclaimer: CSI: NY and all related characters belong to me in no way. They are the property of CBS and Alliance Atlantis. No copyright infringement is intended from this work. I only own the plot.
A/N (Aly's Note): Just keep in mind, I wrote this on an eighteen hour plane ride back from the Philippines. It may not be my best, but we'll see what you all think. And as to the vague-ness of it, I did that on purpose. It'll become less vague in later chapters. (But you already know the main two characters, right? ;) )
It was that day again. The gentle breeze blew strands of her brown hair across her face as she walked across the vast area of Central Park. Leaves crunched beneath her feet as she walked along the grass. They were a rainbow of fall colors: red, brown, yellow, orange. This rainbow was scattered across the ground. She knew exactly how they felt. On this exact day three years ago, her heart was crushed, just like the leaves.
There was that breeze again. A little stronger this time, it lifted the leaves into a mini-tornado of sorts, causing them to swirl around both on the ground and in midair. Again, those leaves represented her feelings. One day after that tragic day three years ago, her emotions were like a whirlwind. She didn't know how to live without him. How could she live without his lopsided grin, his blue eyes—eyes that always mesmerized her, and—most of all—his presence. His presence was always known. Everywhere he went, friends and colleagues would know that he was there. He was lively and always knew how to make her smile when she was feeling down.
She stopped at a wooden bench in front of an old oak tree. The leaves on the tree were multicolored, reflecting New York City's changing seasons. She walked over to the tree and let her fingers trace the carvings. Carved into the trunk was the word 'Montana' enclosed in a heart. The bench that was there looked as old as time itself, always looking like it was going to collapse. But it never did. This was their spot.
Again she sat down in that old yet sturdy bench. Whenever they could, they would come here and just gaze at the stars. She remembered one moment in particular.
As they sit in their spot, Lindsay leans against Danny's shoulder.
"The stars are beautiful tonight," she whispers, tucking a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear. The stars were actually visible even though many lights were lit in the city. But in addition to lights, the two could see stars gleaming and sparkling in the sky.
Danny points to a random star by the point of the Empire State Building. "See that star?" he asks in his trademark New York accent . The accent she loved. "It's name is Montana."
Lindsay rolls her eyes and smacks his arm playfully. "For a CSI, you sure don't know your stars. That star is the North star, O Smart One."
He holds up his hands in defeat. "All right, fine, maybe the star can't be named Montana, but…" Danny looks around for an object. "The tree can." He went to the tree and started carving something in it with his pocket knife. After he finishes, you could see the word 'Montana' enclosed by a heart engraved into the trunk.
Danny grins his lopsided grin at the radiant woman now standing in front of him. Lindsay was always radiant in his eyes, whether she was dressed up for a trip to a fancy restaurant or when she just woke up and had messy hair. Lindsay would always be beautiful to him.
"Aw," she says fondly, slipping her hand into his. "It's perfect." He looks at her; she looks at him. Blue eyes meet brown as they close the gap between them, shutting out the rest of the world. They didn't care that they were in a public park and everyone could see them. Only they mattered.
She gave a sad smile at that treasured memory. She was so happy with him. And then came that day, that tragic day three years ago, when he decided to switch shifts with her. He just… left.
They load Danny onto a gurney and into an ambulance. They had to rush, for the EMTs said that he was bleeding internally as well as externally. The bullet had pierced his abdomen and he had already lost so much blood before the paramedics arrived. Danny was literally hanging on by a thread. But Lindsay never left his side.
The ambulance zips through the streets of Manhattan and screeches to a halt at Bellevue. The EMTs rush Danny to the ER. When it was time to go into surgery, Lindsay wants to go with him, but she is denied access to the operating room. Furious at first, Lindsay reluctantly accepts the decision of the hospital and agrees to wait outside.
Time seems to slow as she waits. Staring at the floor, the Montana native hopes—prays— that she would see him again, that he would come out of surgery and hold her in his arms again. Lindsay looks up at the ceiling and then back at the floor. Green tiles, pink tiles, yellow tiles; it all seemed endless.
The other members of her team gradually come to the hospital and sit next to her. They comfort her and try to make her smile. But nothing would work. Until Lindsay would get to see Danny again, she would be a statue of stone, unmoving and emotionless.
After what seems to be an eternity, the doctor steps out of the operating room. Lindsay looks up at him, the faintest glimmer of hope in her sad brown eyes.
"Please," those eyes seem to say. "Please."
The doctor shakes his head. Lindsay could do nothing but nod numbly and bite her lip. She stands up and walks outside.
Her whole body felt numb. Lindsay hails a taxi and gets inside, driver puzzled at her expression.
She barely gets the words out of her mouth. "New York Crime Lab," she whispers. The driver clicks the meter on and speeds off.
Gliding through Manhattan, Lindsay feels empty, like a part of her is missing. Biting her lip, she is forced to accept the harsh reality: a part of her was missing. Danny was gone.
Lindsay stops at the crime lab, pays the driver, and walks to her own car. Her fingers were so numb that she could barely turn the key. As she drives out of the car park, it starts to rain.
"That's just super," she mutters. Driving along a street close to her apartment building, she glances at the ornament hanging from her rear-view mirror. It was in the shape of the state of Montana with 'Montana' written on it in bold black letters. Next to the word was a tiny red heart. It was a present from Danny. He got it for her when they were both in Montana. Tears well up in her eyes as she parks in front of her building.
It was still raining as the female detective got out of her car, but she didn't care. She tries to take a step forward but can't. Lindsay slams her palm against her car's hood as the tears start to fall. Her tears mix with the rain as she leans against her car, sobbing. He'd left her. He'd left her and she didn't know what to do.
She felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. Wiping them away and standing up, she turned to face the 'Montana' carved into the tree.
"I love you," she whispered. Somehow, she knew he heard it. After one last sad smile, she walked away.
It has been three years, three years since Danny Messer left Lindsay Monroe forever. And yet, the pain would never go.
Meh. Whatever. I tried. Reviews are loved; Suggestions are welcome.