A/N: Thanks for reviews! Here's the next chapter!
Warning: Scenes of violence and references to sexual situations
Chapter 2: Phone Calls and Old Memories
Lindsay collapsed onto her couch and closed her eyes. It had been a long day, well night actually. It was around 4 in the morning, and her next shift started at 2.
"Can't sleep on the couch Montana," she heard Danny's voice gently whisper, "C'mon lets get you to bed." He lifted her from the couch with no effort and laid her gently on the bed. He took off her blouse and pants, slipping her under the covers. He quickly went to brush his teeth and wash his face, trying to wash away what he had seen that evening. The image of that girl laying there in her blood scared him. If Lindsay hadn't have been with him, he would've sworn it was Lindsay who was dead. He dried off and climbed into bed with Lindsay, who, now half awake, draped her arm across his chest, moving close to him.
Several hours of sleep past when Lindsay was awaken by the sound of her telephone ringing. She rolled over and checked the clock, which now read 7:30am, and picked up the phone.
"…Hello?" she greeted groggily.
"Hello Lindsay…"
"Who is this?" she asked, shooting a confused look at Danny who had just awoken as well.
"I'm sad now darling, you don't remember me? I thought you love me, you still do don't you?"
Lindsay's face went white as she recognized the voice on the line. She froze, Danny pulling the phone from her hand.
"Hello? Who the hell is this?!" he barked into the phone. Danny heard a click, and then the line was disconnected.
"Lindsay, what's going on?" Danny asked softly, sitting up.
"Danny its-he found me, oh god he knows where-" Lindsay rambled nervously, her arms around her body. Danny pulled her to him cradling her in his arms, it terrified him to see her this way, he had never seen her so scared.
"Sh, its okay, calm down Linds. Who was on the phone?" he asked, rocking her and rubbing her back soothingly.
"Joe Karesh," she whispered, the sound of his name making her breath hitch in her throat. Danny recognized the name after a moment.
"Joe is the guy-"
"Who murdered my friends and left me for dead?" she whispered shakily.
"Oh Montana," he whispered, placing a kiss on top of her head.
"How did he find me? For all he knew I was dead."
Danny stroked her hair, still rocking her.
"I promise you, I won't let him hurt you. No matter what I'll protect you," he vowed looking into her chocolate eyes, "Get dressed, we're going to see Mac."
Lindsay got up and quickly dressed. Danny threw on his clothes from the night before and holstered his gun, keeping a hand close. Lindsay looked to the gun then to Danny.
"Danny, you don't-"
"Linds, you don't know where he is, better safe then sorry."
Lindsay nodded, walking out the door behind Danny. She walked beside him down the stairs, up the street to the car, her hand gripped in his protectively. They got into the car and drove to the lab in silence. Lindsay face was so pale; she looked like a ghost, almost like the victim the day before.
"Hey," he said taking her hand again, "Let's talk to Mac and Stella okay?"
"Kay," she answered quietly.
They walked through the doors of the NYPD Crime Lab and preceded to the floor on which Mac's office was, Danny now taking his hand from the gun. They exited the elevator and headed to Mac's office, passing Sheldon on the way.
"What's wrong?" he mouthed to Danny.
"Tell you later," he mouth back, Lindsay walking silently, staring at the floor. Danny knocked on the office door, then opened it and walked in to see Mac and Stella talking.
"What are you two doing here? You just left 4 hours ago," Mac asked.
"Joe Karesh," were the only words Danny said. Mac looked to Lindsay in sympathy and worry.
"Sit down," he told her, gesturing to the couch in the corner. She and Danny sat down, his arm protectively around her shoulders. Stella and Mac pulled up two chairs in front of the two.
"Can you tell us what happened?" Stella asked. Lindsay nodded and opened her mouth to speak, her voice meek and quiet.
"We-… I was in bed and my phone rang. I first I didn't know who it was, then he starting talking and I knew. I knew it was him," she stopped and took a deep breath. Danny squeezed her hand in assurance. Lindsay squeezed back, sensing Danny's concern.
"Did you hear anything? Background noises or cars?" Mac asked.
"No. All he said was he was disappointed I didn't remember him and how we love each other. I can still hear their cries in my dreams. I see them laying there, so much blood. His laugh, god he laughed while he-" A silent tear now fell down her face.
"Joe was my boyfriend back in Montana, my high school sweetheart, he wanted to get married, but never asked. One day we got into a big fight over a boy at school who flirted with me, he was so jealous. The second he hit me I took off to my friend Melissa's house…"
Lindsay ran down the street and up to the front step of her best friend Melissa's house. She pounded at the front door.
"Linds? Oh my god what happened? Come in quick," Melissa urged, ushering her into the kitchen where her other friends Jenny, Caitlin, and Alison were.
"It was Joe, we got into a fight," she explained.
"And he hit you?" Alison asked.
"He's so jealous of Tom Sampson and I told him he was crazy and he yelled saying I was a cheating slut."
"I'll get you some ice for your eye," Melissa said quietly walking over to the freezer.
"Lindsay," Caitlin said with urgency The five girls looked to the window curtains as they saw a car's headlights shine through.
"Lindsay, go hide," Jenny told her, throwing the ice pack back into the freezer. Lindsay opened the linen closet door and climbed to the top shelf, her small frame easily curling up behind the blankets and pillows. She cringed as she heard pounding on the door, followed by yells muffled through the door.
Melissa walked calmly to the door and opened it slightly.
"Where's Lindsay?!" he yelled.
"She's not here," Melissa replied calmly.
"The hell she isn't! She always runs here when she has a fit. Where are you hiding her?" Lindsay heard a lamp fall to the floor and break, by the sound of it Joe had forced himself into the house.
"We told you she's not here, please leave," Jenny asked angrily.
"Bull. I guess I'll have to make her come out on her own."
Lindsay didn't see what happened, she only heard the screams, her friends crying out, followed by an eerie silence. She was too terrified to move, as she heard footsteps approach her hiding spot. She heard the doorknob turn, and then met with his enraged green eyes. She thrust her foot forward and kicked him square in the nose, jumping from the shelf. He grabbed her foot mid-jump and slammed against the hard floor. She looked up in shock to see her four friends covered in blood, motionless in various areas of the room, blood everywhere. She turned her head to see Joe with a knife in one hand, her foot in the other. He let go of her foot and grabbed her hair. She cried out in pain as hairs were ripped from her scalp as he dragged her down the hall. He threw open a door, then pushed her onto the bed.
"You're my love or no one's love…"
"After he…was finished, he pulled the knife on me and stabbed me in the stomach and chest. Eventually, the cops came when the neighbours called in the screaming. I was sent to a hospital out of town, everyone in Bozeman believed I was dead. They never caught Joe, he took off after the murders. When I recovered, I got placed in the witness protection program under the name Monroe. The only people who know I'm alive are my parents and brothers. Now Joe knows he didn't kill me." Tears were flowing freely now as sobs shook here body. Danny wrapped his arms around her, stroking her hand and rocking her like he had before. Stella wiped her eyes, Mac just sat there in shock of what he had just heard.
"I promise Montana, I'll get him. I'll find him and make sure he can never hurt you, I swear," Danny whispered, his voice filled with anger towards the man who had done this to his Montana.
It was a somber moment for the four CSIs. Mac stood up and withdrew his phone.
"We need to get you in a safehouse, I'll call Flack and set something up, excuse me," he told them, leaving the room. The three remaining friends sat in silence, Lindsay's quiet sobs the only thing heard. Somewhere Joe Karesh was waiting, and they were going to find him.
TBC
