A/N: Same disclosures apply as in Chap 1

Lindsay stared at him. Did he say what she just thought he said? "When we go out next time" Did he think this was a date? Did she want it to be a date? What was she doing? Danny was a co-worker, they couldn't date could they?

"Okay," said Lindsay as she rose from the booth, god he must think I'm brainless. Couldn't I have thought of something better than "Okay"? Smooth move Monroe, he's acting like a gentleman, for once, and you say okay like you didn't even hear him.

Lindsay, lost in her thoughts, followed Danny to register and grabbed their coats while he paid. When she turned around, he was there, so close she could feel the heat radiating off of him. He took his coat from her, put it on and opened the door for them so that they could leave.

The ride back to the lab was quiet. Danny had first thought (and a little part of him hoped) that Lindsay had fallen asleep again, and he looked over at her. She wasn't asleep but just staring out the window, admiring the sunrise or the New York skyline, he couldn't tell which. The way the newly risen sun brightened up her face took his breath away. It made her hair shine and sparkle, like it had thousands of tiny diamonds imbedded in it. He wondered what she was thinking, whether she had caught his slip at breakfast. He wanted to ask her out again, on a real date, but he wanted to do it in his way. She had suggested breakfast because she knew Mac would be pissed if he caught him in the lab this morning; she hadn't done it just to be alone with him, had she? He had wanted to ask her out in a way that said, "You're gorgeous, you're beautiful, and I want to see where this takes us". Instead, he just blurts it out at the table, Brilliant Messer, you're just friggin brilliant. Danny's mind thought back to Lindsay talking in her sleep, she had said it feels like we just fell asleep. She couldn't possibly like him, could she?

"Danny"

"Danny"

"DANNY!"

"Wha? I'm driving here." replied Danny coolly.

"I just thought I would let you know you're about 4 blocks passed the lab's parking garage and you ran that last light. It was red." Said Lindsay, trying not to laugh at him, it made her feel better to know that she wasn't the only one who did it.

"Damn it." Danny swore, "Don't you laugh Monroe, don't you laugh."

"You know Danny, you're cute when you're upset." Said Lindsay, still trying hard to control her laughter. "A penny for your thoughts?"

"I was just thinking about that bullet at the lab." Danny lied as he turned the corner, backtracking to the lab's garage. Had she just called him cute? Was she being serious?

They pulled into the garage and Danny parked his Pontiac Torrent in its normal spot. They sat there for a moment when they both turnedand started to speak.

"I-"

"Thanks-"

They both laughed, it was amazing how comfortable they were with each other.

"You go first" said Danny, staring directly into her eyes. Man, they make me melt, he thought to himself.

"Ok. Thanks. For taking me to that place, I had a great time." She smiled at him, watching his eyes sparkle back at her. I feel like he can see right through me, she thought, like he knows everything about me.

"Not a problem. I had a good time too." He smiled back at her, one of his genuine smiles.

"Well…guess I should go home and get a little sleep…probably change…" she said, why was she so nervous? She felt like she was ending a first date. "I guess I'll see you later." She undid her seatbelt, opened her door and got out.

Danny watched her for a few minutes, then realized that it was still early morning and practically flew out of the vehicle. "Monroe, wait up. I'll walk you to your car."

They walked in silence to her car. Lindsay was a little embarrassed for Danny to see her car, it wasn't that it was in bad shape but it was an older vehicle and nowhere as nice as Danny's. She took her keys out of her pocket as they approached the car.

"Well…thanks again." Lindsay said, blushing slightly.

"Not a prob. I wouldn't want to see anything happen to you. I mean afterall, we just gotthrough breaking you in." Danny smiled at her and leaned slightly against her car.

"Gee, thanks for all of your concern Messer, butI'm an adult andI think Ican handle myself." She snapped and stuck her tongue out at him. Just when I thought he was being a human, she thought to herself. She unlocked her car door and opened it. She had just started to get in when Danny took her arm and spun her back around to face him.

"I was being concerned. This isn't Montana, Lindsay. Crime doesn't just happen at night or in the shadows. It happens all the time, at night, in the morning, in broad daylight. I really don't want to see or hear of anything happening to you." Danny said, the look of seriousness etched deep in his eyes and on his face. "This city will eat you up, spit you out, and never look back if underestimate it. I just don't want to see that happen to you." He finished quietly.

"Danny, I'm--" Lindsay started, feeling extremely guilty for snapping at him.

"Forget it. You ok? Cause I'm gonna head back in and see if the computer has impressed me yet by giving me a lead to go on." Danny said quickly, embarrassed, trying to look anywhere but her face. The blush was filling in on his cheeks; he wanted nothing more to run as far and fast as he could from that spot.

"Yeah, ok. I-I'm good" said Lindsay, surprised at his total 360 in attitude. Great, she thought, I'm so thick! He truly was concerned and I totally over reacted.

"Good, good," said Danny, almost absentmindedly, like he hadn't even heard her. Danny was partially lost in his thoughts; he had been staring at her again, as much as he had tried not to. If I don't do this now, he thought, I never will.

Time seemed to slow down as he squeezed her arm gently to pull her closer to him, he leaned in smelling the sweet raspberry smell of her hair, kissed her gently on the cheek and said, "Be safe Montana, see you later." And then he was gone.

Lindsay just stood there, watching him go. What had just happened? Did he just kiss her? Soon he was out of her sight, her hand was still touching the place where his lips had made contact with his skin not seconds earlier. Realizing that she was just standing there, like a dork, with her car door open, she got in and started her car. She was going to go home, take a nice long, hot shower, and get some sleep. It had been a very interesting shift and she wondered what the next shift would bring..

Danny practically ran to the elevator, not stopping until he was safely inside. Catching his breath, millions of thoughts ran through his head. What had he done? He had kissed her. Granted it wasn't a knock your socks off, boil your blood kiss, but a kiss is a kiss right? Why had he only kissed her on the cheek? Why didn't he press her up against he car and show him what he wanted? He wanted her! He wanted her to be with him, he wanted to be going home, wherever that was, with her. He wanted to make her dreams come true. Hell, as long as he was being honest with himself, he wanted to make new dreams with her.

The elevator door binged as it reached his designated floor, and the doors opened. Danny headed to the locker room instead of the Ballistics lab, that could wait. He grabbed the spare changed of clothes he kept in his locker and headed to the showers. It was going to be another long, long shift.