For Danny the rest of the day went too quickly. He went to the locker room and got his coat, stopping by Adam's lab before leaving.

"Hey Adam…uh…thanks." Danny mumbled. Adam gave his friend a smile and nodded.

All too soon Danny found himself in front of Mac's apartment. 'Home sweet home,' he thought wryly to himself. He was surprised to find that he couldn't make himself walk into the house.

To have Mac put him in the corner was one thing but to have to put himself in the corner was something else. Something he just couldn't do. 'He gonna kill me,' he thought to himself as he drove away from the building.

Danny wasn't sure where he was going and was surprised to find himself at a club called "The Scene". Not waiting to second guess himself Danny walked into the club and ordered himself a beer.

Realizing he would need some more 'courage' before facing Mac, Danny tossed some bills on the bar. "Give me shots and beer; what ever I can get with this." Danny said as he pushed the money towards the bartender.

An hour later, an already buzzed, Danny stumbled out of the club and into a cab. "Where do you want to go sir?" The cabbie asked.

"So long as it's somewhere I can get drunk I don't care." Danny replied.

The cabbie nodded and smiled as he drove Danny to a bar called "The Drunken Llama". Danny staggered out of the cab and into the new bar with a smile. He placed some money on the bar and told the bartender the same thing he told the other. "Give me as many shots and beer as I can buy with this."

Danny continued to drink…and get loud. Another patron finally got annoyed.

"Will you shut up?" The man yelled.

"Why the hell don't you make me?" Danny taunted.

"My pleasure," The man replied.

The fight began before Danny knew what was happening. Getting punched to the stomach Danny bent over grunting. He came back up and popped the man on the jaw. The man retaliated by punching Danny's left eye. Danny got a punch to the man's kidneys before the bartender stopped the fight.

"I don't allow fighting in my bar!" The man bellowed. "James, you know better that…get out of my bar! You," the man said turning to Danny, "give me the name of someone I can call to come get you."

"Screw you," Danny said trying to get out of the man's grip.

Shrugging his shoulders the man took Danny's wallet out of his pocket. "CSI huh…well, I know someone who can help me." The man pulled Danny along side him as he walked to the phone. "Hey, Ste, I got a man here…wallet says his name is Danny Messer…oh, so he is one of yours…he got into a fight with James…yeah…I sent James home. Can you come and get the boy, Ste…yeah…we'll be waiting for you." The bartender turned and looked down at the younger man whose arm he was gripping. "Ste's on the way; until then, you sit here. If you so much as move a muscle…" The man left the threat unfinished.

Danny glared at the man and grabbed the beer he'd been working on and took a few swallows. The bartender said nothing as he went back to work and kept an eye on his young charge. It was almost fifteen minutes before the bartender saw the person he called.

"Took you long enough Ste," the man said.

"Sorry Johnny; I was already in bed when you called." The person answered.

Danny's head shut up as he recognized the voice. "Stella?"

Danny turned and met Stella's glare. His jaw opened slightly to find that he was correct. Stella turned away from him and talked with Johnny. After a few minutes she gave the man a hug and turned to back to the younger CSI.

"Come on Danny; I'll take you home." She sighed.

"NO! Please Stel, don't make me go." Danny began to plead; the liquor taking hold of him. In that second he started to fear Mac's reaction.

Stella looked at him in shock. "What's the matter? Why don't you want to go home?"

"He's gonna be so mad at me. Please Stel…I can't face him now." Danny answered.

"Face who Danny? I don't understand." She told him.

Stella was shocked to see tears in Danny's eyes. She knew then how drunk he was; Danny didn't show emotions like he was showing at that moment. Not knowing what else to do she called Flack.

"Hey Flack, it's Stella. I need some help."

"I'm kinda busy right now. Can it wait?" Flack asked.

"Ummm….well…it's kind of important." Stella replied.

"I know Stel and I'm sorry to have to say no but…Mac went home and Danny wasn't there. He looked at Danny's apartment but he's not there either…." Flack began.

Stella interrupted him, "Danny's why I'm calling. He's here with me."

"What? I've been looking for the kid for over an hour!" Flack yelled.

"Well, I didn't know that. I got a call from a friend that there'd been a fight and Danny was involved. I got here and offered to take him back home but he started to freak on me." Stella told him.

"Where are you?" Flack asked.

"We're at the Drunken Llama. You want me to bring him home?"

"No, Mac and I are on the way. Don't tell Danny Mac's coming." Flack ordered.

The two hung up and Stella looked at Johnny. "Can I get two coffees?" She asked.

Johnny gave her the coffees and she forced one on Danny who had gone silent. Stella kept her eye on the younger man, worried about what ever was causing his reaction. It took Flack and Mac twenty minutes to get to the bar.

Stella heard her name being called and turned around. She waved at Flack who looked from her to Danny before moving to the side to let Mac pass him.

"Danny," Mac called gently having been apprised of Danny's reaction to going home.

Danny turned and looked at Mac; a hint of fear and tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry Mac; I'm so sorry," He said, tears finally falling down his face.

Mac didn't say anything as he walked up to the younger man and hugged him. "It's ok, son…it's ok." Mac said as he walked Danny out of the bar and into his car. After making sure Danny was secured in the back seat, Mac turned to Stella.

"Thank you," he said.

"It wasn't a problem Mac." Stella replied. "I'll take Flack home." She told her boss seeing that Flack suddenly looked nervous. Mac nodded his head, shook hands with Flack, and got into the car.

Stella turned to Flack, "What the hell is going on?"

"Let me buy you a beer and we can talk." Flack said.

-------------------------------------------

Mac led Danny into the house and into his bedroom. There was no hesitation in Mac's actions as he helped Danny change into his pajamas and lay in bed. After pulling the covers over Danny's shoulders Mac laid on top of them, putting an arm around the younger man.

"Go to bed son. We can talk in the morning." Mac told him.

Danny closed his eyes and curled against Mac. 'Tomorrow's gonna come to soon' was his last thought as he fell into a restless sleep.