A/N: Major apologizes for the late post. I have been busy with RL lately and was unable to work on this chapter on the weekend, as I had hoped to do. Thank you all very much for the lovely reviews, both here and at DLC. Here is the latest installment. Enjoy!

All mistakes are mine.

Chapter 2 - "I'm pregnant."

Dawn's first light pooled into the bedroom, separated into strips by the blind that covered the window. Whilst some collected on the wooden floor, others gathered onto the bed, encasing Lindsay in a glorious golden aura. The young woman was still traversing the citadel of dreams as the light danced around her serene features, warming her skin. The tingling sensation immediately sent a message to her brain, and instinctively she reached up with a lazy hand and rubbed her cheek. A large yawn escaped her throat as she stretched her tired muscles and gingerly opened her eyes, allowing them several moments to adjust to the light. Moaning, she closed them again and flipped over to her stomach, burying her face into the warm pillow. Lindsay turned her still-blurry gaze to where Danny was supposed to be sleeping beside her. Instead, the spot had been vacant for about an hour. He had the early shift today, and Lindsay felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. He should be here to enjoy this beautiful morning, not stuck in the lab.

As she lay there, half-covered by the sheets, she allocated some time to think about the past month. Although the winding road was still a bit rough and they were far from reaching the end, things between her and Danny were better than in previous times. They were taking baby steps towards rebuilding their relationship, and while the process was slow, Lindsay was glad they were finally back on the same page. She was finding herself spending more and more time at his place. She had even helped move in his new mattress. The actual process was quite a challenge, but listening to Flack and Danny bicker had provided her with some entertainment. Only a few weeks after their night on the pool table, Danny had thrown out his old mattress, claiming that "it was tainted." Despite her current position in the same room where he had committed his sin, she was not disturbed by the notion. Danny had mentioned something about exercising the new springs, giving Lindsay a naughty look. Flack had just laughed, held up his hands, and said, "I don't want to know."

Realizing that she eventually had to get up for work, Lindsay cursed whoever was the inventor of such a comfortable object and rose to a sitting position. Almost instantly, a wave of nausea flooded over her, so strong that it nearly overwhelmed her senses. The sheets lay forgotten in a crumbled pile on the bed as Lindsay bolted to the bathroom, which was thankfully just across the room. Throwing herself at the toilet, she lifted the lid and vomited several times, coughing and hacking as she did. Tears sprouted from her eyes, and the contents burned her throat. After several agonizing moments, she hunched over the bowl and slowed her breathing, mind spinning like a crazed top at what had just occurred.

Squinting at the report she held in her hands, Stella sighed and tossed the paper on her desk, rubbing her temple. It had been a long morning, and she was finishing up a few files for a case she had been working on with Hawkes, who was out questioning some people. Toying with a random pen, she turned her attention to the findings that Adam had given her earlier, hoping to discover a clue that would aid in solving the case.

Her eyes shifted to the doorway as someone knocked gently on the glass. Stella smiled brightly. "Hey kiddo, you wanted to talk to me?"

Lindsay nodded, clutching her coat tightly to her stomach. "Yeah, if you don't mind."

Stella noted her nervousness as she shuffled into the office, taking a seat on a small couch near the desk. The older woman cocked her head slightly to one side. "Of course I don't mind. Is everything okay?"

Lindsay shook her head, tears threatening to form in her eyes. "Danny's not back yet, is he?"

"No, he's still out in the field with Flack. Linds, what's the matter?" Stella's voice held an audible note of concern.

Her younger colleague swallowed hard. "I think I'm pregnant."

Stella was taken aback, but she held her silence and allowed Lindsay to explain. "About a month ago, Danny and I slept together. We were talking on the phone, and he wanted me to come over so we could figure things out. One thing led to another, and we ended up having sex on the pool table."

"Did you miss your period?"

Lindsay nodded again, this time in a sullen manner. "I threw up this morning. Thankfully it was after he left."

Stella studied her friend. Lindsay was on the brink of crumbling, and with a swift motion she moved to the couch, where she sat down beside her. Rubbing a hand over her back, Stella consoled the younger woman soothingly, who choked out words as she sobbed. "I don't know how Danny will react when I tell him, Stella. What am I supposed to do?"

The older CSI attempted to calm her down with a soft tone. "Have you taken a pregnancy test yet?"

Lindsay shook her head, eyes stained with tears. "I'm going to stop by the store after and get one. I just wanted to confide in you first."

Snatching the Kleenex box off her desk, Stella offered it to the distressed woman. Pulling a tissue out, Lindsay sniffed and wiped her cheeks dry. "I'm more nervous on how Danny will handle this. We're still re-building our relationship."

Stella flashed a small but heartfelt smile. "Have faith in him, Lindsay. He's a changed man now; I can see it in his eyes and stature. He loves you, an' he'll do whatever he can to make sure you know that. If he truly cares about her – and I know he does – he'll be here for you and your child."

Lindsay's mind rewound to the night she had gone to his apartment and how apologetic he had been for hurting her. She recalled all his attempts at talking to her after his infidelity, trying to heal the wounds between them. The wounds he had caused.

Clicking the bathroom door shut, Lindsay inhaled deeply and faced herself in the mirror. In her left hand she held the object that would determine if her life was forever changed. She was unsure of what she wanted the result to be. She had always been fond of children and dreamed of having a baby of her own one day. When she herself was a child, Lindsay had never played with dolls, opting to go horseback riding instead with her father. Her love for little ones had stemmed from caring for infant animals on her ranch. The feeling of knowing you helped deliver a new life into the world was something Lindsay never wanted to let go of. It was the most amazing sensation, and she had often found herself wishing that one day, when she found the right person, she herself would become a parent.

But at the same time, she was concerned on how Danny would react, especially in light of Ruben Sandoval's death. The one notion that caused her heart to swell with anxiety was how Danny would handle the prospect of being a father. Stella's words were reassuring, but in the farthest corner of her heart lingered a shadow of a doubt. She had found the right person - of that she was certain - but the timing of this event was not the best.

Her reverie crumbled as a sudden vibration in her jean pocket went off, causing her to nearly drop the stick. Fishing for her cell, she pulled it out, gave a quick glance as to who was calling, and pressed her fingertip against the word "Accept" that flashed on the screen. "Hey."

Not bothering to give a greeting back, Danny launched right into his questions. "Are you alright? Is everything fine?"

Lindsay held a hand up, even though he could not see her. "Woah Danny, slow down. What's going on?"

"Stella told me you came in but weren't feelin' well, so you went home."

He doesn't know. "Yeah, I'm a bit queasy. Maybe I have the flu or something. I'll be okay; I'll just lay in bed for a while."

"Okay, good. Jus' get some rest. You want me to stop over later with some soup?"

"Thank you, but I'll be alright for the time being. Maybe tonight."

Silence rendered on the other end. "Danny?"

"I know Stella would have told me if somethin' had happened, but I was still worried about you."

His words tugged at her heartstrings. Danny Messer, the lab's hot-headed kid, was concerned about her well-being. He had never been the worrisome type, but Lindsay had noticed that whenever the situation involved her or one of their colleagues, Danny was right there in the thick of things. It was an attribute of his she had come to admire. "Danny, believe me, if I was hurt, you'd be the first to know."

She sensed him smiling. "Get some sleep now. Bye Lindsay."

"Bye Danny."

The click of him hanging up the phone echoed in Lindsay's ears, and she too turned off her cell. The surprise call had stalled her for a few minutes, but she knew she would have to take the test sooner or later. Since pregnancy tests could give a false reading, she had decided earlier to do it a second time later on in the afternoon.

This is it. Taking out the stick from its packaging, Lindsay started with the procedure.

As she waited as patiently as she could for the results, Lindsay sat on her couch and granted her mind access to the long-ago days of her early months in the NYPD. She recalled Danny's first prank on her, moments after she had walked into her first crime scene. At the beginning he had come off as an arrogant jerk, but as time passed Lindsay realized that he had only been testing her. What had really grated her nerves was when he had started to call her "Montana." After a while, however, she had grown used to it. The nickname had become a term of endearment, and Lindsay quickly began to realize that he only called her by her given name when something was amiss.

A hostage situation. A young woman blindfolded and gagged. A tall brute of a man aiming a loaded gun at Lindsay's face, threatening to shoot lest she give up her identity. The next thing she remembered was smoke, billowing pummels of the thick grey matter that stuck to the walls of her lungs, choking her, blinding her.

"Lindsay!"

That voice.

"Lindsay!"

Through the smoke and debris she could see him, eyes frantically searching every square inch of the room in a desperate plea to find her.

"Danny!"

She had managed to spit out his name before nearly being overpowered by grainy smoke. Danny rushed over and helped her to her feet, steadying her by clamping his hands on her arms. As they rose together, Lindsay could feel his breath wash over her skin and his eyes travel her body, making sure she was unharmed.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

The reply hadn't even escaped her lips as he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around the back of her protective vest and pressing her forehead against his jawline. For a few moments the world ceased to exist. In the present, Lindsay could still feel his hot breath on her neck, his muscular arms holding her to his chest. In her memory, he pulled her back to get another good look at her. Lindsay knew it had been a foolish idea to go in alone, and although Danny had agreed with her afterwards, he had also claimed the action to be "one of the most brave things I have ever seen."

Danny pushed their bodies together again. Releasing her hold on her ears – which were still ringing from the blast – she clasped Danny's vest tightly, scrunching her hand into a fist. That single move caused her defenses to completely shatter.

But after that, things between them changed. Lindsay distanced herself from Danny, wanting to be alone. He had gently approached her about their friendship and where it was leading, but she panicked and backed away. She knew he was only trying to help, but Lindsay's demons were unwilling to let her grow too close to him.

They dissolved into thin air the moment he had walked through the courtroom doors in Montana.

The memory would be forever locked in Lindsay's heart. The way his eyes shone like a thousand oceans, the way his skin felt so warm against hers...finally, she could let go of her past.

Then there was the first night on his pool table. Not only did she kick his ass at the game, but they also devised a new usage for the table. That night, Lindsay swore she was on fire. Her skin burned insanely, and all their pent-up feelings were released. How they felt on and inside each other lit fireworks in their hearts, and created an escape like no other.

Suddenly, tragedy struck, and Danny became the one to lock himself away. Ruben Sandoval's death had literally torn him apart, and depression set in. Soon after the horrible accident that claimed the life of an innocent child, Danny committed the ultimate sin. Lindsay's efforts at consoling him proved fruitless, as did everyone else's. Even Flack, who was Danny's best friend, was unable to knock some sense into his skull. Blaming himself for the young boy's death, Danny had hid from the world. Now, Lindsay was giving him a second chance. Due to their combined efforts to rekindle the flame between them, some of the wounds on her back were closing.

Lindsay's eyes snapped open as realization set in. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, she picked up the stick that she had placed on the coffee table and glanced at the reading. Her breath suddenly caught in her throat.

Staring back at her, in small black pixels, was a plus sign.

Later that afternoon, Lindsay gave another attempt at the pregnancy test. The result was the same, and for several minutes she wept softly in the bathroom, back pressed up against one of the walls, which was painted with a gorgeous lilac hue. More confused than upset, she wondered what her future would now hold. Despite Danny and her wonderful colleagues whom she loved dearly, Lindsay felt like she was totally alone. She was not ready to have a child. But fate had different ideas, and as this thought replayed through her mind over and over, she began to feel very slightly better about the tiny organism in her belly and what it would eventually grow in to. Still, the idea was nearly overwhelming.

Her cell shook again. She didn't bother to glance at who was calling, as she instinctively knew. "Hey there."

"Hi. You still up for some of that soup?"

Lindsay felt her stomach protest at the lack and mention of food. "I think my stomach would really appreciate that."

Danny emitted a low chuckle. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"Okay. Bye." Hanging up the cell, Lindsay slouched lower. She was not looking forward to relating the news to him, yet she knew it had to be done.

Somewhere in a dark corridor of her mind, a faint voice whispered, "Have faith in him."

A soft rap on the door interrupted Lindsay's work in the kitchen, which was merely an attempt to get her mind off things. Wiping her hands on a dish towel, she strode over and opened the door to reveal Danny holding a large lidded bowl, full to nearly the brim with soup. He was dressed in a casual manner, wearing jeans and a shirt with a jacket overtop, and of course his beloved Converse shoes.

Masking her true feelings, Lindsay chuckled softly. "You look quite handsome."

He reached down and took one of her hands in his, lifting it up to his mouth and planting a soft kiss on her knuckles. "I figured I would go for a more relaxed look tonight. How are you feelin'?"

"Better, thank you. Come in."

Danny entered the apartment, careful not to spill the container of hot liquid. "I made this myself, jus' the way you like it."

Lindsay blushed visibly. In the past when she had been sick, Danny would often make her his special chicken noodle soup, overflowing with vegetables, pasta, and various herbs. Italians were known to be excellent cooks, and Danny certainly knew his way around the kitchen.

Even with the lid on the container, Lindsay could still smell its contents. She licked her lips in anticipation. "You always know how to satisfy a girl."

Danny winked cheekily. "Damn right I do. Now c'mon, this soup will get cold. Don't want to waste a good meal do we?"

Lindsay flailed her arms in mock horror. "The very idea of it!"

Striding into the kitchen, Danny rummaged through the drawers for some bowls and utensils. Having been over to Lindsay's apartment before, he knew where everything was. As he prepared the meal, Lindsay rested on the couch, watching him intently. Stray thoughts of what his reaction might be wandered through her mind, but she was determined to tell him before the night ended.

Danny must have sensed her eyeing him, because he turned his gaze to her. "What?"

"Nothing." She said after a pause.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening. That soup was delicious."

"Anythin' for you, Linds." Danny kissed her forehead lightly. They had finished watching their movie, a title he had picked up on the way home from work, and he was now heading back to his place. Lindsay was tempted to ask him to stay for the night, but she thought better of it and held her tongue.

"Goodnight, my love. I'll see you tomorrow." He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. Lindsay's own arms flew up and clasped his back. Without warning tears formed in her eyes, and she cursed inwardly as she choked for breath.

Knowing she was crying, Danny swiftly pulled her back. "What's wrong?"

Tears streamed down Lindsay's cheeks as she could only shake her head. "I can't…"

"Can't what? Darlin', what's the matter? Are you injured?"

"Danny, there's something I need to tell you, but I'm afraid to." How she hated speaking those words.

He chased away a falling tear with a quick flick of his thumb. "Come, sit down."

He led her back to the couch, where he held her in his arms as she sobbed. "Lindsay, you know you can tell me anythin'. Whatever it is, I won't be angry. Baby, let it out. What's upsettin' you? I hate to see you like this."

Lindsay swallowed the huge lump that had gathered in her throat. Some invisible force was summoning her to find the courage to tell Danny. Straightening herself up, she clasped both his hands in hers and stared levelly at him, ignoring the still-falling tears, and uttered two words. "I'm pregnant."