Sorry to delete this from my oneshot story thingy, but I had an idea for a 3-6 chapter story starting with this as the foundation. It may seem weird to you all, but I'm working on the next chapter as we speak, so know this is in progress.

Someone mentioned an idea I loved, and it worked well with another event I plan to stick in this story as well, so it was kind of perfect.

Enjoy this one, and look for chapter 2 in the next few hours. Bye!

Sitting in front of a person's house for more than an hour could be classified as stalking he thought. It wasn't that he planned to not get out of the car for three hours; it was just too…difficult to get out and face facts. He didn't come to get answers; he just came because he thought it was the right thing to do. He felt an obligation to tell someone something, and she seemed like the only person that he could justify an explanation to. He fucked up to put it bluntly, and he didn't know whether letting her in on this little fact was a good idea. He knew he'd felt something for her for a while now, but after finding out that Donnally kissed her he'd felt a selfish desire to let Gabrielle kiss him. He loved her at one time, and over the course of 15 years he thought he'd made a valiant effort in ridding himself of the temptation, but he really only traded one addiction for another.

He finally forced himself from the car, only to have the door opened for him as he began to climb the stairs. He looked up sharply, actually caught off guard for once, only to meet Dani's wary gaze. She looked hung over and it gave Nico a brief jolt of embarrassment that he was coming here out of selfish need.

"I was wondering how long it'd take you" she said, getting his attention quickly.

"Pardon me?"

"You've been sitting across the street for a few hours, it was starting to worry me" she admitted, and then made her way back into the kitchen. He didn't realize it was only eight fifteen in the morning, which explained her demeanor.

Walking into her kitchen, he wondered why they always ended up in here. He knew she felt comfortable with him, that was clear by the lack of panic due to her appearance, but he'd never really questioned her about it.

"It's too early Nico, but I applaud you for waiting until the sun was up. What can I do for the Hawks today?" she asked sarcastically, handing him a coffee mug as she sat at her island counter across from where he was. He made himself a cup of coffee before taking his seat again, his anxiety getting the best of him.

"I need you to fix me" he murmured, hearing her inhale sharply as she burned her tongue. He kept his eyes on his coffee, waiting for her to go into therapist mode.

"You need me? Nico, what the hell happened…?"

"Mrs. Pittman-"

"No" she said firmly, leaving her seat to put more distance between them. He winced, knowing she jumped to the worst and most accurate assumption.

"Dani…"

"Nico, I can't" she said, looking at him with a guarded expression and fire in her eyes. She was furious, and he knew she would be. He helped Gabrielle cheat on her husband and that's exactly what she was focusing on right now.

"Dani-"

"She's married Nico" she exploded, and it angered him that she didn't let him get a word in.

"I'm aware of that-"

"You're sleeping with her! Jesus Nico, you of all people-"

"What the hell's that supposed to mean" he snapped at her, challenging her to finish her sentence. She met his eyes defiantly as she continued.

"You're the kind of man I never thought would cheat Nico"

"Well excuse me if I disappointed the very basic idea you developed of 'the kind of man' I am"

"Whose fault is that? You don't tell me anything, so I have no basis"

"Then don't judge me! I came here looking for a friend Dani"

"I'm a divorced therapist that was cheated on by my husband and multiple women. Excuse me if I don't feel bad for you"

He glared at her, enraged that she assumed her wanted pity and coddling. He cared for her deeply, but she didn't even understand half of what she was spouting off about. He knew she was wondering what else she didn't know about him, and that level of distrust wasn't what he was trying to accomplish so early in the morning.

"Let me finish speaking Doctor. I've slept with her twice in the last fifteen years. I made a mistake, and I stopped it yesterday-"

"Good for you" she retorted, arms crossed over her chest, mirroring Nico's stance. They were both guarded and ready for a fight that much he was aware of.

"She was with me first!"

"That doesn't mean she's yours to have!"

"She's the one that always came to me"

"And this time was no different-"

"Actually, it was entirely different"

She failed to hide her surprise before he could catch it, irked that he had the nerve to smirk as he continued which delighted him in a way.

"I will always love her, but I'm in love with someone else"

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter, she doesn't feel the same"

All of the fight drained out of him as he noticed Dani relax, but maintaining the distance between them. It hurt him to know she was still unsure about him, but he was raw and he needed someone else for once to sort through his issues.

"Why me Nico? Why tell me of all people?" He knew she didn't realize just how much weight her words held, but he stuck to the topics she knew about for the time being.

"I knew I couldn't be objective when it came to her; all I've done is trade one weakness for another"

"You aren't weak" she said, her tone softening, "you're human. While I don't like what you've done, you at the very least are trying"

"That's just it Dani, I'm so tempted to fall back with her"

"Why? Why not go after the woman you love" she said, stumbling over the word love as he gazed at her with an intense expression, more than his usual invasive stare.

"She has had quite a few men make their interest apparent. She doesn't need me to add more problems"

"Does she love you?"

She asked him in a small voice, her eyes taking on a hurt he once again berated himself for because he was doing this to her. She didn't want to hear his answer, and yet he was just about to confess when his phone rang. He took it from his pocket and guilt flashed across his face. She made to leave to give him privacy, but at the last second, he grabbed her arm gently and asked her softly,

"Answer, please. If its life or death, say you'll wake me up. Other than that, this is the only thing I will ever ask of you"

She looked between him and his phone as it stopped ringing, only to start ringing ten seconds later. Her name lit up the screen, and she got a perverse pleasure in answering her call.

"Ok"

She took his Blackberry and pressed answer, shakily holding up the phone to her ear as she heard the quick ramblings of Mrs. Pittman.

"It's about time Nico, about the other night-"

"I'm sorry; Nico's not available at the moment"

Dani's eyes met Nico's as his eyes lit with gratitude before schooling his features and watching her intently. She got an empowering feeling holding his stare as she continued to speak.

"Where's Nico"

"Sleeping at the moment, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Who is this?"

"Doctor Danielle Santino. If there's nothing I can do for you…"

"Please let Nico know things have changed for me, I won't require his assistance anymore"

"Will do Ms…"

The line went dead, Dani hanging up the phone and handing it back to him. He looked at her with a gentle expression, truly glad that she'd done him that specific favor.

"Thank you Dani, I appreciate it"

"Don't thank me, it's what friends do"

She walked out of the room, and despite the fact that being her friend was the last thing he wanted, he at least had her in his life; it was better than nothing.

Like? Well, it gets better I swear. Trust me, have I ever steered you wonderful readers wrong? (Don't answer that...)