Danny had just lit a cigarette when Lindsey exited the restaurant and walked across the parking lot towards him. She heard him inhale, and saw the end of the cigarette glow bright orange as he breathed in the smoke. Stopping beside him, Lindsey cleared her throat.

"Danny," she began, but he shook his head, a wry smile on his face.

"You don't have to say anything, Monroe." He said, the words coming on a stream of blue-grey smoke.

"This morning, when I saw you, you were upset about not being able to party with your family. I know I'm a far cry from your family, but I tried as best I could to give some of that to you, and it's like it's not enough." He stopped, studying her face carefully.

Lindsey looked down at her shoes, thoroughly embarrassed by her attitude a few moments before. Danny took another drag, holding the smoke deep in his lungs. Lindsey was quiet, not knowing exactly what to say.

"What happened to you, Linds?" Danny asked, and she looked up, puzzled.

"You know, I thought we might've had something. Something good. But now, it's like you don't want to even look at me sometimes. What the hell happened? Who hurt you so damn badly that you have to push away anyone who gets too close?" He asked, waving a hand in the air.

Lindsey felt the familiar lump rising in her throat and she swallowed, not wanting to show her feelings. She was attracted to Danny; very much so. But she was afraid of him too. Afraid of falling for him, afraid of loving him, and loosing him. She wasn't ready to tell him how she felt, and wasn't sure she was strong enough to begin. Danny could see the emotions crossing her face, and realised that maybe whatever it was was bigger than even Lindsey could comprehend or face at this time in her life. Feeling torn between loving her and wanting nothing more to do with her, Danny crushed his cigarette beneath the sole of his boot. Turning, he raised her chin with his finger.

"I told you a while back that if you ever need anything, you just call me." He moved his hand to her shoulder.

"That still stands; no matter what." He looked into Lindsey's eyes, making sure she heard and understood his words.

"Yeah," she said, and tried to smile.

"I'll just take a cab home, if you want me too." she said, and Danny shook his head again.

"No way. A guy doesn't do that to a girl," he said, his blue eyes locked on hers.

Lindsey didn't respond and Danny could see the slight tremble of her lower lip.

"Hey," he whispered, gathering her against his chest for the second time in as many days,

"I'm sorry I was rough on you back there," he whispered, resting his chin on her head.

Lindsey knew she should pull away, but being in Danny's arms was too comforting, and she held him closer, feeling his chest rise and fall with his breathing. Danny felt her arms tighten around his waist, and he didn't want to move for fear she'd again step away, and push him firmly to the perimeters of her life as she'd done all these weeks.

They stood together for what seemed like hours, before Lindsey finally pulled away enough to look up into Danny's face.

"You said if I ever need anything," she began and Danny raised an eyebrow.

"Anything," he repeated, and Lindsey sighed, touching his cheek with her fingertips.

"Then can we try again?" She asked and Danny frowned.

"Start over from tonight?" he asked, and Lindsey shook her head.

"No, like you wanted to before; that day at work." she explained, not wanting to brazenly ask for a second chance at a relationship.

Danny caught her meaning, and he nodded; not trusting himself to speak at the moment. Instead, he placed a light kiss on her forehead and cupped her face in his hands. If the world ended tomorrow, Danny would at least know that Lindsey had finally started to trust him.

And to him, it was a step in the right direction for them both.