1Don't Even Try

Chapter 11, focusing on Arielle and Danny again, in the form of Arielle's conversation with him and Flack, and Flack's thoughts about them both. R&R, as always... I live off these things. As always, LeoDiabla has been awesome. Thanks for the reviews and small talk. Hope you saw House on Tuesday! Here goes:

Spoilers! If you haven't seen "On the Job," last week's new episode, DO NOT READ if you do not want the full story.

"You kissed him."

"It was meaningless."

"To you? Or him?"

"To both of us. Don't worry so much."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Quit getting all detective on me."

Arielle looked serious and sincere. So Flack believed her. He took her into his arms, hugging her gently. "Sorry," he whispered. "I just wanted to know."

"You were jealous."

He looked shocked. "No I wasn't."

"Yeah, you were."

"No, I wasn't. Honestly I don't see what he has that I don't."

"Yeah, you do. Don't lie. You're a cop, you suck at lying."

"That was below the belt."

"Well, it's true. Now get out of here. I've got work to do."

He left, and Arielle got back to her work. It was then that she saw Danny at his desk. Danny at a desk? That was unexpected.

"Hey, what's up?" she asked, appearing in his doorway.

"What's what?" he asked. He was upset; she could tell by the way his forehead created a little crease between his eyebrows.

"You working at a desk? What happened?"

"I thought you heard," he answered her. "I'm in trouble."

"What?" Thoughts flashed immediately in her mind. "Don't tell me it was-"

"No," he whispered. "I was on another job. There was a suspect... I chased him into the subway, someone shot at me, and I shot back- and someone ended up dead."

"So they got you for killing a suspect? That doesn't-"

"It doesn't make sense, I know," he interrupted. "That's because it wasn't the suspect. It was an undercover cop."

Arielle's insides turned to lead. An undercover cop? "They... they can't be looking at you for it, can they?" she said shakily.

"It was a good shot," he answered. "I'm not sure."

"Oh, God..." She passed a hand through her hair. "I'm really sorry, Danny."

He nodded. "Maybe I did."

"Don't say that." She reached for his hands. "You know as well as I do that you didn't."

"It was-"

"I know. Just cool off. I'll even help you along..."

"I need to talk to someone," he said, and stood.

"Danny-! Where are you going?"

"I'll be back," he said, and left.

Meanwhile, Flack was in another room, contemplating Arielle and Danny. Maybe... just maybe... she did like him. A little bit. Friends he knew didn't kiss each other on the lips. Special friends, yes. But... she wouldn't do that to him, would she?

She made it seem as though she really liked him... and yet she was playing games? Was that it?

Damn. Girls are so fickle.