It's not what it looks like

Lindsay watched as they wheeled Danny into the back of then ambulance.

"Don, he looks really bad." He could see the worry in her eyes.

"Linds, If there is anyone who can make it through this, it's Danny."

"I know, it's just... It was supposed to be me in there Don. He took my shift! He said he would wake me up! Damn it!!" She started sobbing, Don wrapped his arm around his friends shoulder.

"Linds.. Danny chose to switch shifts, no one forced him. You saw him, he's a fighter. He'll be fighting the doctors to get out of there in a couple hours." She laughed.

"I've gotta go, but one of these guys will give you a ride to the hospital, will you be ok?" She nodded. "Alright, I'll meet you there." He turned to walk away. "Don, Be careful ok?" He nodded to her and got into his SUV.

The ride to the hospital was silent. Her mind was going over everything that had happened in the last 24 hours.

The detective that drove her had to stop at the station before they made it to the hospital. When they got there he dropped her at the emergancy entrance.

"Thank you for bringing me here, I really appreciate it" " Your welcome Detective."

She stood infront of the hospital, unsure of what lie ahead of her. "You going to stand out here all day Monroe or are you going to go in?"

"Don, can I tell you something before we go in?" "Sure, shoot" "Danny and I.. we uh, we finally stopped dancing around this thing between us, last night. It was our first offical date. And now... The way he looked at me when we were leaving the warehouse.. I think he blames me for him getting hurt.. "

"Lindsay, I want you to listen to me, What happened today could have happened to anyone. It's part of the job. Personally, I thank God it wasn't you in there today. Who knows what they would have done to you. I'm not saying that you couldn't take it, but thoes men, I've seen what they do to the women they love. I would hate to think of what they would do to a woman they hate."

"Thanks, I just hope Danny feels the same..." She looked to the sky, asking for strength.

When they got inside there were news cameras everywhere. Other officers were pushing the cameramen towards the doors. Don and Lindsay made their way to the nurses station where the nurses were chatting amongst themselves unaware of the detectives staring them down.

Don eventually got their attention. "Ahem."

"Can I help you?" the older women asked with an additude that the detectives did not aprectiate.

"We are looking for Detective Daniel Messer and Adam Ross."

"Are you family?" Lindsay and Don both flashed their badges,

"Is this family enough?"

"I'm sorry sir, we've had alot of reporters in here wanting to speak to the two of them. " She flipped through some charts sitting on the desk. "It says here that Detective Messer is still in surgery. He has 3 broken ribs and his hand is severly fractured, he also has lacerations to his face. Thats all we know right now about him."

Lindsay spoke up, "Is he going to be ok?"

"Detective Messer was very lucky. He will need therapy for his hand but he will be ok." She hugged the taller detective. 'Thank God' she whispered into his shoulder. She turned to face the nurse,
"What about Adam Ross?" She shuffled through the files on her desk.

"Adam Ross, it says here that he is in the ICU and only suffered a few broken ribs, burns to his arms and a few lacerations to his face and hands."

Don spoke up this time, "Can we see him?"

"Yes Detective. He is on the 9th floor in room 9628."

"Thank you Ma'am. Here is my card, can you call me as soon as Detective Messer is out of surgery?"

"I will do that Detective Flack."

Lindsay and Don made their way to the elevator. Don could see the tears welling up in the young womans eyes. He bent down so he was eye level with her. "Linds, hes gonna be ok. You heard what the nurse said, just a few broken ribs and a broken hand."

"I know, I know." She wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm being such a girl about this.."

"It's alright, your entitled." She let out a little laugh..

"Don, Thank you, for everything today. Danny is lucky to have you as his friend."

He flashed her a grin, "You do to."

"What?"

"You have me as a friend too Monroe. I know we havn't talked alot in the past, but I would like to think were friends."

"Thanks Don, I'm lucky to have you as a friend too."

"Damn right you are." She laughed and he was happy to see that he could do that for her.

They made it to room 9628 and looked through the window. Hawkes and Stella were already in there and Adam seemed to be smiling. The two knocked and walked in.

"Adam! I'm so glad your ok!" Lindsay rushed over to him and hugged him as best she could.

"Ow, ow."

"Oh! I'm sorry! How are you feeling? Is there anything I could get you?"

She saw Stella, Hawkes and Don walk out into the hallway out of the corner of her eye.

"Uhm.. Maybe some hotter nurses." She let out a laugh.

"I have a feeling thats the morphine talking but I'll see what I can do about that." She sat next to his bed watching The Price is Right with him.

"Lindsay, There is something you can do for me."

"Anything Adam what is it?"

" Can you thank Danny for me? He saved us. He put his life on the line to get us out of there. So please, can you thank him for me?"

She started tearing up. "Of course. I'll tell him for you."

"Thanks Lindsay." She turned to leave. She didn't want him to see her cry. She didn't want anyone to. She quickly walked past her 3 co-workers in the hallway and to the closest door she could find. Which happened to be an empty recovery room. Thats where she colapsed and weapt. She sat in the chair knees to her chin, cryin. 'It should have been me. If I would have shown up to work when I was supposed to, Adam wouldn't have gone in alone. There would have been two of us, and no one would have gotten hurt. Danny would have been safe in his apartment.' She heard the door creak open and quickly wiped her face. He sat across from her, but didn't say anything. He just handed her a cup of coffee.

"I'm sorry. I dont mean to be such a cry baby.."

"Linds, You don't need to apologize. Everyones emotions are running on high today."

"How do you remain so calm and stoic through all this?"

Don let out a heart felt laugh. "Linds, My mind has been going on overdrive since we went into the warehouse this morning"

"I thought you would be on top of the world right now, your name all over the news for the biggest drug bust in New York history. Finally out of your dads shadow.. ya know?"

"Yeah, thats great and all, but I killed a guy today Linds. That really wasn't on my list of things to do. If he would have just put down his weapon.."

"If these guys were as bad as you were sayin Don, I don't think they were planning on going to prison."

"An officer got hurt today too. He has a wife and 3 kids at home. Hes going to be ok though."

They were both looking down at the ground. "Ya know, sometimes I wonder if its all worth it. Sure we took alot of drugs off the street, but at what expense?"

"Don, we do it, because we're good at it, and if we didn't do it, who would?"

Just then Dons phone rang.

"This is Detective Flack" Lindsay couldn't hear what the person on the other side was saying but from the expression on the detectives face, she could tell it was good news. "Thank you, we will be there shortly." and with that, he hung up his phone.

"That was the nurse we spoke to earlier, she said that Danny is out of surgery and that we could go see him if we wanted. Hes in the room next to Adams." They both stood up and made their way to Dannys room.

When they entered his room he was the only one in there. "Knock Knock"

"Hey, Danno! How you feelin?" Don was the first one to break the silence.

"I've been better man, been better."

"Alright, well I'm gonna give you guys some time."

"Thanks for all your help today Don"

"Any time Linds"

"Danny, God! I was so worried, and..."

"Montana, I'm alright. A little tired, but the doctors say I'll be ok."

"Danny, I'm so sorry, It should have been me. God! I'm so sorry!"

"Lindsay! Stop! It's not your fault alright!?" She stood up, taken back by his anger. "I'm sorry Montana, It's the drugs they've got me on.. I need to get some sleep alright?" She felt tears burning her eyes.

"Ok, um, I'll uh see you tommarrow then?"

"Alright" with that she left his room and stood outside his door, not sure of what to do. She didn't want to see her right now, and she wasn't going to force him. Don went to enter Dannys room and saw him sleeping and Lindsay gone...