A/N: A special thanks goes out to NevermindDream who helped me work through one of the most horrible cases of writer's block I've ever had. You are truly wonderful! Same disclosures apply as in all previous chapters. Please review after reading, but enjoy most of all….

Chapter 9

Lindsay stood there, watching the door close as he walked out. She raised her hand to touch the space of skin where Danny's lips had electrified her skin. A smile spread broadly across her face.

"Stop it," she said aloud to herself, "He was just playing along to the joke that you started." Besides, she added in her head, it was probably just a chaste kiss and he didn't think anything of it.

Lindsay walked into the bathroom to take a shower, still smiling and humming softly to herself.

Danny walked out to his truck. He couldn't believe he had done it, he had kissed her. Silently, he kicked himself, but couldn't help smile. He really didn't want to push Lindsay into another relationship, but being with her, living with her, everything felt so normal. He hoped that today was a fairly slow day today; he really wanted to show her something spectacular tonight.

Lindsay walked out of the bathroom, feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. She got dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, knowing that she wouldn't have to leave the comfort of the apartment if she didn't have to. She had just settled onto the couch when her phone rang. Without looking at the caller id, she answered it.

"Danny," she teased, "you've only been gone a half an hour. I'm not going to be able to go through your dresser drawers."

However, the voice that responded wasn't the one that Lindsay expected.

"Well…" came a cruel and menacing voice, "Glad to see that you're not pining away. Thought your spirit may have been broken…guess not."

"What do you want Pacey?" She asked, her voice becoming cold and deadpanned. She couldn't believe that he had the gall to call her. She made a mental note to change her cell phone number or at least place a block on his number.

"Nothing," Pacey said coolly, "Just wanted to let you know that I'm always going to be watching. Maybe you will become your job's next case…" and he laughter filled her ears until she heard a click.

Lindsay tossed her phone on the couch, and went to the door. She made sure the door was securely shut and locked. She then went back to the couch and sat down. She started to dial Danny's cell phone number, and then hit the end button. She didn't need to bother him at every frightening phone call. She stood up and looked out the living room window, down at the street, there didn't seem to be anything remotely fear-provoking down there. She started to laugh.

They probably gave Pacey the phone to call his lawyer and he called me, she thought, I'll call Officer Marshall, he'll tell me what's going on.

She dialed his number, and listened to the phone ring.

"Marshall," came the curt greeting from the other end.

"Officer Marshall," Lindsay began, trying to sound sure of herself, "It's Lindsay Monroe. I wanted to see how things were going with the case."

"Hello Ms. Monroe." Officer Marshall replied, "Things are ok with the case. We don't need anything more from you at this time, but we'll let you know when we do."

"Ok," Lindsay said, "I just wanted to let you know that Pacey just contacted me on my cell phone. He said something about me becoming my job's next case. How was he able to call me if he's in custody, Officer?"She suddenly realized that she was acting a whole lot braver than she felt.

"Well," started Officer Marshall and Lindsay realized what he was going to say, "He made bail last night Ms. Monroe," he quickly continued, "but there was a restraining order put in place that he was to have no contact with you and could not come within three hundred feet of you."

"Oh," said Lindsay, "well I guess he blew that restriction didn't he?" She gave a little laugh, as though she was trying to make the situation lighter.

"What exactly did he say to you?" Officer Marshall asked seriously, he was truly worried about her now. "Is there someone with you now?"

"He told me that he was calling to see how I was, that he was glad to see I wasn't pining over him, that he was sad to see that my spirit wasn't broken." Lindsay tried to remember everything that the jerk has said, "that I might become my job's next case and um, that he's always going to be watching." Lindsay paused, "I'm not with anyone but I am staying at Danny Messer's apartment."

"Have you called Mr. Messer yet?" Officer Marshall asked her.

"No, I didn't want to worry him. I thought Pacey would still be in custody." Lindsay was starting to feel the panic rise. "Do you think I should call him or maybe I should just go to the lab," she paused, "I mean there I would be surrounded by people and it's a secure building, people can't get in without id."

"Let me handle getting Pacey back in custody Ms. Monroe." Officer Marshall was trying to keep her calm, "Why don't you call Mr. Messer, and go from there. I'm not saying that you're in any immediate danger, but I do think it's best if someone else is aware of the situation."

"Ok. Good idea." Lindsay said, and after saying their goodbyes with the promise to keep one another updated, she disconnected the call.

She went to the kitchen to make some tea before calling Danny. She wanted to be fairly calm when she told him the wonderful news. She had just started to pick up her phone and call the ever familiar number, when it rang in her hand. She checked the caller id and smiled.

"Hi." She said into the phone.

"Hey," came the reply with a thick New York accent, "I thought you might still be in the shower, using up all my hot water."

Lindsay laughed, "Keep dreaming, Messer. You've been gone for like two hours; the water would be cold by now."

The thought of Lindsay in the shower gave Danny reason to pause, and then he forced himself to put it out of his mind. She's been through enough, he thought, she doesn't need the added stress of trying to figure out what her feelings toward you are.

"What'ya doing right now?" Danny asked her, hoping that she didn't notice the long pause.

"Actually," she said, "I was just about to call you." She hoped that it came across as cheery and not terrified out of her mind.

"Really?" he teased her, "What? Did you want me to ask Mac if it was ok for you to come into the lab?"

She could tell that he was smiling through the phone. She considered this to be a good thing, she wanted him to be in the best mood possible before she told him about Pacey.

"Yeah," she said slowly, "I got an interesting phone call this morning."

There was a loud knock at the door. Lindsay jumped.

"Hang on," She said into the phone, "There's someone at the door."

She set the phone down on the end table, and grabbed her gun. She went to the door an carefully opened it.

There stood Danny, with Lindsay's gun in his face. Danny threw his arms up, his phone in one hand.

"Lindsay," he said, surprised, "What the –"

Lindsay's face went white as a sheet, she lowered the gun and started to babble incoherently.

"Danny, I'm so sorry." She said, "I thought it was Pacey, he called, not in custody…" the rest of her words were illogical.

Danny grabbed the gun from her, and checked it. She hadn't even taken the safety off. He put the gun on the table next to the door, along with his cell phone.

"Lindsay," he said in a gently voice, "it's ok. Everything's going to be ok." He was gently guiding her over to the couch. He sat her down and knelt in front of her. "Tell me what happened, Linds."

The sight of her tear filled eyes, along with the bruising on her face, and the fact that the word Pacey had come out of her mouth caused his blood to boil.

"Talk to me Linds," Danny took her hands into his, "Tell me what happened."

"Danny, Pacey was released." Lindsay sobbed, "He called me. He said that I would become the lab's next case. That he was always going to be following me, watching me."

Danny took her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. He felt so bad, he hadn't been here again, he had let her down again.

"Lindsay," he said into her hair, "I'm so sorry I wasn't here. I'm so sorry that I wasn't here."

Lindsay looked up at him. There were tears forming in his eyes.

"Why are you crying?" she asked him, "You did nothing wrong. None of this is because of you."

"I'm upset," Danny said, looking deep into those cocoa colored eyes, "because he's hurting you, and I care about you. I want to protect you and I'm failing at every turn."

"Danny…" Lindsay started, but Danny had taken her hand.

"I want to show you something," he told her, "I want to show you what I was talking about earlier."