"I'd like to propose a toast," Danny informed the little group, raising his beer bottle with a sling-free right arm. "To the end of summer school," he said, smiling at Maddie.

Glasses and bottles clinked together as the little group sat at their usual table at Charlie's, celebrating. "To the end of summer school!" everyone agreed.

Maddie raised her own bottle and winked at Danny. "To the return to active duty," she grinned, "even if it is limited to the lab."

Seven other people chuckled and repeated the toast, thrilled to have their friend back at work.

"To Sheldon," Don piped up next, grinning at the doctor and the young woman sitting beside him, "who finally brought a date!"

Sheldon blushed slightly and laughed. "You promised to behave yourself if Sarah came tonight," he protested.

Don chuckled. "That was Danny. No one ever said I had to be good."

Aiden smacked her boyfriend on the arm. "Leave him alone," she instructed, "or you'll be leaving here alone."

Mac leaned back in his chair and smiled. "We know who wears the pants in that relationship."

"Let's hit the pool table," Stella suggested. "Aiden, can Don come out and play?"

"Ha ha," the young detective replied, pushing back his chair and walking over to the pool table. "Bring it on Bonasera."

Stella bounced up and grabbed a cue stick, waiving Sheldon and Sarah to join her. Danny and Mac made their way to the dart board, spawning the obligatory don't-give-them-sharp-objects jokes.

That left Maddie and Aiden to fetch the next round of drinks. They leaned against the bar, watching the rest of their group compete against one another as the bartender filled their order.

"So how is Danny's shoulder really?" Aiden asked.

"Well, he's not in pain anymore, and the artery that was torn by the bullet seems to be holding together relatively well," Maddie responded. "He hasn't got much strength in his arm and the joint's still pretty stiff, but the physical therapy will take care of that."

Aiden nodded, her eyes wandering out over the bar to her friend. "That sounds encouraging."

Maddie nodded. "He'll be okay, Aiden…back to his old self again in no time."

"It was just such a close call…I'm still worried about him."

"Well, it's a good thing he has us, then, right?" Maddie smiled. "I'll look after him at home and you can keep an eye on him at work."

Aiden frowned, but agreed. "Yeah, we'll take care of him," she said.

Maddie heard the flat tone of her voice and wondered if there was something Aiden wasn't telling her. "You okay?"

Aiden nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're sure?"

Aiden nodded again and forced a smile. "I'm sure."

The drinks arrived and Maddie decided to change the subject. "So how are you and Don doin'?" she asked as they carried the trays back to the table.

That brought a genuine smile to Aiden's lips. "We're good."

"Things are getting serious between you two, aren't they?"

"Yeah," Aiden said, grinning. "We've been talkin' a little bit about movin' in together, actually."

"Really? That's great! Congratulations!"

The two women laughed as Maddie hugged Aiden, and the little spectacle drew the attention of the four playing pool.

"What's going on over there?" Don called, abandoning the game and walking over. He wrapped his arms around Aiden and nibbled her neck playfully. "I'm the only one who gets to hold this beautiful woman…"

Aiden giggled and ran her hands through Don's hair, bringing his lips to hers in a warm kiss.

"We should probably get outta here," he breathed as he pulled back.

"One more drink…" she teased.

Don called them all back to the table, trying to contain his eagerness. "Come on guys, one more before we hit the road."

"I can't believe you're leaving already," Danny complained. "We haven't even made it through the second round of drinks yet."

"This was a pretty spur-of-the-moment thing, remember," Aiden reminded him.

"On a Friday night," Sheldon chimed in.

"People have plans," Maddie added. "You and I will just have to celebrate our freedoms alone tonight."

"Well, when you put it that way…" Danny grinned.

The little group laughed and Sarah raised her bottle.

"Before we go our separate ways, I'd like to propose a toast," she said. "This evening has started out well—let's hope it ends even better. To tonight!"

"Here here!" they all agreed.

Maddie sat on Danny's lap and looked around the table at the people who had become her friends. They were celebrating together as a group, but they were also together in couples, a phenomenon that had only evolved after she'd met them. Sheldon was still the intelligent, sweet doctor who had made her giggle so girlishly the night they had all played "I Never". It was Sarah who was giggling girlishly now as he helped her from her chair and walked her out, pulling a delicate lavender orchid from his sport coat pocket and kissing her cheek. Aiden was still fiery and quick-witted, full of passion not only for her work now, but for Don as well. The pair stood shortly after Sheldon and Sarah and made their way to the door, arms wrapped around each other, gazes locked, trying to figure out whose apartment was closer so as not to keep themselves under control a second longer than necessary.

Mac rose from the table next, still the kind-hearted soul who first let Maddie into the interrogation room with one of her students, still stoic about his own life. He wasn't officially with anyone, but when he offered to walk Stella to her car Maddie thought she caught something in the tone of his voice, the look in his eyes. He headed with his partner toward the door, waiting until they were out of earshot before leaning just slightly closer to speak to her. Meet me at the theater in fifteen minutes…

"Guess that leaves you'n me," Danny said, running his hand over her back.

"All alone," she added. "What are we going to do with ourselves?"

He smiled crookedly. "I have an idea…"

She grinned mischievously. "You've had that idea for six weeks."

"Then why wait any longer?"

She laughed out loud but didn't protest as he sprang from his chair and hurried her out to the car.

When they arrived at Danny's apartment, they wandered into the living room and Maddie spotted a new item perched on the bookshelf.

"I remember this," she smiled warmly, picking the picture up for a closer look. It was a shot of her and Danny standing among a group of her students at school during one of his visits. The kids were all mugging for the camera and Maddie was laughing at them, leaning ever so slightly against a grinning Danny as he rested his arm around her shoulders.

He stood behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and peering at the picture over her shoulder. "Ah, yes, the infamous marshmallow-bunny-in-a-vacuum-chamber day," he chuckled. "Who knew the thing would explode if you pumped all the air out?"

"Well, we did," she reminded him with a smirk. "But it was a good lesson in the importance of atmospheric pressure."

He looked at the picture again and smiled gently. "I loved you then," he told her. "I didn't know it…I couldn't have…I didn't know what real love was until you showed me." He nuzzled her cheek and tightened his arms around her, taking a moment to choose the right words. "No one else on earth has ever made me feel the way you do," he whispered.

Maddie replaced the picture on the bookshelf and wrapped her arms around Danny's, leaning back against him and smiling softly. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," she said quietly. "I know that there are still times you don't think you're good enough for me, Danny, but every time I look at you I thank God we're together."

He buried his face in her shoulder and she turned in his arms, running her hand through his hair and along the back of his neck. He lifted his face and his lips met hers in a sweet kiss, breaking away after a moment and trailing more kisses across her cheek and down her neck. He paused when he reached the scar from the attack at Eastside High, noticing how it had faded, had barely become visible to most people. Danny knew he would always see it, always feel the fear that had gripped him as he waited helplessly in the parking lot, then the rush of exhilaration at the knowledge that she was alive…and his.

He kissed the scar tenderly, caressing her body as he made his way back to her mouth. She shivered at his touch and he nibbled on her lower lip, grinning when she nibbled playfully back.

"I am the luckiest man in the world," he breathed.

She smiled impishly and began unbuttoning his shirt. "And you're about to get luckier…"

"Life is good," he grinned, leaning in for another kiss.

His hands found their way into her hair, pulling out the clip she wore and threading through the soft brown curls as they cascaded over her shoulders. She moaned softly against his mouth, opening the last button and pushing the shirt off his body as he pulled her closer. Her arms went around his broad shoulders, sliding over his muscular arms and feeling the heat emanating from his skin as they began to move slowly toward the bedroom.

They broke apart in the hallway to pull Maddie's shirt up over her head, and Danny's hands were immediately drawn her exposed midsection, caressing her strong, soft body as they looked into each other's eyes.

He smiled uncertainly and took a breath, massaging the small of her back gently.

"Nervous?" she asked.

He nodded. "It's not that I don't want to do this…I definitely want to do this…I just want it to be right…I love you so much…"

"You know how much I love you," she replied softly. "And I'm a little nervous too…it feels like the first time again..."

He smiled at that. "It's our first time."

She leaned up and nibbled on his ear, where she knew he was a bit ticklish. Right on cue he grinned and squirmed a little, gripping her waist tightly and leaning against the wall.

She laughed mischievously and whispered, "Then let's have some fun."

"You got it, babe."

He covered her mouth with his, kissing her passionately while his hands traveled over her body, touching her in all the right ways. She shivered again and they shared a grin, disappearing into the bedroom.