Title: Dr. Ph-lack

Rating: FRT
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Just the idea.
Spoilers: 4.11 Child's Play, 4.13 All In The Family

Summary: A drabbled continuation of the conversation between Danny and Flack at the end of 4.13 All In The Family. D/L

I don't write men well. Fluffy men, yes, man to man, no, so the conversation might sound odd. And it's my first sorta drabble thing, so it ain't long.

"You gotta stop blaming yourself for Ruben's death."

"How? How can I do that?"

Don just looked at the dejected shell of a man who once walked these halls with purpose and poise, who owned this city, and punished its filth. He really didn't know what to say. He had already said all he could, which apparently, wasn't enough.

"Dan, you didn't do anything. You told him to head home. You did what was best for him."

"Yeah, well, now he's dead. I gotta live with that."

"You don't gotta do it alone. Talk to someone."

Danny mirthlessly laughed. "Ha, yeah."

"I'm serious. Any of us'll listen. Hell, I'll even lend an ear; can't promise that I'll be any good, but if you need ta' vent..."

Danny managed a small smile. "Appreciate it, man, but I think I'll just head home; catch some shut eye."

"Offer stands, whenever."

"Thanks," Danny said, turning and stopping just thought the door. "Hey, and thanks for today."

"Don't thank me. I didn't do nothin'," Don said, making his way to get Rikki Sandoval's statement. "It was Lindsay who started it," it was a low blow, but somewhere during the day, Don had figured that Danny had been less than forthcoming with anything for the past few weeks, to Lindsay. He didn't like getting involved with whatever lover's spat they were having, but from his conversations with the female, he figured one, the other, or both, weren't talking.

"Lindsay..." Danny said meekly, almost in a breathy sigh.

"Yeah, Lindsay; maybe five foot three Montana native you're quite fond of. You know, deep brown eyes that a man could just drown himself i-"

"Yeah, yeah, Flack, I get the point," Danny interrupted unintentionally harsh. He really didn't want to hear another man, his best friend or not, talking about Lindsay's eyes; those eyes that he hadn't suffocated in since... he couldn't remember when.

"She's worried about you. She was the one who got me checkin' in on you," even at his words, Don could see a small spark back into the life of the Detective across from him.

"What? You mean you didn't come lookin' for me by your own free will?"

"Hell no! I got better things to do on my day off than baby-sit you," Danny briefly chuckled but stopped as Don continued, "And besides, when Lindsay says something, a guy's just gotta-"

"Don, don't tempt me," Danny warned, pointing a finger.

Flack laughed to himself. Even being a somewhat neglectful boyfriend, Danny nonetheless, was still a boyfriend.

"I'm just sayin'," Don sobered up, "Girls like her don't grow on trees 'round here. You don't want to lose her," to which he earned a 'tell me something I don't already know' look from his colleague. "Take it easy, man," and disappeared into interrogation for Ms. Sandoval's statement.

Danny leaned his head against the door frame he was blocking.

'You don't want to lose her.'

'…don't lose her…'

'…lose her…'

'…don't…'

What was he gonna do?

Author's Note: Like I said, don't do men's conversations well...