A/N: Same disclosures apply as in all previous chapters. Please review after reading, and most of all enjoy!

Chapter 8

Lindsay woke up the next morning feeling well rested, but sore all at the same time. She stretched and looked around the room, which now was bathed in gentle sunlight. It, like the rest of the apartment, was decorated with style though this room had a more neutral theme and colors.

She looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall. It told her that it was a little after eight in the morning. She realized her wrist was throbbing again.

Time for another pain pill, she though silently as she got out of bed.

Quietly she opened the door and started to walk towards the kitchen when she noticed the door to Danny's room was slightly ajar.

Curiosity got the best of her and she peeked in through the crack. What she saw made her gasp and the breath catch in her chest.

Danny was laying on his stomach, sound asleep. One arm was handing off the edge of the bed, highlighting his strong shoulders. A small part of his midsection was covered by his blankets, then his well sculpted thighs and calves were bare. Even his feet looked gorgeous.

Danny stirred slightly in his sleep and Lindsay backed quickly away from the door. The last thing she needed or wanted was for him to catch her watching him sleep.

She went out to the kitchen and searched through the cupboards until she found the glasses and the coffee. After she found what she was looking for, she poured a glass of water and took her pills. Lindsay then started to make a pot of coffee, laughing as she scooped the coffee into the filter.

"You and your coffee, Messer." She said aloud to herself.

"What about my coffee, Montana?" Danny was leaning against the archway between the kitchen and living room. He yawned sleepily.

Lindsay was at a loss for words when she first saw him. He was bare chested and bare footed. He had on a pair of plaid lounge pants that sat just on his hips.

"Nothing about your coffee." Lindsay smiled at him, "Want a cup?"

"Do tigers like meat?" Danny smiled at the reference to their first case together.

She handed him a steaming mug of coffee. They stood there in silence, sipping from their mugs for a few minutes. Danny was the first to break the silence.

"So," he said, "what's going on with you today?"

Lindsay shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't have to go in today so I figured that I would just lounge around here." she said, "I don't really feel like going anywhere in public." She gestured to her face and took another sip of coffee.

Danny felt a surge of anger rise again. He watched her for a few minutes. She looked gorgeous, just standing there in her tank top and pajama pants. Even without any makeup and her hair was slightly disheveled, she was still the most amazingly beautiful person he had ever met.

"What?" asked Lindsay becoming very self-conscious under Danny's constant gaze.

"Nothing," said Danny, shaking his head, "It's just that…it's nothing. I'm gonna get dressed and go for a run. Wanna join me?"

Lindsay set her mug down on the counter and stretched. Her shirt rose slightly giving Danny a nice view of her midsection. She then returned to a relaxed position and Danny shifted slightly.
"Think you'll be able to keep up?" She flashed him one of her patented smiles.

"Keep up?" He teased her back. He loved that she could take it as well as she could dish it out. "I'll run circles around you, Montana."

"Danny…" she started, then seemed to change her mind, "I'll race you to see who gets ready first!" She then quickly jogged out of the kitchen.

"Hey!" Danny called out from behind her, "No fair!" He followed her down the hall.

Lindsay was ready first, which surprised even her. She had spent a little extra time on her makeup, she didn't think that she could handle the stares.

They headed out the door together. Once they reached the sidewalk, they started jogging side by side. Danny occasionally pointed out sights or places he used to go when he was younger as they went on.

As they entered Central Park, Lindsay started to share things with him.

"Want to know what irritates me most about this whole situation with Pacey?" She asked him as they jogged down one of the paths.

"Sure." Danny replied casually, he was just happy to be spending time with her out of lab. He still couldn't believe that she had agreed to stay with him after Stella's offer.

"That I thought I knew him." She told him, "That I was limiting my time with friends, because it upset him. Because I let him decide for me what I would and wouldn't talk about with friends. I stopped being me." She glanced over at him, trying to see if he would react or something, but his face remained unreadable. "Thanks for always being there for me Danny, I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Relationships are about compromise Lindsay, they require give and take." He paused, as if he was trying to decide how to continue, "Things happen. I wouldn't stop being your friend, just because the guy you're dating doesn't like me."

They continued through the park, until they reached a vendor selling water and Danny bought them both a bottle of water and a bagel. They continued to walk until they reached the Conservatory Garden area. They sat down on a nearby bench.

"This is beautiful Danny." Lindsay said, looking around at the pond and over at the bridge. "I would have never imagined that something like this could be in the middle of New York City."

"There are a lot of things in the City that you find that you don't expect to." Danny said offhandedly.

"Like what?" Lindsay asked. Danny had piqued her curiousity.

"If I get out of work at a decent hour tonight, I'll show you, deal?" Danny said standing up. He extended a hand out to her.

"Deal." Lindsay said nodding. She did nothing to drop his hand, and she noticed that he didn't either.

He enjoyed holding her hand, and wasn't in any hurry to drop it, besides it didn't mean anything right?

They got back to his apartment, and he let her go in first.

"Why don't you go in and take a shower first." He offered, and she turned to him.

"No way." She said, "you have to be to work in like 2 hours, you go in and shower. I have the rest of the afternoon to bathe."

"Alright, alright." Danny said as she ushered him into the shower.

"Besides," she said as the door closed, "you smell."

She heard him laugh, then the water start to run. She went into the kitchen to see what they could have for lunch. She found some leftover chicken and she remembered that he had some rice in a cupboard somewhere.

By the time that Danny had gotten out of the shower and dressed, Lindsay had made something that smelled delightfully wonderful.

He followed his nose to the kitchen and there she was spooning something onto a plate.

I could so get used to this, he thought as he watched her, it just seems normal and that's something I haven't had in a long time.

"Oh hey." Said Lindsay, noticing him standing there, "I made some cheesy chicken and rice. Hope you like it."

Danny just smiled at her, how could he not like it.

They ate quietly, just chatting about random things, then Danny had to leave for work. Lindsay walked him to the door,

"Now don't be late, honey." She teased, "and work hard, don't want any bad reports from Mac." She smiled at him again, resting her hand gently on his upper arm.

"Don't worry sweetheart." He said, laughing slightly at her joke, he wondered how far she would let him take it. "I'll be a good boy. Call me if you need anything."

He leaned in and kissed her cheek, then walked out, closing the door behind him.