Chapter 21
Three months later, Danny and Flack finished carrying the sofa up the two flights of stairs to Danny and Lindsay's new apartment.
"Put it over here under the window." Lindsay said as she brought up the last box from the U-Haul, behind them.
Danny and Flack did as they were told and then Danny turned to Lindsay while Flack flopped down on the couch that he had just put down.
"Hey, hey Linds. You shouldn't be carrying that. I told you that I'd get it." Danny said as he hurried over to Lindsay and removed the box from her hands.
"Danny, I don't need you to do everything. All you've let me bring up are the pillows. I can help also. I'm not going to break, you know." Lindsay said, exasperated.
Danny had refused to let her carry anything over five pounds. Lindsay attempted to make him see that if she helped, they could move everything inside more quickly. He hadn't budged. He was adamant that she not lift anything at all, he only conceded to the five pound weight when he realized that she was going to help anyway.
"I know, but you are still healing. I don't want anything to happen, that would set you back. " Danny said with a grin.
He was very happy that they were taking their next step together as a couple. He had been trying to talk her into moving in with him ever since she was re-released from the hospital after Paul died. The doctor's had declared that she had opened a few stitches and suffered another concussion, but was otherwise, alright. Danny was able to take her home two days later. He hadn't left her side since.
"Okay, I'll give you that, but really I am going to help unpack. This is my home too." Lindsay said as she disappeared down the short hallway to the kitchen.
Lindsay had loved this apartment the moment that she walked into it. There were twice as many windows, making the whole apartment seem larger and bright. She liked how the kitchen was a separate room in the apartment. There were two bedrooms and a huge living room. She felt wonderful as she walked to the counter to start unpacking the boxes.
"Pizza's here!" Adam yelled as he walked into the apartment.
" 'Bout time. We've starving here." Flack said, good naturedly.
Lindsay walked out of the kitchen carrying a roll of paper towels that she had just found in a paper bag on the floor.
"Danny, why don't you take the pizza from him. I'm not the only one still on medical restriction?" Lindsay said with a wink to Adam.
Adam had suffered a massive injury to his heart. When they had taken him into the operating room, the doctors were unsure if he would survive. Luckily, the severed artery was fixed after a twelve-hour surgery. Everyone had waited for the positive news in Lindsay's hospital room. Even three months later, Adam became winded more easily and required more rest than he had before. The doctor's were optimistic that he would regain, if not all, at least 90% of his previous heart function. He was now utilizing about 75%. Mac had him working a shorter shift and he was still on medical restriction at work. No one minded picking up the slack or helping him when he needed it, they were all relieved that he survived.
"I've got it. I took the stairs a few at a time and rested the whole way up." Adam said, blushing a little. He knew that Lindsay was joking, but it still stung a little. He still struggled to accept that he was not as capable as he used to be, but the team were usually kind enough to not mention it.
"Of course you do, buddy. Lindsay's just mad that I wouldn't let her carry ridiculously heavy boxes and the bed upstairs by herself." Danny said.
"Oh, no. Lindsay you shouldn't be doing that. Danny's right." Adam said, catching on to what was happening. He had offered to help move, but Danny and Flack assured him that they had it under control, but he could bring the pizza if he wanted. He had jumped at the chance to be a part of the group.
"Hey! Who's side are you on anyway?" Lindsay said as she swatted Adam's arm.
"The winning one, babe. The winning one." Danny whispered in her ear. She started to laugh as she realized that she wasn't going to win any argument where she was allowed to help move heavy objects.
"What kind we got here?" Danny said as he grabbed the first of the two boxes of pizza's.
They all sat around the room and talked about the latest football game and plans for he night as they ate their food.
The doorbell rang and Lindsay jumped up to get it, "I've got it. I wonder who it is, we haven't given the address out yet." Unease swept over Danny. He was still on edge and weary whenever something out of the ordinary occurred. Mostly, things ha returned to normal in their lives, but there was always a little worry in the back of Danny's mind, that something would happen to screw it all up again.
Flack had arrived at Rikki's house to question her, only to find that she had moved out and taken everything with her. There was no forwarding address and the Super had said that he was just as shocked as Flack was, because Rikki had already paid for the next month's rent.
No one knew where she was or what she was doing. Danny and Flack had discussed the situation at length since then. There was no concrete evidence that she was a part of Paul Tinder's master plan, but she was the only one that came to mind when he used his last breath to implicate a woman as helping him. The only woman that either one of them could think of, that would have it out for Lindsay, was Rikki. Unfortunately, they were at a dead end. She had disappeared and hadn't been heard from since.
Lindsay opened the door to find a flower deliveryman standing at on her doorstep.
She instantly turned to Danny, fear in her eyes.
"The last time that I got flowers, it didn't go so well. Please, tell me that you sent them." She said.
Danny was on his feet and at the door while she was still talking.
"No, babe. They're not from me." Danny was concerned now. He thanked the deliveryman and got his contact information, just in case. Then he shut the door and carried the large vase of lily's into the living room. Adam and Flack had stopped eating and were quietly watching as the scene unfolded.
Danny set the vase on the coffee table and all four of them quietly looked at it. Slowly, Lindsay reached out her hand to pick up the card from within. She carefully opened the envelope that was addressed to the "Messer household". She pulled out the card inside and froze. She looked up, her heart in her chest, to meet Danny's eyes.
"Congratulations darling. I love the new home that we will soon share. It is what I have always wanted. Hope to see you soon, Rikki." Lindsay read.
A/N: Thank you for reading my first fanfic. I hope that you have enjoyed it! As you can see, I will be returning with a sequel to this one very shortly. Please, let me know what you think and I am always open to suggestions. Happy reading!