Chapter 1

"Danny, hurry up. We're going to be late!" Lindsay yelled down the short hallway toward their bedroom.

"I'm comin'. Just had to get on another shirt, the orange one has a rip in it." Danny said with a smile as he materialized from the doorway.

Lindsay smiled. She remembered how that shirt got a tear in it. He had been getting out of a trash dumpster during a particularly dirty scene and had snagged it on a protruding metal shard. He had nearly cried like a baby, because it was his favorite shirt. Lindsay however, couldn't stand that shade of orange on him and was secretly pleased that it was ruined.

"It's alright Danny, you have many more. I'll make sure that it gets taken care of properly." Lindsay said with a smirk.

Danny stopped in his tracks. Shook his head and said, "Nope. Not gonna happen Linds. I know that you hate that shirt. If you have your way, you'd throw it in the trash. I get it fixed."

Lindsay laughed and said, "Fine, but I don't think that it can be patched. I'll get what I want eventually!"

Lindsay said this and then danced into the front hallway to retrieve her light jacket. It may have been early spring, but the wind still carried a bite in it.

Lindsay and Danny had been living together for over a month now and she still got that butterfly in the stomach feeling whenever he appeared. Things had been going really well. They were now stronger than ever and were making strides to recover from their most recent horror-filled incident.

Paul Tinder had been dead for over two months and Lindsay was finally nearly completely healed from her time in captivity. She still woke up at least three nights a week in a cold sweat. She was seeing a counselor that Mac had ordered her to and she thought that by talking through the experience, she was coming to terms with accepting what had happened wasn't her fault. She realized that she needed to go to see the counselor, mainly because she started to blame Danny for the problems in their relationship.

Rikki was still connected somehow with Paul, but until they could find her, they weren't sure how. Every few days, they received a note or a bouquet of flowers from her. The notes always proclaimed that she was coming home to be with Danny. After the first few weeks, she became very angry and started to yell at and pick fights with Danny. When Lindsay realized that it wasn't all Danny's fault, he wasn't asking Rikki to destroy their relationship or giving her false hope, Lindsay knew that she needed to seek help to deal with her feelings. The therapist helped Lindsay to realize that even though Danny cheated with Rikki, he had asked her to leave him alone. It was Rikki who couldn't let go. She also realized that Danny had been supportive and attentive to her ever since they reaffirmed their love. He was always patient and when she got angry, he would apologize for what was happening. Lindsay knew that she needed to let go of her anger toward him, after all he was just as concerned by their inability to find Rikki as she was. All in all, Lindsay realized that they were in this together, as equal partners. She was determined to not shut him out and that he wouldn't shut her out.

"Let's go, Danny. This should be my last appointment. I'm hoping that the doctor clears me to return to full duty, you know that. Let's go." Lindsay said, her voice full of excitement and hope.

Danny smiled and nodded his head, "I'm waiting on you, slow poke."

He laughed as she swatted at his arm. Then before they knew it they were in each other's arms and laughing together.

"This feels good. I love you Lindsay. I don't think that I say it enough. Everything's going to work out and you're going to be released from these weekly visits to the doctor. You are nearly 100% now. Just a little limp in your step, but physical therapy has been doing great at that." Danny smiled as he released her and retrieved her jacket for he, than helped her into.

"I love you too. Things are getting better, aren't they? Now, let's get going. I want to have the doctor's release in my hands when I see Mac today. I can't wait to return to full duty. This desk work stuff is for the birds."

"Let's go" Danny said as he opened the door and Lindsay walked through. Today was going to be a good day; Danny could feel it.

They walked into the crime lab and Lindsay instantly turned to Danny, gave him a swift peck on the cheek and practically ran to Mac's office, release form in hand.

Danny was happy to see the light in her eyes again. For several weeks it had disappeared. She was unhappy and moody, the slightest things would set her off and then when he started receiving letters and flowers form Rikki, she was angry and argumentative the majority of the time. He had attempted to talk her into seeing a shrink, but she wouldn't even listen to him. Finally, Danny had resorted to talking with Mac about it and he had agreed to order therapy for Lindsay. She had been reluctant to go, but then suddenly she changed her mind and now went twice weekly. They were getting along better and she seemed to be more open. She had just recently started opening up about the time she had spent with Paul Tinder. Danny wished that he wasn't dead so that he could exact some form of revenge on his body. Then, he would calm down and realize that Lindsay was a strong, independent woman and that was why he fell in love with her in the first place. He had wanted to be her hero, and I some ways he was, but she was her own hero, too and that made him love her even more.

If only they could find Rikki and complete the entire mystery. What part did she play, if any, in Lindsay's abduction? He felt certain that she was the one Paul spoke about before his death, but Danny couldn't know for sure until they found her. Flack and Adam had scoured the internet and rental records looking for any mention of her. So far, they hadn't found anything. So now, they were surprised to find little notes and letters every few days sent, presumably, by her. It was all so frustrating.

Danny entered his office, feeling deflated. They had received an envelope yesterday taped to their front door. He had yet to tell Lindsay because this was a more threatening and ominous note. He had immediately contacted Flack and called him to the apartment. While Lindsay slept inside (it was her day off), he and Don had processed the door and taken the note into evidence. When Danny had arrived at work he spoke with Mac and they had decided to tell Lindsay together. Mac had told Danny that he would call them both into his office once they arrived. He was awaiting the call. He knew that Lindsay was going to be furious, but he didn't know what else to do. This was getting out of hand.

Danny's desk phone rang. The caller id said it was from Mac. Time to go beg for forgiveness, again.