A/N: Same disclosures apply as in Chapters 1-8, not my stuff – just borrowing it for entertainment! Thanks to everyone who has read, and more importantly to those who have reviewed (signed or not!). Hope you enjoy this chapter as well – Hol.

Chapter 9

"You want that to go where?" Danny asked; his voice thick with accent and disbelief. He was looking at her like she had just sprouted another head. He just couldn't wrap his head around what she said to him.

"Don't look at me that way. There's nothing wrong with what I just said. It's not like it's that difficult. Please? It's the last thing and then we're all done" Lindsay pouted a little. "Just push the window out a small ways, clip it over the edge and shut the window again. It's not like I'm asking you to climb out on the edge of the building."

"Lindsay, you live on the 15th floor. You have damn near floor to ceiling windows, that might I add don't open that easily, and it's 7 degrees outside. Why oh why, do you feel the need to hang this on the window to hang your very beautiful wreath, where no one but you," he smiled slyly "will see it? Why not hang it on your apartment door like a normal New Yorker?"

"Oh," said Lindsay feigning disappointment and pouting slightly, "you aren't planning on coming back? That's a shame." She put her hands on her hips and smirked at him. "Besides, I am not a "normal New Yorker" to quote you. And besides, I like the pine scent, reminds me of home." She said the last sentence so simply, that it had a tone of finality to it.

Danny thought of her last four words "reminds me of home" that it tugged at his heart. He wanted to make her feel like New York was her home now, not that he wanted her to forget about her Montana roots.

"Gimme the damn hook thingy." Danny said, thrusting his hand out for her to give it too him.

"Thank you Danny." Lindsay said with a great big smile, as she sat back down on the couch, her feet tucked underneath her. He was so cute when he was trying to be irritated with her. The way his eyes seemed to open to let her in let her know that he really couldn't argue with her logic and maybe, just maybe, understood it. She looked around, her apartment seemed to have been transformed. They had put up her small artificial tree and decorated it, hung lights, garland, and put out some Christmas novelties. It was really nice doing this with someone, she thought as she stifled a yawn, especially Danny.

Lindsay watched as Danny struggled to open the top portion of Lindsay's window, letting in a blast of cold air. Then she laughed out loud as he tried to close the window again, after clipping the wreath holder over the edge.

"Thanks for all of your help, Montana. Considering that I'm doing all of this for your wreath…" His voice trailed off. He raised his eyebrows at her in a suggestive way. He picked up her wreath and hung it on the clip he had just put up. "Looks good Linds." He had said it softly, but he was pretty sure that she had heard him. He turned around to see what she thought.

"Yeah, it looks perfect." Lindsay's face wore a wide smile. "Thanks for all of your help Danny. It would have taken me twice as long to get everything done and it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun." She had her arms wrapped around herself, like she was cold. "And I would have never gotten that window open and closed without help. It means a lot to me, thank you." She was looking in his eyes, studying his face.

Danny knew she was being sincere. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead. It was such a simple gesture, but he knew that she was comfortable. She rested her head against his broad chest, and sighed softly.

"It's still early yet," Danny said, looking at his watch, "Only a little after 8. Do you want to rent a movie or something?" Danny did not want to leave yet, he was very comfortable at this point. I could get used to doing this day in and day out, he thought to himself. He liked helping Lindsay with her Christmas stuff, he had been putting off doing his because it seemed like such a hassle to do it just for himself, maybe he could ask her to come help him with his. Of course, he'd have to have enough time to clean his apartment, he added as an after thought. Compared to Lindsay's apartment, his was a complete pig-sty.

"Sure," answered Lindsay, her voice muffled against his chest, "I could make some popcorn if you would like. My DVD collection is over there." She looked up at him as she pointed to a bookcase-like unit near the television.

Danny leaned in slightly and kissed her. He love the feel and taste of her lips, they were so soft and warm. His hand were rubbing her back and squeezing her body closer to his. The kiss seems to go on forever, until they were both slightly out of breath. Danny looked at Lindsay, a pale pink color was rising in her cheeks, like she was embarrassed.

"Everything ok?" Danny asked. He wanted to make sure that they weren't moving too fast or anything. His voice was full of concern and his eyes were searching hers for a hint of the problem.

"Everything's fine. I'm just a little warm, that's all." Lindsay smiled reassuringly at Danny. "Now how about you pick out a movie, I'll make the popcorn and get the drinks?" Seeing that Danny was still searching her eyes to make sure that everything was, in fact, definitely ok, Lindsay stated again, "Danny I promise everything is fine."

"Ok. What are you in the mood for?" Danny again wagged his eyebrows at her suggestively. He was promptly punched in the arm in return. "Ow…I meant for the movie."

Danny stuck out his bottom lip, pouting, but by this time, Lindsay was almost to the kitchen.

"You're fine Messer, and I know what you meant. I didn't hit you nearly half as hard as I could have." Came the response from the kitchen. "Something with action or comedy please."

"Yeah, I know you think I'm fine, but what about my arm." Danny called back, while searching through her DVD collection. He heard a small laugh come from the kitchen and what sounded like "yeah, yeah, yeah" but he wasn't sure. He couldn't believe all the movies that Lindsay owned, she easily had 300 or more. He picked out a couple of movies that he thought would be agreeable when she came back into the room carrying a bowl of popcorn and a couple of bottles of soda.

"Ok, pick one. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Stealth, Monster-In-Law, or, my personal favorite, Spaceballs?" Danny said looking at her, as she was getting comfortable.

"Um…Let's go with Mr. and Mrs. Smith. That's my new favorite movie right now." She smiled and settled herself back onto the couch, with a fuzzy blanket and the bowl of popcorn.

Wow, she looks adorable, thought Danny, I really could get used to this. Danny put the movie in the DVD player and went to sit on the couch. He sat down, near Lindsay, but not immediately next to her. The popcorn bowl was between them as the movie started. The opening credits started to roll and Lindsay turned off the light next to her.

"I think movies are better with soft lighting. Makes you think that you're in the theatre." She set the popcorn bowl in her lap and moved a little closer to Danny, so that she was sort of leaning on him.

Danny, in order to be comfortable, rested his left arm along of the back of the sofa. As the movie progressed, Danny would occasionally feel her adjust in order to get more comfortable. Eventually she just snuggled into the nook formed by his arm and shoulder, and Danny used his hand to stroke her hair.

Towards the end of the movie, the popcorn had been forgotten and now sat next to their dinner dishes on the coffee table. Danny had become aware of the fact that Lindsay had stopped fidgeting so much now that she had gotten comfortable, and her breathing had become soft and even, almost rhythmic. He looked down and saw Lindsay was sound asleep curled up next to him. Danny watched her for a few minutes, noticing how even in her sleep she was absolutely stunning. He watched her for a few more minutes when a thought covered him like ice water. He didn't want to wake her up, but he didn't want to just leave her on the couch and he didn't know where her bedroom was. He didn't know exactly what to do, did he leave her here and just go home or did he try to carry her to her bedroom, and risk waking her up. He watched her for awhile longer, while trying to determine what the best course of action was. He decided that he would try to get up, find her bedroom and then come back to get her.

Carefully, Danny shifted out from being Lindsay's pillow, and let her relax gently back onto the couch. She made a few indistinguishable sounds, as Danny's mind flipped back to that morning in the car, but he just covered her a little more with the blanket she had and went in search of her bedroom.

It took Danny a few minutes to find it but he did, and he thought it was very fitting of Lindsay. The walls were all white, as most apartment walls are, but she had added complimentary colors of greens, blues, and yellows making the room warm. There were a few pictures around the room, but Danny didn't look too closely at those, he didn't want her to think that he had been nosey while she was sleeping. He pulled the covers back and went out to the living room. She was still sleeping on the couch when he got back out there, though she had curled more into a ball than she had been in before. He lifted her, blanket and all, easily, noting how light and tiny she felt in his arms. He carried her back into her bedroom and laid her in the bed. She snuggled in a little while he pulled the blankets up to cover her.

"Danny." She was talking in her sleep again. "I don't want to go." Her face tightened, and she twitched a little under the covers. "Danny, don't let them make me go, I was doing my job" she cried out. After that the rest became unintelligible and she whimpered slightly.

Danny was alarmed, it almost sounded like she was having a nightmare, one that included him. He wasn't sure what to do, so he knelt by her bed and took her hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb.

"It's ok Lindsay, whatever it is, it'll be ok. I promise." Danny whispered to her sleeping form. He noticed that she quieted down immediately and her breathing returned to rhythmic sounds again. He stayed there for a few more minutes, making sure that she was sound asleep before he stood up. He kissed her forehead gently and then returned to the living room. He picked up their dishes off the coffee table and took them to the kitchen. He noticed that she had a pad of paper next to the phone, so he grabbed and wrote her a note…

Lindsay,

You fell asleep during the movie; I hope that you don't mind that I put you in your bedroom. Thanks for a great evening; we should do this again soon. I'll call you tomorrow since I have it off. Have a great day, Montana.

From,

Danny

He then tacked the note to the fridge, hoping the she, like him, needed a glass of water or milk or something first thing in the morning. Danny took one last look around the room, to make sure that everything was somewhat neat and organized, and that things, like the tv and decorative lights, were off before he grabbed his coat, and left for his own apartment.