A/N: Final chapter, here it is. Thanks SO much to all of you who took the time to read. This was a deeply emotional fic for me to write, making it hard to share without feeling exposed. It's a story that will always be close to my heart. And now, I am moving back to my realm of Fluff, perhaps with a sequel to Miles to Go, not sure yet. :) Enjoy the D/L reuinion - Keep on shipping!

Chapter 15
Lindsay: Unbroken

As Lindsay signed her name to yet another form, she wondered how much longer she would have to work at the lab before earning a signature stamp. She had returned from lunch not long ago, and the cramp in her wrist told her she needed another break.

Stella breezed in the room, doing a double-take when she saw Lindsay. "I'm shocked to see you still here!" she exclaimed, grinning widely.

Lindsay gave her a puzzled look. "We have a lot of paper work to finish for the Rothbart case," she replied tiredly. The emotional exhaustion of the week had taken a toll on her physical strength. "Why wouldn't I be here?"

Stella blinked in confusion. "But I thought… Oh. You didn't hear?"

"Hear what?" Lindsay asked, tensing up instinctively.

"Oh, God. Mac didn't tell you yet."

Lindsay jumped out of her seat. "What? Mac didn't tell me what? Something about Danny?"

Stella seemed hesitant to divulge any more information, and Lindsay's heart seized. She pushed back her chair suddenly and leapt to her feet. "Please," she begged. "Stella, if you know something…". Her knees threatened to buckle.

"Sassone was found guilty on all charges this morning," Stella explained. "Danny was released from protective custody and should be back in the city any minute."

Lindsay didn't hesitate. She didn't thank Stella, didn't stack up the papers that lay in disarray on her desk, or rinse out her half-empty coffee mug, or even retrieve her jacket. She just ran. At the end of the hallway, she was jabbing the elevator button repeatedly with trembling fingers, waiting for the doors to open, when she heard Mac's voice.

"I guess you heard the good news."

Lindsay swerved to see him standing behind her, arms crossed. "Mac," she said, "can I…? Is it okay-"

"Lindsay," Mac interrupted sternly, "this is your job, and I expect you to make priorities here…" Lindsay hung her head and nodded, waiting for the scolding that was sure to follow. "I had better not see you back here until Monday morning," Mac finished, breaking into a grin. "Tell Danny the same."

Lindsay laughed with relief. "Thank you, Mac," she said, giving him a quick wave. The elevator had arrived, and she stepped on, watching the numbers illuminate with each floor of its descent: 6… 5… 4. Her throat was dry and she felt dizzy with each lurch downward: 3… 2… 1. Once arriving at the main floor, she ran through the lobby, dodging people left and right. Their stares of confusion or annoyance were meaningless to her.

Outside, she craned her neck in an attempt to see over the countless heads that filed by. Where was Danny? A breeze whipped her hair around, and she shivered from the chill and excitement. Jogging back and forth in front of the building, she continued to scan the passersby for that recognizable head of tussled brown hair, or the blue eyes that twinkled behind glasses. But Danny was nowhere do be seen. The alley behind the lab was completely empty. She crossed the street, looking in the front door of their favorite deli, with no luck.

Frustrated and winded, Lindsay stopped pacing and leaned against the wall of the building in defeat. This was torture – she had waited so long, and it seemed like these last few minutes were endless. He obviously hadn't arrived yet – maybe he was stuck in traffic somewhere. She considered going back inside – Danny would probably call her cell when he arrived. With a sigh, she turned back towards the entrance of the lab.

"Don't tell me you're going to give up that easily," that familiar voice teased.

Tears sprung at her eyes before she even saw him. She swung around, and there he was: standing in front of the bench where they usually shared lunch. He smiled, and she could only stare. She had dreamed about this moment – how she would throw herself into his arms, and they would kiss with wild abandon. Now her legs were frozen, and her mind seemed to doubt the existence of Danny before her. Only her arm moved, when she brought it up to cover her mouth with her hand. Danny stared back at her, and she saw so many emotions in his eyes: fear, joy, sadness, warmth, passion. The distance that now separated them was a mere twenty feet, yet neither could budge.

Suddenly, as if a fog had lifted, they both started walking briskly, covering the space between them in the span of a few seconds. Lindsay released a half-laugh, half-sob, and threw herself as Danny. He wrapped his arms around her, easily lifting her up off the ground, rocking them both. She could feel his stubble brushing against her face, a most welcome irritant. His scent surrounded her, as did the comfort that only he could provide.

For all of the thoughts that had occurred to both of them over the week, they were now too overcome to speak. They simply embraced, pausing only briefly to look at each other, unconvinced they weren't experiencing a mirage.

"Hi," Lindsay finally spoke, laughing and weeping at the same time. "You're real."

"Hi," Danny replied. "You're gorgeous." He wiped the tears off of her cheeks, and then kissed her with more fervor than he ever had – in public or in private. Lindsay was first taken aback by the magnitude of emotion she felt coming from him. It had been days since they had touched, after all. But soon her body responded – Danny always did that to her – and she hungrily and eagerly returned his kiss.

"Get a room," snarled a hurried businessman who pushed by. Instead of being angered, Danny and Lindsay just laughed. No one else mattered.

"Let's get out of here," she told him. "I want to be alone with you." She took his hand, and started leading him away, but he didn't move.

"Wait," he said, then pulled her close to him once again. "Lindsay, on the phone that night, what I started to say…"

"Shh," Lindsay said, pressing her index finger against his lip. "I already know."

The remnants of the early evening sun drifted through Lindsay's bedroom window, sprinkling warmth across her bare back. She lay on Danny's chest, his hands tangled in her hair as they rested together. For awhile, she just listened to the steady beat of his heart. It was her proof, her reassurance, that he was back where he belonged: in her arms, in her bed, in her life.

She thought Danny was asleep, but then he stirred, tilting his head to smile down at her. It felt so good to be snuggled up here with him, like always; watching him, touching him.

"Did you miss this?" she asked lightly.

He grinned evilly. "I missed this," he said, taking her hand in his and kissing it. "And this…" He rolled her over onto her back, then his lips traveled to her neck, nibbling and kissing as he went along. "And this," he added, running his hands over her torso, grazing her skin with just enough pressure to make her feel as though she would combust. "I missed all of that."

Lindsay laughed and scooted out from under him. "Easy! I just want to look at you for awhile."

They settled back down onto the pillows, folded into each other. "I can't believe you're really here," she whispered.

"I can't believe you're still here," he replied somberly.

Lindsay shook her head, confused. "Where else would I be, Danny?"

He sighed, finally voicing those fears that had weighed on him all week. "I was afraid that being apart would be hard on us."

"Well… it was. It wasn't just being apart that was hard," she admitted. "It was the not knowing. But it didn't take away my feelings for you. Nothing could."

Danny looked at her sheepishly. "I thought you'd be ashamed of me," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Too ashamed to be with me anymore."

Lindsay shook her head, frustrated that he didn't believe in her devotion. "I'm so proud, Danny. Proud of you, proud to know you, proud to be with you. Do you remember that dream I had a few nights ago? I was so afraid of losing you and you promised me that couldn't happen. Well, that goes both ways." His only response was silence, though his arm drew tighter around her.

"We're going to be okay," she continued. "If we could handle this, we can handle anything." He smiled, and they settled into a peaceful silence once again.

"I think we should stay in bed all weekend," Lindsay announced after a moment, trying to lighten the mood. "Mac said not to bother coming in til Monday."

Danny grinned. "I can't think of a better way to spend the next two days." The light outside was fading, and he grappled for his watch. His bare wrist reminded him of the gift he had given Joe, and he smiled fondly. "What time is it?" he asked.

"It's almost dinner time," Lindsay murmured, nestling deeper against him, reveling in bliss.

"I guess it's my turn to make dinner, huh?" he grunted.

She rolled her eyes – Danny was not much of a cook. "What's your specialty? Dialing the numbers for takeout?"

"Sounds good to me." He kissed her forehead as he slipped out of bed. "I'll be right back."

"Don't go!" Lindsay called, but she was smiling as she watched him disappear into the hallway.

It didn't matter if he was one room away, or a thousand miles away. The threads that connected them could not be severed.

FIN.