First part is a flashback

Coming Unglued

Flashback

He knew he had to leave. He knew what would happen if he kept kissing her pressed up against that door. He was dying a slow death with her whole body flush against his.

"I gotta go before I start misbehavin'." He muttered at last, speaking against her soft lips.

She knew he was right. They kept doing this, she'd be yanking him into her apartment within minutes. And once they were inside… All bets were off…

"Good night Danny." She whispered, slowly releasing her grip on his bicep and stepping out of his embrace.

He studied her expression intently. She'd be taught to mask emotions, just like every other CSI. She'd set her face in an emotionless, passive face. She's going to give me that face, that expression, and expect me to buy it?

"Just cause I'm leavin', doesn't mean you have to go all stoic and unresponsive." He told her, grabbing her arm.

"I'm not going 'stoic and unresponsive'. I'm not doing anything, I'm just standing here Danny." She told him.

He still wasn't entirely sure of her responsive, or lack there of really. But he decided to leave well enough alone.

"Good night Montana." He said, leaning over and brushing a kiss to her cheek.

"See you tomorrow." He called as he headed down the stairs. She watched his retreating frame and didn't go inside until she he'd disappeared entirely.

She was a little disappointed. He hadn't even asked her out again. She'd thought for sure, after a kiss like that, he'd ask her again. But no, it was a kiss and run… A drive by kissing…

"Oh good lord." She muttered to herself as she dropped her stuff next to the couch in her apartment.

She climbed into bed a little while later and fell into a restless sleep.

Morning came early for Lindsay. Very early. 5 am early. She got ready for work, having an internal debate with herself as to what last night was about as well as what she was supposed to do about it.

Maybe it was to prove a point… Maybe he just wanted to prove he could be my undoing. "I hope that's not the case." She whispered to her reflection.

By the time she got to her office (which was vacant, thankfully) her stomach was in knots. All of a sudden she had a flashback to a moment in high school.

FLASHBACK

15 year old Lindsay Monroe stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had to catch the bus to school in 20 minutes, she should be heading to her bus stop by now, but she was secretly dreading it.

She'd asked Chris Forton to the dance the Friday. He'd been her crush since she left middle school. He told he very nicely, very gently, that he already had a date. She'd been devastated and now she had to go to class and sit next to him in science.

She walked into class 5 minutes before the bell. Thankfully he wasn't there yet. She hurried to her seat and pulled out her book and notebook and started taking notes, praying to God that he wouldn't say anything to her when he got in. Because she knew if he so much as said one word, she might lose it…

She buried her nose in the book, trying to lose herself in the comfort of science. She was reading when she felt a presence next to her. Her heart was pounding, her mouth felt dry.

"Hey Linds."Chris greeted.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Hey, Montana!" Lindsay looked up from her desk, startled. Danny was standing in front of her desk, arms crossed in front of him.

"Sorry, off in a zone. What's up?" She asked, hoping he couldn't hear her heart pounding.

"I'm looking for the file on the DB in Central Park last night. Jessica Anders?" He asked, allowing her 'zoning out' to go untouched.

"Oh yeah, here." She said, rooting it out from her box.

He nodded his head in thanks and turned around. Please go, walk out of the office, go to trace, do whatever… She silently pleaded with him. No luck. He stopped at his desk and settled into his chair.

He felt her eyes burning into him. She was a little on edge today, a little jittery. He sat down at his desk and fired up his computer. He felt the stare recede. Still, something wasn't right.

He allowed it to pester him for about 10 minutes, but finally he couldn't deal with it anymore. He thought about saying something but had a better idea.

He pulled up his LabChat icon and signed on.

DMesser: Montana, you wanna tell me what gives?

He sent the message, minimized the chat and pulled up the case file.

Lindsay was returning an email to Mac when her LabChat icon lit up. She figured it was probably Adam or Sid alerting her to some new information, so she finished up the email and clicked on the icon, only to be surprised that it was from Danny. "DMesser has sent you a message. Accept or Deny?" The intro message said.

She furrowed her brow as she clicked accept. What would he IM her about?

Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she read his message. She glanced around the computer at him. He was working on paperwork.

She placed her hands on the key board.

LMonroe: Didn't sleep well and woke up earlier than I wanted to.

Danny saw the blinking and read her response.

DMesser: I didn't sleep well either, you sort of left me wanting more…

He sent and waited, holding his breath. She didn't respond.

DMesser: Is it OK that I said that?

LMonroe: It's OK… Just confusing.

DMesser: How is it confusing?

LMonroe: You come to my apartment, wait for me to come home. When I do, you corner me about standing you up, tell me I need to loosen up, kiss me, then leave.

DMesser: Thanks Montana, I was there. But I didn't mean to confuse you. Is that why you clammed up when I told you I was going to leave?

LMonroe: Sort of. I guess I expected you to ask me out again..

DMesser: You stood me up once Montana. Once bitten, twice shy.

LMonroe: So I was right. You did do it to prove a point.

DMesser: You think that's the case? Tell me something, what point would I be proving by doing something like kissing you?

She gulped. She hadn't thought that far ahead. She'd just figured he'd tired to prove a point, what point that was, she didn't know.

LMonroe: Touche.

DMesser: Do you want to go out again? Wait, can there be an 'again' if you never showed?

LMonroe: Ok so I deserved that. But yes I would.

DMesser: Promise you'll be there?

LMonroe: Promise. Especially if it ends like last night did.

DMesser: Montana, are you flirting with me?

LMonroe: Just being factual.

DMesser: Right. Factual. And who knows, maybe we can actually make out on the other side of your door tomorrow.

LMonroe: Danny! That's… That's the PONR.

DMesser: Point of no return? Really? I'm flattered.

LMonroe: Don't be. It's not a compliment.

DMesser: Then…?

LMonroe; It's about control. If I let you come inside…

DMesser: Right, I get it. And I like it.

LMonroe: Shut up.

DMesser: No, no this is good. We're gonna go to dinner, take a walk, go back to your apartment, make out on the inside of it, and you, Montana, are gonna come unglued.

LMonroe has signed off.

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