Author's Note: You reviewers have been the best... your reviews just keep getting more detailed about what touched you, what didn't, what you liked and what you didn't like... thank you from the bottom of my heart!! I hope you like this chapter... I have to admit I think I was influenced by NeverMindDream and her Danny's Diary again. LOL! So without further ado let's see where Danny went off to and what Lindsay is going to do about it!

DISCLAIMERS: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Jerry Bruckheimer and the wonderful writers for CSI: NY. Any resemblance to scenes from the episodes is included for clarity and continuity and I do not claim any of those as my own work. However everything else is mine.

Saving Ass!

Lindsay didn't know how long she stared at the door after Danny left, but eventually her emotions broke through and she threw herself face down on the couch and bawled. She bawled because she felt guilty that, by ignoring the call, she allowed the killer to murder that woman here in New York. And it was her pain, over being the brunt of her mother's blame for Laurel's murder, which had caused her to lash out at Danny. None of this was his fault. He was right; he was only trying to be here for her, just as she tried to be there for her mother after Laurel's death. Was she becoming just like her mother? God, what a sobering thought! This little epiphany catapulted her into action. She grabbed her cell phone and quickly dialed Danny's number. It rang several times and went to voice mail. She didn't want to talk to voice mail; she wanted to talk to him! She paced around her apartment, trying to think of what to do next. She hoped he wasn't out doing something reckless. She paced some more and finally decided to go look for him. She was too keyed up to sit in her apartment anyway, waiting for him to call her. She quickly sent him a text message that said 'Sorry – Call Me' and headed out.

Two hours later after making the rounds of Danny's apartment, some CSI hangouts and a call to the night shift at the lab, she still hadn't located him. She turned toward home and the depressing thought seeped into her consciousness that maybe he didn't want to talk to her or be found. She wearily boarded the subway bound for her apartment. When she emerged from the subway station nearest her apartment, her cell rang. She quickly identified the caller, as Danny, and flipped it open.

"Where the hell have you been?" she greeted him frantically.

"Montaaannnaaa," he slurred into the phone. She could hear the background noise of a large screen TV, drinks clinking, multiple conversations being held and then a cheer went around and she couldn't hear what Danny said next.

When the cheer ceased, she tried again. "Danny-, where- are- you-?" she mouthed distinctly into the phone.

"I just watched the Knicks kick ass with 100 of my closest buddies and now we're celebratin'. Ain't that right, guys?" He didn't give them time to answer, before he slurred out, "Say 'hello to Montaaannnaaa', guys!" She heard a deafening "Hello Montaaannnaaa!" from what sounded like 100 of Danny's closest, drunken buddies.

Danny, where are you?" she tried for the third time.

"I'm at Buster's, right around the corner from your place. Ain't that convenient," he said rather pleased with himself.

"Danny, don't go anywhere, I'll be right there!" she said, with relief and resignation. At least she had located him and he was okay.

"Baby, are you comin' to celebrate with us?" he asked in a downright giddy manner.

"Uh huh… something like that…" she muttered as she headed up the sidewalk towards Buster's.

"Did I tell ya that the Knicks kicked ass, Baby? It was against those sissy-assed Lakers. I always knew they lived too pampered of a life out there in LA. It softens 'em up. They ain't tough like our Knicks, who have to survive the gritty New York streets."

She kept him talking on the phone until she reached the bar and located him. Thank goodness it was close to her place, because Danny was a little unsteady on his feet. He stumbled to her and embraced her, reeking of alcohol, sweat and smoke. She had to admit, though, he was a happy drunk, much better than a sappy, sad, slobbery or belligerent drunk and it felt so reassuring to be in his arms again after the last several hours of frantic worrying. She broke the embrace, grabbed the hand of the arm hanging around her shoulders and slid her other arm around his waist.

"Come on, Cowboy, I think you've had enough fun for one night."

Danny weaved toward the door, calling over his shoulder triumphantly in parting, "Hey guys, I'm goin' home with Montaaannnaaa and I think I'm gonna get lucky!"

Yeah, lucky I came and dragged your sorry ass out of this bar! The thought was scary because it was doubtful whether Danny knew anyone at the bar. This wasn't his neighborhood. With the drunken stupor he was in right now, he could have easily taken to the streets alone and got himself mugged or, even worse, killed. Lindsay shuddered at this thought. Not only could she not carry that guilt, she couldn't imagine being without him for one day. When he was sober, she would make it up to him. But the challenge, facing her now, was getting him back to her apartment so he could sleep this off.

When she finally got Danny into her apartment, she guided him to her bed. She disentangled her arms from him, but he wasn't letting go of her. Before she knew it, he free fell onto her bed, taking her with him. He laid a big slobbery kiss on her cheek. Okay, maybe there is a tad of slobbery drunk in him.

"Uh, uh, not tonight!" she said, as she tried again to pry away his arms. She looked up at his drunken, smirking face and she smiled sweetly, while she moved her hands to his ribs and began tickling him. It worked like a charm. He released her instantly, as he groaned and laughed at the same time.

"Ya play dirty, Montaannaa!" he accused, as he craned his head up to survey her, down the length of his body, while she up righted herself beside the bed.

"I do what it takes, Cowboy," she replied dryly, as she pulled off his shoes. When he made a grab for her as she unclipped his phone and badge, she decided he could sleep it off in his clothes.

She gathered some stuff, with which to sleep, out on the couch, and glanced over at Danny as she was leaving the room. He was out cold. The soft light from the lamp glinted off his glasses. Oops, she better take those off. She tiptoed over and gently removed his glasses and laid them on the bedside table. She laid a hand along his jaw and placed a lingering kiss on his lips. If he hadn't completely sprawled himself diagonally across her bed, she would have snuggled up to him regardless of the bar smells emanating from his clothes. He was just that hot and she hadn't slept without him beside her for the past several nights. He was like a drug for her and she was completely addicted, with no 12 step program in sight. But there was no room for her on the bed. She could try to move him, but he might wake up and she didn't want a repeat of the earlier grabbing session. She was not about to have her first time with Danny be with him in a drunken state. No, I want him hard up, sober, emphasis on the 'hard', 'up' and 'sober'.

The next morning, Lindsay awoke, with a start, to the ringing of a cell phone. She groped her hand along the coffee table, until her hand closed around the offending object. She was tempted to stow it under her pillow, but she didn't want Danny to catch heat if it was important. Instead, she id'ed the caller. It was Mac. She flipped it open.

"Morning, Mac. It's Lindsay." If Mac was surprised that she answered Danny's phone, he didn't show it.

"Morning, Lindsay. I take it that Danny's indisposed."

"Um, yeah, he's feeling a little under the weather."

"What's he come down with?"

This interest in Danny's health seemed a tad bit odd for Mac.

"Oh, you know flu-like symptoms, dizziness, nausea…" Oops, there went a white lie. What is it with her and Mac and little white lies? Well, she didn't actually say he had the flu.

Mac cleared his throat. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the big win, the Knicks posted over the Lakers last night, would it?"

Lindsay pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it in disbelief, Mac was either psychic or he had been in that bar last night.

"Lindsay? Are you still there?"

She quickly put the phone back to her ear. "How did you know?" Lindsay asked with surprise registering in her voice.

Mac laughed out loud. "Danny routinely schedules his days off to coincide with the day after big games. I suspect it allows him to celebrate, or mourn, whichever the case may be, in proper style."

Lindsay laughed. "Well, he did it in proper style last night!" Then she said on a more serious note, "Is there something you needed from him?"

"I need him for a few hours in the lab. We have several cases that came in at once with some very time-sensitive evidence that needs to be processed as soon as possible, but I can see now, that calling him in is out of the question."

Lindsay blurted out. "I can come in." Then she held her breath, waiting for Mac's answer.

There was a pause while she heard some papers shuffling. "Ok, I've got your eval here, but I haven't had a chance to review it. I'll do that, while you're on your way in and if I find anything iffy, we'll chat when you get here, otherwise I could certainly use you in the lab today."

"Thanks Mac, I'm on my way."

Lindsay quickly readied herself for work, taking care not to wake Danny. She need not have bothered. He was still out cold, except now he was sprawled face down on her bed, breathing heavily. If she didn't have to go in today, she could really have some fun with him, she thought, recalling her slumber party days with her childhood friends. She giggled hysterically, to herself, picturing Danny waking up, sporting hot pink nail polish and bright red lipstick. Ah well, she was sure there would be other nights of intense celebrations, after big games, of which she could take advantage.

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Lindsay was excited to be back in the lab. Mac quickly briefed her and she set to work. The work was engrossing, as usual, and she barely noticed the time slipping by. When she hit a lull, waiting on results, she walked down to the break room to grab a snack. When she entered the break room, Stella and Flack were over by the water cooler, chatting. No big surprise there!

She walked up to them and greeted them cheerfully, "Hey, guys."

They turned toward her with grins on their faces.

"Well speak of the devil, I guess everything checked out with the shrink." Stella practically purred.

"Yeah and boy am I glad to be back in the lab!" Lindsay replied gratefully.

Flack gave that sardonic sideways grin of his and quipped, "Why? Has Messer not been behavin' himself?" To which he added quickly with a bit more seriousness, "Cause if he hasn't, I'd be happy to whip up on him in a friendly little game of b-ball."

"No, no, he's been a perfect gentleman…" Lindsay said shaking her head. "except for last night," she muttered under her breath before she realized what she had said. She blushed and hoped that Stella and Flack hadn't caught that last comment.

"What about last night?" Stella asked sweetly.

Lindsay's eyes just widened and any deflecting comment she could have made got jammed somewhere between her brain and her mouth

"C'mon Monroe, spill your guts or we'll have to haul you off to interrogation," Flack threatened in mock seriousness.

Man, this was getting brutal; she should have never left the lab! "Um, nothing really," she stammered, "Danny just celebrated a little too much over the Knicks win last night. He's sleeping it off now."

"Are you sure that is all, there is to it?" Stella inquired slyly.

RING!

"That would be me," Lindsay squeaked out quickly.

She turned and walked out of the break room, while she retrieved her phone. She answered it without checking caller id; she was so thankful to have respite from the probing questions and teasing remarks of Stella and Flack.

"Whoever you are," she said gratefully into the phone, "you just saved my life."

"I could say the same to you," quipped a very welcoming voice.

Her heart did a little flip as she ducked into the supply room. She quickly glanced around to make sure no one was in there before she replied.

"So, I see you've rejoined the living, Messer!" she teased.

"Yup," he said with an exaggerated sigh, "with that huge Knicks' win over the Lakers last night, I figured it might be worth hanging out in this world a little while longer."

She cringed at that remark! She wasn't sure if he was subtly referring to his state of mind when he left her apartment last night and her role in it, or not. But since he wasn't coming right out and saying anything about it, she decided to wade into the deep end through the back door. Let's see who cracks first!

"So does this mean you're going to go off and get drunk every time there's a big game and then call me to come drag your sorry ass safely back home?" she joshed him quite playfully.

"Only when you shut me out and then kick me out, like you did last night," he joshed back, but she could hear the slightly steely tone laced within the tease.

Touché! she thought. This wasn't fair, he didn't need to suffer because of her issues. He had been there every time for her, the least she could do was meet him halfway.

"Danny, I'm really sorry about last night," she said softly. "It wasn't fair for me to take my pain and frustration out on you."

" Montana, it's okay. I can take the angry and frustrating words all day long, it's the silence that I can't take. Next time, promise me that you'll, at least, try talking to me before you shut me out…okay… that's all I ask."

She could hear the pain and the need in his voice, and the tears welled up in her eyes. She scrubbed them away furiously with her free hand and tried not to sniffle into the phone.

"Lindsay, are ya there?"

"I'm here," she said with a sniff.

"Aw Montana, ya aren't cryin' are ya?"

"Noooo!" she denied sheepishly and yielded to another big sniff to clear her head.

"Liar!" he teased.

"Okay, what do you want me to say?" she said in slight frustration.

"I want you to say,' yes',"

"Yes to what," she asked warily.

"To going out with me tonight."

Her heart gave a jolt, while fiery warmth surged throughout her entire body. "Of course I'll go out with you tonight!" she declared. She hoped she hadn't sounded too eager. Her mom had warned her about that.

He chuckled. "Okay then, I'll pick ya up at 7. Wear something nice!"

"Alright, I'll see you tonight."

"I'm looking forward to it" he said huskily.

"Me too," she replied softly.

After she put away the phone, she hugged herself and sing-songed under her breath. "I'm going out with Danny Messer."