Danny woke slowly, stretching out and feeling his bones crack. He opened his eyes to see Mac sitting up against the headboard; looking down at him.

"Morning," Mac spoke softly.

"Morning," Danny replied sleepily. "Slept good." Mac smiled at the knowledge.

"Coffee?" Danny nodded slowly, sitting up.

"You always this succinct first thing in the morning." Mac laughed softly before shaking his head.

"Sorry," He mumbled. "Just thinking about tonight."

"What's tonight?"

"The sting with Sonny," Mac felt Danny tense at the name. "One more day and this'll all be over." Mac looked over to Danny; seeing the hope rise in the blonde's eyes. Mac smiled. "Then I get to take you home with me."

"Home?" Danny smiled.

"You didn't think I really live here, did you?" Danny shrugged, leaning over to kiss Mac.

"So when do we leave?"

"We?" Mac raised an eyebrow.

"I'm going with you," Danny stated. Mac laughed.

"No you're not. I want you as far away from Sassone as possible."

"You can't go alone," Danny protested.

"I won't be alone," Mac explained. "But you're not coming with me. I'll handcuff you to this bed if I need to." Danny smirked at the threat; humming low in his throat.

"That one of the perks of sleeping with a cop?" Mac smiled for a moment, before looking at Danny seriously.

"You're not sleeping with me yet. Maybe now is a good time-"

"No," Danny cut Mac off. "Don't tell me now's the time to think about what I'm getting into." Danny touched Mac's arm; rubbing his thumb over the skin there. "Being with you is the safest I've ever felt in my life. I know we don't know much about each other, but for now that's enough for me. Will it do for you?" Mac smiled; kissing Danny by way of response. Sliding off the bed, Mac walked around and towards the door.
"Hey," Danny called; making Mac stop and look at him. "What's your real name?"

"Mac Taylor," Mac answered. He thought for a second before adding. "Detective." Danny smiled.

"Mac Taylor. I like it." Mac smiled back before turning and leaving to get coffee.

(~*~)

Don sighed as he placed the last piece of tape over Mac's wire. The older detective had been silent almost the whole time they'd been here. Patting Mac's shoulder made him look up, and Flack smiled comfortingly.

"Everything alright?" He asked.

"If something goes wrong today, I want you to do something for me." Flack wanted to argue that nothing would go wrong, but the serious look on Mac's face had him nodding silently.
"Take care of Danny," Mac spoke quietly. "Make sure Sonny doesn't get anywhere near him; Louie too." Don nodded solemnly.

"I'll take care of him," He promised. Mac smiled in thanks before putting his shirt back on over the wire.

(~*~)

Mac strode confidently into the warehouse. As expected Sonny was already there; leaning against his car with a smirk on his face. Mac stopped a few feet from Sassone; keeping his posture as relaxed as possible.

"I gotta say Rogers," Sonny started. "I didn't expect you to come."

"This is just business," Mac replied stiffly. "No point screwing it up over a personal vendetta."

"So I don't need to worry about any concealed weapons?" Sonny pushed; smirk still in place.

"I've got something you need, and you've got something I need. And once this is over, it's over. I go my way, you go yours, and I never hear from you again."

"And Danny?"

"Danny comes with me. You don't see him or talk to him. You do and we'll have some problems." Sonny laughed loudly; pushing up from the car.

"I didn't expect it to happen this fast," He feigned a sigh. "Danny played you like a cheap violin. You really think he loves you?"

"I didn't ask," Mac countered. "But I saw what you did to him, and that's enough for me." Sonny became serious as he approached Mac. They stared at each other for a long moment before Sonny smiled again.

"I always did like you," He said shortly; turning back towards the car. "Let's get this done." Mac followed cautiously as Sonny opened the back door of the car. Sonny leaned into the car, and Mac was only a little surprised when he came back out with a gun. Mac sighed tiredly as Sonny looked angrily at him.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Mac smirked at Sonny, putting his hands in his pockets.

"You really want me to answer that?"

"You're a cop." Sonny sneered. Mac laughed.

"You been snorting your supply Sonny?"

"Nobody acts like you did, especially around Danny. The way you were lookin' at the kid the first night, I wasn't expecting you to make it to a bedroom."

"So being a gentleman makes me a fed now?" Mac forced himself not to flinch as Sonny cocked his gun.

"Being a good guy is what makes you a cop. I know every lowlife in this city, and none of 'em are anything like you." Mac looked at the ground, smiling ruefully. Sonny saw the admission in the action.
"Gimme one good reason why I shouldn't shoot you right now." Mac looked back up; danger flashing in his eyes.

"I don't have one," He spoke quietly. "What I do have is about a hundred reasons why I should've killed you. Strange thing is, I can't think of any of 'em right now." Fear showed clearly on Sonny's face, and Mac took this as his cue. He moved quickly; knocking the gun to the side as he tackled Sonny to the ground.
They wrestled desperately back and forth before their actions were stilled by a gunshot.