Mac immediately became defensive at the accusation. His eyes darted quickly to the draw, which was open and displaying his badge and detective pin. Placing the cups on the serving hatch, Mac looked back to Danny, panicked, and was surprised when the younger man began to laugh.
"Danny?" Mac was careful; quickly realising the tone of the laugh. Danny definitely wasn't amused.
"I should've known," Danny spoke bitterly through the laugh. "The way you talked to me. I shoulda figured it out." Mac wasn't sure if he should ask, but he took a shallow breath and stepped forward.
"How did I speak to you, Danny?"
"Like I'm a victim." Mac could hear the vehemence in Danny's voice now. "It's not the first time I've heard all that. 'We can help you, if you'll let us,' 'Trust me, Danny, I can protect you.' It all ends the same."
"How?"
"I end up back there!" Danny was shouting now; pacing the short space, clearly agitated. "Louie picks me up, I drop the charges, and two weeks later I'm right back at the station." Mac risked another step forward; stopping dead when Danny turned a glare on him.
"So how were you gonna do it? Promise me immunity? Witness protection?" Danny advanced on Mac. "Or were you just gonna arrest me? What kinda charge does solicitation carry these days?"
The anger in Danny didn't seem to be abating, and Mac knew he needed to do something. Slowly, he closed the now small gap between them; looking at Danny with an open expression.
"I'm going to help you, Danny," Mac spoke with conviction. "Whether you let me or not." Mac stilled himself at the look in Danny's eyes; expecting a violent outburst from the other man. What he got was a pair of lips pressed, almost desperately, to his own. Mac's hands instinctively went to wrap around Danny's waist; pulling the younger man in and anchoring him to the moment. He kissed back carefully; letting Danny lead them. They were pulled apart by the sound of Danny's phone ringing. He stopped kissing Mac reluctantly; leaning his forehead against the older man's as he reached into his pocket.
"Ignore it," Mac whispered, causing a smile to surface on Danny's face.
"I can't," He answered, just as quietly. Mac sighed as Danny pulled away completely to answer his phone. As the younger man took the call, Mac moved to close the open drawer. The call was over quickly, and Mac looked up to see Danny staring at his phone; a haunted look in his eyes.
"Hey," Mac stepped closer to Danny.
"That was Jess," Danny mumbled. "I gotta get back."
"Don't." The word was out before Mac could stop it, and he cringed at the fraught look Danny gave him.
"I have to. Sonny will get suspicious." Mac sighed in frustration, but nodded.
"Alright," He said softly; placing his hands on Danny's shoulders. "But if you get into trouble, I want you to go to the 14th precinct and ask for Detective Flack, ok? He's a good friend of mine; he'll help you." Danny nodded slowly, looking into Mac's eyes.
"I will." Mac looked back at Danny and, once he was satisfied with what he saw, he nodded and moved out of the way. Danny looked as if he was about to say something, but instead walked past Mac and out of the apartment.
(~*~)
Danny stepped carefully into the penthouse. Everything was disturbingly quiet. He jumped a little when Sonny rounded the corner; his heart stopping at the look in his eyes.
"Where the hell have you been?"
(~*~)
Mac reached out from his position on the sofa; picking up his ringing phone.
"Yeah?" He answered shortly. Panicked filled him at the tone of the caller.
"Mac, you need to get to the station," Don sounded worried.
"What is it?" Mac asked; already halfway out the door.
"Danny just came in. He's in pretty bad shape, Mac."
(~*~)
Mac rushed through the bullpen, finding Don quickly and stopping in front of him.
"Where is he?" Flack put out a placating hand.
"Hawkes is in with him. I asked him to check Danny over, because he wouldn't go to the hospital." Mac nodded jerkily; his panic clear to those who knew him well.
"Do we know what happened?"
"Sonny worked him over pretty good. Danny came to me, said you told him where to go. Mac, how does he know who you are?" Mac sighed, decompressing a little.
"He figured it out. He's smart. He found my badge." Don nodded his understanding, just as Hawkes came out of the room. Mac and Don looked expectantly at the ME.
"He's pretty shaken up," Hawkes answered their unasked questions. "He'll be fine with a few days recuperation, two weeks at the most. Mac, he's asking for you." Mac nodded mutely as Hawkes stepped past them and out of the precinct. Mac stepped forward, about to go in and see Danny, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"How do you know he didn't tell Sonny about you?" Flack asked solemnly. Mac smiled a little bitterly at the question.
"Because I trust him." Don nodded at the response; letting go of Mac's shoulder so the older man could enter the office.