2. Jumping To Conclusions

Danny arrives at his apartment a little after midnight after a long, exhausting night out with Flack and the guys. He opens the door cautiously, in case Lindsay's asleep, and heads inside. He shrugs off his coat and chucks his keys onto the little side table in the hallway.

"Sorry I'm late, Montana, I was…" He trails off when he notices Lindsay standing in the hallway, arms crossed over her chest, two suitcases on the floor beside her feet. Her eyes were filled with anger and hurt. The tension in the air was so thick you could almost taste it.

"What's going on?" he asks, his voice dripping with concern. Lindsay steps towards him with a dangerous look in her eyes. Danny is spooked and steps backwards until he feels the cold doorknob hit his back, sending a jolt of pain through his spine. Lindsay keeps moving until she is face to face with him. She stands on her tiptoes so she is looking him directly in the eye and speaks in a menacing tone, punctuating each word with an aggressive poke to his chest.

"Don't play dumb with me, Messer, you know exactly what's going on!" She searches his eyes for signs of guilt, remorse, but finds fear and confusion. This makes her furious. "I saw you tonight at the bar, you bastard, with that blonde bitch… all over you," she falters as she remembers the hurt and sorrow she felt at that moment. Fear flashes over Danny eyes as he immediately realizes what's transpired.

"Linds, it's not what you think. This is just one big misunderstanding…" He reaches out to touch her face, but she grabs his hand roughly and throws it down to his side.

"That the best you can do, Messer?!" she snarls, "And here I thought you were smarter than that!"

"Just let me explain… she came onto me…" Danny desperately tries to explain.

"And you just couldn't resist, could you?!" Lindsay bites back. "I should've known. Once a player, always a player." She turns and walks away, hiding the tears threatening to fall.

"It wasn't like that, Linds." Danny lets out an exasperated sigh. This was not how he wanted to spend his evening. He had fought so hard to get Lindsay, he wasn't going to let a stupid misconception ruin it. "Baby, please…" he pleads, but stops when he sees her shaking and hears her quiet sobs. His heart breaks at the sound of each heart-wrenching sob and he feels his eyes well up too, but refuses to break down. His arms ache to hold her, to feel safe and complete with her in his arms.

"I thought you loved me, Danny." Lindsay says in a voice barely above a whisper. Danny approaches her and stands behind her. He wraps his arms around her waist from behind. Lindsay relaxes in his embrace and leans into him, hearing his steady heartbeat tapping out a calming rhythm on her back, temporarily forgetting her anger towards him, lost in his scent and loving embrace, letting his shirt absorb her pain. She closes her eyes in drifts into a reverie.

"I do love you, Lindsay," he whispers into her ear, his breath caressing her cheek, sending jolts of electricity through her body, and making her knees weak. "I love you more than life itself. I can't lose you, Lindsay. A life without love is worthless." He cautiously leans down and places a gentle kiss to her temple. She subconsciously turns in his arms, capturing his lips in an urgent kiss, the need to feel his lips on hers evident. He pulls her close him, placing his hands on the small of her back, as her arms snake around his neck, deepening the kiss. His tongue runs along her bottom lip asking for permission to enter, which is instantly granted. Their tongues swirl and dance to imaginary music. He breaks the kiss briefly, allowing some much needed air to flow into his lungs before attaching his lips to her neck, placing gentle, tickling kisses down her neck and nuzzling into her shoulder. A weak moan escapes Lindsay's lips as Danny continues his tease. Danny knows that it is wrong to take advantage of her when she's in this state, but his body has other ideas. His hand automatically reaches under the hem of her blouse to reach the clasp of her bra. At that moment, Lindsay realises what is happening snaps out of her trance, silently chiding herself for letting her emotions get the better of her. She pushes away from him, but instantly misses the close contact. Get a hold of yourself, Lindsay, she thinks to herself.

"Please, baby girl, don't do this!" Danny begs. Lindsay turns towards him, mascara staining her rosy-red cheeks, her eyes puffy and inflamed. But, in Danny's eyes, still looking like an angel from heaven.

"I trusted you, Danny. I let you in. You know how hard it was to open my heart to you, and you betrayed me. You broke my heart, Danny and there's no going back now." Tears were now cascading down her face again, her voice straining and choking back sobs. "Good-bye, Danny." She picks up her suitcases and heads towards the door, but Danny blocks her path.

"Just let me go, Danny," she whispers. "It's too late." She looks into his blue eyes pleading him to let go. He releases his grip on her shoulders. She moves round him and heads out the door. She turns to him. "I'm sorry, Danny." She heads down the hallway, slowly disappearing from sight. Danny slams the door in anger. He turns to the wall where, hung, a picture of him and Lindsay at Central Park Zoo on their one month anniversary. He punches the picture sending shards of glass everywhere. The picture falls to the ground with a thud. His hand is bleeding rather profusely, but he doesn't care. He slides down to the floor, his head in his hands, as sobs rack through his body. His haunting sobs could be heard on the street outside, like some monster was ripping out his soul. He picks up the picture and brushes his hand over Lindsay's smiling face. What have I done?