A/N: Same disclosures apply as in all previous chapters. Please read and review, but enjoy most of all. Thanks!

Chapter 7

Danny's heart leapt a little in his chest. Mac was sending him some help, someone from their lab. Lindsay had said before she wished Mac would send her on an out of town trip, could she be the one he was sending? Was it possible that Danny was actually going to be able to spend some time with Lindsay outside of the peering eyes of the lab? Granted, they were going to be working on a murder case but still, alone, away from the city…Danny's mind was running away from him and it took all the concentration he could muster to reel it back in.

"So who's getting sent out here to murderville Mac?" Danny ask, trying to keep his voice level.

"Do you really want me to ruin the surprise Danny?" Mac asked, that teasing you-should-know-better tone in his voice.

"Not a surprise really Mac," Danny said, his sarcastic New York accent bleeding through, "Just need to know if I'm gonna be bunking with anyone or not cause I know the city ain't paying for two hotel rooms if you're sending Hawkes."

"True," Mac said, "Happy bunking. The train arrives are ten tonight."

"Later Mac." Danny said, not paying any attention to his boss' reply as his clicked his phone shut.

His heart had resumed beating at a normal pace. Mac wasn't sending Lindsay. He didn't know why he felt empty inside, like someone had stolen a piece of himself. Maybe he just wasn't ready to admit anything yet. Flipping open his cell phone, he punched in Lindsay's speed dial number and his send. Instantly, her voice mail kicked on.

"Hey Montana," Danny spoke into the phone, "Just me, saying hi. Hi. Talk to you later." He flipped his phone shut again and went back into the restaurant.

"Hey Chad," Danny said as he returned to their table, "We've got more company coming to the party."

Quarter to ten that same night found Danny and Chad sitting in the train station's parking lot waiting on Hawkes train.

"So tell me about this guy Mac's sending out." Chad asked, "Is he as good as you?"

"Hawkes is a good guy. Smart as hell" Danny said candidly, "Very thorough. He used to be one of our MEs before he switched teams."

"Wow." Chad said, astounded, "He went through all those years of med school, only to not use those skills?"

"I wouldn't say that," Danny said, "He's just uses them in the field instead of a morgue. I have to admit, it's nice being able to get some of the information right there in the field that we'd normally have to wait to get from the ME at their office. No one could believe that he actually wanted to come out into the field; it was a big shocker to us all."

"That's cool. He sounds like a great guy," Chad said, "Can't wait to meet him."

There was a silence between them that while not uncomfortable, wasn't necessarily pleasant. It was an edgy anticipation, like when you're waiting for a family member to arrive; they were both wondering where the train was. It was now five minutes late.

"Oh, I was supposed to ask you what your favorite meal was. Tessa wants you to come out for dinner." Chad said, "Something about you needing a good home cooked meal. Hawkes is invited as well."

Danny laughed, and nodded, "Um, anything Italian. But I'm sure that I would like anything she cooked. I mean after you've eaten gourmet prepared insects, anything pretty much tastes good."

"Huh?" Chad asked, "Did I just hear you right?"

Just then they saw the light of the train approaching. Both men got out of the vehicle and started walking towards the platform to greet Hawkes when he got off the train.

As the passengers started to disembark from the sleek rail-bound machine, Danny rubbed his eyes. It couldn't be. Was this a set up?

"Miss me Messer?"

There stood Lindsay Monroe.

A/N: Ok – This was probably by far the cheesiest chapter I have ever written, but please, please forgive me. This is was I get for deciding to update with less than 12 hours of sleep in the last three days. Hope you enjoyed it – please, please, please review. Thanks!