Chapter Seven

You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away

After the paramedics loaded Lindsay, who was near unconsciousness, onto a gurney and into the ambulance, Danny broke all the speed limits driving to the hospital. When he parked his car in the hospital, he recalled tossing two hotdogs back into the hand of the vendor and laughed. They would probably never go back there again. The comic moment was ephemeral. As soon as he stepped into the hospital lobby, all humorous thoughts left his mind and he questioned the receptionist about Lindsay.

The receptionist popped her bubble gum and told him to go to Ward 318. Danny nodded courteously before sprinting into an elevator just before the doors closed, earning himself reproachful looks from the crowd in it.

She was sleeping when he entered the room. A blood bag hung from the metal IV hangar, the long tube leading into her left hand. Danny kissed her temple and rubbed her arm slightly. At his touch, Lindsay moved slightly and groaned.

Danny smiled as her eyelashes fluttered and she looked blearily into his face. "Hi." He whispered lowly.

Lindsay pushed herself up and hugged him tightly. "I was so afraid he was going to kill me."

Rubbing her back, Danny chuckled, "I'm sure it takes more than one knife stuck in your leg to kill you."

She swatted at him and asked for a glass of water. When it was fetched she took a big gulp before wincing. "I hate this fat lip."

"Me too," Danny perched himself on the bed, "Except my reasons are completely selfish." He planted a firm kiss on her cheek.

"Can you call Mac for me?"

"Uh-huh. By the way, according to your chart, you had 52 stitches in your thigh. You are so staying at home tomorrow."

She pretended to sulk but he knew she was smiling from the way her eyes twinkled. Sliding back under the covers, Lindsay yawned.

"Go to sleep, I'll stay here."

Nodding, she turned to her side and shut her eyes. Danny called Mac as soon as her breathing turned slow and rhythmic.

Lindsay awoke as the chatter in her surroundings infiltrated her slumber. She struggled to open her eyes.

"She's waking up." That was Stella's voice.

"Yeah, her lip looks awful." That was Don.

Lindsay pried open her eyes, did the whole lab come?

"Hello." Stella ruffled Lindsay's hair. Lindsay used her arms to push herself up.

"What's everyone doing here?"

"Hi, it's great to see you too." Mac chuckled, "I heard from Danny about what happened and Stella and Don wanted to come along."

"How are you holding up?" Don asked from behind Mac's shoulder.

She smiled tiredly, the headache was killing her. "I'm fine." The typical line people in denial used.

Stella raised an eyebrow, "You sure?"

"Yeah, can I have a moment alone, please?" Lindsay closed her eyes, having so many pairs of eyes on her was uncomfortable to say the least.

Mac, Stella and Don shrugged and shuffled out in worry, but knew they couldn't do anything to change her mood. They were still clueless as to why a deranged man would stalk Lindsay with a knife and attempt to kill her.

Danny waited for them to leave before speaking, "Hey, are you okay?"

Sighing, Lindsay looked at him, "I'm fine. I need to think. Can you fill them in about Tyson?"

"You mean everything, even about Montana?"

"I don't know." She spoke and stared at him with a pained look, "Danny, I don't know."

He frowned and gave her a hug. She didn't hug back though. "I'll just go."

Lindsay closed her eyes and drew her legs towards her body. She knew she had hurt him, but she couldn't deal with everything now. When the door clicked shut, Lindsay wept the tears that she had fought back while her colleagues were in the room.

Danny shut the door and walked down the corridor to where Mac, Stella and Don were.

"What's going on?" Mac asked Danny, who looked defeated.

"Did anything on Lindsay's resume ever tell you about why she left Bozeman?"

"No, why?"

"Tyson Connor is the reason why she left." He muttered before leaning against the wall.

Stella spoke. "She told you why she moved over?"

"Yeah. But I don't know if she wants me to tell you, hell, I don't think it's even my place to say anything."

"Can you at least tell us what this guy did?" She asked gently.

"He's killed two other people who were working on the same case as she was last year. Apparently, he's followed her into New York and must've been stalking her every move in order to get so close to her and stab a knife into her leg."

"Oh, God." Don uttered after a brief period of silence.

Danny shook his head, "I've just summarized everything into two sentences, the whole story you gotta ask her."

There was a collective sigh.

"Coffee, anyone?" Mac tried to lighten the spirit.

All three nodded and trudged down to the hospital cafeteria.

Lindsay raised her chin from her knees and wiped her face with the sleeve of the hospital gown. She wasn't a religious person, but she clasped her hands together and looked up towards the ceiling of the room.

"Jason, Katie, I hope you two are at peace up there. I guess you should already know that your murderer is locked up somewhere in a cold New York jail cell. Don't worry about me, it was just a small knife, nothing compared to the bullets he used or the blade he used to hurt you. I kinda wish both of you were still here. Then I could hug and celebrate."

She sniffed. "I guess we've solved the poor girl's case now, huh? I wonder if you two are spying on my every move. Just like how we used to eavesdrop on each other's conversations in high school. New York's great. It's wonderful in its own way. I've never seen more lights ever."

"It's been such a long time since I've allowed myself to 'talk' to you. 'Cos it'll mean I'd have to think about that horrible, horrible day. But maybe I need closure. I think I'll go back home later in the year, see how the others are doing. Oh, Katie, I wish you were here, I could use a girlfriend in New York. I still love you, Jason, always will. I hope you understand that I can't spend a lifetime dwelling on things that could've been. I need to move on."

Laughing through her tears, Lindsay continued talking, "As much as I detested him when I first came to New York, I'm falling for Danny. He's a wonderful guy. I don't know if I love him just yet, but I know I care for him a lot. I hope you two are gonna be like my guardian angels. I guess one day I'll see you again. Talk to God for me."

An image of Katie twirling her blonde hair and pouting in front of a wise old man made Lindsay grin, but more tears fell onto her cheek. "I love you both. I don't regret any of the time we spent together, except I wish we had more."

She saw Stella walk past the window of her ward and spoke again. "I gotta go. Talk to you another time." The door to her ward opened and her boss and colleagues stepped in.

"Montana." Danny sighed in concern when he saw her tear streaked face.

Lindsay shook her head, "Have you told them?"

"Not the whole thing."

"In that case, why don't all of you sit down?"

"Lindsay, are you sure?"

She pushed the tears out of her face, "I hope so. I've got closure." Lindsay smiled slightly at Danny and patted the space on the bed next to her.

The whole story was finally out in the open, she had once again erupted in tears, but they were inspired by the tragedy of the situation, more than due to loss. Mac and Don were very somber after listening to Lindsay speak in a mixture of hiccups and sighs. Stella was more disgusted by the machinations of Tyson Connor, and the emotion was written clearly across her face.

"We'll make sure the son of a bitch pays for what he has done." She had spat out the sentence in contempt.

"I think it's more important that he doesn't get out of prison any time soon for obvious reasons. He's insane, I doubt he wants this of himself. As much as I want to see him pay, I don't wish him dead. If I did, how different would I be from him?" Lindsay spoke softly, resting her head against Danny's arm.

Mac smiled slightly, it was good to see his CSI wasn't raging with vengeance and still had a level head. At that moment, the doctor came in to check on Lindsay's wounds. He left as quickly as he came, informing the group that Lindsay would be able to go home that night, but was to refrain from walking excessively so the puncture could heal. After a while, the PD barged in insisting for a statement, Lindsay, growing increasingly weary, rambled quickly through her story. Officer McCain explained that Tyson Connor was in jail without any chance of bail, and that Lindsay might have to go to court against him.

She sighed, trying to let go of all the pent up negative energy. "Alright, Officer, I understand. Is there anything else you need?"

"Well, no."

"Then I just want to sign those darn discharge papers and go home."

"Uhm…" Officer McCain obviously wasn't the smartest person on Earth.

Danny stifled a laugh, "I think she means 'goodbye', Officer."

Stella snorted, and Lindsay grinned at her.

"Uhh, if there's any problem, don't hesitate to give me a call," He slipped a card to Lindsay.

"Yeah, thank you."

He fled the room, feeling thoroughly intimidated and silly. The CSIs shared a brief moment of laughter, before Lindsay signed the discharge papers with a flourish and tried to hop out of bed. She yelped when her right foot touched the ground, and was thankful that Danny had grabbed hold of her arms to prevent her from falling flat on her face. Mac, Stella and Don said their good byes and 'get well soon's before rushing off to the lab, they still had lots to do, leaving Danny and Lindsay to walk excruciatingly slow down the hospital hallway and into the elevator.

Supporting her by grabbing one of her arms tightly and wrapping his own around the back of her waist, Danny guided Lindsay to where his car was parked. When they reached her block, Lindsay blushed and asked if he would spend the night with her. Smirking, he had agreed, before opening the door for her, and entwined his fingers with hers.