He found Maddie right where the principal had said she'd be, walking around the back parking lot helping the graduates with caps and gowns as they lined up to go out onto the football field for the ceremony. He stood for a moment and watched her smiling proudly and hugging some of the students, the soft material of her blue dress flowing around her, feeling his heart race. Would they be able to talk, or would they end up fighting again?

Maddie didn't notice him at first, but when some of the students began smiling and waving she turned around and saw him there, waiting. He was dressed simply in black pants and a white dress shirt open at the collar, with his right arm held against his body in the same bright blue sling he'd been given after surgery. The expression on his face was unsure, but his lips curved into a small smile when their eyes met, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Hey slugger," she smiled softly as she walked toward him. "They let you out, eh?"

"This afternoon," he replied. "And just in time, it turns out."

She nodded. "The kids'll be glad to see you. You should go say hi."

"I'll catch 'em afterwards. Is there someplace we can talk?" he asked instead.

She nodded slowly. "These guys are just about to head out onto the field, and then we'll be alone." She turned back to the group of students and smiled. "All right folks, let's get this show on the road. Who's ready to graduate?"

A cheer went up from the graduates as they lined up on the track. The concert band began to play Pomp and Circumstance, and they marched out to the football field. Maddie helped correct a few last-minute cap and gown problems and congratulated them one more time.

Danny stood a few feet back, watching her watch the students. He could see how proud she was of them, and felt a bit of that himself as many familiar faces paraded past him onto the field. He had shared a lot with them, and with her, and he hoped this wasn't the last class he would help graduate.

When the students were gone, Maddie turned to Danny and walked slowly over to him. "I want to explain myself," she told him. "That day at the hospital, I wasn't making excuses for Luis…I was really just thinking out loud…trying to figure out how one of my best and brightest could be involved in criminal activity. I realized the next day what I had said and how it sounded…"

He took her hand in his good one and ran his thumb over her smooth skin. "I shoulda known," he replied. "We may not have a long history together, but I know you, and you've never made an excuse for anyone, ever. Not the kids, not your family, not yourself…if I hadn't been so angry I'd have seen that…"

She squeezed his hand gently. "You have every right to be upset with me…"

"No, I shouldn't have lost my temper."

"So much happened in such a short time, we were both just trying to keep up."

He grimaced. "That's why we fought," he replied. "You and I have never had a problem talkin' to each other, but…"

"…we just got hit with too much at once," she finished for him.

He nodded in agreement and his eyes took on a familiar twinkle. "I mean, I've never been shot by my girlfriend's student before."

Maddie laughed and looked down at their hands, noticing that their fingers had become intertwined. "So I'm your girlfriend now?" she teased.

Danny grinned. "You know you wanna be…"

"Convince me."

His grin widened as he leaned down and kissed her, his arm snaking around her, his palm resting in the small of her back. She slid her arms around his shoulders and kissed him back, a slow, deep kiss that made her toes curl and left her breathless. When he pulled back she wore a happy yet slightly dazed expression on her face.

"How was that?" he asked with a smirk.

"Very convincing," she returned grinning. She kissed him again, lightly this time. "I'm sorry I didn't come back to the hospital. I didn't think you wanted to see me."

"I didn't think you wanted to see me," he said, leaning his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry I got so upset…"

She ran her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck and smiled. "I'll forgive you if you forgive me."

"Deal," he smiled back, softly kissing her lips and the scar on her neck.

The administrators were beginning to call names and hand out diplomas, and Maddie's focus shifted to the stage that had been set up on the football field. She took Danny's hand and led him up to an empty spot in the bleachers where they could watch the rest of the ceremony, spotting Aiden and Don as they climbed.

Aiden smiled, noticing how Maddie held Danny's hand, and nudged Don. "Look, they made up!"

Don saw the happy smiles on his friends' faces and grinned himself. "So draggin' me all the way over here was worth it, then?"

Her smile broadened as she kissed his lips briefly. "Absolutely."

Danny sat down beside Maddie and looked out at the graduates as they lined up near the stage. "There's Dantrell…"

They cheered loudly for the young man and succeeded in bringing an embarrassed smiled to his face as he walked across the stage. He waved in their direction when he received his diploma, then returned quickly to his chair, fishing a piece of notebook paper out of his pocket.

When the diplomas had all been presented, Dantrell took the stage again, this time as a speaker.

"Good evening," he began in a strong, confident voice. Danny squeezed Maddie's hand proudly, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"I have been elected to give the farewell address on behalf of the class of 2005, so this is the last speech you'll have to sit through tonight. I'll try and make it as painless as possible." The crowd chuckled appreciatively and Dantrell continued, "There are a few people we'd like to thank before leave here for the last time, starting with our principal, Mr. Freeman. He has been a great source of motivation for us, mostly by listening patiently to our problems then telling us to take some initiative and fix them ourselves."

The crowd obliged and laughed again. Dantrell continued his thank-yous, mentioning staff members, parents, and coaches. Then he came to Maddie.

"There is one special teacher we would like to thank. This year was her first here at Eastside High, but she jumped in as though she'd lived here all her life. She came to our games, our concerts, and our plays to cheer us on, and was always around when we needed extra help with our school work. It didn't have to be science, and you didn't even have to be in her class, but if were willing to put in the time, so was she. She was there when we needed her outside of school, too—if we called her for help, she always came. So to Miss Madeline Parrish, the class of 2005 sends our deepest appreciation."

Danny was grinning proudly, squeezing her hand again as he kissed her cheek and whispered, "Way to go, Madeline…"

Maddie smiled at him, delighted by both the heartfelt speech and the sound of her name as it rolled off his tongue in that heavy New York accent.

Dantrell continued. "And last, but certainly not least, we would like to acknowledge a group of police officers who supported us and encouraged us to study hard and to become something. They believed in us despite our backgrounds and circumstances, and provided us with many opportunities to see and do things we wouldn't otherwise have been able to see or do. One officer in particular made himself available to us, brining in lab supplies, spending time with us in and out of the classroom, and showing most of us a side of the police we wouldn't have known existed. To the New York City Police Department's Crime Lab, and to Detective Daniel Messer in particular, we offer our sincerest gratitude."

Maddie giggled quietly, and squeezed Danny's hand as she kissed his cheek. "Way to go, Daniel…"

He looked over at her and laughed, surprised to be mentioned in Dantrell's speech and marveling at how sexy a Midwestern accent had become to him.

The students stood and applauded the audience, which in turn, stood and applauded the graduates, long and loudly. Principal Freeman came to the podium after a few minutes to close the ceremony, and the class of 2005 tossed their caps into the air in celebration. The band began to play something up tempo, and the newly minted graduates left the field, hurrying to find friends and family.

Danny was beginning to feel the effects of the energy he had expended that day so soon after being released from the hospital, but insisted on mingling with the kids. It wasn't long before they found Dantrell with his grandmother and sister.

He saw Danny first. "Detective Messer! You're out of the hospital!" the boy cried, flinging his arms around the older man.

Danny was taken by surprise, but reacted swiftly, patting Dantrell on the back. "Woah! I don't know what Miss Parrish told you, but I'm gonna be okay," he joked.

Dantrell released him, chagrined. "Sorry. I just didn't expect you to be here, that's all."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Danny replied. "Congratulations."

Dantrell blushed slightly and smiled. "Thanks," he said, shaking hands with Danny. Then he slid his arms around Maddie in a gentle hug. "And thank you, Miss Parrish," he told her. "I wouldn't have made it without you…"

"I'm so proud of you," she said, squeezing him tightly. "You did it, kiddo."

He blushed a little more as he pulled away. "Gran and Trina are taking me out to dinner to celebrate…will you guys come too?"

Maddie glanced over at Danny and read his face. He wanted to go, but she could see how tired he was. "Wish we could, but I gotta get the detective home…"

Dantrell smiled understandingly. "But you're still comin' to the party next week, right?"

"You better believe it."

Hugs were exchanged again and good-byes were said. Dantrell led his grandmother and sister further into the crowd, while Maddie and Danny began making their way to the parking lot. They stopped and chatted with a few of her other students, offering more hugs and congratulations, but eventually reached Maddie's car.

She drove to his apartment, watching him struggle to stay alert from the corner of her eye. He really shouldn't have been so active his first day out of the hospital, but she knew he had come for her and for her students, and she loved him for it.

When they arrived at his place she took his good arm and walked him upstairs.

"Home sweet home," she smiled as Danny looked around.

"It feels like I've been gone for months," he said. "I was only here for a few minutes this afternoon…"

"Well why don't you sit down and reacquaint yourself with your furniture. I'll fix something to eat. You hungry?" she asked on her way to the kitchen.

"Starved," he smiled.

"What sounds good?"

"Anything that isn't hospital food."

She rummaged around in the cupboards, but found little to work with. "All you have is cereal, Danny," she smiled. "You want Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs?"

"Lucky Charms," he called from the living room. "The leprechaun makes me feel taller…"

Maddie laughed hard at that, but somehow managed to bring two bowls of cereal in without spilling them. Danny flipped on the TV as she sat down beside him, surfing through the channels until he found a baseball game.

"Baseball, cereal, and my girl," he grinned. "Life is good."

She leaned over and kissed him between mouthfuls, tasting the sweetness of the cereal on his tongue. "Life is very good."

They ate and watched the game, talking and laughing and teasing each other, enjoying being together again. Toward the middle of the game, though, she noticed his eyelids getting heavy again and that he was struggling to stay awake. She slid an arm carefully around his shoulders and pulled them toward her, kissing him gently on the cheek. He shifted positions a little and allowed his head to rest against her, a small smile forming on his lips as he lost the battle and drifted off to sleep.

When Danny awoke, it was dark out and he wasn't sure where he was for a moment. He heard quiet breathing next to his ear and felt someone's arms around him. He smiled, the memory of falling asleep on the couch with Maddie coming back to him. He felt a wave of happiness wash over him—the way she held him, one arm draped protectively over his injured shoulder, the other hand resting on his chest, felt good. He turned his head slightly and nuzzled her neck, his smile growing when her arms tightened around him in response.

"I love you," he whispered.

She smiled in her sleep, and that was all the answer he needed.