To DD or Not to DD
Fandom: CSI:NY
Author: Kimmychu
Rating: FRM (Baacck down again)
Pairing: Danny/Flack, Danny/Mac
Content Warning: Cracktasticness, odd body changes, language. Did I mention cracktasticness?
Spoilers: Set after 'Necrophilia Americana', so spoilers for any episode previous to that
Summary: After a freak laboratory accident at CSI headquarters, Danny is cursed (or blessed, depending on how you see things) with very unusual ... add-ons. Inspired by a forum comment: "Danny is the show's DD breasts."
Disclaimer: Nope, none of the characters belong to me. What a shame. I would treat them oh so well. They have no idea what they're missing.
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Author's Notes: Sorry for the late update, everyone! Been busy lately, but guess what? This is the second last chapter of the story … which means, the next one will be the last. As well as the most pr0ntastic one too, oh my! Somebody from the past makes a special appearance in this one. And I'm a total mush bag, I know. I'm trying real hard not to be too mushy. Really!
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Chapter 28
Detective Danny Messer returned to full-time work after a leave of over two weeks, much to the delight of many female lab technicians, as well as a few male ones who were prudently hushed about it. Who knew how the notorious playboy of the labs would react to finding out even men had crushes on him? They weren't about to risk getting their face pummeled by the post-absent CSI or his chummy friend, Detective Don Flack, Jr., whom most of those male lab technicians also adored.
On the evening of Danny's first day back, he was seen being towed around by the wrists by a very pink-suited Flack, who was adamant he had left behind his mobile phone in one of the laboratories and wanted to retrieve it. Danny seemed in a hurry to get them both the heck out of there, something about wasting precious time and being in the mood to dance the horizontal tango.
The shorter detective tolerated Flack's hustling up to the point they were right in front of the closed lab door, where he threw a verbal petit mal befitting the queen of all drama queens. Five seconds later, when Flack coolly pushed open the door, the resident drama queen of the lab was red enough to defeat any strawberry of the same color, mouth agape.
"WELCOME BACK, DANNY!"
Mac, Stella, Hawkes, Lindsay, Hammerback and so many other co-workers were crowded in the room decorated with colorful tinsel and balloons. Even the other two semi-regular MEs, Adam Pino and Zhao, were there. Everyone erupted into a raucous, merry round of cheers as Flack led a stunned Danny into the lab turned party pad. Some of the tables plus equipment had been cleared away so there was more space. An expansive banner stretched across the wall facing the laboratory door, bearing the same words that were yelled only moments before. On one side of the room was a table packed to the edges with an assortment of western and eastern dishes and drinks. And on the other side, Danny had to blink twice at the sight of a karaoke machine attached to a television set.
Danny glanced up at Flack, whose smile gave him flutters in his tummy. The taller detective made a happy face, wrapped an arm around his neck and playfully knuckled him on the head. Danny laughed. Stella then stepped forward and hugged the shorter CSI, giving him an affectionate peck on his temple.
"Welcome back, Danny. It's good to have you back." Stella flashed him one of her brilliant grins.
"Thanks, Stella." His face was so warm he swore he could see the heat waves coming off him. He also swore the muscles of his face were going to be permanently etched in a jolly smile. He had good reason to be so happy apart from the surprise party too.
The last few days before he had to return to work were well spent with his longtime best friend and new lover in his own apartment, mostly making love and replenishing their bodies with food and water when it was necessary. The only time they weren't out restocking on food was while Danny went for a haircut. After what he experienced in those days and nights, Danny was never ever going to look at Flack's fingers or tongue the same way again. One way or another, he was going to discover where exactly Flack'd learnt to deep throat that good.
Mac and the others came forward to give him their own well wishes and hugs. Hawkes shook his hand and embraced him in a friendly hug. Lindsay practically hopped like a bunny and while throwing her arms around his neck, compelling an amused cackle out of Danny. He'd never seen Montana that hyperactive before.
It had been somewhat awkward that morning when Danny met up with Mac, not knowing how his supervisor was going to react to him in light of what occurred at Nobu. He had been satisfyingly surprised at the older man's lack of uneasiness or tension, as well as his composed but pleased greeting at both him and Flack. Obviously, the two men had made peace over their short-lived brawl in front of the reputed Japanese restaurant. Danny reminded himself to bug Flack about what the homicide detective had gone around doing while he'd been asleep and recuperating for nearly four days.
Now, Mac smiled broadly at him, slapping him on the shoulder. "What, you didn't think we were just going to let you off without a big party, are you?" Mac's smile widened. "Hope you got a speech ready, Danny."
Danny groaned. His grin didn't waver one bit. "C'mon, I'm no good at those things! Can't we just eat and get drunk already, huh?"
Mac laughed. "Sorry. That's what you get for making me say them at every annual dinner."
Another twenty minutes passed while Danny received more well wishes from the other people at the occasion. He particularly enjoyed catching up with Pino, whom he'd been acquainted with for many years. A part of Danny was slightly disconsolate that a cherished face from his past was not there. He knew it was highly unlikely she would attend given that she didn't even work there with him and the others anymore. Still, it wasn't wrong for him to wish she could be there.
Flack guided Danny to the food table, where a very exclusive cake sat. Many of the people there were highly entertained by the cake shaped like gigantic, ridiculous breasts. Even so, they couldn't quite get why it would make the star of the party laugh so hard tears were streaking down his face and he was bowled over. It was an even stranger but amusing thing to see the usually stoic Detectives Taylor and Flack jumping into the hilarity and laughing just as much. Whatever it was, it must be some in-joke only Detective Messer and his close co-workers knew.
Once he got himself under control, Flack made Danny sit on a stool and handed him a thin magazine. "Here. Thought you might like to see this too."
Danny took one look at it and burst into another round of loud, shocked laughter at the cover of the tabloid magazine. He displayed it to the rest of his friends around him, and they too laughed their heads off at it. The other partygoers didn't really get what was so funny about the great actor Al Pacino photographed with what appeared to be a very well-endowed woman in a low-cut, black dress and heels either. Maybe they knew the identity of the unknown woman who was covering her face in the picture.
"Oh CRAP, where did you get this!" Danny wildly flourished the tabloid between his hands then whacked it on Flack's chest.
Flack wiped at his eyes. "At the grocery store near your apartment. Think I scared the shit outta the cashier girl when I saw it."
Danny grabbed Flack by his jacket lapels and shook him. The tabloid magazine flapped crazily in Flack's hand. The homicide detective was still wracked by bouts of giggles. "Pleasepleaseplease tell me this is the only tabloid with the picture in it!"
"Actually, this one's got a great shot of yer ass too." Flack laughed out loud again at Danny's outraged reaction of screaming and pulling his newly shorn, blonde-tinted hair at the double-page spread showing off his backside and his previously well-developed chest.
"I think it'd be a fantastic idea for you to frame it and hang it somewhere in your house," Hawkes said cheerfully, resting an arm around Danny's shoulders.
"Yeah, and we can get you a high-resolution print of that photo I took with my mobile phone!" Lindsay added with a toothy smile.
Flack took out his mobile phone from his jacket pocket, to Danny's chagrin. "Which reminds me, I oughta set that image as my wallpaper."
"Hey Hawkes, was it just me or did one of you stick a print of that photo on the notice board outside the break room?" Stella chewed on a fried spring roll.
"That's funny, I thought it was a picture of Danny in nothing but purple flip-flops and a towel." Oh geez, even Mac was making fun of him with relish. He hoped to God Lindsay didn't send Mac a copy of the photograph she took too.
Danny mock glared at all of them, face heated. "I hate you all." His statement was completely ruined by his contorting lower face attempting futilely to not turn into a grin.
Hawkes patted him on the head like he would a puppy. "Oh, we hate you too." He then cuddled Danny like one as well.
Danny's face lost the battle and he smiled radiantly.
The ringing sound of a spoon tapped against a glass quieted the whole room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome the VIP of this party to make a short speech!" Mac gestured with his head and a smile for Danny to stand up and address the people.
Amidst some whoops and encouragement, Danny reluctantly got up, scratching his head and looking debonair in a tight, black short-sleeved top and dark khaki trousers. He licked his lips then used a finger to shift his spectacles higher up his prominent nose.
"I, uhm, I'd just like to thank everybody for bein' here." He cleared his throat. "It's great to be back, and I appreciate you guys settin' all this up for me. Know you're all probably starvin', so, ya wanna welcome me back in the best way? Knock yourselves out on the food and get drunk for me, ah?"
There was a unanimous roar of agreement all around, especially from Flack who sat next to him on another stool. Danny felt the other man explicitly rub his thigh against his.
"I'm starvin', a'right." Flack's blue eyes stabbed Danny deep.
"Don, we're in public." Danny's face warmed. The other guests were already convening around the table, digging into the food and even brushing by them while they were at it.
"Sure didn't stop ya when we were in that alley behind the bakery." Flack smirked wickedly.
"That was your fault!" Danny stuck his tongue out. "Who the hell asked ya to eat that cream puff like that?"
"What, did it look like I had somethin' naaaaughty on my face?"
"Ya fucker," Danny said good-humouredly, ready to punch Flack in the shoulder.
"Excuse me, Detective Messer?"
Both men swiveled on their seats to see a young, short-haired brunette woman in a red evening gown standing behind them. Her hazel eyes were wide with nervousness and anticipation. Neither Danny or Flack had ever met her before.
Danny smiled in politeness. "Hey, how ya doin'?"
"I-I'm sorry, I know we don't know each other but …" The young lady smiled back. "I'm the one who gave you that blue teddy bear. When you were still at the hospital."
Danny grimaced inwardly. Oh.
Flack had gone totally motionless and straight-faced. His silent friend fiddled with the tabloid magazine in his hands, awaiting the outcome of this conversation.
"I hope I-I didn't offend you or anything," she continued quickly.
"No, of course not! I thought it was sweet. Thank you." Danny's smile morphed into a bigger one. "I never knew how handy a teddy bear was."
Flack looked away, but Danny detected his patented smirk. Danny would bet a million dollars Flack was thinking about how Danny'd buried his face into the teddy as he cried out over and over again under Flack's adept … handling. By the time Flack was through experimenting a variety of dildos inside him, there was a massive damp patch on the teddy bear's body where he'd bitten to muffle his screams.
"Well … I was wondering … would you like to go out for drinks sometime?"
All of a sudden, to Danny's ears, the chatter of the guests surrounding them faded away. He could merely hear Flack's slow breaths, as well as his own thundering heartbeat. His hands and arms felt chilled. He could sense Flack's whole being was, right now, attuned only to him. Danny didn't dare to glance at the man, keeping his eyes on the anxious woman who'd just asked him out.
Their decision to not see any other men was undisputed from the moment they became lovers, but they hadn't discussed anything about dating women. Danny had no clue what Flack's stance was on that. It was okay. He knew what his own decision was long ago.
Danny smiled apologetically at her. "I'm sorry, but I hafta decline. My boyfriend, he's a real possessive bastard, if ya know what I mean."
Flack's eyes were on him like a pair of lasers.
"Oh." The woman appeared visibly disappointed, but interestingly enough, she didn't even bat an eyelid at Danny's admission. "That's okay, really. I'm glad you liked the teddy bear." She walked away and left them alone.
"Boyfriend, huh?"
Danny finally returned Flack's resolute stare. "Yeah. Unless you'd like me to officially call ya possessive dumbass instead, that's fine with me too."
Flack stayed deadpan for another five seconds. Then, his handsome face was lit brighter than the Milky Way by an ear-to-ear beam.
"Boyfriend. Ya called me yer boyfriend."
Danny's tongue flicked out. He thrust one balled fist right in front of Flack's grinning visage. "Don't make me put this where the sun don't shine, pal."
A mischievous spark showed in the homicide detective's blue eyes. "And how do ya know I don't want ya to, huh?"
Danny scrunched his eyes shut and took a deep breath. Oh fuck, that was not a decent image to have in his head when he was enclosed by at least fifty people all around. Co-workers too. He swiftly sat down so his lower body was hidden from view by the table. He was damn thankful he'd chosen not to wear one of his tighter trousers.
Flack hooted, then whispered into his ear, "Don't worry, Messer, you'll get ta find out 'xactly how it feels tonight after the party, hmm?"
Danny released the punch he'd been holding back straight into Flack's lean stomach. Flack was more than prepared for it, stiffening solid abs that softened the blow. Flack chuckled again, squeezing Danny's hand in his. In any other circumstances, there was no way they would be able to touch each other like this in public without arousing suspicion.
"Gettin' predictable, buddy."
Danny bared his teeth. "Yeah, ya keep that attitude up and you're not gettin' any ass tonight."
"Nah, I'm happy just as much as with the front. Or any other part of you. S'long as I get ta be with ya." Flack winked. Before Danny could reply, Flack snatched up two paper plates and shoved one at him. "Food, Messer. Then I'll show ya why they call me the King of Karaoke."
Danny made an extreme, comical face of dread. "Wha, first you're the Jackhammer and now you're the King of Karaoke?"
Flack munched on some chow mien and fried chicken. "Noooooo, the big guy down there is the Jackhammer. I'M the King of Karaoke."
Danny's comical expression intensified. "Oh my God. I'm in love with a guy who thinks his dick is a separate entity from him."
The two men suddenly shut up and stared at each other for a few moments in wake of Danny's confession. Danny was the first to break eye contact, mumbling something about getting food from the other side of the table and stumbling off his seat to avoid explaining himself to Flack. The homicide detective appeared kinda ridiculous with a few strands of noodles hanging from the corner of his mouth with a shell-shocked look. As he sucked in the noodles and watched a red-faced Danny mingling around with gleaming eyes, he quietly smiled to himself.
Don Flack, Jr. was a patient guy. After all, he had all the time in the world to hear Danny say the three words to him for real.
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Flack was true to his boast.
Sure, he was a first-rate homicide detective. But he never specified to Danny whether he was a good or bad King of Karaoke.
Unfortunately, he was turning out to be the latter.
"I know ya like meeeee -"
At least, a drunken, ebullient Flack crooning into a microphone with his jacket thrown off somewhere, his tie askew, sleeves rolled up and hair messy made for a very entertaining Flack.
"I know ya do - That's why wheneeeeeeever I come 'round he's all over yaaaa -"
Flack threw his arms around Danny's and Hawkes' shoulders, crushing them in a big hug that forced their faces together around the microphone Flack held. "C'mooooon, sing with me!"
"And I know ya waaaant ittttt - It's easy ta see -"
The trio swayed dangerously in front of the television that was showing an odd video of a woman running around on a beach trying to look pretty for the camera. The lyrics to the song they sang streaked across the bottom of the screen, but nobody was looking. They were ad-libbing their own words into it anyway. Flack had appointed himself as lead singer, while Danny and Hawkes were the high-pitched back-ups.
"Oooooooohhhh, don't cha wish yer boyfriend was hot like me - Don't cha wish yer boyfriend was round like me -"
Flack pivoted around and stuck his butt out, swinging it side to side with the expertise of a professional belly dancer to the song.
"Don't cha wish yer boyfriend was raw like me - Don't chaaaaaa -"
Danny and Hawkes broke into boisterous laughter at Flack's antics. Danny even blatantly smacked the guy on the ass for good measure. Stella and Lindsay sat on chairs a dozen feet away, laughing hysterically and clapping their hands when Danny and Hawkes accompanied Flack in his hypnotic dancing. Mac looked stuck between wanting to shield his eyes and guffawing along with the women.
It was far past midnight. Most of the party guests had already left, leaving the CSI team plus smashed homicide detective to their musically-inclined merriment. Whether it was the lateness of the hour or Flack's singing that persuaded people to retire for the night was something to be debated at another time. Some of the lab technicians who attended were very nice to assist in clearing up the leftovers and used utensils.
The three men in front of the television and karaoke set sang a couple more songs, intent on finding out just how many raunchy pop songs it was going to take to make Mac shut his ears and thump his forehead on the table. Then, Flack abruptly tumbled over from an overzealous dance move and landed head over heels on his toosh on the floor. And after much laughter at Flack's expense, it was an undivided decision to conclude the festivities at long last.
Mac was the first to head for home, saying farewell with some ambiguous explanation about meeting an old buddy early in the morning for breakfast. As Stella didn't drive that day, Mac offered to bring her home. Hawkes was the next to go after them, stating that he had plans for the next twenty-four hours of his day off with a giant smile.
"Haaaaaaaah, you're datin' that bouncer from The Seventh Gate, AREN'T YA!" Flack exclaimed with wide eyes and an open-mouthed grin, pointing one finger dramatically at Hawkes.
Hawkes blushed and tried to calm a now overly-energized Flack. "Now, Flack, you shouldn't judge her by her lo-"
Flack had a very funny laugh similar to that of cartoon dog Muttley when he was high. "Aahhhh, I'm right! Oh, she's gonna snap ya like a TWIG!"
Hawkes became even more red. "I'll have you know she can be very gentle!"
This only made Flack laugh even more, sliding down the chair he sat on until he nearly fell off. Danny insisted on knowing who Hawkes' mysterious date was, and after Flack effusively described her, Danny stared at Hawkes with a comical, horrified expression.
"She calls ya Hershey Kiss? And she's nearly a head taller than ya?"
Hawkes sputtered for a second. "It doesn't matter if I'm shorter than her! I like her, so there!" When the former ME finally figured out Flack and Danny were simply getting him riled up for fun, he threw his hands up and did his best not to smile. "Forget it, Curly's leaving so you two Stooges enjoy yourselves beating each other up."
"Don't worry, Doc! I'll make sure yer epitaph is the best in the whole world!"Flack clamped an arm around Danny's shoulders, a mock look of grief on his mien. Danny instantly caught on and did the same.
"To the Doc," they said in unison. "Who Went … With a Bang." They sniffed.
"Good night, Flack, Danny." Hawkes had already turned away and was promenading out towards the elevator, waving his hand. Even from behind, the man's grin was obvious.
"Byyyyeeeeeee, Doooooooooc." Flack waved back erratically, vertical only because Danny was supporting him. Danny snickered and held onto his friend, savoring the closeness between them.
Lindsay giggled at seeing this hidden, playful side of the homicide detective. She stood next to them, patting Flack on the head. "We should get Flack drunk more often, Danny."
"Yeah, sure, if ya take the responsibility of dealin' with him in the mornin'." Flack nipped Danny on the ear for his comment. The taller detective wasn't worried about Monroe's response to that. Flack had his discussion with her over many things when she came over to Danny's apartment the second day of his recuperation. Flack had been just as shocked as Danny'd been at discovering who Lindsay's current significant other was. It might be a while before he admitted to Danny that the image of Lindsay and Aiden together was kinda hot.
Lindsay's mobile phone beeped. She read the message on the LCD screen, then glanced pointedly at Danny. "Hey. I think there's someone who wants to see you both."
"Huh, who might that … be."
Flack trailed off as the clicking sounds of heels on the unyielding floor reached their hearing. A memorable figure materialized at the doorway of the laboratory. She was attired in a low-cut burgundy dress with a black jacket over it. Her dark hair was tied into a fancy top knot braid that dangled down to her upper back. Two golden hoop earrings framed a rosy, beaming visage that caused Danny's heart to skip a beat or two.
"Hey, ya numbskulls."
The intense New York accent was like enchanting music to Danny's ears.
"Aiden."
Flack shot to his feet so swiftly Lindsay was taken aback. For a moment, Danny feared Flack was going to react really, really badly to their former peer's sudden appearance.
"AIIIIIIIIIIIIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!"
Flack hollered with exuberant joy and rushed to glomp the former CSI in his long arms, swinging her around in a circle while she squealed along. Danny couldn't help smiling. Man, Aiden looked breathtaking.
Aiden slapped Flack on the arm once he put her down, sniffing then wrinkling her nose. "Geez, Flack, how much have ya been drinkin' tonight?"
"'Nough."
Aiden snorted. They chatted for a short while. It was obvious to Danny how well his lover and Aiden may have matched each other. They were both fire breathers in their own ways, and didn't take crap from anyone. Hell, if Flack didn't exist, Danny could actually see himself being with Aiden instead. But, a life without Flack was one he hoped he'd never have to experience, not for a very, very long time yet.
Aiden's smile faltered just a little as she locked eye contact with Danny. He could see the apprehension and guilt in those bright, brown eyes through his own misty, blue ones.
"Hey, Danny." She stood before him, awaiting his judgement. In the white lighting of the room, her eyes seemed moist too.
They stared at each other, face to face and silent for nearly a whole minute. Lindsay was biting one of her fingernails, watching them with concerned eyes. Flack's drunkenness seemed to have vanished into thin air. His blue eyes were amazingly alert for someone who'd consumed more than a dozen cans of beer.
Without a word, Danny tugged Aiden into a snug embrace, closing his eyes and breathing in the sweet-smelling perfume she always wore. Aiden clutched onto him just as hard, leaning her head on his shoulder. His eyesight blurred more. He heard her sniffle.
"You're such a girl, Burn," he rasped.
"Yeah, who's the pot callin' the kettle black, hah?" Her arms tightened. She sniffed again.
Danny pulled back to look her in the eye. He maintained his grasp on her elbows. He had to blink a few times before he spoke.
"You didn't even say goodbye."
Aiden's face crumpled slightly. "I know. I'm sorry, Danny." She squeezed his arms gently. "I never meant to leave you hangin' like that." She gazed at Flack. "Any of you."
"Aiden," Lindsay said. "They still don't know why Mac fired you."
Aiden looked back at Danny. "So … Mac never told you guys what happened?"
Both Flack and Danny shook their heads. Danny sent her a wordless appeal for enlightenment with his blue eyes.
Aiden sighed heavily, nibbled on her lower lip. "I planted evidence. Or at least, I nearly did." She hurried on at Flack's and Danny's flabbergasted expressions. "She was raped twice. By the same sonofabitch. I-I didn't know what to do anymore, Danny. I felt so helpless, ya know? I couldn't imagine how she felt. I thought … I thought maybe, if it meant putting this asshole behind bars, it was worth it."
"But … after I cut open that evidence bag … I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't let you guys be hurt too." Aiden ran a hand over her hair. "So I put the evidence back. Mac eventually found out what I tried to do. Told me he had to fire me, and I resigned."
There was something akin to anger in Danny's eyes. "Why didn't you tell us this earlier? Ya think I'd judge you so easily for this?"
Aiden understood where he was going with his questions. "Danny, what happened with you and the subway shooting was somethin' else entirely. You didn't choose to be stuck in that situation, and it wasn't your choice either to shoot at a cop. I chose to do it, ya understand? I knew what it was capable of doin' to the lab and everyone in it, and I still nearly went through with it. Mac was right in firing me."
She looked at Lindsay with warmth in her brown eyes. "Yeah, it seemed like the most awful thing that happened to me, but if it hadn't, I wouldn't have met her. And you guys are okay. So, it was a good thing."
The deep emotion was still there in Danny's eyes, but it had somewhat softened. "It doesn't change the fact I still miss you."
"And me," Flack added almost petulantly.
Aiden smiled luminously. "Aww, I missed ya, snark-master. I miss you too, ya drama queen. Things just aren't the same without yer whining and complainin'."
"Hey, I do not whine."
Flack cracked up at Danny's protest. It was what broke the tense atmosphere over them. The four detectives laughed together. It felt like the good old times, even with Lindsay's presence.
"Danny and I are bonking each other, by the way."
Danny gasped and kicked Flack in the shin, earning himself a yelp from the taller detective. Aiden smirked, then turned to Lindsay and said, "Geez, can you believe these numbskulls, Linds? Took them this long to get around to it."
Danny gaped at her. "Wha … whaddaya mean by that?"
Aiden's smirked transformed into a full-blown grin. "Hate to burst yer bubble, Messer, but you're about the only person in the world who didn't have a clue Flack was so totally crushin' on ya. And what the hell took ya so long to tell him, ah, Flack?"
Flack made a face. "Aww, ya know what he's like, Aiden. He's like a skittish puppy. Ya gotta be all nice and slow with him." This time, Flack was quick enough to avoid Danny's second kick.
"Least ya finally got around to it. Anyway, Lindsay and I oughta head home. We gotta catch up over drinks," Aiden said. She hugged Flack and Danny once more, looking happier than Danny'd ever seen her. Letting go of the past had a way of making people like that.
"I'm gonna call ya over and over until ya pick up, Burn," Flack replied. "Messer knows where ya live too." He waggled his eyebrows.
Aiden sniggered, linking arms with Lindsay. "Hey Flack, feel free to join us there anytime, ah?" The two women laughed at Flack's irrepressible flush. Flack stuck his tongue out at them. Damnit, how did they figure it out! Women were scary creatures.
Flack enfolded his lean arms around Danny's midriff once they were alone. He bowed his head on top of Danny's. "You okay, Messer?"
Danny looked bemused. "Shit, if she knew all along about you likin' me all this time … doesn't that mean … everyone else might too?"
Flack chuckled. "I'm pretty damn sure the others know by now."
Danny twisted around in Flack's embrace and nuzzled his face against Flack's chest. The smaller detective was quiet for a moment, then asked softly, "What took you so long to tell me anyway?"
"What? That I love you?"
Danny nuzzled deeper into Flack's chest, arms tightening around the homicide detective almost painfully at the words he'd longed to hear for so long. Danny nodded.
"Well, I wasn't jokin' to Aiden 'bout ya bein' like a skittish puppy. 'Cos ya were. Are. And it always seemed like you had a thing for Mac."
Danny shifted his head from side to side, hiding his face in the wrinkles of Flack's dress shirt. "I dunno. Maybe I did. But now … he's more like my dad. And you …" Danny looked up, smiling tenderly. "You get under my skin so bad, Don."
"Ohh, I'd say I've done waaaay more than just gettin' under yer skin." Flack snickered and took Danny's punch in his side like a man. "Man, this goes on and I'm gonna hafta grow skin and muscles like Superman."
"Thought you said you were Superman."
"Yeah, Superman the King of Karaoke with his sidekick, the Jackhammer!"
Danny pounded his forehead against Flack's chest until Flack had to take him by the shoulders and shake him silly.
"We gotta think of a good name for ya," Flack said, leading Danny out of the room by his hand. "'How 'bout … Four Eyes?"
"I'm so gonna kick yer ass for that."
They closed the door behind them and sauntered into the hallway. They had to let go of each other's hands since some of the laboratories were being used by the night shift and could easily observe them through the transparent glass windows.
"Just wait till this weekend, Danny. Then we'll see whose ass is more sore."
Danny grinned at that. It was the special one that was reserved only for Flack.
"Thought we were gonna home and get my ass sore by tonight."
Flack gazed meaningfully at Danny while they waited for the elevator. "Home. I like the sound a' that a lot."
Danny licked his lips. "Yeah."
A ding signaled the arrival of the lift.
Flack and Danny remained intimately silent all the way down to Flack's car, holding hands and stealing kisses whenever the need hit them. There was no necessity at all for them to say aloud to each other what their hearts knew by now.
Wherever and whenever they were with one another, they already were home.