Thank you: to Halo N Horns for all her WONDERFUL help. Thank you for being so patient and willing to assist me! And for not getting angry or impatient with all my "I'm stuck!"
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Danny slowly opened his eyes; wishing that the yesterday had been nothing more then a nightmare. The pounding in his head let him know it wasn't. He slowly rolled to his back and as scenes from the night before came to him, he couldn't help but groan.
'I am an idiot,' he thought to himself. Covering his eyes with his arms he couldn't help but turn red of the thought that he had started to cry in front of Stella. "Can it get any worse?" He asked himself out loud.
"I think it can," a voice answered from the doorway.
Danny turned his head and stared at Mac with wide eyes. He barely stopped himself from saying a few 'colorful' adjectives.
"How much trouble am I in?" The younger man asked.
"Let's just worry about feeling better first." Mac answered as he handed Danny three aspirin and a glass of water. "When your done with the water come on out. I have soup made…and YES you have to eat it." Mac's voice was stern.
Danny nodded his head in understanding and did as he was told. After a quick detour to the bathroom, Danny found his way to the kitchen. Mac was putting soup into some bowls.
"Sit down Danny." Mac told him firmly.
Danny sat and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.
Mac held up a hand to silence the younger man. "I want you to eat the soup and sandwich. When you are done, I want you to go back to bed. I'll wake you a couple hours. From there you will take some more aspirin and take a shower. After that we will talk."
Danny again nodded his head in understanding; this time though, he had to fight back his tears. He hated the thought of a Mac being mad at him. 'Why do I always mess up?' he questioned himself.
Mac could see Danny's expression and felt bad. Yes, he was angry…yes, he was disappointed that Danny hadn't listened to him…still though. Mac went and laid a gentle hand on Danny shoulder.
"It's gonna be alright." Mac told him.
Danny looked up at him, tears streaming down his face. "I'm so, so sorry Mac."
"I know Danny; eat for now, we can talk later." Mac's voice was gentle.
Danny began to eat and soon found himself done. Mac helped him back to his room and soon Danny was sound asleep. Mac had hoped to use the time to calm himself down and think out Danny's punishment but his doorbell rang and he quickly went to see who was there.
"Stella," Mac said as he motioned for the female CSI to come in.
"I hope I'm not bothering you." She replied hesitantly.
"Not at all; what can I do for you?" Mac asked.
"I was hoping we could we talk…about Danny." Stella answered.
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After hanging Stella's coat in the closet Mac headed for the kitchen calling over his shoulder, "Would you like some coffee?"
Stella followed him. "Yes, please," she replied.
Mac started to get the coffee ready while Stella sat and got herself as comfortable as she could. Mac set out the cream and sugar before pouring them each a mug of coffee.
"So, what can I do for you Stella?" Mac asked.
"Last night when I told Danny I'd take him home, he became frightened. He was obviously scared and said 'he's gonna be so mad'. I didn't realize until after I'd talked to Flack that he was you." Stella looked the older man in the eyes.
Mac said nothing; he simply raised an eyebrow as if asking, 'What's your point'?
"Mac, he acted like a child who was going home to angry father after he got caught smoking in the boy's bathroom and not like a man who's in his late twenties…" Stella's voice trailed off as a figure stumbled into the kitchen.
"Mac…" The figure whined.
Mac was out of his seat in flash, his arms snaking around the figure's shoulders. "What's the matter Danny?" He asked softly.
"I don't feel good." Danny mumbled into Mac's chest.
Mac hugged Danny close to him, unable to hide his smile as Danny tried to cuddle closer to him. Realizing he couldn't get any closer to the older man then he was, Danny laid his head against Mac's chest.
"Are you going to be sick?" Mac asked concerned.
Danny shook his head as he used a fist to rub his eyes. Mac knew that Danny hadn't seen Stella but at that moment he too had forgotten her.
"Come on kiddo; let's get you some water and then get you back to bed." Mac said gently.
Danny seemed to clutch to Mac tighter. Stella, seeing this, got up and got the glass of water for Mac. Mac gave her a grateful smile before taking the glass in his hands and leading Danny out of the room.
Stella waited for a few seconds before following. Having heard Danny say for a second time he didn't feel good she was worried. She watched from the door as Mac gently put Danny's glasses on him and then handed him the water.
Danny took a few tentative sips, making sure he wouldn't get sick, before taking a full drink. As the water hit his stomach he couldn't help but gag though he didn't actually throw up.
Mac sat by his side waiting patiently. When Danny was done drinking his water he started to lay down but was stopped by a voice.
"I got some aspirin out of your cabinet Mac." Stella informed him.
Mac took the offered aspirin and gave it to Danny who was staring at Stella with big owl size eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but no words came out. Stella shooed Mac away from Danny and took back the aspirin.
"Here Danny, take the aspirin and drink some more water." Stella gently ordered.
Danny did as he was told before turning a bright shade of red. Mac couldn't help the chuckle that came to his lips at the sight before him. Just the day before Stella had come close to hitting the younger man, now she was mothering him as best as she could. 'Poor Danny,' Mac though wryly as he watched the younger man turn several more shades of red.
Mac quickly got Stella out of the room and then turned to Danny.
"Don't worry about it Danny; she won't say anything to anyone…I promise." Mac told him.
"She's probably thinks I'm an idiot." Danny groaned.
"No she doesn't," Mac said firmly. "She understands that you're not feeling good. Now, go back to sleep. You and I will be talking soon enough."
Danny paled at that and nodded his head. Mac waited until he heard Danny's breathing even out before leaving the room. When he got back to the kitchen he didn't see Stella so he walked out to living room. Stella was standing there with her coat on.
"I'm gonna go now Mac. Sorry, if I bothered you; I was worried about Danny though."
"And now?" Mac asked.
"I know he's in good hands. Take it easy on him Mac." Stella said softly before she left the apartment.
Mac sighed and sat on the couch. Picking up a book he settled down to read. Since Danny wasn't feeling good at the moment, Mac decided to let him sleep for another hour or two.
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Danny could feel someone shaking him gently and so he woke up. He swallowed nervously when he saw Mac.
"Hi," Danny said nervously.
"It's time to get up. Take a shower and then take some more aspirin. Come to the kitchen when you're done." Mac ordered.
Danny nodded his head and all too soon found himself once again in Mac's presence. Mac didn't say anything as he served Danny a plain turkey sandwich. Danny at slowly and once he was done he turned to Mac.
"Are we going to talk?" Danny asked.
Mac turned to him slowly. "Yes, but first you owe me some corner time." Mac told him firmly. Mac pointed the corner of the living room where Danny had stood just the week before.
"Mac…" Danny whined. "I don't want to."
Mac steeled himself against Danny's puppy eyes. "Now Danny," Mac said sternly.
"No…please don't make me Mac." Danny again whined.
Mac sighed; he had a feeling it wasn't going to be so easy. Seeing Mac coming to him, Danny tried to turn and walk to the corner…unfortunately for him, Mac reached him before he could.
SWAT "OW!" Danny yelped.
The yelp did nothing to deter Mac. He kept the swats up as he walked Danny to the corner. "You are going," SWAT "to stand in the corner." SWAT
Danny protest the swats, "I was goooiinnngggg"
"I know but I thought you could use a HAND…and an attitude adjustment." Mac told him.
Danny couldn't stop the whimper that came to his lips. Mac took a deep breath knowing that leaving Danny in the corner would be hard…he also knew, though, that he had to follow through with punishments or Danny would never know what to expect or when.
SWAT "OW!" Danny yelped.
With that final stinging swat Mac left Danny alone in the corner. As Mac turned his back to Danny, Danny couldn't stop himself vigorously rubbing his stinging backside.
Mac didn't leave Danny in the corner for long…ten minutes to be exact. When the time was over Mac took another deep breathe, steeling himself for what was to come.
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"Alright Danny, come sit down." Mac said.
Danny, still facing the corner, shook his head.
"Daniel, sit down." Mac ordered.
The young man couldn't help but whimper at hearing his full first name. Danny turned around his face showing both nervousness and fear. Mac gave him a sympathetic and understanding look as he got up and walked to the younger man.
"It's gonna be ok Danny." Mac told him gently as he wrapped an arm around him.
Mac led Danny to the couch and sat down beside him. Pulling the boy close Mac hugged him.
"Let's talk," Mac said gently.
"Why?" Danny asked.
"I want to know why you felt you had to test me." Mac told him.
Danny paled at Mac's words. He looked into the older man's eyes, his own pleading for understanding. Mac hugged him again, letting him know silently that everything would be ok.
"Why were you testing me Danny?" Mac asked, genuinely confused.
Danny took a deep breath. 'This could take a while,' he thought to himself.