It was almost three hours later when Mac was finally done talking to Sonny. He'd set up the senior Tanglewood boy perfectly. Mac had the feeling this would be over inside the month, and it was with a lightened mood that he approached Danny.
"Hey," He said quietly; leaning in to the younger man's ear. Danny turned to face him; forcing a smile to his face that didn't reach his eyes. Mac tried to ignore in insincerity of it, along with the tug it caused in his stomach.
"You want a drink?" Danny shook his head slowly.
"Sonny don't like me drinkin' at these things." It was the first time Mac had heard the blonde speak, and he immediately felt like he could do it forever. The clipped tone, broken up with drawn out syllables that weren't quite words. A classic Italian-America accent that did nothing to hide the intelligence that shone through. Mac couldn't help the genuine smile that crossed his lips.
"So we won't tell him," He replied. Far from relaxing the mood like Mac had hoped, this seemed to scare Danny. The thought of why the young man was scared to disobey Sonny made Mac want to find the Boss and knock him unconscious. Instead, Mac placed a comforting hand on Danny's shoulder.
"If he finds out, I'll take responsibility, ok?" Slowly, Danny nodded. "Alright, so what do you want to drink?"
"Beer's fine," Danny mumbled in response. Mac's hand slid from Danny's shoulder to the small of his back as he led the blonde to the bar. Danny stiffened slightly, but he followed along amicably nonetheless.
"Danny!" Danny looked over to where Sonny was standing. They were only halfway to the bar, and even Danny didn't think Sonny had figured where they were going. He was careful to keep a blank expression as Sonny walked towards them, and pretended to himself that he wasn't leaning into the hand on his back.
"Something wrong Sonny?" Danny asked carefully.
"Nothin' wrong; just a change of plan," Sonny replied. "Louie and I got some work to do down in Jersey, so you gotta stay here tonight." Danny nodded wordlessly.
"You stay with Mac tonight. He's our guest, so you take good care of him, ok?"
"Sure thing." There was no real conviction to Danny's tone, but it seemed enough for Sonny. He walked easily past Danny and Mac to leave.
"So," Mac tried his best to smile once Sonny was gone. "How 'bout that drink?" Danny turned to Mac and nodded. Mac's heart clenched at the subdued look in Danny's eyes, but he made himself keep walking towards the bar. Sonny might not be in the room, but Mac couldn't afford to break character now, with so many people still around.
"Hey, Jessie." A young woman Mac recognised as Sonny's sister looked up when Danny called her. The woman smiled.
"What's up honey?"
"Sonny and Louie are out for the night, so I'm gonna need a room here." Mac suppressed a smile at how much more confident Danny seemed talking to Jessie.
"Sure, I'll get you set up in a while. You want a drink?"
"Yeah, I'll take a beer, and…" Danny turned to Mac; a little of that uncertainty back.
"Wait, I remember," Jessie cut in with a smile. "Double Jack, straight, right?"
"Perfect," Mac smiled. Jessie set up the drinks before turning to Danny.
"So, what are our idiot brothers up to now?" Danny looked over worriedly to Mac, who picked up his drink.
"Don't mind me," He said good-naturedly before taking a sip. Danny turned back to Jessie, who was pouring herself a glass of Jack.
"I have no idea," He answered, letting his frustration show. "All Sonny said was they're goin' down to Jersey." Jessie swore under her breath before taking a long swig from her glass.
"I swear those boys are gonna show up dead one of these days. They're way too reckless. Think they're fuckin' invincible."
"Jess…"
"I tell ya, every time I answer my damn phone I'm expecting a call from the local PD, telling me Sonny's either dead or in jail."
"Jessie…"
"And I swear to God, if that boy gets arrested again, I am not bailing him out. I am sick of going down to that police station and pulling his ass out of there."
"Jess!" Jessie stopped her rant to look at Danny, who was not-so-subtly tilting his head towards Mac.
"Oh, right, sorry. You don't need to hear all of this. I'm the big sister, y'know? It's my job to worry." Mac smiled and nodded a little.
"You shouldn't be hanging around here; I'll show you to a room." Jessie moved out from behind the bar and led Mac and Danny across the room. Danny fell easily into step behind Mac as Jessie stopped at a door.
"Here you go," She smiled. "Everyone's clearing out soon, so you shouldn't be disturbed, but there's a lock on the door if you wanna use it." Mac nodded shortly as Jessie turned to leave. His hand fell to the door handle; hesitating for a moment. The feel of Danny's hand on his back; the first contact the younger man had made, woke Mac up and he opened the door, leading Danny inside.
Danny looked warily at Mac as he closed the door. There was something different about the man standing before him that was confusing. The only word Danny could think of to describe it was 'honest,' which made no sense considering he was a criminal. Danny knew this; Sonny never associated with anyone who wasn't. He knew criminals. The thing that was bothering him was that Mac didn't seem like a criminal, but Danny had no doubt the man in the room with him was dangerous. Taking a shallow breath, Danny's hand hovered over the lock; unsure of whether or not to use it.
"Don't bother with the lock." Danny jumped a little at the sound of Mac's voice, even though it was quiet. Turning slowly, Danny looked at Mac. He'd never been this nervous with one of Sonny's friends before. Usually he knew where he stood, and exactly what was going to happen.
"Come here." Danny complied quietly; standing in front of Mac expectantly. "Y'know, you've barely spoken to me all night." Panic flashed in Danny's eyes, until he looked up and saw the soft smile on Mac's face. Sighing softly, Danny shook his head.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's nothin'," Danny mumbled. "I just get a little tense when Louie goes out, that's all." Danny didn't know why he was telling Mac this. Usually he could turn on the charm and get any man to speed up his evening's plans, but for some reason he didn't want to lie to the man before him. With a sly smirk, Mac reached around Danny's waist, pulling the younger man in.
"I think I have a cure for that." Leaning in, Mac placed a soft, slow kiss on Danny's lips. He'd always been told kissing was a strength; and sure enough after a few more seconds of the soft assault, Mac felt Danny's body relax against his.
Danny couldn't stop the soft shudder that went through his body as he started to kiss back. To his surprise, Mac pulled away.
"It's getting late," Mac said softly. "We should get some sleep." Mac stepped away, and Danny looked at him in confusion.
"I thought…" Mac looked at Danny with a little amusement.
"Oh, I'm not having sex with you," Mac explained easily.
"Why?" Danny immediately cursed himself for the question. Mac simply smiled.
"Well, for starters, I prefer someone to have sex with me because they want to, not because someone told them to," Mac waited for Danny to disagree, but Danny thought it best to be quiet. "And I'd like to at least know your last name beforehand."
"Messer," Danny mumbled.
"Danny Messer," Mac repeated with a small nod. "I like it." Danny almost laughed, but stopped himself. He didn't want to put a foot wrong; still not having figured Mac out completely.
"Well, Danny Messer, how about you strip to your underwear and hop into bed with me?" Danny looked confused again, and this time Mac laughed.
"Relax, Danny. If anyone walks in here tonight, I just want them to assume what you assumed." Danny nodded wordlessly and pulled off his shirt. He looked up to see Mac staring at his bared chest. He looked at the older man questioningly.
"What?" Mac asked with a smirk. "I didn't say I wouldn't look." Danny laughed a little and shook his head. He couldn't figure out if Mac was intentionally keeping him off balance, but it was clear the man was enjoying this. It was then that a thought hit Danny. What if this was a test? He didn't know if Mac was the kind of guy who would play games, but it made sense in Sonny's world. If Mac woke up in the morning and reported to Sonny that Danny had been anything less than the perfect host, there would be trouble. Swallowing down his fear, Danny stepped forward; a smile forming on his lips.
"Here," He almost whispered, his fingers landing on the buttons of Mac's shirt. "Let me." Mac regarded Danny with a little confusion as he dexterously worked the buttons out of their holes. When Danny's thumbs began to rub at the skin he was revealing, Mac had to force his breath not to hitch.
"Danny…" Mac started.
"Hush," Danny countered easily. "Just relax." Mac wanted to protest, but in the back of his mind he remembered he was supposed to be someone else right now. Mac Taylor may feel bad about this, but Mac Rogers was a bad guy; he wasn't going to pass up someone like Danny. Mac barely felt the shirt fall from his shoulders, but his brain started to pay attention again when Danny's hands fell to the button on his jeans. Undercover or not, Mac knew he couldn't let this go on. Sighing, Mac took Danny's hands in a firm grip and moved them away from his jeans.
"Maybe you should take care of your own first," Mac spoke softly; trying to word things so as not to blow his cover. Danny nodded silently; he should have figured Mac would want to be in control. Stepping back, Danny took off his jeans and dropped them to the floor with his top. By the time he looked back, Mac was out of his jeans, and already turning down the bedclothes. Danny couldn't hold back a laugh. Mac turned to him questioningly.
"You're really not looking to have sex with me." It was a statement, not a question, so Mac turned back towards the bed.
"Get the light on your way to bed," Mac said as he climbed under the covers. As the lights went out, it occurred to Mac that this would be the first time he'd shared a bed with someone since Claire.
"Ow!" The exclamation had Mac sitting up.
"Danny?" Mac felt the bed dip, and sighed a little in relief.
"I just stepped on your gun," Danny answered offhandedly. "Nothing to worry about." Far from relaxing him, Mac was disturbed by how calmly Danny talked about him having a gun. Like it was expected of him to bring one.
"I should have put it on the table," Mac whispered by way of an apology. He heard Danny hum sleepily in the dark, and felt a hand on his arms.
"Night Mac," Danny mumbled. Mac didn't respond; guessing Danny was already asleep. Mac sighed with the knowledge that he wouldn't be joining the younger man any time soon.