AN So, after all that build-up I hope you don't find this chapter too anticlimactic. I just couldn't figure out a way to end it without it being too ridiculous or drawn out. Now, this is technically the last chapter BUT I do have a bit of an epilogue that gives it a nice, melodramatic finish...If you're interested, of course! I won't post it till you give me the word!
:oP NeverMind
The trail lasted less than two weeks and Sassone was sentenced to 15 years to life for the second-degree murder of Paul Montenassi. Lita proved why she was so good at mob-related cases. She knew all the buttons to push and the exact moments to push them. She had Sassone and his team backed so far into a corner there was no way they were going to get out. Her evidence was damaging, her witnesses were convincing and her closing speech so powerful that the jury convicted in less than two hours.

By the time Danny was finally allowed back at work, he and Aiden still hadn't made up. She was still quite mad at him.

"Aiden," he said, his week and a half down time having made him contrite, "I'm sorry. I should've said – something. I don't know. I just didn't want you to get hurt."

"Well, you did hurt me, Danny. I just – I look up to you, you know? I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I promise, I'll never lie to you again," he said, putting one hand over his heart and one hand in the air.

She couldn't help but grin at that. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she said. "I forgive you – for now. Now you better get over to interrogation. I think your girlfriend's waiting for you."

Danny tensed at that. He had thought about Lita a lot, but hadn't really expected to see her so soon. Assuming, of course, that's whom Aiden was talking about.

He opened the door to find Lita sitting at the table, looking over the past week's trial transcript.

"Danny Messer," she said without looking up. "I'm glad you haven't changed."

He stood at the door, not entirely sure what to do. She looked up at him. "It's okay to sit down. I won't bite."

He eased into the chair next to her as she folded up her papers and put them into her briefcase.

She looked at him affectionately. "It's been a long time," she said softly, folding her hands in front of her.

He just nodded. All he could think about was how much he'd been in love with her.

"I'm – I'm sorry about the past couple of weeks. I, uh, I had kind of hoped it wouldn't get that bad," she said.

He shrugged. "It's okay. I'm glad it all worked out."

She nodded. "Well, this is kind of weird. I had kind of thought that you would be the best part of coming home. But you're still too proud, aren't you?"

"Lita, I…"

"Oh, I know, I know," she sighed. "You still haven't figured out that everything I've done is because I care about you, and just because I have more connections than you do doesn't make you less of a man."

"I just…" he started, looking down at his hands. "Ever since we arrested Sonny, I've been coming undone, Lita. Feels like…after I broke up with you."

"I know, sweetheart," she said quietly. She put her hand over his. "It's over now."

He rubbed her palm with his thumb, still not making eye contact with her.

She sat there for a little while, trying to decide what to do. Finally, she stood up and put one of her business cards in front of him. "Give me a call sometime," she said. "Let's do coffee." She bent down to kiss his forehead. "Bye, Danny."