Lindsay packed up the last of her clothes and waited for Danny to arrive for dinner. Saying goodbye to the team had been tough, even if it was only temporary. She would miss them all.

Mac and Stella had been like a big brother and sister to her when she had first arrived in the city. They were very protective and she hoped her bosses in New Jersey would be half as accommodating. She would miss Hawkes too; he was one of the sweetest guys she'd ever known, not to mention the smartest. She had been slightly creeped out when she had first met Sid but he had grown on her quickly and she couldn't imagine anyone else doing his job. Adam, he was special. He was like the baby of the family and everyone loved him.

No matter how much she would miss her team, it couldn't compare to how much she would miss Danny. He was her favourite CSI to be partnered with, able to put a smile on her face on the toughest of days. She didn't like to be paired with him too often; however, as she feared she would end up as big as a house. They stopped every couple of hours to eat. His appetite was huge and he loved taking her to cafe's and take out places she'd never been. He had introduced her to some of the best food she had ever tasted.

He had even taken her round to his Ma's place one lunchtime when they happened to be in Staten Island. The older woman hadn't minded at all that he just showed up, unannounced with a guest in tow. In fact she had been delighted and quickly set about preparing a feast for them. That was before they were even together but the woman had taken an intense interest in Lindsay. When Lindsay had told her she was from Montana she had suddenly realised who was sitting at her table, she had heard so much about 'Montana.'

Lindsay had liked Francesca immediately and was invited back to the house dozens of times. Sometimes even without Danny, just to have a girl's lunch. Francesca had been ecstatic when Danny and Lindsay started dating and the relationship between the two women was cemented. Lindsay wondered if Danny had told his mother that they were no longer a couple, she hadn't heard from her recently but that wasn't so unusual.

She zipped up her suitcase and did a final check to make sure nothing essential had been left behind. She spotted it in the laundry basket, the NYPD sweatshirt Danny had left for her. She had been furious when she had spotted it the following morning but eventually glad she still had it. She packed it into her suitcase with a sigh.

It would be hard to be away for a month but she knew it would do them both good. She knew that she still loved him, that was not the problem. The problem was that he had cheated on her and she still despised him for it, even as she loved him. She didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive him or trust him again, and being around him constantly was not helping her answer these questions. It was clouding her judgement.

She also questioned his feelings for her. He was pursuing her now like he had before they started dating, right before he had lost all interest in her. Would it happen again? Was his guilt over Rikki masking his real feelings? Only time apart would tell.

She heard the knock at the door and quickly made her way to answer it. As she opened it she saw him standing there with a grocery bag in his hands.



'Hi,' she smiled as he entered the apartment.

'Hey.'

She looked good he noticed, obviously flustered from packing. She had her hair pinned messily back and an old pair of jeans with a tank top.

'Something smells good,' she stated, her stomach starting to grumble. Packing was hungry work.

'Yeah, I know we said take away but my Ma sent some food over for tonight. I told her what happened. She screamed at me for like an hour and then told me to pull out all the stops to get you back. She's been cooking all day, I couldn't talk her down.' He said sheepishly.

Lindsay laughed lightly.

'I guess I can expect a phone call then. What have we got?' She enquired taking the bag from him in to the kitchen.

'We got Minestrone soup, fettuccini Alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, foccacia bread and cannolis. She also packed you a sandwich for your journey tomorrow. I told her it was only a half hour trip but she insisted.'

'I'll phone and thank her later.'

Lindsay brought the food containers back through to the living room along with plates, bowls and cutlery and laid everything out on her small dining table. She opened a bottle of Chianti and poured two glasses. They both sat down and started dishing out the food. They had always had these little routines when it came to food. Wherever they went, whatever the ordered they both ended up with half and half. She knew that's why Francesca had packed two different main courses.

They ate in silence for a while, Danny was too afraid to ask what he really wanted to know. What had their kiss meant to her? For him it had been amazing, and hopefully a new start for them. He was just scared that it was a mistake for Lindsay. She had said she would try to be friends but that their relationship was over. Did she still feel that way?

Lindsay knew what Danny was thinking but she didn't know how to broach the subject. How do you ask someone to wait a month to see if you still want them? She knew he would do it but was it for the wrong reasons?

She had her legs crossed but nerves were making her foot bounce up and down underneath the table. Occasionally it would accidentally bump into Danny's leg. She had no idea how uncomfortable this was making him. His mind had drifted back to the night they had spent two hours in an expensive restaurant with her bare foot teasing him mercilessly under the table. He hadn't eaten a thing and very nearly embarrassed himself when they stood up to leave. He had got his own back later though, all night long.

They chatted about work for a while, then on to sport. They stuck to the safe subjects while eating. Once they finished and cleared up the dishes she decided now was the time for the serious talk. They sat on the couch finishing of their wine when she turned to him.



'Danny, I'm sorry about the other day in the office. It wasn't fair; I know I've been giving you mixed signals. I still think that we shouldn't be together right now, I have a lot to think about and I think you do too.'

Danny was disappointed but he had been expecting it.

'It's OK; I knew it was too good to be true. I don't expect to win you over so quickly, I know I have a lot to prove Linds.' He reached over and pushed a stray piece of hair out of her eyes, letting his hand rest on her cheek for a few seconds before pulling away.

'Danny, I don't know if I'll ever be able to give us another go. I am still so mad at you,' she admitted. 'I'll be coming back into the city next Saturday for your party at Flack's but other than that I think we should take a complete break.'

'Lindsay, I'll wait until you're sure. I know you said the other day that you don't think this is really what I want but I know it is. I've never been more sure of anything.'

'Danny, I won't ask you to wait when I don't know if I can promise you anything at the end of it.'

'You're not asking, I'm just doing.' He smiled. He was crumbling inside but he would go along with whatever she wanted.

'Well, I wish you could have done that when we were together,' she joked lightly, though he knew she meant every word.

'Me too Montana, if I had been thinking clearly at the time, thinking about losing you, it never would have happened,' he whispered.

'OK, let's not rehash this right now. Let's just say goodbye, for a week, and go off as friends.'

He smiled brightly, glad that she had finally acknowledged their friendship.

He stood up to leave and she followed him to the door. When he got there he pulled her in for a hug. It was a warm one, his arms cradling her head and shoulders, hers wrapped around his waist, and neither wanted to let go just yet. He put his hands on her face and she lifted her chin. He placed a warm, lingering kiss on her lips before resting his forehead against hers. When they finally pulled apart they were both trying hard to hide their emotions.

'See you in a week, Montana.'

'Catch you later Cowboy.'