Danny sighed. He doesn't know what to do. So, he does the unthinkable and starts putting Melissa's things back into her locker. Melissa, however, was shocked at what Danny was doing. "Excuse me, what are you doing?" she asked.
"What does it looks like? I'm putting your stuff back into your locker", he replied as he puts her snow globe back on the top shelf.
Melissa was confused. She didn't say anything until Danny packed everything back into the locker and closed the door.
"Melissa, there's something I need to tell you", started Danny.
Melissa rolled her eyes. "Oh boy. Here comes the 'I think it looks serious' look again", she moaned.
Danny knew that it's the moment of truth. He knew that the time has come for him to tell Melissa the truth – the whole truth.
"Sit down. It may help you keep your balance once it's out in the open", he said.
All Melissa did was nodded and she sat down.
Danny took a deep breath. "The reason why I put all your stuff back is that Mac did not accept your resignation. He said that you were a great CSI intern and wanted you to stay. And plus there's something else you need to know. "
Melissa's hand started to twitch. She knew something's really up and it's starting to kill her so badly. "Wait a minute. You're my brother?!" she covers her mouth. Danny looked at her, shocked. He knew that she figured out the truth long before they first met. At the end, he nodded. He looked at Melissa's reaction.
Melissa couldn't believe it. First she was silent. Then she stood up, put on her coat and was about to leave when Danny grab her hand. She turned around and looked at him. "Why are you holding my hand?" she asked.
Danny knew that it's hard for her to understand. "Look I know that it's hard to understand. You're grieving for your adoptive parents' death at the moment and I understand that. It's just that you need to know who your real family...."
"Thank you for your concern Danny, but I can't do this. I rather grieve for the people whom I've lost than believing that you're my real brother", interrupted Melissa as she pulled her hand away from his and leave the locker room.
As Melissa left the room, Lindsay entered the locker room to find Danny, covering his face with his hands. "Let me guess, Melissa didn't take the news in well right?" she guessed. Danny just stood there and sighs. "Yeah. I'm starting to be concerned about her now that she knows the truth", he said as he looks at his sister's locker.
"Just give her some time. Maybe she will come to terms with it. Right now, she needs time to grieve for the lost of her parents", said Lindsay as she kisses his cheek. "I hope so", added Danny. Both he and Lindsay left the locker room to Danny's apartment.
Meanwhile, Melissa arrived at home feeling sorry for herself. She looked at the place where her parents' was murdered and burst into tears. She didn't know what to do, or who to call. Because she knew that Danny's right. It was time to face the reality that she needs her family – her real family, and that real family is him. She blames herself for leaving her parents unprotected. So, she ran to the cupboard and search for something. She searched and searched until she gave up, grab the keys and leaves the house – slamming the door behind her.
Back at Danny's apartment, both Lindsay and Danny didn't speak to one another all the way to the apartment. Once they were inside, Danny couldn't help but wonder what Melissa is doing at the moment. Lindsay looked at him and hugs him. "You should stop thinking about her. Right now you should focus on our family", she said.
Danny looked at Lindsay confused. "What do you mean 'family'? It's only the two of us". Lindsay smiled as she touched her stomach. "I'm pregnant". He couldn't believe it. One minute, he told the truth to Melissa (which it didn't went as planned). The next, Lindsay announces that she is having a child – his child. Before he could say anything, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it", he said as he walks to the door. He opened the door and his expressions went from excitement to surprised. "Melissa. How did you...."
"I kind of found your address in the phonebook", Melissa replied. She looked inside and saw Lindsay in the lounge of his apartment. "Looks like you're busy at the moment so I'll just leave you two...." and she walked away. "Melissa wait", he said. Melissa stopped and turned around. Danny came out of the apartment and caught up with her. "Don't worry, there's something I needed to tell you too".
Danny walked Melissa in his apartment and sat her down. "You want tea, coffee....". "Orange juice will be fine, if you have any", she replied. As Danny went into the kitchen, Lindsay sat down next to her and hugged her. "Look, I know that you've lost both your adopted parents, but that doesn't mean that you should ignore people that support you through this time of need. Besides, I've been there and done that myself", she said. Lindsay wanted to mention Danny as her brother, but she didn't want to scare her. So she left it out – for now.
Melissa looked at Lindsay confused. "Wha..... what do you mean by that?" she said. Lindsay hands her a tissue box. "My friends were murdered when I was 14. Two years ago, I went back to Montana to testify against the guy who killed them. It was so hard to tell what happened to the judge when Danny here turned up unexpectedly. He supported me right through the trial and when that was over, we even got closer together than we ever imagined", she said as Danny arrived with two glasses of orange juice in hand.
"You've got that right honey", Danny replied as he passed a glass to Lindsay. After that, Melissa could feel the warmness between the two and started to smile unexpectedly. Danny saw this and was surprised. "Why are you smiling Melissa?" he asked.
Melissa sighed. "I've just had this feeling.... A happy feeling...... As if both my adoptive parents are actually happy that I'm here, with someone that I didn't know for 18 years...." She looks at him. ".... and now that I've mentioned it....." Tears started to fill her eyes again. "I..... I'm so sorry for pushing you away Danny...." "Hey, that's ok", he said as he wiped the tears from her eyes. "There's no need to apologise. Besides, you've just lost someone close to you...." He smiles back and looks at Lindsay. ".... and there is some good news as well".
"What good news are you talking about?" asked Melissa. Lindsay nodded at Danny. Then he looks at Melissa. "I hope you're prepared for a new role coming up", he said. Melissa looked at Lindsay confused. Lindsay laughed. "You are going to be a great aunt. I'm pregnant". Melissa's expression turned from confusion, to surprised. "Oh my goodness!! Congratulations!!" she replied excitedly as she hugged both Danny and Lindsay.
She raised her glass. "To the both of you. For four things: For being there for me in this time of need, for being engaged, for letting me being part of your family and for the announcement of your first child. Cheers". They all toasted together and sip their chosen drinks.
Danny raised his beer bottle. "I would like to make a special toast to you Melissa, for understanding and letting me be a part of your life. Cheers". Melissa smiled as they toasted. Lindsay, on the other hand, raised her glass for one last toast. "To our friends and family whom we've lost. May they rest peacefully and guide us through our lives as a family". Melissa felt a tear drop from her eye and wipes it clean before anyone noticed. "Cheers", they said together.
This is the last chapter for this story. Please take the time to read the story in full and review. Thank you for reading.
