Title: The Greatest Fear 1/2

Author: Calie

Summary: Takes place after Love Runs Cold. Lindsay attempts to deal with her problems on her own but only succeeds in making herself more miserable. Danny notices and can't stand it any longer.

Notes: I'm not even going to begin to speculate as to what Lindsay's secret is because I know I'll be wrong. So don't look for Lindsay to reveal anything.

It'd been weeks since Danny had really talked with Lindsay. Now their conversations consisted mainly of work. Joking didn't feel right anymore and even if he made an attempt he knew it would be awkward. Somehow Danny felt he was partially to blaim. She had been the one to put an end to something that hadn't even started but he had pushed it. He couldn't help but think that maybe if he had left her alone and given her time this wouldn't have happened. Instead their friendship was practically non existent and their work relationship was only doing slightly better. He missed her and he liked to think she missed him but the look on her face since then told him it didn't have anything to do with him. That was another source of his guilt. Danny had the sneaking suspicion that when he tried to pursue a relationship with Lindsay he'd triggered something in her. Whatever it was that she was trying to put behind her he could tell it was on her mind twenty-four seven. Today he'd had enough of it though. It was bad enough to deal with her moping around, but when he walked into the locker room and found her in there washing her tear stained face he couldn't stand it any longer. She'd left in a hurry, not even acknowledging his presence. That hurt by itself, but it also hurt that she had to hide whatever was bothering her. So for the rest of the day he bided his time till he was going to corner her and do something about what was bothering her.

Danny had been sure to remain in his office as much as possible that day to find out when she was leaving. It was almost five o'clock when she came in with her purse in hand and jacket on. She shut her computer down and still didn't say a word to him or look at him. Usually he tried not to look at her, but this time he watched her the whole time. She had to know that he was doing so but she didn't acknowledge him. When she finally got to the door she stopped and turned around.

"Bye."

He couldn't help but smile softly at her regardless of their situation. "Bye." He only waited about half a minute before he got up and started heading to the parking garage. As soon as he exited the office he saw her turn the corner, heading in the same direction. He followed far behind her until she exited the building into the parking garage then he sped up and pushed the open before it even shut. "Lindsay." Montana had just been hard to say lately. She turned around started but didn't say anything. When he reached her he didn't waste anytime, even though he wasn't that sure of what he was going to say. "Lindsay, what is going on with you?"

Lindsay hadn't been sure what to expect from Danny just then. They hadn't spoken friendly in weeks. Now for him to suddenly confront her like this was surprising. Among the things that were bothering her, guilt over hurting Danny was one of them. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Over the past couple of weeks you've been so withdrawn. I'm not even talking about what happened between us. I know it's more than that. I told you if you need anything I'd be there. So tell me what's wrong." At first her face had seemed to soften and he could see the hurt there that he had seen so many times when she hadn't known he was looking. Quickly her face changed into one of indifference.

"Danny, I don't need anything. I'm fine." It was so hard not to break down and beg for him to hold her. She'd been trying so hard to hide her feelings lately but at the same time she knew she wanted someone to notice.

"Bullshit. You're not fine. Lindsay if you don't want to give what we have a chance then fine. But don't tell me your fine when you aren't. You said you have some things to work through but I can tell whatever it is you're having trouble dealing with it."

Lindsay sighed and tried to relax, or at least appear relaxed. Maybe then Danny would leave her alone. "I know. I have a lot on my mind lately. But I'll be fine. I just need you to leave me alone right now."

"Now you see, that's what I don't understand. You keep saying you have to work through some things and that you need to be alone to do it. I can understand needing space. Everyone needs some space. This is different. Your miserable and I don't like you being alone. You told me yourself that you had no one here except for some family that you aren't that close to." It wasn't just that Danny felt obligated to help her because he cared for her but also because he had the sneaking suspicion that he might be the person she was closest to in New York. If that really was the case than he had to talk to her.

"So I'm supposed to tell you how I feel than?" For some reason his assumption that she had no one to talk to made her angry, even though it was the truth.

Danny sighed and combed his fingers through his hair. This wasn't going exactly like he had planned, of course he had to admit he had kind of gone into it half assed. "I don't know Lindsay. I just hate seeing you like this and I can't even try to help you because you insist you have to work through this on your own. You don't have to tell me anything Lindsay. But you don't have to be alone."

She couldn't really say anything to him. What he said made sense but Lindsay couldn't bring herself to admit that. Not ever. All she had wanted when she moved to New York was to put the past behind her. When everything seemed to be okay she thought she'd give whatever Danny and she had a try. It was then that she realized she wasn't over it. Somewhere at some time she had convinced herself she couldn't allow herself any happiness until it was over for her. It obviously wasn't and any happiness that she could have with Danny would have to be put on hold or possibly not ever happen. "Danny I just can't." With that she turned and made her way towards her car. When Danny's hand grabbed her arm and spun her around she couldn't believe for a moment that it was him doing it.

"I'm sorry." He knew he had startled her but he still didn't let go. "Don't do this Lindsay. Don't walk away from me."

"Danny, I told you I can't" It was so hard to hide from him, especially when he was trying so hard not to let her.

"Don't tell me that. Whatever it is you are dealing with you don't have to be alone doing it." He waited a moment and when she didn't say anything he continued, this time hoping he might be getting through to her. "Lindsay you said you really don't have anyone here that is close to you, you know that's not true. I care about you, I don't want to see you like this."

Lindsay pulled her arm back from him and his hand fell away. It hurt her to hear how much he cared. The last thing she needed at that time was to know that. Instead of giving in she had to get away from him as soon as possible. "I'm sorry."

This time he didn't stop her. Nothing he could say at that point would make a difference. He watched her walk away and get into her car before he turned around and walked into the building. He tried to do more work when he got inside but it was impossible. It surprised him how much it bothered him for her to be slipping away from him like this when he had just found her.

When Lindsay got home she went strait to her bedroom and changed into something comfortable. On her way home she had tried to convince herself she'd do something productive such as wash clothes, load the dish washer, make an actually meal for once, or even pick up a few things in her apartment. As usual she did nothing and instead fell into her bed and turned the TV on. She tried to concentrate on what was on but all she could think about was Danny. For once her mind wasn't totally on her past, which should have been a relief, but it wasn't. She wanted him so badly it hurt. Quickly she corrected herself though. She didn't want him, she needed him. All she had wanted was to fall into his arms and beg him to hold her until it all went away. Him confronting her like he had made it all worse and made the pain she felt feel even fresher. She did feel alone and she hated it. Soon her tears started again, as they had over the past couple of weeks. She buried her faced into the pillow, hoping to hide her sobs somehow. Nothing could hide the pain she felt though and soon she was curled up on her side, hugging her pillow, and crying out her own pain. Lindsay didn't want to be alone.