I had this in my head for a week and decided to put it in writing. It's kind of a missing piece to Personal Foul, more between Flack and Danny, but filling in the Danny and Lindsay story. Consider it a prologue to Personal Foul. Read, then go watch that episode.

"So, I got an extra ticket to the Empire's game on Friday," Danny told Flack after they finished up paperwork for an interview.

"Don't tell me you're asking me on a date Messer," Flack joked.

"Hardly."

"Or am I just second banana? Lindsay turned you down."

Danny had the decency to grimace. "You want to go or not?"

"Why not."

Flack watched as his friend walked away, looking a little defeated. Not that Flack believed his friend didn't deserve to feel that way. He'd seen how Lindsay had protected him and had watched him rebuff her time and again, getting way to emotionally and-Flack feared-physically involved with that Sandavol woman.

The change in Lindsay hadn't been immediate. He'd watched her go from worry of one sort, to worry of another. It had taken more than one blow to knock her back.

Down the hall he watched Lindsay walk within three feet of Danny before walking past with the barest of nods.

At the sigh beside him, he turned to find Stella watching, as he had.

She shook her head. "I really thought they were going to make it."

"I'm not counting my boy out yet," Flack told her.

"Maybe not, if he'd put some effort into it. Sometimes I'd like to knock him up side his hard head. He hasn't talked to her."

"I don't know," Flack said. "He asked her to go to a game with him."

"While standing in the AV lab an hour ago. All casual-like. She just looked at him, she didn't even say no."

Flack sighed.

"He's going to lose her if he doesn't realize he has to do a little bit more than charm her in the AV lab."

"Maybe he needs something to think about," Flack said and pulled out his phone.

"What are you doing?" Stella asked.

"Giving Messer the kick in the rear he needs."

~ny~

"What's wrong with you?" Flack asked as he walked toward the arena with Danny.

"Nothing's wrong with me."

"Really? You nearly growled at that female security guard who was flirting with you."

Whatever Danny muttered under his breath wasn't worth repeating anyway. Besides, Flack knew what was bothering Danny. Lindsay was on a date. It wasn't a real date. At least Flack hoped not. The idea worried him a little. He'd called an old buddy who was in the middle of the aftermath of a breakup and talked Lindsay into going. He didn't believe Lindsay would fall for the guy.

At least he hoped she wouldn't. Jess had warned him his plan could backfire.

Two hours later, Flack could only grin stupidly as Monroe arrived with Martin as her escort. They didn't kiss goodnight, and their handshake was extremely awkward.

But Danny didn't seem to notice the awkwardness. He looked a little shocked, but true to form, not as defeated as he'd looked for weeks.

As they moved through the arena and processed the scenes, Danny kept casting glances at Lindsay, processing the new information.