Authors Note: So I know what you're thinking...another story really? This idea came into my head and I just had to write it down. And I know what else you're thinking: another Lindsay in distress story? Really? Well yes to that too lol and the reason is because no matter how much we all enjoy seeing tough Lindsay we also love to see Danny riding to the rescue :) So this story takes place sometime after Child's Play and it's probably going to be a little dark and creepy so this is your warning. This idea came from a book a was reading and a special that was on TV. So please give it a shot and let me know what you think...thanks!

Chapter 1 (Where do we stand?)

Lindsay was walking in a hurry to get to work; she was running late for what felt like the third time this week. Subconsciously she didn't want to even be at work anymore she used to look forward to it but now since things had gotten bad with Danny she felt like she was in high school again. Sure they kept it professional at work because they had to but obviously it didn't people long to notice that not only were they not together again but they were barley on speaking terms. The minute Danny learned of Rebun Sandoval's death her relationship with Danny went on immediate hiatus. He stopped calling her, stopping by and basically stopped speaking to her all together at work. She didn't want to push him because she knew what it was like to grieve and he had given her the space she asked for a few years back. While lost in her thoughts her cell phone went off.

"Monroe" Lindsay answered walking through the crowded streets of New York

"Hey kiddo" Stella replied "You almost here?"
"Yea sorry it's just a mess today" Lindsay told her

"It's alright just meet me when you get in I want you to look over some blood splatter for my case" Stella said to her

"Of course I should be there soon" Lindsay told her

"Alright see you" Stella said. As Lindsay looked down to end her call she came in contact with another person's arm sending her phone and his flying at the same time

"I'm so sorry" Lindsay said picking up her phone

"No it's my fault I wasn't paying attention" the man told her politely

"No I'm sure it was me" Lindsay said with a forced laugh "Is your phone alright?"
"Seems to be" the man said checking it over

"Well if you find out it's not working just let me know" Lindsay insisted

"I'm sure that wont be necessary" the man smiled slightly "But uh just in case what is your name?"
"Lindsay Monroe" Lindsay told him "I work right there" she said pointing across the street

"The New York Crime Lab?" the man questioned

"That so surprising?" Lindsay asked a little offended

"No" the man said quickly "Well yea you seem more like a school teacher"
"Oh gee thanks" Lindsay replied sarcastically

"I'm sorry" The man said with a smile "I just haven't seen such a pretty scientist before"
"Thanks" Lindsay blushed slightly "I need to get to work though"
"Of course" the man said "And sorry about bumping into you like that"
"Me too" Lindsay said then crossed the street and headed into work

Crime Lab

Lindsay walked into her shared office with Danny and Stella and only found Stella inside.

"Hey sorry I'm late" Lindsay said taking a seat

"No worries" Stella said looking at her laptop "You weren't with Danny were you?"
"No" Lindsay replied unsurely "Why would you think that?"
"He's yet to arrive yet either" Stella said to her "I called and he said he was on his way"
"Oh he must have had a late night then" Lindsay said which came across a little bitter to Stella I'm sure who just smiled
"You know he cares about you right?" Stella asked her

"Has a funny way of showing it" Lindsay said opening her laptop

"When something bad happens he kind of shuts down" Stella reasoned "it's just Danny"
"I really don't want to talk about Stella" Lindsay told her with a sigh "Danny has made things very clear to me and if he wants to talk to me he knows where I am"
"I know I just hate to see you two like this" Stella told her honestly

"We'll get past it" Lindsay shrugged

"Together or apart?" Stella questioned
"That's up to him I suppose" Lindsay finished as she did Danny walked into the office

"Sorry I'm late Stell" Danny said to her "Hey" he said to Lindsay as he removed his jacket and Lindsay just nodded "What are we working on?"
"DB found in the Hudson" Stella informed

"Accidental drowning?" Danny questioned

"Nope" Stella said handing him her file "She was stabbed once which was the official COD"

"Lovely" Danny mumbled that's when a cell phone went off and all three ignored it

"You going to get that?" Stella asked Lindsay

"That's not my ringer" Lindsay said confused pulling the cell phone out of her pocket "Oh you've got to be kidding me" she mumbled looking at the phone that looked just like hers but was not "Hello?" she asked answering

"Sorry to bother you Ms. Monroe but it seems we had a mix up with our phones" the familiar man told her

"I'm sorry it looks just like mine" Lindsay told him

"It's alright, I'm actually on my way to a meeting so would you mind waiting until later tonight and we can switch back?" the man questioned

"Sure" Lindsay said to him

"I'll meet you outside your lab around eight" he told her

"Sounds good thanks" Lindsay said then hung up. She looked up noticed Stella and Danny looking at her "I bumped into some guy earlier we mixed up our phones"
"Oh" Stella said with a nod as Danny turned his attention back to the file

Later that day Lindsay was in the break room pouring coffee lost in her thoughts didn't notice her coffee had spilled over her cop burning her free hand

"Ouch" Lindsay mumbled pulling her hand away and running it under cold water

"You alright?" Danny asked entering the break room walking over to her

"Just a burn" Lindsay mumbled pulling her hand out from under the water to examine the damage

"Here let me see" Danny said taking her hand looking at it. Lindsay couldn't deny that no matter how right it felt it was very awkward and Danny felt it too and quickly let go of her hand "It will be fine, it's superficial"
"Yea" Lindsay nodded

"Look Linds-" Danny started

"Danny I can't have this conversation right now" Lindsay said to him "Obviously things aren't right between us but I can't let it get in the way of my work anymore"
"I don't want to get in the way of work either" Danny said to her "Look a lot of things are up in the air so right now I think it's best if we kind of just take a break"
"I thought that's what we were doing" Lindsay shot back "I don't see you or hear from you anymore so I assumed we were done"
"No Linds were not done" Danny said with a sigh

"That's what it feels like to me" Lindsay told him with a shrug "I can't just wait around while you decide if you want to be with me anymore"
"I waited for you" Danny pointed out softly
"Yea and I'm grateful for that" Lindsay told him "But also weren't in a relationship when I decided I needed space I also didn't make you fall in love with me then pull the rug out from under you"

Those were the words Danny wasn't expecting on hearing. Love was obvious in their relationship but not something they ever said to each other.

"Look this isn't the place for this conversation" Danny said nodding towards the outside of the room as lab-techs walked by and casually glanced in "How about we go to dinner tonight and we talk about everything"
"I can't" Lindsay told him

"Can't or wont?" Danny asked

"You're still working things out" Lindsay told him "I want you to find peace because I know better then anyone what you're going through. Take your time and grieve"
"But you wont wait" Danny stated rather then questioned because he already knew the answer

"I don't know" Lindsay told him honestly then looked at the clock it was five to eight "I've got to go"
"Lindsay" Danny said trying to stop her as she walked towards the exit

"It's fine Danny" Lindsay said to him then left the break room

Downstairs Lindsay saw the man she had switched phones with by accident

"I'm real sorry about this again" Lindsay said passing him his phone

"I'll accept your apology if you stop apologizing" the man said with a smile passing her phone to her

"Ok" Lindsay said "And thanks for coming to the lab I'd hate to miss work"
"Well your job is a lot more important then mine" he told her with a laugh "I'm a realtor you put away criminals the least I could do is come to you. I'm Clint Davies by the way"
"Thanks again Clint" Lindsay said then was about to turn to leave

"If you really want to make it up to me how about dinner?" Clint asked her

"Oh" Lindsay blushed lightly "That's very sweet"
"It's the least you could do" Clint teased

"I would but I'm kind of" Lindsay started

"With someone?" Clint questioned

"Yea" Lindsay said to him, she was going to wait as long as she could for Danny

"Alright then" Clint said with a smile "Hopefully I'll see you again"
"Bye" Lindsay said then walked back into the building

Inside the lab

"I see you got your phone back" Stella commented with a smile

"Yes" Lindsay said with a smile "You know I really take this thing for granted my entire life is in here" she said to her scrolling threw her phone to see if she had any messages

"It's almost scary how much information is on our phones" Stella smirked "Wouldn't want it to get into the wrong hands"
"Yea well thankfully the man that had my phone was real nice" Lindsay told her

Across town in his large penthouse Clint Davies was sitting at his computer looking at his recent searches. They all pertained to Lindsay Monroe. He then pulled out a sheet of paper with all the information he got from her cell phone and smiled to himself.