A/N: Okay, so I'm loyal to both DnA and Danny/Flack. And last night's episode was chock full of scenarios for me to play with. So here's the DnA version of what I hope happened after Live or Let Die. This one kinda has no plot. The other kinda has no summation. S'all good.

Danny strode purposefully down the hallway ignoring Adam calling out to him and only giving Hawkes the most impatient of waves when he passed by. His eye was on the prize. Mac’s office.

He’d been in the locker room getting his gear together to leave when Monroe had come in for her phone charger. She had been acting distracted and more irritable than usual, so Danny had asked her about it. She was a nice enough person and could even make him laugh sometimes. Despite himself, and the way she’d come into his life and the lab, he’d grown attached to her in an I-have-to-behave-myself-says-Mac-and-Aiden/coworker-to-coworker sort of way. He’d honestly been curious at least to hear what had her panties in a twist, and was shocked and angered at what Monroe told him. Danny didn’t hear much past ‘DNA confirmed’ and ‘D.J. Pratt’. He’d turned heel and headed straight for his boss’ office, leaving her still talking after him and his locker open.

He turned a corner and could see Stella and Mac standing in the man’s office, both their expressions taut and postures tense.

Danny had grown up in a house that required one to knock before entering lest ye risk walking in a ‘private meeting’ between his father and ‘business associates’ discussing the ‘cement business’, or his older brother holding palaver with his buddies or busy with a girlfriend. Failing to do so often resulted in a smack upside the head and a sharp comment, at the very least. And he knew oh so well that Mac was a huge advocate of conducting oneself in a proper, polite manner, especially when he was talking with Stella, and that busting in on him without knocking could result in a very slow death, or a shift sorting old case files in the basement. (Same thing) But the way Danny was feeling at the moment…well, fuck that.

Almost punching the glass door, Danny was through it and in the office before his so-called knock could be registered. Stella and Mac both turned to stare at him, the former gaze sympathetic and knowing, that latter’s blank with undertones of irritation and frustration.

“What-”

“Mac, I want in. I want in on this case, and you gotta let me.” Danny said quickly, risking his head by interrupting. He crossed his arms defensively over his chest and lifted his chin in defiance. Probably not the best way to ask for a favour, but it was the only way Danny knew how.

Mac heaved a sigh and gave Stella shoulda-seen-this-coming glance. Looking back at Danny, he said calmly, “Messer, this is very sensitive.”

“I can be sensitive.” Danny claimed immediately.

Stella let out a snort of laughter but remained quiet. The Brooklyn boy was about as sensitive as a baseball to the kneecap, and that was on a good day. Well, except with kids. He was good with kids. And, of course, Aiden. But ‘sensitive’ wasn’t quite the right way to put it. ‘Surprisingly considerate’ maybe.

Mac closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. “No, you don’t understand. It’s a complicated situation.”

“Then un-complicate it.”

“…Alright, fine. We have evidence that this girl engaged in sexual intercourse with D.J. Pratt. No overt signs of rape or murder. And now he’s in the wind.”

Danny scowled, uncrossing his arms and gesturing jerkily as he said, “Well, we’ve worked with less! We can cross-reference with Aiden’s old files and evidence, her friend’s testimony and just fuckin’ circumstance. How’s that complicated? That’s not complicated! What’re you so friggin’ hesitant ‘bout, huhn?”

Mac slapped the file down onto his desk, his face turning stern at Danny’s temper and brash behaviour, but Stella cut in smoothly before he could retaliate against his subordinate’s heated reaction. It wasn’t the first time she had either.

“Easy, Danny. It’s a sensitive and complicated situation because…well, honestly, because this is Aiden’s case. It’s the big one. Concerning her, anyway. And this guy Pratt has gotten away with it before, and right now, we can’t find him.” She paused and sent Mac an uneasy glance.

Danny’s scowl deepened at that. He hated the unspoken connection between the two. Mostly because it was something he didn’t have at work anymore. He and Flack had it it, but not like with Aiden.

Stella sighed, then continued. “Also…there’s the fact that you’re involved with Aiden romantically.”

That made Danny pause. “What.” He said in a low voice.

She rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Danny. You really think we’d buy you accepting Aiden being fired and Lindsay taking her place as placidly as easily as you did if you weren’t seeing Aiden all the time still? Not to mention the total lack of locker room stories and bad jokes between you, Flack, Adam and Doc Pino all of a sudden. And that it’s some girl named ‘Cindy’ calling you all the time? Don’t think I don’t remember that night at Sullivan’s when we were coming up with our porn star names.”

Mac blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, you weren’t there. It’s a joke. Your fake porn star name is your first pet’s name then your street name. Danny’s is Gunner Lafayette, Flack is, oh God, Flack is Mothball Tuckahoe, and Aiden’s is Cindy Gowanus. It’s all very immature. Point is, ‘Cindy’ is Aiden.” Stella explained quickly, then looked back at Danny, a sombre expression settled on her face. “Point is, Danny. You’re with Aiden. It could complicate the light you see the evidence in.”

Danny let out a frustrated sigh and glared at the carpet. “That’s not true,” he insisted without much conviction. “I wouldn’t let that happen.”

Mac sighed and said, “Stella and I are going to handle this case. You can be privy to all the information and our findings, but I don’t want you actually involved in the investigation. The consequences would be too great to risk because you’re running on your overzealous gut instinct to protect Aiden rather than find solid evidence. Alright?”

Danny muttered under his breathe and Stella, who was standing closer, was sure she caught what sounded like ‘consequences shmonsequences’.

“What was that?” Mac asked expectantly.

He paused, then met his boss’ steady gaze. “Yeah. Alright.”

Mac nodded once. “Good. Now go home.”

“I’m talkin’ to Aiden ‘bout this.” Danny said firmly, almost defiantly. Neither of his senior coworkers could ever deny that he wasn’t loyal to the death and brutally honest. Or that he seemed to enjoy being difficult.

“That’s fine. Now go.” Mac repeated, gesturing to the office door.

Danny seemed to hesitate, obviously not sure if he won any of the debate or not, and left quietly.

Alone again, Mac turned to Stella. “I didn’t realize just how worked up he still was over this.”

Stella shrugged. “It’s Danny. He gets worked up. And Aiden’s one of his best friends. He loves her. He’s good with Lindsay, really good with Hawkes, but he was best with Aiden.”

“Do you think he’s mad at me? I have to admit, I was shocked by how easily he seemed to take the changeup.”

“I think he was pissed for sure, but he is smart, Mac. He understood and had to respect what happened. Plus, now they don’t have to worry about dealing with a secret inter-office relationship.” Stella said, smiling.

Mac gave a distracted nod and eyed the file with the DNA results of Pratt sitting on the corner of his desk.

But then suddenly he looked up at Stella and returned the smile. “So…what’s your porn star name?”

A half hour later, Danny was taking the steps up the Aiden’s apartment two at a time and trying to dial his cell at the same. He took the last flight at a semi-human gait, if only so he could speak coherently into the phone without creeping them out with his breathlessness. He hung up as he reached her door and knocked sharply.

After a few seconds in which Danny slipped off his glasses and made a vague attempt to do something with his hair, Aiden opened the door. She grinned when she saw him and leaned against the doorway.

“Detective Messer. To what do I owe this pleasure.”

He just took her face in his calloused hands and kissed her on the mouth. He could feel her still smiling through the kiss as she pulled him into the apartment and swung the door shut behind him. Finally, as they managed to stumble to the couch, he pulled away to get a look at her. Her hair was longer now, her skin paler from the long winter and her smile easier, but she was still the cool, laidback, not-so-good girl he’d been partners with for three years and fallen for.

Her gaze softened as she watched him study her and she said softly, “Whatsa matter? Did somethin’ happen?”

“Whaddaya talkin’ ‘bout?” Danny asked, dodging the question.

“You look worried. Your shoulders are tense.”

He shrugged. “Don got kicked in the face by a suspect. Twice.”

“He okay?” Aiden asked, raising her eyebrows. Her guys were tough, but that had to of hurt.

“Just kinda pissed off, y’know? He’s like Mongo from Blazing Saddles. Tryna hurt ‘em only pisses ‘em off more.”

She chuckled and gave him a chaste kiss. “Sure. So then what’s really the matter, Messer?”

Danny hesitated rubbing her back and sides lightly with his palms, then said, “Stella and the new girl-”

“Just say her name, Danny.”

“…Stella and Monroe, they got this case today, with this girl who’d been raped and murdered.”

Aiden stiffly, her eyes wide and understanding. She nodded for him to go on.

“Adam ran the DNA found on her. It was a match to D.J. Pratt.”

“Ah.” Tears welled up in her eyes and Danny opened his mouth to hurry on, but she raised a hand to still him and shook her head. “No, don’t worry. I’m fine, it’s…it’s good. So…you got ‘em?”

He grunted and scowled. “No. We have the evidence that he was sexually active with her, but not that it wasn’t consenting or that he murdered her.”

“He’s in the wind, ain’t he?” She asked sadly.

Danny felt a surge of anger course through his body like fire, but ignored it, knowing she didn’t need him losing his shit right now. “Mac and Stella are on it, Aid. We’re closer than ever. We’ll get ‘em, I promise.”

Aiden gave him a watery smile. “I know. I knew you would. I just…I just can’t believe it, y’know? It’s been haunting me since August…”

Danny grimaced and pulled her into a tight hug, which she readily returned. He knew all right. He knew first hand about the nightmares and late-night tears and rant-fests. He’d even met Regina Bowen once or twice. Aiden was so much happier working as at the museum doing reconstruction and teaching, but her angst and worry over this guy Pratt rivalled Danny’s over Tanglewood or the Minhas shooting. It was all about regret. It was too bad there was nothing they could really do about it afterwards.

“You okay, Aid?” He asked quietly after a minute.

“Yeah, I actually think I am. Thanks, Danny. For tellin’ me and stuff.”

“Yeah, well, y’know…I ordered pizza on my way here. Should be ‘bout twenty minutes.”

“See, I knew there was a reason I was keepin’ you ‘round.” She said, her voice wavering a little still.

In an attempt to distract her from her own thoughts, Danny started rambling about his case with the stolen human liver and relaying the redundant investigation into the guys who got their cards picked up by the hostess. It worked. By the time he finished, out of crude jokes and breath, she had relaxed in his arms and was slipping in her own dirty remarks and teasing him about the fisherman dude.

“Apparently he makes, like, thirty or forty bucks a day. Fishin’ dimes and nickels outta gutters and grates.”

“This town’s fulla weirdos.”

“Yeah, no kiddin’.”

“Have you ever had phone sex?” She asked, lifting her head from his shoulder. Her voice innocent but her grin was anything but.

“Nah. Never had phone sex, never had a prostitute, never been to a nudie booth that I wasn’t processin’. Which lemme tell you, ain’t a picnic.”

She and gave him a skeptic look. “Seriously? Never?”

“Nope, never. Get my kicks from girlfriends for free. Well, relatively free. Sex should be dirty, not require a tetanus shot or long phone bill.”

Aiden wrinkled her nose and grinned at him. “Girlfriend, pal. Singular, right?”

“Oh for sure.” Danny gave her a fiendish half-smirk. “It might be some people’s fantasy, what this chick was doin’, but me? Yeah, I’d prefer the real thing, myself. And you’re the only source I’d ever want or need.”

She pulled him close and kissed him deeply. Pulling away, but only by an inch or two, she whispered, “Good. ‘Cause that’s what I can give you.”