A big thank you everyone for the encouraging reviews.
Steve pulled into the parking area stopping beside the Camaro he pulled the spare key from his cargo pants and headed towards Danny's apartment; he couldn't believe how dense he had been working with Danny for 5 years and hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.
He would join them at the bar after work downing one or two beers. Steve suddenly realised how inappropriate it was to invite an alcoholic to a bar but in his defence he didn't know, there hadn't been anything in the personal reports to indicate anything out of the ordinary in fact the records had been spotless.
Letting himself into the apartment he stopped just for a moment thinking that perhaps this was a mistake but that thought didn't stay long the two of them had become close and what type of friend would he be to walk away.
Danny leaned his head against the wall closing his eyes against the water running down his face, he managed to control to urge when he joined the team for a beer after work but the weekends when Steve was busy and Grace was with her real family he would lock the doors and shut the curtains downing a bottle or two of whiskey he wouldn't remember much after that even the hangovers had got used to the alcohol.
But he wouldn't allow it to affect his job the weak individual he became would head back to the shadows and the actor would re-appear.
Turning off the facet he stepped out grabbing the towel he wrapped it around his waist and downed the second glass pulling open the door he stopped when he saw Steve sat in the main room, Steve took in his friend's appearance his chest was laced with bruises he was also starting to lose weight and not in the good way.
Steve walked the short distance across the room not stopping as he pulled Danny into him like a small child he held on even as his friend fought against him eventually he felt the fight leave as Danny wrapped his arms around him dropping his head into the curve of Steve's neck, the two of them collapsed to the floor. Steve could feel the sobs running through his friend's body, Steve felt heart broken that Danny was hurting so much.
He allowed Danny to hold on for as long as he needed Steve wasn't going to give up on him the one person who was always there for him and always believed in him, pushing Danny away slightly he placed his hands on either side of his face forcing him to look up.
"I love you Danny like a brother that I never had and that is not going to change no matter what I am going to be here for you."
Danny pulled away swiping his arm across his face before pushing himself to his feet he headed across the room pulling out his badge and gun turning he threw them at Steve causing them to land in front of him.
Grabbing some clothes he went to the bathroom to change, he would leave the island and Grace would have a better up bringing in which she wasn't always involved with custody battles; he just managed to pull on his jogging bottoms when Steve pushed the door open.
"So that's it you're going to what, disappear into the bottom of a bottle in some run down disgusting motel on the main land. You think I'm going to allow that, did you listen to anything I said out there because this (holding out the badge) tells me no"
Danny pushed pasted him "This is not your fight Steven I'm not a charity case, I can't take back the last 24hrs but I quit and if I decide to disappear with my bottle it is none of your business because I have destroyed too much in my life and I'm not taking you with me"
Pulling the T-shirt over his head he walked back into the living area opening the front door he invited Steve to leave not surprised when he refused to move instead Danny slipped on his shoes grabbed his keys and walked out.
He knew with the amount of alcohol he had consumed that he would be driving under the influence but right now he didn't care he had to get away and hide for a while or maybe just maybe he would lose control of the car on some abandoned road ending it all.
He could hear Steve shouting his name but it was falling on deaf ears he started the engine turning on the radio and reversed on to the main road putting his foot down he sped into the main traffic he had no idea where he was going and knowing his crazy stubborn arse partner he wouldn't be able to hide for long.