Stella and Hawkes waited outside the ER. Stella sat in the plastic chairs, her hands propped up on her knees, laced fingers. Her chin leaned against her laced fingers, rocking back and forth. Beside her, on the floor, was a bag of clothes Stella had brought for Lindsay. She knew how uncomfortable hospital gowns were. Hawkes stood near Stella, pacing back and forth in front of her. Both were anxiously awaiting the new of Lindsay's condition and Danny's arrival. The news was still unbelievable and sickening to them. Stella could only imagine how Danny would respond to the news.

As fate's sense of humor kicked in, Danny burst around the corner. "Hawkes! Stella!"

Stella stood from her chair. Danny rushed down the hall to them. He looked toward the window near them, seeing a white drawn curtain. "Danny."

"What's goin' on? What happened to Lindsay?" Danny asked.

Hawkes traded glances with Stella. "It's not good, Danny."

"What's not good?" Danny asked.

"Danny…Lindsay…" Stella hesitated. "Lindsay was attacked."

"Oh my god. How...how bad is she?" Danny asked.

Stella hesitated again. "We don't know yet. The doctor hasn't talk to us. But Mac…he said…" Stella inhaled deeply, calming herself almost. "She…was raped."

Danny completely froze. "What?"

"The perp managed to get a copy of her apartment key while she was out. From what Mac's gathered sop far, he'd gone through her stuff and found her off-duty and on-call weapon." Stella explained.

Danny shook his head." no. That can't be. I dropped her off. She was fine. She was safe!"

"Danny that's not all." Hawkes said.

Danny shook her head. He pointed his finger at Hawkes, "Don't tell me that, doc."

"Lindsay managed to contain her rapist until Mac and Flack showed up." Hawkes began.

"Who's the basterd that did this to her?" Danny demanded.

Hawkes inhaled. "DJ Pratt."

Danny felt his heart shattered into thousands of pieces. That name had haunted him since Aiden's death. He'd prayed that sick freak would die In prison and finally pay for his crimes. Danny turned his head back to the window. Through the curtains, he could see Lindsay's shadow. His eyes blurred with tears Danny had been holding back sine Mac had called him.

Before another word could be said, the nurse and doctor exited from the room. Stella and Hawkes approached them immediately.

"Detective Monroe is conscious; however she hasn't said a word. Everything had been documented and set to your lab." the doctor explained.

"How is she, mentally?" Hawkes asked.

Danny looked through the window. The curtain had been drawn back, revealing Lindsay. She was lying on her side, almost in a fetal position. Her arms were drawn around her chest, clutching the hospital sheet around her body. Lindsay gentle face, which had been highlight of all his days, was tearstained and glistened in the lighting. Her deep chocolate eyes that had once held a spark equivalent to TNT, were hallow, empty. She lay in the bed, a mere shell of the woman he'd seen just hours ago. And the image of a willful, ambitious country girl was destroyed.

"…She hasn't said a word since she regained consciousness." the doctor explained. "She's able to be discharged tonight. However, if you fear for her safety, the hospital is willing to keep her overnight."

"Are we allowed to see her now?" Stella asked.

"Yes. But keep things slow and simple. We don't want to frighten her after this traumatic experience." the doctor warned.

Stella nodded. She picked up the bag from the floor and headed for Lindsay's room. Stella opened the door slowly and entered. Hawkes followed behind her. Danny wanted to follow them, but he couldn't find the strength to move. Every inch of his body was frozen from shock. He watched through the window as Stella and Hawkes moved to Lindsay's side. Stella walked to face Lindsay. She offered a sad, comforting smile. She placed the bag on the bed in front of Lindsay.

Lindsay looked at the bag but did nothing. Stella's seemed to be on the brink of tears. Danny could imagine that Stella wanted to give Lindsay a hug, but Lindsay would probably pull form her and run off. Hawkes stayed near to the door, in case Lindsay needed help.

Out of Danny's eyesight, but still within his hearing, several people were making their way down the hall. He could hear the metallic clatter of handcuffs. Someone was grumbling, cussing. Danny fought against this stall body and turned his head. A raging pain inside him broke into a wildfire. DJ Pratt was dragged down the hallway by two officers. He head was bandaged up on the side. Pratt looked at Danny, for a brief moment, time froze as Pratt smiled at Danny. Every restraint in Danny snapped. He was beside Pratt before his mind even registered to move.

"Killin' one detective wasn't enough for you, Pratt?" Danny asked. Danny swung his fist and slammed it into Pratt's jaw. Pratt collapsed to the floor of the hospital. One of the officers released Pratt and grabbed Danny, trying to keep him from beating Pratt further. Pratt spat blood from his mouth and smirked at Danny.

"You're lucky I'm cuffed, detective. Otherwise I'd kick your ass." Pratt replied.

Danny struggled against the officer, "I'd love to see you try you sick son of a bitch."

"Danny!" Hawkes yelled. He ran from Lindsay room to Danny. He grabbed his arms, dragging him from Pratt.

Stella emerged from the room shortly after Hawkes. She watched Hawkes attempting to drag Danny from Pratt. Stella took off toward them. Before she could help restrain Danny, he freed himself from Hawkes grasp and made another attempt at Pratt. Stella moved between Pratt and Danny. Hawkes caught Danny and dragged him from Pratt.

"Thanks for the help, detective Messer. Police brutality's going to help my sentence." Pratt called.

"There's a place in hell for you, Pratt and I only hope to god that I'm there when they strap you to that chair!" Danny spat.

"Danny this isn't helping!" Hawkes yelled.

The officer's dragged Pratt down the opposite hall, away form Danny. Danny kept his eyes locked on Pratt until he had disappeared around the corner. Hawkes still held Danny out of fear he'd go after Pratt again.

"Danny, what the hell were you thinking? Beating the hell out of Pratt won't help Lindsay!" Stella said.

Danny freed himself form Hawkes grasp. He turned from both of them, storming down the hall. "I know that Stella! I just…" he paused seething. "What that jury decides, it won't be enough! Not after what he did to Lindsay!"

"Danny everyone feels the same way right now. Believe me, nothing would please me more than taking a few cracks to Pratt's skull, but I can't!" Stella replied.

"Oh dammit!" Hawkes yelled. He moved across the hall toward Lindsay's room. He opened the door in a rush. Danny looked through the window. The curtains were drawn open, but the bed was empty. The bag Stella had brought in was on the bed, emptied of contents.

"Lindsay!" Stella called. She looked around the hall, anxiously.

Danny turned from the window. Panic rose in his chest. How'd she get pass them? She must've slipped by while Danny had attacked Pratt. Danny kicked himself mentally for making the biggest mistake of his life.

Hawkes exited Lindsay's room, "Where's she go?"

Stella shrugged. "I have no idea, but we need to find her."

They ran down the hall of the hospital, weaving through patients and residents. Outside, the sun was just beginning to rising over the waking city. Danny made a complete three sixty-degree turn as soon as he exited the hospital. Even in the early hours, the sidewalks were fairly crowded. If Lindsay was ear them, she wasn't being seen.

"Damn. What are going to do?" Hawkes asked.

"Split up and find her. I'll get Flack to send out an APB on her." Stella explained.

"Guys, we all know if Lindsay doesn't want to be found, we won't find her." Danny said.

Stella nodded. "I know, but that doesn't mean we can't try."

Danny nodded. "Alright. I'll start near her apartment."

"I go near the office and work from there." Hawkes said.

"Alright. Keep in touch! I'll let the others know what's going on." Stella replied.

Danny took off to the parkade. His Harley roared to life and sped off into the early New York life.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

yeah...i'm evil.