"And when I see you happy as a girl
That swims in a world of magic show
It makes me bite my fingers through
To think I could've let you go…
… And when I see you happy as a girl
That lives in a world of make believe
It makes me pull my hair all out
To think I could've let you leave"
- The Cure ("High")
Danny finally shuts down his computer for the night. He sighs as he runs his fingers through his short hair. He is the last man left, the only one still stuck at the lab. He quickly checks his watch as he hurries into the locker room to grab his coat. He glances at the darkened offices, pretty sure that he saw Stella leave with Mac and Sheldon about an hour ago. Then Adam escorted Jess out of the lab thirty minutes after that. Crap. That means that he is going to be last one to show, therefore, the team's tab tonight was on him. Stupid shift schedule. Unless… No. Not likely. At least, he hopes not.
A pang of jealousy had rippled through him when Don had appeared at the doorway of his and Lindsay's shared office and asked if she was ready to go. She had smiled brightly and nodded, noting that they had to stop by the locker room for her to grab her jacket and bag. She shut down her own computer before waving goodbye to him and following Don down the hallway. That was two hours ago. Two long, agonizing hours ago. Who knows where they could be now. They could be anywhere in the great city of New York. But Don had assured him that he would see them at Sullivan's with the rest of the group when he got off work.
Danny anxiously hits the 'down' button on the elevator. Why is this contraption working so slow tonight? He fidgets mercilessly, shifting his weight from side to side. His worries increase with each passing second. What if she's drunk and goes home with another man tonight because Don wasn't watching her closely enough? Or Don actually allows her go home with another man as a form of revenge because he's still mad at him? Or… what if she goes home with Don?
The thought angers Danny into action. He forcefully pushes open the fire escape stairwell door and flies down the thirty flights of stairs. The images of Lindsay wrapped in Don's embrace sear into his mind, though he knows that he is being irrational, that the fear is unfounded, and that the two of them would never… But that does not deter him. He has to get to Sullivan's now. His legs scream in protest when he finally reaches the lobby. But rather than give them reprieve and wait for a cab that he knows is now safe to take, he decides to jog the five blocks to Sullivan's instead, his messenger bag containing his laptop smacking his backside with every step.
Sweating and out of breath, he skids to a stop in front of the bar. Relieved, he takes a moment to let his heart rate lower and stabilize his breathing before opening the door and entering the building. He is greeted by the sight of his surrogate family laughing and enjoying each other's company at their usual table, in the back of the bar near the jukebox. Don, Jess, Sheldon, Mac, Stella, Adam… Danny grins when he notices that Kendall is sitting next to Adam at their table tonight. And on the other side of Kendall is his Lindsay.
He focuses on her as he approaches the table. She throws her head back in appreciative laughter as Adam and Kendall relay a story to her. He licks his lips at the smooth gracefulness of her neck. He smirks as her warm brown eyes sparkle with mischief at the group. He groans as she licks her lips after taking a sip from her glass. How could he be so dumb?
He begins to wonder, is a month too soon? He knows that he needs to regain her trust in him before they can start anything romantic again. But his patience is starting to wane. He can't help it. He knows that it is not her fault that she is pushing him over the edge. His desire for her now makes his first attempt with her look like an innocent schoolboy crush. After breathing her, tasting her, being inside her… he is going insane. She is better than any fantasy he has ever attempted to make up. Surely, she knows how sorry he is. Surely, she knows how much she means to him. Surely, if he asked her to get dinner with him one night she would go… right? As he reaches the table, he boldly takes the empty stool next to her. There is only one way to find out, he decides. And tonight is the night.