Title: The Price of an Apology
Chapter 1 – Too Much Work can be Bad for your Health

Summary: "You've missed our dinner two nights in a row Danny. You better have a good reason other than work for missing the third." When Danny fails to show up for dinner with Maria, what has happened to him? An excuse to back out? Or something worse?

Disclaimer: Everything from Blue Bloods belongs to CBS and well not me lol I only own my muse (Alice love her!) and the ideas and any OCs that might pop up (which in name are only coincidence if they match anyone reading and not intentional!)

A/N: okay so I know I have been MIA for a bit but blame real life! Ugh…still don't have time right now for a long story but have been missing my Danny/Maria interaction so wanted to write a little peril piece for them and hope you all like it!

Danny's head swims with dizzying pain, his eyes hurt to open them, his body hurts to move and his brain hurts to think. He forces himself to try to move, but offers a cry of agony as something sharp digs further into the soft flesh above his left bicep and he quickly subsides. His lungs hurt to breathe from the beating he sustained; his head is pounding and his eyes blink away fresh tears mixed with blood and dirt from the blow to the face he was forced to endure an hour earlier. Lying in an inch of stagnant, rusty water and sludge, wrists cuffed together in front, gun missing and phone busted, his mind now races as to how he's going to free himself of his dark tomb; a tomb with no discernable escape route. Danny forces himself to at least roll off his winded chest, yelling out once more as he rolls onto his side, his wounded arm feeling the strain from whatever is sticking into it; and then finally landing on his back.

"He…lp…" he offers hoarsely as his mouth fills with dust and mold; forcing his lungs to constrict and his stomach to tighten. Whispered voices overhead seem to offer no hope of salvation and anyone he thinks might be passing within ear shot, wanting to come to the aide of a fallen officer he knows is a passing thought; a dream, a fallacy. He's trapped, injured and alone; unable to force himself to be heard.

"He…lp…me…" he coughs once more, squinting into the darkness overhead, seeing small beads of light, dancing and laughing, blurring as his eyes try to focus. He hears rats scurrying past, being drawn to the fresh scent of blood and sweat, human fear and adrenaline adding to the tasty mix; coming to feast on a helpless man, their fallen prey.

Danny feels a sharp pain in his right leg and wonders if he snagged it on the fall down to his feared final resting place. Darkness threatens to consume him once more as he feels his lungs gasping for air, his head now starting to pound, ear drums about to burst. His stomach wants to throw out the small amounts of putrid water he was forced to ingest from the fall, but knows if he offers any stomach contents, he'll attract even more unwanted attention than he is right now and so has no choice but allow his tender lungs to force the bile back down into his sickened stomach.

"Maria…" he whispers in torment, his body on fire. However, as he lies in his dank prison, he can only curse his misguided intentions; fault himself for his actions and pray his whereabouts will soon be discovered before its too late. He closes his eyes, willing the throbbing to subside while he offers another prayer for help.

"Maria…you have…to find…me…"

~TWO DAYS EARLIER~

"Well this case just got a bit more interesting," Danny groans as he leans back in his chair, reading the report from forensics as Maria walks up to his desk.

"COD results?"

"Cause of death was two gunshots, from two different guns, fired at the same time, into the same place from two different directions," Danny huffs as he hands her the report.

"So much for a simple through and through," Maria sighs as she eyes the paper in her hands.

"Looks like an all-nighter," Danny sighs as he rubs his hands over his face, through is hair and then rests them on the top of his desk once more.

"Danny you need to eat," Maria gently reminds him. "You have missed meals for the past two nights you've told me and I refuse to allow myself to let you do this another night."

"Let me?" Danny arches his brows at his concerned partner. "Maria…"

"Danny I know Sean is still away but there is a great little diner next door," Maria mentions as she looks at her watch. "It's almost eight and we are once again the last two here working this case. You need to eat and so do I. Our perps are in lock up; both are waiting for us to return tomorrow. This can wait."

Danny looks at her and then at the small clock on his desk and knows she's right; his stomach also reminding him that he only had a few bites of vending machine crap for lunch and a real meal sorely needed.

"Danny?"

"I guess I should."

"Gee thanks," Maria replies in sarcasm.

"Sorry if it sounded that way," Danny states in quiet remorse. "I'm just tired."

Maria leans over and gives his nearest hand a gentle squeeze. "Then let me take you to dinner."

With a nod of his head, Danny finally agrees. "Okay this can wait until tomorrow."

"You know if we could do more, I would be the first to back you on that."

"I know you would," Danny rewards her with a warm smile. "Where to again?"

"Next door. I'll get my coat."

Danny watches Maria take her leave and then pushes himself out of the chair and slowly puts on his coat; ready to follow her out. He heads into the hallway just as she catches up and offers her a warm smile.

"Detective Reagan?" One of the clerks asks as he rushes up to them.

"Yes?"

"I'm here to collect your case notes for court tomorrow? The DA's office has been calling all day."

"Yeah and I've been busy."

"I'm just the messenger sir. A Detective Abetemarco said 10 minutes or else."

"Yeah or else," Danny chirps as he looks over at his partner with a heavy sigh and then back at the fresh faced clerk. "I'll have it to you in eleven minutes. I'll bring it downstairs to the lobby."

"Uh…okay," he frowns as he takes his leave.

"Danny?"

"Maria, go ahead and get a table, I just need to add a paragraph about the ballistic findings. I thought it could wait but I guess not."

"Which case?"

"Stetson."

"Ah, thought you had…"

"Yeah so did I," Danny huffs. "Blame Anthony for my delay. He's a big boy, he can take it. I'll be there…I promise."

"Just for that, you're buying," Maria smiles.

Danny smiles but knows inside he doesn't really mind; he was planning to pay anyways. "See you in ten."

Maria watches Danny head back to his desk, slump down into the well-worn chair and pull out the file to add his notes. She offers a weak smile before slowly heading for the elevator and pushing herself inside. The ride down to the main floor and then the slow walk to the diner force her brain to relive the past few days. Although it started out as a routine case, Danny had been under stress right from day one; more so than usual. She had tried to coax him out of his emotional shell on a few occasions; mostly to get him to open up a little, but he would put on his trademark, tight lipped smile and tell her everything was okay and drop the subject.

She was hoping that by them spending a quiet night away from the office, away from work or a case, that she could get him to open up even a little as to what was really eating away at him inside. Was it just that Sean was moving further toward being independent like Jack and then he'd be an empty nester or something else?

"Table for two," Maria requests from the hostess and then follows after the young woman into the dimly lit establishment and takes her seat in the small booth, watching the door for her partner; telling herself he'll be there shortly.

However, a few minutes later, she asks for a glass of water and then looks at her watch. Danny you have two minutes, her mind reminds her. But knowing how detail orientated Danny is and that he'd never allow anything with his name to go outside his office with just a half ass approach, she knows ten minutes would be stretched a little.

But as another ten minutes pass she looks at her watch again and offers a small ethnic curse before pulling out her phone and dialing Danny's number.

"Maria, I'm sorry. I just got a call from Erin who got a call from Streich's lawyer and said that Stetson is going to testify and…"

"Danny, can't it wait for an hour so that you can eat? It's almost nine now."

"I've started it now and…"

"And you want to remember it while it's fresh in your mind," Maria finishes with a heavy sigh.

"Sorry," Danny huffs. "Next time?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Maria hears the fatigue in his voice and knows there is no way he'll be finished anytime soon. If both sides were going to take the stand tomorrow, she knows he'll make sure the report is better than perfect. So much for a quiet night getting to know Danny better on a personal level, she laments inside. She had used work as an excuse but in truth she wanted to just spend some alone time with Danny, her heart wanting more than friendship; a new future being pondered.

But as the minutes tick past, she wonders if he was just using work as another excuse to not get involved in anything social; therefore ensuring his heart and emotional future would remain locked his shell, his impenetrable walls never to be breached by anyone again. She knows his notes were already detailed so there really wasn't much else he could add. Maybe this is just his way of saying no in a polite way?

With a heavy sigh she calls over the waitress and offers a tired smile. "I'll have to see your take out menu."

What is going on Danny? But instead of just dwelling on the negative vibes that she feels he is offering, she forces herself to believe it is just work and she'd see him tomorrow and that would be it. Maybe another opportunity will present itself?

XXXXXXXX

Danny looks at his watch and offers an angry curse as he reaches for his phone two hours later. He dials Maria's number, his heart racing and mind anxious. He had finished the file and then since he knew she had already left, decided to finish up a few more things; telling himself that she'd forgive him and tomorrow he'd try again. I feel bad, he huffs inside as he waits for her to answer.

"Am I calling to late?" Danny asks softly, looking at the time and offering an outward wince.

"You better be at home about to get into bed Danny," her sleepy voice automatically forces a warm smile to curl on his tired lips.

"I'm about to leave now. Maria I'm sorry about tonight."

"It's okay Danny."

"Maria, I…"

"Danny, it's okay. Just get some sleep."

"I'll try. Did you at least eat?"

"Alone," she states softly and he winces.

"Tomorrow Maria, I promise. We'll have dinner tomorrow night."

"Okay. Goodnight Danny," she tells him as the line goes dead.

Danny listens to the empty rings for what seems like an eternity, until he finally pushes the end button but the ringing still continues inside his head. He looks at the file before him and whispers an angry curse; mostly at himself. He finally pushes himself up and heads for his coat; putting it on and then heading for the elevator and then for home. For the past two weeks, Maria had tried to get him to spend some time with her outside of work but something always came up; usually work related and their alone time never happened.

But as he finally lets himself into his quiet home, he knows inside it's time for his solitary existence to end, and now time to allow someone else to fill the void that has been eating away at him since Linda's death. But with Maria their bond was so strong and he was afraid that by taking things past their friendship level, would strain things if both weren't interested.

Danny wanders into his bedroom and slowly starts to shed his professional attire and put on something more comfortable to sleep in. Slowly climbing into bed and rolling onto his side, he allows his chest to offer a heavy exhale and closes his eyes; willing sleep to come. But all he can picture in his mind is Maria's disappointed expression, and his sleep for the rest of the night is fitful and restless; much like it has been for most of his adult life. It wasn't just Sean's absence making the house feel even emptier…he didn't want to be alone anymore.

XXXXXXXX

The next morning Danny wakes up early as usual and hurries to get ready, forgoing breakfast as per his normal morning routine and heading into work to get his day started. He stops by their favorite coffee shop; ordering her usual as a peace offering. But as he gets off the elevator he spies Maria at the end of the hall talking to another officer and looks at her with a slight frown. He watches as she turns to face him with a tense smile and feels his posture stiffen automatically.

"Morning," he greets her with a timid smile as he hands her a cup of coffee.

"Already got one, I'll save this for later," she replies as she turns on her heel and heads for her desk.

"Guess I deserved that," Danny gently groans as he follows after her.

"Did you finish everything you needed to for court this morning?" Maria queries as she sets down Danny's coffee beside the one she already had gotten for herself.

"I didn't mean to stand you up last night," Danny tells her gently.

"I'm a big girl Danny," Maria replies with a tight nod of her head as she turns to face him with a slight frown. "I'm glad you finished what you had to."

"I…" Danny starts as his phone rings. He reaches for it and offers a soft curse as he answers his phone. "Reagan. Yes Sir, it was finished last night. Yes Sir I did. Right."

"DA?"

"Pacing back and forth outside the court house. Erin's text was too late," Danny shakes his head in anger as he looks down at her warning text. "Wasn't enough that I…" his voice trails off.

"He's not questioning you Danny, he's worried about the outcome of this trial. Erin is too but she's not point on this case," Maria reminds him. "But if memory serves we have a case of our own to get back two. Two bullets…two shooters…"

"I'll be right there," Danny tells her as he takes his leave, heading back to his desk to deposit a few things. I have to make it up to her tonight, he tells himself firmly as he grabs his coat and hurries back to her.

XXXXXXXX

Two hours into their new research, Maria looks up to see Danny muttering angrily under his breath and then puts something down and looks up, his eyes holding anger and frustration. She slowly walks over to him and takes the piece of evidence from his hands and starts to look at it in silence. A few minutes later she hands it back to him; problem solved.

"Thanks," Danny offers in a soft tone, his eyes not looking up to meet hers.

Maria's gloved hand gently rests on his and offers a loving squeeze, forcing his eyes to finally look up and lock with hers.

"I'll check with ballistics," he tells her before turning on his heel and heading out of the room, leaving her in silence once more.

Maria watches him leave and then finishes the piece she was working on and then goes in search of her elusive partner once again. She slowly walks up to him and stands beside him, staring at the monitor in silence.

"The two guys Anthony interviewed?"

"Solid alibi's," Danny informs her as he waits for the search results.

"So this is why you have been angry for the past two days?"

"Angry?" Danny arches his brows, still not looking at her.

"Pissed off?"

"Frustrated," Danny interjects.

"Work or personal?"

"Is there a difference?" Danny retorts and Maria just shakes her head.

"Not with you and that is part of your biggest problem," Maria states gently.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you need to start putting a separation between Danny Reagan, Detective and Danny Reagan, regular guy," Maria tells him firmly.

"Yeah I guess since Danny Reagan, dad is almost done."

"What?"

"Okay that wasn't fair but…"

"Danny, I'm not going to tell you how to do that, but you need to realize that while it might be scary at first, letting go and allowing yourself to love and be loved is what you really need to keep you human."

But before he could offer another word, Maria turns on her heel and takes her leave; forcing him to wait for the ballistic results in silence. Once printed, he quickly retrieves the paper and then goes in search of his partner. And while he knows that right now is not the time or place to offer any kind of emotional confession about what he's feeling inside; he has to tell her that tonight is still on; no matter what.

He hurries toward her desk, sits down on the edge and waits until she's off the phone.

"Danny?"

"What time did you want dinner tonight?" He asks in a quiet tone.

She looks at his nervous expression and rewards his efforts with a warm smile. "Danny you don't…"

"I know I don't have to," he huffs. "I want to."

"Seven?"

"We should have most stuff cleared up by then," Danny replies with a firm smile.

Maria watches him head back to his side of the facing desks and feels her lips curl into an automatic smile. For him to make any kind of attempt, means there is something inside that he feels that is mirroring her to a small degree and that she needs to act on. I need to get him to open up tonight, she tells herself as she hurries to finish her stuff.

A few hours later she closes her file and then looks at her watch. Almost time, I wonder if Danny will actually follow through? She waits about another ten minutes before she goes in search of Danny. She nears his desk only to see him arguing with Anthony and decides to hold back and wait. The two of them could come together on something and be the best of friends, but when Erin was putting the heat on Anthony, it was world war three.

The minutes slowly tick past and as she listens to the angry voices that are trying to keep things to a minimum she wonders what kind of mood Danny will be in for their dinner out together.

Finally Anthony takes his leave and she peers around the corner and gazes at Danny's tense body, stiff and angry. His back hardened, shoulders tense and fists clenched. He finally turns around but the smile he offers after an angry scowl does little to dissuade her anxiety inside.

"Still on the same side?"

"For now," Danny gently barks. "Forgot to put on some of the ballistics details and Erin was debriefing and he was mad because she's mad. Damn it!" He curses himself.

"Will it affect anything?"

"I…damn it it could!"

Maria stands fixed in place, cursing herself for not being able to offer him any kind of consolation; at least none she would deem acceptable. She crosses her arms and offers a soft smile as Danny's angry blue eyes lock with her patient dark brown ones.

"Sorry," he mutters in anger.

"I would be angry too if it was my ass on the hot seat," Maria agrees. "Especially with your sister."

"Yeah she's scary when she's mad," he quipped. "Don't think I would make very good dinner time association," he growls, trying to calm his heart.

"Danny, I have seen you angry and the last thing you and I need is for you to sit here and stew about a mistake any human could make. You are human, you know that right?"

"Maria…"

"Trust me Danny, your blood is red, not green."

"But…"

"Need me to run a DNA check just to be sure?" She offers lightly and his scowl finally disappears.

"Sorry," he huffs.

"Don't be sorry, just get your coat and I'll meet you by the elevator."

"Are you sure you want this? I might not be…"

"Danny you need to relax and you need to eat. That day old sandwich you thought I didn't see you eat at lunch doesn't count."

"Why can't I win with you?"

"I'll tell you over the dinner you are buying me," she states firmly as she turns to leave.

"I suppose that's fair," Danny frowns as he watches her take her leave. "I'll just drop off this file with the clerk and meet you in the lobby."

"I'll be there."

Danny hurries to get his coat on and then takes the file in his hand and heads for the stairs. His lips have now curled into a soft smile as he nears the clerk's desk. No matter his mood; his stance; the words he offers or the excuses he seems to make, she's always there; at his side, pulling him back up so that he can face the toughest fight of his life – his love for her and a future for them.

It's real; inside he knows it's real. She had asked him why he had been in such a bad mood and seemed frustrated all week long. He just wasn't able to tell her it was because he was struggling with his feelings for her and how to actually tell her that he wanted to entertain the idea of them seeing each other on a social level; to see if she too wanted to grow their amazing friendship into something even more amazing. However, his mind always told him he'd be rejected and so all week his inner battle to tell her or not continued; forcing his mind and heart to wage a constant battle against each other; neither side winning.

I have to tell her. I have to tell her tonight, he confirms in his mind; his heart already in agreement. But just as he turns to head back, he's once again stopped by a familiar voice.

"Danny!"

XXXXXXXX

Maria hears her phone buzzing to life and frowns at Danny's number before answering it. "I hope you're calling to tell me that you're already inside waiting for me."

"Maria I'm sorry but…"

"Danny, are you serious?"

"I'm here with Erin. She wants to go over the results for today and…"

"Right."

"It wasn't my choice."

"You always have a choice Danny," Maria reminds him with a heavy sigh. "But I understand."

"I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

"It's okay."

"Work is…"

"Your life and the most important thing in it. Got it."

"Maria, I wasn't going to…"

"Goodnight Danny, see you tomorrow."

"Danny?" Erin asks in shock as he shook his head. "What was that?"

"It was nothing. Can we just get this done?"

"Was that a date?"

"No. Can we finish this?"

"Maria? Was that Maria as in..."

"As in none of your business and we need to get this done now." He knew as soon as he hung up that she'd be more than mad and had every reason. But this case was important to Erin and her team and his part was faulty. He had to make it right – to both of them. Sorry Maria…tomorrow…I promise.

XXXXXXX

Unbelievable! Her mind laments as she once again stares at the empty seat before her and frowns. Maybe he's just afraid? Maybe he really doesn't want to get to know me on a social level? Maybe he's trying to give me a hint and I'm the one just too blind to see it?

With another heavy sigh, shaking her head, Maria looks at her phone before typing a quick message and then heading outside into the busy traffic and then home. At first when she toyed with the idea of them taking things further, mentioning it with some hesitation, and he seemed open to the idea of exploring a social venue outside of work; where both could just enjoy each other without a case waiting to be discussed. Has that changed? It must have! Why all of a sudden this pull back?

"Maria, take the hint, he's not interested!" She commands herself as she enters her quiet apartment. At the end of a long, busy day she used to long for the quiet comforting solitude of home. But the past few weeks she had warmed to the idea of coming home to someone amazing like Danny, discussing the day, having dinner and then unwinding afterward.

"Not meant to be," she lightly moans as she heads into the kitchen to partake of the leftovers from the meal he stood her up for the night before. Numbly going about her task, she tries to force her mind to just put Danny to the back, where she now feels he belongs, but her heart is once again telling her a different story. Give him one more chance...he's a bit rusty after Linda's passing, her heart suggests.

And as the night progresses she finally concludes that if he does ask, a third chance will be offered. "If he stands me up then I'll gladly be arrested for his murder," she gently smiles as she starts into her meal, flipping on the TV to fill the suffocating silence.

XXXXXXXX

Danny looks at the message once more on his phone as heads for his car to go home. 'Danny, is there a hint I'm not getting? See you tomorrow. Maria.'

He could just picture her beautiful face, display a miserable expression as she wrote those few tormented words and immediately his heart ached. Now she thinks I'm avoiding her on purpose by using work as an excuse. And while he did have to get done what was asked, she was right, he always had a choice. He could have told Erin they could have met in the morning; surmising his sister wouldn't have been that mad, but in the past ten years, he's never put his own social agenda or personal life before work, so wasn't even sure how to formulate such a sentence.

Danny offers himself one more curse before he enters his lonely home and locks the door, leaning against it in sorrow. For a split second he can picture Maria's image before him, smiling as she waits for him to have supper with her; discussing their day or a case before calling it a night.

"Might never happen now," Danny groans as he takes off his coat and heads into the kitchen. He had some leftovers from the night before and so absently went about the task of getting himself something paltry for dinner. An hour later he had finally settled in his mind and heart that tomorrow night, Friday night he would make sure that nothing would keep him from his dinner date with his partner and best friend. If I screw up tomorrow, then she has every right to be angry with me more than she probably is right now.

Danny finally pushes himself into bed; but instead of being greeted by the blissful comfort of sleep, tormented images of his disappointed partner's face filling his head and his sleep is once again fitful and purposeless. He awakes the next morning, angry at himself and wondering what cold display he'll be offered today. Forgoing the coffee for Maria; mostly wanting to save himself yet another embarrassing heartache he hurries into the homicide area to once again find her already there, working.

XXXXXXXX

"Morning," she mentions with a hesitant smile as she looks back down and continues writing.

"Morning," he frowns, his tone forcing her to finally look up and make eye contact. "It went really late."

"Please don't beat yourself up Danny. Duty calls, right?"

"It does because I allow it to."

"Oh too early for this kind of confession from you," she gently frowns and he curses himself inwardly. "It's okay."

"Right. Well before the day gets crazy I am telling you right now that at…"

"Danny, its okay…it…" she tries with a tight lipped smile; hoping the disappointment in her voice is disguised as work and not emotion.

"Maria, I owe…"

"I don't want you to do anything out of obligation. It's not a big deal," she lies. "If you don't want…"

"I do Maria, I do want to have dinner with you. And I promise tonight that I'll be there, no matter what."

Maria arches a skeptical brow; staring at her handsome partner with a heavy heart that is now starting to beat faster. His defeated posture and tired expression, tell her that he probably spent all night mentally beating himself up for standing her up two nights in a row. And the more she gazes upon his remorseful expression, she knows inside her heart there is no way she could just say no to him. I could never say no to him.

"Maria?"

"One more chance Danny," Maria finally rewards his efforts with a warm smile; putting him instantly at ease. "But if you miss…"

"Maria, I'll be there. I promise."

"You better or I will kill you," she gently teases.

"I'll even give you my permission," he smirks and their bond is once again connected and the tension lifted.

XXXXXXXX

A few hours later Danny then spies Maria at the end of the hall and slowly makes his way over to her; a tense smile on his face and his heart starting to beat a bit faster. Maria looks up as he approaches and offers him a warm smile; a gesture he can't help but reward her with a smile of his own in return.

"A few hours left in the day Danny."

"All done. I'm heading over to the clerk's office at the court to drop this off and then I'm calling it a day. Not going to see Erin, or Anthony or anyone else. Just the clerk. As long as it's filed before six I'm golden."

"But it's only five thirty," she gently teases. "Could be a record even for you."

"Figure, if I'm away from this place, no chance of getting ambushed," he frowns. "Besides, I think I'd be the next crime scene if I was to allow work to detain me for the third night in a row."

"Oh you better believe that Mister," she teases as she gently squeezes his arm.

"I'll be there Maria," he smiles once more as he leans in and plants a discreet kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you out front in one hour," Danny states fatefully as he quickly takes his leave. He gathers his coat and takes the file, offering her one more warm smile before he disappears into the elevator and then down to the parking lot.

He allows his mind to wander to what the night has in store for them. He had been struggling with inner feelings all week; feelings he has for her and in truth was also wanting an opportunity to spend some alone time with her; private time away from the job where he didn't feel intimidated opening up on an emotional level. And while he knows he still has some reservations about what to expect, he feels inside that he owes her the truth about what he wants for them; the time to open up just needing tonight to present itself. Maria, I'm going to tell you tonight, his brain confirms. I'm going to tell you and believe that you want this as much as I do.

Danny heads to the law clerk's office in a better frame of mind; telling himself that even if his phone were to ring and it was work, it was now Friday night and he was entitled to at least a few hours to himself; a social outing something he was entitled to. He arrives at the clerk's office and frowns when he sees there is no street parking. With no other choice he directs his Jeep into the back alley and stops; being the lone vehicle in the darkened area. He takes the file and pushes himself outside; hurrying into the building to conclude his business and leave as fast as possible.

He drops off the file and then heads toward the back door once more; happy inside that he was able to allow nothing to impede his plan on getting back to Maria. However, as he heads outside and nears his vehicle, he sees a dark van parked behind it and feels his nervous anxiety starting to grow. He nears the front door of the van when he hears a noise coming from the back of the truck; a shadow hovering and footsteps moving further back into the shadows.

"Here he comes!" He hears whispered voices.

"Is there a problem here?" Danny demands in a firm tone; knowing inside he's never one to back down from a fight or walk away from something that seems suspicious or out of place.

His fingers instinctively move to his hip; his gun ready for action in case needed. He nears the back of the truck when out of the shadows a glint of silver is seen just before it connects with the left side of his face, instantly breaking the skin and forcing blood to mix with tears.

"What…the…" is all Danny manages, his fingers slipping from the handle of his gun as his back sustains a hard blow from a similar object. Another strike to his chest and he slams onto the dirty concrete on his stomach, face pounding, heart racing, chest heaving and mind wondering what is going on. However, with his face down his attackers are unable to see who they are really attacking.

"Thought you could just screw us over!" One of them shouts as he kicks Danny hard in the right side; his gun finally detaching itself and clattering to the pavement a few feet away.

"Thought you could just take our money and not pay us back! Thought you could just come here and take us out!" The second man shouts at Danny once more. "Well you were wrong! And now it's time to pay."

"With your life!"

The first man reaches for Danny's gun before raising it a few feet above his head and cocking the trigger.

"Now it's time to die."

~To Be Concluded~

A/N: So how do you think Maria is going to react when Danny doesn't show up for a third time? yikes I hope it's not to long but I just started to write and it grew and grew! Please review and let me know and I'll try to have the conclusion up as fast as possible!