Disclaimer: Not mine, no copyright intended

A/N: Written for a prompt on "SmallfandomFest", Danny/Connor/Abby "The right way to treat a girl"

"So, why aren't you and Abby a couple?" Danny said, leaning on the bar with his half drunk pint in his hand. Since he'd taken over as leader at the ARC, he'd insisted on 'team building exercises', and it had many interpretations. Tonight, they had all met for drinks in town and then moved on to a local nightclub.

Connor sniffed and stared into his own pint. "She just doesn't fancy me, Danny. Simple as that."

Danny looked incredulously at Connor, then turned his head towards the dancefloor where Abby, Sarah and a couple of the girls who worked on the technical support team were dancing. Then he turned back to Connor. "Rubbish! She flirts with you all the time. You're just too blind to notice."

"I wish I believed that, Danny." Connor said sadly. "If she did fancy me, then why does she keep rejecting me? Besides, she's completely out of my league. Look at her Danny, why would someone like her go for someone like me?"

Danny looked at Abby again. She was wearing a black lace shift style dress that just covered the curve of her ass and a pair of extremely high heeled black patent shoes. "Mm, see what you mean, Connor. She's pretty hot when she's not wearing all those layers and boots. If you're not going to make a move on her, then do you mind if I do?"

Connor almost choked on his drink. "What?"

Danny laughed. "Don't worry, wouldn't do that to you mate. You're wrong though. She's not out of your league at all, stop putting yourself down all the time! You're a decent looking bloke and there's at least three girls in this place that have got their eyes on you, not counting Abby."

Connor looked around. "Really?" The club was full of pretty girls, and he really couldn't see how any of them would look twice at him.

"You're completely clueless about women aren't you?" Danny said. "Have you even had a girlfriend?"

"Yes." Connor said indignantly. Actually, did Caroline count? He had his doubts. He'd had a few dates at University, but things hadn't gone well. "I just had some bad experiences that's all. Kind of knocks your confidence."

"What are we going to do with you, eh?" Danny said, a half smile on his face. "Confidence is the key, Connor. Women find it sexy. And I mean confidence not arrogance. You have to know the right way to treat a woman."

"But that's just it, Danny! I do know how to treat a woman... I grew up in a house full of women." he winced at the thought; being a teenage boy amongst hormonal women wasn't easy.

"Your gran, mum and sister don't count, Connor!" Danny laughed. "Look, its obvious that you fancy her and she fancies you, so lets do something about getting you some self confidence and a lesson in seducing a woman." Danny downed the remains of his pint. "I have an idea, but I'm going to need soldier boy's help." He pulled out his mobile, and made his way through the crowd to find a quieter spot. Connor watched him go, then glanced over at Abby dancing with Sarah. They were huddled together, obviously whispering about something, or someone. A couple of men were trying to chat them up; Sarah was fiddling with her hair awkwardly and Abby... Connor had to smile at her; she gave the guy a look that cut him dead immediately and he turned his attention to Sarah. He loved that Abby was so self confident and could take care of herself; but at the same time, that was what scared him about her. He just knew that he'd get one of those looks too if he tried anything, and it would kill him.

-o-

About half an hour later, Becker arrived. He'd been completing some final security checks; something he insisted on doing himself at least once a week even though it could be left to the on-duty security men. "I brought the radios as you asked, what're they for?" he said to Danny. He handed him two small packs containing the radio comms sets they used out in the field.

"Did you ever see the film 'Roxanne?' The one where the guy is in love with this gorgeous girl but doesn't have the confidence to chat her up, so he enlists the help of his friend to put words into his mouth?" Danny said.

Becker nodded. "You're going to use the radios to help someone chat a girl up?"

Danny grinned and patted Connor on the back. "Not just anyone, I'm going to help young Connor here get his girl at long last."

"What?" Connor said. "I don't know if this is such a good idea, Danny."

"Maybe it isn't, but its worth a try isn't it? Now, get this on and we can get started." Danny handed Connor a tiny earpiece, microphone and battery pack. Connor began to protest, but he could see Danny was determined to try this and he wasn't going to argue with him. Moments later, both were wearing their radios and Becker made sure that Connor's was well hidden.

Connor, Becker and Danny looked over to where the girls were dancing. The two guys from earlier were still trying their luck. Danny thrust a glass of vodka and orange juice into Connor's hand. "Go get her, tiger!" he said. "Go over there, put your hand on her shoulder, hand her the drink, give her one of your dazzling smiles and say that you've come to rescue her from those two sleazebags." Danny shoved Connor in the direction of the dancefloor.

Connor took a deep breath and began to make his way through the crowd. He glanced back at Danny and Becker, who gave him a thumbs up. He could feel a lump in his throat and his stomach was churning. Why was this so hard! He talked to Abby all time, and yet when it came to something on a personal level like this he fell apart.

As he got closer, he could see that Abby was looking pretty fed up. He took a deep breath and placed his hand on her shoulder. She swung round, about to give a mouthful of abuse to whoever it was that had touched her, but then she realised it was Connor and softened. She looked, he thought, relieved. "Thought you looked like you needed a drink." he said, smiling. "And rescuing." he nodded at the men.

"Thanks Connor. Your timing couldn't have been better." His heart skipped a beat as she gave him a grateful smile; her eyes sparkling.

He could barely make out Danny's voice in his earpiece, but he could hear him telling him to try and get Abby off the dancefloor to the booths at the far side where it was quiet. "Do you want to come and sit down for a bit?" he said.

"Good idea, my feet are killing me in these shoes! Hang on a minute." Abby said, then turned to Sarah. "I'm going to talk to Connor for a bit, you OK?"

For one dreadful moment Connor thought Sarah was going to follow them, but she remained with the group of girls and moments later, Abby was following Connor to the booths. They found one unoccupied and slid into the seats facing each other.

"Thanks for that Connor. Those guys were beginning to get on my nerves." she said.

"You're welcome. Wouldn't want your night ruined by a couple of sleazebags." Connor said. He felt his face burn and his throat tighten. Compliment her, tell her you like her dress! He heard Danny said in his ear. Connor cleared his throat. "You look nice tonight, that dress really suits you."

Abby blushed, and Connor felt a sudden rush of adrenaline sweep through him. He'd never seen anyone make Abby blush before- that had to be a good sign right? "Thanks, I was a bit nervous actually, I'm not used to showing my legs in public."

"You have nice legs, Abby. You should wear a dress more often." She blushed even redder and then gazed at him through her long eyelashes.

"You look good tonight too. Is that a new shirt? I don't think I've seen it before." Abby said, leaning forward slightly.

"This old thing?" Connor said, smiling. "Found it in the back of the wardrobe, I think its one me Gran got me last Christmas." Easy, Connor. Don't want her to think you're a mummy's boy, even if you are. Danny hissed. Connor was tempted to say something back, but then he remembered this was supposed to be secret and stopped himself. Instead he just smiled at Abby.

"Have you had a good evening?" She asked. "I saw you talking to Danny at the bar. Bit of male bonding eh?"

"Something like that." Connor said. "That's the whole point of these team building things isn't it? Danny wants us all to get to know each other a bit better outside of work."

"I think its a good idea. I know you and I know each other pretty well, but until tonight I've never really had a proper conversation with Sarah."

With a prompt from Danny, Connor said "Perhaps you and I could have a proper conversation too?"

"OK, what do you want to talk about?" Abby said, slightly amused. She leaned even further forward and she was now so close to Connor he could feel her warm breath on his face.

"Let's talk about how gorgeous you are." Connor said. He honestly couldn't see Abby falling for this, but he was playing along with Danny's game because he didn't really have a better plan. He glanced at her; expecting to get his face slapped or something, but instead he saw her pink flushed cheeks – he had made her blush again!

"Connor!" she said, almost giggling. "That's twice you've paid me a compliment tonight. Are you feeling OK?"

"I'm absolutely fine because I'm here with you." Connor cringed; did Danny actually pull women with lines like this?

She took his hand and stroked it and smiled. "Good, because I like being here with you too." Connor really could not believe what was happening. If he'd known it was this simple, he'd have done this ages ago. He hadn't really thought of Abby as being the kind of girl that liked this sort of stuff. She seemed to like the 'treat 'em mean' types.

On instruction from Danny, he stood up and asked if she'd like another drink. "You trying to get me drunk, Connor?" she said.

"Maybe I am." Connor said, winking at her as he moved away towards the bar and Danny. His heart was racing and his mind switching from elation to fear. It all seemed to be going so well, but he could so very easily put his foot in it and ruin what could be his one and only chance.

"You're so in there, mate!" Danny grinned. "Flash that dimple at her a few more times, let her get halfway down her drink and then move in for a kiss."

"I can't!" Connor said. "I really will mess that up! You can put the words into my mouth, but you can't help me kiss her."

"It will come to you so easily. It doesn't have to be full on, just a soft peck on the lips, linger for a few seconds then pull away. She'll be ripping your clothes off before you know it!" Danny said.

Connor wasn't so sure. He wished he had just a quarter of the self confidence Danny seemed to have. He could feel Danny and Becker's eyes on him as he wove his way back to where Abby was. She had a slightly worried look on her face until she saw him, then it changed to a smile. He felt weak at the knees, and as he slid back into his seat he could feel himself shaking. If he messed this up now, he might as well go and join a monastery.

"You seem different tonight, Connor. If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were flirting with me." Abby said, taking a large mouthful of her drink.

"What if I was flirting with you?" he said softly. He took her hand and watched her eyes. There was a sparkle in them he'd never seen before and he liked it, a lot. In his ear, Danny was making kissing noises and telling him it was now or never.

"I don't know. Maybe I'd be hoping you'd take it beyond a bit of flirting." She looked directly at him, and unless he was mistaken, she was biting her bottom lip and blinking more rapidly than she usually did.

Do it now, Connor! Danny yelled If that wasn't a come on, then I don't know what is!

Connor took a deep breath and moved forward. He cupped Abby's face in both his hands and pressed his lips against hers. It felt like a surge of electricity as they connected, and Connor thought he was going to pass out. He tried to take Danny's advice and pull away, but Abby pulled him back and kissed him, her hand stroking the back of his head. This was going much better than he'd anticipated; maybe Danny was right and she'd be ripping his clothes off shortly after all.

Abby eventually broke off the kiss and looked at him. "Do you want to go home, Connor?" she said, her voice almost sounding like a purr. Connor could only nod; he felt like jelly. "OK." she whispered, and stoked his cheek. She moved her fingers to push a stray piece of his hair behind his ear, revealing the wire connecting his earpiece to the battery pack concealed under his shirt. She looked at him in shock. "Connor, what's this? Why are you wearing one of the field comms devices?"

Connor could only sit there, his mouth opening and closing. He could hear Danny swearing in his ear and he muttered "That's not helping, Danny!" Abby's eyes said it all. "Oh crap!"

"Danny? What the hell is this, Connor?" Abby yelled.

"I'm sorry, Abby. I just … I wanted to tell you how I feel so much but I couldn't find the right words..." Connor said.

By this time, Danny has arrived. "Abby, I can explain. This was all my idea, please don't be angry with Connor. I was just helping him out with a shove in the right direction. It worked too, you've fallen for Connor and you were about to drag him home to bed."

"But it wasn't Connor's words that I fell for. They were yours. You did all the work, it should be you that I take home." Abby said. Before Danny could say anything else, she was kissing him and pulling him into an embrace. Danny found himself returning the kiss, his tongue pushing hungrily into her mouth and tangling with her tongue. When they pulled apart, he glanced at Connor who looked on the verge of tears.

"We can sort this out." Danny said.

"Yeah. Have a good night you two, just don't keep me awake eh. And I'd appreciate it if I didn't have to run into you half naked in the bathroom in the morning." Connor said dejectedly. He turned to walk away, but Abby grabbed his arm.

"It was Danny's words, but it was you sitting there making my heart pound and giving me butterflies in my stomach." She said. She flicked her eyes from Connor to Danny and back again. "There's only one solution here."

Danny and Connor exchanged looks. "Oh?" Danny said.

"The way I see it, Connor needs a bit of … guidance, and you've been helping him. I think he might still need your help to move things up to the next level, am I right?"

Connor nodded miserably and looked at Danny.

"So, why don't you come back with us and give Connor his next lesson. I think a practical demonstration is in order." Abby smiled, then turned and started to walk towards the exit.

"Is she suggesting what I think she's suggesting?" Danny said. Connor and Danny both broke into an almost run to catch up with Abby.

TBC