So this is my first DL story, please be kind! It pretty much happens after Lindsay shoots Danny down. I haven't actually seen those episodes yet as we're behind in the UK therefore I've made up an alternative to what we now know happened in Montana.
I don't own CSI: New York or any of it's characters so please don't sue me, I don't own anything!
"Alright everyone come on". The team gathered in Mac's office noisily all eager to catch up with each other after they'd had the weekend off.
"OK, now. The new AFIS software is being previewed at a conference in Chicago this week…"
Everyone collectively moaned at this because they knew what it meant. Someone would have to go and learn how the machine worked and then come back and teach the rest of the team upon its arrival.
Mac gave them all a look and continued, "Yes, two of you will have to go. Here, you can draw straws for the privilege."
He held the straws in his hand and one by one they all took one and held them up.
"Ha, have fun you two!" Stella said triumphantly as Danny and Lindsay were left holding up the two shortest straws.
Lindsay shook her head and sighed, throwing her straw into the trash in disgust.
Danny smiled and nudged her gently as they left Mac's office.
"Come on Montana, it's not that bad. A little Chicago vacation and you get my undivided attention for three whole days."
She smiled sarcastically at him, "Don't take it personally Danny I just hate these boring conferences."
"I love Chicago!"
Flack piped up from behind them as Danny smiled and walked on.
"Hey what happened to you?" She asked, leaning in to look at the cut on his cheek.
"Ah, the perp got a little fresh with me, that's all." He said trying to shake off her concern.
"You should go and get it cleaned up, Don."
"I….well, I really don't want to go the hospital. I've kind of had enough of being a patient you know?" He said quietly.
Lindsay nodded sympathetically and smiled.
"Follow me to my laboratory." She motioned for him to sit down.
Flack sat on a stool in the lab as Lindsay took the first aid kit out of the cupboard.
"I appreciate this Lindsay."
"Don't mention it, I hate hospitals too and I have nothing like your excuse."
She put on a pair of gloves and went to work cleansing and dressing the wound.
"It doesn't look too deep so there shouldn't be a scar."
"My modelling career is safe then." He said nonchalantly as she shook her head.
They both laughed as she took off her gloves. He got up and looked at her handiwork in the glass.
"Not bad, Nurse Monroe, not too bad at all."
He flashed her a million dollar smile and headed out.
Danny watched their whole exchange from his office. He envied Flack. He watched her clean his cut with a feather light touch. Then when she smoothed the band aid into position and they both laughed at something he wished that he and Flack could switch places. Her smile lingered on her face as she put the first aid things away.
Things had been better between them recently. He didn't regret telling her how he felt but he was confused at her response. She liked him but she couldn't follow through? He was sure something bad had happened back in Montana. Bad enough for her to move all the way to New York to escape it and it was obviously still plaguing her.
How could he get her to trust him enough to tell him everything? He just wanted to take care of her but she just wouldn't go that extra mile at that moment. At least she had confirmed she felt the same as he did. That was something to hope on, he thought, and now they would be spending three whole days together away from the lab. Even though he knew the conference would bore him to tears at least he'd be with her.
Two days later they sat side by side on a rocky plane heading for Chicago. Once the pilot finished telling them about the turbulence Lindsay laughed as she thought back to the speech Mac gave her in private before they had left.
"Here's the expenses credit card, for rooms, meals and transport only. Do not give this to you know who at any time. No unnecessary charges and tell Danny, no pay per view porn."
She smiled and continued down the hall beside Mac as he issued instructions like a drill Sergeant.
"I'm counting on you to set a good example and promote the reputation of the department so don't let Danny disgrace us."
"You got it boss." She pressed the button for the elevator as Mac walked away.
"Oh and Lindsay?" He called over his shoulder.
She turned around and waited
"Enjoy yourself!" He said sarcastically.
Yeah right, she thought to herself.
In the cab on the way to the hotel Lindsay's cell phone rang.
"Monroe….hey Stevie, what's up?
Danny listened to her side of the conversation. Someone named Stevie wanted her to have dinner with him later. She'd get a cab to his place for seven. There goes his plan to ask her out for a few drinks he thought.
"OK, see you later." Hanging up she knew that Danny must have been dying to ask her who Stevie was but she was going to make him squirm a little. Besides if she had told him that Stevie was her brother that would have opened up a separate can of worms.
"Making plans Monroe?"
"Just catching up with someone from back home, he's been living here for a couple of years now. I called him yesterday and said I'd be in town so he invited me for dinner." She said nonchalantly.
"You guys were close then huh?" He asked casually as the taxi pulled up to the kerb and stopped.
Still are very close. She said teasing him before getting out.
She sighed at the sound of knocking and hopped to the door trying to zip up her boot at the same time.
"Danny? What is it, I'm really late." She turned around and left the door open for him to come in.
"I was just checking in to see if you were ok to get a cab on your own and all. Hey you look nice."
"Thank you and I'm fine really." She said reassuringly as she stuffed her wallet and room key into her bag and struggled with her coat.
Danny walked forward and helped her put it on. She inhaled sharply as his fingers grazed her bare neck when he adjusted her collar.
"Thanks." She said in a half whisper.
"No problem. I'm just going to get some room service and watch some……sports."
She laughed as she followed him out of the room.
"What?" He said, looking confused.
"Mac said if there was pay per view porn on your room bill he'd kill us both."
"What? That one time in Miami; it was a mistake on the bill I swear to God." He felt the flush rise in his cheeks as he looked at his shoes.
"Of course." She smiled warmly as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button.
"Goodnight Cinders," she said to him as the doors shut.
He smiled wryly and let himself into his room several doors down from hers.
Across town a tall, handsome man opened the door with a smile on his face.
"Hey LC!" He said enthusiastically and gave his sister a warm hug, lifting her up slightly.
Lindsay smiled at his nickname for her.
"Hey back SC." She closed the door behind her and hung up her coat.
"Something smells good big bro." She said as her stomach agreed with her.
"Something always smells good in my kitchen. Whereas if we were in your kitchen….."
"You would smell burning, yes I know."
They laughed and fell into their usual routine of cooking and teasing each other at every opportunity.
After dinner they left the dishes in the sink and sat down on the sofa to talk.
"So Linds, any guys on the horizon?" He asked.
"Well….." She smiled going slightly red.
"Oh yeah, spill."
"There's this guy I work with….."
"Uh-huh?"
"His name's Danny. He's a great guy and he told me a little while ago that he likes me."
"Let me guess, you ran screaming in the other direction? Accurate?" He announced, knowing his sister all too well.
"Very" She gulped the last of her wine and set the glass down.
Leaning against him she sighed.
"You gotta stop being afraid LC. If he's a nice guy and he's actually come out and admitted that he likes you then you should go for it. You only have one life to live and you'll always regret it if you let him go."
"I know you're right but it's just hard to make that first step. I have a hard time trusting guys." She frowned and looked away.
Steven pulled her around and hugged her, messing up her hair because he knew she hated it.
"Stevie! Every time!" She said as she smoothed her hair back into place.
He pulled away from her and laughed.
His words remained in her head as she rode the elevator back to her room. Only one life. She knew it, so why couldn't she just throw caution to the wind?
Danny had been listening out for her for a while and finally heard her as she dropped something out of her bag. He got up to look out the peep hole.
"Dammit!"
"Easy Montana."
She looked up from the floor and smiled at him.
"What are you still doing up?"
"I just wanted to make sure that you were ok. You know, that you got home ok I mean, we're in a strange city here and all that."
She couldn't help but smile sweetly at him. He was babbling and seemed nervous as he patted the back of his neck and looked everywhere but her face. She decided to take a chance.
"Do you want to come in for a beer?"
"Oh sure," he said a little too eagerly as he grabbed his room key and followed her.