Here's the newest chapter. Thanks for the positive feedback. Reference to A Man A Mile. I don't own these characters. Thisstory takes place between seasons.

Danny woke to the sound of rain. He slowly opened his eyes. He was in a room with pale off-white walls. Against the far wall was a window with tan curtains. Danny noticed that the curtains didn't have a cord. The door was open and just outside it was what looked like a nurse's station. Danny shivered. Where was he? What had happened? Then he remembered. He had tried to take his life. Mac had saved him and brought him here. A mental hospital. Danny felt his heart race. He forced himself to calm down, not wanting to be drugged again. Horrible images of drooling crazies in straight jackets filled his mind. He didn't belong here, he wasn't crazy-was he? Mac obviously thought so. Danny felt sick. It was official, Danny's career was over. No way in hell would Hillborne allow a mad man lose on the streets with a gun. Hillborne had always said that Danny was dangerous and unpredictable, and by having Danny locked up in here, Mac seemed to agree. It didn't make any sense. Why would Mac bother to save Danny if he was just going to destroy his life? Did he want Danny to suffer?

Danny had caught the words "suicide watch" during his struggle. He knew what that meant: three days under a microscope. There would be a psych evaluation. If he passed that he could leave after the three days were up. Danny went to the window and opened the curtains. Outside it was pouring rain. Danny could see his reflection in the glass. He had to pass the psych exam, he had to get out of there.Take it easy Messer, he told himself. You've fooled shrinks before, you can do it again. He was going to get out of there-and next time Mac wouldn't be able to save him.

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Flack had left the locker room and spent most of the day wandering the streets aimlessly. His knuckles were bleeding from his earlier outburst. Flack didn't notice though. His emotions were going everywhere at once. The most prominent emotion was anger. But there were other emotions too. He felt guilty for being angry at Danny and angry that he was feeling guilty. He was hurt that Danny hadn't tried to reach out to him, angry at himself for not trying harder to get through to Danny. The "should have" demons had taken up residence inside Flack's mind, and the harder he tried to ignore them, the louder they got. "You should have gone to Mac right away!" "You should have tried harder to get through to Danny!" "You should have realised how bad things were!" "Should have, should have, SHOULD HAVE!" There were too many "should haves!"

After awhile Flack came to a bar. He went inside and ordered a drink. He stayed there and drank until the bartender told him to leave. Outside it had become dark. In the distance Flack could here thunder. Somehow he made it back to his apartment and passed out on the couch.

Flack woke the next morning to the sound of someone pounding on his door. Flack groaned and opened his eyes. "Ow! All right! I'm coming! Damn it..." he muttered. He had a killer hangover and that pounding wasn't helping. He staggared to the door. When he opened it, he saw Aiden standing there.

"What do you want?" he asked, not in the mood to talk.

"Mac just confirmed that Danny's allowed to have visitors. I thought you and me could-"

"Forget it," Flack interrupted. "I'm not going."

Aiden looked both surprised and annoyed. "What do you mean,'not going'?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm. Not. Going. I don't want to see Danny like that. I can't see him like that."

Now Aiden was angry. "Danny's our friend, Flack. You can't just turn your back on him. I know you're scared and hurt Flack, I am too. But Danny needs to know we're behind him. We have to be there for him."

"I already tried that Aiden! It didn't work, he tried to off himself! I tried to get through to him, I really did. It wasn't enough then, what makes you think it would work now?" Flack could feel the sting of tears in his eyes. Damn it. He angrily wiped them away.

Aiden noticed the gesture and in a calmer voice said, "It's all we've got Flack. We have to keep trying, for Danny's sake." Flack started to say something, but Aiden held up her hand. "I ain't done talking yet. I'm not giving up on Danny, and neither should you. You're not a quitter Flack. Keep trying to get through to Danny and don't stop until you do. Now get dressed and come with me to the hospital."

Flack shook his head. "Didn't you hear me? I said I wasn't going!"

Aiden sighed in exasperation. "Look, just come with me, you can wait in the parking lot!" Aiden was hoping that if Flack went along he might decide to go into the hospital after all.

"I SAID no!" yelled Flack. "Would you just go, please?"

Aiden shook her head in disgust.

"Fine, be that way." she turned to go. "If you change your mind, call me."

Flack watched Aiden leave, then closed the door. He thought about what she had said. Maybe he would go visit Danny. Maybe...

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Nick was kneeling over the toilet, trying to catch his breath. I haven't even boarded the plane and already I'm sick! he thought. When he was sure that nothing was going to come up, he went to the sink to rise out his mouth. He had been very careful not to have anything to eat or drink before the flight. He didn't want to risk having to use that tiny bathroom on the plane. His friends had been a little concerened about how he'd handle flying but he assured them that he would be fine. Besides, he had pointed out, he couldn't exactly DRIVE to New York. It would take far too long.

Nick closed his eyes and took slow, deep breaths. He could do this, he knew he could. It was just an airplane ride, no big deal. Over the loudspeaker the final boarding call for Nick's flight was announced. Nick picked up his bag and ran for the gate. He had picked a window seat, hoping the view would make him feel more secure. He put on his headphones and listened to the relaxation CD he had brought along. It was of waves crashing on the beach with seagulls crying in the distance. Playing over these sounds was flute music. Nick closed his eyes and tried to relax. It wasn't working very well. You had better apreciate this Messer Nick thought. He hoped that he could somehow get through to Danny.

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Mac was back on the fire escape, trying to pull Danny to safety. "Please Danny, let me help you!" he begged. He was so close, just a little further and Danny would be safe...with one final yank Danny broke free of Mac's grasp. His body twisted and turned as he fell to the ground. Danny landed with such force that his ribs burst out of his skin. Blood pooled beneath him. Mac stared down at his friend in horror. "No...Danny!"

"Mac, wake up! You fell asleep!" Mac's eyes snapped open. Stella was leaning over his chair with a worried expression. Mac streched and winched in pain. His whole body ached.

"Sorry Stella. I'm all right now." Mac knew that he didn't sound very convincing. That nightmare had felt so real...

"Could've fooled me." said Stella. "Talk to me Mac. What you went through was scary and horrible. You might feel better if you talked to someone about it."

That was the last thing Mac wanted to do. He shook his head. "Don't worry about me."

"Too late, I'm already worried. Talk."

Mac looked outside his window. It was raining. He hoped Nick's flight wouldn't be delayed.

"Mac!"

He should've known that Stella wouldn't give up. Still, he tried to outlast her. "We should probably leave for the airport in a about an hour. With this weather I'm not quite sure when Nick's plane will arrive."

"Come on Mac, talk to me! A friend of yours tried to take his life! You have to be feeling something."

Why won't she let it go? Mac wondered.

"Mac, what are you thinking about?"

Mac sighed. "The Sandhogs case."

Stella was puzzled. "The Sandhogs? What on earth are you talking about?"

Mac chewed on his lip. He really didn't want to talk about this. He wished Stella would just drop it.

"Mac, what do the Sandhogs have to do with you and Danny?"

"I left him in the tunnel..." said Mac, more to himself than Stella.

Stella knelt down and tried to meet Mac's eyes. "What do you mean, you left him in the tunnel?"

Mac didn't answer.

"Come on, Mac! Tell me what you meant!" Stella put a hand on Mac's arm.

Mac shook his head. "Joe Riggs, he...left his brother Pete in the tunnel..." Mac swallowed a few times. "H-he didn't know that Pete's inhaler was empty...Pete died...alone..."

"I still don't see where you and Danny fit into all this." actually Stella did know, she just wanted Mac to say it.

"When Danny came to my office and asked if we were still friends...I said 'we'll see' I didn't know how bad off he was...and I left him in the tunnel..."

"But you went back for him Mac. You got him to a hospital where he can get the help he needs. You saved him Mac."

Did I? Mac wondered. Danny was clever, and if he was determined to die, he'd find a way to do it. Even on suicide watch. Mac could only pray that Danny wasn't that desperate.