Denny was furious, holding a gun in his hand. "What the hell are you doing?" he yelled and aimed at Alan, who tried to protect Shirley, who in turn tried to protect Alan.

At the sight of his two friends trying to protect each other, Denny let out a sigh. "Alan, would you please leave me alone with Denny and wait for me in my office? I'll join you there." "Shirley, I. . " "Please, Alan. I'll be with you soon" she pleaded, and Alan left the two alone.

"Denny, could you please put that gun down?" "Shirley, what is going on with you two? I told him I'd shoot him if he ever tried to make a move on you." Denny answered, putting away his gun. "Thank you, Denny. Alan respected your wishes and didn't make a move on me. What you saw was caused by me. I noticed he wasn't doing well and looked after him and somehow things developed from there." Shirley explained.

"Do you like him, Shirley?" Denny asked with a sigh. He didn't like the development, but at least Alan hadn't betrayed him. "Yes, I do, very much in fact. He is a good man, Denny. Which you know, otherwise you wouldn't be his friend."

"Yes, he is a good man. I'll be honest, Shirley, I am not happy about this, and you can tell him that I'll shoot him if he ever hurts you. But you seemed happy and at least with him I know that he cares for you and looks out for you" Denny continued, pouring himself a scotch.

"I appreciate that. You know I love you, Denny. And you won't lose him. You mean very much to him as well and I would never get in between that. That's what this is about, isn't it?" his longtime friend asked him.

"That is part of it. Another part is that I feel like I am being replaced. Alan means very much to me, and he reminds me of myself when I was younger. When you're with him it's much more evident to me how I've changed and that hurts. I'm not the Denny Crane I used to be anymore." Denny admitted quietly.

"Alan can never replace you, Denny, that's ridiculous. You and I have been through so much together; no one can change that. You'll always be my friend and no one and nothing will ever change that, especially not Alan. And you'll always be Denny Crane to me and to Alan as well" Shirley replied, looking fondly at her friend.

"That is very kind of you to say, Shirley. I guess, Alan is the only man who will never be jealous of our friendship. He'll always have our back as we'll have his back. You made a good choice after all. Just promise me to not put down my name in favor of his name while I am still here" Denny smiled at her.

"That is something I would never do, and you know that, Denny", Shirley answered her friend. "I think I should join Alan now, before he gets worried. Would you like to come along for a drink?" "No, thank you. I think I'll finish this glass and head home then. Tell him we're good and that we'll see each other in the morning. Oh, and knock some sense into his thick head, will you. He takes work much too seriously and it would be a shame if he got destroyed by the job. After all, he has to take over when I'm gone." Denny responded. "That I will do. Good night, Denny" Shirley replied with a smile and kissed him on the cheek before joining Alan in her office.

Alan had been pacing up and down the office, getting more anxious by the moment, only relieved by the fact that he hadn't heard a shot.

"Shirley, thank God. How did it go? "He asked her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Let me get us a drink before I fill you in", she smiled at him and filled two glasses with scotch before both settled down on the couch and she leaned into him as he wrapped an arm around her.

"I am to tell you that he'll shoot you if you ever hurt me" she started relaying the information. "I would have been surprised it he had said anything else" Alan interrupted her, holding her tighter. "Please let me continue, Mr. Shore" she resumed with a twinkle in her eyes, enjoying the feeling. "He also told me that he is good with you and that you'll see each other in the morning."

"That's it?" Alan inquired. "Well, he also told me to knock some sense into your head concerning your attitude towards work and that it would be a shame if the job destroyed you since you are to take over the job when he's gone. I said I would do so" Shirley answered him with a smirk. Alan let out a defeated sigh. "I guess I don't have a choice then, do I?" he asked her with a smile. "No, you don't. Take it from two people who have been in the business much longer than you and who care very much about you" she answered and caressed his face. "Did he say anything else?" "Yes, he did. But that is something which I would prefer to keep to myself as it refers to my friendship with him and I hope you respect that" she replied and looked at him tenderly. "Of course I respect that. I would never contest your friendship with him. I know what you mean to each other, and I would never get in between that just like I know that you respect my friendship with him", Alan said and looked at her softly. Shirley let out an inward sigh, her assumption had been right.

"What now, Alan?" she asked him quietly.

"Shirley, you know I am not well in expressing emotions, but I'll try. You had me the moment you came into the men's room to inspect the fixtures" he smiled lovingly at her and Shirley had to laugh at the memory. "I know my reputation, but you would never be a fling to me, and I hope you believe me." "I do believe you. It was obvious when you tried to protect me from Denny and the expression on your face when I came into the office gave you away, too" she replied and leaned in to kiss him. Alan was surprised but quickly recovered and deepened the kiss before both had to catch some air. "Does this mean you would like to inspect my fixtures?" Alan asked her and the smile on his face couldn't cover the insecurity that had crept into his voice as he gently pulled her into his arms to lean his head on her shoulder. As he noticed a shadow passing by the office, he turned his head and saw Denny on his way out. The two men looked at each other and when Denny smiled a bit, Alan knew things were going to be alright. Shirley had noticed his movement and turned her head, too. She smiled at the silent interaction between the two men and settled back into Alan's arms.

"I very much would like to inspect your fixtures, Alan if the offer is still on the table" she smiled at him encouragingly", having noticed his insecurity. "It will always be on the table. So nightcap at your place?" Alan smiled at her and kissed her before they headed to her home, where they didn't get much sleep that night.

They didn't know what the future would hold in store, but right now both were happy and certain that they would face any upcoming obstacles together. After all, they already had successfully faced two obstacles in the forms of Alan's insecurities and Denny's fears.