A/N: Reviews were great. Here's another update! I think this is a record for me—2 in one day!


Chapter 3: Hope in Unexpected Places

Her eyes fluttered open and were welcomed by the bright rays of the New York morning sun. Lindsay automatically detected the loss of warmth that had surrounded her the night before. She turned her body in hopes of finding Danny lying next to her. To her disappointment he wasn't there. Her heart sank as her mind reviewed the previous night's event. She hoped she hadn't scared him away by asking him to stay.

Lindsay lifted the covers and slid her feet out from beneath them so they hung over the side of the bed and were touching the soft rug. Her spirits were lifted when she found a note on her bedside table that was left by Danny. Lindsay picked it up and read it.

Montana-

Sorry I had to leave early, but Mac called me in early. Don't even think about getting up. Mac said you're not allowed to come to work today. Yes, it's for your own good. I took the liberty of making you breakfast before I left. It's in the kitchen. I'll stop by after work and bring pizza. Don't hesitate to call any of us.

By the way, your mom called. Call her back soon. She's worried about you.

Danny

Lindsay smiled at his thoughtfulness but cringed at the idea of him talking to her mom. She knew that probably hadn't gone well: a man answering her phone that early in the morning had to equal an interrogation. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn't eaten anything last night before Danny had arrived, so she headed down the hall to the kitchen. Danny had made her French toast. Who would have thought Danny Messer could cook?

She reached for her phone. Danny didn't pick up his phone as she had suspected he wouldn't, so she left his a voicemail telling him that pizza would be fine. After hanging up the phone she starred at it, trying her hardest to post-pone the call she was dreading making. Lindsay knew she had to call her mom, but she also knew her mom would want her to come home for a couple days and Lindsay wasn't so sure she could handle it. Slowly she punched in the numbers and cradled the phone against her face. The two rings echoed in her ear until her mom picked up.

"Monroe residence." Chris answered.

Lindsay took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Hey mom." She then braced herself for what was to come.

"Lindsay, baby, how are you holding up?" Her mom asked sounding very concerned, as a mother should be.

Lindsay sighed, "I'm doing fine Mom. I think I cried enough last night to last me a lifetime. Poor Danny." Despite everything that was going on the mother and daughter shared a laugh.

"I know. He told me you were a little shaken up." Chris confessed. Lindsay was shocked to say the least. Danny hadn't mention having an actual conversation with her mom.

"Exactly how much did Danny tell you?" She questioned her mom. Lindsay could imagine her mom's frown even though they were miles apart and she couldn't see her.

"Enough to know he cares about you honey; a lot actually." Chris paused. "I think you should take a vacation and come home for the funeral. It's next Saturday." She suggested.

It was the first time her mom had actually referred to her brother during their conversation. Lindsay sighed. She knew it was coming eventually. "I'll think about it." She needed to get out of the conversation because Lindsay knew that it went any deeper than that she would breakdown and cry. "Mac gave me the day off and I need to get some stuff done before Danny comes over. I'll call you later." She hoped her mom wouldn't push things any farther.

To her luck her mom didn't. "In that case I'll let you go. But you should give Becky Lynn a call. Brad boarded a plane back from New York this morning but for the time being it's just her and the twins."

Lindsay nodded absentmindedly. "I will. Tell daddy I love him."

"I will. Love you honey." Chris said in agreement. Lindsay replied much the same and hung up the phone.

Lindsay finished eating the delicious breakfast Danny had made for her and changed into some comfortable clothing. The New York summer was hot and sunny to say the least when it wasn't raining. She cleaned her apartment and lost herself in her chores. At around 5pm she sat down on the couch and called her sister. It had always been easy for the two to confide in each other. Yes, she had been closer to Matt but Becky was a girl. Lindsay had been maid-of-honor in Becky and Brad wedding. To add to the bond, Lindsay was Josh and Jaime's godmother.

An hour and a half later the two were still on the phone talking. There was a knock on Lindsay's door, to whom she guessed to be Danny. She pulled the phone away from her mouth and covered it. "One second." Lindsay yelled and the knocking stopped.

"That's Danny," She began to talk to Becky once again, "…oh shut up…I'll think about it…give my love to the kids and Brad…you too." Lindsay hung up the phone and walked over to the door. Not to her surprise behind the door stood a tired but smiling Danny. He held a box of pizza from the shop they liked to go to with Flack after work.

"Do you plan on letting a poor guy in or standing there making googlie eyes at me all night?" Danny teased gently. Lindsay smacked him playfully and stepped aside to let him in.

"You can put the pizza on the coffee table and make yourself at home." She directed when she headed to the kitchen to grab some plates and some soda. Danny took her offer and plopped himself down on the couch in her living room. Lindsay came over and sat down next to him on the couch. They settled in with the pizza and discussed the day.

"Thanks for breakfast, Danny." She smiled and took a bite of her pizza. "Who knew the Great Danny Messer could cook?" The response she got was a pillow in her face.

"Thanks Montana." He said playfully. "Did you call your mom?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah." Lindsay sighed.

Danny could read her face easily and could tell that something was wrong. "Linds, what's the matter?" His voice was covered in worry and he only used her real name when it was important.

"My mom wants me to come next week for my brother's funeral." Lindsay stated simply, diverting her eyes to anything other that Danny's.

"Then why does it look like you want to cry." He asked confused. He would have thought that she would want to go home and be surrounded by her family.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready to go home by myself." Lindsay admitted. Tears started to roll down her cheeks. Danny's hand instantly reached out and wiped them away as they fell.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry, honey." He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her.

"What am I supposed to do, Danny?" Her voice was muffled by his shirt.

Danny continued to stoke her hair soothingly as he spoke, "What if I told you I'd go with you?" He offered. Danny really wanted to spend time with her and at the same time he wanted to be there to hold her when she needed it.

Lindsay pulled was and looked at him in disbelief. "I'd love that Danny but there is no way Mac is going to give us both the week off."

Danny smiled. "You handle the tickets and stuff like that and let me handle Mac."

"You're serious, aren't you?" It was a statement rather than a question but Danny nodded anyway. Danny was taken by surprise when Lindsay kissed him. As much as he wanted it he knew it wasn't right; at least not right now.

He pulled way and placed his hands on either side of her face as her looked into her emotion filled eyes. His heart melted. "As much as I want this, you are in a fragile state right now and I will not take advantage of that. It's just not my nature." Danny explained as her leaned his forehead against hers.

"You're not. I wanted to do that, actually for awhile now. No one has ever offered to do something like that for me." Lindsay explained. With that she leaned in and kissed him again and this time he accepted her invitation.

"I'll go anywhere for you if I get rewarded with kisses like that." Danny paused to catch his breath. "Plus, I need to finish the conversation I started with your mom this morning."

Lindsay smacked him playfully. She thought for a moment before saying something, "How is it that you can always make me smile?" She asked.

Danny laughed, "Montana, it's the Messer charm." Lindsay laughed and shut him up with another kiss.


A/N: It might be awhile before I get chapter 4 up because I have a softball tournament this weekend. Let me know what ya think!