Author's Note: You wanted it, so here it is: chapter two.

Lindsay's eyes opened wide as Danny's lips met hers. She was too shocked to even consider kissing him back and just sat there frozen for a moment before suddenly pulling away.

"What are you…?"

"Hey guys! You missed…" Flack poked his head into the room and trailed off as he realized just what had been happening. A knowing grin spread across his face as he took in the sight of his coworkers looking rather snuggly on the bed. "Nevermind," he chuckled, ducking back out into the living room.

"Wait! No!" Lindsay cried, horrified, at the quickly closing door. She jumped up from the bed and looked around helplessly, unconsciously straightening her clothes which hadn't been rumpled at all by what was barely more than a peck from Danny. She started taking deep breaths, but they were coming too close together. A pain started to spread through her chest.

Danny, for his part, looked like a kicked puppy. It was New Year's, wasn't it? You were allowed to kiss girls at midnight on New Year's. It was a free shot. Sure he'd maneuvered things so that he could be sure that he was the one kissing her, but did she really have to hyperventilate as a result? "Y'alright there, Monroe?" he asked, his voice quite a bit colder than it had been a moment before.

Lindsay pressed her palm against her chest and shook her head, desperately trying to breathe. Bending down, she put her other hand on her knee in an attempt to stop the room from spinning.

"Monroe?" Danny asked with more concern. "Montana?" he got up from the bed and went over to her, feeling a pain deep in his gut when she cringed away from his touch. "Lindsay… look, I'm… I'm sorry, ok?" His face twisted with regret and fear at her reaction. "Please, Lindsay just… sit down, ok? Just sit down and… and breathe?" He took a chair from the corner of the room and brought it over for her.

Lindsay sank down onto the upholstery and placed her head between her knees. She concentrated on taking each breath slowly, counting to five as she breathed in and again as she breathed out. She coughed and sputtered for a few moments, but was gradually able to get air into her lungs again. "I'm sorry," she whispered after her breathing returned to normal.

"Hey," Danny said nervously, "I can still brag that I took your breath away, right?" he laughed, lamely.

Lindsay managed a slight chuckle at that, more to assuage his feelings than because she thought it was particularly funny. "Right," she croaked, feeling the tears rise up in her eyes. Taking another deep breath, she fought them back and managed to look up at Danny, kneeling beside her. "I really am sorry, Danny. I… I wasn't… I didn't expect…" She shook her head and managed to form her quavering lips into something resembling a smile. "I thought that when I said… before…" She let out something that barely equating a laugh. "You still want drinks and laughs?" she asked, her voice trembling and her eyes seeking out the carpet.

Danny's chest tightened but he didn't allow himself to hope. Not yet. "I want a few dinners in there, too," he joked while holding his breath.

Lindsay bit her lip and struggled again to breathe normally and keep her tears in check. "Do you think…" she tangled her fingers in her lap, not really sure of how to say it but desperately needing to hear his answer. "Would you mind… waiting? …For breakfasts?" She closed her eyes and winced, not really believing that she'd said that.

Danny's eyes widened at the realization that she might be changing her mind about needing space. "No problem," he answered, his heart beating faster as hope ran through him. "Dinner's my favourite meal, anyway." He once more placed a hand under her chin and forced her to face him. "Eatin' lasagna for breakfast just seems wrong somehow, y'know?"

Unable to help herself, Lindsay finally let out a genuine laugh. "Thank you," she whispered, cupping his face in her palm.

"Any time, Montana," he grinned back. "How you feelin' now?" he asked with some concern. "It's just that, one or both of us should get out there pretty soon or people're gonna think we was … doin' stuff." He stood up and pulled her up with him.

Lindsay's face was etched with determination as she pressed her hands against his chest. "You know what?" she asked, gritting her teeth and setting her jaw. "Let 'em think." Standing on her toes, she pressed her lips softly against his. "Happy New Year, Danny."