Chapter Six: A Million Pieces

After going back to Grant's hotel room and making a strategic plan about where to look for engagement rings, and ordering a ridiculous amount of room service, Lindsay was ecstatic. She was excited for her friends and what the future held for them, but she was also becoming weary from all the day's activity. She had work tomorrow and Grant had his first day of conference workshops so they decided to end their evening.

"We should get you home so we can both get some sleep before tomorrow," Grant said.

"I know, I'm exhausted," Lindsay replied. "I'll just get a cab and head home."

"Not on your life. I'm seeing you home like the true gentleman."

"Grant you don't need to," Lindsay protested, "I travel alone in the city all the time."

"That's true, but humor me just the same," Grant said, using his charming smile to get his own way.

Lindsay sighed and grinned, "Alright, let's go before I fall asleep on my feet."

They walked outside and hailed a cab, bickering slightly over whether or not Grant should use the traditional, 'I love you, will you marry me' method or a more creative, from the heart approach for his proposal. Their discussion continued in the cab with Lindsay asking Grant if he planned on practicing his proposal.

"Practice? I'll probably do it in front of the mirror a couple of times just to get the feel of the words right if that's what you mean," Grant answered.

"Good. That way at least the words won't feel foreign rolling off your tongue, after all it's not everyday a guy says the words 'will you marry me'" Lindsay teased.

"That's true enough," Grant laughed, "Maybe I'll use you as a practice model."

"You going to propose to me Jamison, I'm all aflutter," Lindsay laughed and placed a hand over her heart, pretending to be feeling her pulse.

Grant and Lindsay were both laughing and all smiles as the cab pulled up in front of Lindsay's building. Grant left the meter running as he ushered Lindsay towards the buildings gleaming glass doors. He noticed a man standing off to the side in the shadows but figured he wasn't too much of a threat.

As they slowed their walk and stopped in front of the entrance, Grant bid Lindsay goodnight and couldn't help throwing one last teasing comment her way.

"So Linds," he said casually, "I love you, will you marry me?" He flashed Lindsay his most disarming grin ever and Lindsay started to laugh at his practice attempt. She opened her mouth to make a cute remark, but a strangled sound from behind her caught her attention.

She noticed Grant frown at something over her shoulder and turned to see Danny, her Danny, standing in the half shadows. His face was a contortion of hurt and anger, but his eyes- oh his eyes- they shimmered with unshed tears.

Lindsay opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. She stood frozen, feeling helpless as she watched him turn and run- literally run- away from her. As he turned the corner and disappeared from sight she felt her heart crack. In that moment she recognized what Danny had seen and interpreted, and she died a million times over at the tears she had seen in his eyes.