Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of CSI:NY, they're the property of CBS.

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Chapter Three: Fight for Me

Detective Stella Bonasera strode into the ER, her heels clicking on the tile floor. She stopped at the front reception desk. "Lindsey Munroe?" she asked.

The nurse pointed down the hall. Stella didn't even thank her; just headed down the hall. "Ma'am?" the nurse called. "You can't-"

Stella ignored her. She just held her badge up in the air and faced it backwards so the nurse could see it. Translation: Oh yes, I can. She stopped outside one of the rooms. Through the glass she could see the very pale form of Lindsey Munroe on the bed. She was hooked to a heart monitor, and it appeared that she had some stitches over her right eye.

Stella then saw Danny Messer. The young detective was seated in the chair next to Lindsey's bed. His head rested on the bed. One arm was being used for a pillow; the other was firmly gripping Lindsey's hand. It would have been cute, if the situation had been different.

"Danny." Stella came over to him and shook his shoulder, gently. He didn't stir at all.

She bit her lip. She hated to wake him, but she needed information from him. Danny was the sole witness to what had transpired that morning. She shook him again, more firmly. "Danny."

He jerked. "Stella?" he asked. He adjusted his glasses and blinked a few times. "Stella…hi."

"How is she?" Stella asked him.

Danny glanced at Lindsey and had to take a breath. "She's…she's out cold, but she's stable and everything. She doesn't respond to stimuli, though."

Stella kept one hand on his shoulder. "Danny…I need to get a statement from you."

Danny sighed. "I don't know much," he said. "I had to come in early…finish some paperwork. I had just hit the elevator button, when I heard the tires squealing. I looked back, saw Montana get dumped out of the car. They took off down the alley. I checked her vitals, called 911. Mac showed up."

"What time did you leave last night?" Stella asked him.

He blinked. "Um, must've been around seven-seven-thirty, I guess. I'm sorry I can't pinpoint it down better." He felt helpless. Frustrated. He wasn't being much help.

Stella nodded. "Okay."

Danny finally exploded. "Who would do this to Lindsey?" he cried, frustrated. "And I can't help her…she's just lying there…" Emotion finally hit him, and he buried his head in his hands.

Stella pulled up a chair and gave him a hug. "Danny…Lindsey is a fighter. She will get through this just fine. You've given us a place to start. If you hadn't been there, Lindsey would be a lot worse off. You helped save her life, most likely." Stella let go of him and replaced her hand on his shoulder. "You have to stay rational, Danny. You're the only lead we've got."

Danny bit his lip, taking several deep breaths. They weren't helping him to calm down, much. A little. "Okay," he said. He nodded. "Okay."

Stella stood. "I'm going to call Mac."

Danny turned back to Lindsey. "I'll be here."

"Danny. You should come back to the lab," Stella said. "You can't do anything for her sitting here."

Danny looked at Lindsey's face. She could have just been sleeping, if it wasn't for the bruises and stitches. "Stella…I can't just leave her here. Not like this" Not alone.

"Lindsey would tell you to go find the person that did this," Stella said firmly.

He nodded, he knew she was right. "And Mac would have my badge if I didn't contribute," he said, managing a small smile. He stood up, hesitant. He still held Lindsey's hand.

"I'll be back. And I'll have found the person that did this to you," he swore. "Fight, Montana." He squeezed her hand. Then, as Stella left the room, he whispered, "Fight for me."

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A/N: As a first time writer, reviews would definitely be appreciated. This story is finished, but I can still make changes and post it all, if you want to keep reading it...By the way, I really like cliffhanger endings...just so you know.