Prologue

Determined not to look back, she got in the cab and told the driver her destination. Just as he started to pull away she saw him. There he was. Danny Messer. He was walking back towards the building which, on the 34th floor held the New York Crime Lab. ''Wait!'' Lindsay called to the driver who just nodded and waited. There she sat, watching. Arguing with her mind and her heart. 'Do I go to him?' Her heart said. 'It will just make it harder, he will ask questions' Said her mind. That was the argument that led to the consequences to come.

Chapter one

Lindsay had told Stella that she was leaving for Montana the next day, to testify in a case. She didn't specify which one, Stella only nodded in understanding and informed Mac on her behalf. Mac had told Sheldon that he would need to cover for Lindsay and work with Danny until she got back. No one informed Danny that she was leaving. Not even Lindsay. She didn't want to bother or burden him with extra work so she thought she'd ask Mac to get someone to cover for her. Mac and Stella understood her current situation and felt sympathetic for her. Having to go through all the pain and terror again. Lindsay kept her cool and remained reasonably calm, her nerves well hidden. Danny didn't suspect a thing.

''Montana, wait up!'' Danny yelled after her as she walked past the AV Lab he and Adam were currently in. She stopped reading the case file in her hand and walked back towards the lab.

''What's up Danny?'' She asked as she entered the lab. Her heart was beating, did he know? She brushed it off with a ''hey Adam,'' as she smiled at the young man who was sat with Danny.

''Come looks at this, this tape puts our main suspect 12 blocks away from the crime scene at our time of death.'' He sounded frustrated, she groaned in frustration too. A part of her was relieved at this but yet something inside her was urging her to tell him.

''But how, all our evidence points to him, this makes no sense.'' Lindsay grumbled as she rubbed her forehead with her free hand. Danny was about to speak when his pager went off.

''Duty calls, bye Montana, Adam.'' He smiled at Lindsay and Adam as he left.

A few hours later and the week long case had been solved. The team decided to take a celebratory drink at their usual hang out, Sullivans. It was karaoke night which made the night more fun, watching the care-free civilians have a laugh or dedicate songs to their loved ones always made the team happier. Part way through Lindsay's vodka and coke she excused herself from the table and went to the restroom, swiftly followed by Stella who had been watching Lindsay and Danny all night.

''Hey,'' Lindsay said once she and Stella had entered the restroom.

''Hey yourself, have you told him?'' Stella enquired as she touched up her lip gloss as Lindsay did the same with her hair.

''Who Danny? No, I want to. But I can't,'' Lindsay answered as she looked at her bestfriend.

''How about how you feel?'' Lindsay wasn't expecting that.

''What do you mean, I don't know what…'' Lindsay was cut off by Stella.

''I know you Lindsay. And I know Danny. I know you like him, and I know he likes you.'' Stella said as she turned and faced Lindsay she but a hand on her shoulder. ''Call it a woman's intuition.''

''I can't tell him now and leave tomorrow, it's not fair on him. I'll tell him when I get back?'' Lindsay offered her best, Stella just smiled knowingly.

''You know, there's another thing you could do. It's karaoke night, sing something. Something to him,'' Stella's idea was crazy, Lindsay was damn sure she couldn't sing, but it made sense. She didn't want to do it, but something told her she wasn't leaving this bar without doing it or telling him straight.

''Fine, what should I sing?'' She asked shyly.

''You'll know when you find it,'' Stella said as she left the restroom.

Several minutes later, Lindsay appeared from the restroom and headed towards the stage. She didn't see that Danny was at the bar getting another round of drinks, she just saw the dim lights of the candles lit around the room and the small spotlight that was on the stage. Stella had informed Jess on what she was doing, the two buzzed in their seats while the boys; Flack, Mac and Sheldon had no idea what was going on.

''Next up is a young girl singing her heart out to a special someone,'' announced the voice on the microphone.

'Another dedication, wow' Danny thought to himself as he waited for the bartender to get the drinks. His back was to the stage when she started singing. His ears pricked up at the sound of the familiar voice.

''The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight Maybe it can stop tomorrow, from stealing all my time'' Lindsay sang, her hand trembling. She was nervous, she thought she couldn't sing, she thought this would ruin her, but she believed in Stella and carried on.

''And I am here still waiting, though I still have my doubts. I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out''

Danny was mesmerised, he didn't know what to do but stare.

''I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing. With a broken heart, that's still beating. In the pain, there is healing. In your name, I find meaning. So I'm holding on, I'm holding on, I'm holding on, I'm barely holding on to you.''

'Is she singing to me?' Danny thought to himself as she carried on. The lyrics sticking in his mind. Mac had come to collect the drinks, Danny had completely forgotten about them. Stella retrieved Danny and led him back to the booth they were all sitting in. He sat there in silence, they all did. Just listening to her sing, she was actually pretty good. Stella and Jess kept looking from Lindsay to Danny then to each other.

''The broken lights on the freeway, left me here alone. I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home. I'm falling apart. I'm barely breathing, with a broken heart. That's still beating. In the pain, is there healing. In your name, I find meaning. So I'm holding on, I'm still holding. I'm holding on, I'm still holing, I'm holding onn, I'm barely holding on to you…'' She finished singing and the stage lights went out and the music ended the whole bar erupted in applause. When they came back on there was a man standing on stage on his own.

''That was Lindsay Monroe, singing Broken by Lifehouse. Give it up for Lindsay!'' He cheered as the people in the bar sat back down in their seats. Danny and the rest of the team looked around the bar but they couldn't see Lindsay. Danny got up from the booth and went outside, Stella followed close behind. As they got outside they saw a yellow cab pulling away from the bar with a small, curly haired woman inside. It was Lindsay. Stella rested a hand on his shoulder, since she didn't know what else to do.