Title: Walking Away
By: Jaxson K.
Pairing: Mac/Don, Danny/Lindsay, past Mac/Danny
Rating: PG
Summary: Don tries to salvage what's left of his self-respect by walking away.

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Mac was late again, and Don knew the reason why. Mac was out somewhere with Danny. Don wasn't surprised, but it still hurt like hell even after all this time. Don knew that something had to give. He knew he couldn't keep going like this, and had made up his mind that maybe it was time to leave.

Don had mixed emotions at first about leaving, but as time went on his resolve became firm. He never dreamed that things would turn out this way. When he and Mac got together, Mac had just lost Danny to Lindsay. Mac was devastated, and turned to Don for comfort. Don hoped it would blossom into something substantial because he had been in love with Mac for a long time.

At first, it was almost everything Don could hope for. Mac was attentive, and made Don feel special. This lasted for a few months, then Mac seemed to pull away. Then Don noticed that Danny was acting a bit odd also. Don paid more attention to the fact that Mac was pulling away, turning his attention to trying to find out why.

When Mac called out Danny's name in his sleep, Don couldn't believe it at first. It hurt so much to know that Danny still had such as hold on Mac. Don didn't say anything about it, but it was always on his mind. He started paying attention at work, and noticed that Mac and Danny were more relaxed around each other than they had been in quite a while.

Don tried everything he knew to keep Mac from thinking about Danny, but nothing worked. It all came to a head the night that Don went to the lab looking for Mac and found he and Danny in the locker room in what could only be called a compromising position. Don never said a word, just turned and walked away. The incident wasn't mentioned when Mac came finally came home.

These events led up to Don deciding to leave. He put in for a transfer to another precinct even though he knew it was going to hurt not getting to see the people he considered friends , with the exception of Mac and Danny of course. A few days before he was to start at the new precinct, Don packed his belongings and moved them back to his old place.

Before Don left Mac's place for the final time, he sat down at Mac's desk and wrote a letter.....

Mac,

I just wanted you to know that I've left and that I won't be back. I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but here it is. I know that you don't love, and that you probably never did. It's always been about Danny. I'm not jealous, just hurt. I hoped that when Danny married Lindsay and you turned to me that we might have a future together. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Not only did I lose out with you, I lost my best friend in the process. I refuse to compete with Danny for you. I hope I can be happy one day, because I deserve happiness too..... Don

Don folded the note and left it on the coffee table. He took one last look around before walking out the door for the final time. As the tears started to fall, Don knew he was doing the right thing.

END

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