Ok. This is hopefully Chapter 1 of the series that was spawned from the episode "Tanglewood". Hope you enjoy.

Title: Reality and Truths

Rating: um....let's give it an R to be on teh safe side.

Warnings: slash.

Couple: Danny Messer/ Mac Taylor

Danny Messer sighed when he heard the loud knock on his door. He sullenly got up and walked to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it. It was exactly who he had expected.

"Figured you'd show up sooner or later." he stepped back, letting Mac Taylor in.

"What the hell, Danny?" was the first thing said, "I know you were watching that interrogation." Danny sighed again and flopped onto his couch. Mac remained standing.

"Look, I was a Tanglewood Boy, ok," he really didn't like admitting this, "I got out. You remember how only a small few get out once they're in?" Mac nodded "I was one of those few."

"You know you could lose your job over this."

"Yeah, that's why I didn't want anyone to find out. Then Sonny went back on his word, and-"

"Wait, you know Sonny?!" Mac was angry now, Danny couldn't even look him in the eyes.

"Yeah, I knew him- I'm not proud of it, either." Mac paused after Danny said that.

"Proof. Show me the tattoo." Danny got up and unbuttoned his work shirt, sliding it off his shoulders and turning so he was facing away from Mac. He almost jumped when he felt fingers tracing the mark- almost. He turned again, to face Mac. He pulled his shirt back over his shoulders and re-buttoned it.

"God. Nobody was ever supposed to find out." he sat back down, his head hung and his hands clasped in front of him.

"Sonny mentioned knowing all about you. What did he mean?"

"It was a threat. If he goes to jail, I'm going to be in deep trouble." Danny finally worked up the courage to look Mac in the eyes. What he saw scared the shit out of him.

"Pack a bag. Bring at least a week's worth of clothes. You're staying at my place."

"Mac- I can't do that to you. If I stay with you, its not just my life that gets put in jeopardy. I really would prefer you to stay alive. You didn't do anything wrong. You couldn't have known." Mac grabbed Danny and pulled him up. Mac forced him to look into his eyes.

"No arguments," he pushed Danny toward the bedroom, "pack," when Danny hesitated, he added "now."

Danny did, brooding the whole time. He really didn't want to do this, but Mac wasn't giving him a choice. Ten minutes later, he emerged, suitcase in hand, "OK, lead the way."

The ride to Mac's apartment was made in total silence. The pulled up alongside the building and Mac looked at Danny, "Remember- no arguments."

"Got it." They got out. Turns out, Mac had a pretty nice place. Danny dropped his stuff in teh guest bedroom. It was late, he really wanted to sleep. He was about to hop into bed when Mac's head popped into the doorway.

"If you're gone when I wake up, I'll find you- and you'll prefer Tanglewood punishment over what I'd do to you. G'night." The door shut and Danny shook his head. It was going to be a very long week.

The smell of coffee woke him up in the morning. Took him a minute to remember where he was- Mac's. He reached over and put on his glasses. Getting out of bed, he strode toward the kitchen. He wasn't surprised to find that Mac had set out an extra coffee cup. He poured himself some and headed out into the living room. Mac was sitting on his couch, the morning's paper open in front of him.

"Mornin'" Danny said with a slight yawn. He sat down next to Mac.

"Hey. You're not going into work this week. Neither am I. You're going to stay here, with me, until this matter is taken care of."

"Mac...thanks." Danny turned to look at him. He saw something that he could only identify as affection in the steel-blue eyes staring back at him. It was gone in a second, though, so he couldn't be sure.

"No problem. So? Sleep well?"

"Yeah, actually."

"Danny...why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you become a Tanglewood Boy?" Danny sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.

"Pelham went after my dad. They beat him up pretty bad. He spent a year and a half in ICU. He's still confined to a chair," he gave a sad laugh, "Tanglewood offered me the opportunity for revenge. I was barely 17. It sounded good to me. I got out after three years, went to college, then came to work for you. I never really thought about them until now."

"How'd you get out?"

"Promised that I'd never voluntarily mention my relationship with them, and they would forget all about me." Mac reached up and cupped Danny's face, noting how the other man leaned into his touch. He could see all the emotions and turmoil behind those sapphire eyes.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt." Danny's hand snaked up to meet Mac's, his fingers entwining with his boss'.

"I know how to handle myself, Mac."

"That's the part that scares me." Mac's phone range. Their hands fell apart, Danny indicating that he was going to go get changed.

"Taylor."

'Mac! Where the hell are you. Danny's not in either."

"Calm down, Stella. Danny's with me. Neither of us will be in all this week. Safety measures."

'Oh, okay. Behave yourself.'

"Will do. Bye, Stella."

'Kay, Mac. Bye.' she hung up.

"Stella?" Danny's voice penetrated the semi-silence engulfing the room.

"Yeah. Wanted to know where you were and why we weren't in yet."

"Mmmmm..." Danny sat back down on the couch. A plain black shirt and a pair of faded jeans gave him a very laid-back look. Mac laid a hand on his shoulder.

"It'll be ok. Dn't worry." he gripped Danny's chin, turning teh man to face him. He leaned in, lightly touching their lips together. When there was a response, he deepend it. Soon, his tounge was mapping Danny's mouth while his hands played with the hair and the base of his neck. He laid them on the couch so Danny was underneath him. He broke the kiss and removed Danny's glasses.

"Tell me to stop and I will," he said. Danny just brought him down for another kiss. The next few hours were spend bringing each other to the height of pleasure.

FIN! So, should I continue it, or not?