AN: This story begins off as DM, but this is a DS story throughout the most part. Yes DM fans, I know, but I wanted to write something while the idea was in my head. So, this is a story that takes place after "Silver star." I'd love to hear any feedback.

Ties that bind
By Cat
Chapter one

"Are you sure that you want to be doing this?" Danny asked in a quiet voice. Sad thoughts welded themselves into Danny's head and thoughts gathered as to why she might be doing this. Danny knew that he hadn't exactly been the best friend or lover to her, but he hadn't realised that she would consider this. He looked deeply into his eyes and wished that it wasn't true, but the message her eyes was sending back was enough to tell him that it was real.

The pain in his voice was more than Mary had wanted to hear at the moment, with everything going on, but she knew hat what she was doing was the right thing. She gulped and after a moment she looked into Danny's loving eyes with a looked that was trying to say she was sorry. She knew that it was her last chance. He had meant the world to her, and vice-versa in Danny's case. Danny had saved her from her from her father every other weeks and he had saved her from many other dangers as well. His dedication to the red-haired female was immense and Mary's life-long dream was to marry him and grow old- by his side.

Danny had always wanted the same, but he had been confused throughout a good part of his life, not knowing where his thoughts would have taken him without gentle words from Mary. He had run away to the marines at an early age because of confusion and it had also taken him back later on, but he had returned recently. He had changed as well; during the marines he had been in the line of fire and being shot at was a difficult change from normal-day life. He had suffered virtually no wounds, apart from the various cuts, scratches and bruises. He had been lucky, compared to the rest of his unit; who all died. Upon the deaths of his comrades, Danny had sworn to make amends with Mary and follow her lifelong dreams, which he had only recently realised that most of them contained him. Upon his return, he had proposed to Mary, surprising both Mary, himself and close friends in the process.

"Danny," Mary said with an inward thought of backing down on her decision, "I really love you, but seriously. I don't think that it's going to work well between us. Our relationship has gone through some major changes after you came back from the marines, but what's to say that it's not going to go back to normal after a little while? Relationships take time Danny, you can't just come back and ask me to marry you after all that's happened between us, all those times that you've backed out when you've felt that you made the wrong decision." Mary looked away and sighed. "I'm sorry Danny, but I don't want to marry you and then lose something I love about you. I would still like to be your friend though. I'm sorry that it had to end this way…" Mary let the last few sentences hang in the air before kissing Danny on the cheek gently.

Danny nodded gently. "I'm sorry for all the troubled I caused, I never meant for something like this to happen." He said calmly, and with a gentle goodbye, he walked away.

Mary looked at his retreating body for a few moments before letting a tear of sadness roll down her cheek. She gently wiped it away after a moment and looked away as he turned a corner. 'I love you Danny.' She thought before returning to her work.

-! 0 !-

"Are you okay Danny?" Samantha Jane Marquez asked as she walked up behind the man who was, at the moment, sitting at the bar- obviously trying to get drunk. Usually she was quite- what some people may call it- a bitch. But today she felt a little sorry for him, she had heard about his and Mary's break up and viewed it on the surveillance tapes. Sure, Danny had broken up with many of the ladies before and they had dated a few times themselves, but she had never imagined that he would be dumped by his very own best friend.

"Yeah," Danny said quietly as he stared longingly into the drink he had just been served, "fine." Danny fell into a silence and Sam sat on the barstool next to Danny and looked at him for a moment.

"Danny? You are not fine." Sam said bluntly. "Why don't you go home?" She said and tried to hide her concern. It wasn't like her to become so concerned, especially about Danny.

Danny shook his head and said nothing, still staring into his drink.

"Listen Danny," Sam said briefly, "I don't think that it's a very good idea to get hammered when you need to arrive at work, early, the next day, especially when your boss is Ed Deline." She let her concerned smile disappear once she saw the shrug Danny had just given away. 'Wow,' she thought, 'he must really be upset.' Opening her mouth again, she sighed. "Danny, I'm sure that Mary wouldn't want you to be acting like this, she still wants you to be friends right? She wants you to be happy."

Danny sighed and stood up. "Ok." He said as he began to walk.

"There is no way that I'm going to let you drive yourself home, you know that?" Sam said as she walked after him.

To be continued…

AN: It was just an idea I had and there will be another chapter or two coming… I'd love to hear feedback as well… so let me know if you like it or not.