ANs: A few months ago, we toyed with the idea of co-writing a fic, and after about 3 months of planning and writing, this is finally ready to go. It takes place after Charge of This Post.
Huge thanks goes to Elainhe for beta-ing this beast, and to Bluenose for doing a pre-post read of it.
Special thanks to our daughter Spunky for moral support and constant nagging to post this.
All regular disclaimers apply - don't own, just borrowing.

Release
A Joint Fic by Boleyn and Cyko


Prologue

Meeting, my office, five minutes.

Lindsay looked down at the text message from Mac, exasperated. How did he expect her to finish up her case if he was always calling her off into meetings or onto other cases? The pile of paperwork on her desk was really getting ridiculous; numerous times she had contemplated bringing a sleeping bag to the lab and just living there instead – at least she'd save the subway fare.

Her mind began to wander as she cleaned up the bench where she had been processing. The entire lab was still feeling the effects of all that had taken place in the last month, particularly Flack's injury. He had been sent home from the hospital, a huge relief to everyone, though he was still not allowed back at work. Lindsay shuddered as she thought about the older, grumpy man who had come in as Flack's temporary replacement while he recovered – Simon Jones. He was most unpleasant, always insisting that the CSIs didn't know what they were doing, or that he always knew of better ways to do things. More than once, he had nearly seriously compromised the evidence. The entire team was anxious for Flack to return, if for nothing else but to be rid of his horrid replacement.

Lindsay walked quickly through the corridor, approaching Mac's office. Just short of her destination, a familiar "Psst! Montana!" caught her attention. She had only just started to turn as Danny reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Not now, Danny," she said apologetically. "Mac just asked me to come to his office."

"Me too," Danny said, causing Lindsay to stop dead in her tracks. Seeing her reaction, Danny continued worriedly, "Do you think it's about--"

"No," she cut him off firmly, trying to ignore the feeling of dread. "Come on, whatever it is, we'd better hurry."

As they entered Mac's office, he greeted them with a smile. He was looking more cheerful and relaxed than he had in ages. Stella was already there. The four exchanged greetings. Hawkes was the last to arrive, bringing with him an ungodly stench.

"What the hell, Hawkes! You stink!" said Danny, backing as far away as he could get.

"God Hawkes, is that decomp!" echoed Stella, holding her nose in disgust.

Hawkes just stared, a small grin on his face. "Yep, decomp in a makeshift coffin, left in a room with zero ventilation. Doesn't exactly smell like peaches."

Mac let out a small laugh, though it was evident the smell was quickly getting to him. "I'll make this brief then," he said, handing out four identical envelopes to each team member. "I know it's been a ridiculous month, and you guys have all been working unbelievably hard. But you can only take so much, and I know you guys are starting to feel a little burned out—" he looked around the room at the skeptical faces staring back at him, then corrected himself "—alright, alright, a lot burned out… but that's why I've taken it upon myself to organize this… open up the envelopes."

Each member tore open the seal, pulling out a brochure with a beautiful cottage and lush vegetation on the cover, the title Kuson Resort written in calligraphy across the top. Inside the front cover was a short printed list titled 'To Bring'.

Danny looked up at Mac, disbelief on his face. "You mean we're all going away? Together? What about the lab, the cases?"

Mac held up his hand to silence Danny. "I've already taken care of it – the supervisor from Rochester CSI has agreed to cover us for the weekend – we just owe him a favour."

"Wow, Mac, this is incredible – thanks so much," grinned Lindsay, the look of the quaint cottage reminding her of her family's summerhouse, where they used to escape to multiple times during the hot, Montana summers.

"This place organizes retreats for companies and organizations across the country – from what I've read, it's supposed to be great. We'll be there four nights, five days."

Lindsay looked up, a large smile on her face. "When do we leave?"

Mac grinned. "One hour."

Everyone's heads snapped up in near-unison.

"Are you kidding? One hour? In case you missed it, I smell like garbage!" exclaimed Hawkes in disbelief.

"Garbage would be a compliment right now, buddy," laughed Danny, giving him a teasing smirk. Hawkes returned a glare.

"Fine, fine," conceded Mac, "Two then. My watch says … 12:30. Our bus will be here at 2:30 – don't be late, or I'm leaving you behind." Looking over at Hawkes, he added, "Well, I suppose leaving some behind wouldn't be the worst thing…"

Hawkes did his best to hide a laugh. "Very funny, Mac."

"Alright, go! Get packing!" Mac said, shooing them all out of his office.

Everyone turned and filed out. Once Stella and Hawkes had disappeared into their respective offices, Danny pulled Lindsay aside.

"Montana," he said quietly, so no one else would hear, "About half of the stuff on this list is at your apartment and the other half at mine!"

They had been together only about two months. While they hadn't explicitly hidden their relationship from their coworkers, neither was ready to come right out and declare it, either. They were still trying to figure out exactly where things stood between them, not wanting to make things in the lab awkward, should they not work out. Lindsay had had to try extremely hard to keep from bursting out laughing when Hammerback informed her of his suspicions that Danny had a crush on her.

Lindsay thought for a moment. "Alright, alright. I'll go to my place, you go to yours. Tell me what you all you need." She took a pen out of her pocket.

"My electric razor," Danny recited. "My Yankees t-shirt that you stole--

"Borrowed!" she corrected him teasingly.

"Sure, whatever you say," he grinned in response. "Also my toothbrush, hair brush, deodorant… uh, I think that's it."

Lindsay jotted these items down. "Okay, anything else?"

Danny muttered something inaudible.

"What was that?" she inquired.

"My pillow," he whispered.

She laughed. "I think they'll have pillows at there, Danny."

Danny frowned, looking deeply concerned. "But I can't sleep without my pillow," he protested, on the verge of whining. Lindsay held up her hand.

"Fine, I'll get your pillow," she promised. She made sure no one was looking, then stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving. "Meet me in the parking lot at 2:25."

Lindsay raced through the door of her apartment and yanked her suitcase out of the closet. She opened it on her bed, sneezing as dust billowed up in her face. It had not been touched since the day she arrived from Bozeman, nearly a year ago. First she packed various clothing items - a bikini, jeans, shirts with short sleeves, a sweatshirt just in case, and a sexy little jade-green dress. Danny's Yankees shirt went on top of the pile. Glancing at the list Mac provided them, she grabbed various other items from her room: camera, toiletries, sunscreen, sunglasses. 'Bug Repellent' was also listed, but she didn't have any, nor did she have time to run out and get some. Well, I'll just have to borrow, she thought, running around her apartment.

She jumped when her cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"Don't forget my pillow!"

She laughed. "Danny, I've got your pillow right here. Will you be needing your blankie, too?"

"You're just so funny, Montana," he growled. "You're lucky I'm not there right now, or I'd-"

"You'd what?" she prompted teasingly.

"Mmm," was all Danny said. "You'll find out later."

Lindsay shook her head. "Get packing, Danny, pick me up in a half-hour," she said before hanging up.

She glanced at her watch – it was already 1:30. Of course, there had been a delay on the subway, some kids jerking off in one of the cabins. As a result, it took her a full half-hour longer than normal to make it to her apartment.

In the bathroom, she plucked Danny's razor up off the sink, and both their hairbrushes and toothbrushes.

By the time she was finished packing, Lindsay's suitcase was bulging slightly. Still, she was proud that she was able to fit everything in one. She looked her apartment over once, then again over Mac's list, turned off the lights, and locked the door behind her as she left. She smiled with satisfaction. Time for some much needed R&R, she thought.

At 2:25, Danny and Lindsay pulled up to the lab. Lindsay was relieved to get there on time – they had fought traffic the whole way. A half-sized coach bus was already stationed in front of the lab, waiting for them. Lindsay had hardly heaved her bag out of the car when a much older man wearing a black suit came to assist her.

"Leave that to me, ma'am," he smiled, taking the bag from her hand. The logo on his shirt matched that on the side of the bus, identifying him as the driver. The name "Lou" was embroidered over his left breast.

Danny watched as Lou loaded Lindsay's suitcase underneath the bus. "And what am I, chopped liver?" he asked, struggling with his overstuffed bag, his pillow sticking out the top.

Lindsay just laughed as she walked to the bus. "Nothing wrong with some people acting like gentlemen, you know," she called over her shoulder as she boarded. "You might take some notes, Messer."

Mac stood in front of her, smiling. "Good, you're on time," he said, motioning for her to take a seat. Hawkes had already claimed the seat behind Mac, his stench now gone, replaced with the overwhelming scent of men's cologne. "Geez, Hawkes, shower in decomp then shower in cologne – you're on a roll today!" Lindsay quipped. But something stopped her dead in her tracks as her eyes travelled past Hawkes to –

"Flack, what the hell are you doing here!" exclaimed Danny, coming up behind Lindsay. She looked from Flack to Mac, both of whom were smiling widely.

"You were able to bring him! How'd you clear that with the doctors!"

"Oh please," said Flack, standing up to shake Danny's hand. "I'm hardly a glass doll. Besides, it's nice to finally get out of my house; who'd've thought I'd be missing work this much! Just have to be good about taking medication, nothing strenuous this weekend – just a weekend to relax. And of course, I come equipped with a zillion and a half phone numbers, both of doctors here and in the area we're going, because apparently I'm incapable of taking care of myself."

Lindsay laughed, taking the window seat across from Flack. Danny sat down beside her, bumping his thigh against hers not-so-accidentally.

Stella appeared shortly afterwards, her suitcase causing even Lou a bit of trouble.

"I'll never understand how you women pack so much," commented Flack, watching Lou struggle with Stella's suitcase as she boarded. The same surprise hit Stella as she registered that it was actually Flack on the bus, embracing him in a hug. "Good to see you so well," she told him.

"Alright," said Mac, getting everyone's attention. "Let's get going!"