You guys are so great for taking the time and reviewing! Here's another chapter!

Messin' With Montana

Chapter 3: Notes

Lindsay replayed the whole messy scene over and over again in her head. She dropped her forehead into her hand as she sat at her kitchen table, nursing a glass of milk and a half eaten New York Cheesecake. The clock on her microwave read 2:46 am. She groaned inwardly at the hour.

She'd gotten home hours before. She'd tried to take her mind off the awful evening in every way she knew how. She tried taking a bath, reading, watching tv, going to bed… None of it worked. So she'd settled on comfort food, hoping the sickeningly sweet taste of the cheesecake would lull her to sleep.

Finally, at a little past 3, Lindsay decided to pack it in, she had to at least try to get some sleep.

Messer, you are an idiot… He chided himself as he climbed the steps to his apartment. He'd been roaming the streets for the last few hours before deciding to head back to his place. It was nearly 3 am. "That definitely didn't go as planned." He muttered to himself as he reached his apartment.

"What didn't go as planned?" A chirpy voice asked from above him. He halted on the steps and looked up. There in front of him, dressed to the nines, was Cindy, in all her bleach blonde, spray-on tan, fake nails glory. He had a hard time believing he'd once found her attractive.

"Hey Cin." He greeted wearily as he pulled his keys out and began to unlock the door. She took a step toward him, purposely brushing her chest against his arm. Normally, a move like that would've sent him over the edge. Not this time. Now, he just sighed and stepped inside, opening the door for her.

"We need to talk." She told him as she glided in, tossing her bag on the couch, her light jacket on the chair, she acted as though she owned the place.

He sank down in a kitchen chair, not even bothering to remove the coat he'd been wearing. This should be good. He thought as she settled herself at the table.

"Danny, we've been seeing each other awhile now, and well, some things need to change." She started, tapping her violently purple nails on the table, the noise grinded on his nerves.

"I agree-" He started, trying to interject, but she cut him off, apparently, she wasn't finished speaking. Shocker.

"I'm at your apartment almost every night. Or I was at least. I know you've been busy with work. But the commute to my place every day is getting old, plus it's taking me, like, forever to get to work." She told him.

He sighed inwardly. She was a hairstylist back in Staten Island. "Cin, no one's forcing you to make the commute." He told her wearily as he cracked a beer.

"Then we agree. I should totally move in with you!" She squealed. He winced at the sound of her voice reaching the highest octave known to humankind. Only dogs could hear her now.

"It'll be great! I'll get a job out here! We can re-decorate! I'll get a truck to move all my stuff over this weekend!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement.

Do something, do something NOW! "Whoa Cin. You need to bring it down a notch." He told her, jumping in.

"Why? Danny, aren't you excited! We're going to be living together!" She shrieked, her eyes bright with excitement.

"No we're not." He replied softly, closing his eyes, waiting for the recoil.

"What? You just told me- You asked me- You said you wanted to live with me." She started, her face falling as she took in what he'd just said.

"NO Cindy. YOU said you wanted to live with ME. I never agreed to any of this." Danny corrected, setting the bottle down.

"You don't want to live with me?" She whispered, her face crumbling as tears streamed down her face.

"I don't think it's a good idea. Cindy, I think … I think it's over. I'm sorry." Danny offered, feeling stupid for his lack of an explanation.

"Is… is it someone else?" She choked out, unable to keep the question to herself any longer.

He exhaled deeply, unsure of what to say. "I… I don't know…" He muttered, rubbing his face with his hands. Nice job. Way to make her cry. 'I don't know' for God's sakes Danny. Why don't you just add a little insult to injury…!

Cindy said nothing. She just nodded and stood up. She moved through the apartment, collecting what belonged to her. 10 minutes later, she was done.

At least apologize, say something, explain yourself. His inner voice told him. He stood up to meet her at the door. "Cindy, I'm-" He started, but he was cut off.

"Don't. You aren't worth it. You aren't worth my time, my energy, none of it. And you certainly aren't worth anything to the new girl, whoever she is." Cindy hissed before storming out, slamming the door in his face.

Danny stood at the door for a second, lost in the trance of what just happened. He'd managed to drive away two women in a span of only 12 hours. Impressive Messer. Way to go. Though, there was a tiny part of him that knew he'd done the right thing, seeing as he was more upset that he'd hurt Lindsay than he was that he'd hurt Cindy. "That's gotta mean something." He muttered aloud as he made his way to bed. 10 minutes later, he clicked his light off and turned in.

The next morning, Lindsay was a little later than usual in getting to work. She was only a few minutes early instead of 20 minutes early, late in Lindsay's eyes. She'd gone with her old faded levi's with a white ribbed tank top, and a black button up shirt over it, black boots completed the outfit. She'd left her hair loose and curly, for lack of time to do it.

She got to the office, half expecting to see Danny at his desk reading over a file. She couldn't help the twinge of disappointment when he wasn't at his desk. A closer glance t his workspace did however indicate that he was there, just not at his desk.

She'd wanted to talk to him about the evening before. They couldn't afford tension like that at work. She'd just tell him they were better off as co-workers who were casual friends… That would be the best and safest route.

She felt very confident about her decision until she got to her desk. There, on top of her most recent file, was a note.

Montana-

I'm sorry about last night. I had a lot on my mind, and I should have been more clear with you. I didn't mean to confuse you and I certainly didn't mean to hurt you. I'll make it up to you, if you'll let me.

Danny

She smiled softly at the note. "Love letter?" Came a voice from the door. Stella. "No, an apology." She said, tucking the note in the file.

Stella leaned against the doorway, waiting for her to continue. "Danny sort of stuck his foot in his mouth yesterday and he wrote me an apologetic note." Lindsay explained, being vague intentionally, hoping Stella would take a hint.

She did. "Nice of him. He stuck his foot in his mouth huh? He doesn't do that often, he's pretty good with his words, whatever you did to him must have had an affect." Stella replied, leaving her response equally vague as she pushed off the door jam and headed to her own office.

Danny had killed some time talking with Flack and Hawkes in the main break room. He hadn't really been concentrating on the conversation though, his mind was preoccupied with what Lindsay thought of the note.

Lindsay sat down at her desk, now unsure of what she felt. She hadn't expected an apology. She felt like she should say something, but she didn't know what, or if she had the courage. So she wrote it instead.

Messer-

Apology accepted. Maybe I overreacted, I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. You didn't hurt my feelings, I was just confused. Had a lot on your mind? Does that mean you don't anymore?

Montana

She scrawled his nickname for her at the bottom and dropped it on his desk on her way to the locker room to stow her personal items.

Danny grabbed an apple from the fridge, saying his goodbyes to Flack and Hawkes as they headed off to a scene. He headed back to his desk to start the paperwork he'd been dreading. He'd no sooner sat down when he noticed a note on his desk. He read her words, a small smile pulling at his lips. He grabbed a pen and wrote back to her.

Montana-

You didn't overreact. You had a right to be upset. I should learn when to keep my mouth shut. I did have a bit going on up there, but I took care of it last night. Thanks for caring, you didn't have to, especially after last night.

Danny

P.S. I knew you liked the nickname!

He placed the note on her desk and took some evidence down to trace, hoping to avoid the paperwork a little while longer.

Lindsay returned to her desk several minutes later to find the office still vacant. She sat down with a sigh, not looking forward to the long day ahead of her, but her thoughts stopped as her eyes landed on another note.

Her eyes skimmed the note, noticing the change in tone. He seemed sad, and not at all like himself. She grabbed her desk paper, prepared to write back, but Mac stuck his head in the door. "Scene to process. You and Stella. She'll meet you in 5 downstairs." He told her, waiting for her nod of confirmation before heading off.

Danny-

I hope you're ok. I'm headed to a scene. I'm planning to stop at Hogan's for dinner tonight. Meet me if you want to talk.

Montana

P.S. I only sign it this way because if I didn't, you wouldn't know who it was!

She slid the note onto his desk as she left to meet Stella.

Danny found the note 20 minutes later. He read over it. Do I go? Do I chance it again?

Well? Thoughts?

Future plans:

Next, dinner at Hogan's… Maybe more?