Life's Too Short
Title: Life’s Too Short
Author: Diane
Pairing: Danny/Lindsay
Category: AU
Rating: Teen Rated
Disclaimer: I don’t own a thing!
Spoilers/Warnings: This is set post episode 2.24 ‘Charge Of This Post’ so everything up to and including it should cover things. Oh, and for the sake of this story the kiss from the deleted scene never happened.
Summary: The question was on the tip of her tongue and she debated with herself as to whether to voice it before finally doing so a few seconds later, not wanting to be alone right now either. “Do you, uh, want to come in for a while?”
Author’s Notes: A massive thank you goes to the fabulous Megan for reading over this for me and helping to settle my nerves and insecurities. And yep, you’re right, hon; I am a crazy woman for being up at crazy hours of the night writing fic.
“You didn’t have to come up with me,” Lindsay told Danny, giving him a soft smile as she inserted the key into the lock of her front door.
“I wanted to. It’s just… today’s been a helluva day and I… I guess I don’t feel like bein’ on my own jus’ yet, y’know.”
“Yeah, I know,” she replied. The stressful events of the day had taken a toll on all of them and she understood only too well what he was saying. The question was on the tip of her tongue and she debated with herself as to whether to voice it before finally doing so a few seconds later, not wanting to be alone right now either. “Do you, uh, want to come in for a while?”
Danny searched her eyes for any indication that this wasn’t what she wanted and upon finding none, he nodded. “Yeah, that’d be good, thanks.”
Pushing open the door, she entered her apartment, tossing the mail she’d brought up with her onto the kitchen counter before slipping off her jacket and hanging it up on the nearby coat-stand. Turning to her partner, she asked, “Do you want some coffee?”
Flashing her a smirk, he shook his head. “Not if I want to get any sleep tonight.”
“I’ve got decaf.”
“Yeah, I’ve never understood that. I mean, the whole point of drinkin’ coffee is for it to either wake you up in the mornin’ or keep you awake when you need to stay up so why drink a substitute that pretty much does nothin’.”
“You’re nuts, you know that,” she said, chuckling as she filled the kettle and then switched it on.
“What are you havin’?” he enquired, removing his own jacket and hanging it up before coming to stand next to her, leaning back against the counter.
“Tea. I just need something to warm me up,” she replied, smiling at him as she went to grab a couple of mugs out of the cupboard.
Returning her smile, he said, “I can do that for ya,” and before Lindsay knew what was happening she found herself being pulled into Danny’s strong embrace, her arms instinctively wrapping around his shoulders.
She tried but failed to bite back the moan she felt building in her throat when his stubble tickled her skin as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. One of his hands rubbed up and down her back and for the first time in a very long while she felt safe and protected.
“Feelin’ warm now?”
“You have no idea,” she whispered, savouring the feel of his hot breath puffing against her ear, making her shiver despite the warmth surrounding her. Without realising she was doing it, her fingers were lightly stroking along the nape of his neck.
Drawing back from her, Danny’s gaze strayed to the cut just beneath her hairline before his eyes met her rich, chocolate brown ones. “You scared me today, Montana,” he told her, his voice low and husky.
Her expression was one of confusion. “What do you mean?”
“When the 10-33 came through, we… I… didn’t know what to think. I just remember needing to get to the scene as soon as possible to make sure you were okay.” He twirled a lock of her honey-brown hair around his finger. “God, I was so relieved when I saw you standing there in the street.”
“Danny…” Standing there looking into his emotion-filled blue eyes, Lindsay felt her stomach flip as she listened to his words. Her attraction to him was growing stronger by the day and the more she tried to fight it, the more it seemed an impossible feat. She’d never felt like this about anyone before but, at the same time, it was so complicated. There were things she needed to deal with… things from her past plus there was the whole issue of them working together. She had a feeling Mac wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about members of his team dating each other.
And while she’d never been the most spontaneous person, right now she just wanted to throw caution to the wind an—”
Her tumultuous thoughts were cut off by Danny’s lips suddenly pressing against hers but instead of pushing him away like she knew she ought to, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she pulled him in closer so that their bodies were pressed tightly together. Despite the kiss ending much sooner than she would’ve liked, it still left her breathless and when she slowly opened her eyes, what breath she had left caught in her throat at the intense way he was watching her.
“I’m sor—”
“Don’t apologise,” she interrupted, giving him a shy smile as she placed her pointer finger over his lips to halt him.
Danny didn’t need telling twice and returning her smile, he slowly lowered his head and captured her mouth again, this time kissing her more firmly now he knew for sure she wouldn’t be objecting. In the back of his mind though he knew they were moving pretty fast, not to mention on the back of the adrenalin and mixed emotions of the past twelve or so hours. It would be so easy to lose himself in her but he didn’t want there to be any confusion or second-guessing about why they were together.
When they broke apart this time, he rested his forehead against hers as their ragged breaths returned to some semblance of normal. His thumb ran back and forth along her cheekbone and he watched her eyes slowly flutter shut. He could see the tiredness etched upon her beautiful features. “You look beat,” he told her quietly, his accent that little bit more pronounced.
“Thanks,” Lindsay replied, laughing as she swatted him on the shoulder.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, shaking his head and joining in with her laughter.
“Uh huh.” Taking a step back, she went to resume making their drinks but Danny’s hand on her arm stilled her.
“Can I take a raincheck on the coffee?”
“Uh… sure,” she said, somewhat confused given the kisses they’d just shared.
“It’s just… if I don’t leave now and let you get some sleep, you ain’t gonna be getting rid of me.”
“Hmm, is that right?” Seeing him flash that smirk her way was making her weak in the knees and she gripped the edge of the countertop to keep herself upright. “Well, we can’t have that,” she teased.
“I was thinkin’… maybe tomorrow night after our shift ends, we could grab some dinner or somethin’.”
Thoughts of her past suddenly pushed to the forefront of Lindsay’s mind but this time she pushed back, the old adage “life’s too short” replacing the dark images. “That sounds good,” she told him, the anticipation and nervousness of their first date – if that’s what Danny was suggesting – already rearing its head and giving her butterflies.
“Okay,” he said, nodding, the smile he wore stretching from ear to ear. Cradling her cheek in his palm, he ducked his head and softly kissed her lips, retreating much too soon for his liking but he knew if he didn’t pull back, he wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Yeah,” she whispered, her lips tingling as she watched him pull his jacket back on. “Call me if there’s any news on Don.”
“I will,” Danny promised as he walked to the front door and opened it. “Try and get some sleep, okay.”
“You, too.”
“Deal.” He stood there for a moment, his eyes drinking her in before he reluctantly turned and left, closing the door quietly behind him. “Don’t forget to lock your door,” he called out, chuckling under his breath when he heard the security chain and bolts sliding into place a few seconds later.
Danny was suddenly feeling rejuvenated at the prospect of his date with Lindsay the following night and while he, of course, still worried over his friend and colleague lying in the hospital, his heart suddenly felt that little bit lighter and despite the tiredness creeping into his bones, he headed home with an extra spring in his step. Tomorrow night couldn’t come quick enough.
Fin