Chapter Four

The way we're both distracted
It makes it hard to talk
This ice is easily broken
If we trust in what we got

Danny pulled away first, his fingers still caught in her hair. "I've answered your questions, Linds. And I meant it with all my heart. Now please tell me what's been bothering you lately."

Their foreheads met and Danny nudged her nose with his slightly.

"I don't know how to start."

"Anywhere." He spoke softly into her ear.

"Yesterday evening I met a man."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"No, Danny, I'm not seeing him. Don't need to sound all jealous and upset," She laughed despite the seriousness of the conversation and pulled away from his embrace. "Try not to interrupt me, okay? If you do, I don't think I can start again." Lindsay drew her legs up and hugged herself, curling into a ball next to Danny.

"He grabbed me by the shoulders when I was on the way home. I whipped around and he called me 'cutie'."

Danny's body tensed up.

"And then he crashed his lips against mine and ran away. I know this guy, he was the reason I left Montana. But anyway, I called my old workplace and they should be working on getting him arrested. You're probably wondering why he did what he did, and why I called Montana instead of NYPD."

Danny nodded.

"See, I was working on this rape case with two of my partners, Katie and Jason. Katie was like a sister to me, and Jason, we were dating. Anyway, we were at the crime scene alone scouring the place for DNA trails when this guy appeared out of no where. I believe he killed and raped the girl, because he is such a cold hearted son of a bitch." Lindsay's voice raised a notch higher, causing Danny to sit up straighter.

"He grabbed Katie and threw her against a wall, she was knocked out almost straightaway and there was a gash on her head. I hid behind a door and sent a text message to my supervisor, telling him that there was a lunatic attacking us. The crazy man then pulled out a gun when Jason tried to move towards him. And me? What did I do? I was a friggin' coward!" She spat the last few words and tears prickled in her eyes. Danny, knowing that he wasn't supposed to say anything, just put an arm around her heaving shoulders.

"I just stood behind the damn door and watched as he picked up the pocket knife Katie had left lying on the floor and started running lines along her body. Katie woke up, I suppose because of the pain, and started screaming. Jason ran towards the asshole wanting to stop him but got a bullet hole through his stomach. Katie screamed even louder when she saw the bullet go through Jason and in return received big gashes across her thigh."

Danny pulled her into a tight embrace and she spoke against his chest.

"Something in me finally snapped and I took out my gun and shot at him. But my hand was trembling so badly I missed him completely, hitting a cupboard instead. Katie was still shrieking in pain, fear and confusion and the bastard shot her in the middle and ran out of the house. After he fled I was holding on to two bloody half-dead bodies of my best friends. Jason died first; his last words were 'I love you two.' Until now I still don't know if he meant he loved me too, or he loved both Katie and I. But that's not the point." She sniffled and continued.

"I started crying and hugging Katie, who had become so cold she was shaking. She left this world with her body in my arms. The guy was never caught and I never saw him again until yesterday." She choked on her tears and was almost gasping for air.

"He looked me in the eye and actually had the nerve to say, "What a cutie," before running out of the house. I couldn't go back to the lab, there was nothing there but painful memories and empty spaces. My supervisor understood and I sent out resumes to a few crime labs across the country. New York was the first to reply and I was desperate to leave all the history behind me and get a fresh start, so I came. I witnessed two of the closest people I had die in my arms. I could feel their blood and pain every time I set foot into the office, or every time I looked at something that reminded me of them. I left wanting to leave all this behind me, guess fate had another plan, huh?" She whispered into him, feeling safer than she had ever felt ever since she arrived in New York.

"I thought I had reached a point of closure, where I could forget that my high school sweetheart and my best friend died so painfully. Busying myself for the first few weeks helped me file away those memories. But when I saw him, it all came back to me. God, Danny, it just sucks."

Lindsay traced her fingers along the sleeve of his shirt absent mindedly.

He wiped more tears off her face and didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry," was all he could come out with. Wrapping her arms around his middle and burying her head in his chest, Lindsay inhaled the wonderful Danny scent and sighed, "It's not your fault."

They stayed that way for some time before Lindsay broke the silence. She removed her head and stared at the button on his shirt, not daring to look into his eyes, "You're the first, you know?"

"I know, and I appreciate it," He used his finger to tilt her face towards his, "Your secret's safe with me, and I'm not leaving anytime soon."

She gave him a watery smile, trembling from the intense effusion of emotions enveloping them both.

"You have the most beautiful brown eyes I've ever seen." Danny whispered.

Lindsay grinned through the tears, "Flatterer," and closed the gap between them.

If you can't see the love in my eyes
If you can't hear my heart beating fast
If you can't feel the electricity
Flying between you and me
Then maybe, you should come a little closer

R&R. 3