Part Seven- Apologizes and Puzzles and Scrapbooks

After getting her injury fixed, Lindsay returned to her cold apartment. The food Danny had brought still sat on the table, now cold. She sat down, and opened it up to find some spaghetti. Smiling, and feeling a fresh wave of guilt for yelling at Danny, she slurped up the cold noodles. She then slumped into bed, completely drained of everything.

Waking again to an incessant knocking at her door she groaned, and padded down the hall to the door. She opened it to see Stella.

"Hi Stella." she murmured, and walked to the couch, clutching her chest wound.

"Lindsay. Are you alright?" Stella asked in her usual motherly tone.

She groaned at the question, but answered truthfully, "Physically, I'm in agony without the pills. Emotionally… I'm agony without the pills."

Stella winced at her words, and pulled her into a friendly hug. Lindsay let out a shuddering breath, and felt tears prickle her eyes.

"I'm sorry Stella. It's just…" Lindsay started.

"Don't apologize Lindsay. I understand. You're going through a tough time. Just remember we're all here for you. If you need to talk, you know who to call." she said firmly, and seated her down on the couch.

Lindsay buried her face in her hands nevertheless, "But I flipped out at Danny. Just because he was worried! I just… I don't know, ever since the Holly case everything has been screwed up. Too many memories…"

"Don't worry kiddo. Just take your time. I'm sure Danny will understand. Now, are you still in pain?" Stella replied, sitting next to the young CSI.

"I didn't have time to take my medication, so yeah." replied Lindsay.

Stella didn't say anything, just jumped to her feet, asking where they were. She told the older woman and she went to work. Snatching the bottle of pills and filling a glass, she made Lindsay swallow the large white pills.

"They should take effect in a little while." whispered Lindsay.

Stella noticed the puzzle and grinned, "Been busy?"

"Six hours of entertainment." muttered Lindsay, jerking her head at the picture of the teddy bears, "Puzzles are one of the few things that keep me busy, and that was my last one."

Stella chuckled, "I'll see if I can get you a few new ones. Now, try and rest-"

"You just woke me up."

"Oh, well then stay off your feet. I was told you ripped open the stitches. You can't do that again since they're fresh. Call me or anyone else if you need anything, alright?" Stella said with the tone of finality.

Lindsay nodded, and turned on the TV with the remote. Stella nodded firmly, and left the apartment. Walking out to her car she shook her head with a mournful sigh. That sweet innocent woman had too many problems to be able to handle that so well. Lindsay constantly amazed her.

Pulling up at the lab, she walked in, and immediately met up with Mac.

"Stella, you just see Lindsay?" he asked grimly.

"Yeah, why?" Stella replied while heading to her office.

"I was wondering if you had any reasons for why Danny is acting like he is." Mac explained, "His mood usually revolves around her."

She nodded, "Yeah, Lindsay is stressing out. She snapped at him, I'm guessing after he prodded to deep into her."

He sighed, "I hope they work things out."

"Oh, I think they will. I have a few ideas to help." she replied with a cheery face, "Now if you'll excuse me, Trace is calling me name."

Mac watched with a small grin as the curly haired woman walked off proudly. If anyone could help the rift between the two young CSIs, she could.

Danny shut his locker with a dejected sigh. He felt like a monster for expressing his frustration to Lindsay so harshly. The pained look it her eye wasn't just from her wounds. He hadn't meant to hurt her so badly. He cared for her, a lot more than he liked to admit. He couldn't describe the anger and panic he felt when the scum bag had shot her. The small scars around her wrists from the ropes lacerating her horrified him. He just downright hated it.

"Danny."

"What is it Stel? I really just want to hit the sack." he groaned, resting his forehead on the cool metal door of his locker.

Stella walked up, and placed a hand on his shoulder. Smiling gently she squeezed his shoulder before speaking.

"If it means anything to you, she's sorry." she said, "She's also okay. The tearing wasn't too severe."

"Wait, wait, wait, tearing? What d'ya mean?" Danny interrupted.

"You're the one who noticed the blood Danny. The stitches tore and broke. She had to go back to the hospital to replace them." replied Stella severely, "After her fight with you. She really is sorry, and feels bad. You should see her."

"Stel, I didn't start the fight-"he turned around, but she was gone. Instead there was a small post-it on his back. As he read it, a small smile formed on his face.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

After another week of staying in bed, the absolute nothingness was starting to get to her. Even in her careful sluggish state she'd managed to clean her whole apartment.

Her bedroom was neatly organized, all her laundry done, folded, and sorted down to the nose. Her closet was sparkling, and had remade her teddy bear puzzle twice. It now sat again on the coffee table.

Her dishes were now sorted for the occasion. All her glasses were now neat and orderly. Her fridge had been cleaned out, and now she needed to go shopping. She'd managed to do most of her kitchen sitting and sorting on the island, then slipping things away.

Her stitches would soon be ready to come out. Even after aggravating them and tearing the flesh again, she was still healing fast. And she spent three-quarters of the day knocked out from the medicine so that helped immensely.

Her pictures were now reorganized, and she'd made a new scrapbook. This time of her New York family. She'd snuck in a digital camera every so often, and gotten pictures of nearly everyone. She tried not to notice the fact that the majority were of the almighty Danny Messer.

Now she sat on the couch, her coffee table coated in picture books and scrap books. The only spot that wasn't coated was the puzzle. On her lap was her newest edition to her collection of memories. Slowly turning the pages, she grinned at the corny smile of Adam, making the peace sign. Sighing, she leaned her head back when there was a sharp knocking at her door.

When she managed to get over and pull the door open, she was surprised to see Danny there, leaning against the frame. She tried not to rake her eyes over his appearance. Red long sleeves and jeans. Simple, but sexy nevertheless.

"Danny. What are you doing here?" she asked curiously, letting him in. She then noticed the box in his hand. He grinned, that grin that made her knees felt like they were melting. But she shoved that aside for curiosity and irritation as she dragged herself back to the couch.

"Hey Montana." he said sheepishly, and then looked over all the books. He turned one, one that conveniently had a picture of a teenage Lindsay in a bikini top and khaki shorts at a lake, holding a fishing pole. He looked up with a raised eyebrow, and she blushed slightly

"Been busy?" he questioned.

"That's what happens when you are ordered to stay in bed for a week with maybe three visitors." she said with a slightly icy tone to make him grimace slightly.

"Lindsay…"

"No Danny, don't bother. I had been having a bad day. All in the past, okay?" Lindsay cut him off, looking at him pleadingly.

"No Lindsay, I want to apologize. I shouldn't have snapped, okay?" said Danny, taking up pacing slightly, "I was an ass that day."

"You were only worried…" she whispered.

"Yeah, but I made you rip those stitches!" burst Danny, "How much of an ass am I? I was so angry about you getting' hurt that I made you get hurt more!"

Lindsay sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Danny, stop."

He did, and gazed at the woman. She slowly stood up, on hand covering her gunshot. She looked at him and captured his azure gaze with her cocoa one.

"I forgive you. Now drop it okay? And what is that?" she pointed at the box.

What he showed her made her laugh out loud. It was a thousand piece puzzle. Grinning she took it, and looked at the design. It was a picture of a ranch, making her looked up.

"Hey, I thought you'd like a touch of home!" he said in defense.

Rolling her eyes, she still smiled, and set it on top of the bear puzzle. While she did this, Danny snatched up one of her scrapbooks, one of the older ones, with her family as a little girl. He chuckled at her at around six in a fairy costume, wand and all. Lindsay sat next to him, and started a commentary. They tore through a whole book in about a half hour, since she kept on sprouting into fascinating stories.

"So Montana, you really are the classic country girl." he summarized.

"Far from it Messer. A real country girl would be a housewife, pumping out kids like a factory." said Lindsay, completely serious.

He choked on his laughter, looking at her with wide eyes. He laughed even harder at her serious look, spoiled by a grin.

"You aren't kidding. So it's wrong that you help stop the scum bags out there?" he said with a rumbling chuckle.

She nodded, and stood up. He followed her into the kitchen, and watched while she started to make tea. She looked over her shoulder.

"Want some?"

"No, I'm more of the black coffee type." he declined.

She shrugged, and plopped a tea bag in her mug and sat at the island. Danny followed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"So what's your latest case?" she suddenly asked, and they were swept into another long conversation. After it all, they were back to friends and co-workers. And more importantly, there feelings had only increased.

A/N: Yay! They aren't mad at each other! WOOT! Okay, I thought I'd gives you peeps a warning. I have mid-terms coming up, so I'll be doing a s load of studying soon, once I figure out WHAT to study. Eepa... Anyways, I hope you are enjoying my story. If you are, please, prove it by reviewing! I'm a bit insecure and like a boost once in a while:) Love y'all!