A/N: Hello all. So, the muse and I were having a conversation and we decided that we wanted to be a little different. So, this twoshot is based off of SEASON SIX SPOILERS. So if you're SPOILER FREE please proceed with caution because I don't want to spoil you :)

With this story, I wanted to show how Danny could react to the situation and how it effects Lindsay – but hopefully won't. It's kind of like an AU if you like – well, what I hope and pray will be AU. I know Danny is a complete arse in this - but I wanted to show how far he'd gone so that Lindsay - whom is usually a strong character in our stories and the show - had reached the brink of what even she can deal with.

I hope you all like it. Really. I do. Because my iPhone keeps telling me on the Yes/No app that it sucks. Haha. Honestly. I hate that app. So, honest opinions are appreciated… but I just hope you like it.

Thank you to Megan for letting me bounce ideas off of her. Hopefully this cheers you up somewhat with you going back to college :(

And I have to mention afrozenheart for sparking this idea in a PM she sent me. Thank you, chick!

It will be a twoshot. So look out for the second chapter :)

I remember every smile, every letter, every kiss you gave to me.
How we'd talk and you'd hold me for hours until I'd fall fast asleep.
You said you would always be there should I need your arms around me.
But now that I've fallen to my knees, I don't think you give a damn about me.

-'And it Feels Like' – Leanne Rimes.

Pulling into the parking garage, Lindsay smiled brightly as she parked the car and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Ready?"

Danny shrugged in response from where he sat in the passenger side and merely opened the door.

Fighting back her sigh from his usual response, Lindsay jumped out of their SUV and unloaded Danny's wheelchair from the trunk, and unclipped it as she moved round to his side of the car and positioned it so that she could help him get into the wheelchair with her assistance.

"Here's to today being a better day in therapy, huh?" She smiled as he reached for her hands.

He shrugged again in response as he gasped in pain while he tried to shuffle from his seat to his wheelchair. Lindsay let her eyes flutter shut as she fought the tears from her eyes at his standoff attitude with her when she was just trying to help. She was used to it. She knew that it was coming every time they loaded into the car to come to his therapy sessions – but even though she knew it was coming – never did it hurt any less, nor did it go away any quicker.

She knew he didn't mean it. Correction. She hoped he didn't mean it. He had voiced his annoyance at his disability many of times and she knew that he was frustrated at the world right now – not her. She was just getting the brunt of his anger at the whole situation.

Or so she kept telling herself.

Between the both of them they were finally able to manoeuvre Danny from the SUV to the wheelchair with a considerable amount of ease – something that they had quickly perfected. She shut the door and clicked LOCK as she took hold of his handles.

"You need to go to work." He told her as his hands went for the wheels to push himself along. "You don't need to walk me to the elevator."

"I want to. I have time."

"You don't need to though."

"I just want to make sure…"

"LINDSAY!" He bellowed, making her jump as he turned the chair abruptly so that he was facing her. "You have to stop babyin' me. I can fuckin' do this on my own."

"Don't curse at me," She said, firm without raising her voice. "I know you're frustrated and you hate this, but Danny, you… I'm not babying you. I just want to help you... I'm only-"

"Just go to work." He said, cutting her off. "I don't need you to help me, Lindsay. I can do this on my own."

She opened her mouth to explain her actions – to tell him she was just trying to help him because she cared. But she promptly closed it and turned on her heel.

What was the point in wasting her breath?

"I love you…" she smiled sadly over her shoulder, knowing he hadn't turned yet. "…A lot."

"Yeah, yeah… you too." He returned half-heartedly, like he didn't mean it.

As she rounded the driver's side, she closed her eyes; and just like every time that she dropped him off, she used the car as a support while she leant against it.

And just like she did every time she dropped him off, she fought the tears that wanted to be released.

He doesn't mean it. You know that, Lindsay.

It just hurt.

A lot.

She unlocked the doors and climbed in as she watched him for a minute while he pushed the elevator button to get to his physical therapist's office. He turned and merely raised his eyebrows as a parting goodbye – to which she returned with nothing. She looked straight ahead and shoved the key into the ignition with more force than what she needed to. She ripped the gears from park into drive and stomped her foot down on the accelerator as she backed out of the space, effectively creating a screeching noise as she did so. She wanted him to know she was mad. She wanted to know she was frustrated. She wanted him to know he'd hurt her.

Not that he'd care right now.

The SUV flew down the lines of parked cars as she headed for the exit. Tears desperate to fall.

Not now. She begged. Not when I'm about to go back to work.

Twenty-five minutes later, Lindsay sighed as she hung her coat up in her office and switched the light on.

Moving into the silent room, she sat down and closed her eyes for a second. Her heart was still aching from her last exchange with Danny.

She felt the tears burn her eyes as she thought about him in his therapy session, desperate to just call it a day and not bother with trying to regain the motion in his legs. Not wanting to bother to fight through the excruciating pain.

She looked around the room and swallowed as she tried to regain her composure. She knew Mac was around – and the last thing she wanted was for him to see this affecting her on the job. He'd been so lenient with them regarding Lucy and now Danny's therapy sessions. She couldn't let him down by letting her personal life affect her job.

She wiggled her mouse, waking her computer up, and instantly, she felt a tear slip down her cheek at the sight of her desktop background. It always got her – but she didn't have the heart to change it.

It was a picture of Lucy and Danny – Danny stood before the accident, with Lucy cradled to his chest as he warmed up some milk for her in the kitchen. It was such a simple picture – something that should really mean very little to her. It was a common occurrence after all for Father's to stand with their infant daughters, warming milk up.

Except for the odd Father that had been shot in a bar and since the said picture had been taking been residing in a wheelchair – unable to perform such a simple and common task.

She propped her elbows up on her desk, and put her head in her hands as she let her tears flow.

She didn't know how much more she was supposed to take. When was a person supposed to snap? She had so much on her shoulders that she felt like she was constantly drowning – yet fighting to stay afloat.

She knew. She knew she was in the middle of the crime lab – in a room of glass and only glass – where everybody could see her clearly crying. But truth to be told; she couldn't care less if she had tried.

She laid her head on the desk and let out a heart-wrenching sob as she pulled her chair further to the desk.

Which was when she heard the door open.

Pull yourself together! Her inner voice screamed.

She wiped her eyes, effectively smudging her mascara - and turned to face the new occupant of her office.

She snapped up and gasped. "Mac, I was…"

"I know exactly what you were doing." He said as he walked over to her with a packet of tissues and handed her one.

"Mac, I'm so sorry, I just…" She paused as she regained a breath and blew her nose. "Give me five minutes to go and clean myself up and…"

He held his hand up and shook his head. "No."

"Mac, please… Just let me -…"

"No." He repeated as he turned her chair and took her hand. She stood up tentatively as he pulled her into a hug. "You're running yourself into the ground, Lindsay."

She stood, motionless as Mac wrapped his arms around her slender frame. "I… I'm not... I just… I -…"

He pulled her over to the couch in her office, and sat them both down as he placed the packet of tissues on the table. He glanced at her as she sat, tugging at her tissue and ripping off little shreds.

"Talk to me, Lindsay."

"Mac, I have work to do, I need to - …"

"You need to talk to me, Lindsay."

"Mac…"

"It's rhetorical." He said simply. "Let me in. Talk to someone – I'm Lucy's godfather. I'm here for you."

"You're my boss, Mac… you have a million and one things to do and I- …"

"And you come before those million things that can be done later." Mac told her. "Start talking."

She took a deep breath – her resolve finally slipping. She scooted toward Mac and laid her head on his shoulder. "I can't do this," she sobbed. "Mac, tell me... I… What can I do to get through to him?"

Mac wrapped his arms around her and let her snuggle into his side. "What have you tried to say?"

"Everything!" she cried. "Anything that I think is going to bring a smile to his face. Anything that I think will make him see the light. Everything I say isn't good enough. He just… Mac, I miss him. I miss Danny – it's like he's a shell and… I just can't do it."

He rocked her as she cried, her tears spilling onto his trademark pressed Blue shirt.

"And what's worse…" she continued as she sniffed. "I know he blames me."

"Blames you?" Mac asked in confirmation, a little taken aback. "He doesn't blame you."

"He wouldn't have been hit had he not gone down on top of me."

"Lindsay…"

"Mac, it's true." She sobbed. "He… I know the way he…"

"Lindsay… we both know Danny. I know he can't express what he's thinking right now without being short with you and getting frustrated… But I know it's not that. I can assure you of that. In fact, I personally think that he's glad he was the one that got hit, because that meant that it wasn't you."

Lindsay opened her mouth to speak but closed it and just shook her head.

"I know it's tough right now, Lindsay. I know that… But you can't try to do everything by yourself like you have. You're a new mother – and you're doing it by yourself."

"It's not Danny's fault." She instantly defended him. "He wants to help; it's just so hard with his wheelchair and the apartment. And he's terrified of dropping her from his chair… It's… Mac he doesn't mean to-…"

"I know that. But it means that all of this is on you." Mac told her as he pulled another tissue from the pack and handed it to her. "You're tiny, Lindsay. You're not built to heave Danny in and out of that thing constantly."

"Who else is going to do it?" Lindsay whispered. "He needs me. I'm managing. I'm fine."

"Are you fine though? You need him – but he's not there for you."

"Mac, that isn't his fault. It's… It's not his fault."

"You're right. It isn't his fault. But his attitude needs to…" Mac sighed as Lindsay yawned. "Lindsay, when is the last time you slept?"

She let out a laugh. "What day is it? Friday? I'd say sometime last week -Saturday… I think."

Mac wrapped her tighter in his arms. "Lindsay, you can't do this on your own. I know you want to – I know you want to make things better for him – but you need to ask for help. You're running yourself into the ground. Who's going to be there for Lucy when you're in the hospital for exhaustion and Danny's in a wheelchair unable to move around because you've run yourself ragged?"

"Mac, I have no choice. This is just my life now. I'm still adjusting. I'll get a routine going and then I can…"

"It's always I. It's never Danny and I. It's never we'll. It's always I. You're thinking that you're alone in this, Lindsay."

"I am!" she cried. "He's my husband and I said that I would take care of him in sickness and in health, Mac. You were there when I promised him that! I can't break my promise to him when he needs me the most – I won't do it. You know him. He's just upset and frustrated."

"I don't care how he's feeling if it means he's… Lindsay – I've seen how he's been speaking to you. I know you love him, but…"

"Mac, I understand where you're coming from. I do… I just – right now it's not the best time to pick at him. He's…"

"You shouldn't have to be walking on eggshells around him in case you hurt his feelings, Lindsay."

"I'm not walking on eggshells around him." she scoffed.

"He's not tentative around you and your feelings…" Mac reminded her.

"He's just upset and he's venting to me."

"Or at you."

"That's the same thing, Mac."

"Completely different, Lindsay… He's trampling over you and your feelings – while you're tiptoeing – trying to keep the peace."

"I'm not!"

"You are. You're trying not to do anything to hurt or upset him and it's not fair on you, Lindsay. You've got a lot on your plate right now – and I think that-…"

"HE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR BECAUSE OF ME!!" She snapped up and bellowed. "What part of that don't you understand, Mac!?! He's in there because he wanted to protect me! I have to do this! I have to make it up to him! I owe it to him!"

"Why?" Mac countered, "Because for once in your relationship he put you first instead of himself?"

His words stung. She wasn't going to lie. She'd not seen it like that – but now – with the idea of that out on the table she knew Mac was right. And it hurt.

She sighed as she leant forward and placed her elbows on her legs and held her head with her hands. "He sold his Harley last night."

"Why?" Mac asked as he rubbed her back slowly.

"Because – and I quote – 'I'm never walking again so what's the fucking point of staring at the thing, unless you want to ride around on it.' You know as well as I do that his Harley was his pride and joy. He loved that bike."

Mac - for once - didn't really know what to say. And she knew that; she could tell from the look in his eyes.

"I've forgotten what his hugs feel like, Mac." She whispered. "I've forgotten how I feel when he gives me a kiss."

"Lindsay…" he whispered, sadness overcoming him as he pulled her back into his side. "I'm sorry."

"I feel like I've lost my best friend all over again."

"You need to talk to him."

Lindsay tried to express her 'no' but she was unable, she shrugged, shook her head and closed her eyes all at the same time – showing to Mac how confused she was. How she had a million different emotions going on inside of her.

"Well someone needs to talk to him. Someone needs to open his eyes to how you're feeling. What he's doing to you – he needs to knock his woe me, off."

"He doesn't…"

"Anything I say- you're going to defend him Lindsay. I understand that. But I'm saying to you – someone needs to stand up for you – who is it that's there to defend you when he starts bitching at you for helping him?"

"Mac, he doesn't often do that… Usually he just…"

"I saw him in DNA, Trace, and Ballistics – and that was yesterday. I saw three separate occasions where you just took it, Lindsay. And I'm sorry; you know how I feel for Danny. He's family. I'd do anything for him – but Lindsay…" Mac paused and shook his head. "I'm not going to let him talk to you like that."

"He doesn't mean it." Lindsay sighed. "He tells me he's sorry and that he…"

"The damage is done though." Mac cut her off. "Your feelings are still hurt. You're carrying all the burdens on your shoulders and it's going to make you ill, Lindsay. I can see the dark circles under your eyes. I see how you're skipping meals to try and get things done quicker so you can get home and make sure things are okay– sleep and eating are the only things you can play with to get more time – and it's the two things you need. You're breastfeeding, Lindsay – you need to be well nourished…"

"I know all of this. I just… right now he needs me and I'm gonna be there for him."

"I'm not saying don't be." Mac assured her. "I'm just looking after you. Someone needs to – and it's obvious you're not looking after yourself."

"I have Lucy and Danny to take care of, Mac. They need to come first. They're my whole world. I need to keep my family from falling apart."

And there it was. Mac sighed – knowing he'd lost the fight. He knew he wasn't getting through to her. She was terrified of her life and the people she loved most spiralling out of control while there was nothing she could do. So instead, the wall they'd seen a little over three years ago when they had apprehended Daniel Cadence was now fully reconstructed around herself – trying to keep on her front as she gripped to the edge of the cliff for dear life – desperate not to fall.

"Mac, I'm fine. I just need… I just needed to cry. Honestly you know how it is… When things just accumulate and then boom, you explode then you're fine again." She smiled happily. "See, look…"

Mac nodded and smiled as he rubbed her arm affectionately. She knew he could see through her façade – but he wasn't going to push her. She needed support. And he knew she'd ask for it when she was ready.

Just not a moment before.

Seven hours of constant DNA analysis later, Lindsay was finally sliding her key into the apartment door and took a deep breath as she braced herself for what awaited her inside her home.

She pushed the door open and dropped her bag to the floor as she kicked her shoes off. The TV was on low and the apartment felt cold.

Which wasn't a good indication of how tonight was going to go.

"Hey sweetheart, how did it go?" she asked as she emerged into their living room.

He shrugged in his position from the couch. "Same ol'; another session of 'you can do it'… How was work?"

"Alright," she smiled as she moved across the room and squeezed his shoulders in a loving gesture from behind. "Did you eat?"

"I ordered take out."

"Aw, okay, awesome… what um…" she turned and looked at the empty containers and she instantly felt the tears burning her eyes. "What, um, what did you get… for me?"

"I didn't think you'd want anything from where I was ordering."

"Oh," she nodded as she sat down next to him, the feeling of her heart sinking becoming overwhelming. "Where did you order from?"

"Paul's," he said, eyes never leaving the screen.

She nodded and shrugged, "You know I love Paul's…"

He shrugged, "Sorry babe, guess I just didn't think you'd be home in time to eat."

"Yeah," she nodded as she straightened up. "You're right; I had a pretty big lunch anyway…" she lied.

He flicked over the channel.

"I'm gonna go lie down…. Where's Lucy?"

"In bed," Danny answered. "I didn't give her a bath, but figured it could be done tomorrow. It took me a while to get her to go to sleep with you not being here and her wanting you so… you know…"

"I'll leave her be until she needs to nurse." she said in a meek voice. "So I'm gonna lay down, okay…"

"Sure."

"I love you," she smiled as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You know that right…"

"Yeah, I love you too," he said as he pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek.

She pressed a kiss to his jaw before standing up and heading out of the living room. She turned to see if he had watched her leave – like he used to when she left a room, and realised he'd not even blinked, let alone move or watch her leave.

She fought the urge to slip down the doorjamb she was leaning against and sob while kicking and screaming – anything to release the pent up emotions inside of her. But, instead she merely walked into her bedroom and shut the door. She tugged her blouse over her body and threw it to the laundry basket and then shred her slacks after removing her phone as she tossed in the same direction of the laundry basket. Dropping her cell phone on the bed, she headed over to the closet where both hers' and Danny's clothes hung in unison – intertwined with no divide between the two.

If only. She mused to herself.

Her hand went for one of his wife-beaters but as she was about to remove the top from the clothes hanger she changed the direction of her hand and grabbed one of her old MSU college jerseys that was on the rail next to her true desired sleeping attire.

She snuggled into the worn, loved and protective jersey as she made her way over to the baby monitor sat on her bedside table and turned it up as she held it to her ear while she listened to her daughter's soft breathing for a moment.

Prying herself away from the baby monitor, she slumped down onto her bed and let a tear slip down her cheek as she pulled her knees into her chest, securing them with her arms wrapped around her legs. She let out a sob as she rested her forehead against her knees and rocked back and forth.

She spluttered as she heard the volume on the TV go up. Even a Gnat knew he could hear her and was simply blocking her out.

She scrambled across the bed and reached for her cell phone and dialled Mac's number from memory. Waiting for him to answer, she sniffled and took a deep breath.

"Lindsay?"

"Mac," she sniffed. "I… I need to take you up on…" she took a deep breath, "…that help… I can't do it. I can't do this on my own. Not anymore. If… I'm… I want to… I can't be here if… Mac, please…"

"I'm in the neighbourhood. I'll be there as soon as I can, alright?"

She opened her mouth – her automatic pilot telling her to assure him everything was fine and coming around wasn't necessary – but her heart; her heart that was slowly being broken; spoke before she had the opportunity to brush him off.

"Thank you, Mac."

"Just hold it together. I'm on my way, Lindsay."

She hung up and flung the phone to the bed and laid her head down on her pillow as she pulled her's and Danny's comforter up, so that she was snuggled underneath it. Closing her eyes, she pulled the material over her head – enclosing herself in a protective cocoon; praying for everything to just go away.

Even if it was just for a minute.

Mac Taylor often found himself storming down hallways.

Mac Taylor often found himself storming towards Danny Messer.

Mac Taylor however, didn't usually have the overwhelming urge to smack Danny Messer into next week.

With his fist, balled up so that his blunt nails were digging into the palm of his hand, he beat on the door that used to be merely Lindsay's apartment until Danny and Lucy had taken residency.

He could hear the sounds of a crowd's cheering being emitted from the TV, accompanied with cursing and shuffling from inside the apartment.

He stood patiently, despite the fury radiating through him.

He heard the lock click and the door cracked open as Danny backed away from the door. "Sorry it took so long, I had to get into my chair wit' me sat on the couch and Linds wa' in bed."

Mac nodded as Danny let him in and shut the door behind his boss. "This a social call or…?"

Mac didn't look at him – he merely walked into the apartment and glanced at the empty take out containers.

Enough for one.

He bit his lip as he turned and finally faced Danny as he wheeled himself down back towards the couch.

"So, what did you get Lindsay from Paul's?"

Danny sighed.

"You didn't get her anything, did you?"

"Look, I've had this conversation with her already. I didn't think she'd be home… And there's stuff in the fridge. She can make herself a salad or something."

"That's not the point, Danny!"

"Look, why are you making such a big deal of it? She said she had a big lunch anyway."

"She's skipping her meals so she can be home earlier. She's not taken a lunch break in… god, about a week!" Mac paused as he watched Danny's blank stare. "A little reaction-slash-emotion would be appropriate here."

"What do you want me to say, Mac… She eats when I'm on shift."

Mac took a deep breath as he moved towards the TV and switched it off. He then motioned for Danny to wheel himself over to the couch and between them Danny was able to retake his position on the couch.

Mac took a deep breath, "See, that's where you're going wrong. You're looking, Danny… but you're not seeing."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"What did she have for lunch the last time you were on shift and had lunch together?"

"We sat in the break room and she…" Danny fell silent.

"Go on, what did she have?"

His face fell. "She said she'd already eaten. She said she'd sit with me though so we could have a few minutes to spend time with each other. I yelled at her for treatin' me differently."

"So, while she's desperately trying to get through to you. To reconnect. To make you smile, you're pushing her away and accusing her of treating you differently? Danny. You used to eat your lunch together. Smile, laugh and sneak in a kiss here and there. That's what she's desperately wanting. She's not treating you differently, she's trying to treat you the same. It's YOU that's treating HER differently."

Danny leant his elbow on the arm of the couch and used his hand to support his head as he covered his eyes and rubbed them.

"She's stretching herself in a million different directions and she's trying to make sure your little family doesn't fall apart. So much so, that she's gonna end up ill, Danny… And you don't give a damn about her. You don't care."

"That's bullshit. I do care."

Mac snorted. "Don't you get it?" he asked him in a low voice, deciding to go in a different direction. "Don't you see?"

"See what?" Danny spat. "See what, Mac? That I'm probably not gonna get out of that fuckin' wheelchair…"

"No! Not that." He glared. "Don't you see what you're doing to her? To your wife? Don't you see that you're going to lose her?!"

He fell silent as he looked at his boss.

"She's going to pack her stuff, pack your daughter's stuff and walk out of here. And you know what, I'll be here helping her if you don't buck your ideas up. You're going to lose her Danny."

Danny opened his mouth and slowly closed it as he sat back on the couch, tears brimming in his eyes. "I know… I know that."

"Well then – if you know it, Danny. Do something about it!"

"If I don't get out of this wheelchair, I just think…"

"If you finish that sentence with 'I just think she'll leave me anyway' I'm gonna hit you so hard that you're going to want to stand up just to beat the crap out of me. Don't you see the fake smile that is plastered across her face trying to keep your spirits up? Or are you so wrapped up in yourself and your own self pity, you're missing everything that Lindsay's feeling?"

"It's not supposed to be like this!" Danny spat. "It's not… we're supposed to be… It's not supposed to…"

"Who dictates how things are supposed to go?" Mac questioned. "Who decided what you two were going to go through? Shit happens, Danny. You deal with it. You think now she's married you she'll stick around? Please. I wouldn't blame Lindsay if she walked out that door right now with me sat here. This is so out of character for you. I thought you would have learnt."

Danny fell silent.

"Oh don't act all offended and shocked. I knew straight away. I know you. I had to speak with your then girlfriend, Danny. Around that the time you'd 'forgotten' to turn up to her birthday party… It was a few drinks, Danny. All we asked you to do was to show your face and you didn't. Do you remember the time that Lindsay left evidence unattended?"

Danny nodded. "I covered for her."

"She told me she'd made a mistake getting involved with a co-worker."

Danny flinched at Mac's words.

"I don't want to have that same conversation with her again. Do you understand me? She doesn't deserve to be treated like this. Every time there's been a problem Danny, we've seen it through your point of view. How has Danny taken it? How is Danny coping with it? – there's always been no focus on Lindsay. How Lindsay has been able to get through the past four years. She's had no one to stick up for her when you were 'comforting' Rikki Sandoval. Well – now… As her daughter's godfather, I'm sticking up for her. Enough is enough. You need to get your act together."

"Sheldon's spoken to me about all of this. I know… alright. I know."

"If you know, why aren't you doing anything about it?!"

"BECAUSE!" Danny bellowed. "Because I just think it'd be easier if she left. That way she wouldn't be in this situation. She didn't marry someone in a fuckin' wheelchair. So if I push her away, she'll find the person she deserves."

Mac balled his fists up. "Are you for real?"

"Yes." Danny growled. "She deserves better than me."

"You're even more of a asshole than I thought." Mac hissed. "Are you kidding me? You're pushing her away so that she will walk out of that door, with your daughter, and you believe she'll be better off? Is that what you're saying to me?"

Danny threw his head back against the back of the couch. "I don't know. I don't know what I'm trying to say."

"She promised you she would be there for you in sickness and in health – she said that to me today – that she couldn't and wouldn't break her promise to you. What she said to you that day, Danny… She meant every word. Don't make a mistake here. Don't ruin the best thing that has ever happened to you. Don't push her away like you have in the past. Don't lose your wife and daughter, Danny. Cause that's where you're headed."

"At least I'm headed somewhere."

"Do you know why I'm here?"

Danny shrugged. "To talk some sense into me?"

"No," Mac shook his head. "Your wife called me – sobbing – saying she couldn't deal with this. She couldn't be here."

Danny scrunched his face up in disbelief.

"You don't believe me?" Mac asked as he reached in his coat pocket for his cell phone. "Here," he said as he quickly pulled up his recent call list. "Lindsay. 8:07PM."

Danny looked at the phone, then at the DVD LCD light blinking the time.

8:37PM.

Danny closed his eyes and let out a breath. "I'm going to lose her. I'm gonna lose my baby girl…"

"Well, if Lindsay goes, she's gonna take Lucy, so yeah… you will."

"I'm not talkin' about Lucy. I'm talkin' about Lindsay. I'm gonna lose Lindsay. My baby girl. She's… she's gonna leave me."

"No, she won't," Mac started. "And that's the sad thing, because she loves you too damn much to leave you when she should have walked out that door a week ago."

"What can I do?" he begged. "How do I fix this? I don't want to lose her, Mac… I just… I'm so mad that I'm stuck in this fuckin' thing that…"

Mac held his hand up. "Get out of the chair then."

"Mac, you have no idea how bad it…"

"Danny, I have friends with no legs from injuries they sustained at Beirut – they're confined to a wheelchair. Not you... You have two working legs. You just need get off your ass and use them. They work. You just need to breathe through the pain."

"It's easier said than done."

"Look, whatever." Mac said, cutting him off. "If you don't want to lose her, you have to start somewhere. And the minute you get out of that chair, you're going to be a different person. We all know that. Therefore you need to start working on that."

"I need to work on my marriage. She means more to me than anything in the world. Her and Lucy… I'd do anythin' for them."

Mac shook his head. "Words are just words till you mean what you say, Danny. You need to show her you'd do anything. Actions speak louder than words."

Danny turned to the kitchen counter and took a deep breath. "I can't lose her."

"So do something about it then."

Danny turned and looked at Mac. "Can I borrow your cell?"

Mac passed it to him as he sat back in his chair.

Slowly, but surely, the spark in Danny Messer's eyes were coming back.

"What are you going to do?"

Dialling a number from memory, Danny held the phone to his ear and let out a deep breath. "I'm saving my marriage."

Honest opinions? I'd really appreciate them. I hope you come back for part two. :) Thanks for reading.