Neither Danny nor Lindsay slept much that night and it showed next morning when they turned up for work. Normally Stella would assume that they had been up together all night, but the fact that Lindsay wouldn't meet Danny's eyes told her that something was seriously wrong. That and the fact that Lindsay was wearing a tonne of make-up, obviously to hide her red, puffy eyes. Stella made a mental note to try and get Lindsay on her on at some point today.
When the assignments were handed out Lindsay was beyond relieved to find herself working with Hawkes. She wouldn't need to be around Danny and Hawkes was sensitive enough to know that she didn't want to talk about what was bothering her.
Danny was not quite so relieved to find himself paired with Stella. He had hoped he would get some time alone with Lindsay today to talk some more. He also knew that Stella was freakishly intuitive about these things. She would know something was wrong, and like a dog with a bone, she would not let it go.
The rest of the day was spent as predicted, Lindsay in quiet reflection and Danny fending off a multitude of questions. When shift was over Lindsay hurriedly got changed and headed towards the elevator. It was her intention to avoid Danny at all costs but he was there waiting for her.
'Please Lindsay, can we just talk about this, I don't want this to be the end.' Danny pleaded.
She looked up at him as they stepped onto the elevator together.
'I want my stuff back.'
He looked at her in confusion.
'I left some stuff at your apartment. Earrings, shoes etc. I need them back.'
It dawned on him what she meant. 'Oh, well you could come over and pick them up now if you like. I could order dinner and we could talk...'
'What the hell makes you think I'll ever set foot in your apartment again?' She spat out, unbelieving of his insensitivity. 'Isn't that where it all happened Danny, where you screwed around with your grieving neighbour.'
Danny was grateful that it was only them in the elevator.
As the doors opened they stepped in to the parking garage.
'I really don't want this to be the end.' He said to Lindsay as they walked towards her car. 'But if you want your stuff back I can bring it over tonight. I just don't want you to think that means I'm giving up on getting you back.'
'You don't need to bring it over; you can just leave it in my locker at work. I'd rather not be around you right now.' He could tell she was tiring of the conversation.
He knew her well enough to know that after a tough day she liked to take a long, hot bath, order some take out, dim the lights and watch classic movies. She wasn't really into the modern stuff, give her Jaws or one of the Bond films and she was happy.
He also knew that she would avoid, at all costs, speaking to him any more about what happened. It was a self preservation thing. The only reason she'd spoken to him last night had been her anger. Danny needed to talk to her about it though, he couldn't let her go on thinking that he wanted someone else or that she somehow wasn't enough for him anymore. He wanted them to go back to how they had been at the start of their relationship and he needed her to understand that.
'Please Montana, I can bring over dinner and we can talk.' He knew he sounded desperate but he was so far past caring at this point.
'Danny, please stop acting like this is a normal day, that we are going to laugh over dinner and curl up on the couch together. This is over! Do you understand that? You broke my heart Messer.' She wouldn't even meet his eyes as they stopped beside her car door.
Danny could hear the defeat in her voice and understood that it was too raw; they shouldn't talk about their relationship right now, not unless he wanted her to say things he knew she'd regret later. Too hear her say it was over was like having his heart ripped out.
'Ok, Lindsay. I know that now's not the best time to talk but I'll be waiting, whenever you're ready. And I will bring over your stuff later; I don't think bringing it to work would be such a great idea. You know what the gossip in this place is like.'
She hesitated, staring at the ground for a moment. 'Ok.' She turned, opened the door and got into the car. Danny turned and walked towards the elevator, he'd taken the subway today.
Stella rolled up her window, horribly disappointed at the conversation she'd just overheard. She didn't know why they had ended their relationship but it sounded like it might be Danny's fault. She would find out but she'd need to tread lightly, Lindsay was quite sensitive and Danny had been like a bear with a sore head lately. She desperately wanted to help her friends but she would need all the details first.
As Danny packed Lindsay's stuff into a large box, it struck him how much more stuff she had than him. She kept a change of clothes here to suit every possible occasion. He hadn't minded that she took up quite a bit of closet space, he was just glad to know that she felt at home here. Now he knew it was possible she might never come back here, even if he did manage to win her back. It would be like visiting the scene of the crime. 'Should I move?' He wondered.
He knew that he wasn't going to fit everything in to one box so he started packing her clothes into a suitcase and other items in to the box.
She had a massive array of cosmetics and beauty creams; though he swore she didn't need them. She had only a few items of makeup. Perfume, jewellery, hair dryer, straightening iron, nail polish, DVD's and CD's.
He packed the expensive underwear he had bought her for the weekend they had spent at a cabin in the Catskills early in the year. As he recalled, it hadn't stayed on very long but it had more than one showing since then. He knew the emerald green colour was her favourite, and he never tired of the
way she looked at him when she was feeling sexy. He knew a few people who would be surprised if they knew how wild his country girl could be.
He decided to get it all done as quickly as possible so that he would have less time to think about what this meant. He had written her a letter earlier and zipped it in the pocket of the suitcase.
As he was on his way out the door he remembered the final item and quickly returned to the kitchen to get it. He placed it on top of the box an then left the apartment, with difficulty. Suitcase in one hand, box balanced precariously in the other.
Lindsay tried to relax after her bath but knew it would be impossible since she was expecting Danny soon. She felt her stomach growl and realised that she hadn't eaten since her cinnamon bagel at 11.30 that morning. She decided to heat some cold pasta she had in her fridge. As she set the microwave she heard the knock at her door.
She didn't know why she felt so nervous; he was only dropping some stuff off. She opened the door and let him into the apartment, taking the box from his hand.
'Thanks for bringing this over so quickly.' She said. She was looking anywhere but at him.
'You're welcome Lindsay.' Danny voice was soft and full of guilt. 'I wrote you a letter. I know you're not ready to talk yet and I understand that, but I just wanted you to know how sorry I am, how much I still want to be with you. Like I said earlier I will be here whenever you want to talk. About anything. Even if you never want anything more from me, we were great friends once and I hope we always will be.'
Lindsay looked at her feet; she could feel the tears slide down her cheeks. She just nodded her head. 'Ok Danny.'
He felt bold and moved forward, placing his hand on her cheek and brushing away the tears he found there. She closed her eyes for a second, savouring the warmth of his hand as she leaned further in to it. The moment lasted only a second before she moved away.
'Ok, I should go.' He sighed. She just nodded, still looking at the floor.
Suddenly, Danny remembered the last item he had packed.
'I packed something else for you. My Mom wanted me to give it to you. You asked about her Arrabiata the last time we went for dinner.'
Danny picked up a very old book from the box, the spine was well worn but it had been well looked after. Lindsay gave him a puzzled look, the first time she'd looked at him since he'd entered the apartment.
'My Nonna gave this to Mom when she and my dad were first starting out. She has her favourites memorized now and wants you to have the book.'
'Danny, I can't take this now, not with what's happened, this book should stay in the family.'
'I know. I hope that you will be some day. If it makes you uncomfortable taking it now then I can keep it at my place.'
Lindsay didn't say a word, just shot him a look of disbelief and crossed her arms over her chest.
'Ok, I'll keep it at my place.' He decided.
'Right, I'll see you at work tomorrow.' Before he had time to think about what he was doing he stepped towards her and pecked her gently on the lips. She took a second to realise what had just happened and then said furiously
'What the hell Danny!'
He looked just as shocked as she did, it honesty hadn't been intentional.
'I'm sorry, god, force of habit I guess.'
Luckily she seemed to accept this answer and let it go with a shake of her head.
'Whatever, good night Danny.' She said walking towards the kitchen.
'Goodnight Montana' He sighed as he let himself out of the apartment.
She touched her fingers to her lips, still able to feel the gentle pressure of his kiss, his scent invading her nostrils. Getting over him would be excruciating, she was sure.
She removed her pasta from the microwave and made her way to the living room, picking up the phone as she went. She needed to call her Mom and find out what had happened at the hospital today.
Danny let himself into his apartment, a ghost of a smile still playing on his lips. Tonight had gone better than expected. There had been no arguments and he had inadvertently stolen a kiss from her. He couldn't remember how long it had been since her had kissed her, taken in her scent. Too long, he decided. He walked into the living room and placed the book he had been carrying on the bookshelf, next to the picture of a smiling Lindsay. He had hope.