One Month Later:

Danny sat at his desk, finishing his paper work for the day. One month after the incident, and Danny was still filling out paperwork for Hudson's trial. Danny unconsciously balled his hand into a fist in anger. Hudson's actions had caused a major hit to the team emotionally, but what Danny more upset was the damage Hudson had caused Lindsay.

Danny shuddered under the bitter memory. They had almost been too late to save her. After Hudson had pushed Lindsay down the stairs, Danny had thought she was dead for sure. Bruised, beaten, bloodied. The drugs had quickly taken over her system and she was inching more and more to an overdose caused death. The doctors had given Lindsay an aggressive round of antibiotics and pumped her stomach before Lindsay began showing any signs of recovery.

The aftermath was worse. Lindsay had completely shut herself from everyone. She only spoke when giving her statement, and not a moment since then. She said nothing when her parents or team members came to visit her. It was like Lindsay had become a shell of her former self. Danny hadn't been granted this 'gift' yet. He hadn't been able to visit Lindsay since they found her, but he had seen how Lindsay treated Stella at the hospital. Lindsay had been lying on her side, holding the pillow, staring off into space. Stella had sat with Lindsay the entire day, trying to give some comfort to Lindsay, but couldn't seem to break through. Danny could only assume Lindsay was acting the same way while she was at home. Mac had taken her off the shifts until he felt she was ready to return. But as it was now, it didn't look like Lindsay was every going to return.

Danny sighed and finished the final bit of paperwork. "Done." He gathered the remainder of the paperwork-that had been scattered all over his and Lindsay's desk-and placed them into the folder. Danny stood from his desk and walked out of the office. He walked down the nearly empty halls of the lab to Mac's office.

Mac was seated behind his desk, looking over more paperwork. He glanced up as Danny entered the office. "Finished?"

"Dotted every 'i' and crossed all my 't's." Danny answered. He set the folder down on Mac's desk. "How's Lindsay doin'? I hear she won't talk to a specialist."

"Lindsay hasn't talked to anyone. Not even to her parents." Mac replied.

Danny shook her head. "How can we help her if she won't let us, Mac?"

"We can't. Think of it from our CSI view. We help the dead find peace because they can't do it themselves, but we can't help the living unless they want it. No matter how bad we want to, we can't unless they show it. It doesn't make our job any easier for us, but it's not our life." Mac explained.

"But she's only hurting herself f more by shutting us out." Danny said.

"I understand what you're saying Danny, but I can't force Lindsay to talk. Lindsay's mind is still traumatized by the experience and forcing her would only make things worse for her." Mac replied.

Danny nodded. "It's just…I hate seeing her like this."

Mac stood up from his desk. He pat Danny's shoulder, "So do I. We all hate seeing her like this. But all we can do, is let Lindsay know we're here for her."

"Right." Danny said.

"Go home, Danny. Get some sleep." Mac said.

Danny nodded and left the office. Mac was right about Lindsay needing to ask for help, but it didn't make Danny feel any better. He wanted to help Lindsay through this. Danny opened his locker and retrieved his jacket. He closed his locker and walked out of the locker room. The halls had sporadic workers throughout them as Danny made his way to the elevator. The metal doors closed off the crime lab and slowly lowered to the outside world.

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