Author: messersmontana
Rating: Teen
Genre: CSI NY
Pairings: Danny & Lindsay
CSI show: New York Episode 3x18 Sleight out of Hand
Summary: A conversation between Danny and Lindsay right after they leave the courthouse.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story my little mind made up, the characters are not mine. But I wish they were.
Feedback: This is my first CSI NY story so please be kind, but honest. Thanks for giving it a shot.
CSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYCSINYLindsay held onto Danny's hand as he led her out of the courthouse. She couldn't believe it; she almost kissed him and for once she wasn't afraid or nervous about it. Maybe she could do this, maybe he was the one that could chase all of her demons away.
Danny pulled them outside and stopped, looking around. "Okay Lindsay, this is your neighborhood, you gotta tell me where to go. Where can we go that is quiet so we can talk? We have a lot to talk about."
She smiled at him and pulled him along to a small mom and pop diner around the corner. "Only the locals know about this place. No one will bother us in here. Becky will make sure the reporters stay out and leave us alone. I worked here during high school to save some money for college. She loves me."
He followed her to a booth in the back and scooted in next to her instead of across from her. "This isn't the diner where it happened, is it?"
"No, I haven't been back there since the day it happened, it's on the other side of town." She said as she placed her bag on the table.
"How are you holdin' up Montana?" He asked as he watched her nervous hands play with the strap to her bag.
"Now that it's all over, I'm doing better. I did hate having to face him, but I knew I had to do it. My friends can now rest in peace, and maybe their parents can forgive me." She said in a whisper, almost on the verge of tears.
"Forgive you? Why should they forgive you Linds? It's not your fault that they died and you survived. No one can blame you for being a survivor." He put his arm around her and pulled her to him in a half hug.
She gave a sad smile. "That's what Kelly's dad keeps telling me, but when I look into her mother's eyes I see different. It's not really hate, but I can almost see that she wished it was me who died instead of Kelly, and the guilt starts all over again."
"You wanna talk about it? I don't know too much about what happened, except what little Stella told me the other day. I know you, and I know that you are not at fault for your friends deaths." He told her as he grabbed a napkin for her tears.
She told him what had happened just like she did in court, but she didn't stop this time when it got too painful. He held her hand through it all and she used his strength to tell him everything that happened.
"I'm supposed to meet everyone over at my parent's place for dinner, but I'm not sure I can go Danny. I don't know if I'm strong enough to do that." She laid her head on his shoulder.
He touched her chin and made her look at him. "You're one of the strongest people I know Lindsay, you can do this. Would it help if you didn't have to do it alone? I could go with you. You'll never have to do this alone, I'll be right by your side." He said as he kissed her forehead.
She smiled with tears in her eyes. "Thanks Danny, that means a lot to me. But are you sure you're ready to meet my family yet? We haven't even gotten through a first date yet."
He wrapped his arm around her again. "I was ready a long time ago Montana."
The End
