See prologue for story information and disclaimer. Though you guys might like a little more of this fic, after two chapters of my new one, Double Trouble. I'm going to take a moment to advertise myself and request you check that story out too.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has reviewed this story. It makes me so happy to see the numbers go up and even happier to read the wonderful things you guys have said. It's very nice to see reoccurring names of reviewers too. Thanks to all of you who have made it such a pleasure to write. I always enjoy suggestions too. If you make one, who knows, I might just take it and dedicate a chapter to you.

Chapter Eight

Lindsay and Danny had a very different morning than Sarah and Flack. Lindsay woke up early and decided to let Danny sleep while she had a shower. Unfortunately, she let time get away from her and spent too long thinking. When she got out of the shower, she found they had just enough time to eat, dress and get to work.

Then, she couldn't wake Danny. After several minutes of yelling and shoving, Lindsay was forced to yank the covers off him. If she'd had time, she would have enjoyed looking at Danny in just his boxers. As it was, she didn't even have time to be embarrassed, let alone check him out.

Danny showered and dressed while Lindsay made two bagels with cream cheese. They rushed out of the building to the subway, eating their breakfast on the way.

When they got to the lab, Mac told Danny his results had come back with nothing. He sent Danny out with Stella and Detective Angell to talk to Rebecca Saunders' neighbours and friends. Mac put Lindsay on some cases from the night shift. She worked on those all morning.

She didn't see Danny for the rest day. He was out in the field and she spent the afternoon working on cold cases. She heard from Mac that her sister was under Flack's protection and they were sight-seeing. That made her feel better, because she knew that even if Danny was wrong about Flack liking Sarah, he'd still never let anything hurt her sister.

Nothing interesting happened at the lab for the rest of the day and Lindsay was anxious to get to Danny's. She wanted to know what they'd found and whether or not they were any closer to catching this guy. Right before she was getting ready to leave, she got a message from Sarah. She said she'd phoned their mother, but had left a message. She had left Flack's home phone number so Lindsay wouldn't have to worry about getting any more calls from Montana. Sarah's giddy comments about all the things she and Flack were doing made Lindsay smile. She knew her sister well enough to tell that she was starting to fall for Flack, if she hadn't already done so.

She left a message for Sarah on Flack's home answering machine and then went to the locker room to get her things. Danny was there when she entered and she felt better to see him. He, on the other hand, looked frustrated and upset. She could only assume that he had learned nothing new from all his work.

"Danny?"

He looked up from his locker and gave her a half-hearted smile.

"Hey, Montana."

His voice sounded sad and defeated. She didn't like the sound of it at all.

"We'll catch him, Danny."

He cleared his throat and gave her a real smile. It was as though he remembered he should be making her feel better, not the other way around.

"'Course we will. Don't you worry, Montana."

She tried to suppress a smile. I'm not the one worrying.

"Ready to go pick up your stuff?" he asked.

"Just let me grab my bag."

-----

They were at Lindsay's building after only four subway stops. When they reached Lindsay's apartment, she saw the corner of an envelope sticking out from under her door.

"Danny, look," she said, pointing to it.

He frowned and reached for his gun. "You open the door and I'll cover you."

She nodded and unlocked the door. She felt safer knowing Danny would shoot anything that was a danger to her, even though she thought it unlikely that anyone would be in her apartment. After all, the envelope could have been from anybody.

She opened the door and Danny entered, sweeping his eyes around the room. When he cleared the room, she entered and he proceeded to check every other room. Only when he'd checked the entire apartment did he put his gun away.

Lindsay stood by the door until Danny came back and nodded.

"It doesn't look like anyone was in here."

She agreed and bent to pick up the letter.

"Wait," he said. "Use gloves."

He pulled out a pair of latex gloves from his pocket and handed them to her. She put them on and picked up the envelope. There was nothing on the envelope except the letters L.M. written in simple block letters. She and Danny shared a concerned look.

She opened the envelope and pulled out the lone piece of paper. She gasped as she read the message formed form magazine cut-out letters. She dropped the paper in shock. It fluttered to the floor and landed face up. Danny bent and read the seven letter message.

Thought you were safe, did you, Detective?

-----

Lindsay couldn't move. She had thought she was safe. Dangerous as New York is, she had thought she was safe from him there.

Danny was saying something, but she couldn't hear him over the rushing in her ears. When she could get a hold of herself, all she could say was one thing.

"He knows where I live."

Danny grabbed her shoulders. "Montana, we're going to deal with this. Work with me here, Lindsay."

His use of her real name snapped her out of it. She nodded at him and some tension left his face.

"Listen, give me those gloves and I'll bag the letter, alright?"

She nodded again, took off the gloves, and handed them to Danny.

"Okay," he said. "Now you pack your stuff. Just grab whatever you need. If you forget something, don't worry. We'll send someone back here or I'll buy you a new one. Then, we'll go back to the lab to drop the letter off. After, we'll go to my place. You'll be safe there."

She nodded once more, feeling as if that was all she could do. But Danny's reassuring gaze gave her the strength to do what he said. She filled two suitcases with her clothes, cosmetics, bathroom necessities and shoes. She filled a backpack with her laptop, computer accessories, CDs, movies and books.

Danny had put the letter and the envelope in a Ziploc baggie, which he taped shut as an improvised evidence bag. He helped her carry her things to the street where they hailed a taxi to the crime lab.

Lindsay remained in a daze as Danny spoke to Mac, who was unsurprisingly still at the lab. She barely registered them getting into another cab and driving to Danny's place.

It wasn't until she was standing in Danny's living room, surrounded by her bags, that she came out of her daze. Her emotions rushed over her and to her shame she burst into tears. Danny, who had just finished locking the door, quickly dropped the suitcase he was carrying and rushed over to her. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"Don't cry," he said softly. "Please don't cry, Montana. We'll catch him. You'll be fine. I won't let him hurt you. I promise. Please, don't cry. It'll be okay. Please, Lindsay. Don't cry."

Danny's reassuring babble washed over her and helped stop her tears, just as much as feeling him arms around her. She felt warm and safe and protected. Danny would protect her and she loved Danny, even if she could tell him. She was allowed to feel safe if he held her.

"I'm sorry, Danny. I don't know what came over me," she whispered.

"Hey," he said, tipping her chin so she was looking at him. "Don't apologize. You've got nothing to be sorry for. I told you I'd be there for you, didn't I?"

She nodded and leaned her head against his chest, reveling in the feeling of being held by him. They stood like that in silence for minutes that seemed like hours.

Eventually, Danny pulled away. "You're probably tired. You should get some rest."

She was about to protest when she yawned widely. He smiled at her embarrassed look.

"Go on," he said. "I'll bring you a sandwich to eat in bed, okay?"

"Okay," she said and grabbed the suitcase with her pajamas. She smiled to herself, as she dug through it.

Who knew Danny Messer could be so incredibly sweet?