Disclaimer: I am not connected in any way with the creators of any of the CSI shows. (I wish I was though, so Danny and Lindsay would get together already.) These are just my mind's version of the events that transpire on the show.
The members of Mac Taylor's team all reported to work on Christmas Day. In their own way, the team was each other's family, and no one really minded so much that they would be working on Christmas.
Even Flack and Jordan were at the lab. They were officially off duty on that day, but they were on call, so they decided to spend the day hanging out with the CSIs at the Crime Lab. They decided to stay in the break room and wait for the 'lab rats' to go on break.
But as they say, crime never sleeps, not even on Christmas Day. Danny and Hawkes were working on the case of a guy found dead in a pool hall while Lindsay and Stella were investigating the mysterious death of a male psychiatrist who had been found in his office by his secretary, a tall, leggy blonde, with a letter opener stuck in his heart.
As Lindsay was running some prints from the crime scene through the database, Danny entered the room.
"Linds, me and Hawkes are going back to the pool hall. We need more pictures for context," Danny said, walking over to her and dropping a quick kiss on her cheek.
Lindsay looked away from the computer and smiled at him, "Alright. You coming back here for lunch? Stella and I are ordering take-out in a few minutes. You want me to get you anything?"
Danny answered, "Sure. Go ahead and pick something out for me. If I don't make it back for lunch, I'll just eat it when I get back."
Lindsay replied, "Got it." She grabbed the lapels of his lab coat and pulled him close to give him a kiss. "Be careful," she ordered.
"Whoa!" Danny grinned at her surprising forcefulness. "I gotta say I like this side of you, Montana."
Lindsay laughed and said, "Glad to hear that." She kissed him again and waved him off. He left the room, whistling jauntily to himself.
Lindsay turned her attention back to the print, a smile still lingering on her face.
Stella entered the room just then. When she caught sight of Lindsay's happy face, she couldn't resist teasing. "So Danny was just here, huh?"
Lindsay glanced at her questioningly, "What makes you think Danny came from here?"
Stella grinned at her friend and answered, "How 'bout the fact that you have that really goofy smile on your face that usually tells us that Danny was just around?"
Lindsay blushed despite herself. She conceded, "Yeah, he just came in to tell me that he and Hawkes are going out to follow a lead."
Stella looked at her thoughtfully, "You know, you're really good for Danny. I've never seen him happier."
Lindsay shrugged, warmed from Stella's subtle praise. "Well, if it helps, I've never been this happy either."
Their conversation was interrupted with the arrival of a lab tech. "Excuse me, Detectives. We have results on that trace sample you gave us earlier."
Stella flashed a bright smile at the lab tech and said, "Thanks." She reached for the folder and read the contents, her smooth brow wrinkling in concentration. "That can't be right," she said softly.
Concerned, Lindsay moved to stand next to Stella and look at the results. When she read the report, she frowned as well, "But that means the secretary was lying to us."
"I know," Stella agreed. She closed the folder and said tightly, "Let's go, Monroe. I think we need to have another chat with the saucy secretary."
Stella knocked on the door of the Lily Davis, the secretary who found the dead psychiatrist.
"Ms. Davis, this is Detective Bonasera from the NYPD Crime Lab. We'd like to ask you a few questions."
No answer.
Stella and Lindsay looked at each other suspicion evident in their eyes.
Lindsay banged on the door again, this time, much louder.
"Ms. Davis, we're from the Crime Lab. We just need to as you a few more questions about Dr. Richards."
Still no answer.
Stella heaved a sigh and motioned to the uniformed cop who stood with them. With a quick, fluid motion, the officer broke down the door and they strode inside.
The apartment was empty. It looked like Lily Davis had left in a hurry. Plates from breakfast were still scattered all over the table and the morning paper was strewn carelessly on the counter. A half-empty mug of now cold coffee was tipped over on its side, soaking the pages of the newspaper.
Stella looked around and said, "Looks like she left in a hurry."
Lindsay pursed her lips in annoyance and answered, "I wonder why." Noticing a door that was slightly ajar, she told Stella, "Hey Stel, why don't you check the bedroom? I'll see what's back here."
Stella nodded and walked into the bedroom while Lindsay approached the door cautiously, her gun extended in front of her. She pushed the door open experimentally, taking quiet steps while entering the room.
Suddenly, her gun flew out of her hand when something knocked hard against the bottom of her extended arm. She let out a loud yelp of pain and turned to the direction of the attacker.
Lily Davis moved quickly and tried to run out of the bedroom. Lindsay quickly threw herself at the fleeing woman, attempting to block her way.
Unfortunately for Lindsay, Lily was wielding a wicked looking kitchen knife and to defend herself, she plunged the knife solidly against Lindsay's side. Blood started pouring out a wound on her side and she used every bit of strength she had to call out, "Stella, she's running away!"
Lily quickly dropped the knife and ran out the door. Fortunately, Stella and the uniformed cop heard Lindsay's cry and rushed to help. On the way out, they were able to stop Lily and handcuff her so that she couldn't fight back or run.
Stella ran quickly into the room and saw Lindsay lying on the floor, with blood soaking her shirt. Stella noted with a quick sigh of relief that Lindsay was conscious, although she was turning a paler by the minute.
She quickly dropped down next to her friend and said urgently, "Stay with me, Lindsay." Reaching for the phone that was clipped at her side, she punched in a number. "This is Detective Bonasera. We have an injured CSI, we need a bus here immediately." Stella quickly rattled off the address of the place. She hung up after a few more seconds and turned back to Lindsay. Her breathing was a bit shallower now, but at least she was still awake.
Stella grasped Lindsay's hand and ordered, "Don't you dare fall asleep, Monroe."
Lindsay nodded weakly and managed to say in a tight voice, "Call Danny."
Stella nodded and answered, "Don't worry, I will. But you better stay awake, cause as soon as he finds out this happened, he's gonna want to yell at someone and I'm telling you, Monroe, I'm sure as hell not letting him yell at me."
Lindsay managed a small grin and concentrated hard on staying awake.
Much to Stella's relief, the EMTs arrived quickly and she stepped back to give them room to work. They quickly bandaged up Lindsay the best they could and they gave Stella a quick diagnosis.
"Detective, we'll need to take her down to the hospital for a few tests. Looks like she lost a lot of blood, and she'll definitely need stitches," the EMT told Stella.
Stella nodded and dreaded the call she would have to make. Danny would not be happy about this.
The EMTs loaded Lindsay into a stretcher and carrier her down. Stella followed purposefully behind them.
On the way to the hospital, she dialed Danny's number.
Danny and Hawkes were on their way out of the pool hall when his phone rang. Much to their satisfaction, it hadn't been cleaned yet, so much of the original crime scene was still there and they were able to take good photos.
He reached down to his waist and pulled out his phone. The caller ID said 'Stella'. Frowning, he thought to himself as he answered the phone, Wasn't Stella with Montana on a case?
Danny pressed a button and the call connected, "What's up, Stel?"
Over the line, Stella's voice was tight as she said, "Danny, there's been a slight accident."
His senses went on full alert as his blood turned ice cold. Montana. "Where's Lindsay? Is she alright?"
Stella's voice turned low and reassuring, "According to the EMTs, she's fine. We were at a scene when the suspect tried to run and she stabbed Lindsay with a knife. We're on our way to Trinity Hospital now."
As soon as Danny got the name of the hospital, he slammed the phone shut and barked to Hawkes, "Keys!"
Hawkes was startled at the urgency in Danny's voice and he asked, "What happened?"
Danny's face was pale with fear and the muscles in his neck worked to control his voice. "Lindsay got hurt at a scene. They're taking her to the hospital now."
Hawkes didn't even pause. He nodded and said to Danny, "I'll drive. You call Mac and tell him where we're going." Both lengthened their strides and they reached the car quickly.
Danny and Hawkes jumped into the car. In less than twenty minutes, he and Hawkes arrived at the hospital.
Hawkes glanced at Danny in concern. For the entire ride, he had been silent, yet he radiated a quiet desperation. Hawkes knew that if he thought he would get there faster, Danny would run across the city just to get to Lindsay.
Hawkes dropped Danny off in the driveway of the hospital while he went to park the car.
Danny ran to the information desk. He asked tersely, "The CSI who was stabbed, where is she?"
The nurse looked taken aback at the wild anxiety in Danny's eyes and demeanor. She replied, "She's been taken to the emergency room…"
"Danny!" a voice called out behind him. Danny whirled around the find Stella.
"Stella," he managed to say past the lump growing in his throat. "What happened? Where is she?"
Stella grabbed his arm and steered him towards the direction of the emergency room. "They took her to the ER. We got here about ten minutes ago. They're checking her out and stitching the wound right now. EMTs said she would be fine, that she just lost a lot of blood."
The words cut into the fog of worry that was clouding Danny's brain. He asked Stella demandingly, "What happened, Stella?"
Stella took deep breath and tried to calm him down, "A suspect tried to run. Lindsay blocked the exit, but the woman had a knife. She's in the station as we speak."
At that moment, a doctor stepped out of the operating room and asked, "Who's here for Detective Monroe?"
Danny quickly stepped forward and said, "How is she, Doctor?"
The doctor frowned and asked, "Are you family?"
Danny shook his head and flashed his badge. "I'm Detective Danny Messer. I'm Detective Monroe's partner. I'm also her boyfriend. Is she okay?"
The doctor seemed satisfied with Danny's explanation and he answered, "She'll be fine, Detective Messer. She just lost a lot of blood and we had to stitch the wound closed. Lucky for us, the knife missed any organs. It's purely a flesh wound. Just a week of bed rest and we can take the stitches out. Detective Monroe will be good as new."
Danny sent a quiet prayer of thanks heavenward. He asked, "Can we see her now?"
The doctor nodded again, "Once she's settled into a room, you can visit her." He cautioned, "I want to keep her here overnight, just to be sure. And don't wear her out, she needs her rest."
Danny and Stella nodded. Stella reached her hand out and said, "Thank you, Doctor."
The doctor smiled kindly at them and said, "You're welcome, Detectives. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to attend to another patient."
Stella smiled at Danny and motioned Danny forward. "Go ahead," she said softly.
Danny smiled back at her in gratitude and stepped inside the room.
At the sight of Lindsay lying on the bed, he felt his throat close up again with emotion. With her petite frame, she looked impossibly small on that hospital bed and her face looked pale.
He tried to suppress the bile rising in his throat as he thought of what happened. He took deep breaths and focused on one thing: Lindsay. She's alright, Messer. She's alright.
Danny walked closer to the bed and reached for Lindsay's hand. With his free hand, he swept a few tousled curls off her forehead and bent down to press a kiss on her temple.
Lindsay stirred at his touch and she opened her eyes to find Danny gazing worriedly at her. She swallowed a couple of times and said in a raspy whisper, "Hey Danny."
At the sound of her voice, joy and relief blazed in Danny's eyes and he replied huskily. "Hey yourself. So much for telling me to be careful."
Lindsay saw the anxiety and fear in his eyes and she smiled reassuringly at him. "Did I scare you, Danny?"
A glimmer of a scowl started forming on his handsome face. "Damn right you did, Montana. What were you thinking?"
Lindsay squeezed her fingers around his as she answered, "Thank you for worrying about me."
Danny bent down again to place a desperate kiss on her lips. "Didn't we talk about this already?" he growled.
Lindsay looked up at him questioningly, "About what?"
"About being careful and not making each other worry," Danny answered with a trace of fear still evident in his voice.
Lindsay smiled briefly at him and said, "I'm fine, Danny."
Just then, Danny's phone rang and he looked at it with annoyance.
On the pillow, Lindsay tilted her head and said, "You might want to get that."
Danny checked the phone and saw that it was Mac. He quickly flipped it open and said, "Yeah, Mac."
He listened for a while and answered, "The doctor said she's fine, she just needs a week of rest. She had to get stitches."
After a while he disconnected the phone and informed Lindsay, "Mac told me to tell you that you're not allowed to come to work for a week. You have to get better before you can go back to work."
Lindsay groaned and said, "What in the world am I going to do at home for a week?"
Danny just gave her a pointed glance until she emitted a disgruntled sigh. "Fine. I'll rest."
Danny grinned at her in satisfaction and he bent down to kiss her again. "Glad to hear you finally make sense, Montana."
As she glared at him, he touched his forehead lightly to hers and said, "Don't do that ever again, okay?"
Lindsay replied, "Do what?"
Danny swallowed hard and said quietly, "Scare me half to death."
Lindsay's glare softened and she curled her fingers tightly in his. "I won't."
Danny continued, "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." That special grin she loved so much, the one he reserved especially for her, was starting to make an appearance again as he said, "I love you too much."
Lindsay's world melted around her at Danny's words. She pulled him down to give him a lingering kiss and she said, "I love you too, Danny."
That's pretty much it for today. Due to insistent public demand, there will be a chapter where Hawkes will cook Cassie dinner or vice versa. Remember that today is Christmas Day for our favorite detectives and the day isn't over yet.
Watch out for more D/L fluff. Danny will be a bit overprotective in the next chapters since Lindsay got injured.
Let me know what you think of this one. :D Reviews are highly anticipated:D Thanks again for all the great reviews:D