Disclaimer: same as before.
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: : Silent Night : :
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Lindsay's heart was pounding; it had been ever since she saw the panic-stricken mother in front of the crime scene. The flashbacks were getting worse, maybe because of the holidays, but mostly because the trial was nearing. She raced back to the lab. The door to the bull pen slammed shut behind her bringing Danny's attention to her. He was the only one not at the Riverdale scene (he was on call for local scenes)
"Montana? You okay?" he asked, it had become a normal question lately. He was surprised to see Lindsay back so soon, but it did put Stella's text into context. He didn't get a response from her, but she look frightened. Like she had literally seen a ghost. "Lindsay?"
"Yea Danny I'm fine." She said finally. She was anything but. Danny watched her for a moment. Lindsay fidgeted under his gaze finally slumping into her desk chair.
"Sure you are." He said skeptically. He was fine being there for her, but he was getting frustrated with not knowing what was bugging her. It was big, it had to do with mothers, maybe young girls, but he knew nothing concrete and he well, he wanted to know. He liked her a lot, and well it hurt him that she wouldn't trust him. His phone beeped a murder at the ice rink. "I got a case, but looks like Stella covered for you, she wants you to prep Lancaster file for court." Lindsay nodded, she had been mute since she muttered fine. Danny shrugged on his coat. He looked at her defeated slumped in the chair. "Look Linds, I know you're not comfortable talking about whatever this thing is, but you should tell someone here, it doesn't have to be me, go to Mac, Stella, Hawkes, hell even Sid, he's got two daughters if you think that will help at all." Lindsay let out a long balancing breath and nodded. She knew he was right, Stella and Hawkes were sure to have questions at the very least.
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A drive into New Jersey during rush hour with snow falling. Oh Joy Tis the Season. Christmas/Holiday music was playing on every channel. As another version of Jingle Bell Rock came on Sheldon Spoke up from the passenger seat, turning to look at Stella driving, and Danny in the back seat playing on his crackberry. "Does anyone know what's up with Lindsay?" The question was directed more at Danny, but he shrugged wanting to finish sending an e-mail before speaking, and well organizing his thoughts before speaking, he couldn't give away too much of Lindsay's secret, he really didn't want to give away anything.
"Something is up." Stella answered turning the music down a bit. "She broke down in autopsy today."
"What?" that got Danny's attention, he hadn't heard of that, and Sid was good at spreading the gossip, and putting ideas in people's heads hence his realization of the crush on Lindsay. Lindsay breaking down was not unusual now, he'd seen it on a few occasions, but never at work, never in public. It was concerning. "Stel, what happened?"
"I don't know, to tell you the truth Danny, one minute Sid's talking to us about the victims, and the next Lindsay is barely holding back tears and mumbling something about being the only one."
"The only one? The only one what?" Hawkes asked this wasn't normal Lindsay behavior.
"No clue," Stella shrugged stepping on the gas, traffic was finally starting to move…
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: : Obsession : :
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"Hey Flack" Danny greeted coming into the precinct and flumping into a chair next to Flack's desk, looking around he noticed the cage full of 10-12 year old boys. "Man, why do you have about a dozen kids in your lock up?"
Don looked over and saw the kids, some still worried, some enjoying themselves, and smiled to himself. "There football killed a man."
"You're kidding me?" Danny laughed looking back over at the kids.
"Yea, he was already dead, they found the body when their football went through the window, lock up was just for fun."
"And their mothers?" Danny asked
Don chuckled. Called em. "Half of them didn't have permission to be out, let alone playing in the street, they told me to keep them there. So we got a monkey cage for the next hour."
"Nice man." Danny laughed. "You know, it's been awhile since we had a decent pickup game."
"Danno, man there's ice on the ground."
"Yea, we'd be short a few, Adam's a cupcake in the cold."
"True, he is from Arizona."
"Exactly."
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: : The Lying Game : :
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"Linds, I just saw the schedule for next week." Hawkes said, it seemed like a question was about to follow.
"Yea and…?" Lindsay asked with a smile. The trial was nearing at an alarming pace, but thank god, because she wanted it over with. She left tomorrow. Nerves for the trial, excitement for going home, and well anxiety over goodbyes were her main issue right now.
"You're not on it. You going somewhere?"
"Yea, back to Montana for a few weeks." Lindsay nodded.
"You coming back?"
"Of course!" Lindsay laughed. "Who willingly leaves this job?"
"Truth." Hawkes smirked. "Well have a good time."
"I'll try."
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Danny caught a glimpse of Lindsay, and Stella in Mac's office. Something was going on, something personal, it had to be. Mac hugged Lindsay: something was definitely going on. But he had to go out into the field, and anyway, she kept pulling further and further away, since she broke down in autopsy she had turned to Stella, which comforted him, still he wished things were different. He had this crush, and it wasn't going away.
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Lindsay stepped into the cab, and instructed him to queens, but something stopped her. Danny, he was walking past. She had the cab halt for a second. She had a longing desire to go to him, hug him, kiss him, say good bye properly. But no, one last glimpse would be enough. She left him a card. He disappeared into the crime lab. The cab took off, she had the rest of the day to pack, and get a good night sleep before she headed off to Montana for the trial. It was going to be a hell filled couple of weeks.
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Danny grabbed for his coffee, it may be four in the afternoon, but it had been a long day, and the end just wasn't anywhere near. His reach knocked something on the floor. Bending down he saw it was an envelope addressed to him in a very familiar script. Only Lindsay wrote like that, but why would she be leaving him a card. Curious he opened it, forgetting about his coffee, it was a simple You're in my thoughts Card, but on the side was a note written just for him.
Dear Danny
I'm not good at long goodbyes. Or short ones for that matter. But Montana calls and the cows are heading home.
MOO
See you soon
Montana.
She had signed it Montana. He had called her that to annoy her, but along the way it had turned into a term of endearment. She was going to Montana, probably gone by now, but see you soon. She'd be back, and hopefully they could get back on track. Where they should be. Mac came in, they had a suspect, he was done for the day. Good thing he hadn't taken that sip of coffee.
He was packing up in the bull pen when Flack stuck his head in. "Messer, bunch of us are going to grab a drink at Sullivan's you in?"
That didn't sound half bad. "Yea Flack, I'm in."
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Hawkes and Adam were already there at a bar round. They talked and joked for awhile. There was something about Don discovering the singer was a tranny, that just made for good times. Not that they were insensitive or anything, just guys out for a few beers, some laughs. Oh the laughs. After about the third round they began to realize just how loud they had actually become. They were gathering some attention: Mostly from the young girls that came to the bar with the sole intention of meeting a cop. A nice benefit to the job and all.
Danny made his way over to the bar for a fourth round. A girl he had noticed watching them earlier too made her way over to the bar. Oh she was interested, it was in her eyes, her mannerisms, the way she slunk up right next to Danny at the bar. Her green eyes flashed in his direction, she flipped her red hair back. "What's so funny over there?" she asked with a flirtatious smile nodding towards the guys "Picking on the tall guy." Danny smirked humoring the girl. She was beautiful, she seemed sweet, they could have a good time but she didn't…..she wouldn't….she wasn't, well she wasn't Lindsay. And Lindsay had given him new hope today, he wasn't about to mess that up.
"Danno Man, you not gonna tap that?" Don asked in disbelief.
"Nah man, not my type." Danny answered passing around beers.
"Not you're type, she's everybody's type….red hair." Adam nearly drooled.
Danny shrugged and took a sip. "Nah."
Hawkes was smirking through the whole encounter. "So Messer, you get Lindsay's card?"
"What man? Yea." Danny answered trying to make it seem like nothing. It didn't get past Flack. Not by a long shot.
"What card? Why would Monroe leave you a card?"
"She's going back to Montana for a little while?" Danny said taking a long sip of beer.
"What for?"
"Beats me." Danny shrugged.
"Does she now?" Flack said with a suggestive raise on the eyebrows. Adam nearly shot beer out of his nose. Danny looked at his friend in disbelief. He shook his head and took a swig of his beer.
"Now why would you say a thing like that?"
"Why not, you two got a thing for each other." Danny shook his head, in incredulity, was it really that obvious.
"It's true Danny, half the lab knows it, and the other half is in denial." Hawkes added. "She left you a card."
"Did you read the card?"
"No but I can assume." Hawkes grinned.
"You know what they say when you assume."
"So she's not your type." Don pushed.
Danny grinned. "Never said that."
"So you are into her." Adam put together.
"Guys, what does it matter?"
"That means yes." Flack audibly whispered to Hawkes and Adam.
"Never said that either." Danny said continuing to shake his head. This evening had to turn to him didn't it?
Don smirked. He knew how to get to Danny, he just well…"She might not be anymore." Don said thinking it over and wincing inside at what he was about to say. "Maybe in May/June, but she's gotten chubby."
"Hey." Danny scolded. "She's going through a tough time, give her a break."
"He's still into her." Flack smirked. "Didn't mean anything by it Danno, just needed an answer."
"Jack wagon." Danny grinned taking a swig of his beer. It was low, but still something he would do. He'd get Flack back in time.
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: : Some Buried Bones : :
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"So, how's the team?" Lindsay asked. She missed them all and it had only been a few days.
"They're all good for the most part, Mac's a little preoccupied with a case, his wife's son's friend or something I don't know, but the guys all seem great. Danny misses you." Stella said with a coy smile.
"Oh is that so?" Lindsay laughed. She/he/they weren't that obvious were they? Maybe a few months ago, but lately, no.
"Yea that's so. Linds, did you two ever think about…"
"About what? dating?"
"Yea."
"Back in the fall." Lindsay confessed. "Then news of the trial hit, and it's just something I had to do on my own."
"What girl in her right mind lets that boy go?" Stella asked/scolding a little.
Lindsay laughed at that. "Yea, see your point, but I wasn't in my right mind."
"So when you get back?" Stella pushed. Those two were good for each other. Like really good.
"I don't know." She giggled nervously. "Why are you pushing this, and what does Mac think about interoffice relationships?"
"He's in one, so I'm pretty sure its fine." Stella laughed.
"What!" Lindsay nearly shouted, this was news to her. "Who? You?"
"God no. Kiddo, why does everyone assume that?"
"I don't know, so who?"
"The M.E. Peyton."
"Oh. I can see that." Lindsay nodded. This is what she needed some good gossip from back home. Nothing heavy just fun.
"So you and Messer?"
"When I get back, we'll see if it's still there, but…."
"But you don't want to get your hopes up."
"Part of it."
"And the other part?"
"I've been kind of distant, and just…."
"Gotcha kiddo. Sorry to cut this short but work is walking my way."
"Kay, talk soon."
Danny walked in as Stella hung up the phone. She turned to him. "You're ears ringing or something?" She grinned.
"What's that now?" Danny asked handing her the case file, ready to go over what he found. "Left or right?"
"What?"
"See now you're the one that's confused." Danny smirked.
"You're ears ring when someone's talking about you." Stella clarified.
"I know, and my ma always said right for spite, left for love, so which ear was suppose to be ringin?"
"Left." Stella said with a girlish just been caught smile which Danny returned.
"And who were you talking to?"
"None of your business, now back to the case."
"For now." Danny concurred. Work first.
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: : Heart of Glass : :
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"Stel, you okay?" Lindsay asked when Stella hadn't responded after a minute or two. She and Stella had been talking a lot more since Lindsay lost it in autopsy. She had been filled in, and was a great support system that really kept her mind balanced. It was great to be in Montana again, and see her folks, and all that great stuff, but the media attention the case was getting was insane. There were reporters camped out in front of the court house(which was usual) in front of the DA's office, In front of her parent's ranch. She got a weekend off and drove all the way out to Butte to stay with her older brother Rick and his family for the weekend. That was the most peaceful and herself she had felt since getting back into the state. Sitting with her sister-in-law, laughing, playing with the kids, giving her niece some needed back up, (the poor girl had 3 brothers, no sisters). Now she was back in Bozeman dealing with the media and past ghosts again, and a Stella talk always made everything seem better. But today something was up. Stella just wasn't Stella. Something was up, but she wouldn't admit it. It was irritating. However, Lindsay could not bring it up without sounding like a hypocrite. After all she had left the entire team, especially Danny in the dark since October. "Stel?"
"Yea, sorry Kiddo."
"Stella, Are. You. Okay?" Lindsay asked punctuating each word to get her point across.
"Isn't that what I'm supposed to ask you?"
"It's been the use(slang for usual). But let's mix it up a bit tonight." Lindsay laughed lightly, she was still concerned about her friend.
"I'm fine Lindsay, just a little shaken up, had a chair thrown at me through the observation/interrogation mirror."
"What!" Lindsay said a little shocked a little humored.
"Yea, woman had Capgras syndrome."
"Dissociative disorder?"
"Yea saw her reflection and flung a chair at it/us."
"Sounds exciting, everyone okay?"
"Perfect."
"Good. I miss you all."
"We miss you too kiddo. Hope this trial goes fast so we can get you back here."
"Yea, just want to get it done with."
"You'll do great kiddo."
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: : The Ride In : :
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Danny looked at his phone. Missed call from Montana at 12:30 am. Why the hell would she be calling him that late, even at all. He hadn't heard from her since before she left, and he was trying his hardest to respect her space so he took her card as a see you soon, and would talk with her when she got back. He was curious as to why she'd go back in March/April. There was Easter, but it just didn't fit. He was being good. No contact. If she needed him, she'd contact him. Well she left a voicemail—it was nothing but static and distant voices. She ass dialed him. Giving laughing to himself he hit speed dial while he waited in the insanely long line at the coffee shop.
"Hello." Cracked a sleepy voice. Shit. Danny thought, time difference, he was waking her up at 6am and on a Friday.
"Sorry Montana, forgot about the time difference."
"Danny?" Lindsay questioned. Danny could hear rustling on the other side of the line. Yea she was still in bed, probably in tiny little pajama's hair all sleep tousled. No don't think about that, listen. First rule in talking to girls listen. "What's wrong?"
"I call and something's wrong?" Danny laughed lightly.
"Well, I haven't heard from you since I left."
"Phone works both ways, just got a nice message from your derriere last night and thought I'd return the call" "What?" Lindsay laughed. "Check your outgoing calls, got a message from you at about midnight." "Oh, sorry, it was in my back pocket." "See, so how is your gluteus maximus, miss the sight of it around here." "Nice Messer." Lindsay giggled bashfully, so he did check out her ass from time to time, she assumed but, you know what they say when you assume. "Eh. I do what I can….actually, Sid is in the hospital." "What?, I knew something was up." "Not the reason behind the call Montana. He ate something he was allergic to went into anaphylactic shock, Stel found him. Mac says he should be fine." "Good, don't scare me like that, I have enough to deal with out here.""Ok, I gotcha, hey actually to lighten it up, did you know about Mac and…"
Lindsay cut him off mid thought. Just by his tone she could tell he didn't like being the last to know. It may be fun to rub it in a little. "Mac and Peyton yea."
"So I really am the last to know."
"Yea." Lindsay chuckled. It felt oh so good to be able to kid around with him again, even if it was over the phone and 1,000 miles. "So how's NYC?"
"Montana!" Danny cringed/cried "You're regressing out there, no one calls it NYC anymore."
Lindsay laughed at his complete disdain for the nickname. "Sorry. Catch any good doot-da-doos lately?"
"Nice. Trying to make up for it now huh?"
"Maybe a little."
"Well, you're missing a couple of great cases Monroe." Danny started, Lindsay could hear him smirking. "Stella and Hawkes have a dead guy in a cigarette costume in front of a tobacco company's corporate office, and uh, the rest of us are investigating Noah's death."
"Noah? Do we know a Noah?" Lindsay asked confused.
"and his arc."
"No, way."
"Way. The crazies have been out this week."
"You know, it's sad to say but I miss that a little bit, made the job more enjoyable."
"Enjoyable?"
"Oh, don't tell me you're not enjoying working that case."
"I am, but…."
"Yea."
"Okay, you got me. When do you think you're gonna get back here?"
"Oh. Another week or so. I'll be seeing you soon."
"Good to hear Montana." Danny grinned. "I gotta get back to work, look after yourself."
"Diddo, talk to ya soon." The line clicked off and Lindsay hugged her knees to her body as she sat on her full sized bed. She looked around her plum room, she missed this place when she was in New York, but New York was home now and she couldn't wait to get back. The trial started on Monday, and soon this whole thing would be over, and finally behind her for good. Hopefully.
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