Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of CSI:NY.
Author's note: 'Kay, warn me if it's too Harlequin, please? (I used to read those with a flashlight under the covers when I was 13 …). Next chapter should be a bit lighter. Thanks for all the support!
Chapter 21
Danny clicked his cell phone closed. "Okay, Albert. Here's where it is: My boss, Mac, is calling the precinct, and we're going to arrange to bring Sara here. He'll call me back on my cell when it's a go - I'll put it on speaker if you're worried I'm lyin', but I'm not."
Brookes nodded, if anything, looking more defeated than before. "Part of me thinks it would have just been better if I had shot myself, too."
Instantly, a picture of Lindsay flashed before his eyes. Despite the fact that Brookes held him at gunpoint, handcuffed him and put Lindsay and the rest of the team through hell, he kind of felt sorry for him. He had been pushed to the brink - a concept Danny could definitely relate to.
He reached a tentative hand out to Brookes - he was now free of the cuffs. "Look, that's not the answer. My girl - fiancée - her dad killed her mom when she tried to stop him from hurting her, then he killed himself. It's taken her years to work through. You love your daughter- being available to her in any way possible is the best thing you can do right now."
A ghost of a smile flitted across the man's face. "Fiancée, huh? Special girl?"
Danny grinned. "Lindsay's the best."
"She's okay, then?"
"More than okay. Look, you're not toxic like her old man was, and you stood up for her. You love her, and that can only be a good thing. And if it means anything? I'll see if I can put in a good word. I promise."
Tears spilled from the man's eyes. "If I give you my gun will you promise I can wait for my daughter?"
Danny sighed with relief. "I promise. Just let me call Mac first, OK?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mac answered his cell before it's first ring finished. "Yeah, Danny …. Okay, let me warn Sgt. Hicks. Make sure he comes out with his hands up. We don't want anyone getting hurt."
He stopped at Stella's side before going to the SWAT commander. "Hey Stella, he's coming out. Tell Lindsay, then call Hawkes."
Stella ran to Lindsay's side. The young woman was still curled up in a ball, knees at her chin, tears streaming. Her engagement ring was now on her left ring finger, where it belonged. Stella knelt down. "Lindsay honey, he's coming out. He's going to be okay."
Lindsay raised her head, hope shining in her eyes. "He had to Stella, I knew he had to be okay."
The yard of the home was a flurry of activity as SWAT members got in place in case something went wrong. Sgt. Hicks held the blow horn up. "Okay Brookes. Come out with your hands up and make sure Det. Messer follows you. Don't try anything."
Lindsay's breath caught as time seemed to stand still. Then, slowly, the door opened, and a hunched-over, defeated looking middle-aged man came out, hands in the air. And behind him - Lindsay gasped with relief - Danny. Oh God Oh God Oh God … Thank you God.
SWAT members immediately raced to get Brookes in custody. Danny whispered a few last words of encouragement before he was whisked away to wait for his daughter in a patrol car. Then he looked around and his eyes found her - red eyed and exhausted, but beautiful as ever. He closed his eyes briefly - Thank you, Lord, thank you.
He moved as if in slow motion, barely registering the slap on the back from Mac, the quick hug from Stella. He only had eyes for Lindsay, and she for him.
Mac stood by Stella's side as they watched the two lovers come together. A sob escaped Lindsay's lips before Danny grabbed her in an embrace full of longing and relief. The two clung to each other like they were caught in a storm, holding on for dear life. Maybe they are, Mac thought, as he felt the emotion from the couple. He really loves her.
Danny pulled back, cradling her face in his hands, kissing her deeply, gently, before looking into her eyes. "I love you, Montana." His voice cracked as he rested his forehead on hers. "We're okay."
Lindsay gave Danny a wobbly smile. "Hey look - we're out of the closet." She held up her ringed hand, and he smiled, taking her hand and kissing it reverently. She reached out and touched the tears that flowed down his cheek with wonder.
"No tears, cowboy. The sun's out, we're alive, we're in love and we're going to be okay."
Danny kissed her again. "For the first time in my life, Montana, I believe that."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The police kept their promise, and Brookes was allowed a tearful reunion with his daughter. Danny and Mac spoke and the older man agreed to intervene on Brookes' behalf, while Danny agreed not to press charges. As Brookes was driven away, Sara collapsed in tears. Lindsay, seeing herself, immediately went to her.
"I know this sounds lame, but I've been there," Lindsay said, putting a steadying arm around the girl. "In your case, you have your dad, and he loves you. Hold on to that, and we'll do our best to get you out of this."
Sara sniffed, wiping her raw nose with her shirtsleeve. "Are you the girl Daddy says is okay? The one hwo lose her parents."
Lindsay smiled gently. "I'm okay - more than okay, and you will be to."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that day, Danny and Lindsay drove home together. They were both relieved - after each separately offering to transfer out to avoid any conflict with their relationship and the team, Mac pulled them into his office and sternly told them neither of them would be breaking up his team.
"You two aren't going anywhere, just keep up what you've been doing the last several months - under my nose - and we'll be fine. Now go home." They turned to leave before Mac stopped them, hugging Lindsay and then a surprised Danny. "I'm happy for you both. You just better invite me to the wedding."
Back in the car, Danny talked about the case. "Sara's aunt seems nice. I think she'll be okay, especially if the DA agrees to go easy on Brookes - maybe he'll just do some time in the psych ward,"he observed.
Lindsay was quiet, but nodded and gave Danny's hand a squeeze. Danny let her be alone with her thoughts. They made their way to her apartment - it was closer and he was tired. As they walked inside and shut the door, they stopped short, looking at each other.
"Oh Danny …" Lindsay fell into his arms again - she couldn't get enough of him. "If I'd lost you …"
"I'm not goin' anywhere," he said gruffly. He pulled back, kissing her tears away. When he found her lips, she took his urgently.
With each touch, the strain of the day faded, replaced by their passion for one another. Clothes were quickly discarded.Their need to feel each other, to be together was so intense, moving to the bedroom was not an option. Lindsay relished every feeling - his body flush against hers, the beating of his heart, the rough wood of the door against her back, her legs cinched around his waist.
"Oh God, Danny, I love you …" Further words were cut off by a crushing kiss. The intensity grew, consuming them both, until Danny screamed her name, burying his face in her hair.
"I'm not going anywhere, Montana," he panted in her ear, trying to recover. "I'm with you always, don't forget that."
Danny carried her into the bedroom and they slept dreamlessly, locked in each other's arms and secure in their love and the knowledgethat it could get them through anything, as long as they were together.
TBC
