Danny had been walking on air for the last few days; Lindsay's message had lifted him out of the depression that had been dragging him down. To Stella's frustration she just couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. She knew Danny and Lindsay had broken up so why was Danny grinning like an idiot and cracking jokes with everyone in the lab. He was acting like the old Danny, the one she knew before Ruben had died.

She knew they weren't back together, Lindsay had told her that herself. She still wouldn't say why but Stella knew she was hurting badly. They had shared a bottle of wine and a pizza two nights ago and Lindsay had confirmed the split. No amount of digging was going to get Lindsay to divulge the details, however, and Stella was left with more questions than answers.

Lindsay was sure her message was the cause for Danny's improvement and she was glad to see her friend was back. She couldn't help feeling a little pressured, however, and she wondered if he thought that meant she wanted him back. She had to be clear but she didn't want to just come out and say she didn't want to be with him, she wasn't that insensitive.

They hadn't shared a case since she had read the letter and she hoped they would soon. She needed him to know before their trip to the zoo that this was about their friendship. Nothing else.

Danny did know where Lindsay was coming from. He didn't expect her to jump back in to a relationship with him after what he had done. He saw this as a perfect opportunity to spend time with her, gain back her trust and hope she'd fall in love with him again. He knew there were no guarantees but he was taking steps to show her he was serious. He had begun apartment hunting and had ordered a new bed. He didn't want any reminders of what he had done with Rikki.

The apartment hunting was as bad as he remembered. 'Modest studio apartment' really meant roach infested cubicle. The prices were crazy high; he was starting to think he may need a roommate. He didn't really care; he would do whatever it took to have her back in his life.

Lindsay walked into their office, surprised to find it empty so early in the morning. As she set her car keys and sunglasses down she noticed a steaming cup of take out coffee and a lemon muffin sitting on her desk. She knew straight away they were from Danny; he had been making these gestures for the last few days. She hadn't really had the chance to speak with him; mostly they were passing in the halls when they saw each other. She did appreciate these signs of affection but then she always had. He had always been good with the gestures, like flying to Montana, but he sucked when it came to the actual relationship stuff.

She sighed and took a sip of her coffee, a Hazelnut Latte, he'd remembered. She was about to pick up the muffin when the door behind her opened and her nostrils filled with his scent.

'Morning Montana.' He smiled and made his way over to his desk.

'Hi Danny, listen, thanks for the coffee but it's really not necessary.'

'I know that, I just thought it would be nice.'



'It is, but it's not really the kind of thing a colleague does. We're not together anymore Danny. I'm sorry to be blunt but I don't want to give you the wrong idea' she sighed and looked at the desk in front of her. So much for her plan of not being insensitive.

'I know all that Lindsay, but it is the kind of thing a friend does. I meant what I said in the letter, I hope we'll at least get our friendship back on track.' He leaned across his desk and tried to get her to catch his eye.

She looked up at him, filled with relief. Her message hadn't given him the wrong idea after all.

'We have a long way to go for that Danny, but thanks.' She smiled. 'You want half this muffin?'

He grinned a real Danny Messer grin, showing all his pearly white teeth. 'Thought you'd never ask.'

Stella watched from the hall, shaking her head. 'What the hell is going on?'

'You talking to yourself stell, first sign of madness you know' Flack cracked as he strode over to her.

'Do you know what the hell is going on between those two?' Stella asked.

'I know as much as you, he did something stupid, go figure, she dumped his ass and now he's acting like his old self. I'll never understand the way those two operate. Anyway, I came by to tell you that we got a DB, grab you kit.'

ONE WEEK LATER

'Hey Flack, wait up.' Danny ran to catch up with him in the hall.

'I'm off the clock Messer, this better be important.'

'Not really, listen, I'm looking for a new apartment, can you keep an eye out for any rental notices going up in your neighbourhood?' he asked.

'Are you crazy, your leaving that great little rent controlled apartment like 5 minutes from work?'

Danny looked away from Flack. 'It's a long story man; will you keep an eye out or not?'

'Sure, what kind of place you looking for?'

'Anything really, studio, one bed, room only. I don't care as long as the rent is reasonable and I can move in soon.'

'Are you getting kicked out of your apartment?'

'Like I said, it's a long story. You wanna grab a beer tonight; I'll tell you all about it?'

'Sure, Flannigan's at eight?'

'See you there.'



AT FLANNAGANS BAR

'You cheated on Monroe? Are you crazy Danny, you chased her for months!' Flack exclaimed. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

'I know, you don't think I feel bad enough. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me Flack' Danny said while looking down in to his beer.

'What I don't get is why you've been so happy the last couple of weeks; tell me you're not seeing someone else already. Tell me it's not Rikki!'

Danny spat out the mouthful of beer he had. 'WHAT, hell no, you think I'm crazy. Lindsay agreed to go out with me, not on a date, just a friend's thing but it's something. That's why I've been happy. I can't believe she's still speaking to me at all.'

'Thank god for that, I thought I was gonna have put you on lock down. When you going out with her?'

'Tomorrow, we're going to the zoo' he chuckled.

'Ah, where it all began. Man if someone told me that day that New York's answer to Casanova would end up falling for the country girl we'd just met, I'd have told them they were crazy' Flack laughed.

Danny chuckled too but became serious for a second. 'Not me man, I knew the first time I met her. And laugh it up all you want, it'll happen to you someday.'

'Don't even joke about that. Listen, you shouldn't rush in to signing a lease but if you really to leave your apartment, you can stay with me for a while.'

'Are you serious man? That would be great. I'm quiet, clean and I come with my own pool table' he joked.

'Why do you think I asked?'

When Danny arrived home that night he set about packing his apartment up for storage. It was late but he was sure he wouldn't be able to sleep; he was too excited about their day out tomorrow. He hadn't felt like this since their first real date. Not the night on the pool table but a couple of weeks later.

As he lay in hospital after an operation to straighten his fingers he had resolved to give Lindsay a real date. Not two friends getting drunk and hooking up but a real date.

Once his injuries had healed he had picked Lindsay up and taken her to the best Italian restaurant he knew. It wasn't far from his old neighbourhood and his dad had taken his mom there on special occasions. It was a real little hole in the wall, a place most people in the city had never heard of. The decor was classic, red checked table cloths, dim lights, candles. It had the most intimate atmosphere, the couple who had owned the restaurant for thirty years really paid attention to their 

customers. They knew Danny's parents well and had been delighted that Danny had finally brought a woman here.

Danny and Lindsay had shared a bottle of wine, eaten some of the most amazing food and danced to the slow music for hours. He just hadn't been able to make himself let her out of his arms. He had never experienced anything like it, her fingers wrapped around his, her other arm around his waist, her head resting on his chest; he could have died a happy man that night.

He had every intention of being a gentleman; he'd taken her home, walked her to her door and kissed her gently on the lips. When he had gotten to the street his phone had beeped with a text message.

'Get your ass back up these stairs Messer'

He hadn't needed to be told twice.

He had been so in love and hadn't even realised it. He was determined to get that back.

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