Danny Messer had never really been an understanding man. Sure, he could fake it for a while, but when it came down to it, he wanted answers, he wanted them now, and they had better be the right ones. He was easy to please, but he was easy to aggravate too.

He was sitting in the lab processing a rain boot when he saw Lindsay out of the corner of his eye. Her hair bounced from her stride and she had a small smile on her face. She walked in the door and for a moment he thought she was coming to talk to him. Instead she walked past him and went to Adam's work station. She stood next to him and said something that made him smile. He shrugged and she leaned up and kissed his cheek before grinning and leaving the room. Danny just stared wondering what he had witnessed. He always knew that Lindsay and Adam were friends, that they joked around with each other a lot, that they had similar interests that no one else did. He'd heard Adam refer to Lindsay as Sister Sweet Cheeks and she called him Brother Nerd Nuggets. He had no idea where the nicknames came from, and he had a feeling it was a very long story. But when he and Lindsay were together, it had always comforted him to know that she and Adam were just friends. Brother and sister kind of friends. Suddenly though, he was jealous. She was smiling around Adam in a way she hadn't smiled around him in a long time.

He'd really, really screwed up.

He secured the rain boot and went out into the hall, trying to track down Lindsay. After a pretty good search around the building, he decided she wasn't there, and went to look for Flack instead. Maybe he would know if something was going on between Lindsay and Adam.

"Hey man, you busy?" he asked, falling into step with his friend.

"On my way out. What's up?"

"You know what's goin' on with Lindsay and Adam?"

"What are you talking about?"

"They've been spending a lot of time together, right?"

"I don't really have time to keep tabs on them, Danno. But yeah, kind of."

"Are they… I mean, do you think they're like… datin' or somethin'?"

"Maybe. I mean they could if they wanted. I gotta go, man."

"Yeah. Thanks."

Danny sighed in frustration and went to Stella's office next. She knew gossip practically before it happened, and she was especially in tune with the team. If anything was going on, she would know. The hard part would be getting it out of her.

"Stell, you got a minute?"

"Sure. What's up?"

He sat down in the chair across from her desk, resting his elbows on his knees and taking a deep breath.

"Are Lindsay and Adam dating?"

She looked over at him, one eyebrow cocked up while she sighed.

"Danny, I don't think that's any of your business unless they make it your business."

"You said they. What do you know, Stell?"

"I know that you treated her like crap."

"I didn't come here to hear what a horrible person I am and how everyone is on her side. I messed up, I know. I've apologized. Numerous times, an' she doesn't wanna hear about it."

"Danny, maybe you had better just take a step back then. There's a reason she doesn't want to hear about it and I am betting it's because she's still hurt. She trusted you. I want you to think about that for a minute before you go getting all upset that she maybe, might have moved on."

He sighed and sat back in his chair running his hands over his hair.

"You don't know anything then?"

"They've been leaving together every night for a week. They've been eating lunch together. I have witnessed one argument about obscure British bands. That's all I know. Do your own math, but don't go thinking it's the Lord's gospel truth unless they say something."

"I really messed up."

"You did."

He looked up at her and winced. She was using that expression she usually reserved for suspects. If he didn't already feel like crap, he sure did now. He hated disappointing people, but disappointing Stella was quite possibly the lowest he'd ever been.

"I'm gonna take a walk," he muttered, standing up and leaving the office. His eyes trained on the ground, he made his way outside. He'd done a lot of stupid stuff in his life, but nothing like this. Sure, other things had been dangerous stupid, but this was something that would shape how everyone thought of him from now on. They saw him as a cheater, a guy with no self control, a guy who didn't care about the woman who loved him. They kept quiet, but he knew that's what they were thinking. That's what he thought whenever he looked in a mirror.

He wandered aimlessly through the streets for a while, trying to come up with something to say to her that would make her listen. Something that he could use to reassure her, to get her back, even to just get her to forgive him so things could be comfortable between them again. He feared that he would never find that one magic word or action, and he would never have her back.

He stopped for a slice of pizza, but ended up throwing the whole thing away. He didn't really feel like eating right now. Checking his watch, he realized he'd been out for almost three hours. Mac was understanding, but not when it interfered with work, so Danny headed back. He'd calmed down quite a bit and figured he'd better get back to processing the rain boot. He sat down at his work station and took out his notes, trying to remember where he'd left off, but he wasn't able to get earlier events out of his mind. He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, then replaced them, determined to shut out all noises and distractions. It worked for about three seconds.

"Adam!"

He looked up to see Lindsay in the hallway. She walked quickly, meeting Adam about halfway. Danny's heart sank as he watched Adam catch Lindsay in his arms and pick her up a good six inches off the ground, spinning her around before setting her down again. Danny had done that once. The Yankees had won and he had picked her up just like that and planted a kiss on her, right in the middle of the bar. Their first kiss, and he could still remember it. She had giggled and trained her eyes on his and he'd fallen so hard in that moment, he didn't think he would ever recover.

"I'm guessing it went good?" Adam asked with a chuckle.

"Very good."

"Is the stress gone?"

"You have no idea. I can actually breathe again."

"Well score one for pulmonary respirations."

"Amen. Can we go get a milkshake? I haven't eaten yet."

"At all?"

"Don't say it…"

"You're too skinny to live like that, Linds."

"I said don't say it."

"I'll buy you an extra big milkshake since you had to listen to it."

"Okay. Give me fifteen minutes; I have to go check in with Mac."

Adam nodded and Lindsay walked away, leaving him in the hallway. Danny just sat there for a moment, almost furious with what had transpired. If she had moved on, it was way too fast. He felt betrayed by both of them, Adam more so than Lindsay, but he finally caught a glimpse of what his actions had done. He was mad at himself more than anything, but his train of thought only went as far as mad.

He stood up and stalked out into the hallway, not quite sure what he was going to do, but figuring surprise was better than just laying down and dying in this.

"Hey, Ross," he growled.

"Hey Danny."

"What's going on?"

"Not much… what's up with you?"

"Don't play that. You and Lindsay. What's going on?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Look, are you datin' her or not?"

Adam just stared at him for a second before he replied.

"Is that your business?"

"Of course it's my business Adam! You knew I was trying to fix things. You knew and now you've just weaseled your way in there huh?"

"Danny-"

"Man, I can't believe you would sink that low. What, were you just waiting for an opening? You were the shoulder to cry on and then when she decided to move on, you were the one that was there?"

"Hey, at least I was there. Look, you act like you want her back so desperately, but you haven't done anything to prove you've changed. And you know what? She's happy. If you care about her like you claim, that's all you would be worried about."

"But you knew I wanted to work it out with her. What kind of friend is that?"

"Says the guy who cheated on her and started this whole mess in the first place. And you didn't even just make a mistake, Danny. You did it without regret and you did it more than once."

"You know what? That's between me and her, and I don't want you stickin' your nose where it doesn't belong."

"Maybe it's actually you who needs to back off, Messer."

"I'll give you somethin' to back up from, I swear-"

"Hey!"

They both turned to see Stella, her hands on her hips and a very cross look on her face.

"You two had better knock it off before she hears you."

"Stella, he-"

"Danny, are you 13? Get in here."

"But-"

"Now."

He gave Adam one last glare before following Stella into her office. She shut the door behind them and Adam sighed, wishing he could hear what was going on.

"Ready to go?" Lindsay asked as she came up behind him.

"Yeah, actually I've got a lot of stuff I need to do, so I think I'm going to take a raincheck on those milkshakes."

"Adam, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just busy. We'll go out later, okay?"

"Yeah, okay."

He turned and walked away, and she stood there, feeling quite deflated. She hated being blown off, especially when the excuse was so obviously fake. Shaking her head and sighing, she walked towards Stella's office, knowing that even when every man in her life was a complete mystery, Stella would always be there to commiserate with her. She opened the door and found Stella leaning against her desk, glaring at a very dejected looking Danny.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Linds, will you come in here for a minute?"

"Uh, sure."

She closed the door behind her, not sure exactly what was going on.

"You two need to talk," Stella said, crossing her arms. "And I mean a real talk. No more avoiding the elephant in the room. Got it?"

"Stell-"

"I'm serious, Danny."

"Okay."

She nodded and slipped from the room, leaving Danny and Lindsay in a silence that was one of the most awkward they had ever shared.