I don't own these characters, just a fan wanting to tell a story!

Maria walked out to the back porch, a cup of warm tea in her hands. She sat on the steps, the wind was a little chilly as it blew past her bare arms. The sun was just beginning to set. She sipped her tea, deep in thought. Another day had passed, no sign of Angelo. He was like bubbles and she was a child trying to catch him. She heard the door open, and then footsteps. Danny sat beside her.

"Sean is at Sam's working on homework." Maria stated sipping her tea.

"Yeah, he told me." Danny answered.

"You look like hell." Maria observed, glancing over at him. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked exhausted.

"Thanks." Danny remarked with a small laugh.

"Any improvements on the case?" Maria questioned, rubbing her arms trying to bring some warmth back into them.

"No, absolutely nothing." Danny sighed."This son of a bitch just vanished off the face of the planet." Danny pressed his hands together, he couldn't imagine how she felt, the man who had abused her and beat her so badly it caused her to miscarry was roaming free...and he was hurting others.

"I think we should try using me as bait." Maria decided.

"You don't have to do that, we will find another way." Danny insisted

"But what if we can't?" Maria pleaded, "What if he hurts someone else because I'm too scared to face him?"

"You not about being scared, it about what the smarter choice is." Danny reasoned.

"No, I'm not!" Maria argued.

"It's too dangerous!" Danny exclaimed. "We wouldn't be able to control the situation, and he's insane. No, you can't do it!"

"Danny, I can do what I want!" Maria snapped indignantly. She loved him but sometimes he could piss her off.

"Damn it Maria!" Danny cried. "Just because you feel guilty about what's happened doesn't give you the right to have a death wish!"

"I don't have a death wish!" Maria objected, rising and heading for the door. Even in anger, she was graceful.

"Then what are you doing?" Danny questioned, "Engaging him could kill you." His voice had calmed, Maria heard the flicker of concern in his voice. That moment of weakness made her heart soar high, maybe he cared for her more than he would admit.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take." Maria remarked. She took a deep breath to cool her temper.

"But I'm not." Danny stated. "I lost my wife, I'm not about to lose my partner." His voice was thick with emotion as he pushed by her. She saw him hurry through the house and up the stairs.

She was pissed, he couldn't control her, but she understood his pain. What she wanted to do was extremely dangerous, she knew she could die. In her heart, she understood where he was coming from. She sighed and sat back down on the porch and sipped her tea, it had grown cold during their fight. A few minutes later she heard the door open again, without turning she said.

"I'll wait a couple more days and if there still aren't any developments. I will do it." She said softly.

"Do what?" A male voice asked.

Maria whirled around, "Jack!" She exclaimed.

"Hi!" Jack grinned. "Where is everyone?"

"Your Dad is in his room, and Sean is out a friend's house working on a group project." Maria explained.

"Okay," Jack replied, "what are you doing out here?"

"Just relaxing." Maria answered. "What are you doing back?"

"Sean didn't tell you I was coming home this weekend?" Jack inquired.

Maria shook her head.

"Sean asked me to come home, it's the anniversary tomorrow...he thought Dad might handle it better if I'm home. I think we all will." Jack disclosed. "Dad's in his room right?" Jack questioned, changing the subject, he didn't want to talk about how he was doing. It would be two years tomorrow and to him, it still felt like yesterday.

"Yeah," Maria answered, "but you might not want to go talk to him right now, he's not in the best mood." She added looking at the mug in her hands.

"Did you two have a fight?" Jack inquired sitting down beside her.

"Yeah" Maria said with a nod.

"About?" He queried.

"Full of questions aren't you?" Maria said with a smile.

"Anything I can help with?" Jack asked, resting his hands on his knee.

"No, I don't think so." Maria answered.

"You could have told me you were coming home this weekend." Danny's voice came from the door.

"Dad!" Jack exclaimed jumping up, being pulled into a tight hug by his old man.

"What brings you home?" Danny questioned, a bright smile on his face.

"Just wanted to come home and visit...and to get some non-college food." Jack lied glancing at Maria, hoping she would keep the real reason for his visit secret. Maria answered his silent plea with a nod.

"Come on in, we haven't had supper yet." Danny suggested, the memories of the fight that happened less than an hour ago were replaced with happiness to see his eldest boy.

"Oh, I have some news." Jack said as they all sat in the living room. Sean had just had recently gotten home from Sam's.

"What's that?" Danny inquired taking a sip of beer.

"I have a girlfriend." Jack announced, dropping his bombshell and enjoying watching the fallout.

"Liking a girl and never talking to her doesn't count." Sean objected.

Jack glared at his brother.

"Really!" Maria exclaimed. "What's her name?"

"Her name is Emily Marsh, she is a criminal justice major and wants to be a lawyer." Jack explained. He noticed that his father was surprisingly silent.

"Another lawyer in the family?" Danny asked sighing. "What are we coming too. "

"I'm dating her, not engaged Dad." Jack said with a smile. He took that comment as a good sign that his father approved

It was a few more hours before everyone went to bed. The boys had already headed up to bed, Maria was about to head up herself when Danny stopped her.

"I'm sorry for what I said outside." He apologized. "I have no right to tell you can't do something."

"Thank you." She said softly. "I respect your opinion, and I understand that you are concerned for my safety, but Danny I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, but I can't lose you too." Danny worried meeting her eyes. He was so close to her she felt her heart hammering. He was so close that she could touch him, and it took all her strength not to. She had always said the eyes are a window to the soul, and she could see all the pain and fear he was feeling.

"If we still can't find him a few days, I am going to do it but I will let you take the lead." Maria assured.

"Thank-you," Danny said quietly.

"But be safe," Maria ordered, "because I can't lose you either."

I hope you guys liked that chapter.

Thanks to dancinkowgirl for editing this chapter and allowing me to bounce idea's off of her. I would also love it if you guys would go check out her story "Unexpected" it's and Jamko story but I love it and she is such an amazing writer!

Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions my brain engines are just like "okay how fast can we write everything down?".
I love you guys soo much

Love

Eliza!

P.S We are almost to 40 followers! *woot woot*

P.P.S For those who don't know I wrote a story called "Six days he sat by her bedside" about the missing moment in the episode "painkillers" where Danny is sitting at Maria's bedside. I would love it if you guys checked it out.