Sorry it's taken me so long to update! I was away for the weekend and didn't get a chance to post it here before I left. I'm going to admit that this was the toughest chapter to write. I suck at endings, and that is probably why this chapter (and a few other fics I have on the go) took forever! This is the final chapter, and I want to thank everyone for reviewing! You guys rock! Hope you enjoy...
Disclaimer:: As usual…
Chapter 9
Lindsay sat in a chair beside Natalie. She had been sleeping when she arrived and hadn't woken up yet. She was in bad shape when she was brought in. She had been so close to running out of air that she was lucky she wasn't in a coma and she was badly dehydrated. She also had a sprained wrist and there were several cuts and bruises throughout her entire body and a black eye, which looked a day or two old. But, she was going to be ok.
Lindsay had come to the hospital with Mac and Flack as soon as she left the interrogation room, and was told the details before they got there. She went straight to her sister's side when they arrived. The doctor had came and told her of all the injuries Natalie had.
She got up from her chair and went into the hall, where the team was waiting to see her. She didn't want to keep them waiting, since she knew there was a lot of work to be done.
"How's she doing?" Flack asked.
"She'll be ok, thanks. Thank-you to all of you. These past few days have been, well, crazy, and you guys really helped me through it."
"It was no problem, Lindsay." Stella said. She came over and gave her a hug. "Call if you need anything, ok?"
"I will, thanks."
"That goes for me too," said Hawkes.
"You basically have a long list of people who are willing to help out with anything, anytime." Flack joked.
Lindsay laughed lightly. "Thanks guys, I appreciate it."
"I don't want to see you in the lab for a few days. And make sure you don't stay here at the hospital. You need your rest." Mac said. "We'll all be by another time to see how she's doing."
"Thanks Mac."
Everyone started to leave. Everyone but Danny, who had been leaning against the wall behind them. Lindsay looked over at him and then down at his hands. Mac had told her that it was Danny that found Natalie, but never mentioned him getting hurt.
"What happened?" she asked as she moved closer.
Danny looked down at his hands sheepishly, then back up at Lindsay. "It's nothing, just got a few splinters from the boards."
"A few? Danny, you're hands are all bandaged up."
Lindsay took his hands in hers, her eyes pinned on them.
"Thank-you for finding her Danny. If you hadn't, who knows what would have happened." She looked up at him to see him intently staring at her. He moved closer, and kissed her forehead. Lindsay leaned into his shoulder as he put his arms around her and held her close.
"I should get back in there, in case she wakes up." Lindsay said as she pulled away.
"Yeah, I should, uhh, get back to the lab."
"No, you should go home, get some sleep. You look exhausted."
"A cup of coffee and I'll be all good."
Danny kissed her forehead again and put his hand on her shoulder. "I hope that when you do need something, I'm on the top of that long contact list ya got."
"You know it is."
"Good." He said, a smile on his face. He turned and left the hospital.
Natalie woke up later that night. Her head was throbbing, and the light in her hospital room, although dim, was burning her eyes.
She shifted in her bed and looked around the room. She found Lindsay asleep in a chair, her head in her arms on the hospital bed. Natalie smiled, and tried to sit up, as quietly as possible.
She looked over as the door opened. A man came in with flowers.
"You're up." He said in a thick New York accent.
"Yep." She replied in a whisper. She looked back down at Lindsay, who had moved a bit, but still remained asleep.
"How ya feeling?"
"Like crap, but alive."
He laughed. "Well, that's good to hear." He extended his hand, "Danny Messer, I work with Lindsay."
Natalie took his hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you." Lindsay had mentioned him before, and Natalie could tell by her voice whenever she talked about him, that he was more then just a co-worker. "So you're the guy who gave her the nickname?"
"That I would be." Danny laughed.
"What happened to your hands?"
"Got a few cuts today, no big deal."
"And I'm guessing I'd be the reason for that? I don't remember much, but I can only imagine where you found me."
"Well, you were well hidden, that's for sure. But if it wasn't for you kicking, who knows when we would have found you."
"Thank-you, for finding me, for helping." Natalie nodded towards a chair beside her bed. "Take a seat."
"Thanks," Danny said as he sat down. He looked over at Lindsay.
"I can only imagine what hell I've put Lindsay through," Natalie said, following his gaze.
"She was strong, or as much as she could be."
"She's always worried about me, sometimes too much. But, I guess this incident proves that she had good reason. " Natalie sighed. "You know, I never thought this was how my first trip to New York would be. I was going to come visit her when I got back from Europe. She really loves it here."
Natalie looked over at Danny, who was still watching Lindsay. He had it bad for her, Natalie could tell. She laughed to herself, causing Danny to look over at her.
"So, when are you going to ask my sister out?"
Danny gaped at her. Had he heard right?
"Don't give me that look, I could tell the minute you walked in here. You like her." Natalie waited for a response, but Danny was speechless. Needless to say, he hadn't been expecting this conversation to come up.
"I'm guessing that Lindsay never told you that I'm more of a 'get to the point' kinda gal. I tend to cut to the chase." She joked.
"No kiddin'" Danny answered.
Lindsay stirred and Danny was thankful to put an end to the awkward conversation.
"I should get going. I just wanted to drop off some flowers, see how you guys were doing."
"Thanks again. For saving me," She said with a big smile. "and the flowers"
"No problem," he said, as he went to the door.
"Oh, Danny," Natalie said, before he left. Danny turned back around. "I know my sister. She won't say no, not to you."
Danny smiled, and left, quietly shutting the door behind him. You could tell the Natalie was Lindsay's sister. They both picked up on the details.
Natalie was out of the hospital a week later. She was staying with Lindsay for a few more days, before she headed back to school. She figured that since her Europe trip was cancelled, she may as well stay and see the sites in New York.
While in the hospital, Natalie had met Lindsay's other co-workers. She could see why she enjoyed her job so much, as everyone she worked with were very friendly, and some quite good looking. Natalie began joking around with Lindsay, wondering how she got any work done.
Lindsay was glad that her sister's sense of humour was still there. She had initially been worried how this would affect her, but five minutes after Natalie had been awake, she was her old self again, or as much as she could be. It would still take some time to heal, but she was well on her way.
Natalie hadn't told Lindsay about her conversation with Danny. She had, of course, mentioned that he stopped by, but kept the rest to herself. She knew her sister would have been embarrassed if she found out what Natalie had said. Danny stopped by each day to visit, and Natalie told herself that if neither of them made a move before she left, she was locking them in a room until they did.
Lindsay had returned to work once Natalie was released, and was happy to be back. Once she arrived, she was immediately put on a case with Danny. During everything that happened, he had always been there for her. She had opened up to him and found herself falling for him. But after they had found Natalie, things went back to the way they were before, and neither were quite sure why. When he came to visit at the hospital, they would share a few words, but mostly had silent glances doing the communicating for them. Neither was making a move, even though the ball was in both their courts.
After her third day back to work, the case was finally solved. It was late, and Lindsay was in the locker room getting her things. She was exhausted. Danny came in a few minutes later. "Got plans for tonight?" he asked
"Um, no, probably just watch a movie with Natalie."
"Sounds thrilling." He joked.
"Oh, you're so funny Messer."
Lindsay's cell rang. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Nat. Still at work?"
"Just in the locker room, I'm on my way out."
"So, do it yet?"
Lindsay rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what her sister was referring to. "You need to drop it." She said quietly.
"Is he there right now?"
"None of your business."
"He is, isn't he? Do it now, you're alone aren't you?"
"Nat, please..." Lindsay started.
"Listen Lindsay." Natalie interrupted. "He likes you, you like him. After everything you told me about what happened while I was in trouble, you guys should already be together. Now, make a move already! You do not want me to step…"
"Fine, fine."
"Great, now good luck, even though you don't need it."
Lindsay hung up the phone and smiled.
"Was that Natalie?" Danny asked.
"Um, yeah, it was." She said quietly. She knew Natalie was right. She turned around to face him. "Danny, we need to talk."
Danny turned around and saw Lindsay's serious expression. He nodded.
"We never…I mean, I never really, you know, thanked you, for everything you did for me. You put up with my ramblings, my emotions. It meant a lot to me."
"It was no problem Linds, you know that." Danny replied, moving closer to her. "I'm glad you were able to talk to me." Danny put one of his hands on Lindsay's arm. Lindsay did the same to him.
"I don't know what I would've done without you." she said quietly.
Lindsay put her arms around Danny's neck, pulling him down for a hug. Danny wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. They both pulled back slightly, faces inches from each other. Danny brought his hand up to cup her face, as they both moved in until their lips met.
It was a slow, gentle kiss, one that both had been aching to share for a long time. Danny pulled back and looked Lindsay in the eyes, smiling.
"You think Natalie would mind if you skipped the movie tonight?"
"I think she could find it in her heart to forgive me." Lindsay laughed.
Danny pulled her into another kiss, this one more passionate then the one before. The moment was perfect, and everything felt right. After everything that had happened, dealing with the past, both were now looking forward to the future.
This fic was a lot of fun to write, and I'll miss it :P Thanks again for all the reviews!