A/N: Same disclosures apply as in all previous chapters. I own none of the characters, except Pacey. Please read, and review, but above all, enjoy. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed in the past.

Chapter 3

"Pacey." Lindsay repeated, as she turned on another light, "What are you doing here?"

They looked at each other awkwardly for a few minutes, until Danny let go of Pacey and stood up. He backed up a little, standing somewhat in between Pacey and Lindsay, but off to the side. Pacey, however, stood up, stumbled slightly, and glared at both of them, shifting his eyes back and forth while rubbing his shoulder.

"I," he started very stiffly, "thought I would come apologize because I thought I had been acting like a jerk lately." Pacey paused and took a step forward towards Lindsay. Danny however took an unconscious step backwards, closer to Lindsay. He didn't like the look he was seeing in Pacey's eyes.

"However, I can see that you weren't crying your eyes out over it." He spat the words out at Lindsay like they were leaving a bad taste in his mouth, "One argument, and you're already screwing the pretty boy here." He gestured towards Danny.

"Now wait a--" Danny started, but was cut off by Pacey, who advanced on him.

"Why don't you just leave? You got what you wanted, you got to screw my girlfriend…Hell, I've been trying for weeks, and she wouldn't do me…Hope she was good for you, now maybe you'll leave us alone, and maybe I'll be lucky enough to get some from the Virgin Lindsay." Pacey was standing inches away from Danny's face, and Danny now could smell the heavy scent of alcohol on him. "Well, guess she's not a virgin anymore."

"Back up." Danny said quietly, but firmly. Danny made no move to threaten Pacey with physical violence, but there was no questioning the intention in his voice.

Lindsay couldn't believe that she was actually hearing Pacey say these awful, horrible, and disgusting things about her. She thought he was nice guy, a little jealous at times, specifically of Danny, but all in all, he was sweet and caring. How could he think these things about her?

Lindsay tried to step beyond Danny to confront Pacey, to slap him, to scream at him or something, she wasn't really sure. Danny however, held her back gently, not wanting to let her anywhere too close to him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Lindsay screamed, surprising both men, "Get out! Get out!", with that she turned and ran into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

"You heard her," said Pacey smugly, "I believe she told you to get out." He started to make his way around Danny towards her bedroom door.

Danny could hardly believe his ears. This jackass really thought that she was talking to him? He caught Pacey around the waist, and thrust him backwards.

"I don't think so." Danny said, stepping directly in front of him this time. "The door's that way." Danny paused and pointed towards the door, "Or would you like to me to escort you?" He crossed his arms over his chest. There was no way he was leaving Pacey here with Lindsay, alone.

Now Danny stands about six feet tall, and is fairly well built. Pacey, on the other hand, is maybe about 5'7" with shoes on, and skinny as a rail.

"I'm not going anywhere, Pal." Pacey said as he shoved Danny hard on the shoulders. "You've done nothing but get in the way of my relationship with Lindsay. You've always been jealous of me because I've got something you want. You were too chicken to step up to the plate when she was single, so you figure now that you think you can be a man, it doesn't matter who you hurt to get to her now, am I right?" His words were slurred, "What's the matter Danny-boy? Cat got your tongue or are you trying to understand what I just said?"

"I understood alright." Danny said darkly, not moving.

"What are you gonna do? Get your Tanglewood boys to beat me up? Take me out?" Pacey was taunting him now. "I'm not scared, you sissy. I could take you any day blindfolded."

Danny moved so that he was nose to nose with Pacey. Danny kept walking backwards until Pacey's back hit the counter.

"First of all Pacey," Danny said in a low, slow, and controlled voice, "You don't know anything you think you know about me. Second of all, Lindsay deserves better than you. However, I'm not the type of guy who goes around being the other person in a relationship. Should she decide to throw your rotten, miserable, jealous, drunk ass to the curb after tonight, that's all her doing. But you can damn be sure that I will be here for her, because she's my friend. I will be here to help her pick up the pieces and get over you, because you aren't worth her tears. You aren't worth the newspaper your crappy column is printed on. And if that does happen, you better believe, I won't want to see you around her or read about her in your column ever again, because if that does happen, you'll have to answer to me." Danny took a deep breath, "And that's no threat, that's a promise. Now get out and go sober up."

"You and what army?" Pacey said quietly, under his breath, "It's called freedom of the press." The alcohol was talking now, he would have never said these things to Danny without it.

Danny stepped back to let him make his way to the door. Just as Pacey had reached the door, Danny stopped him

"One more thing," Danny added, "Give me your key."

"What?" Pacey looked at him with a half confused, half shocked face, "You don't have the right---"

Danny cut him off, "If Lindsay wants to give it back to you, that's her decision. Right now I want it, so that I know she'll be able to get a peaceful sleep."

Pacey took the key out of his pocket and jabbed it into Danny's hand, which curled closed around it. Pacey walked out of the door, but turned around to face Danny one more time.

"You ruined my relationship. I hope you know this isn't over," he said menacingly, "This isn't over by a long shot."

Danny swung with his right and connected with the left side of Pacey's head, who stumbled slightly before regaining his balance. He felt the key bite more into his hand, but it was worth it.

"It's over now," Danny said, "Go sleep it off." And with that, Danny closed the door and slid the deadbolt across.

The next thing that Danny did is call Mac. He filled him in on all the particulars including that he had hit Pacey. Mac told Danny that they could both have the day off, that they would be on call if they were needed.

After hanging up with Mac, Danny didn't know what to do. He put her key in the bowl by the phone. Then he went to the kitchen and tried to find some tea to make, but couldn't, so he went and stood by Lindsay's door. He heard muffled noises coming from the other side. Without thinking he knocked.

"Yeah?" came a strained voice.

"Hey, he's gone if you want to come out." said Danny, "or can I come in?"

"Sure, it's unlocked." Again, the voice sound so strained, so unlike Lindsay.

Danny slowly and cautiously opened the door. There she was sitting on the floor, hugging a pillow with a box of tissues beside her, several wadded up ones littering the floor around her. Her face was red and streaked with tears.

"Hey." He said quietly, leaning on the door frame. He didn't just want to enter her bedroom, he wanted her to invite him in. Otherwise, he would feel like he was trespassing.

"Hey." was her soft response. "He's gone?"

"Yeah, he's gone." answered Danny, "I took his key too, just so that he wouldn't bother you anymore tonight." He paused, "I think he had one too many."

"Oh." said Lindsay, "I'm sorry you had to see all of this. I'm sorry that I had to put you through all of this. I'm sorry that I have crappy taste in men…" but the tears had started again and her words were drowned out.

Danny didn't think twice and ran to her side, pulling her into a hug.

"Linds, tonight, there is no where I would rather be than here with you." Danny told her honestly.

"You must think," sob, "I'm a horr-" sob, "-ible person to," sob, "date someone who would," sob, "act or talk like that." Lindsay's crying was subsiding slowly, but Danny hadn't let her go.

"Never." Danny said seriously, "I could never think that way about you." He kissed the top of her head and smoothed her hair. "Why don't we go sit out on the couch?" suggested Danny. He wanted to comfort her, not take advantage of her, and in her bedroom, those lines were starting to blur.

She didn't answer but he felt her nod against his chest. He stood up first and helped her up. They made they're way out to the couch and sat down. She snuggled against him, still stifling sobs every once in awhile.

"Thank you Danny." She said quietly, after just sitting there for a few minutes.

"For what?" He asked, still smoothing her hair absentmindedly.

"For making him leave, for not leaving, for just being here." She yawned, she could fall asleep here in his arms, she thought silently.

"I wouldn't have left if the Yankees were winning the series." He said and felt her laugh. He kissed the top of her head again. She smelled good.

She yawned again. She was so tired.

"What time is it?" She asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

Danny glanced at his watch, and told her it was almost 4am. She groaned loudly and started to get up from the couch.

"I have to go shower, and then while I'm getting dressed you can use it if you want to." She said.

Danny held her in place to prevent her from rising any further.

"I called Mac," he started, and then he saw the look on her face and continued rather quickly, "Lindsay I had to, I hit the guy with a frying pan. He could file charges on me."

Her face relaxed.

"He said that we were on call today and that we would be the first people they called if they needed anything." He felt her settle back into him, "Besides, with as little sleep as you've gotten, you're not going to be any good to them in the lab and neither am I." He finished and waited for her response.

When nothing came after a few seconds, he looked down at her. She was already sound asleep. Danny adjusted into a more comfortable position, careful not to disturb her, and soon was asleep as well.