Angie and Don part 4

It was just past 11pm, and Don took a chance that Danny was at home and would still be up. He rapped lightly on the door to Danny's apartment. If he was asleep Don really didn't want to wake him.

He heard a muffled bump from the other side of the door. "Who is it?" a sleepy voice asked.

Shit, I woke him up, Don thought. "Danny? It's me, pal. Lemme in, huh?"

He heard the lock turn and the door opened. Danny looked a bit bleary-eyed but not like he'd been roused out of bed. He was dressed in sweats and one of those tank shirts he wore. Don could smell beer on his breath as he half-glared at Don and said "You here to brag about your hot date?"

Don winced. That kinda hurts. "Danny. Don't do this. You know better than that. You gonna let me in or what?"

Danny stepped to the side and let Don into the apartment. He closed and locked the door. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

"No, I did not come to brag about my hot date. I came to see if my best friend is ok."

Danny's expression changed. The glare faded, replaced by a look that Don wasn't sure what to make of. It almost looked like Danny was about to cry. Oh no, don't do that, Don thought. He knew Danny was hurting, but he didn't think this whole thing had upset him that much.

"I'm sorry Don," Danny said, "I'm bein' an asshole." Danny dropped his head and stared at the floor.

"Comere pal," Don said and approached his friend. Danny looked scared for a second, like he thought Don was going to take a swing at him or something. No, he know's I'm gonna hug him and he wants to get away from me so I can't... Don caught him before he could twist away.

"God dammit, Danny, I'm just tryin'a give you a hug. Jesus!" Don got his arms around the smaller man's shoulders, and felt Danny go stiff like a board, then suddenly relax and just sort of collapse against him. He didn't return the hug, but he was no longer trying to escape. Don knew that Danny was very standoffish about physical contact from anyone, male or female, and wondered how the hell he thought he was going to have a relationship with Lindsay or anyone else if he couldn't stand being touched. Don also knew what was beneath the hard exterior. He knew that Danny was in fact a very emotional human being and that he didn't like that about himself. He thought it made him weak. So he'd put on this tough-guy bravado. He knew that if he let someone get close to him, that those walls of defense would crumble and he might cry or do something equally embarrassing. Like ask Lindsay out on a date...

"Cryin' out loud, man, you'd think that after all this time you could let your fuckin' guard down around me. You still don't trust me? I thought we were best friends."

He felt Danny pull in a deep breath. Don couldn't see his face; Danny had ducked his head so his forehead was against Don's shoulder. Comeon, Danny, snap out of this, you're killin' me here... he found he was really having a hard time seeing Danny so upset.

Don didn't let go, and finally Danny brought one arm up across Don's back. That's better, Don thought. He gave Danny a little squeeze and then let go of him. Danny continued to look at the floor, and Don could tell he was trying not to cry.

"I didn't realize this whole Lindsay thing had you so messed up," Don said.

Danny shook his head, and went and sat down on the couch. Don sat down as well.

"No, I'm ok, it's just... I don't know. The whole thing just sorta happened too fast, you know? I mean, Lindsay and I have been circlin' each for what, a year now? An' I didn't think much of it until she went undercover and all that shit went down. It was like something sort of went off inside me. I can't even explain it. I just realized that I do really like her, and then she blew me off after all."

"It sounds to me like neither of you are sure what you want. That's not a good way to start a relationship." Maybe I should be heeding my own advice on that...

Danny shook his head again. "And then I cop an attitude because you get a date. Jesus, I'm a great friend, huh?"

"Well, you know I've said many times that you're a drama queen."

"Oh, fuck you Don."

Don had to smile. He knew that if anyone else had called Danny a drama queen they'd have been decked on the spot.

"So tell me about your hot date," Danny said.

Don sighed. "It wasn't a hot date. I just took her to dinner. Darla says hello."

Danny groaned. "Maybe I shoulda asked Darla out."

"Maybe. But anyway, it wasn't a big deal."

"I still wanna hear about it." Danny said.

"No, you don't." Don replied. He was still feeling apprehensive about telling Danny that he was dating an ex-con.

"Oh comeon, why don't you wanna tell me about her? What's the big deal?"

He's not gonna let you off the hook. He's your best friend; trust works both ways. Tell him.

"Fuck it. Remember the case we worked awhile back, with that doctor who had the liver hijacked for his sick wife?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

Don took a deep breath. "Ok, well remember I had to question the girl who threw the gun in the garbage can, that the doctor found?"

"...yeah..."

"Ok, well that's the girl I took out to dinner tonight. Angie Watson."

Danny looked at Don. His eyebrows went up. "You are dating an ex-con?"

Don just gave Danny a sheepish look.

"Holy shit." Danny said.

"Now do you see why I didn't want to tell you?"

Danny looked confused. "How the hell did you hook up with her?"

"She just got out, and she contacted me. She left a note on my desk asking to meet me."

"And you met with her? Why, Don?"

Now Don was starting to get annoyed with Danny. "See, I knew I shouldna told you. I knew were gonna react like this. Fuck!"

Danny spread his hands in a familiar gesture. "But Don, you hate criminals!"

"I know! I get that this is outta character for me!"

"Then why?"

"I don't know, Danny! There's something about this girl. It's not just that she told me I had beautiful eyes, or that she just happens to be drop-dead gorgeous. I'm not that weak." Don dropped his head into his hands. "You weren't there, you didn't hear her. She knew every single detail of the street where she dumped the gun. No common criminal is that smart. I remember bein' impressed with her, and I told her I'd put in a word for her if she helped us, and she did. And I did. And then she left me a note. And I met her. And I bought her lunch. And then I took her out for dinner. She's workin' in Marilyn's market and rentin' a room from her. I don't know what the hell I am doing. That's why I didn't want to tell you! I knew you were gonna freak out!"

"Wait, take it easy Don. I'm not freakin' out. I'm just a little shocked is all. Like you said, this is outta character for you."

Don felt like he was about to jump out of his skin. "I need a drink. You got a beer or somethin'?"

"Sure, there's beer in the fridge. Help yourself." Don got up and went to the kitchen. "You want one?" He asked Danny.

Danny shook his head. "Nah, I've had enough for one night."

Don came back with the beer, and sat back on the couch again. He took a long pull from the bottle and sighed heavily.

"The thing is, Danny, I know how crazy this is, but I just can't turn my back on her. I feel like I can help her and that somethin' is pushin' me to do it."

Danny chuckled. "And the fact that she is drop-dead gorgeous has nothin' to do with it?" he asked.

"I'm really tryin' hard to ignore that aspect of it, but she is beautiful. The kind of beautiful that distracts you, you know? Maybe you wouldn't see it. Does Lindsay do that to you?"

Danny shrugged. "Sometimes. Do you think she's attracted to you that way?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Like I said, I've been tryin' not to think about it too much. It's not easy though."

"So you've just been out twice?"

"Yeah, and I've been a complete gentleman. I didn't even kiss her goodnight."

Danny seemed impressed by that. "Wow. You're tough, if you're that attracted to her."

"You have no idea." Don said. He took another drink of his beer. "Anyway, I'm really mixed up inside about this and that's why I didn't want to tell you. I'm still trying to figure it out myself. It's not that I didn't trust you with it."

"No sweat, my friend. I'm glad you told me." Danny made eye contact with Don and said "I just wish I had some good advice to give you. Obviously I'm not too smart in the romance category myself, judging from recent events."

Don shook his head and smiled. "You're doin' ok pal. You're doin' ok." Don drained the bottle and went to the kitchen to toss it in the trash. "I'd better get home. Thanks for listenin' to me rant."

"That's what friends are for." Danny stood up. "And to make you let 'em hug you when you think you don't want it." Danny smiled at Don and reached a tentative hand out to him. Don pulled his friend into another hug.

"It's not that terrible to be touched by a friend, is it?" Don asked him.

"Nah, it's not terrible at all. Now get outta here so I can get some sleep."

"Ok, ok, I'm goin'. I'll see you tomorrow, huh?"

Danny opened the door for Don. "You got it. 'Night Don."