Scarlett waited outside her house; her Nan in the car on the road, making sure someone was home. She knocked again, thinking her mum might not have heard her. Finally she heard the front door unlock and Lindsay came out, wrapping her arms around her. Then Lindsay waved to Danny's mum and she drove off. Scarlett noticed straight away the puffy red eyes her mum had. When Lindsay noticed what she was looking at she turned away quickly.
"Have you been crying mummy?" She asked, her large eyes staring steadily and worried.
"No Lettie, you see mummy's been ill and that caused my eyes to get all itchy."
"Oh. Ok then. What's for dinner? I hope it's pancakes, I love pancakes."
"Hmm, do you think Daddy will let us eat pancakes for dinner?"
"Yeah! Daddy loves pancakes too."
"Let's go make some pancakes then." Lindsay smiled, tickling Scarlett's stomach.
……
After much giggling and not so successful pancake making, Danny had returned home to find Lindsay and Lettie cuddling on the sofa and watching an old Disney film. He smiled from the doorway, Lindsay turning around and gesturing him over. He sat next to Lindsay and hugged her in. Lettie looked up.
"Me too!" she jumped up and sat on Danny's lap, Lindsay and Danny laughing. Lindsay couldn't stop smiling, no matter what happened she had her family, and if it meant not telling Danny what she wanted to most, she would protect them.
……
That night Danny and Lindsay were kissing in bed when suddenly he started to pull her top off. All she could see was him in the alley, on her. She freaked out, jumping out of bed and backing away.
"What's wrong?" Danny looked worried.
"I can't," she sobbed. "Not tonight, I can't." Danny was confused, something was wrong but he just couldn't put his finger on what it could be.
"Come here." She walked cautiously to him and he wrapped his arms around, suddenly making her feel safe again. "Now something's wrong, you can tell me." He felt her tense up. Lindsay felt a huge urge to tell him, to half her pain, let him tell her everything would be fine and he would keep her and Scarlett safe, but she knew that would be a big mistake.
"I'm fine, really I am." She looked into his eyes and tried to force a smile.
That night Lindsay felt safe in Danny arms, although not matter how close she cuddled in she couldn't escape the nightmares she saw when her eyelids dropped. She had very little sleep and was extremely tired when the alarm woke her up. She jumped in the shower and tried to get the feel of him off her, the feel which crept make to her memory in the night. She wanted to stay at home that day, her eyes heavy with drowsiness, but after yesterdays letter all she wanted was to stay close to Danny. They both dropped Lettie off to school together and went to work. That day Lindsay wasn't really focused on the case, Danny kept asking her questions but her mind was somewhere else.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Danny asked after she made the third attempt to type 'gun shot residue' without any mistakes. She smiled and nodded at him, but Danny wasn't convinced. "You're not, hmm, you know." He glanced down at her stomach.
"No! No, I'm not, I'm fine." Danny sighed. He glanced at his watch.
"God, we better go pick up Lettie, I don't think her head teacher likes us too much.
"Okay then." Lindsay wrapped up what she was doing and they left the building, saying goodbye to all the team first. On the drive back from Scarlett's school, Angell rang Lindsay,
"Hey Linds, me and Flack were wondering if you and Danny wanted to pop around later, I'm cooking and Flack just gone to get some drinks."
"Yeah that sounds awesome, about seven?"
"Yeah that's fine. You gonna call a babysitter?" Lindsay's heart stopped as the thought of leaving her daughter with a stranger all night dawned on her.
"Err, what's Adam doing tonight?"
"Well, he said he's watching the game with some mates…"
"So he's at home all night?"
"Yep." They both laughed. "See you at seven?"
"Yeah see you then." Lindsay snapped down her phone.
"What's happening?" Danny asked.
"Flack and Angell want us round theirs for seven for some food and drink. Scarlett will probably be going to Adams." Lindsay smiled.
"Sounds good."
…
Lindsay kissed Scarlett goodbye and turned to Adam. "You have my cell incase any things wrong, though it should be fine." She could Adam stressing over the many things that could possibly go wrong. "Ring me if anyone calls at the door, okay." She added sternly.
"You expecting anyone?" he asked.
"No, just ring, okay?"
"Yeah fine."
"Have fun." And Lindsay turned and walked towards the car.
"Bye!" Danny shouted from the window. "Do you reckon he will be okay? He looks pretty scared." Danny laughed.
"He'll be fine. He's looking after Lettie at home so she should easily entertain herself.
…
Hours passed and Adam had been everything from a doctor to a teacher, a dog to a father of a plastic doll. He was stressing out now, the game of hide-and-seek Scarlett started had resulted in him losing her. He had searched top to bottom of the entire house but couldn't find her, and was imagining the reaction Lindsay would have she came home and her daughter was gone. After another good look he reluctantly rang her.
"Hello?"
"Hi Linds, right, don't freak out, but I think I lost your daughter."
"What! How? Did someone take her? Did you follow him…"
"No, no, we were playing hide-and-seek and I can't find her anywhere." Adam was sweating now, she hated him, and he knew it.
"Oh! Is that all? She'll be behind the bathroom door; it's her favourite place." Lindsay sighed. Adam ran to the bathroom and sure enough he found Lettie behind the door in fits of laughter.
"Found her. Bye." Adam hung up.
…
Lindsay and Danny had a good night at Angell and Flacks and had to call a taxi, as they might have had a bit too much to drink. Danny didn't care, its was Friday he thought. There was no work in the morning and no reason to be up early. He could have a lie in with his two girls, even if Lindsay wouldn't tell him what was up. When the taxi dropped them outside the house they could see Letties beaming face in the window. The door opened and Adam met them on the path. Danny said his thanks then walked inside to meet his little girl.
"This was posted for you." Adam passed her a baby blue envelope with a handwritten Lindsay on the front. She took it and stuffed it in her pocket, trying to hide her fear. "Is everything okay…"
"Yes Adam, I'm fine. Thank you for tonight, we owe you." Lindsay gave him a quick hug and hurried back to the house, leaving Adam standing there confused.
Lindsay held back the tears of fear until she reached the bathroom, holding the letter in quivering hands and debating whether or not she really wanted to read what he had to say. After a long time she heard Danny come upstairs and knew whatever happened she was safe, so slowly she roughly tore the envelope open, and read what was waiting inside…
…
As I said, poll is open and we'd love to know which show you'd like us to cross over with