He should have just left it alone. He told Stella something was up. She'd find out what happened. She'd find out and take care of it. Hopefully. Or at least tell her to stop being a pain to everyone.
But he couldn't just drop it. The curiosity was driving him crazy. He liked Lindsay. She was a good detective. And yeah she could be a little weird but that came with the business. They were all a little weird in their own way.
He didn't just want her to stop being a pain. He wanted her to admit that something was up. So yeah, he was being nosy and listening to what should have been a private conversation.
"It was stupid to think it would work. I mean, when do long distance relationships actually work out." He could hear Lindsay talking in that half sobbing, half hiccuping way that comes from too much crying. After five years in the force interviewing freaked out witnesses and victim's distraught families, he'd gotten good at hearing pasting the hiccups. It had become his third language.
He could hear Stella murmuring something. He could imagine that she was doing what she did best. Being everyone's big sister when they needed it.
"I mean if he didn't think it was going to work out, why didn't he just say that when I left. Why pretend like he was happy for me and tell me that we'd make it work."
What a jerk. Danny thought to himself. He knew he'd broken some hearts. Mostly of girls that wanted something long term that he didn't want. But he was always honest with them. From the beginning. He wasn't one of those guys that would tell a girl he loved her when what he really wanted was just to get her into bed. Crude as it seemed, if he just wanted sex, that's what he'd tell a girl. If she was cool with that, great. If not, he'd see her safely home and that was that.
"And then he goes and leaves it on my answering machine. Doesn't even try to say it to me. No, I come home from work after a nice breakfast with Danny. Talking about home and horseback riding and needing to do laundry. I get home and there's a message from Greg. What kind of guy breaks up with a girl by answering machine. And the day before Valentine's Day."
The last words caught Danny's attention. Being single at the moment, he hadn't really paid attention to the date. He was vaguely aware of the ladies at the first floor reception desk having out candy but he wasn't much for sweets so he didn't look closely.
No wonder she's in a bad mood. Danny thought to himself.
"Why don't you tell Mac you aren't feeling well." He could hear Stella saying. "Go home. We'll find someone else to help Danny."
"If I go home I'll just think about Greg the whole time."
"Then how about if we go grab a bite to eat. You haven't had a break in almost twelve hours. A chance to clear your head will do you good."
"Okay."
Danny ducked back into the lab and occupied himself with a microscope.
"Danny." He looked up at Lindsay's voice. "Stella and I are going to grab something to eat."
"Cool." He nodded as nonchalantly as he could.
"Want me to bring you something?"
"That would be great, if you could. I'm in the middle of something I want to finish." He fished a bill out of his wallet and handed it to her. "Stella knows what I like."
Lindsay nodded and left. Danny waited until he was sure they were out of the building. He had something he needed to do.