Everyone is afraid of something. It's inevitable that you won't be afraid of something, even if it's in your subconscious. Danny didn't know he was afraid of small places until his brother Louie locked him in the dumb waiter at his aunts' house. Mac didn't know he was afraid of heavy gunfire until he came back from Beirut.

Right now, Mac was outside a building, where a hostage situation was taking place inside. There was a shoot out right around the corner. He was looking across the gap at Danny, who looked just as scared as he did.

Mac peeked around the corner, and saw that SWAT had taken out the "bad guys". He walked forward, gun still drawn, but hanging at his side. Danny followed closely behind him while he walked up to the SWAT leader.

"Everyone okay?" He asked.

"Yes sir. No casualties… well, except for those assholes." He sneered.

Mac nodded, turning to Danny when a shot rang out. The surprised look on Danny's face horrified him. He fell in slow motion and Mac ran towards him, dropping his gun.

"Danny? Danny look at me, stay with me." Mac called.

He cradled Danny in his arms while SWAT took out the sniper. Danny had tears streaming down his face. Mac held him closer, pressing a hand against the wound in his gut.

"Mac… am I gonna be okay?" He asked.

Mac smiled at him, nodding despite the blood and tears being shed.

"Yeah. You're going to be fine."

Danny laughed gently, blood coming out of his mouth. He reached a hand up and grabbed hole of Mac's collar.

"You're a bad liar, Mac." He smiled.

Mac sniffed.

"I know… but you're not gonna die Danny. I won't let you." Mac told him.

Danny nodded, looking away from him.

"I can't feel anything." He said.

Mac sniffed, blinking away tears. He couldn't see through them, Danny was just a big blur in front of him. He felt someone's hand on his shoulder, but he refused to look away from the man dying in his arms.

"I'm not going to forget you, Danny. You're a good man… and I take back everything bad I said about you."

Danny looked back at him.

"You been spreading rumors, boss?" He teased.

Mac laughed gently, but nodded, leaning his head against Danny's.

"I'm sorry, Danny… God don't go." He sobbed.

Danny was strangely comforted by Mac's show of emotions. He wrapped his hand around Mac's neck, holding him to him. He couldn't feel anything except for the heat radiating from Mac's forehead.

"Love you." He whispered.

Mac sobbed harder, pulling back to look at Danny. He touched Danny's face, tracing his lips with his fingers.

"I love you too, Danny. I should've told you sooner." He sniffed.

Danny wiped away Mac's tears, and pulled him close for a chaste kiss.

"Don't forget about me… get married again, and name your golden child after me, okay?" Danny instructed.

Mac laughed.

"I can't get married again."

"Then adopt. Don't wallow in your guilt… I don't want you to be alone… 'sides, Stella's single, and you guys make a great couple." Danny teased.

Mac sniffed and nodded, hugging Danny close to his body. He could have told you the exact time that Danny died in his arms; the exact time he felt Danny's life slip between his fingers. They say you have nothing to fear but fear itself… but Mac wasn't too sure about that.

END