Disclaimer: Sorry not a billionaire so I couldn't buy Danny and Lindsay, I did try but the deal fell through- so sorry- I have no claim to them or the show CSI:NY, not mine.

Chapter Three: Getting By

Emotionally, Danny couldn't go back inside that building. He couldn't see Lindsay and that GQ boy talking and laughing. Every time he thought of what he'd seen and heard it was like a flaming arrow pierced straight through his stomach leaving a hideous scorched feeling behind. He hated it.

Physically, Danny knew he had fingerprints in the lab waiting to be analyzed and that the rest of his work was waiting. He couldn't exactly call out sick now after he and Mac had spoken seven times already that day- then Mac would know something was wrong and want to know what- -and Danny wasn't ready for sharing.

Squaring his shoulders with a final deep breath he headed towards the double front doors, praying to God, Buddha, Allah, the Dali Lama and Mother Teresa that he wouldn't encounter Lindsay and GQ boy.

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Meanwhile….

"So what'd you think?" Lindsay asked as she finished giving Grant a tour of the lab.

"High tech and way too much breakable stuff," he replied with a wink. "Do you get off soon? Maybe we could grab a bite to eat after your shift?"

Lindsay glanced at the wall clock, "I have another two hours to plug in but why don't I meet you somewhere after my shift? Where are you staying?"

"The Millenium Hilton on Church Street, know any good places near by?" Grant replied hoping she did because he was dead tired from his overnight shift at the hospital and his following flight to NYC.

"Sure do, Gotham Bar and Grill is supposedly really good and it's near by. Besides, since you're paying I can just sit back and not worry if my white wine cost $20 a glass," Lindsay joked.

"Sounds good Linds. Let's say around 7:30? That ought to give me enough time to unpack my stuff for this trip and rest up a bit before a night out on the town with the most beautiful girl in the city," Grant replied with his easy charm.

"Alright. I'll meet you in the hotel lobby?" Lindsay asked, smiling because of the compliment he had given.

"Sure. We'll take a cab together to the restaurant," Grant answered. He leaned down and gave Lindsay a quick kiss on the cheek and squeezed her hand, "you better not be late or I might just leave with out you."

"Please you'd be lost within two minutes without me," she retorted with a slight purse of her lips.

"You're probably right," Grant laughed and with a final smile headed out.

Lindsay listened as he whistled down the hallway and realized she hadn't felt this excited about anything in a very long time. With a half smile on her face she returned to her desk to finish out her day.

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Danny was thrilled that he'd been able to return to work without encountering Lindsay and that guy. Although he wasn't speaking to anyone, and all of his co-workers were whispering and wondering about what had put the normally unflappable Danny into such a state of sullenness, he thought he was coping fairly well.

He glanced at the clock, it read 8p.m. and meant that he could finally get out of here, go home and try and forget the image of Lindsay and whats-his-face that at that moment seemed seared into his retinas.

Glass clinked as he replaced the few test tubes he hadn't used in the cabinet, and Danny didn't hear Mac enter the lab until he spoke.

"Calling it a day?" Mac asked.

Danny spun around, "Damn Mac you tryin' to give a guy a heartattack?"

"Sorry," Mac said with a frown. He knew Danny wasn't usually the jumpy type, and combined with the haggard look on his face he felt concerned.

"You okay Danny? You don't look so good."

"It's nothin'. I'm fine. I just need to get out of here." Danny answered. "You need somethin'?

"Nothing that can't wait until tomorrow," Mac replied.

"You sure Mac?"

"Yeah I'm sure. Go home Danny I'll see you tomorrow," Mac said.

"Alright Mac. G'night."

"Night Danny," Mac said as he watched Danny leaved the lab with a heavy step and looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.