Chapter 10 – Change Unexpected

Lindsay smiled as she looked out the window of the limousine, warmed by the touch of Danny's thigh against her leg. She couldn't help but replay the night over and over inside her head, each time widening her smile slightly more than the last. Her lips were still tingling as she remembered the feeling of Danny against her, holding her in a way that she had only been able to dream about, and even her dreams had not done the true feeling justice. She inhaled deeply, still able to pick up the faint scent of his cologne.

The others were all talking amongst themselves as the limo brought them back to the lab, allowing Lindsay the ability to get completely lost in her thoughts. The rest of the night had passed blissfully. The DJ had decided to close out the Gala with a slow, romantic song. Even though she had already danced with Danny once before that evening, the feeling of him this time around was different. There was a new feeling in his touch, in the way he held her, in the feeling of his breath hot against her cheek. The feelings they had both been skirting around for months had seemed to finally surface. Maybe it was just the atmosphere of the Gala, but Lindsay could not have asked for a more perfect ending to her evening.

She shivered as she stepped out of the limo, the crisp night air biting at her shoulders. Danny instinctively placed his jacket over her, not noticing the questioning gaze then playful smile from Flack (whose arm was around a familiar black strappy dress) as he observed the two. The group said hasty goodbyes, wanting to escape to the warmth of their respective cars. Before long, only Danny and Lindsay stood outside the lab, the only sounds being those of the New York streets at night.

"A ride home, Miss Monroe?" smiled Danny, gesturing to the parking garage of the lab where he had parked. Lindsay couldn't help but smile at the boyish grin occupying Danny's face. After nodding her approval, Lindsay took Danny's outstretched hand, squeezing it lightly as he led her out of the night's cold grasp.

Danny wasn't sure where it was going or how it would end, or if it even would end, but glancing back at Lindsay, he just enjoyed her. He could not have ever imagined that he would want to have someone by his side so strongly. He was used to keeping his women an arm's length away… but Lindsay was different. She changed the way he saw himself, the way he nearly lost all control when she was around. Stella was right – there was just something about her that he couldn't quite put his finger on. He smiled as she squeezed his hand.

Danny unlocked his car, pulling Lindsay towards him before opening the door. There were so many things he wanted to tell her, but he found himself unable to string any coherent thoughts together. He inhaled as she responded to his arms around her waist by bringing her hands up to the back of his neck.

"Something you want to say to me, Messer?" smiled Lindsay, her voice soft. There was no hiding anything from her.

"Just this," he whispered, capturing her lips with his. It was the only way he could think of to express everything that was going through his mind. The softness of her lips, the tenderness of her touch startled him, even the second time around. He reluctantly pulled back for air, not wanting to let go of her. He smiled, slowly releasing her from his embrace, opening the car door and helping her inside. He walked around to the driver's side, then stopped for a moment before getting in himself. He was amazed at how out of the ordinary this whole situation was for him. The excitement of something so new and intense made him not want to let go, like a book he did not want to stop reading until he reached the end.

He sat down behind the wheel and started his car. He smiled at her, and taking her hand in his, they drove into the night.

Because like grains of falling sand in an hourglass, it really was only a matter of time.

FIN.

Final A/N: I hope you enjoyed this - please R&R to let me know your thoughts on the story overall - I had a lot of fun writing this, thanks for all the great reviews along the way! Special thanks to (as always) Nikita for a super job beta-ing, and to Boleyn for helping to Beta the last two chapters. :)