DISC: Same as previous chapters. Rated T for implied sexual content. Nothing explicit, though – sorry!
AN: A special thanks to Dream for her scorching-hot avatar, which provided the inspiration for the "lap scene" below. The more, uhhh, "intimate" details are left out, it's more fun to use your own imagination. Pretend you are Lindsay, and Go!

"Can I come in?" Danny eyed her robe.

Lindsay ushered him in, unable to speak. Her knees were in danger of turning to jelly.

"Mac said you were worried about me, and that I should try to find you," Danny said. He looked tired, but there was a softness in his eyes she hadn't seen before.

So many emotions filled Lindsay. She wanted to cry, and throw herself into his arms. She wanted to punch him, for making her worry and playing mind games. Kick him for making her lay awake at night with longing. Mostly she just wanted to kiss him with relief that he was okay and standing before her in one beautiful piece.

Yet with all these thoughts, she couldn't get her voice to cooperate.

"I just," she stuttered, looking at the floor.

"I'm, well, I'm-"

"I was so-"

"Lindsay", Danny interrupted softly.

"Are you-" she continued to stammer.

"I mean, it wasn't-"

"Oh, I can't-"

More forcefully this time, Danny said her name. "LINDSAY".

She finally brought her eyes to his, and in that fraction of a second, he stepped forward, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. Lindsay had done just this many times in her fantasies but never could have imagined the magnitude. She drank him in and they kissed deeply. She thought: this must be what heaven tastes like.

When they broke apart, both breathless, Danny pulled her into a tight embrace. Her cheek against his, gripping his shoulders for life, she whispered in his ear, "I was so worried about you." They clung to each other, slightly swaying back and forth. Neither said a word for several minutes. There are moments in every person's life that are so painfully blissful, they don't seem real. For Lindsay, this was one of them.

Danny said softly, "I couldn't stop thinking about you. I knew what I had to do, as soon as I got outta there."

"Shhhh," Lindsay pressed her index finger to his lips. She didn't want to talk, she just wanted to concentrate on the moment. The ticking of a clock, their breath, their heartbeats. She snuggled into his neck and closed her eyes. His arms around her felt so familiar and natural.

"So," he murmured, "What did you do today?"

Smiling, she replied, "You'll love this: I splashed around in a pool of lubricant at a strip club."

"Ohhh," Danny groaned into her hair. "Don't tease... was it the flavored kind?".

Lindsay laughed and swatted his arm. "Hey! I thought we were bonding here! I should have known better, Messer."

Danny took her by the shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. Her serious expression startled her.

"Look," Danny said. "I've never been one of those romantic, mushy types. But you've done something to me, Lindsay. You've cast a spell on me, and all I want to do is be with you. It's like my entire future happiness depends on being with you. That's never happened before. And it excites me and it scares the Hell out of me, all at the same time. But I'm willing to take that leap. I can't go on acting like you are just some coworker. Never in my life have I wanted something so badly".

Knowing the answer, but needing to hear him say it, Lindsay asked, "What do you want, Danny?".

"You," Danny responded, his voice hoarse. "You."

Without hesitation, she put her hands around his neck and crushed her mouth to his. There was a new urgency in this kiss. Their hunger for each other was almost violent. His hands traveled over the small of her back, and went lower. She groaned.

"I want you to stay tonight. Here. With me. Please stay". Her words came out in gasps between their frantic kisses. She tugged at his shirt, struggling to lead him to her bedroom without taking her mouth from his. Her inner wantonness surprised Lindsay. She was usually inhibited and shy, but then again, she had never felt something this intense before. A deep emotional connection surged with pure lust. She couldn't control it –and wouldn't fight it- anymore.

Now in her room, she bumped into the dresser as they fumbled in the dark. The only light came from a single candle across the room. She heard the crashes of things falling to the floor, but didn't care. Let the neighbors complain!

Danny sat on the edge of the bed, still wearing his tank top. She climbed into his lap, facing him. Her shaky hands undid his belt, sliding it off and tossing it to the floor. "Are you sure?" he asked, looking up at her, his face flushed and damp. Lindsay felt guilty for a moment, taking advantage of him after the day he had. But only for a moment.

"I'm so sure," she insisted, her fingers entwined in his hair. She put her forehead to his as they rubbed noses. "I'm sure that I am tired of denial, and games, and avoiding each other. When we could be doing….. this". Her hands slid up under his shirt, and the tank top went flying. The glasses were set aside. Danny leaned back and pulled her down on the bed with him.

"1,800 miles from Bozeman to New York", Lindsay whispered softly, taking his hand and kissing the tip of each finger. "And I would have walked it just to get to you".
She guided his hands to the sash of her robe. And they offered their hearts to each other completely.

For the first time since moving to New York, Lindsay Monroe truly found a place where she belonged.