More than friends

“What are we gonna do?” Lindsay asked pacing in the bathroom.
“Well we could tell em the truth or just act like it’s none of their business which it isn’t.” He said smiling as he leaned against the wall.
“This is a mess.” Lindsay said rubbing her temples. “We’ll just act normal.” She said.
“Hey as far as I’m concerned this is none of Messers business.” Don said. “He has a girlfriend.”
“Ok yeah.” Lindsay said nodding. “We’ll just be normal.”
“Yes, now why don’t I go out first and then you leave a minute later.” He said and she nodded. “I’ll give you a ride home tonight and we can talk.” He said and she nodded. He stepped out of the bathroom and Mac stopped him to ask him some questions and looked up raising his eye brow as Lindsay stepped out of the same bathroom.
“Shit.” She whispered darting off down the hall and bumping into Sheldon. “Meet you in trace?” She asked him her face flaming red.
“Yeah.” He said laughing and shaking his head. “I’ll walk with you.”

“So you’re goin home for Christmas.” Danny said as he and Lindsay worked together in the lab late that evening.
“Yeah.” She said avoiding looking at him and jumping as her cell phone rang. “Monroe.”
“Hey, can you talk?” Don asked looking around in the morgue making sure he was alone.
“No.” She said face turning red.
“Ok, I been avoidin Messer all day, my guess is you’re with him.” He said.
“Yes you could say that.” She said turning to face the wall.
“When are you leaving?” He asked.
“Like 15 minutes dad.” She said.
“Ok I’ll meet you at my car.” He said smiling. “Can I call you momma?”
“No.” She said laughing. “I’ll see you later.” She said hanging up.
“You leaving?” Danny asked as she pulled off her gloves a few minutes later.
“Yes.” She said.
“Me too.” He said and she shrugged off her lab coat and walked to the locker room and tried to figure out what to do. He followed her towards the parking garage and he made small talk about her case and she tried to get a signal on her cell phone to text message Don to abort the mission but couldn’t get a signal.
“Night.” She said jumping off the elevator.
“Finally.” Flack said standing at his car as he heard her walk around the corner. “We’re alone.” He said and made a face as Danny walked behind her. “Shit.”
“Night dad.” Danny said loudly shaking his head as he headed to his car.
“I tried to get a signal on my phone to tell you.” She said sighing.
“Let’s just go.” He said unlocking his car and letting her in. “He’s pissed.”
“Yeah.” Lindsay said resting her head back and closing her eyes. “I don’t know what to do.” She said. “I’m pissed off, he doesn’t want me I can’t figure out why he cares, he’s got a girlfriend.”
“He wants ya.” Don said. “He’s just fucked up.”
“I hate this, we’re friends I shouldn’t have to hide that.” Lindsay said tiredly. “I’m talking to him tomorrow.”
“Ok.” Don said nodding. “We got Hawks birthday party tomorrow night.” He said.
“Oh shit.” Lindsay said sighing. “We have lessons tomorrow.” She said.
“We can go after.” Don said pulling into her apartment complex.
“We have to dress up tomorrow.” She said smiling. “I love dressing up.”
“I’m wearing the suit I wear to work dat ok?” He asked yawning.
“Yeah, I’m doing like Merry said, I’ll wear a dress and heels.” Lindsay said smiling. “I never thought I’d like dance lessons.” She said.
“You only like it so ya can laugh at me.” He said grinning.
“That is a bonus.” Lindsay said grabbing her purse. “Why don’t I meet you at dance class tomorrow, then we won’t have to leave together and I can run home and change.”
“Sounds good I’ll see ya tomorrow.” He said watching as she ran into the apartment building.

“Morning.” Lindsay said walking into the office she shared with Danny the next morning.
“Yep.” He said not looking up at her.
“Asshole.” Lindsay said walking over and slamming the door. “Do you have a problem?” She asked loudly her hands on her hips.
“Excuse me?” He asked glaring at her.
“Did I miss something are we dating is that why you’re being such an asshole?” She asked. “Cause it appears to me that you moved on with Sheila or whatever so if you have something to say say it.” She said so mad she was close to tears.
“I’m being an asshole?” He asked sarcastically. “You’re the one who pushed me away Lindsay.” He said getting up and slamming his chair into his desk. “And do ya think ya should be talkin about movin on?” He asked.
“I said I was sorry, that I made a mistake.” Lindsay said and both of them jumped as Mac slammed open the door.
“Whatever is going on this is not the place.” Mac said coldly.
“Sorry.” Lindsay said looking down at the floor.
“Danny you have a case, I suggest you go work on it.” Mac said and Danny cussed under his breathe and slammed the door on his way out.
“Keep it out of my lab Lindsay.” Mac said staring at her before he walked out.
“Well that went well.” She said to herself sinking down into the chair fighting tears.

“We don’t have to go.” Don said as they rode to the bar after their dancing lesson.
“No way I’m letting him ruin my night.” Lindsay said staring out the window. “Besides I’m wearing makeup.”
“You look incredible.” He said smiling at her as he pulled into the bar parking lot.
“I do don’t I?” She asked smiling in the blue wrap dress and high black heels.
“I’m sorry bout dis morning.” He said shutting the car off.
“It’s ok, I should have known better than to talk to him in the lab.” Lindsay said forcing a smile. “Let’s go.”
“Ok.” He said following her into the busy bar and smiling at Stella as she sat between Hawks and Sid.
“Wow Lindsay.” Stella said as she shrugged off her coat. “You guys look great.”
“Thanks.” Lindsay said smiling and then it hit her, they were gonna think she and Don had a date.
“Nice to see ya took time away from ya hot date for Hawks.” Danny said sarcastically sucking down his beer his girlfriend practically hanging on his arm.
“Oh I see you’re still being an asshole.” Lindsay said sitting down across from him.
“Come on Shel let’s dance.” Danny said ignoring her and pulling the blonde onto the dance floor.
“I’m gonna kill him.” Lindsay said her face red. “He thinks we’re on a date.” She said.
“I know.” Don said sighing. “Want a beer since apparently we’re on a date?” He asked and she shook her head.
“Yes.” She said and he got up and walked to the bar.
“You’re not on a date?” Stella asked.
“No.” Lindsay said wishing she hadn’t come.
“It kinda looked like it.” Stella said. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” Lindsay said sighing. “We’re just friends.”
“We’re what?” Don asked handing her a beer and sitting back down.
“I was telling them we’re just friends.” She said.
“We are just friends.” He said and Stella smiled.
“Sheldon have you opened presents yet?” Lindsay asked smiling at him.
“Nope.” He said.
“Here.” Lindsay said handing him her box. “It’s not much.”
“I can’t wait.” He said ripping off the paper and laughing. “Linds it’s great.” He said smiling. “The first picture with me on the team.” He said showing everyone the picture she’d had blown up and framed of Mac, Danny, him, Stella and her.
“I have that picture on my wall.” Lindsay said smiling.
“I love it thank you.” He said smiling at her and raising his glass.
“What’d we miss?” Danny asked plopping back down in his chair the blonde almost on his lap.
“Lindsay got me this.” Sheldon said showing him the picture and Danny nodded grabbing his beer.
“Shel, that girl at the end of the bar is really checking you out.” Lindsay said smiling at him about an hour later.
“Yes she is.” He said grinning. “I’ll be back.” He said getting up and making his way to the bar to talk to her.
“I feel very out of place.” Lindsay whispered to Flack. “I hate this.”
“I’m sorry.” He said knowing there was a strange vibe at the table with her ignoring Danny and him glaring at them. “Let’s dance?”
“Is that smart?” She asked brown eyes shining with tears.
“Who cares.” He said feeling shitty and standing up and grabbing her hand pulling her up and out to the dance floor. “I’m so sorry.” He said as they moved to the slow song.
“This really sucks, is it ever gonna be normal again?” She asked sadly. “I really messed things up.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Don said sighing as Danny walked out with Shelly to dance near them. “I’m about to kick his fuckin ass.”
“Don’t start anything.” Lindsay said closing her eyes. “I should just go.” She whispered.
“Hey I thought you weren’t gonna do dat.” He said tilting her chin to look at her. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Hey.” Danny said moving close. “You want us to get out of here so you can be yourselves?” He asked faking a smile.
“Danny stop.” Lindsay said loudly.
“You stop.” He said as they all stopped dancing in the middle of the dance floor. “I’m sure I got some more friends around here if ya want.” He said glaring at her.
“Take it outside.” Mac said stepping between them. “I mean it.”
“Yeah I think we should.” Lindsay said taking the coat Mac handed her and pulling it on and stalking out to the empty balconey jumping as she turned and Danny almost plowed into her. “I asked you what your problem was.” She said hugging herself as Don and Shelly both followed them.
“Yeah I got a problem, ya fuckin my best friend, come on Lindsay, no one else here?” He asked loudly.
“Dick.” Don said and pushed him gasping as Danny punched him in the face.
“Stop.” Lindsay said jumping in front of Danny.
“Danny baby let’s go home.” Shelly said sliding her arm around his waist.
“We are friends not that’s it’s any of your business.” Lindsay said glaring at him.
“I get it, I’m not good enough for ya.” Danny said staring at her.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Lindsay said stomping her foot.
“Baby.” Shelly said.
“Listen Barbie, can you back off for a minute, we’re having a discussion and it doesn’t involve you so why don’t you go sit at the bar and wait for someone to buy you a drink I’ll be finished here in a minute.” Lindsay said glaring at the blonde.
“Who’s Barbie?” Shelly asked looking confused.
“You’re an idiot Danny, wait.” She said putting her hand up to stop him from talking. “Let me finish. We’re both idiots, I pushed you away, I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to be with you, I was going through some stuff and you said you only wanted a casual fling.” She said. “I’m in love with you, I had to decide if being with you for just a while was worth being hurt in the long run, I decided it was worth it, but to bad for me I was to late. How you could ever think that I think you’re not good enough for me is beyond me, I trust you, I risked my job and my integrity at the lab because I know you so don’t you ever say anything like that to me again.” She said loudly. “Now we’re done that’s fine but you will not treat me like shit, it’s not ok for you to date and I can’t even have a friend, now I’m not sleeping with anyone not that it’s any of your business but I may at some point so you’re gonna have to get over yourself cause I will not be treated like this. Don’s my friend, I am taking him home with me to Montana for a really good reason that I don’t have to share with you, because we don’t share things, but there is nothing romantic there because he’s in love with Stella.” She said. “We’re hanging out together because we’re taking dance lessons so he can impress her. I know deep down you care more about people than you’ll ever admit and Danny, you’re worth more than this.” She said pointing at Shelly. “You deserve to be happy and I want that for you so I wish you luck you’re worth more than bimbos and one night stands. I hope you find more, but I’m done here, I know we can’t be friends again but I hope we can manage to work together cause I don’t want to leave and I know you’ll never leave.” She said choking on a sob. “I’m going home.” She said turning and bumping into Mac and pushing past him and Stella and running out of the bar and pushing through the crowd finally breathing as she jumped in a cab.
“You’re in love with me?” Stella asked shocked looking at Don as he swiped at blood dripping from his nose.
“Fuck me.” He said biting on his bottom lip.
“Shelly get off me.” Danny said shaking her off his arm. “Go.”
“But Danny.” She said batting her eyes. “You can’t honestly tell me you like her.” She said making a face.
“Go home.” He said staring at her coldly. “And don’t say anything about her.” He said sighing.
“Fine.” She said. “I’m glad we didn’t have sex.” She said leaving the balconey.
“I fucked up.” Danny said pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I’m going home.” Mac said shaking his head. “Stella do you need a ride?” He asked.
“No I’m gonna help Danny make this right.” Stella said sighing. “Both of you come with me.” She said grabbing Flack and Danny and pulling them out to a cab.