I Massive Thanks for all the reviews etc…love to you all! If I haven't replied to your review, I'm sorry and you have my permission to shout at me!
I own nothing and this is all unbeta'd!
Just to make sure the time line is clear here…this chapter continues on from last chap, the night of the day of the murder, and continues onto the next morning too! Make sense? Who knows! Let's go for it anyway…
"No, no…I just…" and Danny stormed out the room, hands coursing though his hair in irritation.
He needed to do something worthwhile, he couldn't stand this going round in circles they seemed to be doing. He also needed some space, some sleep and some Lindsay, the latter of which he doubted he would be allowed to see at 1am. So that meant he wanted to be alone, and he could only think of one place he could be sure to get some privacy around here.
He quickened his pace, fearing Stella or one of the others would come after him, and headed straight for the locker room and into a shower stall, locking the door behind him, locking the world out. He lent his forehead against the cold, white tiles and closed his eyes, wishing away the fear and anger lying in the pit of his stomach.
Danny then heard the locker room door open and not wanting to be disturbed he quickly turned on the shower, realising all too late he was still in his clothes. But he had gone past caring, so he merely lent back against the wall and slid down it until he was sitting on the floor, letting the water totally immerse him.
He didn't know how long he sat there until he heard his boss talking, but tears had appeared on his face, hidden by the now freezing water.
"Danny. I know you're in there, and I know you probably don't want to talk to anyone right now, but just here me out."
Mac didn't even wait for a response, knowing his CSI all too well.
"This is tough on you, its tough on us all, but its toughest on you and however much you would deny it, you're having a hard time coping. We ARE going to get Lindsay out but I need you to stay focused. I need you to work this case. Your one of the best I've got and I can't have you becoming a loose cannon, not on this case, for Lindsay's sake. But first, go home, get some rest and I'll see you back here first thing in the morning, I need you alert."
He got up and started to walk out. Danny didn't know what to say so stayed silent. He wanted to say thanks, Mac truly was a great mentor and friend to him, but he couldn't be seen in his current state. He didn't want Mac to know he had been crying.
"Oh and Danny", his footsteps paused momentarily. "I never did regret hiring you, whatever others may have said in the past, I know I made the right decision."
--
Lindsay was starting to think life as a suspect wasn't that bad after all. You were fed, clothed, got to have a wash, and didn't need to get up and go to work. But actually she wouldn't mind getting up early, especially when the nights were so bad.
It was now 8.15 am and she was again alone in a cell. She had just spent her first night incarcerated, and hoped there wouldn't be that many more to come. Constant nightmares meant she had practically no sleep and she was shattered. But it also meant she was extremely focused. She was going to tell Danny.
She was already formulating the words she would use, but it just wasn't that easy…
Danny…we've got to talk – no, too formal.
Hey, Dan…baby…soon we're going to have our own little bundle of joy! - no…sooo not me…or him.
Danny…I'm pregnant. Please don't freak out. Please don't leave me. Please let us be a happy family and let us grow old together. Please let me have the old Danny back for good. – maybe a tad desperate, and too close to the truth.
She loved Danny, and although he had never said it, he loved her too. They could make this work if they tried, they were perfect for each other after all. Everyone said so, even her Dad, to whom no man, before Danny that was, had seemed good enough for his daughter. When she first arrived, Lindsay soon became closer to Danny than any other person in the lab, or New York. As soon as they had met, there was a certain spark between them – and Lindsay had never known the line between love and hate could be so thin. And still, there was no one in the world that could infuriate Lindsay as much as Danny. Where was he now? It'd been a day since he had visited and she had seen hide nor hair of him since.
--
Nine o'clock in the morning came and the corridors were crowded. The New Jersey police who had come to help with the investigation were all moving out now the joint investigation over the Cabbie Killer was over. The halls were so crowded that Danny, leaving the break room where he had crashed for the night, on his way to Lindsay had accidentally bumped into a guy, boxes stacked precariously in his hands.
"Sorry 'bout that….want a hand there?"
"No, no I'm fine," came the response as the man quickly tried to continue on his way. But Danny was too fast, taking some of the boxes to help and in so doing revealed the man's face. It was Detective Fletcher.
"Oh hey, it's you, man. About yesterday, err…I just wanted to say I'm sorry. Didn't see ya there. How's the nose?"
Bit of a stupid question you idiot, Danny thought. You shove him against the wall with a swing door and now the man had some kinda cotton wool stuff up his nose, looking distinctly scared of you.
"Oh, its ok, accident and all….we all make mistakes don't we…" and he again tried to continue away from Danny. Which, despite everything, Danny thought was odd as they were on good terms, having graduated to become CSIs in the same class and having been quite friendly 'back in the day'.
"So you all moving out now?" said Danny, walking into the elevator behind Fletcher as he helped him with the boxes. Fletcher was one of the New Jersey contingent.
"Yeah, case all tied up now, back to our own labs…will be nice to get away from here…a bit more space….suppose u feel the same way!"
"I'm just glad they caught that creep, y' know. And now we can concentrate on solving Lindsay's case. You heard about that? Detective Monroe…"
"Oh yeah, was a shame to hear bout that…anyway…good luck with that case, I can take it all from here… see you later"
"Yeah we should catch up some time." Said Danny, but got no response as Fletcher practically ran out of the elevator.
Danny followed him off the elevator, now on the ground floor, so he could head off to the precinct. But he was suddenly engulfed in another crowd. No longer New Jersey Cops…more New York Journalists. And they were on the hunt for a story.
AN: As usual, I would LOVE reviews so R&R? Pretty please?
Thanks for reading!
