Disclaimer: I own nothing, but the plot and O.Cs.
A/N: I just want to say thanks to all those who reviewed; it helps to know that people are reading and enjoying this. Thanks!
Chapter Four
It was nearing seven-thirty at night and the end of his shift that had Danny cleaning up and packing away evidence, only a little closer to finding his victim's murderer. Truth be told, he was also packing up to get ready for his date with Lindsay. Ever since she had returned from Montana and the two had settled everything between them, Danny was making more of an effort than ever to spend time with Lindsay; even if most of that time consisted of the two hanging out in her apartment, eating take-out or the occasional home-cooking. Between the two, their recipe repertoire was average. They didn't spend all their time together; to do so would be stifling, but there wasn't a day gone by that they didn't at least communicate with one another, whether it was working together or a text message on days off.
He hung up his lab coat and headed to his and Lindsay's office after making a detour to grab his things from his locker. Through the glass, he spied her sitting at her desk with the ends of her hair still slightly wet from her earlier shower. Danny chuckled to himself as he recalled dropping in on her after he had returned to the lab.
--
"Whew! It smells worse than it did when I bagged it," Danny exclaimed, leaning against the door-frame with a folder tucked under his arm and grinning at his partner, surrounded by pieces of carefully collected garbage. He straightened, still grinning, as brown eyes glared at him and moved closer.
"I hate you."
Danny laughed, undeterred. "Somebody had to do it, Montana." To soften any hard feelings, he reached up and tucked her hair behind an ear. "Technically, if you look at it, you are still the rookie around here," he added, unable to quell the urge to tease her more. His fingers trailed down her neck, barely caressing her skin before dropping his hand as someone walked by the lab. Danny momentarily reveled in the light pink flush creeping across her cheeks.
"This is one of my favorite shirts and it reeks of garbage. I reek of garbage. I hate you." Lindsay kept her eyes on the evidence in front of her, even though Danny's close presence affected her.
"I like you in that shirt too." Danny's tone was suggestive, but quickly went back to normal. "I'll make it up to you tonight." He continued as Lindsay looked at him in askance, "We're going out tonight. Right after shift."
"Where are we going?"
"That, Ms. Monroe, is a surprise. But you'll like it, I promise." He sent a grin her way that he knew would make her smile and was rewarded by the curling of her lips. Lips; soft, full lips that Danny fixated on, remembering how they felt on his own and counting down the minutes when he could feel them again. Briefly Danny wondered at his chances of getting Montana to agree to a quick (not really quick, but he'd let her think that) kiss or two in the secluded locker room right at that moment, before mentally shaking his head. She'd never agree. Plus, there was the whole garbage issue. He was wearing one of his favorite shirts too.
Clearing his throat to refocus his thoughts on his case, in the next second he was beating back a small flush working its way up his neck at the sight of Lindsay smiling amusedly at him, knowing exactly where his thoughts were seconds ago. "So, ah, whatcha' got for me, Montana? Besides a whole lotta' garbage which, by the way, you've got some stain on your coat." He jerked his chin at her and crossed his arms over his chest.
Danny smothered a laugh, but couldn't stifle the widened grin and enjoyment sparkling in his eyes as he watched his girlfriend shoot a downwards look at her now not-so-pristine white lab coat to see what looked like a small candy stain decorating it. She must've brushed up against a wrapper. Danny's shoulders shook silently as Lindsay's brown eyes glared daggers at him.
"I hate you."
--
Bringing himself back to the present, Danny opened their office door and strode over to Lindsay's desk, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You almost ready to go?"
Her fingers danced over the keyboard as Lindsay finished up writing a report before nodding. "Yep. Just about." Feeling his fingers playing with the ends of her hair and occasionally brushing against the skin of her neck, a rush of warmth flowed through her for the thousandth time. "You're still not going to tell me where we're going?"
"All you need to do is dress warmly. I've got the rest."
"Aha! So, we're going to be outside." She sent him a wide teasing smile.
"Brilliant, Detective Monroe," Danny mocked her. He grabbed her jacket and handed it to her as she stood, curiously eying the brown leather tote-bag near his feet.
Lindsay shut off her computer and put on her coat. "Okay, I'm ready to go."
Pulling on the ends of her jacket, Danny tugged her closer and sneaked in a light kiss.
"Danny - "
"Our shift just ended, Montana. We're fine."
"Oh well, in that case..." she grinned devilishly before Danny felt one small hand snake down his back and into one of his back jean pockets. He made a surprised sound as Lindsay mischievously cupped his butt.
He smiled widely at her, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling. "Montana..." he murmured. "The walls are made glass, remember?"
Lindsay squeezed, brown eyes sparkling with mischief at the redness creeping up her boyfriend's neck. "It's as you said Messer, our shift is over. As long as it doesn't involve public nudity, I can do whatever I want with you."
"And to me."
"And to you."
"Excellent."
Stella set the small evidence envelope into her case before straightening up to take more pictures of the crime scene. Her case that had seemed quite simple this morning had dragged on longer than she thought. Her suspect was dead and her boyfriend was on the run. Her plans to meet up with everyone at Sullivan's was postponed and outside the sky grew darker. Stella hoped this case wouldn't drag on; she was tired. All she wanted was a chance to unwind and relax.
Finishing her inspection, Stella grabbed her case and headed for the door, nodding to the police officer waiting to seal off the apartment and making her way downstairs.
Giving a quick smile to the officer standing guard at the front entrance to the building, Stella briskly made her way to her SUV.
All unknowing of the eyes that had followed her entrance into the apartment and now watched keenly, unblinking, as she shut the door to her car.
The door opening caught Penny's attention and she turned her head to see her father coming in with a box in his arms.
"Now are you sure this is the right box, Helen? I don't want to go down to the storage room again," Greg asked his wife.
Helen rose, glancing at the box. "Hmm, I'm not sure..." she trailed off before laughing. "I'm kidding, Greg. That's the one. Can you just put it over there? Gently."
Grunting, Greg ambled over to the wall where their small Christmas tree stood. "I don't understand why you have to always break out all of the Christmas figurines out. It's too much trouble." Greg bit back a curse, mindful that his daughter was in the room, when he suddenly tripped as he bent over, causing the box to thud heavily against the wall.
Penny flinched.
"Greg!" Helen admonished, walking over to her husband. She checked the box first and then her husband.
"I told you this was too much trouble," he grumbled, straightening. He rubbed his sore lower back for a moment before turning Penny. "Hey honey, I think it's time for bed. You have school tomorrow. Give daddy a hug, huh?" Greg moved toward his daughter with a smile on his face and arms outstretched.
Penny shied away from her father, causing him to frown. "Penny? What's wrong?"
Shaking her head, Penny bit her lip and then ran to her room, closing the door.
Four hours later, the Williams awoke with a familiar feeling of panic before hurriedly rushing out of their room and into their daughter's where they attempted to soothe her out of yet another nightmare.
"This was a good idea," Lindsay murmured, cradling a plastic cup half-full of steaming hot chocolate. Her brown eyes were warm as she, Danny, and over a dozen other people, couples mostly, sat on thick blankets on the snow in Central Park, listening to the outdoor musicians playing slow, soulful music later that evening. Though it was only November, Christmas lights adorned the small stage where the musicians sat and the freshly planted evergreen trees enhanced the whole holiday theme. Breathing in the crisp cold air and the beauty of the park made people all to easily forget about upcoming winter storms, freezing temperatures, shoveling heavy snow, and the annual flu bug. For now, they were content to lose themselves in the moment.
Danny pulled Lindsay closer under another blanket that he had brought to wrap themselves in and replied, "Of course. Have I ever come up with a bad idea?"
"Well, Flack told me about that time when you were still a rookie and - "
He dug his fingers into her side, tickling her. He reached for his own plastic cup of hot chocolate from the thermos that he had brought. With hot drinks, Lindsay snuggled up in front of him with a blanket over them, and his back leaning against a tree, Danny didn't mind the cold that was currently turning his nose a light red. Seeing the happy smile on Lindsay's face and hearing her content sigh was enough to make him happy.
"I think I can almost forgive you for the garbage incident this afternoon."
He glanced at her. "Almost?" Danny looked confused and bemoaned the loss of warmth when Lindsay suddenly took off the blanket, set her cup aside, and stood. He looked up, eyebrows raised in question. "Montana?" The confusion heightened when she held out a hand.
"Dance with me." A sweet smile lit her face; a perfect compliment to the warmth in her brown eyes.
"Ya' gotta be kiddin' me," Danny's accent thickened as he looked around embarrassedly. Peering up at Lindsay's hopeful face, he sighed. "Linds..."
Lindsay merely held out a hand and cajoled her tough New York boyfriend. "Come on, dance with me. There's about a dozen other people dancing," she looked about, "and look, we can dance under this tree, in the shade, where no one can see us." She fixed a pout on her face.
"Except anyone who glances over in this direction," he grumbled but rose to his feet with a grudging smile at the cute sight of his girlfriend bundled up in a winter coat complete with wool scarf and gloves. "The things I do for you..."
"Don't worry, Danny. Your manly image will remain intact," she teased, winding her arms around his neck.
Though he would do almost anything for Lindsay, Danny buried his face in her hair to cover a slight flush on his cheeks. Danny had never done anything like this for anyone, including his mother and certainly not for any of his past girlfriends. He actually had to search a little in order to find this music festival, but it was worth it to see the happy surprise lighting up Lindsay's face. So while he did feel a little embarrassed at dancing in public in Central Park, the feeling of Lindsay's soft body in his arms, the scent of her hair wafting up as they swayed far outweighed it. A couple of weeks ago, Danny thought that everything was ruined between the two, but now, he was just thankful that his life wasn't a total mess. The past months had been tough and barring any more troubles hitting the team, things were looking up.
The musicians played on; the music never wavering in its melodic notes enticing the crowd to get lost in it and themselves. Despite the cold, the couples dancing continued to sway gently as the day dwindled down into night and the lamps automatically lit up, bathing the snow-covered park.
"See? This isn't so bad." Lindsay looked up into his face, her fingers combing through his hair.
Danny said nothing, only smiled and leaned down to capture her lips with his. He made a sound of contentment as the tip of his tongue traced her lips before sliding into her warm mouth. She tasted like hot chocolate and Danny pulled her closer, slightly mourning the fact that they were in public and he couldn't feel her body well underneath their winter coats.
It was perfect. This moment was perfect. Holding each other, feeling their lips connect and hearing the steady pounding of his heart, Danny was unaware that the two had stopped dancing.
He rested his forehead against hers, gently stroking her jaw with his thumb. Her skin was silky soft and his thumb just grazed upon it as Danny looked down at her; so caught up in his emotions Danny couldn't even smile.
How was this possible? Never in his life had he thought that he himself would stumble upon so perfect a moment as this. This romance stuff...it wasn't for shmucks like him. Growing up in rough times, fighting the battles he did to make his way to where he was now, faces of numerous women flying by, his troubled past that wouldn't stay put, and everything else, all the other hardships, thrown his way...all of it melted away when he looked at Lindsay. Logically, Danny knew that it was the way of life. You were born, you grow up, you work, you get married, have kids, and then eventually pass away, having lived the life you shaped for yourself. Danny had always thought that his life was already fulfilled; he had all he was going to get. And he thought he was fine with that. What he had was pretty good. But in that moment, in the cold, in the coming darkness, surrounded by hundreds of people, Danny knew that the woman in his arms was going to transform what he had now to something even more wonderful than he ever imagined.
He had found her. To Danny, the feeling was bordering on incredulity. He'd watched others around him finding that special someone, some friends, some complete strangers, but he'd never counted on finding the one meant for him. Just him. And counting on being that someone for her in return. It was amazing, astonishing, disbelieving. He'd found her. What were the chances of that? Out of how many people in the world, living in other countries, states, cities, neighborhoods...Danny had found that special someone that he supposed everyone, man or woman, secretly craved and hoped they'd find. A single individual to complete them.
And with his shitty luck, he'd accepted that he would never find her. But a pretty brunette had walked up to that tiger's cage from Bozeman, Montana of all places and there she was. Danny tightened his hold even more, knowing probably that he was crushing her, but unable to let go of the person who completed him. With a revelation so startling as this that caused his heart to swell, who would want to let go? For as long as she'd have him, Danny was never going to let go of Lindsay Monroe.
It had been a wonderful night. Lindsay smiled softly to herself as she changed out of her work attire, opting for something more comfortable while Danny busied himself in the kitchen, cleaning out the thermos he'd brought along to their little musical picnic.
It had been a wonderful night. He'd really surprised her with the music show and the dance too. Lindsay knew it really wasn't his thing, so the fact that Danny had braved the embarrassment to dance with her in public had made the evening even more special. Lindsay doubted the smile on her face would be leaving anytime soon.
The sound of the kitchen cupboards opening and closing had Lindsay shaking her head and smiling. Pulling one of her favorite t-shirts over her head, she walked into the kitchen.
"Danny, what are you looking for?" she asked, pulling her hair out from her shirt. Her footsteps came to an abrupt halt when she saw, not Danny, but a familiar head of curly brown hair.
"M-mom?" Lindsay was confused. What was her mom doing here? "Mom, what - "
Anna Monroe stopped her peaceful humming and turned around to answer her daughter's question when Lindsay screamed.
Blood dripped from a wide gaping hole in her mother's stomach. Brown eyes, so like hers, were blank and empty. Lindsay backed away, shaking her head. This was not happening. This was not happening. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the person in front of her away.
Something bumped into her back and Lindsay spun around, hair flying.
"What's the matter, baby girl?"
Dale Monroe gave a cold lifeless smile down at his daughter. Blood ran down his neck from the vicious-looking gash on his head, soaking the collar of his favorite plaid shirt. She had given him that shirt for Christmas when she was younger. Lindsay screamed again, eyes horrifically wide.
Stumbling back, Lindsay glanced in between her parents. Her dead parents. "No. No, no, no, no, no...God, no...go away...please, just go away..." She dropped to her knees, bowed her head, and tightly shut her eyes.
"Now look what you've done, baby girl, you've gone and killed us."
Anna Monroe tsk-ed behind Lindsay. "Always getting people killed, Lindsay. Really now. First your friends and now us. When will it stop? How about Danny? Will he die next? I'm so disappointed in you, honey."
Lindsay clapped her hands over her ears. She didn't want to hear anymore. Rocking back and forth on her knees, tears started cascading down her cheeks, dripping onto the tile floor. "Stop. Stop. Go away. Please. Just go away. Please, oh God, please." She began to choke on her words. "I didn't mean it. Oh God, momma, daddy, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please."
--
Lindsay bolted upright in her bed, gasping for breath and choking on the tears she had cried in her sleep. Through blurry eyes, her digital clock read 2:15. The sky outside was still dark and gloomy. She was alone. Danny had dropped her off at her apartment at midnight.
Chest heaving, struggling for air and shivering, Lindsay buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
