Author's Note: This is a sequel to my story "You're in my Thoughts" which was a post-ep for 3x14 and attempted to stay fairly canonical as it followed Danny and Lindsay up to the point where they were about to kiss at the end of 3x18. You don't have to read it in order to understand this one, but people seemed to think it was pretty good. The italics at the start are the last scene I wrote in the other story, just so that everyone knows where I'm at (including me).

I've traveled 24,000km (or 15,000miles) in the last 3 weeks, so I'm glad to be home. And writing! I foresee this as being somewhere in the 10 chapter range, more or less, though I have no set plan to limit it. Basically, it's going to cover their time in Montana and maybe the first day or two back in New York.

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Danny held her hand as they heard the verdict read out. When she tilted her head against his shoulder and smiled like that, he knew that he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He didn't care if she wasn't ready, yet. He got it, now. He'd listened to her story and he'd paid attention and he understood what made her so hesitant. Seeing that smile, though, and feeling her warm hand squeeze his like that? He was definitely going to stick around and wait for her. Feeling her in his arms, he knew he'd be there for her until she could stay in his arms forever.

You did it, man. You showed her how much you want her. She knows you ain't going nowhere. She knows you're willing to put up or shut up. Now you just have to keep your pants on and not screw it up before she's ready. Turning, he moved to leave the room, but she pulled him back.

The look on her face as she moved up to kiss him said it all. He didn't screw it up, and he didn't have to wait.

She was ready.

Unfortunately, so were the press. They descended upon the hopeful new couple and drowned them in flashes and shouted questions. Lindsay could do nothing but smile at their horrendous timing as Danny kept hold of her hand and quickly guided her out of the court room. She remained dazed and confused until after Danny had seated her in the front seat of his rental and gone around to his side of the car to get behind the wheel. He was just about to turn the key in the ignition when she put her hand over his to stop the movement.

"How…?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confused. "I mean, why…? How…?" She swallowed, took a deep breath, and then gave him her biggest smile. "What in the hell are you doing in Montana?" She really hoped that she was giving the impression of stunned disbelief and not infuriated anger.

Danny licked his lips and grinned back at her. It had been way too long since he'd seen that smile on her face. He shrugged and started the car, paying attention to traffic as he pulled out of his parking spot across from the courthouse. "Mac gave me a couple days," he said, as if it were perfectly obvious. "I didn't have nothing better to do, so I figured I'd see what these wheat fields everyone talks about are like." Slowing down to stop at a red light, he turned to her and once more flashed her a grin. "Just promise me you'll keep me away from cud, alright?"

Lindsay let loose a laugh that made Danny feel like he'd lost fifty pounds of dead weight on his shoulders. "I'll keep you away from cud if you promise to take me out for decent pizza the minute I get back to New York." She looked out the windshield as she said this, smiling shyly and trying hard not to blush. It was one thing to talk about dating over IM or email, it was something else entirely to do it in person. And for her to be the one bringing it up!

"You askin' me out on a date Montana?" Danny asked jokingly, holding his breath and once more cursing his lack of subtlety.

"You sayin' yes, Messer?" Lindsay replied, biting her lip and holding her breath, hoping that the flirting and affection she had seen online wasn't all in her imagination.

"I'm sayin' hell yes!" he shouted gleefully, pumping one fist in the air. "With an 'about damned time' on the side," he smiled at her, removing his fist from the air and stroking the fingers through her curls.

Lindsay punched him playfully in the ribs. "Hey! I've been going through trauma here! Give a girl a break!" It was amazing that she could joke about it, now. Just an hour or two before she'd been in the middle of testifying against the man who'd killed her friends and almost killed her, as well. The immense relief and satisfaction of having him put away, having him behind bars where he couldn't hurt her again… it was making her a little punch drunk.

Snuggling into Danny's side, she draped his arm over her shoulders and sighed as her eyes closed. The verdict wasn't the only thing that was lifting her spirits. She took a deep breath and reveled in the smell of him. She didn't know if it was his deodorant or shampoo or maybe he used aftershave, she just knew that whatever that smell was, it was driving her to distraction.

Speaking of driving… "Hey," she thought suddenly, raising her head from his shoulder. "Where are we going, anyway?"

"Put that back!" Danny joked, squeezing her back against him and surreptitiously smelling her hair. God, she smelled good. "Just close your eyes and relax. I know where I'm going." His fingers stroked unconsciously up and down her arm.

Lindsay relaxed once more against him, not even bothering to ask how the hell he knew where he was going in Montana. He wanted her to snuggle in close and not ask questions? Well, that was just fine with her. For now, at least.