Disclaimer: I do NOT own the characters of Hollyoaks. This is done for entertainment purposes only!

A/N: I'm back in this wonderful Stendan world; hopefully, with better luck this time. If anyone had saved my previous story to their computer - please contact me. It was deleted by accident when I was intending to delete a chapter instead. A hard drive issue occurred and I lost everything. Thankfully, I have a new system and process in which to operate now. That won't happen with this story or any future ones. So again, if anyone has that story saved - please let me know. I would be most eager to pick it up again. On with this new story, then. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1

Brendan's legs were thrown up onto his desk, his eyes on his morning pastry and not on his business partner that stood ranting on the other side of his desk. These early morning chats held no interest for him; enjoying his breakfast fascinated him much more. Stuffing half of the filled pastry into his mouth, Brendan savored the creamy filling, his tongue sliding out to lick his fingers clean. Only when he was finished did he raise bored eyes to the man that was shouting his name.

"Are you even listening to me? Brendan!?" Simon Walker stared down his nose at his clearly bored partner. It was obviously this was going nowhere.

He remained silent as he stared at Simon. Brendan knew from experience how it rattled him. There was really no purpose in the activity; that was, other than the fact of how it amused him. Brendan did enjoy being amused; in particular, when it was at someone else's expense. He ran a finger slowly over his tache, a blank look on his face. "Never heard a knock on my door. Translation being - I guess I didn't hear anything."

"I want to know what the fuck you're thinking of, Brendan? Surely you don't have that much of a death wish!?" Simon demanded, his eyes opened wide on his business partner.

A blank look on his face, although, knowing exactly what Walker was going on about, Brendan replied in apparent boredom, "I'm supposed to know what you're talking about?"

"I'm not about to play games with you all day, Brendan. I take this agency seriously... obviously you don't!" Simon's eyes bulged angrily as Brendan continued to look through him. "I guess the fact that you own a nightclub in addition to half of this PI agency, means your attention is on one business far more than the other!"

"Why the fuck would ye be trying to wind me up for, Simon?" Brendan's legs slid to the floor in one quick motion, vaulting to his feet with the same quick precision. He moved closer to his irate partner, ice flickering in his dark eyes. "I'm here, aren't I? Does that look like a man NOT focused on business?"

Simon eyed Brendan shrewdly. "Oh, I'd say you're focused on business. It's just a matter of what kind!"

"Just say what ye got to say, Simon. I've got an appointment due soon." Brendan didn't blink once during his response, both of them knowing that was the meeting that had Simon so unsettled.

"Yeah, let's talk about that." Simon shook his head back and forth, unsuccessfully trying to figure Brendan out. A losing battle - always. "Can you give me one good reason why you would take Danny Houston on as a client?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Brendan calmly answered back. Anyone who knew him well would know that the even, calm voice dispelled trouble should he be unreasonably provoked. "Face it, Simon - there hasn't been a large number of paying clients beating down the doors of this office. Danny Houston will pay up. Isn't that why we're here? To make money?"

Simon shook his head. "I don't like it, Brendan... and furthermore, I won't have any part of it. If you want Houston for a client you'll be handling it on your own. I'm not about to go down because of one of his shady deals."

"Fine," he snapped, returning to his chair, in his mind this discussion over - at least for now. "Get out of my office, then, and find something else to do. I believe the outer door just closed... meaning my client has arrived."

"You'll be sorry, Brendan. No good can come from bringing that poison in here." Simon Walker glared at the man that was now approaching Brendan's door, his eyes slithering over him in suspicion, and utter dislike. Not wanting to totally throw Brendan to the sharks, Simon called back, "I'll be in my office if you need me, Brendan."

Danny coldly watched Simon Walker's hasty exit, not a doubt in his mind as to why. It didn't bother him at all; in fact, it amused the morbid side of him. In truth, that side possessed the greater part of him. Stepping fully into Brendan's office, and deliberately closing the door behind them, Danny cackled, "Your partner doesn't seem to like me much."

Brendan didn't like Danny much either, but, he wasn't going to turn down his money. At least, not until he heard what he had to do to earn it. "Could be something to do with ye being responsible for his brother taking an overdose."

"Allegedly..." Danny countered, chips of ice in his eyes. Clicking his tongue, Danny utilized his most sympathetic voice, one that didn't come close to meeting his eyes - "Such a shame when the young don't exercise control. All sorts of unpleasant things can happen-"

"Right." Brendan stared impatiently at the man that walked around the room, touching on everything as if it was his God given right to do so. That was Danny's way. No matter where he went - his own domain, or that of another man's, he exuded confidence and control. Brendan was much the same. When alone together it always became a battle of wills between them. "So, I doubt you came here to discuss Simon. Exactly what can Brady/Walker Investigations do for you?"

Danny placed a wide envelope on Brendan's desk, his eyes hostile as his mind came to his purpose for being here. "It's about my daughter. More to the point, it's about the bloke she's been seeing. I need to know all about him, and exactly how far their relationship has progressed."

Eyebrow raised, Brendan stared at Danny in surprise. This wasn't anything close to what he'd been expecting. "Okay. Is he local?"

Shaking his head, Danny answered, "I don't think so. That's part of the problem - I can't get any clear information on him. All I have is a name."

"More would be better... but let's start with that." Brendan picked up a pencil, and prepared to write it, unaware of how it would be a name that would change his life.

"Ste Hay." Danny spat the words from his mouth. "I'll tell you this, Brady, if he has touched my daughter in any way I will fucking kill him. You will find out everything about him; then, I will take care of the rest."

Brendan nodded. He wouldn't want to be this young man - wherever he might be. He opened the envelope that contained a large portion of cash, along with a snapshot. His eyes narrowed on the young couple." Deliberately, Brendan cooed, "Sweet..." He wasn't being completely sarcastic. The face of this Steven was more than sweet. It made him curious to see how the rest of him measured up.

"My daughter was until she started hanging around with him. Now she doesn't call home, and when I do talk to her she's mouthy and disrespectful. This Ste is a bad influence on her... and I want him gone!" Danny's eyes glittered in rage. "I don't care what it costs, Brady. I want him found, and I want to know everything about him. Everything! Don't disappoint me!"

"Oh I won't Danny, I won't." Brendan thoughtfully looked at the picture, his eyes briefly touching on Danny's daughter. He would find Steven Hay; of that there was no doubt. It only remained a question of what he would do with him once he did. That thought intrigued him the most of all.

TBC

A/N: Okay, so this is the beginning. Who is Danny's daughter? Amy, Rae; someone else entirely? We'll see. Thanks for reading. Comments are appreciated!