I Hate What You've Done With The Place - Chapter 4

AN: This is a very Danny/Lindsay focused chapter, although not the romantic, fluffy, post-traumatic-experience reunion I initially imagined. It turns out that my nom de plume lacks the same mushy, love gene as my real-life self. I also have to say that after watching the most recent episode, I really want to put some of that brilliant Danny/Hawkes friendship dynamic into upcoming chapters. Cagney and Lacey! Loved it!

As always a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed or followed the last chapter. I own very little. And certainly not CSI:NY or characters.

Chapter 4

It was close to 1am by the time by the time Lindsay and Hawkes made it back to the crime lab. Lindsay, who had expected the evening to be a little more mundane, was exhausted. She was grateful when Hawkes dismissed her efforts at unloading the evidence boxes and sent her inside. Her intention was to find Stella but curious eyes surrounded her from the minute she entered the lab and so she made her way to the locker room instead. It was blessedly empty and Lindsay took the opportunity to stretch out on a bench and rest her forehead against the cool surface of the wall. She needed some time on her own to piece together her thoughts. Flack had arrived while she'd been waiting outside of Danny's apartment and he'd taken it upon himself to wait with her. She appreciated the gesture but it had meant that she'd been forced to maintain a stoic facade. Difficult to do under the sharp detectives scrutiny and when fighting the urge to beat her fists against the nearest wall. The knowledge that some unknown person had such insight into her life should have scared her but instead her discomfort and frustration overpowered everything.

Lindsay shifted on the bench, trying to find a comfortable position. When comfort proved elusive she plucked a clean sweatshirt from her open locker and screamed obscenities into it's worn, grey softness. She continued until her lungs protested and she had to take in air in small, shaky gasps. When she felt calm enough she removed the sweatshirt from her face and noticed that her surroundings had changed. The sweatshirts owner was sitting on the opposite bench and he was watching her carefully.

"You mistreating my clothes Montana?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.

He looked terrible. His clothing was rumpled and she could tell he'd been fidgeting with his glasses from the noticeable smudges on the lenses. It was a habit which would have told of his extreme discomfort; if the grim set of his mouth wasn't already doing a decent enough job.

"I'm sorry Montana. I shoulda tried harder to get a hold of you before you got there." He shook his head. "You shouldn't have to see stuff like that."

"I've seen worse." Lindsay reasoned. "and yes, I'm pissed...not with you..." She cut off his apology. "I'm pissed that some creep broke into my home and went through my things. Took my jewellery and your spare key, I guess. And then whatever that fucking doll was..."

Danny listened as Lindsay's voice became thick and unintelligible with agitation. He closed the gap between them and maneuvered her so that his arms were around her and she was safely tucked against his body. She held herself stiffly and he could feel the tension in her muscles through her clothes and skin.

"Hey" he soothed. "I don't know what that thing was trying to say, Babe. But neither of us are hurt and we'll find the person responsible. I wanna know who thinks they can mess with us and get away with it."

When she didn't reply he tried a different tack. " I freaked out too." he admitted. "You are taking this so much better than I did." His revelation earned him chuckle. "You laughing at me Montana? Good ta know I've got a future in comedy."

Mac was examining Hawkes' crime scene photos at his desk when Danny interrupted him with a sharp tap on the office door. He acknowledged Danny with a nod and waited for the younger man to take a seat.

Danny pulled a chair up in front of his bosses' organised desk. He skipped pleasantries, he knew he didn't have much time if he wanted to conduct the conversation one-on-one.

"Mac, I wanted to make my statement. Actually, Lindsay and I both want to make our statements. She's on her way. She stepped out to grab coffee. Getting one for you too." He added, a little gentle bribery couldn't hurt.

"It's unusual to give a statement in front of anybody but a superior, Danny. Lindsay shouldn't be here when you're making yours."

"Officially we'll give two separate statements Mac. Unofficially, you'd be doing me a solid if you let us get through this in one go. It's kinda why I wanted to talk to you while Lindsay's out. I wanna smooth a few things over before she gets back." Danny crossed his arms defiantly, daring Mac to deny his request. He could feel the full force of Mac's Marine stare but after several tense moments, Mac appeared to relent.

"Persuade me."

Mac's reply was curt but not unfriendly and Danny took his chance.

"That thing in my apartment, it felt like a message or a threat. Someone trying to tell me that they know my life. And it's not only aimed at me, y'know. It's a threat to Lindsay too. I think...nah, I know that this is an attack on Lindsay and I as a couple." Danny finished awkwardly.

"As a couple?"

Danny nodded.

"OK." Mac sat forward in his chair and eyed Danny. "Let's put aside your admission of a relationship with a colleague for the time being." He gave Danny a pointed look. "We will return to it. Tell me why you think this a threat directed at you and Lindsay?"

Danny hesitated. He'd known the question was coming but a fresh wave of resentment still surged through him, all directed towards the unknown bastard who'd decided to target him and who had opened his private life up to general view. His boss shouldn't ever need to know details of his sex life.

"Lindsay's necklace was on the mannequin for starters. And I think the whole thing is a reference to a date Lindsay and I had about two months ago. It was at my apartment, we played pool."

"That seems like a tenuous link." Mac interrupted. "It's more likely that the pool table was just a convenient location to dump the mannequin."

"Nah, Mac." Danny shook his head and tried to avoid eye contact with his boss. "That date, it was something else. We...we woke up on the pool table if ya catch my drift. Seems a bit on the nose; though I can't think of anybody who'd know about that."

Mac flashed Danny a sympathetic smile. The younger man suddenly became very interested in the mottled pattern of the office carpet. Mac knew that it was within his power to make the situation for his two CSI's easier or not and his compassion was winning through. He'd do what he could to ease their minds and a little of their burden.

"Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to take a long break when Lindsay arrives. I want very basic statements from each of you while I m gone. Written separately I might add. And no personal details or speculation. And I'm not as up on inter-office relationship policies as I should be." Mac informed Danny with a wry smile. "So I don't want any hint of your private lives showing up on official documentation just yet. Discretion is the better part of valour, as they say." He pushed two sets of statement forms and a fistful of pens across the desk.

"And Danny, I know you want to shield her from everything but she's completely capable of facing what's coming your way. You don't need that shining armour yet." With those words he moved to hold the door open for Lindsay who was approaching with a tray of take-away coffee. "I'll let you two get on with it."

Mac accepted a paper cup from the tray and vacated his office. The job was testing him today and he needed that long damn break.

Danny and Lindsay had been finishing up their statements when Stella had popped her head through the doorway to enquire whether either of them required a room for the night. Neither of them would be able to return to their respective apartments until all potential evidence had been collected. Danny was surprised to hear that Lindsay had already made arrangements for herself.

He waited until Stella had left before turning to her. His eyes were burning with curiosity. "Where are you staying?"

"Just a hotel, in Midtown. I called them earlier and managed to get a room."

"Oh. I kinda assumed you'd come and stay at my parent's with me. The offers there y'know."

Lindsay snorted. "'Cos that's a great way to meet your parents." She turned back to her form and jotted down her initials and signature before dropping the completed statement in Mac's in-tray. "Besides, I need some time alone."

Danny tried to hide his disappointment and after completing his form he reached out to take her hand. "Would you at least like to grab some food? I know you ain't eaten anything and I don't wanna leave you like this."

Lindsay tried to avoid Danny's eyes. She licked the trace of blood from the lip she was chewing and focused on resisting the urge to cling to his body and allow him to take charge of everything.

"I think" she started carefully "that it might be a good idea to cool things off for a few days. We're going to be under a lot of pressure. Not to mention all the scrutiny and gossip. I remember what it's like to be the topic of unsavoury conversation. We need to practice discretion, like Mac said. It's unchartered waters for us"

"He advised discretion, not that we shouldn't see each other!" Danny watched Lindsay shrug and found himself becoming irritated with her seemingly calm demeanor. Lindsay was pulling away from him and acting like it was no big deal.

He tried again. "How about I meet you for breakfast tomorrow? We can talk about this, make a plan of action."

She heard the note of pleading in his voice and felt her chest ache as she forced out her response."I really think we should take a break Danny. Just for a couple of days. We'll see each other at the office." she offered as a rather useless platitude. The lost look on his face was taking a sledgehammer to her heart and she knew she'd lose all resolve if she didn't walk away right then.

She left him with a chaste kiss to his cheek and a half-hearted goodbye.

AN: This was a pretty strange writing experience for me. I met my lovely significant other when we worked together (at adjacent desks actually) and let me tell you, the 'Hi Boss! I'm sleeping with a colleague. Please don't sack me.' conversation is awkward. It worked out well for us but Damn! If there aren't easier people to fall for than co-workers. Public Service Announcement: Chat up friends-of-friends, patrons of your local pub, bar or coffee shop and evening classes first, Kids!