Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but sweet Beth.

Author's note: A little harmless fluff. Hope you like.

Chapter 18

"Hey … did I wake you?" Lindsay whispered into her cell, trying to keep her voice low. It was 3 a.m. and Lindsay was in the kitchen while Danny lay sleeping amongst the tangled covers of her bed.

"Since when did I go to bed before 11?" Beth asked. "What is it, Lindsay? It's something big …"

"Well, Danny asked me to marry him …" Further discussion was cut off by one of Beth's ear-piercing screams. Lindsay winced and held the phone away from her ear.

"You said yes? Of course you said yes! Omigod! Have you started looking for dresses? Is it going to be a big wedding?"

Lindsay chuckled. "Hold your horses, sis. He just asked me tonight."

"What did he say? Was it horribly romantic and sweet?"

Lindsay filled her sister in, Beth oohing and aahing the whole time. "So … that was after dinner … and he's sleeping now … what did you do after?" Beth asked slyly.

Feeling a bit naughty, Lindsay said, "Let's just say I may be a little sore tomorrow …"

Beth howled, and the two shared a laugh. Finally, it was time to go … "I love you, Beth. Don't tell Aunt Andrea or Uncle Carl yet. I'll call them tomorrow - scratch that - today. It's 3:30 a.m."

"I love you, too, Linds. Tell Danny I owe him a hug."

On the other end of the cell phone a few minutes later, Beth Monroe disconnected and settled back into bed.

"Who the hell was that?" groaned the man next to her. "It's nearly 4 in the morning."

"Well, it's about midnight in Montana, which is where my sister thinks I am. She called to tell me - get this - she and Danny are engaged." Beth kicked up the covers happily.

"Seriously? Aw, that's awesome. Good for them."

She grinned slyly. "In another bit of good news, I'm going to be the maid of honor. Who do you think the best man is going to be?"

Don Flack rolled on top of her, relishing in her smooth body beneath his. "It's better be me, or I'm going to kick Messer's ass."

Beth giggled. She had used a frequent flyer ticket to meet Don at a bed and breakfast in Jersey. They had been seeing each other for a few months, meeting when schedules and flights permitted. "Yeah, maybe the wedding's the perfect time to tell them about us."

"And what will we tell them?" Flack began nuzzling her ear, running his hand up her leg, onto her thigh.

"Oh you know that we're dating, and …." The rest of Beth's reasoning skills went out the window as Flack's lips and hands began working their magic once again.

Lindsay and Danny had the next day off, and slept in until noon. Danny woke first, and watched her sleep. My fiancée, he thought wonderingly. Finally, missing her, he woke her gently, trailing kisses along her collar bone, up her delicate neck.

"Mmmmmmm …." Lindsay stretched luxuriously. "I'd tell you to follow through on that thought, cowboy, but after last night, I don't think I have it in me."

Danny chuckled wickedly. "Get used to it sweetheart." Last night they had returned to his bedroom and made love, and made love, and made love …

It seemed he couldn't get enough of her. Lindsay's quiet beauty masked a passionate woman that touched him in every way possible. Physically and emotionally. Truth be told though, he was a bit tired himself. He reached over and grabbed her left hand, fiddling with the ring he placed there the night before. "Perfect fit," he mused.

Lindsay smiled. She still couldn't believe they were engaged. Who would have thought that first day in the zoo they would be here. Then, as was typical for Lindsay, a sobering thought hit her. "So … does this beautiful ring mean we're telling everyone now?"

Danny knew Lindsay meant primarily Mac, although Hammerbeck and Hawkes were still officially in the dark. He sighed. "Mac starts his two-week department review process tomorrow. He's a bear the whole time."

Not ready to bring any negative vibes into the warmth of their relationship, Lindsay suggested waiting to tell him until the review process was complete. He agreed. "In the meantime …" Danny held up her ringed hand questioningly.

Lindsay smiled, getting out of bed and walked to her bureau. A minute later, she pulled out a delicate gold chain and slipped the ring onto it. After she put it on, she turned - still naked - and smiled at Danny. "How do I look?"

Danny slowly got out of bed and walked over to his future bride. Pulling her to him, he kissed her deeply. Chaste at first, Lindsay soon felt herself drawn in, drawing a ragged breath.

"Still think you don't got it in you?" Danny growled, hands roaming.

Lindsay's breath caught. God, he knew where to touch her.

"Race you to the shower."

The next morning Stella and Lindsay were processing a DB in an alley near Washington Heights. The victim, a white male in his late teens or early 20s, had been shot twice in the chest. From his dress and tattoos, Lindsay guessed the shooting was gang-related. Rising from her haunches, Lindsay stretched and groaned. She was stiff from yesterday's … activity.

"You okay?" Stella queried.

"I'm fine." Lindsay walked carefully toward her kit, looking a bit bow-legged.

"Well Lindsay Monroe, I'm shocked." Stella had come up behind her and whispered this in her ear.

"About what?"

"About what. You're saddle sore, my dear. Tell Danny to lay off or you're not going to be any good to me in the field." Stella laughed as color rose in her friend's cheeks. "God, Lindsay, don't ever play poker. That face gives everything away."

Later, the two grabbed a bite to eat - they were waiting on trace so they went to a little Mexican place around the corner. "So," Stella said, "have you decided when you're going to tell Mac?"

"Soon," Lindsay replied, chomping on some salsa and chips. "We were thinking of springing it on him after he's done with the department review. We're going to have to, at least before my last name officially changes."

Stella's eyes widened, and she began to choke on her Diet Coke. "What!"

Lindsay smiled slyly, then reached underneath her blouse and pulled out the ring, which winked in the sunlight. Stella recovered from her coughing fit and looked closely. "Oh honey, it's beautiful. It looks antique?"

"It was his grandmother's." Lindsay felt her eyes water a bit. "I'm so happy, Stella. I'm almost a little scared."

Stella came over from her side of the booth and enveloped Lindsay in a warm hug. "Don't be scared, Linds. Danny loves you. I've known him a long time and I've never seen him this happy."

Lindsay accepted her friend's embrace. I hope I can say the same about you, someday, Stella.

Across town …

Donald Flack tried to stifle a yawn, and his friend, Danny Messer, arched an eyebrow. "What's wrong with you? Late night?" The two were at the scene of home invasion.

"Yep, stayed up late, reading. What about you? You're a little behind the eight ball this morning yourself."

"Hey, you know how girls from Montana can be." Danny's eyes twinkled.

Actually, I do know, more than you think, Flack thought to himself. He refocused when he noticed Danny glancing around and moving toward him.

"Hey, Flack, before anyone else comes along, I just wanted you to know that ah … I asked Lindsay to marry me. She said yes, can you believe it?"

Flack smiled warmly. He was truly happy for his friend - Lindsay brought out in him the man everyone knew he had the potential to be. "Danny, I'm happy for you, man, I mean it." He clapped him on the back.

Danny chuckled. "You should be happy for yourself, too."

"Why is that?"

"I want you to be my best man."

Flack had hoped the question was coming, but it felt good nonetheless to hear it. "My pleasure. I mean that. I take cash or credit card - MasterCard or Visa, no Discover."

His friend grinned back. He expected nothing less from Flack. "How about I pay you by making sure Beth is her sister's maid of honor?"

"Hmmm … well …. Who am I fooling? Yeah, I'll take that."

The two exchanged an awkward man-hug, and continued working, Danny's face affixed with a perma-grin. Who thought I could be this happy?

TBC