A/N: Thank you to all that have reviewed. Hugs and daisies!
Chapter 2 - Home
Heart threatening to explode from her chest, Lindsay swallowed nervously. Did she hear her father correctly?
"Lindsay? Are you still there?"
The young woman blinked to bring herself back. "Yeah, I…I'm here." Her voice faltered then, and she struggled to find words. The realization of it all struck her like a thunderbolt: her mother was dying.
"Listen, I think you should come home and see her. The doctors said a month, but…Lindsay, you need to come home." Her father repeating his words was a sure sign of worry.
As Lindsay sat down on the couch and tried to regain her composure, the front door opened and Danny sauntered in, being let off early by Mac. The second he saw his girlfriend, he knew something was terribly wrong. His coat fell in a messy heap on the floor as he literally flew over to her side, taking a seat beside her and grasping her free hand. Lindsay's chocolate eyes pleaded with him as she spoke into the phone.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," After a brief pause – Danny assumed the other person was talking - she said goodbye and hung up.
"Who was that?" Danny inquired softly.
Lindsay turned to look at him. What Danny saw made his heart shatter into a million pieces. Her eyes were drowning in tears; they cascaded down her rosy cheeks and splattered onto her pants. Her features seemed ragged all of a sudden, and Danny wasted no time in comforting her. Wrapping his muscular arms around her back, he pulled her in close and allowed her to rest her head against his chest. "Talk to me babe. What's the matter?"
He managed to comprehend some of what she choked out. "My mom…brain cancer…one month…"
Danny felt his spirit crumble. Now knowing she had just talked to her father, he hugged her tighter and ran a hand through her silky brown hair. "Oh Montana, I'm so sorry." He knew apologizing wouldn't do anything, yet it was a natural reaction to such terrible news.
Lindsay sniffed, scrunching his shirt in her clenched fists. Due to being an only child, she had a very special relationship with her mother. She could tell her things that otherwise would have been awkward if said to her father. That was the one of the many best things about having a mom: you could tell them all about the boy who sits beside you in third period, and she'd get giddy and sad simultaneously, because she would realize that you're growing up and becoming a woman.
Danny wiped away a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "C'mon kiddo, you should get some sleep. I can help you pack in the morning, okay? I'll call Mac now and tell him what's going on. You just get yourself ready for bed."
Lindsay felt as if a giant weight had been placed on her shoulders, but she complied without a word. Dragging herself off to the bedroom, she grabbed a shirt from Danny's drawer and swiftly changed into it. For a moment her worries receded as she inhaled his unique scent, allowing it to surround her heart with warmth and bliss. She buried herself under the covers, throwing the duvet over her head and concealing herself from the rest of the world.
A few minutes later, she heard the sound of shuffling feet across the wood floor. A dip in the bed, and then the duvet pulled back, exposing her back to a blast of cold air. He shifted around before tossing the blanket over their heads. Although they were in almost total darkness, Lindsay could feel Danny's eyes on her. She shivered as his breath washed over the nape of her neck, and his arm snaked over her waist, gently pulling her in so she was pressed up against his chest. Lindsay loved being in his embrace; she was not afraid of anything when Danny was holding her. All he had to do was envelop her in his strong arms and she knew she was safe.
"Montana," his husky voice rang out in the darkness. "I'm here for you."
Lindsay let a few stray tears dribble from her eyes. Danny must have sensed her distress, because he gently dried her cheek with the side of his index finger. Holding her firmly, he inhaled the scent of her vanilla shampoo before placing a chaste kiss on her temple.
"Go to sleep, my love."
Coupled with the thought of her mother and the feeling of Danny holding her, Lindsay quickly slipped into a dream-filled slumber.
---
Dawn's first light filtered into the room, sparkling through the windowpane and dancing playfully across Lindsay's pretty features. The rays warmed her skin, and she gingerly opened her eyes, realizing her head was now exposed. The duvet lay lazily about halfway down her arm, but she had no need for it now: Danny's body provided sufficient warmth. As to not wake him, she very slowly and very carefully flipped over so she was facing him. For a few moments she did nothing but listen to his steady breathing and run a gentle hand down his cheeks, enjoying the roughness of his morning stubble against her skin. She would be leaving for Bozeman in the mid-afternoon, leaving behind the world she now called home.
Home. It had been about three years since she moved from Bozeman to New York. Three years since she made friends with the team. Three years since she had met Danny. Granted they weren't exactly pals at the beginning, but even though he had pressed her nerves more than once, she couldn't deny the chemistry that had been present ever since their first meeting at the zoo. They had had a few stumbles in the past, but that was the way with relationships. Obstacles only made them stronger as a couple and individuals. Sighing thoughtfully, Lindsay held Danny's cheek in her palm. He was her harbour, her shelter…her home.
Which was why she was going to Bozeman alone.
---
Danny's eyelids fluttered open, but he immediately clamped them shut as the sun's rays burned his retinas. Angling his head so his vision was downward, he half-opened his lids again to reveal twin sterling blue irises. Lindsay was now facing him, the tip of her nose hovering over his heart, sleeping peacefully. Kissing her forehead, he ran his fingers through her hair, watching it slide off his skin like the softest silk. God she's beautiful, he thought to himself.
Lindsay shifted in his arms before opening her eyes and blinking several times to chase away the sleep, apparently having fallen back into slumber after her early awakening. She felt his gaze on her and peered up at his smiling face. "What is it?"
"You're so gorgeous in the morning."
She moaned in bliss. "You're not too bad yourself cowboy," After an awkward pause, she continued. "Listen, there's something I should tell you."
"I'm listenin'."
Lindsay hated this part; she knew he would be devastated but hoped he'd understand after she explained herself. "I think it's a good idea if you stay here when I'm gone."
Sure enough, Danny was taken aback. "What? Why?"
"Danny, you've been through so much lately; you don't need to carry extra weight on your shoulders. Besides, my father and I need to work things out between us."
Sorrow engulfed his heart like a massive tidal wave. Part of him wanted to go with her, to support her in this troubling time. The other half wanted to comply with her request, so she could face the obstacle with courage and determination. Danny was torn between the two paths, and so he decided to walk the latter.
"Alright, Montana. I'll stay, if it makes you feel better. I hope you realize, though, that you don't have to go with this alone."
A gust of air shot from Lindsay's nostrils in a heaving sigh. "I know, and I'll miss you terribly. Thank you for understanding."
Nestled in each other's arms, they lay there for quite some time, each caught up in their own thoughts.
---
The usual airport sounds vibrated in Danny and Lindsay's ears as they made their way towards the terminal. The latter's flight was not for another hour, and so they seated themselves in the waiting area for the time being. They had stopped by the lab beforehand, and Lindsay had said goodbye to her colleagues who had also become her friends. Everyone was sympathetic towards the young woman, who was clearly struggling to come to terms with her mother's illness. Danny was disheartened that she had asked to take the trip alone, but he fully respected her wishes. Even couples needed time to themselves every now and then.
Danny peered over at her. She was staring straight ahead, eyes unblinking and jaw firm. He could see tears forming under her bottom lids. The memories were difficult to forget, and this was not the situation she wanted to be in upon returning to her hometown.
"Montana," he whispered, catching her attention. He nearly always called her that now; it was something only they shared. "I may not be there in person, but I will certainly be there in spirit."
Despite the circumstances, Lindsay could not hide a smile. Danny had that uncanny ability to make her smile. Even when it was pouring rain and the world looked morose, he always cheered her up. His very presence was enough to make her beam.
The official announcement came through slight static. "Flight 294 to Bozeman has now arrived. Those who are flying, please board now. Thank you."
Lindsay looked at her watch. The hour was already up: it was time for her to leave. Danny helped her from her seat and encased her in a warm hug, much like the one she had received in the Montana courtroom long ago. "I love you."
It was not the first time he had spoken the words, but they always caused her to shiver with pride. "I love you too."
Slightly releasing his hold on her, he bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. The tears came now, streaming freely down her cheeks, but she ignored them as she indulged herself in his taste, something she wouldn't get to enjoy for a while.
"Hey, no crying now, y'hear?" Finishing the kiss, Danny wiped a tear away with his thumb. "I don't want my Montana cryin'."
She sniffed and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, but I need to do this myself."
He chuckled softly. "That's my stubborn country girl. Take care of yourself now, and say hi to your mom for me. If you need me, just call. Remember, I'll be right here."
As he spoke the last sentence, he placed his hand right above her heart. Lindsay embraced this time, clinging to his coat with her entire soul.
"Phone if you need me," he repeated his vow in her ear. "I love you babe."
He watched with grey eyes as she slowly walked down the tunnel towards the plane, turning to wave goodbye one last time before rounding the corner and vanishing from sight.
---
From his vantage point, Danny watched the plane take off from the runway. His whole world was on that thing, on a journey no one should ever have to take. He knew he would see her again, but his heart ached at the very thought of going home to an empty apartment. As the plane lifted from the ground and the wheels folded in, a stray tear dribbled from his eye. He would not – could not – let the plane out of sight until it was gone from his.
After several agonizing minutes, the plane was a mere dot in the seemingly endless blue sky. But Danny kept his sharp vision on it, until finally it lifted into the rolling clouds.
It was déjà vu all over again.
A/N: I am starting classes on Monday (in which I plan to work on the next chapter), so please bear with me on the rest of the story. Remember to keep on DL shippin'!