A/N: Thank you to everyone who've read and reviewed. Your support is truly amazing. Great guesses everyone but no one got it right...I guess that's a good thing since you would have gotten this chapter tomorrow otherwise. All mistakes are my own.

Walking down the hallway alone, Danny took the time to gather his thoughts. Lindsay had taken the news of Stan's death the way he had expected her to; she became withdrawn and wanted nothing but to be alone. But she kept her promise; she told him she just needed some time before talking to anyone about it. He had her word that he'd be the first she'd go to when the time came. He had respected her need for space, hoping that it would be enough to think things through.

With a cup of coffee in hand, Danny headed towards their office where he had left her. Looking up, Danny managed a smile as Stella strode towards him but before he could utter a single greeting, Stella whirled by, her curls flying frantically behind her.

"Stella!" Danny called out, hoping to get some kind of news from his boss.

Stella continued down the hallway but called out a response before disappearing off into a lab, "No time to talk Danny, we found something!"

Danny's spirits rose at the news as he all but ran the remainder of the way to his office.

"Hey Mon-" he started but stopped at the empty room.

Setting the steaming mug down on his desk, he left the room in search of her; looking through the many labs. His heart began to beat frantically at her disappearance, leading up to him storming into Mac's office, out of breath.

"Mac," he started. "I can't find Lindsay anywhere."

Mac stood up and motioned him to sit down on the couch, "Calm down Danny. Lindsay's fine. She just wanted some air. I told her to get some coffee."

"She's out there alone?" Danny asked loudly. Seeing Mac flinch slightly, Danny sobered. "Sorry," he muttered.

Mac shook his head, "Don't worry about it. She's got a uniform with her. There's a note on your table."

"Oh…" Danny nodded slightly and stood up, offering Mac a sheepish smile.

"Sorry about that," said Danny. "I'm just…"

"You're worried about her, it's understandable. I know where she is," replied Mac.

Danny nodded his thanks and headed for the door when Mac called his name.

Danny turned around, "Yeah Mac?"

"For the record, I'm proud of you," said Mac, a fatherly smile appearing on his face. "You've grown and everyone see's it. I'm putting you back on the promotion grid."

Danny was speechless, "I…err, thanks Mac. Thanks a lot."

Mac simply nodded and waved him out.

XXXXXX

A few blocks away, Lindsay sat down in an empty café with Officer Rodriguez. Linda Rodriguez. Gently sipping her coffee, Lindsay sighed loudly. Stan's death hit her like a brick wall. She could feel the killer getting closer to her, victim by victim.

A chuckle travelled through her body as her thoughts strayed to Danny as it always would. She knew he would probably be running rampant looking for her, even if she left a dozen notices on his computer screen. She marvelled at his ability to know when she truly needed something. She had asked for space, not to push him away but because she needed to think by herself. He had respected that need and hadn't pushed. Silently Lindsay wondered what she had done to deserve such a man; one that loved her unconditionally, one that knew her more than she at times knew herself.

XXXXXX

Sitting at his desk, Danny grinned idiotically at his monitor that was now covered in post-it notes: the message, "Dan- gone out for coffee. Don't worry; I've got a uniform with me. Love you –Montana", the name of the café and even a small map drawn with directions to the place.

How he had managed to miss them was beyond him. Looking up, he saw Stella once again, but this time a frown on her face, and she was running – with heals. Danny knew something was up. Stella yelled something out as she passed his office that Danny thought sounded like "Mac's office now!"

Hastily getting up, Danny ran after her. As they both entered Mac's office, Danny came face to face with Flack, his frown matching Stella's.

"What's going on?" asked Danny.

Without a word, they handed their results to him. Mac had already been informed of the findings over the phone. Danny furrowed his brows in confusion at the results.

"It can't be…" he muttered.

"We have to go now," said Mac, already walking out the door.

"We'll never get there in time, its rush hour," Flack called out. They were all running to the elevator.

"We'll run," Mac replied. "Danny I want you to call Lindsay. Keep her on the phone for as long as you can. Stella, find Hawkes and head to the perp's apartment."

Stella nodded as she ran off down the hall. Getting off the phone, Flack turned to Mac and Danny, "I've got a squad nearby, ETA 2 minutes."

Glancing at the elevator, Mac turned to the emergency exit. "We'll take the stairs," he called out.

XXXXXX

Finishing her coffee, Lindsay turned to Linda, noticing her growing smile.

"What?" she asked.

Linda shook her head, "Nothing."

Lindsay frowned slightly, only to be replaced by a smile as her phone began to ring.

"Monroe," she answered.

"Montana? Baby, are you okay?" came Danny's worried voice.

"Of course I am. Why I wouldn't be?" she asked with a laugh. "You okay baby?"

Danny stuttered slightly as he jumped off the last flight of stairs and ran out of the building after Mac, Flack behind him. "Err…I was just worried." It wasn't a complete lie.

"Are you running Danny?" asked Lindsay, her brows furrowed.

"Uh yeah…I've kind of been chasing Stella around," Danny replied, hastily making his way through the crowd of people. "Is Rodriguez with you?"

"Yeah, she is. Why?"

"Never mind, have you eaten or drank anything?" he asked, silently thanking Peyton for informing him that what ever the drugs the murderer had used, it was most likely ingested.

"Just finished my coffee, Danny what's going on?" Lindsay asked. Danny was starting to worry her.

"I err…just stay on the line okay baby?"

"Danny…I'll be back at the lab soon."

"No, just…is there anyone else there?" asked Danny.

"Just the two of us and a guy at the counter," Lindsay replied. She heard Danny swear under his breath.

A dull ache in her skull began to intensify as she stayed on the phone. With her finger massaging the bridge of her nose, Lindsay moaned in pain.

"Lindsay? Lindsay what's wrong?" asked Danny, already panicking.

"Keep on the line," yelled Mac. "We're 2 minutes away."

Lindsay sighed slightly, "Baby I've got a headache. I'll talk to you later okay? Love you."

Danny swore once again as she hung up.

"We'll get there," Mac yelled through the crowd.

XXXXXX

Lindsay moaned once again as her head continued to throb. Her vision began to blur as she lost her sense of balance.

"I need to get back to the lab," she muttered with an attempt to get up.

"You're not going anywhere," replied Officer Rodriguez, pulling Lindsay back down onto her seat.

"I need to see Danny," Lindsay whispered, her hands clutching her head once again.

"You're not going to see him ever again," Linda replied and without another word, shoved Lindsay onto the floor.

The man by the cashier stood up, "Hey what's going on here?"

Without notice, Linda took out her piece and fired a round, leaving the man was sliding down the wall, a wound in his left shoulder. Linda turned back to Lindsay, one hand clutching her neck tightly and another grabbing a knife from her side.

"He's mine," whispered Linda as Lindsay continued to wriggle herself free.

"Please…" pleaded Lindsay. She would normally have had no problem in defending herself but the pain in her head rendered her muscles useless. With the hand on her neck, her breathing became shallow and erratic as the pressure increased.

"You took him from me. He's mine,"

XXXXXXX

A block away, Flack answered his cell as it began to vibrate. "Go," he answered.

….

"Enter and grab Officer Rodriguez NOW!" yelled Flack, "We're a minute away."

Ending the call, Flack yelled out. "Uniforms are there, they're going in."

Danny could only hope that Lindsay was okay as he ran. His muscles were aching but he wasn't stopping for anything.

XXXXXX

Lindsay felt helpless pinned underneath the small woman. Her eyesight continued to blur as the pain in her head continued to escalate. She knew on some level that she had been drugged, but could do nothing.

Linda laughed as she looked at the woman beneath her. This was the woman Danny Messer fell for? It was pathetic. With a smile, she held the knife directly above Lindsay's heart. There was a loud bang and the next thing she knew she was pinned to the ground by a dozen officers. Yanked up forcibly, Linda was handcuffed as she continued to struggle.

"LET ME GO!"

"You ain't goin' anywhere Rodriguez," replied an Officer.

Danny ran into the small shop, mentally noting the injured man by the wall. His attention however was concentrated on the woman he saw lying still on the ground. His heart shattered. Danny was by her side in mere seconds as he picked her up in his arms, tears prickling his eyes.

"Lindsay, baby, please wake up," he choked out. "Please…"

"We need EMS in here stat!" yelled Flack who was directly on Danny's tail. "She's going to be fine Danny," Flack said, placing a comforting arm on Danny shoulder.

His tears fell as the EMS pulled Lindsay away from him. "Lindsay…" he whispered.

His world fell into silence as Danny took in his surroundings. It seemed as if everything was in slow motion. Medical technicians were running in and out, Lindsay was lying on a stretcher and Linda was struggling against her restraints. Linda. His eyes turned red.

Wordlessly, Danny made his way to her; his eyes puffy from the tears, his breathing hard from the running and his fists clutching in anger.

"Why?" he whispered.

Linda looked up and smiled at him. "She's not good enough for you."

"And you are?" asked Danny in disgust.

Linda nodded. "We could have been together."

"You did this because I fell in love with her? Because you were jealous?" he asked.

"It's for your own good Daniel," Linda replied.

"Don't you dare call me that," said Danny, his voice cracking with restrained anger. "You asked me out. I said no. I'm in love with Lindsay. You think killing her is going to make me run to you?"

Linda nodded.

"You're the last person I would ever want to be with," Danny spat.

Danny's gaze turned sharply back to Lindsay when he heard one of the EMT shout.

"We're losing a heartbeat. She's going into shock."

He turned back to Linda. "If anything happens to her, I'll make sure there's a bullet in your head."

That was the last thing he said before running after Lindsay's stretcher. He climbed into the ambulance after them, his hand clutching hers for dear life. His would be lost and meaningless without her.

A/N: Thoughts? Suggestions? Please review and tell me what you thought.

Yes, I know that I promised no more cliffys but I couldn't resist. I do apologise. I will however work very hard to write the next chapter as soon as possible. Did anyone even think about Rodriguez? I told you she had a very miniscule part and we've met her before. If you don't remember, she escorted Lindsay home from the first scene. I am dark and twisty.

Thanks for reading,

Messermonroe.