ANs: Well, this is it, the final chapter. Super big great thanks to everyone's who's stuck with this, read it, and especially reviewed it.
And we can't not mention our super Beta/Gamma team of Elainhe and Bluenose - you guys rock, thanks for dealing with us through this whole thing!!
So without further wait, the conclusion of Release.

Chapter 10

When Lindsay opened her eyes in the morning, her whole body was stiff and sore. She had hardly slept at all that night - they had been busy doing other things. Right now, however, she was wishing that she could have several more hours to catch up on the sleep she missed. Almost all of Danny's weight was on top of her, suffocating her as he dozed contentedly. The hard floor beneath the blankets was murderous on her back, and she was twisted in an uncomfortable, yoga-like position.

And yet, she had never been so happy.

A smile crept across her face as she recalled the events of the past eight hours: the confusing and exciting journey to the lighthouse, Danny revealing his surprise, her revelation at what this meant for them as a couple, and finally getting some private time with Danny. It was better than she ever could have imagined, and well worth the excruciating wait. His touch had ignited feelings in her that she never knew existed. What they had shared last night had opened up a door between them, ushering in emotions that only deepened their connection.

As gently as possible, she slipped out from underneath Danny, who mumbled something inaudible before falling back asleep. The candles had long since extinguished themselves, now mere puddles of hardened wax. She wrapped a spare blanket around her, toga-style, and padded over to the windows to watch the sun rise. Morning was coming; it looked as though someone had spilled a glass of pink lemonade all over the star-spattered dawn. The sun's crystalline reflection on the lake made it appear to be glass, not water. The world looked so peaceful, reminding Lindsay not of her new home in the city, but those quiet Montana mornings she savored as a child. She sighed with bliss.

She inhaled deeply as two warm, strong, unexpected arms enveloped her.

"Hey," Danny whispered, kissing her softly behind the ear. "You're up early."

She leaned her head back against his shoulder. "Morning," she replied. She was aware, even through the blanket she was wrapped in, that Danny was naked. The thought made her crazy. "It's so beautiful," she said, of the sunrise in progress.

"You're beautiful," Danny said, running his palms over the fabric that separated their skin. "I think you should come back to bed."

Lindsay grinned as she watched the rays of the sun beginning to stretch out over the clouds. She took Danny's hand and began leading him back to the pile of blankets. "Do you know what we say back in Montana?" she asked. "'Make hay while the sun shines'."

Danny laughed as she pulled him down to the floor. "Let's make some hay, then," he said, bringing his mouth to meet hers once again.

When she woke up a second time, Lindsay noticed that the morning light was even brighter. After locating her watch in a pile of clothes nearby, she saw it was nearing 7:30. Time to get back to the cottage for breakfast. They would be leaving Kuson's today, and the thought saddened her.

"Danny?" she asked. "Are you awake?"

"Mmgrmphh," he responded.

"I'm just thinking," she said with a sigh.

Danny opened his eyes reluctantly, and groaned. "Thinking? I'm too exhausted to think." He nestled back down into the blankets, in danger of falling back to sleep.

"What if it's different?" she murmured thoughtfully, stroking his chest.

"What if what's different?" he asked drowsily.

Lindsay frowned impatiently. "This. Us. What if it changes?" She sat up. "I mean, everything is great and perfect now, in this romantic setting, but what happens when we go back to our jobs and our lives? Will these feelings start to fade?"

Danny opened his mouth, then closed it suddenly, as if he was about to crack a joke, then realized that Lindsay was serious. He smiled and sat up, pulling Lindsay firm against him. "Lindsay Monroe," he whispered in her ear. "I would feel the same way about you no matter if we were in the Alaskan wilderness or Grand Central Station." He kissed her head and gave her a squeeze. "I want to be with you because of you. Not because of the candles or the beach or the bonfire."

"But it won't be the same," Lindsay said. "How do we keep the spark going when we deal with dead bodies for fourteen hours a day?

"That's life," Danny shrugged, brushing a strand of hair off her face. "We'll deal with it. I'll be there for you, you'll be there for me, and it will be better because we're together."

She smiled, her fears now beginning to be quelled. "I know you're right," she said. "I guess I was just feeling insecure. We took a huge step last night."

Danny chuckled into her hair. "Last night… and this morning… and again this morning…"

Lindsay laughed. "So we'll be okay?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"As long as we're still able to have sex," he replied wickedly.

Lindsay smacked him playfully. "It's not all about sex, you know," she reminded him.

Danny rolled over onto her, pinning her down. "It's not?" he asked innocently, kissing along her shoulder.

"Danny," she groaned, trying to push him off of her. "No more! We have to get back, the others will notice we're missing."

"They won't care." Danny's voice was muffled as he kissed her neck. "Mac will understand, he won't let them come after us."

"Not them," Lindsay protested, though what Danny was doing felt so great. "What if Rose comes banging on our door? She'll have the dogs out on our trail if we're late to breakfast."

Danny moaned as he recalled the syrupy-sweet, yet persistent host of the cottage. Being found here by that woman was not the ending he wanted for this special time with Lindsay.

"I guess we should pack up," he grumbled, slowly rolling off Lindsay and reaching for his clothes.

After slipping back into their clothes from last night, and picking up the blankets, they reluctantly began the journey back to the cottage. Lindsay gave the small room one last wishful glance as they walked towards the staircase. Maybe someday we'll come back, she thought hopefully. Still, it didn't matter where they were - she now understood this. She took Danny's hand, smiled, and never looked back.

"Well, I guess this is it," Mac said, a bit sadly. The afternoon sun was still high and bright, but the holiday had some to an end. The late morning sun was only just visible above the trees, bouncing playfully off the top of the cottage. Lindsay looked around with a smile, making a mental picture of the place that had come to mean so much for after only five short days.

"Thank you so much for this, Mac," Lindsay said as she handed her bag to the driver. "It's been amazing." Danny caught her gaze and they shared a smile. Indeed, it has been amazing in multiple ways.

"Yeah, this was just what the doctor ordered," Flack chimed in. "Not even physical therapy made me feel this good."

Stella, who was already on the bus, stuck her head out the window. "Hey, Mac, what are the chances of having this become a quarterly requirement?"

Everyone laughed – even Mac, as he gave Stella a wry grin. "Not going to happen, Stel," he replied. "But I'm glad you all enjoyed yourselves – that was the purpose of this getaway."

Hawkes, last to leave the building, came up to join the group with his suitcase. "Go easy on him, guys," he laughed. "Poor Mac probably felt like a kindergarten teacher on a field trip."

"You've all earned gold stars," Mac chuckled, waiting for the others to go up the steps before boarding himself.

As the bus's motor roared to life, everyone looked back fondly at Kuson's, focusing on the roof of the cottage until it blurred into the tree line and then disappeared altogether.

Lindsay sat with her forehead pressed against the bus window, daydreaming as trees and lampposts whizzed by her. She held Danny's hand in hers, stroking it lightly with her thumb. Memories from the lighthouse played themselves over and over in her mind, and she smiled and blushed every time. She could still smell the smoke from the candles, still feel the smoldering brush of Danny's fingertips over every inch of her body.

The bus was calm; Mac was rustling through some paperwork, Stella was talking quietly to Hawkes, and Flack was sleeping. The weekend had been just what the entire team needed. Especially Lindsay and Danny.

They had only been together for a few months, but Lindsay felt as though they had been together forever. He knew her and understood her in ways that she never thought possible; he could look into her eyes and read into her soul, and it both frightened and exhilarated her. He truly was one of a kind, and even though he sometimes drove her completely nuts, what it came down to was that she was absolutely crazy about him, and falling for him. Hard.

Lindsay turned to look at Danny, blushing deeper when their eyes met. He made her feel like a giggly schoolgirl, giving her tingles from head to toe. Tightening her hand around his, she closed her eyes and settled into his shoulder, enjoying his warmth against her as she drifted off to sleep.

Danny smiled as he mentally rifled through the images of the night before, permanently etched into his brain. This woman was amazing, did things to him that he never dreamed possible, awakened and ignited senses that he didn't know existed. She was phenomenal, unbelievable, breathtaking – there were not enough words to describe the perfection that was Lindsay.

He had been worried that his plan to escape with Lindsay the night before would be too corny or cliché, but when he saw the smile on her face as he progressed through his plan, and finally the way she lit up when he removed her blindfold, he knew it was worth it. She was worth it. She always was.

It scared him, these new feelings running through his veins – he had no idea what they were or what they meant, but he knew that he wasn't afraid of finding out. Lindsay had this hold on him, this grip around his heart, and as much as it was new and unknown, it was also exciting and invigorating. He opened his eyes when he felt her move, smiling as they made eye contact, the content of their thoughts blatantly obvious. He ran a hand through Lindsay's hair as she lay on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He allowed his head to fall lightly atop her hair, the scent triggering even more memories. He smiled and allowed himself to get lost in his newfound paradise.

Lindsay and Danny lay beside each other, naked, sweaty, tangled in her bed sheets. Danny had gone home with Lindsay after the bus dropped them off, and he wasted no time in removing her clothes and getting her into bed.

They stared silently, calmly, into each other's eyes, struggling to catch their breaths. Danny ran his fingers softly down Lindsay's back, while she traced the creases created by his abs.

"Told you it'd be just fine once we got back home," Danny said softly, taking her hand and kissing each of her fingertips.

"Mmm, yes you did indeed," smiled Lindsay, rolling over so that she was on top of Danny. She lowered herself to her elbows, lightly taking his lips with hers. His naked body pressed to hers felt so great in her own bed, knowing that what they had wasn't going anywhere soon. She moved from his lips down to his neck.

"I need food, I need sleep," mumbled Danny, his hands roaming Lindsay's body of their own accord.

"Oh yeah? Well maybe I'll just deprive you then, if you'd rather have food and sleep than me," laughed Lindsay, in between kisses.

Without warning, Danny flipped her over, pinning her beneath him. "Is that so?" he growled seductively.

"Maybe not," she breathed, pulling him down to meet her, feeling him move inside her as adrenaline and bliss rushed through her body.

Afterwards, Danny lay atop her, sleeping lightly. She ran her hands through his hair, breathing in time with him.

She closed her eyes and just allowed herself to feel him – she felt so comfortable with him, making such a large city feel small and inviting.

It had been a perfect week. By letting go of her struggles and worries and allowing herself to have fun, Lindsay had grown closer to her coworkers, indulged herself with some pampering, and best of all – crossed a major bridge with Danny. Although the trip itself was meant to provide an emotional release, the physical release she and Danny experienced - albeit after days of frustration - was just as renewing. Now she felt ready to return to real life, and facing any obstacles head-on. After all, she wouldn't have to do it alone anymore.

She had found her place in this world, and it was with Danny.

FIN