(a/n: It has been a LONG time, no one is probably even following this but I am feeling like I cheated the characters out of their completed story, so I am BACK!)

Stella stands, brushing off some crumbs from their treat, and smiles down at Lindsay.

"Let's go, Kiddo, gotta get back to the grind."

Standing, Lindsay smiles and draws Stella into a tight hug, one or two hot tears hitting Stella's neck, as she whispers, "Thank you. I needed this."

With a smile, Stella strokes Lindsay's hair lightly and pulls back, with a smile. "Its going to get so much better now, Lindsay, I promise."

Stepping into the Lab, Danny looks around as he walks down towards Mac's office, half hoping to see Lindsay, but with a twist of his lips, he figures Stella's got her locked down with some coffee. Knocking on Mac's open door, stepping in as Mac looks up.

"Danny, how are you? No injuries?" Mac stands up and walks around the desk, looks at Danny with scrutiny, sharp eyes taking in the slight gauntness to his cheeks, and the sadness that seems permanent in his eyes.

Danny smiles a little, and arms up, turns around slowly. "Yeah, I'm good, Mac. Just in to check in, and turn in my gun, and my badge. IAB's request since theyre not finished investigating the shooting. It'll be nice to get a few days' rest, right?" His smile is a bit brittle, but Mac nods, a corner of his mouth lifting.

"Danny, fill out the incident report, file it with me, then go rest up. Once I know you're cleared, you'll have to see the shrink first then you can get back into the Lab." Mac clapped his hand onto Danny's shoulder, turning him around.

Lindsay and Stella step off the elevator, at that moment. Lindsay's eyes lock onto Danny's and she smiles slightly, and feels a flush start up her cheeks at his returning smirk. Stella grabs onto her arm and drags her off towards Stella's office, laughing at them.

"Get back to work, Linds, so you can get off and go have dinner with him. Remember, you don't have to tell him tonight, if youre not ready."

"I know, but I don't want him to feel like the whole world knew before him, either." Lindsay fidgets with the button on her lab coat, as she slips it on and buttons it, noticing it's a bit snug. She gives Stella a big smile, and then heads off to the lab she had been in, getting back to work.

Danny knocks on Stella's door, after having finished his report & turned in both his badge & gun. He hears a "come in", and opens the door, slipping in and closing it behind him.

"Hey, Stel, how's it goin'?"

Stella looks up, and with a raised eyebrow, she smiles slightly, "Hey, I'm doing ok, how are you holding up?"

Shrugging, Danny leans against a wall, one hand messing up his hair, as he runs his fingers through it. "I dunno, I hate that I had to shoot the guy, but, I can't imagine doing that to my own children, it sickens me, so can't say the perp will be missed much."

Standing up, Stella moves around her desk, and up to Danny, her hand on his cheek as she looks at him, and presses a kiss to his other cheek.

"Wasn't what I meant, and you know it."

He looks at her, nodding, as he pulls her into a brotherly hug, needing the physical contact of someone who he KNOWS still loves him.

"I'm getting there, Stel, I promise. One step at a time."