Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down.

[strangers_call]

        Delia's mother loved Danny.  Despite what Danny might say about himself, or worry about what Ann thought about him, Ann Sloane found herself caring deeply for the CSI.  Not in any sort of romantic sense, but Ann always had a soft spot for wounded people and orphans and she classified Danny as both.  After the huge falling out with his

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[messer_nypd]

Danny had come home to the box sitting on the counter with the letter. Looking around, he found he was home alone and so not seeing the harm in opening one present early, he opened the box first, smiling brightly at Ann's choice of gift. He could never get enough shirts, mostly because half of them ended up covered in trace, blood, or some other things that stained and never came out.

The letter came next and as soon as he was a few lines in, Danny felt tears prick his eyes, having to blink them back as he continued reading. Ann's second paragraph had him inhaling a sob, his left hand pressing hard against his mouth despite the bright smile that crossed his face.

"Oh Ann..." Danny murmured, his voice wet and rough with the hitched sobs and cries that her letter brought out in him.

So lost was he in the overwhelming emotion and love that the letter brought out in him, Danny didn't even notice the door unlock and open.

[strangers_call]

Ann had made a side trip and sent Delia on ahead of her, so it was Delia that climbed up the stairs and pushed open the ajar door. She was about to call out for Danny when she stopped, seeing him crying she frowned deeply and moved forward. Setting the bag down she wrapped her arms around him from behind and pressed her cheek against his back as she took a deep breath.

"Danny! What's wrong?"

[messer_nypd]

Still too choked up to talk properly, he simply shook his head to indicate that it wasn't anything bad as his right hand held up the letter for her.

Danny only hoped he'd have enough time before Ann came home to compose himself and find the strength not to break down again the moment he saw her. Never in his life had he imagined he'd find such love from someone who had no responsibility to do so, and the fact that he had touched Danny's heart completely, humbling and grounding him.

[strangers_call]

Licking her lips she pulled back and tilted her head slightly, catching a glimpse of her mother's hand writing. Sighing to herself she shook her head and then smiled before moving around to face him. Cupping his cheeks she brushed the tears from his cheeks. "Yeah, they make me cry too."

She tried to soothe him, to calm him down. She could only imagine what the letter actually said. Pulling him close she rubbed his back slowly.