Title: Redemption
By: Callista_Mythol
Pairing: Mac/Danny
Rating: PG-13
Summary: This is a spin-off from my Angel series that I've been doing in my NCIS Fanfiction. I plan to add more to the Gibbs and Tony's story but I've also really taken to the idea of spreading it throughout my other favourite TV Series. You don't have to read either ‘Kendreague' or ‘Never Alone: Sans Peur' to understand. So, here is the CSI: NY edition! And for those who want the whole low down on the ‘Angels' before they read scroll down to the end of the story first, it'll be in italics!

***

Mac linked his fingers into the netting of the wire fences surrounding Ground Zero. He watched as the snow fell softly, settling onto the ground that was already 2 inches deep in snow. His blue eyes looked over the vast land as his fingers moved restlessly trying to get the blood flowing to their tips again despite his hard grip on the fencing. He watched fascinated as his every breath turned into mist before him, something that had never failed to intrigue him since he fell all those years ago.

Tilting his head back he looked up at the sky and felt a brief pang of homesickness but he tried not to dwell on it. He knew he'd return one day.

Closing his eyes Mac leaned forwards more heavily on the fence. He wasn't one to get regularly nostalgic but the holiday season was always the hardest, especially since Claire's death. She'd known everything about him, he'd never been forced to hide with her and her beautiful soul was sorely missed at the hardest times. Even knowing she was up there waiting didn't make the ache hurt any less.

He was always curious as to what would happen when he would return back to Heaven. As an Angel, a Cadmon at that, who was forced to live a mortal life would he return as a Cadmon? Or would he be allowed his peace? Would Claire be waiting for him, or would she have moved onto a new life by now? Reborn into another body with the same beautiful soul?

And...Mac felt his heart beat harder in his chest as his thoughts moved to someone who also held a place in his heart. He loved Claire, would always love Claire and knew that a part of him would forever mourn her until they were reunited. But recently...

He felt guilty just thinking about it, thinking about him. He could already feel the faint blush rising to his cheeks as he closed his eyes once more and he let out an almost inaudible moan. He loved Claire but...

...He also loved Danny.

He screwed his eyes more tightly closed and tightened his grip. Stella may tease him for being a self-tormenting man but she never knew how true that statement could be. Falling from Heaven, losing his wings meant he was given heightened emotions instead. He wasn't a Kahree, created to love and be driven by their emotions, he had been a Warrior, in all his lives, and he'd never really known emotion as strong as this until after he'd fallen. They'd told him he'd needed to learn to live, that he was too controlled by the urge to find himself in battle and then they'd forced him to have a mortal life.

Looking up at the sky again he silently cursed the Council.

He was pretty sure they'd been far from impressed when he'd joined the Marine Corps but it helped him ground himself during his forced exile. He'd found himself remembering and, God forbid, enjoying his second mortal life. Then he'd found Claire and he almost blessed the Council for making him do this.

Then 9/11 happened.

He knew so many emotions then, anger, pain, grief, and he couldn't help wondering was this what the Council wanted him to know? What it felt like to be human again? Because right then he would've taken his own life to return home, to go to Claire if he didn't think that they'd probably turn him away as a result.

He mourned. He continued on this fruitless endeavour and he counted the days till he could return.

And then Danny Messer entered his life.

Danny with his scruffy hair and his cocksure attitude. Danny who was forever challenging him both to learn and to win his approval. Danny who always seemed to end up on the wrong end of trouble despite Mac's warnings. Danny who was beautiful and brave and strong but also so innocent and fragile and alone.

Because Mac was no fool, he could see the same loneliness in Danny that he felt in himself despite having wonderful friends around them. Painful loneliness that everytime he witnessed it Mac wanted to pull the man into his arms and hold on.

So much Mac wanted to take that chance again, make this life worthwhile but how long until Danny was snatched away from him too? How long until the pressure of everything around him caused him to break sooner than anyone thought? Mac had dealt with pain before, he knew how to handle it but every man, even old Angels, had a breaking point.

Mac looked over the vast land of Ground Zero once more and leaned his forehead against the cool fencing. He was afraid to make this decision by himself and wished that for once, someone else would take the burden. Silence surrounded him as the snow continued to fall.

......................................................................

"How's the case going?"

Mac looked up from the file on his desk to find Stella entering his office. He offered her a small smile as she made herself comfortable on the edge of his desk.

"Open and shut, you?"

"Don't get me started," she sighed, "I hate cases where the perp is a monumentally stupid punk trying to be a gangster."

Mac chuckled and glanced back down at the file.

"Ah but they're always the most challenging."

"You know you're right. Guess they wanted me on the harder case because they think I have a better groove than you," she teased.

Mac managed a mild glare at her to which she simply smiled cheerfully. Shaking his head in amusement he huffed and returned to his file. He heard her stand and glanced up again when he felt her warmth beside him.

"Stella?" he asked quietly and he quirked an eyebrow as she looked him over carefully before speaking.

"What's up Mac?" she said and Mac frowned slightly.

"What'd you mean?"

She bit her lip lightly before reaching up and placing her hand on his shoulder where she squeezed it gently. She rubbed it reassuringly and usually Mac would pull away politely but today her presence was reassuring to him and he wasn't even sure why.

"Okay, confession time? I was out with a friend last night and we drunk a bit, not a lot but enough to know not to drive home and so we called a taxi. Now my friend lives in the opposite direction to me so we had pass Ground Zero..."

Mac closed his eyes for a second before opening them. He licked his lips and after looking down at her turned his head back to the file without really seeing it. Stella's grip tightened.

"I know it's almost Thanksgiving...I know how the holidays pretty much suck for you..."

"Stella..."

"And, you know, it might've not been you at the Grounds but I'm telling you, if that's true, then you have yourself a lost twin brother Mac."

Mac huffed out a little laugh before shaking his head. He turned his attention back to his friend and sighed heavily.

"No, no that was me," he admitted in a whisper.

"You know you can come round mine anytime right? Crash at mine for the holidays? Because even you're allowed to lean on someone Mac."

Feeling a deep fondness fill him Mac reached a hand up to grasp Stella's still on his shoulder and squeezed it in thanks. She grinned in return and squeezed back.

"You know, for the past four Thanksgivings I've been on my own. I think...I think this year I'll take you up on your offer."

"Good! I was having a small party in the evening anyway for the Lab Orphans but they won't be there all night."

Smiling even wider she quickly hugged him before he could react and after a nod started heading towards the door. As she reached it though she stopped and turned back to him with a wicked twinkle in her eye.

"Shall I invite Danny?"

Mac blanched and stared at her stunned for a moment but as his mind finally caught up and he opened his mouth to speak she simply sniggered and all but ran for it.

Left to watch her go in silence Mac finally felt a laugh bubble in his throat and tilted his head back to let out a disbelieving deep chuckle.

He never could hide anything from Stella. Cadmon he may be but God help anyone that stood in the way of Stella Bonasera, the woman who could berate an Army into submission.

...................................................................................

Mac, whilst sipping the coffee he'd gotten for himself, started heading back to his office when, with a lazy flicker of his eyes to one side he stopped still. He lowered the mug slightly and watched silently as Danny worked on a piece of evidence on the other side of the glass wall between them.

He was turned so that Mac got his profile and Mac couldn't look away. His eyes followed the line of the younger man's neck, Danny's adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed and Mac had a fleeting flash of incentive to kiss it. Blinking and shaking the feeling off he made to turn away when Danny suddenly looked up.

Sharp blue eyes locked onto his own and he briefly remembered the same eyes rimmed red and tearful. He remembered the warmth of Danny's body against his own as he'd pulled him close and held him through his grief over his comatose brother. He remembered the soft strands of hair tickling his palm and slipping through his fingers as he cupped the back of Danny's head to him and the way the man's back hitched under his caressing hand.

Coming back to himself he watched as Danny raised his hand and waved with a smile. Unable to just turn away Mac smiled back and, still cupping the bottom of the mug with one hand and the mug handle with his index finger and thumb of the other he waved with his three free fingers.

When he received a wider more joyful smile from the younger man Mac then managed to nod before carrying on his way. He spared a moment to marvel at the pleasant swelling in his chest before he shook it off to concentrate on his work.

................................................................................

"Sprouts? Who even eats sprouts Stell?" Flack wrinkled his nose in disgust as he held the bowl of said vegetables out in front of him like one would a bomb and headed towards the large dinning table set out in her living room. Various chairs, from stool to fold outs, were placed around it and some spaces had already been taken. Hawkes was leant back in his own seat as he conversed quietly with Lindsay on the other side of him about an article they'd both read in the latest Forensic Journal. Mac watched them with a feeling of both pride and amusement, his two 'youngest' CSIs who were always so excited by anything to do with science regardless of whether they were on the clock or not. Not that he could say much.

Adam and Chad were looking between the various bowls on the table with curiosity until they caught Mac watching them and instantly stopped with bright blushes on their faces. Turning Mac grinned into the glass of wine he was holding, walking back into the kitchen ready to help his friend with her frantic cooking.

"I swear, I'm giving that boy extra portions just for that," Stella grumbled as Mac walked up beside her placing his glass down on the counter.

"Anything I can do?" he asked and she smiled at him gratefully.

"Grab the Turkey out of the oven, I've got to get this gravy to work! Thanks Mac."

Mac patted her shoulder as he turned to the oven and as he pulled on a pair of oven-gloves he had to fight back a smirk at the domesticity of it all. He'd fought (and died) in the Civil War, he'd fought in Battles as a Cadmon Angel of Heaven, he'd been in many more battles since returning to Earth and yet here he was, pulling on a pair of oven-mitts with Tweety-Pie on them (a joke present from Danny, Stella insisted).

He laughed quietly and bent to get the turkey, opening the door and getting a faceful of warm air and the most delicious smell. Reaching out he carefully pulled the turkey out and just as he stood with it carefully balanced between his hands there was a knock at the door. He glanced up and Stella growled before yelling out, "We're busy in here Flack, get the door please!"

When the affirmative was called Stella returned to her frantic stirring.

"Is that how you're supposed to do it?" Mac asked but quickly shut up when Stella glared at him darkly, "Never mind."

He almost jumped when a whistle sounded and cringed a little when it was followed with a, "Nice gloves Mac."

Turning he raised an eyebrow at a grinning Danny, Flack stood just behind him sniggering away. He was pretty sure that if he had any less control then he would be blushing right then but thankfully he managed to keep his face quite neutral.

"I thought so," he deadpanned and felt his own mouth quirk at the edges as Danny walked into the kitchen and grabbed a dishcloth. He wrapped it around his hands almost like a sling and grabbed the other end of the tray the turkey sat on and helped Mac get it to the table. When it was down Mac pulled the gloves off as quickly as he could without looking like he was desperately trying to get rid of them.

"Thanks," he said and Danny smiled at him wide enough to show one of his sharp K9s.

"Why don't you two go get comfortable? I've got this and I'll bring it out in a moment," Stella said slyly and Mac turned to her with narrowed eyes.

"Don't you want a hand bringing this stuff out?" he said in a low voice but she merely grinned more.

"No, I cooked it so I want to bring it out. This is my show Mac, go park your bum!"

"C'mon Mac," Danny said and he briefly grabbed Mac's elbow to give a little tug before he continued on into the living room. Mac looked after him with a lost look on his face, torn between staying in the safety of Stella's kitchen or following Danny.

"Mac."

Turning back to Stella he was a little surprised to find a deadly serious look on her face as she gently titled her chin in Danny's direction.

"Whatever reasoning you have going on in your head, you've got to let it go," she said quietly and Mac hesitated. He curled one hand hanging at his side into a fist and then unclenched it again in indecisiveness. He looked back towards the younger man who he could see through the doorway was settling himself into a seat leaving one empty beside him and Mac wondered for a moment whether he had it in him to leave it empty. Could he bear the look of rejection on Danny's face?

Danny looked up and smiled at him again before waving him forwards. Mac let out a shaky breathe and after glancing back at his encouraging Best friend he started towards the chair.

When he reached the chair he settled into it awkwardly, acutely aware that Danny was looking at him with that joyful expression and taking a moment to compose himself he then looked at Danny and was rewarded with soul-filled smile. It made his heart ache in a way that it hadn't since Claire.

"Hello," Danny said cheekily and Mac couldn't fight back his own returning smile. The air around him seemed to had shifted and he knew, he knew, that Danny was trying to draw him into conversation for more than just a friendly chat. The younger man' entire body practically thrummed with nervous, happy energy and Mac felt himself drawn to it in a way he couldn't explain.

"Hello," he returned before gesturing towards Danny's wine glass, "want a fill?"

"Yeah, please," Danny said and reached for his glass as Mac reached for the wine bottle sat on the table. With Danny holding the bowl of the glass and Mac steadying it by the stem underneath their hands were brushing ever so slightly and they both looked up at the same time. They caught the other looking and after sharing a faint laugh both looked back to the glass again with a smile on their faces.

Maybe, Mac thought, he could make this work.

He'd died, he'd fought, he'd been forced into exile, he'd fallen in love, he'd mourned and by some miracle he'd fallen in love again. As much as Mac wanted to be able to one day go home, as much as he wanted to see Claire again he couldn't help thinking that maybe, just maybe, he'd be allowed to be happy this time. That this time he'd be allowed to keep that one thing that made his mornings worth getting up for.

..................................................................................

Everyone was wrestling for their coats whilst simultaneously hugging one another and Stella, thanking her for a wonderful meal and Mac watched them from the doorway of the kitchen, his head slightly fuzzy from the alcohol but nowhere near being drunk. He smiled affectionately at his team and just as he pushed away from the doorframe with his shoulder he glanced up and found Danny heading towards him.

He smiled as the younger man reached him and Danny returned it as he reached for Mac's glass. Taking it from him he carefully brushed past him into the kitchen prompting Mac to follow and quietly he shut the door behind them. Mac watched him in confusion when Danny moved away from it and placed the glass down on the counter. Then he turned to Mac and there was a look of determination on his face that practically floored Mac.

"Listen Mac, there are a couple of things I wanna say and if you'd let me just get through it I promise to do trash duty for a week," Danny said softly and Mac smirked briefly before nodding. He watched as Danny nodded to himself before he took a deep breath.

"Okay, so lately I've been thinking a lot about stuff and I can't hack it just being like this anymore. So...I'm just going to get it out in the open..."

Mac could feel his chest tightening and had a sudden horrible vision of Danny quitting. He made to open his mouth but remembered his promise and held his tongue quickly.

"See, I've always admired you Mac, anyone with two eyes can tell you that. Hell, anyone with one eye could tell you that! But lately its...I dunno, it's been more than that..."

Danny was twisting his fingers together before he frowned at himself and quickly pushed them into his pockets. Mac could feel his heart thundering now and swallowed harshly as the younger man continued.

"And I guess I thought that it's better to just, you know, tell you and all. And once that thought was there it wouldn't go away so, I guess, here goes..."

Mac remained frozen as Danny stepped forwards and clearly hesitating Danny looked down at Mac's hand before he slowly reached for it. He held it tightly and after releasing a shuddery exhale he looked up at the stunned Mac.

"I'm attracted to you...I really don't want to say 'I like you', it makes me feel like a third grade girl admitting her first crush and its more than that so...Mac, I..."

Danny licked his lips and without thinking Mac stepped closer. He didn't kiss Danny but he couldn't help that step and found himself practically nose to nose with the younger man. Danny seemed surprised but soon relaxed as he kept his eyes on Mac's.

"There," Mac cleared his dry throat before continuing, "There are things about me you don't know."

"Well, you could, you know, let me find out...over time...when you're ready and all..."

The sincerity in Danny's voice melted Mac and briefly he glanced up at the ceiling as though asking permission. Whether he imagined it or whether it was another mystery of the after life Mac didn't know but he suddenly felt a warmth go through him that he'd associated to Claire. Looking back down again he could see the anxiety in Danny's face and slowly he reached up to place a hand on Danny's cheek.

"I'm not an easy person to get to know," he admitted but Danny merely smiled.

"Well I'm a determined son of a bitch so it looks like we're equally paired."

Laughing breathlessly Mac ran his thumb across Danny's bottom lip and finally leaned down. He captured Danny's bottom lip between his and after a few licks they both tilted their heads to press their lips against one another more tenderly. They softly applied pressure and kissed more intimately as hands moved, Danny's to rest on Mac's shoulder blades and Mac's onto Danny's hips.

Danny's fingers caused the clothing on his back to rub against his shoulders and he fleetingly wondered how Danny would react to everything. To the story he hoped one day he could share with the man in his arms, to the scars on his back where his wings used to be but mostly how he would react to having an older, broken, exiled angel as a lover.

Something in his gut told him Danny still had more to show him in the way of acceptance and as he pulled Danny closer more passionately he vowed that this time he'd protect his new lover, his new life moreso than before, and should anyone try to harm or hinder it then they'd truly know the power of his kind.

And it would not end well for them.

Finite

The different ranks of 'Adalardo Angels' The Nobles/Heaven's Army:

*Cadmons: Warriors of Heaven
*Caedmons: Generals of Heaven/ 'Wise Warriors'
*Saeths: Bowmen of Heaven

The different sexes of 'Kahree Angels'/ Guardian angels:

*Kendreagues: Males ('Loving Male')
*Kariads: Females ('Beloveds')
*Beloveds: The people protected by the Kahree Angels

Councilmen and Muses:

*The Council of Kalani: Council men who decide the fates of the Angels
*Ciorsdan: An individual member of The Council of Kalani (So 'Ciorsdan' would be used in place of 'Judge', eg, 'Ciorsdan Smith')
*Aislinns: The Muses of Heaven ('Visions/Inspirations')

(Note: When a human dies they can become a Caedmon, Cadmon or Kahree but no other. The other Angels are 'born' as Angels, not made)

And Hells Demons (What, you thought you'd get Angels but no demons?):

*Kalidas: Low Grade Demons (Usually act as the 'Voices' in mortal minds tempting them to sin)

Hell's Army/ Killian Demons:

*Kedehern: Generals of Hell
*Karayan: Warriors of Hell
*Kapaneus: Bowmen of Hell

Councilmen:

*The Council of Kasimir: Council men who decide the fate of the Demons
*Kael: An individual member of The Council of Kasimir
Kyna: Muses of Hell

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