Chapter 29 – December 29, 2006

He was exhausted but couldn't fault anyone other than the murderer of four university girls. Women, he supposed. Lindsay had cried herself to sleep six times the previous night and vomited four out of those six from all of her sobbing. He'd given her an ultimatum: call in sick or get off the case.

She'd argued of course and they'd almost experienced their first drop down drag out fight but eventually, she'd conceded. It wasn't a victory on his part at all. He didn't want to see her in pain and certainly didn't want her to experience the same night again. He certainly didn't crave her thrashing or tears. Eventually they'd both calmed down, talked it out like mature adults and she'd finally seen where he was coming from. Eventually she'd decided to do both, take the day off and remove herself from the case.

Danny had been proud of her and told her she could plan whatever she wanted to do that night. She'd texted him twenty minutes before the end of his shift and told him to wear a suit and unlock the door when he came.

Whatever the woman wanted, she was going to get.

He climbed the stairs to her floor, sliding the key in the lock and opening it to delicious smells. "Lindsay?"

"Kitchen," she called back.

He found her wearing a dress of deep green, though her feet were completely bare. She was at the stove, stirring something. "Montana?" Then he realized what he'd said and quickly apologized.

He would never know how much hearing her nickname on his lips soothed her. "I need it," she answered softly.

He nodded, not giving any other indication he'd heard her. "What did you do today?"

She waved around her apartment and he noticed the immaculate surfaces. "Cleaned, did laundry, cooked."

"Kept busy."

The smile she sent him touched the corners of her eyes. "Someone kicked me out of the lab."

"You needed it," he said solemnly.

Now that she'd experienced the day, she had to agree with him. "I did. I missed you though."

He smiled. For her, after everything, it was a pretty big admission. "I missed you too," he responded, the words slipping out much easier than he'd thought.

She set the spoon on the counter and approached, not so subtly giving him a once over before stepping into his arms. "You always look so good in a suit," she whispered, holding him tightly.

"Green really is your colour," he responded with a cocky grin. "Definitely a way to keep a guy interested."

She chuckled. "Pants are more practical for work," she said. "Dinner's in ten. Did you get any closer to the…" She was glad she'd turned back to the stove and he couldn't see her close her eyes in self deprecation. She couldn't even talk about it!

His arms wrapped tightly around her waist and stomach, his chin dropping to her shoulder. "We're waiting on DNA to confirm but we've got a pretty good idea of who it might be. He wasn't that careful."

Lindsay closed her eyes again, breathing deeply and trying to calm her raging heart. "They never caught the guy. I never got to ask him why he did it," she whispered, opening up just that little bit more.

"So you became a CSI," he finished, things falling into place for him.

She nodded, leaning her head against his. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"I mighta done the same thing in your position," he answered honestly. "I knew you weren't mad at me you were mad at the case."

She shook her head, her curls brushing his ear. "You're too good to me," she whispered. "Thank you."

"No need," he said kissing her cheek, "but you're more than welcome."

Sorry this is so short, but I liked where it ended here. This is kind of the up-beat end to the previous chapter. You guys have been awesome, thank you. Tomorrow (or today?) is Stella and Lindsay shopping.

However, I would like to let you guys know that with the lack of DL in the episodes and the lack of new episodes until January, my motivation is waning. That, and I'm on a Wicked kick since seeing the musical. I'm planning a story for that and trying not to make these chapters seem half-assed. I am so incredibly sorry if you feel they aren't up to my usual writing calibre. As soon as I get Wicked out of my system, I should be good again. Either that, or we get a half decent DL episode when they come back!