Sequel to We Might Fall. The aftermath of Danny and Baez admitting their feelings for each other. Basically Danny and Baez falling, and falling and falling, and then falling some more.

Thank you everyone for your incredible support, it means a lot to me. I got several comments hinting at a sequel to We Might Fall not being a bad idea, so here it is. This one will have several chapters, but real life is also a thing, so bear with me. Several characters and tags will be added as the story progresses, including the Reagans. There is also a possibility the fic rating will change to M.


She glides the lipstick on smoothly, a muted plum shade contouring her lips instead of the livelier rouge tones she'd ordinarily select for the occasion.

The reflection in the mirror stares back at her, mocking her…painfully reminding her of the last couple of days, weeks, months. The day immediately after he'd brought her back home from the hospital with the giant teddy bear had been a gymnastic of stepping on eggshells and eluding the subject matter; a dreadful and unwelcome plight they were only able to shake off given time. Her stomach churns at the displeasing memory when she's surprised by a knock at the door.

The blue light that shines through the clock on her nightstand reads 7:34 PM, and she isn't supposed to be at the restaurant until 8:00 PM. Him picking her up is an impossibility; he doesn't even know where she lives.

A second, more emphatic knock brings her to her feet, and Baez rushes to her front door only to find her partner standing on the other side.

"Danny," she sputters, instinctively covering her frame behind the door.

His gaze meets her framed face and pretty dress, adorned by open-toed heels and hanging earrings she'd never wear to work. It takes a moment for the words to find him.

"Oh, sorry," he stammers. "Am I interrupting anything?" Danny tries to act casual.

"No," she says. "I just…have somewhere I need to be."

It doesn't take a detective to figure out what she's dressed for.

Danny averts his gaze from her when their eyes meet for a split second, clearing his throat hoarsely.

"I'm sorry, I should have called."

"No, Danny. It's fine–,"

"I mean, it's Friday," Danny interjects with a tense laugh. "Who stays home on a Friday night?"

"Danny…"

"I just…finally got a lead on the Trevis case," he waves the file in hand. "And I thought I'd share. But it can wait."

"Danny…" she exhales, recalling the last time they stood at that very doorframe, and he'd promised she could lay her trust on him. The difference is, unlike last time, the flutter she feels throughout her body now is one of sorrow and regret.

He can't bring himself to look at her, yet he sees her; the curls that fall down her face, the dress that so elegantly frames her body, the jewelry that brings out the color of her eyes.

"I'll see you Monday," Danny charges out the door, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Danny, wait!" she calls out to him. She pinches the bridge of her nose, softly thumping her head against the door as she watches him drive off into the night.

Baez makes it to the restaurant with a couple of minutes to spare and it goes fine; the man sitting across from her talks, and talks, and talks. She smiles politely but doesn't listen. Her thoughts drift to him and the dejected look on his face when he walked back to his car. She says her goodbyes before dessert, effectively ending the date.

At home, the urge to call him eats at her, but every time she picks up the phone to dial her hands go numb.

For the first times in years, they don't hear from each other on the weekend. There are no calls, no texts. Baez hesitates to send him that link that reminds her of him; Danny doesn't send that joke. There's nothing but the sound of resounding silence.

Monday comes and Baez finds Danny sitting at his desk when she walks into the precinct.

"Hey," she says quietly.

He looks up from the paperwork with a courteous smile. "Mornin'."

She lets out a ragged breath, slowly releasing the tension lodged deep within.

"I would've gotten you a coffee, but I didn't know when you'd be here."

"Oh," Baez stammers. "That's okay." Breaking their morning routine feels wrong, but she brushes the sting off.

"I took care of the Trevis case, by the way," Danny explains, eyes locked on the computer screen.

"You worked it over the weekend?"

"Yeah," he shrugs. "No big deal."

Danny looks up from his screen, catching a glimpse of her when she's not looking.

"Reagan, Baez? Do I pay you to sit here all day?"

"Well, actually, you don't pay us at all," Danny rolls his eyes. "Boss," he adds, after getting a dirty look from Gee. His lips quirk up into a smile when he sees the look on his partner's face.

"We were just leaving," Baez announces, throwing him a knowing look.

The car ride is quieter than usual, and aside from Danny catching her up on the case he'd worked the weekend and the sounds from the radio, not much is said.

It feels unnatural, like they're back to being rookies and are partnering together for the very first time.

"Danny, is everything okay? Are we okay?" Baez finds it in her to break the silence, because as intimidating as it is to blatantly ask, the bleak feeling shared by the pair…the feeling that something is off between them is far more terrifying.

"Why wouldn't it be?" he's taken aback.

"You're awfully quiet today."

"I…don't have anything to say."

"You always have something to say," she tries to lighten the mood.

"Well, there's a first time for everything," Danny shrugs.

His tone isn't sharp or impolite, but it hurts her. Baez looks out the passenger window and swallows the crude reaction threatening to spill. Danny witnesses it from his peripheral vision, and it takes everything in him to keep his hands trained on the steering wheel and focused on driving, his instinct being to comfort his partner and dear friend.

"What about you?" Danny turns his attention back to the road.

"What about me?"

"Nothing you want to say or talk about?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Yes, Danny, really."

But there is something, something she desperately wants to tell him but doesn't know how to.

"Alright," he makes no effort to hide his frustration.

"Come on, Danny…" she turns to him and waits, not wanting to speak unless he returns the gesture, which he does. "Can we reset?"

"I'm telling you; everything is fine," he believes his words, even though deep inside he feels the same way as her.

"It doesn't feel fine."

"Does he make you happy?" Danny blurts out unexpectedly, his tone is grief-stricken.

"What?"

But before the conversation can go any further, they're sidetracked by a loud scuffle. Danny stops the car, hurrying to step between the brawling pair.

Police. Stop.

The punch the man aims at his girlfriend almost hits Danny, and he's cuffed on the spot while Baez tends to the wailing victim and her black eye.

"You're taking a ride with me, pal," Danny announces.

"Bus is less than a minute away," Baez turns to walk in Danny's direction, when her face turns pale as a ghost.

"Maria?"

Danny glances between the perp at his feet and his partner, the look of recognition and realization between them dawning on him.

The shame and humiliation she feels leaves a bitter taste in her mouth, so she just stands there, speechless and wide-eyed, as if she's in freefall.

"You're a cop?"

"Alright," Danny coaxes the man up, leading him to the car and away from Baez. "You uh, you got her?" he tilts his head towards the girlfriend.

She nods, unable to find the words.

Danny takes the man to the precinct while Baez rides with the victim to the hospital, where she takes her full statement. As it turns out, the man she'd been dating had another life, again. The victim was actually his former fiancée, and the reason he beat her was because she'd wanted to go out with her girlfriends instead of him on the date they'd once called their anniversary.

Baez comforts her and makes sure she is doing well before heading back to work.

Back at the 54th, she meets Danny outside the interrogation room. They share notes on where the case is at, and Danny notices the look on her face when she looks through the one-way mirror.

"Sooo," he singsongs, then pauses briefly before continuing. "This guy, huh?"

"Is this funny to you, Reagan?"

"I'm just saying," Danny holds his hands up in defeat. "He didn't even know you were a cop?"

"I don't tell people I go on a few dates with what I do."

"And what do you tell them?"

Baez lets out a heavy sigh, wanting nothing more than to put this whole situation and day behind her.

"Let's just get this over with."

"You know," he starts, a reassuring softness in his voice. "You don't have to go in there."

"No," she retorts, ignoring how much the embarrassment burns. "I'm going."

"Okay," Danny opens the door and steps aside, making way for her.

Inside, Luiz tries to talk himself out of the trouble he knows he's in. It's incredibly uncomfortable for her, especially with Danny in the room — she feels ashamed, exposed, mortified, but she doesn't let it affect her work ethic. Danny stands back, arms folded across his chest, allowing her to take the lead. It doesn't take long before she stands, looking the man straight in the eye.

"Would you please get this jerk off my face, partner?"

"With pleasure."

Baez leaves in a rush, never looking back.

He finds her at the edge the water, leaning against the railing that overlooks the city across the still waters of the East River. The wind is crisp and blows her strands across her face. Baez doesn't turn when he approaches, but she knows he's there.

"Have you come to gloat?"

"You know you don't mean that," Danny catches the hurt in her voice. "I've been looking all over for you. Didn't you get my calls?"

"I've notifications off," she clarifies.

"Kinda scared me a little bit."

"Sorry," she says quietly.

"It's okay. How are you feeling?" he tries.

"It looks pretty small and peaceful from here, doesn't it?" she looks straight ahead, taking in the sight of the last rays of the sunset against the New York skyline.

"Yeah, it does."

Danny can't see her face, but he knows her well enough to recognize what she's concealing.

"Hey," he speaks gently. "It's getting cold. Come on, let me take you home."

"What is wrong with me?" Baez suppresses a scornful laugh.

Because it can't just be a coincidence that she is constantly walking down this same road. How could she be such a bad judge of character?

What is wrong with me? The words echo through Danny's ears.

She doesn't mourn for the guy. She never developed feelings for him. The only reason she even thought of going out with anybody after they admitted their feelings for each other was because she was terrified of what that admission could mean.

"There is nothing wrong with you," Danny wants to reach out, comfort her, but he hides his hands in his pockets instead. "They're the ones with the problem. Not your fault they couldn't see what was right in front of them."

She turns towards his voice slowly, meeting his gaze.

"I'm on your side, Baez. I'm always on your side. And we're okay."

His words are warm and heartfelt, and it brings a smile to her face.

"Danny, I never really…"

"You don't have to explain anything."

"No, I think I do."

"No, you don't," he shakes his head.

"I want you to know," she interjects. "This; it wasn't about you."

"What was it about, then?" he looks down.

"Me. And my stupid fear."

"I just…want you to be happy. You know that, right?"

She nods, then turns to the horizon — she knows she'll lose it if she looks him in the eye.

And then Danny goes on and on about how much better off she is without those bastards, and how she deserves the world; it's almost as if everything around them slows down and fades, and they're all that's left. It all rushes back to her — her unsupportive family, every guy who'd lied to her about his relationship status and how important she was, everyone who'd failed to show up for her. And him. The man standing right in front of her. The only exception.

She watches every caring word and the facial expression that follows as he speaks, and her walls crumble completely.

"Trust me, Baez..."

"Danny," she softly interrupts and brings her hand to his chest to steady him.

"Hmmm?"

She takes a cautious step towards him and tilts her head, leaning forward until their lips quickly brush together, steadily increasing the pressure as she brings her hand to his cheek. Danny is so stunned his eyes aren't afforded the time to process it.

Stepping slightly back with a grin, Baez grasps his collar, pulling him towards her. This time, Danny feels the warmth of her lips moving against his…and the swell in his chest that ensues. He kisses her back, bringing her close with a tender clasp of her hair strands.

"Pinch me," Danny whispers against her lips when they part for air.

She smiles and his eyes close before she even moves to him, capturing his lips in hers again. He presses their bodies against the railing, running his fingers up and down her neck, and Maria lets out a soft whimper as she holds onto his core, arms tightly enveloped around his lower back.

tbc


Thank you for reading! I hope you like it. I already have a (rough) draft of chapter 2, and a rougher draft of where I want to take this fanfic as a whole.