Authors Note: My first fanfic ever. I have many more chapters waiting in the wings already written so if you like this one let me know. Spoilers for "Not What It Looks Like"

DISCLAIMERS: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Jerry Bruckheimer and the wonderful writers for CSI: NY. Any resemblance to scenes from the episodes is included for clarity and continuity and I do not claim any of those as my own work. Everything else however is mine.

The Bomb

Lindsay leaned her head back against the headrest of the SUV. Her head pounded, her ears rang and even though she had downed a bottle of water at the scene the inside of her nose and throat were still dry and raw from the smoke

It had all happened so fast she had barely had time to think, she just reacted… look Mosi square in the eyes, drop the bag with flash grenade in it, dodge under the gun aimed at her head and drag the hostage to the ground as the flash grenade ignites.

BANG!

Then she had heard the SWAT team rushing in and Flack and Stella's voices as they shouted "On the wall" and "Gun" and "Got it". She was just beginning to get to her feet when the dizziness hit her in a wave, and she heard Danny's voice, "Lindsay"… "Lindsay". She croaked out, "Danny" and he was pulling her to her feet, checking her over with his hands to make sure she was okay and pulling her to his chest. As he embraced her she felt his chin rest against her forehead as he murmured "It's okay." She pulled back from him and could see the relief in his eyes and he could see the pure disbelief in hers. He pulled her back to his chest and she dug her fingers into his upper arms still trying to fathom what had actually gone down.

She had been so grateful for his arm around her as she had walked out of the building. With her heart beating like a wild captive bird and her legs as weak as jelly she would have collapsed otherwise. He took her over to the ambulance and stayed close, watching, as the EMT checked her over. She couldn't read his expression but he was very quiet which was unusual for him. Stella and Flack had come over and had asked "How are you doing?" and "Gutsy move… saved that girl's life." Stella had looked over at Danny and said, "Danny take her home after this okay." Danny had nodded, "Sure Stel."

Now she was in the SUV hoping that the aspirin would begin to kick in soon because the adrenaline rush was receding and she was beginning to feel every ache and pain in her body from her dive to the floor. Her shoulder hurt particularly because she was sure she had wrenched it when she had pulled the hostage down to the ground with her.

Oh that poor girl with her eyes and mouth taped and blood running down her neck. She couldn't begin to imagine that girl's terror. It brought back memories of her CSI days in Bozeman, Montana. 'Oh God Laurel, why couldn't I have saved you like I saved that girl today?' A random tear slid down her cheek and the lump in her throat rose.

"Hey, Montana are you okay?" Danny asked softly as he stole a quick glance at her profile.

She didn't even look at him as she quickly replied "Yeah, yeah, I'm just a little emotional from the whole episode."

"Hang tight, we'll be to your building soon."

She took in his profile grateful that he had to concentrate on the afternoon Manhattan traffic. This was a side of Danny she had never seen before. Quiet, concerned, in fact downright worried. Usually he was quite playful, gregarious and somewhat flirty with her, even calling her 'Montana', a nickname coined by him on her first day in New York. Other times he was serious particularly when they were working on a case together. He would always take the time to explain procedures and conclusions to her, often talking through his cases with her, always listening intently when she bounced ideas and theories off him. They worked well together and she had learned much from him since coming to New York City a year ago but she often thought there was more to Danny than meets the eye. His actions didn't always match up to the talk about him or least that she could see.

She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't attracted to him but she didn't let it go much beyond the occasional thought because, well, he was a coworker and a damn good one at that and then there was the talk and finally she had to stay focused on why she had come to work in the New York City Crime Lab, to be around the best and learn from the best so she could...

"Parking spot!" Danny exclaimed interrupting her thoughts.