Lindsay entered Cindy's room to find the redhead sitting more upright in her bed absentmindedly pushing food around her breakfast tray. Lindsay took a deep breath and moved directly to the bed.

Cindy turned to face her, "hope your breakfast was better than this." She said with a forced cheerfulness. "I could really go a long time without more hospital food."

"We need to talk." Lindsay informed her as she pushed the tray out of the way and sat on the bed.

"Linz...." Cindy began before Lindsay put a finger to her lips to silence her.

"Actually, I need to talk. I've been trying for the past two and a half days to come up with what to say to you, longer than that really."

"You don't..."

"Shhh...I want to start by telling you that I broke up with Pete."

"But..."

"You just can't shut up can you," figuring out the best way to accomplish her task Lindsay leaned down and gave Cindy a quick kiss, when she pulled back a dumbstruck Cindy just stared at her. "If that's all it takes to quiet you I should have done it a while ago."

"You shouldn't..."

"Why? Because it's just hero-worship." Lindsay asked with a smile.

"You talked to Jill." Cindy sighed as she dropped her head back onto her pillow.

"She's getting tired of us dancing around the subject so she told me what you said."

"And everything I said is true."

"So, you are crazy about me?" she smirked.

Cindy expelled a frustrated sigh. "Is that all she said?"

"Some bull about you not being good enough."

"I said I'm not right for you." She clarified, again. "And I'm not."

Lindsay stared at her in disbelief. "Why would you say that?"

"Come on Lindsay. What would people say?"

"They would wonder how I got so lucky." Lindsay said softly as she reached out and cupped Cindy's face with her hand.

"They would think you've lost your mind." Cindy corrected her. "What about Tom?"

"He is no longer my problem."

"I'm serious." Cindy asserted.

"So am I. Is your concern for my reputation the only problem here?" Lindsay knew that this relationship could raise some eyebrows, but she didn't care. She didn't know if it was her own inner strength that finally made her ready to step out of her comfort zone or if what she felt for Cindy was just too hard to ignore. But whatever the reason she was ready, she wanted this.

"You deserve more than I can give to you. And once you figure that out, I just...I don't want you to end up hating me." Finally Cindy admitted her biggest fear. She, of course, was worried about how it would affect Lindsay's work life, and she did want for her to have everything she wants. But her biggest worry was losing what she already had. If they did this and it failed she could lose one, maybe three, of the best friends she's ever had.

"This is quiet a role reversal for me." Lindsay admitted as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind Cindy's ear. "I've never really been the chaser before."

"Yeah, well I've never been so worried of the end that I'm afraid to get started."

"Look, I don't know what's going to happen, but I can't hide from you anymore. The only thing I can promise you is that no matter what happens I could never hate you. Even if this doesn't work out I want you in my life," Lindsay assured her as she leaned down and captured Cindy's lips again, a soft moan coming from the back of her throat when those lips opened willingly to her. When she felt Cindy's hand come to rest on her thigh she pulled away and smiled down at her. "Changing your mind?"

"You're not giving me much of a choice." Cindy admitted breathlessly. Her lips quirked slightly, "I may need more convincing though."

Lindsay smiled. She would do as much convincing as was necessary.

**

Unbeknownst to the two women Jacobi had opened the door. Upon seeing them otherwise occupied he quietly closed the door and turned back down the hall where he ran into Claire and Jill.

"Hey Warren." Claire greeted him warmly. "What's up."

"I just came by to let Lindsay know the case is closed."

"You caught the guy that hit Cindy?" Jill asked hopefully.

"Yes and he was the same one that committed the murder on the roof."

"That's great. Why don't we go tell them." Claire suggested.

Jacobi glanced back toward the door, "um. Actually they were a little busy." He turned back to see the knowing smiles on the two women's faces. "Why don't we go get some coffee. We can fill each other in on the latest developments."

"We just had coffee." Jill complained.

"You can never have too much." Claire smiled as she threaded her arm through Jill's and led her back to the cafeteria.

Much thanks to those who read and reviewed.

Hope you didn't mind not being involved in the case, but it was just a jumping off point and unimportant to the story I was telling with this one.