Okay guys, the next chapter after this one will be the last. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Fourteen: What Happened

A week had passed since the time he was in the hospital. He would return to work after the weekend, but tonight, he had something to take care of. He had to talk to Megan.

As he was taking a walk around Central Park with Lindsay, he saw her sitting quietly on a bench alone. He looked at Lindsay and she nodded, allowing him to go talk to Megan. He walked over to her. "Megan?"

She looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "Danny Messer, yes, I remember you. I suppose Mac has sent you here to tell me something else?"

"No," replied Danny as he sat down next to her. "I'm here to ask how the fire started in the lab."

"And Mac hasn't already told you?" she asked, but she continued on before Danny could reply. "I made such a stupid mistake. I was using a Bunsen burner in the lab, and I didn't close the gas supply completely, which caused methane to get into the lab and that made the fire start. At first, I didn't realize I had done that, but once I came back to the lab after going to the break room for ten minutes, I could smell smoke and I knew it had been me who started the fire. And the thing is, I've used them all the time and I've never done that before." Megan looked down at the ground. "I put so many people's lives in danger, including yours and Lindsay's. Danny, I'm really sorry…"

Danny nodded, but he didn't know why she was apologizing to him. But he could conclude that she didn't have the dream that both he and Lindsay had. "Did you tell Mac what happened?"

"I was unsure of telling him at first," she replied. "But once I got out of that building, I knew I had to tell someone, and when I bumped into Detective Mayor, I immediately confessed. I barely knew her, but I felt so guilty, so I told the first person I saw. She told me to tell Mac the truth, since he was my boss. But I didn't tell him right away, I couldn't. I visited my friend on the night of that fire—she works for the New York Times—and I talked to her about what happened. I had even considered writing an article, lying here and there so I wouldn't have to worry about Mac firing me."

"Did you?" asked Danny, remembering the article that told of him and Lindsay being dead in his dream.

She shook her head. "In the end, I knew it wasn't worth it. The next day, I came to the hospital and told Mac the truth. He was glad that I had told him the truth, but he still fired me." She looked up at him. "I hate myself for letting this happen. Someone could've gotten killed from the mistake I made…"

"Not to crush your dreams Megan, but maybe you weren't meant to be a CSI investigator."

Megan let out a little laugh. "Don't worry Danny, my dreams have been crushed enough during the past week, I don't think a little more crushing is going to kill me. Where do you suppose I should work?"

He was surprised she was asking him that question, he had only come here to figure out how the fire had started. Even if she had started a fire that almost killed both him and Lindsay, he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Helping her find a job was the least he could do for her. Standing up from the bench, he said, "You like writing? Maybe your friend could help you get a job there?"

"I don't know," Megan said with a shrug. She also stood from the bench. "They may think I can magically start a fire with the snap of my fingers. But who knows? Everyone might think that now, but a writing career could be a possibility for me."

They walked over to Lindsay. Danny could tell Megan was a little uncomfortable, she didn't know how Lindsay would react to talking to the person who put her life in danger. But Lindsay smiled.

"How about a waitress?" Danny continued.

Megan gave him an incredulous look.

"I said a waitress, not a cook."

"Messer's giving you job ideas?" asked Lindsay as they continued to walk through the park. "I'm not so sure if you want to listen to him…"

Danny shook his head.

"Again, a possibility," said Megan. "I'm sure I'll figure out something."

"Yeah, we'll help you think of something," Lindsay agreed.

Megan smiled. "Thanks guys, really, I'm glad you're willing to help me."

"Don't mention," said Lindsay. "It's the least Messer and I can do."

The three of them continued their walk, talking about possible careers choices. They later stopped to buy Starbucks, their conversation still about jobs. But even if Megan had caused a fire at the New York Crime Lab, a place many people were fond of, Danny and Lindsay didn't hate her. They were friends now, and if she had never applied for a job as a CSI investigator or caused a fire, Danny and Lindsay would have missed out on meeting a nice person. In the end, she did the right thing by telling Mac she was the one who caused the fire. And that was what Danny would remember.

You like? I don't know if that was a good way for how the fire started, but I didn't want it to look like Megan started the fire intentionally...again, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll post the final chapter in the next few days!