A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, you guys rock! Let's hear it for awesomepossum on the Microsoft Word editing.

Disclaimer: Same as last time. Come on, Anthony, bring it!

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Mac sighed. Was there anything else to do?

"Take Aiden back to the station with you and keep her there 'til I get back. I'll get Stella down here to help me finish processing."

Finally calming down, Danny nodded, just a little. He heaved a sigh, and then licked his lips. "I got it covered, Mac." He turned to collect Aiden, when the sound of Mac's voice brought him back.

"Hey, Danny?"

Danny looked at Mac and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Take care of Aiden," Mac said simply.

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"Hey, Aid?"

Startled, Aiden looked up to see two piercing blue eyes staring back at her. She glared at him; he had surprised her.

"Yeah?"

"We gotta go. I'll explain on the way."

Narrowing her eyes just a touch, she glanced behind her to see her boss nodding in encouragement. With a slight shrug, Aiden started to pack up her things.

"Don't bother," Danny told her. He fiddled with his glasses for half a second, and then he let his hand drop to his side. Aiden recognized this motion - Danny was nervous. Because Danny didn¡¯t get anxious easily, she complied. Dropping her evidence bag on the ground, she got up slowly, still feeling like crap. She glanced at Mac again, and seeing his stern look, she allowed Danny to lead her to his car.

"What's this about?" Aiden asked as they two of them sped off towards the station. She trusted Danny - possibly with her life - but was naturally curious.

Danny stared at the road as if it were the only thing he could see. He cleared his throat.

"'Member when Mac and Stella worked that Tanglewood case?"

Aiden nodded. Something about that case had unsettled Danny. When he later told her that he nearly became one of them, she had accounted it to that. But by the sound of his voice, now she wasn't so sure.

"We put the bad guy behind bars Aid."

She nodded. "I know. So what does this have to do with anything?"

Danny licked his lips nervously. "Tanglewood got mad. And they, uhh, threatened you."

Aiden lifted a single eyebrow, not fully comprehending.

Danny suddenly felt ashamed; ashamed that his past might interfere with Aiden's future.

"They threatened to kill you."

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Stella drove her car up to the yellow police tape and grabbed her kit from the seat next to her.

"Hey Mac. What's going on?" She asked as she neared the stoic man.

Mac silently handed her the note from the victim's mouth, and Stella swallowed hard after reading it. She looked into his eyes, and blue met brown. The moment seemed to last forever, and yet not long enough. She shook her head. Caught up in the moment, she had almost forgotten about her job; keeping the youngest C.S.I safe.

Mac cleared his throat. "Let's acquaint these guys with an interrogation room."

Danny watched from behind glass as Mac and Stella interrogated his one time pal, a Tanglewood member going by the name of "Wolf." Wolf was tall and lanky, with an air of arrogance around him. Danny wondered how he could have ever run with him. From where he stood, he could see Wolf eyeing Stella like a hungry lion, in need of a meal.

"Mr. Mason," Stella began, reading from a case file.

Wolf flinched. "Babe, it's Wolf. Mr. Mason is my no good, dirty pop."

Mac's nasal voice rang out, "Detective Bonasera."

"Whatchou ramblin' on about, man?" Wolf asked, confused.

In his usual calm voice, Mac replied, "Her name is Detective Bonasera."

Wolf just grinned, and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head as if this were a very amusing play.

"Okay, Detective BON-ah-sa-ra," he said, enunciating each and every syllable, "Why'd you haul my ass down here? I'm clean," he said, holding his hands out as if for her to see that his hands, were indeed, clean.

"Did you know this woman?" Stella asked, holding out the picture of the Jane Doe.

Wolf shook his head and whistled. "Nope, but I sure wish I did." And with that, he pushed the picture back to Stella.

Danny turned around to see Aiden walking towards him. Without a word, she joined him in watching the interrogation.

Wolf then got up and tapped against the one way mirror. "Is my homey Danny boy there?" he asked to nobody in particular.

Danny's eyes narrowed. Had he not known better, he would have said that the glass was normal, and not tinted. He could have sworn that Wolf was looking him in the eyes. Beside him, Aiden inhaled softly.

"Mr. Mason," Mac said, his voice growing a warning tone, "if we might continue the questioning?"

But Wolf shook his head. "Not unless Danny and whatsherface ask the questions," he answered. "That girl... that girl Aiden."

Mac shook his head, "I'm sorry, but they're working on another case and that won't be possible," he stated.

Wolf interrupted, "Then I'm outta here. Later, haters." And with that, he was gone.

"Well that went well." Stella broke the silence, her eyes slightly open, and her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mac sighed. "Let's call it a day."

Stella then did something she didn't usually do. She agreed with Mac.

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Aiden stood up from the chair she had been sitting on, thought better of it, and then sat down again. She was going stir crazy from staying at the station. She lifted a hand to run it through her hair and grimaced. She wanted a shower and a change of clothes. It was almost midnight, and the lab was still bustling. Nightshift, she supposed. Tiredly, she wondered if anyone would notice if she left the lab for half an hour. Looking up, she realized that that would not at all be possible.

"How ya doing?" Danny casually asked.

"Been better," she shrugged.

Danny nodded and slung a relaxed arm around her shoulder.

"Me too."

A/N: I know, I know; a really horrible place to end the story. But I had to stop it there because the good part starts soon. Thankee to all who reviewed!

Xoxo,

Peeka. Boo?

(pee ess awesomepossum is still the coolest thing since Long Island Tea.)