This story is for all of you that begged me to write a sequel:) I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I'm not sure why I still write this. It's kinda obvious that I don't own any part of the show/characters, or else I wouldn't be sitting on my couch, writing stories- I'd be writing for the actual show:) But once again, I don't own anything.

"No…Stop! Lindsay awoke quickly to the sound of Danny thrashing in bed beside her. Even though it had been four months since his kidnapping, he still had nightmares.

"Danny, wake up." She shook him gently, trying to rouse him from his terrifying dreams. It scared her when he was like this- tears streaming down his face and sweat building up, causing his face to no longer look peaceful and serene, but petrified and frightened. The Danny Messer she knew didn't get upset about anything, and so it scared her.

But since the accident, Lindsay thought, she had come to know him so much better. When she had first come to New York, the rumors of Danny Messer- well-known player of the lab- had circled her head. But after they started dating, Lindsay could see that he was passionate about his work and everything else in his life. He may have once been a man whose life was filled with one-night stands, but that was no longer. He had told her straight off that he intended to stay with her forever, wanting more than just a physical relationship with her. And he had stayed true to his word.

Their relationship was more than just good sex; they talked to each other about their problems, about their past, and their future. She had seen the side of Danny that no one else did, and he had done the same with her. However, seeing him like this still scared her. The cocky, suave man she loved was replaced by a quivering mass of vulnerability.

"Danny!" He hadn't woken up the first time, and so Lindsay shook him a little harder.

Finally, he opened his eyes, and instinctively hugged his knees to his chest. "Sorry."

His quiet reply always startled Lindsay when she had to wake him up. He had absolutely nothing to be sorry for- he had suffered a traumatic experience. It was normal for the mind to produce nightmares when the fear proved to be too much. She voiced said opinions.

"I know, but still. I hate waking you up. You need your rest too." His voice was still silent, and remorseful. Lindsay knew that he hated to bother her, to cause her anymore worry than he had previously.

"Danny, it's okay. I promise you." She kissed him gently, and he pulled her to him. Wrapping his arms around her stomach, they both drifted back off into a peaceful sleep.

At work the same day, Danny was paired with Stella on a double homicide. Both the man and woman had taken quite a beating, and the sight made Danny's stomach churn. All he could see was himself in the man, thinking what could have been if Mac and the others hadn't found him in time. He wished that he could have been processing with Lindsay, knowing that she would have lent him the strength that he lacked.

After collecting all the evidence, the pair headed back to the lab, where Danny hoped he could catch a glimpse of his girlfriend. Even seeing her would brighten his day. However, luck was not with him. Apparently, Lindsay had been assigned a case with Stella, leaving twenty minutes before he arrived back at the lab. This did nothing to brighten his day.

It wasn't that Danny was depressed, because he most certainly wasn't- he couldn't think of a time that he'd ever been happier. He had the woman that he loved, and there was almost never trouble in paradise. And things at the lab were going great also- Mac was happy with his work and they hadn't had a really horrible or trying case in a while. The only problems were Danny's fears.

When processing a scene, Danny tensed when someone approached him from behind; he could still remember the way that the Diker twins had gotten him from behind. Anywhere he saw dark shadows he saw the dark eyes of the men that had taken. When he dealt with a body that had been beaten, he felt the pain from the beating he had sustained. The nightmares he had at night were just as bad- even Lindsay didn't know the full extent of them.

Whenever she woke him up from his screaming, he told her that he was reliving some of his experience. However, the terror at night was always reaching a new extreme- he dreamt of darkness and terror, he saw the eyes of his abductors, felt their hands on him, saw the darker side of humanity. And the fact that it scared him so much shook him up a bit. He wasn't used to being vulnerable. The only thing that relieved his hurt was Lindsay. She could hold his hand, tell him everything would be alright and he would believe her. She just had a calming presence about her.

After sifting through the rest of the evidence, he decided that he could take off. It was almost 9 o'clock, and he'd been there since early this morning. Grabbing his coat out of locker, he decided that he would stop by Lindsay's apartment with a late night snack.

He jumped out off the subway, and walked to his favorite coffee shop. The woman working there looked him over three times before speaking to him. Inwardly, Danny laughed. A year ago, the thought of a beautiful woman would have sparked his interest; he would have flirted, tried to pick her up. However, since starting a relationship with Lindsay, he found it slightly annoying, something that he couldn't always understand. What have you done to me Montana?

"Can I get you anything?" The woman's voice startled Danny out of his thoughts.

"Uh…" He looked the menu over, thinking what to get Lindsay. "I'll have two apple ciders." It was slightly cold outside, and he figured that the caffeine wouldn't let anyone sleep. "And two croissants." A little snack never hurt either.

"That'll be $10.39." The woman's eye lingered too long on his body for his taste, and he quickly paid. After a while, the drinks came and he was able to extract himself from the woman's wandering gaze.

He found her lying on the couch, book on her chest, and eyes closed. Her curls were gently framing her face, and her face was peaceful. So peaceful that Danny almost regretted waking her. However, he needed to hear her voice, needed to get that comfort that he had lacked throughout the day. He looked at her sleeping form once more, and then placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you Lindsay Monroe."

"Mmmm…I love you too Danny Messer." Her voice was soft and filled with sleep.

He pulled her into a hug and chuckled. The laugh rattled in his chest, and Lindsay loved hearing it. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Are you okay Danny?"

He nodded his head, wrapping his arms around her, and settling back into the couch. "I'm fine. I just missed working with you…Today's case was kinda trying."

Lindsay leaned up to him, and kissed him on the lips. "I'm sorry. You've had a tough time lately haven't you?"

Angry tears welled up in Danny's eyes. He hated being this weak, being susceptible to the emotions that had overwhelmed him so much since his kidnap. Wiping away at his eyes furiously, he tried to rub away the wetness. "It's nothing." He knew that his voice sounded hurt and stressed, and he desperately wanted it not to.

"Oh Danny!" Lindsay pulled him into a tight hug, wishing is pain would go away. She kissed him passionately, and Danny found that Lindsay was a perfect remedy for his pain. Smiling against her lips, he pulled back for a second.

"You really know how to make me smile, Montana."

She giggled. "What have I told you about calling me Montana, Cowboy?" She asked, using his nickname. Ever since he had carried her across the roof for an experiment, she had called him Cowboy. Danny always told her that he hated it, but deep down, he loved it.

"That it turns you on." She smacked him playfully on the arm, but stopped as he drew her in for another kiss.

Danny felt his mood lighten. Even though nightmares haunted his dreams, he was still had someone to come home to every night, that made him feel better and loved him.

He kissed Lindsay once more, before pulling back and looking into her eyes. "Lindsay," He swallowed, gathering up his nerves. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. I can have the crappiest day like today, but when I come home to you, I forget everything that happened- I'm happy. Lindsay, you make me happy. I love you so much…and I want," He paused, pulling out a velvet box from his pocket. "I want you to be my wife." He gulped, hoping that she would say yes.

He hadn't been planning on proposing tonight- he had wanted to do it for a while, but never knowing the right time. He had carried the ring around in his pocket for weeks. However, tonight just seemed to be the perfect opportunity.

"Are you serious Danny? You really want to get married?" Lindsay asked him, wondering if her hearing was faulty.

"More than anything."

"Then yes! Yes! I want to get married!" She pulled him into a tight embrace and kissed him. They made love that night more times that night, it seemed, than Danny thought they ever had.

The next morning, Danny looked down at his sleeping fiancé, and marveled again at how far he had come since meeting Lindsay. The once known ladies-man was now going to get married, settle down with someone for eternity.

If you had told him when Lindsay had first come to the lab, that he would fall madly in love with her and propose, he would have laughed in your face. But now…now he was different. And it wasn't just since his kidnapping. He was changing, and the reason was Montana.

TBC

Well, there you have it! Hopefully you liked the first chapter!

Now, see the little button below? Yes the one that says "Submit Review"...click on it and please tell me what you think!

Charlotte