Angel still wasn't back when Danny dropped off the cuddly monkey. Most likely he was still standing out in the rain determined to catch a killer that not even he was certain existed. Danny hated that he couldn't really find any fault with that. Angel only wanted to be good at what he did and he, in Danny's eyes, had succeeded. In fact, he was better than good. He was the best, even if it could come across as an obsession at times but that obsession was what made Danny fall in love with him in the first place. Danny sighed deeply at the irony. Life just wasn't fair.

Time did nothing to ease Danny's heartbreak. He tossed and turned all night, dreading going into work the next day. The last thing he wanted to do was spend a painfully awkward day with Angel but was spared the trouble when he never turned up, at least, not when Danny was there. The Turners informed him that Angel had come in early and then left again shortly there after. He felt another pang of hurt that Angel was avoiding him (despite his own fear of confronting him) but he also felt it was for the best. It was better to let Angel have his space if that is what he wished. The day went on without him and Danny fell back into the old lazy routine; Not because he wanted to, but because he knew nothing else. This proved to be a mistake, however. If it had been bad before, now that he knew what life could be like outside the usual humdrum then going back was almost as painful as his row with Angel.

After a long (and quite honestly miserable) day of boredom and pining, Danny punched out and practically dragged himself to the pub. Again, not because he particularly wanted to go but because that was part of his routine and, tedious as it was, there was comfort in routine. He drank alone, tossing back maybe a few more pints than he should but what did it matter? They helped to dull the ache. He decided to walk home. He could use the fresh air and Angel would be cross if he drove pissed again.

The night was lovely and the air was cool on his flushed face but the trek felt long and lonely. He passed by the Swan Hotel but he did his best not to look at it; or to think about Angel who was just inside, probably tending to his precious peace lily with the cuddly monkey shoved in a random corner or buried in the wardrobe. That thought was much more bitter than he had expected. He couldn't decide if wanted to punch something or break down crying. He picked up the pace, not stopping until he arrived home shaky and out of breath.

His films and entertainment system were waiting for him just as they always were, ready to offer him escape from himself. But for the first time, maybe ever, he didn't want to watch anything. He could hardly even look at his one-time sanctuary. Everything reminded him of Angel; His films, his couch, even the beer he drank bore the bitterness of his rejection. He prepped for bed and crawled into the cold sheets. His last conscious thought before he drifted into another uneasy sleep was there was only one thing he wanted for his birthday, and he didn't think he was going to get it.

Danny saw him again almost first thing the next morning. Angry or not, the warmth of Angel's presence alone cut cleanly through the the clouds of gloom still hanging over Danny. He refused to look up, doing his best to remain sullen as Angel dropped into the chair opposite him and fixed those perfect clear blue eyes on him.

"Good morning Constable," Angel ventured but Danny all but shrugged it off. There was an awkward second where neither of them said anything.

"Thank you for the monkey," Angel tried again. Why is he thankin' me? Danny wondered. Angel had won the thing. It belonged to him.

"Yursidnit," Danny muttered, all three words coming out as one syllable. Angel had no problem understanding though; Being perfect an' all.

"I won it for you," He countered in a voice that was just too gentle. Danny felt his already weakening emotional armor suffer a deadly crack. Really? He almost asked but he remembered he was supposed to be angry and remained stubbornly silent. The newest awkward moment dragged on, the silence between them growing louder as it did. Uncomfortable, Danny decided to risk a glance at Angel which proved instantly to be a mistake. Every line, every feature, hell, every muscle in Ang... no, Nicholas' body was focused on Danny, begging for his forgiveness. But most of all the pleading in his eyes squeezed Danny's heart. Bloody hell, he really had it bad. Before he could think of how to end the awkwardness between them, Nicholas switched tactics.

"Danny, I think I'm onto something."

"Are you?" Danny scoffed, barley able to keep from rolling his eyes. The job again. There really was no switching Nicholas Angel off. He could hardly believe he had been about to forgive the man.

"Yes, and with a little deliberation I think we can find out what links these deaths," Nicholas said, carefully stressing the 'we' part. Danny looked at him with open wonder as what remained of his resolve fell away. It wasn't so much that Nicholas needed him. Danny knew that, given enough time, Nicholas could figure it all out on his own. It was that he wanted his help.

"We?"

"Yes, com'on partner. Let's get to work!" Nicholas replied, gently slapping Danny's shoulder as he did. It wasn't an apology but, right then, Danny knew he didn't need one. He had gotten his birthday wish and he was going to enjoy it. He jumped up from his seat with Nicholas, only just resisting the urge to pull the smaller man into a bone-crushing hug. With luck, there would be plenty of opportunities to try that later.

It was turning into a brilliant morning. Nicholas went over all the facts he had dug up the previous day while Danny listened and added what he could. He understood that there had to be something that connected all the victims but he didn't know just what Nicholas was trying to get at. To be honest, he was just enjoying spending the day with him. He was the birthday boy after all, he was allowed some indulgences. But try as he might, he just didn't see what Nicholas insisted was there.

"Maybe they were all accidents," He said honestly when they were back at the station. Nicholas collapsed forward in frustration at his words. "People have accidents every day," He added, in an effort to explain his reasoning. This earned him a mad little giggle from Nicholas which sounded like a credible imitation of a Muppet. Danny opened his mouth to say more but they were interrupted by Frank.

"What are you two up to?"

"Nothing," Nicholas answered quickly as he sat up strait.

"Well look sharp because there's been report of a fire spotted in the station!" Frank exclaimed. Nicholas was on his feet instantly, high strung as always, only to be met by Doris carrying a beautiful police helmet-shaped cake with a single lit candle. The rest of the police force-er-service filed in behind her singing Happy Birthday. Danny was delighted as well as a little embarrassed. The cake was lovely but it felt like everyone still thought of him as an overgrown child. Oh well, it couldn't be helped so he might as well enjoy it. Besides, he had Nicholas now who treated him like a real partner; an equal. He was in no way this man's equal but he treated him like one and Danny loved him for it. He turned and smiled up at said partner, who was obviously not happy.

"Danny, why didn't you say anything?" Nicholas asked, dismay written all over his face.

"Well, we were workin' weren' we?" Danny answered with a shrug but his smile faded a bit as guilt set in. Truth was he was going to say something eventually (most likely after work as an excuse to get Nicholas to go out with him again) but he was having fun and he really didn't want Nicholas to fuss over him the way everyone else was. He turned back to the cake, people were expecting him to blow out the candle after all, only to see Nicholas heading through the door on the other side of the room with his coat in hand.

"Hey, hey! Where are you goin'?" Danny called to Nicholas, more than a little hurt that he was leaving.

"Personal errand," was all the explanation he got before Nicholas was gone.

The party was fun; full of sweet cake, more chunky monkey ice cream, and lots of singing but it would have been more fun if Nicholas had stayed. Danny went through the motions well enough (lots of practice there) but he barley heard the singing and the cake turned to ash in his mouth as he waited for Nicholas to return. He kept wondering what had gotten into the other man to make him run off like that. It was obvious that he was upset about not being told about Danny's birthday but it seemed a poor reason to skip out on the party. He didn't get to ponder on Nicholas for long. Only twenty minutes after he left Nicholas' frantic voice came over the radio calling for backup at Leslie Tiller's flower shop.