A/N: This story is based on the following challenge, posted by pizzapie on the DL Chem forum. This one was a bit harder to sink my teeth into since I only had one prompt – but that made it that much more interesting! Post 3.14 "The Lying Game". Apologies for taking so long, but school has been crazy!

Challenge:

"The Lying Game"

Why did Lindsay write MOO in her note to Danny?

Haunting

- - -

The first real memory that Lindsay Monroe had was of sitting beside her father in their barn, smelling the sweet, freshly cut hay in the loft above as her dad milked the cows early in the morning. Her parents had a picture from that day on the fireplace mantel in the living room; Lindsay's four-year-old self perched on her father's knee as he showed her how to milk. She was laughing.

Lindsay loved that picture. She had a copy on her side table at home, and she used it as her screensaver at work. To Lindsay, that picture represented the very best of her relationship with her father, as he took her along the farm and taught her all the skills she'd need to know to work on one all by herself.

The cow in the picture was named Bethie, and she was Lindsay's first pet. Both the Monroe children – Lindsay and her older brother Trent – had gotten to pick two animals to have as their own when they turned four. Lindsay had picked Bethie (and named her), and a sweet newborn colt that she named Silver (after the Lone Ranger's trusty steed). Of course, at four she was much too small to do more than feed them, but the day Lindsay was tall enough to reach Silver's back those two animals were hers to take care of.

The responsibility had been a big one for such a young girl, but even at seven Lindsay knew that she could handle it. The time she spent in the barn before and after school were the best times that Lindsay could remember – until she set foot in her chemistry class, that is.

What stuck with Lindsay the most, however, was something her father had told her one day when they were out in the barn:

"These creatures trust us Linny, to feed, clean them and shelter them. They're like children. They can't tell you with words what they want or what they like, but that won't stop them from showing you. They depend on us. If you can take care of them, then when you have to take of yourself, you'll know how to. Bethie and Silver are the first steps towards your independence."

Danny, nosy as he was, inquired about the picture the moment he saw it. He'd asked if that was her daughter. Lindsay had been flattered – he was obviously interested in her. But she'd just moved from Bozeman and she wasn't interested in a relationship of any kind at the moment. (That didn't stop Lindsay from flirting with him, though. Every girl needed entertainment.) Later, after the mermaid case, Lindsay found herself telling Danny the story behind the picture.

Lindsay had stared at Danny's card for hours before she could write one word. She might lie to Stella and the others, but if Lindsay had to see Danny before she left for Bozeman and the trial, there was a chance that she wouldn't get on that flight to Montana. And whatever her personal feelings about the trial, Lindsay couldn't just forget about it – her friends deserved more than that.

And yeah, comparing herself and her friends to cows was weird, but it was the words her father said that were ringing in her ears as she wrote the words down.

Dear Danny,

I'm sorry.

I'm not good at long goodbyes. Or short ones for that matter.

It's just see you later.

Montana is calling and the cows are coming home.

I have to do this.

Moo.

I have to take care of my friends before I can take care of myself, Danny.

See you soon.

I promise.

Montana.

I think I love you.