Okay- I know I promised the M rating but I sort of lied. This chapter is the second last chapter the NEXT chapter will be rated M. I got the 'Truth or Dare' idea from the D/L thread over at TalkCSI a while back and mentioned that I'd probably use it so here it is. Again I own nothing and remember to review- the more reviews the faster I seem to write!


"Truth or Dare? is a party game requiring a minimum of two players. The game is very popular with adolescents, but is also played by some adults."

-Defenition of Truth or Dare? from Wikipedia

Truth or Dare?

Part 1

The heat wave broke out towards the end of August. One week until September, until summer break and work seemed to set in again as full time for most people and no one could step foot outside of their house. No that they couldn't mind you more like they didn't want to; everything was hot and sticky and nothing seemed worth leaving the air conditioned heaven of their houses to venture out for. Which was why, when Danny opened the door to his apartment with his side to find Lindsay sitting on his couch eating apple slices out of a bowl of ice water he froze.

"Make yourself at home Montana," Danny laughed as the door clicked shut and Lindsay looked up at him.

"Hi," She slipped off the couch and followed him into the kitchen as he placed his grocery bags on the counter. "Look, don't be mad- it's just that the air conditioning in my building isn't working and, well I figured…"

"You figured you'd used me for my air conditioning, is that it? I knew I shouldn't have given you a key- user." He handed her a beer, cold and crisp from the fridge and smiled at her as he moved into the living room and motioned for her to follow.

"Okay, listen- just because that's true doesn't mean I don't like hanging out with you it's just really, really hot outside and I was desperate." She took a seat beside him, pulled her legs underneath herself and leaned back into the arm of the couch to look at him.

"Desperate, really, good to know," Danny chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows at her as she smacked him lightly in the arm. "Ouch, damn it Monroe."

"So, I was thinking, since I'm here and all, how do you feel about Chinese tonight? My treat." He rolled his eyes at her.

"You mean you're trying to bribe me into letting you stay here until the sun goes down and it cools a little bit?" he took at swing of his beer, locking her with questioning blue eyes.

"Or you know if you're busy; never mind." She stood to go, Danny was being short with her and Lindsay couldn't figure out if he was mad at her for intruding or not.

"No, no wait," Danny reached out, wanting to stop her- he was just bugging her but instead of her wrist under his hand he ended up brushing his hand against her bare leg. He looked up at her and for a moment they just stood there starring at each other until she shivered and he pulled his hand back. "Sorry- um, I mean don't go; I was just kidding." He stood, so quickly that she stumbled back before catching herself.

"So Chinese sounds good then?" Lindsay blushed, moving to grab his cordless phone as she looked questioningly; Danny nodded looking away to shake his head to clear it. What the hell was going on? It's not like spending time was anything new to them, or Chinese for that matter, quite the contrary actually- they'd taken to having dinner once or twice a week since the bombing; since Flack. Danny found he like spending time with Lindsay, and for some reason, being able to watch her, to see that she was alive made him feel better; Lindsay seemed to enjoy his company as well.

"Hey Monroe, I'm gonna grab a shower," she nodded, waving him off as she finished ordering their usual from the small Chinese restaurant down the street. He paddled into his bathroom, turned on the shower and stepped in- something with Lindsay was changing and for the first time in his life Danny wasn't sure what to do about it. When he finally returned to the living room he took a moment to take in the scene in front of him; Lindsay moved about his kitchen like she'd been doing it her whole life- gathering plates and wine glasses and chop sticks.

"Hey, you need help?" she jumped slightly, glancing over her shoulder at him just as the doorbell rang.

"Yeah, could you get that?" Danny pulled open the door, surprised to find the Chinese delivery guy standing in front of him- how long was he in the shower?

"Danny, grab some money it's in my purse; okay?" Danny shook his head, handing the delivery guy his money and taking the food in return before closing the door and turning to find her there.

"You paid again, didn't you? Danny!" She took the bag from him and started unpacking the food onto the table in the living room, Danny in turn got the red wine from his wine holder.

"If it makes you feel better, you can get it the next time." He watched her place fried rice onto his plate and then her as he poured them both some wine when she glanced up at him.

"You've been saying that for the last two weeks- this was 'the next time'." He dropped onto the couch and handed her a glass of wine. "Thanks,"

"Hand me the chicken will you Montana." She pushed herself up onto her knees, reached across the table and handing him the take out container with the crispy chicken in it.

"Here,"

"Thanks," the two of them lapsed into silence. Lindsay popped another piece of broccoli into her mouth and turned to look at him,

"You wanna play Truth or Dare Danny?" Danny gazed down at her, loving the way she seemed so comfortable eating Chinese while sitting on the floor in his living room with her back against the couch he was presently sitting on- he grinned.

"And here I thought we were out of junior high." She smacked his leg lightly as she swirled the wine in her glass and sighed.

"Never mind then, but I can only sit here with you for so long before it gets really boring."

"Fine Montana, lets play." He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively wanting to see how far she would let him take his innocent flirting before it turned into something that both of them know would be anything but innocent.

"Good, Truth or Dare Messer?" She sipped her wine, looking at him with sparkling brown eyes over the rim of her glass and waited patently for his answer- he's quick to deliver.

"Truth"

"Playing it safe I see." Lindsay ponders his choice, undecided if she's disappointed or pleased with it and what it is she'd like to know about him.

"Truth; safe? Not for me." Danny chuckled almost bitterly and she knew from the look he shot her after that he hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"You can always change your mind." And there she is giving him a way out like always; they both do that.

"No, no, still truth; I trust you." Danny shook his head, waiting for her to 'ask him anything', determined not to back down from her- determined to see to it that she doesn't back down from him.

"Okay; tell me about Aiden; were the two of you dating?" She knew it was the wrong question the second she said it; knew it all along and her eyes slipped closed. It was much too soon to talk about Aiden; knew that he never wanted to talk about Aiden with her- she tried again. "Scratch that; what happened between you and your brother to cause such a falling out?" No wonder curiosity killed the cat she thought knowing that that too was the wrong question- she winched.

"Are you sure you don't want a dare instead?" She muttered, looking down, mentally removing her foot from her mouth.

"Isn't the first truth question always suppose to be 'have you ever been in love before'?" his voice was slightly shaky- mentioning Aiden had done that but his light laugh caused her to look up at him- he wasn't completely pissed off at her.

"Um, have you then? Ever been in love I mean?" The only light in the room was the couple pot lights from the kitchen but he still noticed when she takes to nibbling her bottom lip.

"No I've never been in love. I thought I was once a long time ago before I really knew what love was. And no Aiden and I never dated, I tried at first- she was beautiful but she'd have none of that and then slowly she became like family. It would have been like dating my sister or something." She laughed lightly; he smiled "And with Louie, it was just something small that got bigger and bigger and I let it. I hate that he had to almost die for me to make any sort of move; I regret that the most." His laughter turned into a sad smile, one that makes her want to reach out to him but she just stayed silent afraid he'll realize his mistake and kick her out or something; he noticed

"Does that answer you're questions?"

"What do you mean 'before you really knew what love was'? So is that a yes or a no to my question?" She smiled at him, unable to stop herself from prying and her eyes widening when he blushed "Oh my god, are you in love with someone now? You have to tell me its part of the game; do I know her…or him; I don't judge." Danny growled at her little joke; sure he may enjoy the odd manicure but he's completely straight and this close to suggesting he prove it if she's unsure.

"Cute, and no I don't have to answer. Seeing as you asked me three questions and I answered them all in a single turn omits me; so Truth or Dare Monroe?"

"Considering I'm dead either way I'll go with truth too." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why did you come to New York?" Lindsay hesitated; he probes "Come on, you've gotta answer."

"It seemed as good a move as any and Bozeman- well there was nothing keeping me there anymore. I know that's probably not even close to an answer but…" Danny waved her off.

"If it's all you're ready to give me then it's all I need to know…for now." Blue eyes locked with brown ones and she nodded "But someday I'm going to want to know more and hopefully you'll trust me enough to tell me then?" Lindsay smiled at him, he made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time; make her feel them with such intensity that it scared her sometimes and then he calmed her down just as deeply "Anyway I'm up again; let's go with dare."

"Oh a gambler I see; you sure you wanna put yourself in my hands Danny?" If she only knew- he found himself thinking.

"Tell me Danny how familiar are you with the word 'striptease'?" He smiled and blushed and then licked his lips like he had when she'd asked him if anonymous calls turned him on.

"I've never looked up its definition if that what your mean but I'm pretty familiar with it," he winked at her for the third time that night and her nose scrunched up in mock disgust, "Why?" Oh how he walked into that one.

Seeing as you sound so confident- let's see how good you are at a striptease Danny; I dare you." She laughed out loud at his 'maybe I didn't hear you right' look, "Unless of course you're too scared?" He was on his feet in seconds- Danny Messer wasn't scared of anything- Lindsay knew to play on his ego.

"I always knew you really wanted to see me naked Montana, but all you had to do was ask." He started undoing the buttons on his shirt as her mouth fell open at his comment and she reasoned that her little dare needed to stop; this was all the wines fault.

"You know what, forget about it Danny, I was just bugging you; sit down." She reached up to stop his hands as they undid the last button but he was quicker, grabbing her and hauling her to her feet.

"I'm a born and bread New Yorker Lindsay; we never back down from a dare. Now what do you say; Truth or Dare?" His dress shirt is gone, leaving his black wife beater as all that remained between her hands and the planes of his solid chest- it soon followed. The vibrations of his voice made her shiver; she wasn't thinking properly anymore.

"Dare." He pulled her flush against him, the button of his jeans undone and digging lightly into her stomach as he leaned in, his lips running over the shell of her ear.

"You sure Montana?" Smiling when he felt her gulp lightly and then she nodded against him, "I dare you to help me with my striptease."

TBC

-Girlygirl

Oh wow, bet you all hate me now? I've decided to bribe you guys again; the last part is all ready to go so the amount of reviews will decide if I post the next part by tomorrow or not? I need at least 10 reviews to do so but much, much more is appreciated.