Closing the door behind them, Danny turned and said, �Where�d you go?� He had no idea how this sudden boldness came to him.

�Danny, I...I had to go home. I was so confused. I...�

�No need to explain,� Danny tried to reassure her. �I�m sorry I was so drunk. And you were really vulnerable right then.�

�That�s not it, Danny,� Diane said.

Danny thought she looked hurt, and even more anxious. He reached for her hand, and she didn�t pull away. Diane looked at his hand, and suddenly had to fight back tears. She concentrated on breathing, and finally spoke. Her voice was halting and strained.

�You know when I said I was involved with that narcotics task force guy, Denby?�

Danny nodded slowly, his face moving back toward dreadful anticipation.

�Well, I was in pretty deep.� Diane couldn�t meet Danny�s eyes. �And it�s not over yet. It�s not resolved yet. The involvement.�

Danny�s face moved directly to anger, and he turned away so Diane wouldn�t see. He walked over to the window and stared out. He wasn�t about to let that scumbag win without a fight.

�You�re going to have to come to your own conclusions about that, Diane. Let me just say this. I care about you. A lot. You�re the only woman I can talk to, who understands me. I would take a bullet for you. Whatever you needed. I even put my career on the line for you.�

Diane looked up, unaccustomed to him pulling out all the stops like this. Her face was filled with wonder and regret.

�I�ve never felt this way about anyone else,� Danny finished.

�Not even Mary Franco?�

Danny was embarrassed that Diane had been aware of his relationship with Mary, because he had tried to hide it so carefully from everyone in the squad. Especially Diane. He shook his head slowly, surely.

�That�s not going so good right now. Look, Diane. I�m here for you. You know I�ll treat you good. Better than that scumbag Denby can.�