A/N: Thank you all for the tremendous response to my last chapter! Here is the next one. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately all of the characters belong in their rightful place at CBS headquarters, far, far away from me.

HUGE thanks to SallyJetson for the beta.

Chapter 17: Get Out:

New York, New York:

Danny sat on his couch watching the game. He had hardly had a moment's rest since he had returned, always one case after another. Luckily this didn't give him a lot of time to think about anything else.

It had been a month since he had last seen her; since she'd given him his greatest joy, before ripping out his heart, stomping on it, lighting the remains on fire, and placing the ashes in a bottle to be thrown out to sea, never to be seen again. Not that he was bitter or anything.

After her revelations he had realized there was nothing more he could say to convince her. She had made up her mind and he had learned long ago that Lindsay Monroe could be as stubborn as he was; especially when she was doing what she thought was right. Since he couldn't convince her, he had decided to leave early, but had made a pit stop along the way to see if he could convince the root of the problem. Too bad that didn't really go well either.

FLASHBACK:

Bozeman, Montana:

Danny got out of the truck he had rented, to find himself in front of a large house surrounded by a porch. The house was definitely not like the houses back home, especially since he couldn't even see another house no matter which way he turned.

He walked up to the door and paused before finally knocking. A large man with graying hair and age lines along his face answered the door. Since he was such a large man Danny wasn't sure if he should be intimidated, but the small smile convinced him otherwise. He also had a twinkle in his eyes, the same twinkle as in his Montana's.

"How can I help you? Are you lost?" The man asked full of concern.

"No. I'm actually here to speak to you about your daughter, Mo... Lindsay."

The man looked at the visitor with confusion and concern. "Is she okay? Has anything happened?"

"She's fine…is it all right if I come in?"

"Sure." Danny took a few steps inside but noticing the hardwood floors, decided it was best to take off his shoes. They moved into the living room where both men remained standing.

"So, you say you know, Lindsay?"

"Yeah from the crime lab in New York… and Las Vegas…and… I'd say we know each other rather well," Danny replied his blue eyes glinting in silent challenge.

"That's doesn't mean you know her. She's only been out there for a couple of years."

"Well, I know she is moving back here and planning on getting married."

"Oh yes. It will be good to have her home again where we can look after her. Her ma and me have been worried about her in those big cities by herself."

"She hasn't been by herself. She has a lot of people out there who care for her, that love her."

Lindsay's father looked at the man in front of him up and down, his smile fading fast.

"Like you I suppose."

"Yes like me. I love your daughter Mr. Monroe, and she loves me."

"What makes you think she'd want to be with you? She has a life here waiting for her. A fiancée waiting for her." The smile was completely gone as the father stepped forward and if possible actually rose in height by a few inches.

Even though Danny didn't have the height advantage he didn't back down, and instead thrust his face into the other man's. "Because she doesn't want this life. A girl like her doesn't belong in a place like this. She needs more than Bozeman, more than you and Jason can give her."

"Oh I see. I suppose you think you can come swooping down here with your fancy city ways and rescue my poor, baby girl."

"It's not like that. I just want her to be happy and I know she won't be here but she will be with me. Shouldn't you want that too?"

Fire was now gleaming from her father's eyes. "Who are YOU to question how I feel about my girl and her happiness. Who are you to know what's best for her? GET OUT. Get out NOW. I don't want to ever see your filthy face around here again or around my Linny. If I do see you again, all you'll be seeing is the barrel of my shotgun. You hear me?"

END OF FLASHBACK

After that Danny had high tailed it back home to New York. Flack had picked him up from the airport and had known better then to ask any questions after seeing his face. He hadn't even brought up the whole fish thing, or turtle or other creature of any kind for that matter. He had simply left him alone except for the occasional game they'd watched together.

Actually he was coming over tonight to watch the game, and so Danny wasn't surprised when he heard a knock at his door. He simply went over and turned the handle slightly before going into the kitchen.

"Wanna beer?" He asked with his head in the refrigerator. When he didn't get a response he tried again. "Yo man, do you want a beer?"

"No, but I'll have some wine if you have it."

His head shot up so fast it hit the roof of the fridge, causing him to fall back onto the floor, again hitting his head, and knocking him unconscious.