Author's Note: I do not own Blue Bloods or any of its characters. Just wanting to share my ideas of how these two beautiful characters would end up together in the show. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Shadows of Grief

Maria Baez sat at her desk, staring blankly at the case file in front of her. The once vibrant, sharp detective seemed lost in her own world, her mind clouded with grief. It had been a few years since her brother Javi had been shot and killed, and the pain of his loss still cut through her like a knife. Today marked the 7th anniversary of his death. Every time she closed her eyes, she could still see him, lying on the ground in a pool of blood, his life stolen in an instant. The memory was a constant weight on her chest.

Danny Reagan, her partner of many years, had noticed a recent change in her. He had watched Maria grow quieter, more withdrawn, and less engaged with their work. She had always been a tough, no-nonsense detective, but now, it seemed like she was just going through the motions.

Sitting at his desk across from hers, Danny glanced over, concern etched on his face. He was no stranger to grief himself. His wife, Linda, had died in a helicopter crash years ago, leaving him a widower to raise their two sons alone. He had learned how to live with the pain, but it was a wound that never truly healed.

"Hey," Danny said, breaking the silence between them. "You okay, Baez?"

Maria blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied automatically, though they both knew it was a lie.

Danny frowned. He wasn't one to push people into sharing their feelings, but this was different. Maria was his partner, and he couldn't just stand by and watch her suffer in silence.

"I know it's none of my business," Danny said carefully, "but if you ever want to talk… you know I'm here, right?"

Maria met his gaze, her brown eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "Thanks, Danny," she murmured. "I appreciate that."

The two of them had been partners for so long that they had an unspoken understanding. Danny didn't press any further, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Maria was spiraling, and he didn't know how to help her.

As they got back to work, Danny tried to shake off the unease gnawing at him. He couldn't afford to be distracted, especially not in their line of work. But something about the way Maria had been acting lately weighed heavily on him, and despite his best efforts to push those feelings aside, they lingered.

Later that evening, as Danny sat at the Reagan family dinner table, the usual banter and conversation floated around him. His father, Frank Reagan, sat at the head of the table, with his brother Jamie, sister Erin, and the rest of the family around them. Even though his two sons, Sean and Jack, were away at college, the sense of family unity was ever-present.

But tonight, Danny was distracted. His mind kept drifting back to Maria—how tired she looked, how alone she seemed. He had tried to help her, to reach out, but he could sense she was holding back. It was something deeper than just grief for her brother. There was something else—a loneliness, a feeling of being unloved that clung to her like a shadow.

"Danny," Erin said, pulling him out of his thoughts. "You okay? You've been quiet tonight."

Danny shrugged. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind."

Frank, always the observant patriarch, gave his son a knowing look. "Work?" he asked.

Danny nodded, though he knew it wasn't just the cases piling up at the precinct that had him distracted. It was Maria. He had always cared about her as his partner and friend, but lately, those feelings had begun to shift into something more. And that scared him. He wasn't sure if it was the right time, or if it was ever going to be the right time.

After dinner, Danny helped his dad clear the table. Frank watched his son closely, sensing there was something more to his mood. "You want to talk about it?" Frank asked.

Danny sighed, leaning against the counter. "It's Baez," he admitted. "She's been… off. I know she's dealing with a lot right now, not that close to her family and then losing her brother, but it feels like more than that."

Frank nodded thoughtfully. "You two have always been close. Maybe she just needs to know she's not alone in this."

Danny hesitated before speaking again. "I don't know, Dad. It feels different this time. I think she's pushing herself away from everyone, like she's not letting anyone in. I've been trying to help, but…"

"But?" Frank raised an eyebrow.

"But I don't know how much is just me wanting to help, and how much is… more than that," Danny confessed, his voice trailing off.

Frank was quiet for a moment, letting his son's words hang in the air. "You've both been through a lot. Maybe it's time to stop fighting those feelings and see where they lead."

Danny didn't respond, but Frank's words stayed with him long after he left the house that night. As he drove home, his thoughts returned to Maria. He wanted to be there for her, to help her through her pain. But as the days went by, he began to realize that his feelings for her went far beyond concern for his partner.

——————

Let me know what you all think!