1If Only You Knew

Chapter 10, dealing with Arielle trying to calm Danny down. You pals and gals know how fiery Danny can be, and how hard it is to keep him under control. R&R, don't be shy or "scurred" (sorry, listening to Ludacris right now...) I love the attention. Here goes.

"I want to know how you think you can get away with this kind of business!"

Danny was yelling maniacally, moving animatedly around the questioning room, while a scruffy-looking man sat in the chair before him, looking angry and confused, but staying silent.

"Are you ever going to answer, tough guy? You were awfully vocal when we took you in," Danny snapped. The guy remained calm.

"I don't know what I'm in here for, and I don't have to say a damn thing," the man said in a heavy New York accent. "I never raped a 14-year-old girl."

"Oh, because you wouldn't recognize her, would you?" he asked hotly, as Arielle entered the room. She didn't look directly at the man. "She can't even look at you. That's how much you disgusted her."

"Hey, I don't know who she is, all right?" the man snapped back. "I never seen her before."

"Meet your teenaged stepdaughter, all grown up," Danny said in a mock-introductory voice. "Arielle Williamson, does that name ring a bell?"

Arielle stole a glance at the man, to see if he recognized her. It was then that she noticed. "Danny, stop yelling," she said quietly.

"Hell no, I'm not going to stop yelling! He raped you-"

"No, he didn't." She stepped forward to get a better look. "That's not Mike."

Danny looked at her, angrily puzzled. "What? I saw him around the marketing district, people were calling him Mike- he fit the description pretty well-"

"Pretty well doesn't cut it." She met his eyes. "That's not him. Do you know how many Mikes there might be in this city? He's not our Mike."

She turned back to the man, who looked relieved. "I'm sorry, sir," she remarked. "There's been a misunderstanding. You can leave."

"Thank you." He stood. "By the way... I'm sorry about your situation. Just know I'd never hurt a girl like that. If you need me to help..."

"Oh, no, thanks," she said. This guy looked like he was Mafia. He probably needed to be taken in ten times for murder, but right now she didn't care.

He left, and as soon as he did Arielle turned to Danny. "You need to calm down."

"Don't tell me what I need to do, okay?"

"No, I need to tell you. Another move like that and you could be reported for impulsive and disorderly conduct!" She looked at him seriously. "Now, I know you want to help me, and I appreciate that more than you know. But you won't help me if you get your badge revoked. Just... please... cool it."

"I want to, I do... but..." Danny ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he had, and sighed. "This isn't a small thing. He hurt you. And we need to get him, and be tough with him."

She nodded. "But in the meantime, don't make mistakes like that! It's only hindering this."

She lightly and playfully kissed him, a friendly gesture that meant nothing to either of them. But Flack just happened upon the window and saw them.

"God, this job is stressful," Danny said, and Arielle caught Flack glancing through the window.

"If only you knew," she whispered.

Shoutouts: To LeoDiabla: Thank you so much for faithfully reviewing my chapters. You rock, and you better keep rockin'!

Everyone else who I can't remember right now: Thanks so much for reading my story. Hope I kept you tuned in.