Disclaimer: Ha it will never change, at least not in favor of me.
A/N: It's 3am, I have an interview in the morning, a full weekend starting tomorrow ahead of me and yet I had to get this posted for you all, Just as a thanks for sticking with me. So, Finally we're back to the fun part. Hehe, hope you enjoy. Giant thanks to all of my readers and an extra thanks to those who review. Love you all. Hearts Gigi.
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: : Slight Out Of Hand : :
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Danny was on his way out, looking all spiffy in a clean cut suit. He had a hearing he needed to attend, but was running a tad early. Stopping by the bull pen to grab some stuff to work on while he waited to testify he spotted Stella deeply engrossed in an article she was reading on the computer. "What'd ya find Stel?" Danny asked gathering up some paperwork.
Stella jumped a little. "What, Danny nothing."
"Nothing my ass. You are too focused on that article." He said peering at Stella. She was caving and fast.
"Alright, you and Lindsay are close right?"
"We're friends, she's kinda pulled away lately though, why?" Danny asked rolling back on his heels.
"Since October right?" Okay, that was weird, how would Stella know it started in October, did she know he got stood up? Nah. Lindsay even admitted she was sorry that it happened.
"Yea…" he said thinking back to the fateful conversation in the hall. He was still going to be her friend no matter how hard she pulled away. "What do you know?"
"Ehhhh." She thought, "She hasn't told you, but….fine, you didn't hear or see this because of me." She said turning the computer screen so that Danny could read it.
"'10-Year-Old Diner Massacre: Case Closed?'" Danny read, "'On May 18th, 1997 at a small diner just outside of Bozeman, 4 teenage girls were gun downed, leaving only one survivor, one witness. Now 10 years later, a suspect, Mr. Daniel Cadence, is on trial for those murders…' You have got to be shitting me Stel." Danny said in disbelief as he read on.
"Nope, she witnessed her friends' murders, and I guess they caught him in Utah for something minor, the feds got a match to the diner. They called her up in October. Didn't tell me until she broke down in autopsy in December."
"Huh, that explains a lot." Danny said rubbing the back of his neck "She went back to testify then?" He asked
"Yea, she goes on the stand on Wednesday, the trial starts tomorrow, it's gonna be a hell filled few days for her." Stella spoke her concerns.
"Uh huh." Danny nodded along not really listening but going over in his head the small details that make sense now: the Henry Darius scene, the suicide girl, the mermaid, standing him up, so this was what she thought she put into her past, what she thought would never be solved, finding the guy would definitely throw her for a loop. "Speaking of testifying, I have a grand jury to get to." Danny said snapping two. She has two days until she has to sit in front of this monster. That did it: his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Lindsay and nothing else.
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He was slowly losing his mind….he hadn't slept in 3 days. He was SEEING Lindsay in the halls, he was delusional, so when his phone's screen blinked 'LINDSAY' he assumed it had to be just another hallucination.
"Messer, you gonna answer that?" an annoyed lab tech called. Okay maybe it wasn't a hallucination.
"Messer." He said flipping it open.
"Danny." A scared and quiet voice rang through the speaker.
"Mon…Linds, what's wrong sweetheart?" he asked as he made his way to a quiet stairwell that nobody used.
"Noth…..nothing, I just, can you…can you help me take my mind off of what's going on out here?"
"Sure, just answer me this first though, are you okay?"
"Yea, I will be once this is over with, I need to finish testifying tomorrow, they gave me a recess and Oh shit." She said realizing she hadn't told Danny anything about the trial.
"Okay, well, I know, you'll get through it, you're strong Montana, you'll be okay."
"You know?" This surprised Lindsay, they talked Friday morning and he hadn't known anything about why she had come back to Montana. Stella had done a great job of keeping the heavy media coverage the case was getting in Montana out of the New York crime lab. As far as she knew only Mac and Stella knew about her past. Guess not so anymore.
"A little, how you holding up?" Danny asked. Even over a phone line and 3,000 miles Lindsay could tell he was worried about her, and not in a romantic way, in a good friend way, which is what he has almost always been. The next step wasn't that big. But, he had moved on. She had heard he had a few dates in the last few months. (What she didn't know was that those dates, though they did occur never made it past the pivotal 3rd date, not that they couldn't, just that well his heart wasn't in it.)
"I've been better…." There was a pause as Lindsay chewed on her bottom lip she thought over her next words, the words to the question she was worried about asking since she found out about the trial, actually, it was more the answer to the question. "Danny, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you, but I, I couldn't even figure out what I was feeling and...I put you in the same category of the other guys I had dated and they bolted when they found out."
"Linds, I got it." Lindsay could hear Danny's light laugh over the phone. "But I can't bolt even if I wanted to. Friends first."
"I was so excited for that date." Lindsay giggled. She had yet to admit this to him, or anyone. Even Jenna barely knew of her excitement.
"Then why'd you stand me up?" Danny laughed. Good keep it light, he wasn't accusing her, they were just talking, reminiscing, laughing.
"I walked in the door and Jen bombarded me, 'Call Bozeman Now.' And then I found out they caught him, they actually had him."
"I'd think that would be a happy moment."
"You'd think, and it sort of was, I think I went into shock for a second, then they told me his name was Danny, and my mind just put the name with the blood spattered face I saw when my friends were murdered and I just….froze."
"I hope the association with the name has been tossed back my way since then."
"It has." Lindsay whispered. He could see her blushing, phone line be damned, he knew she was blushing. If she were in front of him the apples of her cheeks would be flushed red and she'd be fidgeting attempting to get away. "I think it's even helped."
"Good."
"Good, that's all I get is good?"
"What else do ya want to hear Montana, you already know I, we, okay I miss you like hell." Danny stumbled out
"Good." Lindsay shot back.
"You feeling better now?" Danny asked. He could see Mac lathering up his arm with some sort of goop, and should head that way soon.
"Yea, a bit."
"Only a bit, Montana come on!"
"What you didn't totally take my mind off of this trial, you got your information out of it, smooth by the way."
"I thought so." Danny put in cockily, she responded with a laugh.
"Messer." She warned.
"Lindsay, I hope you're okay, you'll do great tomorrow, we're all proud of you, but I have to go, my results are in, and it looks like Mac is withdrawal of your reconstructions and trying it on his own, which may or may not require him lighting his arm on fire." He said very quickly. He really had to get back to work, here he was getting his 6th wind.
"Okay. Wait what!"
"I'll explain first thing tomorrow."
"I have court." She said sadly drifting off.
"Hey, none of that, you'll do fine tomorrow, and afterward a story of a magician and so far two very gruesome copycats."
"Okay, and Danny thanks….for everything."
"Linds, what'd I tell ya, anything you need. Talk to ya tomorrow."
"Bye."
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Lindsay's eyes caught Danny's again as she finished retelling the events of the night. Now he knew most of the story, every gruesome detail of the worst 15 minutes of her life. She was waiting for him to get up and bolt. He didn't. Their eye's remained locked as she stood up and made her way from the witness stand to the spot where she had presumably been sitting before she took the stand. Closing statements were spoken and court was adjourned. The room emptied, Danny, not wanting to bombard Lindsay, and slightly nervous as to her reaction stood against the back wall of the room his eye's trained on her as she was patted on the back and hugged. She had no reason to be scared of mothers', they seemed to be taking to her just fine now.
Once alone, Lindsay took a calming breath before getting up and turning to the door. Danny was still there. Waiting for her, like he always was. A warm smile graced her lips before she started to move towards him. "Danny, what are you doing here?" She asked walking right into his waiting arms.
He squeezed her tight and placed a kiss to her cheek. "You sounded like you could use a friend, so I went with my gut."
"Work?" Lindsay questioned not leaving his embrace
"They got sick of me, sent me home."
"And?..." Lindsay asked with a skeptically raised eyebrow.
"And if I worked anymore they'd have to pay me triple overtime." Danny smirked. Lindsay shook her head but her smile mirrored his. She was glad he was here. "So this was your big secret?" Danny chuckled pulling her in for another hug.
"Yea, I'm sorry for not telling you Danny, but it was even too much for me too"
"Ey, Montana, do you see me complaining? Don't be sorry." Danny laughed letting go of her as they walked out of the courtroom Danny's arm slung around her. "Of all the baggage you could have been keeping secret, this is tame."
"And what's worse?" Lindsay laughed. Danny just gave her an are you kidding me look.
"Do ya really want me to open that can of worms?"
"Yea probably not. You look tired. When was the last time you slept?"
"A little on the plane, but it's been awhile." Danny yawned
"Coffee?"
"You better mean that." The line was insane, apparently every person in the court room had the same thought. Coffee. They stood in comfortable silence, stealing glances at one another, grinning every time they were caught by the other. Danny paid for two black coffees and they made their way to the extras station to add their sugar and cream. They grabbed a seat by the window. Looking out, the court yard was swarming with media. Danny let out a long whistle. "A lot of media out there."
Lindsay scoffed a little. "Don't remind me."
"They been bugging you?" Danny asked his voice laced with concern
"Not just me." Lindsay said taking a sip of her coffee. "Kelly's parents and Dana's brother have all been dodging them too. It's the biggest case of the decade, everyone wants the story."
"Right, Well it will all be over soon." says Danny after a pause and takes a sip of coffee. He puts his cup down and reaches for the milk and as he does so, his hand brushes against Lindsay's—and stops still. At once Lindsay's whole body stiffens(in a good way) Very slowly, he closes his hand over hers. And now she really can't move. They hadn't been like this, well ever. His thumb starts to trace patterns on her wrist. She can feel just how warm and dry his skin is. She looks up and meets his gaze; there is a jolt inside of her, to an outsider, they look like a couple very much in love, not the two friends they really were, however, the future did look bright. She cannot tear her eye's away from his. "Look Lindsay," he begins, but is cut off by the bleep of her phone.
"The verdict is in." Lindsay says looking up from her phone to Danny. He was already up and ready to head back into the room.
"That was fast." He observes tossing his empty cup into the trash.
"I just hope not too fast." Lindsay responded moving quickly, they slipped into a seat at the back of the court room. And waited for the jury to file in. The judge looks at the verdict before handing it back to the jurors.
"Will the defendant please rise" Danny glances over at Lindsay she look nervous. To calm said nerves she takes the leap and entwines her hand with his: perfect fit. "Madam foreman, you've reached a verdict?"
"We have your Honor." Danny squeezes Lindsay's hand for extra support. "In the matter of the People vs. Daniel Cadence, we find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree." The court room erupts into applause. It's finally over, it's done, they got him. Danny can feel Lindsay let out a deep breath, one she had been holding in as the verdict was read. She was finally able to relax. "This court is now adjourned."
The court room emptied, Cadence was led away. Lindsay's head fell onto Danny's shoulder. Everything was going to be better now, everything could be right again. With the court room nearly empty, Danny let out a groan of an "Alright" and got up "come here" he pulled Lindsay into a congratulatory hug, the scent of her shampoo intoxicating him.
He grabbed her hand to lead her out. But she didn't budge, feeling her pull back he turned. He knew that smile. He knew that smile well, he'd been dreaming about that smile since the bombing. She grabbed his other hand and was pushing up on her toes, a mere inch apart when a flash of a camera and questions come: the media crashes into the court. She doesn't want to answer questions. He knows she doesn't want to answer questions, that's why he hasn't been asking them (and he got many answered last night), and she knows he know she doesn't want to answer questions. He gives her a small grin and barrels through the media, down the corridor and out into the sunny Bozeman Street.
"They are awful." Lindsay laughs. It sounds so good to hear her laugh, Danny can't help but laugh along with her.
He slings his arm over her shoulder and pulls her close as they walk down the stairs "You can say that again. So…(pause)…..what now?"
"Lunch?" Lindsay laughs, and slips out from under his arm, taking his hand she almost pulls him in the direction of the best diner in the area.
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Danny and Lindsay were sitting in a booth at the window. Cadence was guilty, and all seemed to be better. Lindsay was relieved. She could finally breathe again, and the fact that Danny was there, made everything all the better. She took a sip of her water, before looking over the man who she had a strange inkling had or would soon steal her heart.
The late afternoon sun drenched him, well them, in a warm orangey glow. His blondish-brown hair seemed lighter, and his glasses caught a reflection of the setting sun. He looked up from his menu and gave her a quick wink accompanied by that Messer grin.
"So Montana, what the hell is a buffalo burger?" Danny asked with a laugh.
"Just what it sounds like."
"So buffalo meat?" Danny said skeptically.
"Uh yea, that would be the general idea." She laughed as she looked at her own menu before glancing at Danny's face. "Actually its pretty good, add a beer and you're golden. Actually that sounds pretty good." Lindsay said as she put down her menu and stared over at Danny.
"Buffalo beer?" he joked.
"Yea, sure Messer, they use buffalo pee to make it." She said rolling her eyes.
"Well can't let the little country girl intimidate me, guess it's a buffalo burger and beer for me too."
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"Geeze Danny, you inhaled that thing." Lindsay laughed as she finished a fry.
"What can I say Linds, it was good. Very Montana."
"Yea you won't find these in New York, like I can't get a good pizza out here to save my life."
"Aw well when you get back it's on me, how's that?" he winked. A moment later he finished his beer in a gulp-he felt her leg run up and down the inside of his calf.
"Don't think I could say no to that cowboy."
"Whoa, slow down there Montana." Danny chuckled, "What'd ya have in mind?" Lindsay bit her bottom lip and gave a flirtatious little shoulder shrug. She knew what was first on the agenda: finishing off that kiss, just not in so public of a place, at least not now, not with the whole town still semi watching her.
"How long are you here for Danny?" she asked innocently, taking a sip of her beer as she waited for his answer.
"I actually got an 8 o'clock flight outta here." Danny said taking a look at his watch, it was already close to 5, he had to get moving soon.
"So soon?" she asked. Her disappointment was obvious. He shot her a little reassuring grin.
"Sorry sweetheart Gotta get back to work." He apologized. Danny paid the bill and got to Lindsay's jacket before she could and helped her get it on.
"Such a gentle man." Came an older woman's voice: Kelly's mom, Megan Lloyd.
"Hello Mrs. Lloyd," Lindsay greeted, surprised to see her here, then after a beat remembered her manners and introduced Danny "this is Danny Messer, we um…"
"Work together in New York." Danny finished for her, shaking the woman's hand before stepping off to the side.
"Nice of you to be here for her, it has been a rough couple of months, and Lindsay sweet girl, thank you so much." Said Megan Lloyd hugging Lindsay. "This is all because of you."
"I haven't been around in 2 years…"
"Don't start that. I remember, when you first started at that crime lab you had them test the dna, and now look, thank you isn't near enough." Lindsay smiled uncomfortably and accepted another one of the woman's hugs. She and Kelly had been by far the closest, and a hug from Mrs. Lloyd was nothing new, but still, it wasn't all her doing. "Well I'll let you get back to your friend, will see you tomorrow?"
"Yea." Lindsay nodded. "See you tomorrow." Danny held the door of the diner open for Lindsay to walk through.
"See mother's aren't that bad." He whispered as she passed—he got an elbow in the gut.
"Okay, so the airport." Lindsay said pulling out the keys to the SUV she had been borrowing.
"Linds I can grab a taxi."
"But, you don't have to." Lindsay said unlocking the car and jumping into the driver seat. "Come on."
"What about your family? I was half expecting to see them at the court house?" And he was, it seemed odd that they weren't there to support Lindsay.
"You wanta meet my folks Messer? Because honestly we didn't even kiss." Lindsay kidded stepping on the gas as they left town.
"Not what I meant" Danny laughed, (and grabbed the oh shit handle, she doesn't drive like this in New York) and he fully intended to remedy the kiss situation before he left. "Just that…."
"Yea, I know, I told them not to miss work, I have to be at the ranch at 6:30 for dinner, so there is plenty of time and their place is on the way back into town."
"You don't seem …"
"Don't seem like what Messer?" Lindsay asked with a playful threatening tone to her voice. "You live with your parents for 3 weeks and see how anxious you are to get back home."
"I see your point."
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Danny was flying with nothing. It was just him and his ticket. Lindsay stood with him in line to check in her arm slung around his waist, his slung across her shoulder hugging her to him. His flight was on time, he had to get to security, but she didn't want him to leave, nor did he want to leave her.
Stopping just before the security gate he tugged her into a forgotten window alcove over looking one of the jet ways. He faced her head on, his finger mindlessly toying with her hair. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly around the middle burying her face into his chest absorbing herself in the smell of him. He rested his cheek on the side of her head doing the same with her hair, breathing in deeply and tightening his grip on her. "Thank you for coming Danny." She mumbled into his shirt.
He replied "What are friends for."
Lindsay pulled herself out of the embrace enough to look him in the eyes, so blue. "You know…" she looked away and started playing with the zipper to his jacket, "You know, you're more than that."
Danny smiled at that, yea, he knew it, not what it was, just that it was greater than friendship. He cupped her chin with one hand to help her look at him. "Yea Linds, I know." And with that he crashed his lips to hers. His hand moved from her chin brushing along her neck, entangling with her hair and stopping at the back of her head holding her in place as the kiss deepened. They pulled apart only when the need for air became too great to bear.
"Wow." Lindsay gasped leaning back against the wall behind her. Danny simply smiled, watching as she regained his composure. Granted he had been in control when the kiss started the intensity sent him spiraling as well. "Do you have to go"
"Unfortunately." Danny said stepping forward to stand in front of her and leaning to match his body's angle with hers "But, we will be doing more of that when you get home." He stated frankly before kissing her again. "I will see you in a week."
"Maybe sooner." Lindsay said flirtatiously.
"Oh, don't you tease me sweetheart."
"Wouldn't dream of it Messer." Lindsay said giving his shoulder a shove. "Go, or we'll keep this up until the window is completely fogged." And sure enough the cool March air and the heat from the two of them had caused the widows to fog up just ever so slightly.
"Is that a promise?" Danny asked mischievously. He was willing to take on that challenge.
"Go." Lindsay laughed. "I'll see you on Friday, AND call me when you land." Danny gave her a farewell wave and disappeared into security. Oh the trip had been good.
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Lindsay entered her parent's ranch and heard a ruckus coming from the kitchen. She shrugged off her coat and scarf hanging them on 'her' hook and made her way back there. "What's going on?" She asked as she saw her brothers, and sisters huddled around the worn wooden rustic kitchen table. The evening post splat in the middle…with a picture of her and Danny about to…
Charlie was the first to look up: "So Linds, How'd you make out?"
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A/N2: Hope you enjoyed it, that it lived up to expectations, just some insights into my brain: I didn't want to go into details about what had happened at the diner, and I also figure he needed a little more of a pull to get on a plane and fly out to Montana so the phone call laid the ground work and the trial got the rest out in the open, and who would want to relive it again just hours after finishing telling it, and I don't see Danny pushing it. He'd been good about it all season! =) Anyway I'm out of town and computerless for the weekend. Sorry, I'm getting bad at the updating again.