She opened one eye, just one mind you. 'Oh, that hurts!' She knew she shouldn't have drank so much last night. The only reason she did was Danny. She just had too much on her mind and in her past to do a relationship right now. Sure he's just looking for fun, but what about a week from now, or a month, or 6 months, hell, what about a year from now. Eventually he was going to want more that just a friendship. He said it best when he said they were into each other, they had chemistry, she was just too afraid to take that step right now.
Then Stella wanted to relax after a grueling case and all Lindsay wanted to do was forget, forget the way she felt about Danny.
They all met at the bar, Mac, Stella, Flack, Hawkes, Danny and Lindsay. She tried so hard to stay away from him but the only empty seat was beside him. Then came the beers, followed by the shots, followed by the mixed drink (just one), followed by more shots, and then came the dancing. Lord only knows how she and Stella managed to move the way they were. How had her hips done some of those things? And where did Stella learn that butt-shake thing? Next came the mistake. She glanced at the table, only for a moment, and there he was staring at her. No ocean, sea, lake or even pond in this world could match the blue she was drowning in. The music faded, Stella was still dancing but not right beside her anymore; she had faded into Lindsay's peripheral vision somewhere, and Mac, Hawkes, and Flack were probably still at the table but she couldn't tell for sure, the only thing she saw was Danny. Danny staring right back at her, Danny licking his lips, Danny getting up and moving toward her.
He stopped, right in front of her, pulling her into his arms. That's when it registered; the tempo had slowed. She couldn't even pick out the song, everything in her was totally focused on him. His arms around her, his forehead leaning against hers, his body heat permeating her clothing setting her on fire.
One dance, that was all. When the song was over she wrenched herself out of his arms, took one last look in his eyes and told him in no uncertain terms "NEVER AGAIN". He tried to talk to her, to apologize, to tell her she just looked too damn good standing there staring at him. It was fear and nothing but; well, maybe a little alcohol too. And Danny was justifiably confused. She ran back to the table, grabbed her bag, mumbled some goodbyes and headed home.
Once she left the air-conditioned bar and stepped out into the sticky, hot New York summer night her head really began to spin and she stumbled nearly losing her balance. Someone in the bar saw her almost fall. "I better make sure she gets home okay," he thought as he immediately followed her out into the night. "Linds, Linds are you okay?" he asked. She stared at him carefully, wondering why there were three, or was that four of him. And who was this person. Wait, she recognized the voice, sort of. Then she made the second mistake.
"Why, why do you have to follow me, can't you see I'm trying to get away from you?" she cried.
"Why? Why should you run from me? I'm trying to help you!" he asked curiously.
She was really close to losing it now, "Help me! You want to help me!" That was it, she broke down. Blame it on the heat, the alcohol, his proximity, hell blame it on the rain, if there was any. There had to be, her face and shirt were getting soaked. Wait, maybe that was from the tears.
He took her in his arms. "It's okay Lindsay. Just let it out, you'll feel better."
"How can I feel better when I'm too afraid to love you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"What?" he said. "You love me"
"You know I do" and she pulled him in for a kiss. Ta hell wid it, she thought, if he wanns ta help, I'm gonna led him. Wow, I muss be drunk, I'm slurrin' in ma brain (This is followed by several giggles).
"Whoa," he says pulling away, "Lindsay you don't know what you're doing. Let me get you home and into bed so you can sleep it off."
"Yeah, tack me home and gat me in bed (more giggles), and ya can join ma too (giggle, giggle, giggle)"
"Okay, that it, lets go." He puts a solid arm around her for support and struggles with her the next few blocks to her apartment. Unfortunately, the hot, steamy New York night isn't helping his alcohol fogged brain either.
By the time they arrive at Lindsay's door they are both laughing and giggling about tripping over each other's and their own feet. She can't find her key and he has to help her dig through her pockets and her purse to find them.
Once inside Lindsay grabs him and presses her lips to his. He tries to tell her no but damn, she smelled good and he hadn't been with a woman for a long time. He slowly comes around to her kisses and starts kissing her back. She slowly starts moving. Oops, forgot that chair wuz there. Oops, trash can. Oh the hell with it, they struggle back the hall to the bedroom. Can't use any lights, that'll just wake her up.
The rest is pretty much a blur. She pretty much guesses the sex was good, because damn she was hurting this morning. Hurting in places she didn't remember she had. Of course some of that could be stiffness, after all he was covered head to toe in her blankets. Cover hog. Well if I have to be awake and half alive and hurting so is he.
She gets on her knees, grabs the blankets and gives a sharp tug to reveal . . .
FLACK?!?
