You're in my thoughts.

Dear Danny
I'm not good at long
goodbyes. Or short ones
for that matter. But
Montana calls and the
cows are heading home.

MOO.

See you soon.

Montana

Danny smiled to himself as he nursed a beer in his apartment and reread her card for the twentieth time. He'd been confused and a little hurt to see her bid such fond farewells to Mac and Stella. Why wasn't she coming to him for a hug? So she didn't want to date him, that didn't mean he couldn't hug her, did it? Even Adam got a hug from her before she left, and didn't get anything.

At least, that's what he'd thought until her card had fallen at his feet.

It was a simple gesture and a simple message, but the fact that she'd taken the time to do that for him said more than a few short sentences could convey. Maybe she hadn't given up on him, entirely. Maybe he still had a shot at her. Maybe…

Maybe he was getting a little too obsessive about a coworker who was currently halfway across the continent.

Setting his jaw, Danny stood up with a certain amount of determination. Heading over to the desk in the corner of his living room, he powered up his computer. Maybe he could just come right out and ask her.

Licking his lips and running an uncertain hand through his hair, he took a deep breath and opened up his email client.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

From: Danny Messer
To: Lindsay Monroe
Subject: You're in my thoughts.

Hey Montana,

I just wanted to let you know that I got your card. Thanks.
I suck at good-byes, too. Hell, I suck at hellos and everything
in between. Just ask my Ma.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that Mac told me
what's going on, and I'm here for you if you need someone to
talk to or whatever. I know how hard it can be to say stuff
out loud, sometimes. Maybe writing it down would be easier
for you.

Don't you go putting down roots out there in cowboy-land,
though, you hear me? Just because you guys have fresh air
and wheat fields doesn't mean New York can't compete.
We've got way better pizza.

Say hi to the cows for me.

Danny

Lindsay's face broke into a huge grin as she read Danny's email. It always somehow surprised her that he could be so sweet and understanding. It was so much easier to see him as the tough, no-nonsense New York cop than as the friend who'd been there for her so much in the past year and a half.

She was so glad that he'd not only liked her card but had actually written to her to say thanks. Going back home was hard. Seeing how her parents had aged in the months she'd been gone and catching up with people whose lives had changed drastically in the intervening time was stress enough without the thoughts of what she'd have to do now that she was here. Hearing from someone who wasn't intimately involved in the pain she was dredging up was a sort of lifeline back to the sanity she'd rediscovered on the East Coast.

Lindsay had a feeling that she'd be needing quite a bit of sanity in the next few weeks. Settling herself more comfortably in her chair, she hit Reply.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Author's Note: the text of the card is the same as it was on the show. Yes, I paused it to read the message. I know I'm a freak, so you don't have to tell me. The title of the story and Danny's email is from the printed text on the right-hand side of the card. Anyway, I'm happy enough to leave this as a one-shot, but if you people would like more, just let me know.

And yes, I'll get back to ETR. I've been neglecting it horribly, I know, but… I'm trying to think of a good way to wrap it all up, and I'm coming up short. I don't want it to drag on indefinitely, since it's been feeling kinda flat to me for the last few chapters. I need to remember where I put the funny. I know I had it around here, somewhere…