A/N: Reviewers and followers: Thank you! And Madison Bellows, dear beta, a big thank to you, too!

Chapter 14: Sometimes appearances are deceptive

He could feel Danny's eyes burning holes on his back. He stopped and glanced at him, "I know, I know."

"Just weird looking at you trying to be me. I'm the instinctive and irrational one. I'm the hot-headed one!"

Flack didn't comment, he just shrugged.

"I know we don't talk, we're men! But if you need to..." Danny ended awkwardly.

This made Flack smile a little, "I'm mimicking you and you're mimicking Stella. Considering this place, how is this thing going to end?" He got in the car, Danny following him. "The problem isn't the homicides, I'm almost used to them, it's my job. It's the whole situation, you know? We have two people who saw their loved ones die. They obviously became depressed and cut everybody off. Normal, I think. But the others? They accepted it, and kept their distance. And when the victims looked for some help they found the most unhelpful helpline ever. How is someone supposed to live in a world like this?"

Danny studied carefully his friend, "we wouldn't have done it, you know? If Jess, well, we wouldn't have abandoned you!"

"Danny, it's not that easy," he replied with a strange smile, "don't you think that Buster's sister would have liked to keep him close? And the second victim's parents? But if I'd cut you off, deliberately, because I don't like your pity, because I don't want to have to explain again and again how I'm feeling... I'd start repeating to you that everything is okay, that I have my bad days but I'm getting through it... how much time would you need to believe me?"

Danny didn't miss Flack's use of 'I'. It worried him. He bit his lips.

"Okay, you're not convinced... let me make an example. You're great detectives, you're used to study others' behaviors and you are very good at it. You know I've had my depressive episodes because of Jess's hospitalization, but, how bad did you think it was?"

Danny thought for a while, pondering his answer, "I guess the very first days were the worst ones, but then she woke up, started recovering, doctors were optimistic and you started feeling better."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, you even told me when-" Messer stopped mid sentence.

"You're right in part. Those first days were horrible, every second living in the uncertainty was so hard, it was even difficult to breathe. When she woke up it was a little better but I was still depressed. I remember being at home alone, laying on the bed without the strength to move. And you were there, asking how I was feeling, trying to help. Part of me knew you had the best intentions but I couldn't take it anymore. So I started saying that I was good. But-"

"You lied to me?" Danny was shocked. Never he could have imagined such thing.

"Relax, we're not talking about a confession to arrest a killer."

"Wow, Don, I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"I'm your best friend. You have always been there when I needed you. And the first time you needed me I was clueless."

"Not a problem. Lucy was just born, and I know you're shocked but I'm a good liar."

"If you lie down with dogs..."

"... you will get up with fleas. Of course, I can lie way better than our perps, but I'm not gloating." Flack smiled, looking more relaxed. He shrugged, as if to forget the discussion, started the car and drove away.

"You know what I've read on Wikipedia?" Danny, relieved that his friend seemed calmer, decided to change the topic, the moment of sentimentalism was clearly over.

"Why do you read Wikipedia?"

"You can find interesting news! So, according to Wiki detectives may be allowed to lie."

"Pardon?", Don started chuckling.

"Why are you laughing now?"

"Picture this scene in court: 'You're lying, detective!' 'Wikipedia says I can' 'Ah, okay then'. Can you imagine?"

"You're such an idiot! You can lie in order to make a suspect confess, stop laughing!"

Flack took a couple of deep breaths to calm down, "okay, I'm good. Thank you."

"Don't mention it.", Messer's cell rang, "yes? We're on our way back, Stella. Not exactly. Let's just say that in this case we have tons of useless people. We'll explain later, we'll need to do some research. See you, what? Don's here, why? No, he's fine. Okay, bye."

"What?", Flack sounded confused.

"Apparently, she has perceived some negative energy coming from you because she asked if you were okay."

"She isn't even here!"

"It's Stella we're talking about. I guess a little talk with her is in your future."

Flack shook his head, "Stella... I didn't even have to tell her about me and Jess, you know? Once, we were chatting and she just says out of the blue, 'are you going to propose to Jess?' I was speechless for a very long time."

"Stella knows everything, like Mac."

"At least he didn't meddle too much. And here we are."

"On days like this, I don't like this place very much."

"You can say that again."

They got out from the car, forcing themselves to enter the lab.

A/N: I know Flack knows detectives can lie to obtain confessions, but I couldn't erase that little bit of dialogue, because I like it too much. Sue me, if you want.