Disclaimer: Yup, I don't own anything, except of this computer. Well, actually, my brother owns it...so...moving on.
Summary: Based on some spoilers regarding Season 3. Danny confronts Lindsay, but finds out more than he expected.
What I'm missing
Danny was trying to figure out how to confront Lindsay for a few days now. And while trying to figure out that, he was also trying to figure out, why he was trying at all. They were colleagues, and friends some would say, but then, there was something more. Something that was obvious to the entire lab and to them also. Only, he was the one who was willing to admit the attraction and chemistry between them, which was weird in his book. He knew that Lindsay was flirting with him also, in her own way, and he knew that she liked him. She always acted jealous when women were flirting with him. But, he couldn't figure out why she was so afraid to admit it. Sure, he was used to the fact that women were throwing themselves at him, but he hasn't flirted with them ever since that woman in the subway. An that was long time ago. The only woman he wanted to flirt with was Lindsay. He wasn't an idiot, he didn't expect from her to behave like those women. They went already moved from that position. What he expected from her was that she at least gives in to that chemistry between them. But, no. Every time they were alone, and the conversation took a turn to a dangerous place, she would pull away. And that was making him frustrated but curious also. He wanted to know why she was so scared. And since he was blunt most of the time, he decided that the best thing would be to confront her. He just had to figure out two "little" things: where and how.
First he wanted to ask her before their shift, so she couldn't run away from him. But, he didn't want to go through a day looking at her and waiting for her to say something that will break him. So he decided on a different approach. He will wait till the end of the shift while she comes back to their office. He will skip the small talk and ask away.
So, now, Danny was sitting in his office, going through some papers that were already wrinkled from his hands, and he was waiting. He knew that Lindsay had to stay longer and he expected her any minute. Like on a cue, she entered the office, and found herself surprised to see him there.
"I must be dreaming…" she muttered sarcastically. "Why are you still here? The shift ended an hour ago."
"I could ask the same question, Montana." He was nervous as he waited for her to put her stuff down. His eyes never left her though.
Lindsay felt his eyes on her, but she didn't dare to look up. There was something in the air, and she wanted to leave the room and get coffee as soon as possible. She put her stuff down, and, not looking, turned around to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Danny's voice startled her.
"I'm going to get some coffee before going home." She said again turning away from him.
"Can I ask you something first?" He asked knowing that if she leaves that room, his courage will leave him.
"Can it wait?" She hopefully asked. Whatever it was, she doubted that it had something to do with their work.
"No. No, it can't. I just have one question for you and as soon as I get the answer, you can go and get your coffee."
She looked at him knowing that his question will not be the easy one, but she also knew that he will not let her go that easily. This was Danny Messer after all.
"OK, ask away." She said and sat on the edge of her desk. He slowly walked closer and she tensed. His eyes were giving away that he noticed the tension in her.
" Why whenever it's time to acknowledge the chemistry between us, you pull away?" His voice was hoarse and the mixture of his words and his voice made her skin hot. He looked directly at her, and behind his glasses she could see the anticipation. Lindsay took a deep breath and looked away. She knew she couldn't lie to him, but also she knew that the answer will not satisfy him, because she didn't like it also.
"Danny…" She started, but she didn't know what to say. His eyes were penetrating her; and she didn't trust her voice.
"Lindsay, all I want is an answer, whatever it is." He said, like his question was an easy one.
"It's not that simple." She whispered and looked down.
"What's not? The reason you pull away from me?" He sounded hurt, but he needed to know the answer.
"Yes."
He walked even closer and now he was standing directly in front of her, like many times before she pulled away from him. Only this time, he decided that if she tries to run again, he will stop her.
"Just tell me." He reached wanting to put his hand on her shoulder, but the door suddenly opened and Stella rushed in.
"Oh, good! You two are still here."
"What's up, Stella?" Lindsay asked thankful for the distraction.
"You need to come to Mac's office. It's his birthday and since we're all here, I bought some champagne and I thought it would be nice if we could at least have a glass of it together." She stood at the doorway knowing that she interrupted something, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"We'll be there in a minute." Danny said giving Stella the look. He needed to hear the answer and he knew this was his only chance. Unfortunately, Lindsay disagreed. She didn't know what to tell him, and she didn't want to be alone with him.
"No, we can go now. No reason to keep everyone waiting." She refused to look at Danny as she got up from her desk and walked towards the door. She walked by Stella and went straight to Mac's office, not waiting for the two of them. Stella was now watching Danny with the look that said: you better tell me what's going on.
Danny sighed and took off his glasses. He rubbed his eyes wondering if that was it. If his chance to hear the answer to his question disappeared.
"Danny, what's up?" Stella asked putting her hand on his shoulder.
"It's just…" He took a deep breath not knowing if he should say anything.
"Did something happen between you and Lindsay?"
He chuckled thinking how her question was a sword with two sharp edges. And he honestly didn't know the answer to that question.
"I have no idea. Let's go celebrate our boss's birthday. I'm surprised that he went along with it." He joined her at the door and they started to walk side by side.
"What makes you think he had any word in it at all?"
Danny chuckled.
"You're something else, Stella."
"Thank you. Now, walk faster or they won't leave us any booze. Since he's off his pain medication, Flack said that nothing will stand between him and that champagne. And I paid big bucks for it. I'm drinking it."
They entered Mac's office and Danny first looked to see where Lindsay was sitting. She was sitting on the edge of the couch, but there wasn't any room on it. Luckily, there was a chair right next to her and he went there. She refused to look at him, and she played with her glass.
"Where's Hawkes?" Stella asked.
"I'm right here. Sorry, I'm late." Hawkes entered the room breathing deeply like he was running.
"Yeah, I saw you talking to that new girl in the lab. Something going on there?" Flack asked knowing that Hawkes will be embarrassed, but that never stopped him. Everyone chuckled seeing the look on Hawkes's face.
"Come on. Of course not. She's my colleague." Hawkes said as he accepted the glass from Mac.
Both Danny and Lindsay winced, but no one seemed to notice except the two of them. Danny wondered if that was what was bothering Lindsay.
"And that's your explanation?" Flack asked surprised, "I mean, you like her, right? Ask her out!"
He made things sound so easy.
"You know, I don't remember if there was an inner-office relationship here. You, Mac?" Stella wondered out loud.
"Not that I know of. I mean, it's not forbidden or anything, but I don't think that it ever happened." Mac said.
"Which is weird knowing Messer here." Flack chuckled but stopped suddenly as Danny threw him a look that could kill.
"Yeah, I didn't have any in my department while I was working as an ME also." Hawkes responded. Danny stayed quiet, throwing glances at Lindsay to see if she'll join this conversation. But, he didn't dare to ask her anything while everyone was there. Luckily, Stella had no problems.
"What about you Lindsay? How was it in Montana?"
Lindsay looked up surprised as her mind was playing tricks on her. Should she just say it? Her eyes fell on Danny's as he was watching her also. And then she knew that this would be a perfect opportunity to give him an answer without hearing what he has to say about it. At least right away…
"Yeah. There is one story."
"Oooh, good. Tell us about it." Stella sounded eager and everyone chuckled.
"Well, it doesn't have a happy ending." Lindsay looked sad, but she continued nevertheless. "There were two people who knew each other for years. They were friends and after a while, they started going out. After only a month of them being together, something happened, before they even got to know each other on that other personal level."
She shifted in her place gathering strength to continue. The words she could use were dancing in her mind, but none of them seemed appropriate to describe what she was feeling, to describe the pain.
"So, what happened?" Stella asked quietly matching the sound of Lindsay's voice.
"He was killed during the case."
The whole room went silent. They all remembered the ones they loved and lost; friends, colleagues, spouses…until Stella spoke again.
"So, what happened to the woman? How did she cope with it?" Her voice was soft but it spoke volumes.
Lindsay's eyes were focused on one point on the wall while she was struggling with the answer.
"She investigated the case, interpreted blood spatter that broke that case open and that interpretation got her a transfer from Bozeman to New York."
A/N – OK, this will not be a long story. Only one chapter more and that is coming soon. Let me know what you think!