A/N: I'm working my way towards the ending but there are a few more hurtles to cross, hold on! BTW thank you everyone for the conitnued feedback and support. I've really enjoyed and appreciated hearing everyone's thoughts.

Key West Blues

Chapter 25

"Hey little bro, where's Jamal?"

"Oh he say he sick and staying home today. Told me to come on down here and work with you and Mr. Benoit 'til Granny gets off work."

"Too bad about Jamal, but lucky for you, Jawan, you're just the man I'm looking for. The contractors are coming tomorrow and we gotta have all this cleared out of their way. So whaddya say? Can you help me out?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, you."

A little brother grin just like his big brother's split his face. "Sure thing, Coach"

Danny palmed Jawan's head and gave it a good natured rocking. "Good, let's get started."

"Hey Lindsay"

"Hey yourself, Don," she greeted him with a toothy smile.

"Looks like someone's in a good mood. Good weekend?"

She shifted the heavy kit and ducked under the crime scene tape. "You could say that."

"I just did …so ..."

She arched her eyebrows at him. "So … nothing … Don."

"Okay I get it. You don't kiss and tell but just tell me this, anybody I know?"

She couldn't' suppress the happiness seeping into her features as she replied, "Yes."

"Like a brother?"

"Yes, Don," she said and tried to redirect him, "Now, what about this crime scene?"

Flack muttered in the abstract, "I wonder if Messer wants to grab a beer tonight."

"Don" She put a hand on her hip, tilting her head toward the bodies. "The crime scene."

He returned to the concrete, pulling the notebook from his inner jacket pocket. "Okay, okay. Shots heard this morning around 6 AM by the neighbor who called it in. A family of four, the Sauconys, father, mother, two children, actually five if you count the family dog, Puddles.

The shudder erupted from the inside out. This was by far the worst part of the job – facing the people who had become victims.

"It looks like a triple murder and a suicide but I'll leave the final determination to you and Sid."

"Thanks Don, I've got it from here." Unfortunately.

As Don's footsteps faded away she carefully set the kit down on the polished wood floor so as not to disturb the silence of the dead – victims who had little dignity or choice over their passing into death. She removed the lens cap from the camera strapped around her neck and stepped carefully among the bodies. She couldn't restore their life, but she could give them their dignity during the processing by documenting who they were and how they had died, by giving them an ending to their story through the evidence she gathered.

It was the worst part of the job, but it was the least she could do.

Silas stood aside as Ms. Roselma swayed through the doorway of the community center. "Good to see you, Ms. Roselma. You come for Jawan?"

"And Jamal." The dark almond shaped eyes panned the barrenness of the interior save for a stack of scrap metal in one corner. "You've worked mighty on hard on this place. It's gonna be a real service to the community." Her cheeks plumped as her lips curved into an approving smile. "I'm real proud of you, Silas."

"Why thank you, Ms Roselma."

Danny and Jawan emerged through the back door of the warehouse, Jawan talking a mile a minute. "Coach, can you believe we got that all cleared out?"

"Well it isn't hard to believe when I had someone like you helping me."

Jawan caught sight of Ms. Roselma, scuttled over to her and threw his arms around her waist. "Granny, I been working hard all day and I'm starving. What's for dinner?"

Ms. Roselma plied him with her smile and affectionately laid a hand on his head. "I don't know but we can talk about it on the walk home. Go get your brother and let's go."

"Jamal ain't here. He sick at home."

Ms. Roslema's cheeks slumped as her smile faded and her hand dropped to his shoulder. "I just come from home, stopped in to change my work clothes, and Jamal ain't there."

"But that's where he told me he'd be this morning. Sent me on my way down here."

"Ms. Roselma, I'm sure he just got to feeling better and went out with his friends."

"Uh huh, I'm gonna tan that boy's hide when I get ahold of him. He know the only places he supposed to go are here and home 'til I get home from work."

"I can take a ride around the neighborhood, see if I spot him anywhere," Danny offered

Ms. Roselma wagged a finger at Danny. "I can take care o' my own; I don't need no help from the likes o' you."

"Now, Ms. Roselma, Danny's only trying to help and besides Jamal's a big boy, he probably just out with his friends. Don't be too rough on him."

"Silas, whaddya know about it, huh? Have you ever raised young 'uns?"

"Why no, but I been around 'em all my life and I was a young 'un once myself. I remember what it's like to want to have a little freedom as you get older."

Ms. Roselma's hand slid across Jawan's shoulders, hugging him close to her body. "Silas, now you know as well as I do that freedom in this neighborhood spells trouble."

"But Ms. Roselma, all I'm saying is-"

"You may be saying, but I be knowing what I'm doing and I don't want to talk no more about it, you read me? And if you see Jamal you tell 'im the sooner he gets home, the less wearing it'll be on his hide."

Ms. Roselma humphed as she turned and swayed out the door with Jawan still cinched to her side.

"Jawan, what you want for dinner?" she said to him as they walked down the street

"Granny, I want pizza."

"Whaddya have for lunch, boy?"

"Pizza"

She humphed again as they turned the corner and Silas launched into his ruminations.

"Lordy, what is it with that woman? When she gets it in her head that she's right, she just won't let me talk to her, won't listen to a little reasoning. Think I might have some light to shed on the matter. Jamal is a good kid and she don't need to collar him so close to her. It's gonna backfire on her, I'm a tellin' ya. But is she listenin' to me? No she ain't, no siree she shore ain't … and it's gonna 'cause her a world of hurt. I'm a tellin' ya."

Danny clapped a hand on Silas' back hoping to give him some consolation in the matter. "That's just how some women are Silas. When they think they've got it all figured out and don't need your help, they just lock you out."

"Uh huh, ya got that right." Silas turned his pearly whites on Danny. "But enough about that. I know you got a pretty little lady waiting for you so why don't you take yourself on home."

"What about the contractors tomorrow? We're not finished."

"I can finish it up by myself."

"Silas I don't have but a couple more days here, so let's get as much done as we can while I'm here."

Silas dismissed him with a wave and began walking toward the corner containing the last pile of scrap metal. "No, no, no, you go on."

Danny followed. "C'mon I insist. We can have this knocked out by dark if I stay."

Silas paused with his hand on the pile, the other running over his bald head. "Well time is tight, and this scrap is heavy. I shore would appreciate it."

"It's a done deal just give me a minute."

"Hey Danny. Are you on your way back?" She turned her back on the podium as she answered the call.

"No, we've still got some clearing to do before the contractors arrive tomorrow. Probably won't be on my way before dark. I know we had plans for dinner but-"

"Oh no that's okay, you help Silas."

"Thanks. Your day okay?"

"Umm it was okay but …" She couldn't help that sigh that escaped. "I pulled a tough case."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"I don't have time right now. I'm at the university about to give a symposium."

"You mean for Rand Silsbee?" Danny couldn't help the irritation that crept into his voice. "I thought you were done with those."

"No, don't you remember? I told you about it the other day. This is my last one."

"Okay but when this one is done you aren't thinking about renewing the contract, are you?"

"Aww Danny, I think you're a little jealous. That's sweet."

"Montana, I'm not jealous, I just don't like that Rand guy … heard too many stories about him."

"I don't know what stories you've heard, but he's actually a nice guy once you get to know him, and besides I'm just giving a symposium to a room full of university students not having an intimate dinner with him, so you have no worries."

"Alright, alright, I'll call you when I get back in and if it's not too late we'll do dinner."

"I'll hold you to that, Cowboy but I've got to run; it's time to start."

"Okay, bye"

"Bye"

She pressed 'End', then thumbed through the menu options until she found 'Silence Ringer' and pressed it.

"Okay, I'm ready," she said to Rand as he approached the podium.

"Let's get this show on the road then."

--

Feelings of both relief and poignancy assailed her as the last of the students left the lecture hall. She'd enjoying preparing and presenting these symposiums. They had given her another outlet for utilizing her CSI training without directly dealing with gruesome crime scenes … and doleful victims. The shudder erupted from the inside out again as she recalled the family of victims she'd processed earlier in the day.

"You, okay?" Rand asked as he helped her stack her files back into the box.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay … just, just had a tough crime scene today, that's all." She closed laptop and slipped it into the bag. She wasn't sure why she'd revealed that to him. Maybe it was wearing on her mind more than she had realized. But she thrust it aside for the moment. "Rand, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed preparing and giving these symposiums. I'm going to really miss the experience."

"Maybe you won't have to give up the experience completely." He gestured to two people who approached the podium to stand next to him. "Lindsay, this is Dr. Bill Malvern, head of the Department of Forensic Science and this Dr. Ginny Tessarae who's with the Department of Biology."

Rand gestured towards Lindsay, training his wide, easy smile on her. "This is Detective Lindsay Monroe, our part time symposium presenter extraordinaire and fulltime NYPD CSI."

Lindsay felt her cheeks tinge with color at Rand's flourishes on her talents but it did feel good to be so appreciated.

Dr. Malvern extended a hand as he said, "Lindsay, that was a wonderfully, engaging presentation and we wondered if you'd be interested in a position with the University?"

Lindsay shook Dr. Tessarae's hand in turn as she said, "Umm … well … I haven't really considered it and I don't know if I'd really be a good candidate. I don't have a PhD."

Dr Malvern explained, "Well, it wouldn't be as a professor, although you're always welcome to work on a PhD here, but it would be more of a liaison position between academia and the working world. Rand's been working on a program to better prepare the students for and provide them a seamless transition into the working world."

"Sounds like a worthy idea to me."

"Unfortunately, with his fulltime teaching and research duties, Rand doesn't have the time to implement the program but he recommended you as a possibility for the position. Obviously you have familiarity and skills within the working world and you work well with the students," said Dr. Tessarae.

"I, I don't know … I've just never given much thought to changing careers."

Rand interrupted. "I tell you what, seeing as it's dinnertime why don't we all go out and catch a bite to eat while we discuss the idea."

"Good idea," agreed Dr. Tessarae.

"I'm in," said Dr. Malvern.

"Lindsay?"

"Sure, I'm free and I'd definitely love to hear to more about the opportunity."

--

As she treated herself to a taxi ride home after the dinner meeting with Rand, Dr. Malvern and Dr. Tessarae, she ran through their offer again in her mind. She had to admit that it was a tempting offer – to be able to utilize her skills and knowledge as a CSI but reduce her exposure to the crime scenes. She had to admit that part of the job was the least enjoyable for her, actually quite harrowing at times. The family of victims from earlier in the day flashed across her mind and the shudder from the inside out rocked her body. Maybe it was time for her to get out before she completely burned out. She'd couldn't wait to discuss it with Danny. He could relate to the downsides of the job – especially after Ruben. Her emotions twinged. She wondered if he'd made it back from the Bronx yet. He hadn't called. She pulled out her phone to call him when she realized she'd never turned the ringer back on. Checking she saw that there were four calls and four messages from him, each message subsequently mirroring his mounting worry over where she was. She bit her lip as she dialed his number and the taxi pulled up in front of her building.

When Lindsay emerged from the taxi, Danny was waiting for her.

"Lindsay, where have you been?"

"I'm sorry I forgot to turn my ringer back on after the symposium. I've been out to dinner with Rand and-"

"Rand? I thought you said this wasn't an intimate dinner date."

"It wasn't!" She stalked passed him, rebuking him. "And that was uncalled for Danny." She let herself into her building and he followed her.

"Then what was it?"

She marched up the stairs, fuming the entire way, not really sure what to say to him – to Danny – the man whose emotions seemed to have led him to conclusions before he'd allowed her the chance to explain. She jabbed her key at the lock once, twice before it slide in. She unlocked the door, turning to stand in the open doorway, denying that man access to her apartment.

"It was a business dinner. He offered me a job!"

"A job? You aren't actually thinking about taking it, are you?"

She lifted her chin in defiance. "I am."

"Let me in Lindsay, we need to talk about this."

"No! I don't want to discuss this with you. Not when you're like this."

He palmed the door and pushed against it. She braced her foot on the other side of it.

"Like what, Lindsay?"

"All emotional, like you haven't even considered the validity of the opportunity."

Danny snorted, "Validity of the opportunity. The man has the hots for you. All he wants is to sleep with you."

The smouldering inside her burst into flames at that comment. "How dare you reduce to just a piece of meat. How fucking dare you, Danny Messer? I have more to offer than my body and it's time you realize that."

"What?" Suddenly he stopped short; a grimace clenched his face then released it as he squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses. He let out a slow breath. "I'm sorry Lindsay, I'm sorry. You're right. I'm overreacting." The blue in his eyes watered and his voice softened. "Can I please come in and we can discuss it like two rational thinking adults?" A weak smile crossed his face.

She stepped back, giving access to that man. "Well, when you put it like that, yes."

He entered and dropped to her couch forearms resting on his thighs, his head drooping between his shoulders.

She sat beside him, almost hesitant to voice the thought, but feeling like she was on the right track, she took a stab at it. "Are you worried that since you did it … that .. that … I may do it too?"

"Do what?"

"You know … sleep with Rand."

He threw himself back into the couch, pushing his hands up over his face and through his hair causing it to spike crazily. "I know it sounds silly, but after what I did, I wonder … you know … I don't know. It's crazy. It can happen. But I know it's wrong to make assumptions about your behavior based on mine."

She slid a hand into his, tilting her head to look into his face, a smile playing around her lips. "You sound like a man who's been hanging out with a counselor."

His emitted a self-deprecating laugh from deep in his throat as he squeezed her hand. "Who would have thought? Me, Danny Messer, sounding like a rational adult."

"You are more than a mess of emotions when you put your mind to it."

They laughed, together, at that, and he slid an arm around her, pulling her back into the couch with him. She fingered one of the buttons on his shirt for a moment then palmed his chest as she looked up at him. "Look Danny, I'm with you now. And that's who I want to be with. I'm happy with my choice. If I'd wanted to be with Rand, I would have stayed with Rand."

"I know, you're right …" he said, then backpedalled, "What? Wait a minute, what did you say?"

Lindsay realizing she may have iginited the situation again, scrambled to diffuse it. "Nothing. I'm with you now Danny and we're happy. Let's talk about something else."

He disengaged his arm from around her and straightened up, sitting sideways on the couch, one arm resting on the back as he leaned in towards her. "No, I want to talk about this? Did you sleep with him?"

She bristled at his accusatory tone. "None of your business, Danny."

"It is my business."

"It isn't, so leave it alone."

"No, I won't leave it. I want to talk about it."

"I don't."

"I do."

"Then you can leave."

"Fine, maybe I will."

"Fine. The door's right there."

A/N: I didn't really mean to leave it there but to continue would have put the chapter into marathon lengths. Next chapter up soon, I promise!