"Hold on
Hold on to yourself
This is gonna hurt like hell
Hold on
Hold on to yourself
You know that only time will tell"
- Sarah McLachlan ("Hold On")
She isn't sure which was worse – the false sympathetic smiles or the smug smirks. Word has somehow spread around the lab. She can hear the whispers, the callous remarks. How they had known it was only a matter of time before he tired of her. How they never saw what was so special about her in the first place. How it good it is to see Danny Messer, resident bad boy and hottie, is back on the market. How they hope that they're next.
She bites her tongue and quietly goes about her work, though everything she hears is like a kick in her stomach, forcefully pushing out the air in her lungs. By lunch, she is ready to crumble. She knows that they are right. It was only a matter of time before he tired of her. There is nothing special about her. His independence has been restored; he is free again. One of them will probably be next. And she will have to sit back and watch in silence. In pain. In agony. Because she pushed him away.
Exhausted and grateful when her shift is finally over, she quickly makes her way to the locker room. Though she is not looking forward to sleeping in her lonely bed, she is glad to get away from the prying eyes and slivered tongues. Replaying the snide comments overheard throughout the day causes her vision to blur with tears. Horrified, she keeps her head down as she walks. She will not let them see her cry. She is stronger than this. She is above them. She does not slow her gait until she is in the safety of the locker room, where she promptly runs right into his solid chest.
He mumbles an apology to her and quickly tries to get out of her way. The awkward interaction between them shocks and saddens her. The warmth and comfort are gone. Their familiarity is now painfully strained. Their relaxed banter has been reduced to icy formalities. But this is what she wanted, she tells herself. And this is what she will have to live with. She sinks onto a bench and allows her tears to fall.
Hearing her quiet sobs, he turns and sits next to her. He wraps his arms around her and comforts her, running his fingers through her hair. It'll be okay. Don't listen to them, he tells her. They don't know what they're talking about. I meant every word I said last night. I will win your trust back. I will wait for you. Whenever you are ready, I will be here. I cannot be without you, Montana. Believe in me. Lindsay nods weakly. He kisses the top of her head. Believe in us.