Danny had not realized how exhausting it was to hide his face, every corner he had to be more cautious, every place he went he hid his eyes was any other jerk of his neck, or twist of hid body to avoid cameras and people. Walking with Paula to her apartment he felt safe, he didn't understand it but he did. He need not talk too much, she seemed to have those bases covered. From the cafe to her apartment was six blocks, Danny wondered how she had a voice left when they got there, this made him smile.

Entering the old building, Danny kept his eyes open. The old wood under their feet creaked and cracked as they made their way up the steps to the third floor. Paula already had her keys out when they got to her door.

"Now, it isn't much, but it's home." She said in warning as the door opened slowly, as she flipped on the lights Danny was shocked by how beautiful the small apartment was. It may not have been much but she had turned it into a lovely home.

"Wow, this is more then not much." He said as he entered and looked around. As he slipped off his shoes, dizziness took over his eyes, and he realized how tired he actually was.

"Whoa!" Paula said, grabbing his shoulders as he tried to stand up straight.

"Sorry, I guess I didn't realize how tired I was." He smiled slightly.

"Here, I'll show you to your room." She said holding his elbows to steady himself.

"Thanks-" He said, being cut off by a yawn.

"No problem." Paula said with a laugh as they entered her son's room. The room was dark blue with large posters lining every wall.

"Big music fan, hum?" Danny asked, looking at the Led Zeppelin poster above the bed.

"Yeah, he's a little rocker!" She laughed. Danny stood beside the bed looking through his bag with one arm covering his chest protectively. "You alright?" She asked noticing his face was a little twisted with pain.

"What?" Danny asked, looking at Paula. "Oh, no. I'm alright, sometimes when I get tired I get some pain. It's not a big deal." He said pulling a small bottle of white pills from his bag.

"What are those?"

"Vicodin." He answered. Feeling her comfort level change, he looked at her to find her looking scared. "It's not like that. I... I have them for a reason, my Doctor prescribed them, I'm not a junky." He smiled, and he face softened.

"That's not what I'm worried about." She suddenly looked sad. "I'll get you some water." She said as she turned and left the room. Danny watched her as she went, the pain in his chest pulsed through his upper body as his eye lids got heavier. Sitting down on the bed, he felt like he hadn't slept in months. His heart ached, but this time it wasn't physical, this time he missed Lindsay as a tear fell from his eye.

In the kitchen Paula stopped and leaned forward at her sink, holding herself up. What was she doing? She went over in her head, helping a stranger was not something she did on the regular. Pulling herself back to the task at hand she took a long deep breath and began filling the glass with cool water. Turning back to the room she walked, the door slowly creaked open, revealing a soft orange light that dusted the hallway with colour. Inside she found Danny had already fallen asleep on top of the covers on his side. She could see him shivering as she got closer. Putting the glass on the small table beside the bed, and pulled a blanket over his shoulders, knowing she was doing the right thing, she smiled as she turned the light off and left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

The meeting with the team went by in slow motion, Lindsay sat staring ahead, no longer able to stay alert. She heard bits and pieces as the team talked out their findings and ideas. She heard them say it was him, and that he was avoiding the cameras. Mac noticed Lindsay's absence and looked at her from across the table, it looked as if she was staring intently at nothing.

"Lindsay?" Mac said, trying to get her attemtion. "Lindsay you with us?" He asked again, a little more annoyed.

"No." She said as her attention came back to the table, but instead of waiting for lecture, she stood up and left the room.

"Lindsay?" She heard Stella calling as she walked down the hallway to the elevator. Ignoring everyone and everything in the process. The elevator opened quickly as she stepped on, luckily the elevator was packed with enough people she could drown out her own thoughts.

Closing her eyes she thought of Danny, she saw his sandy blond hair, and his toothy smile. She missed his smile, she missed waking up next to it. She hadn't slept in three days and she was beginning to sleep standing up. As much as she missed him, at the moment she felt like killing him, even if she could find him I'm not sure that she would even be able to look him in the eye. Hearing the elevator doors open, she opened her eyes only to find a friendly face.

"Flack." She said as she walked towards him. "Any news?"

"Not yet." He said giving her a hug. "Let me drive you home." He said as he pulled her towards the doors.

"I just can't wrap my head around this, Don." She said as he walked with his arm around her shoulders. "How could he be so stupid?" She was angry.

"I wish I had an answer for you Linds, but I have been asking myself the same thing for days." He said looking ahead, hiding his anger from her.

"At least he said goodbye to you, he just walked away from me. What am I supposed to do with that? Huh? How does he expect me to move on from that?" She looked at him, and noticed he wouldn't look at her. "Don?" She asked, as he dropped his hand and unlocked his truck.

"I don't know. I really don't know, and I don't know why he walked away from you. All I know is that when I find him, you can bet your ass I am going to get some answers." Flack said as he held open the door for Lindsay.

Lindsay stared at Flack, it was a side she had yet to see. Taking a deep breath she stepped forward and got into the truck. Before closing the door she paused and turned to Flack.

"I don't know why he is doing this, but I know one thing..." She paused making sure she had his attention, "We both love him enough to fight for him." She said with a soft smile before shutting the door. Leaving Flack with his thoughts, knowing she was right.

Danny woke up with the sun light in his eyes, moving his arms he stretched. The ache in his chest from the night before had passed and his eyes were still heavy; he felt as if he hadn't slept at all. Shifting in bed he moved to see the clock on the table beside the bed, squinting to make out the numbers he found it only to be 6:45am. Letting out a load groan, he sat up.

The room looked happier as the sunlight danced around the room. Hearing some noise from the apartment, he stood up and slowly walked to the door. Opening it enough to peer out at the apartment, he found Paula working in the kitchen. Straightening out his clothes, he opened the door and shyly walked out.

"Good morning!" Paula said in a cheery tone.

"Um, hi." He said as he put his hands in his pockets.

"I didn't wake you did I?" She asked as she cooked some eggs.

"Ah, no. The sun did though." He said running a hand through his hair. "Listen, Paula I just want to say thank you for... well for, ya know." He suddenly felt nervous.

"I told you, it's no trouble. Would you like some coffee?" She asked, turning to the coffee pot.

"Sure, I don't know how you have so much energy this early." He said with a smile, as Paula pointed him towards the kitchen table and handing him his coffee. "Thanks." He said as he accepted her kindness.

"What's on your mind, Danny?" She asked as she went back to her business.

"What?" He asked, taking a sip from the mug.

"You looked worried, what's the problem?" She asked again, this time looking him in the eyes.

"It's nothing, just..." She looked at his mug.

"...just thinking of the girl you used to know?" She smiled warmly. Danny sat silent for a second.

"I didn't realize how much I missed her until last night." He said sadly.

"You know what can fix all that don't you?" She smiled as she began serving food.

"It's not that easy Paula." She wasn't mad, but confused. "I can't just walk back there and expect everything to just be fine, it's too messy. I've screwed too much up. I've hurt too many people."

"I never said it would be sunshine and lolly-pops, kid! It won't be easy, but if you love her and she loves you, isn't that enough to fight for?" She asked, as she placed the plate if food in front of him. He sat silent as he stared at nothing. "I think they have enough on their hands right now looking for this Derek Harris person." She said plainly as Danny looked up at her.

"What?" He said in shock.

"He escaped? I thought you knew that?" She said, taking her place across from him at the table.

"No, I didn't know that. When did this happen?" He asked as his hands began to shake.

"I guess three nights ago, it's been all over the news." She said taking a bite of her eggs.

"Oh my god." Danny said getting up from the table as he began to pace in the kitchen once again. "Where, I mean, what... what happened?" He stumbled on his words.

"He was being transported when his car was attacked. Two cops were killed and he got away. Police are saying it was an ambush." She explained.

"Did they say who was killed?" He with a trembling voice.

"I'm sorry, I should have mentioned it. I figured you would have known about it." She stood up, realizing that he wasn't just scared, he was beginning to panic. "Danny, calm down." She said.

"I have to go, I have to leave." He said, as he stared off past Paula.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, getting up and stepping towards him.

"He's going to come after me. He knows I'm alive, it's only a matter of when. I have to get out of here." He said, as he went back into her son's room and began collecting his things.

"What? Where are you going to go?" She said following him.

"I can't stay here, you are in danger if I do." He said stuffing his bag.

"Danny, look at me. There is no way any one could trace you back to me. You are safe here!" She said taking his face in her hands. "You are safe here." She repeated, noticing him calm down.

"I can't put your life in danger." he said softly, fear sitting in his eyes.

"I've run from worse. Trust me, please? No one will know about this. It'll be our little secret, OK? You just gotta trust me." Paula explained as Danny's head dropped to his chest.

"What if-" He attempted to speak.

"No, I told you that this wasn't any trouble. I'm trying to save your life Danny, let me." She said, Danny looked her in the eyes, and found himself calm. She was right, there was no way anyone could trace him to her, right now she was his best option.

"OK." Danny said, finally giving into her. "Are you Italian?" He asked with a smile.

"No, why?" She asked.

"Because the only woman that has ever gotten through to me like that has been my mother." He smiled as Paula laughed.

"Smart woman!" She laughed. "Now, get your ass out here and eat your breakfast before it gets cold!" She said pointing out to the kitchen.

Hey Guys! I have a feeling the sequel is going to be long. I swear there is more action coming, I just have to get all the other stuff out of the way first.

Let me know, what you think. I live for reviews they are fuel for my writing! Thanks for reading!