Disclaimer: I don't own ABC, NYPD Blue, etc. This is just for fun and I'm not making any money off this.

Notes: The story takes place a few weeks after the season finale. I don't watch the show so I really don't know the character of Diane really well but I hope you like the fic anyway.

This is an A/U where Denby didn't meet the same fate he met in the season finale.

*

It was cool spring morning when Diane walked down the street to Task Force Headquarters. As she walked up the stairs and opened the door she wondered why she was doing this.

"I'd like to speak to Detective Denby," she told the secretary.

"Just one moment please," the woman got up out of her chair and went into the office behind her, "There's a woman here that wants to see Denby," Diane overheard the woman say.

A man came out from the office. "Denby's not here, he hasn't been here for a few weeks now,"

"Thanks anyway," Diane said as she turned toward the door, "Just as well, he's probably passed out somewhere," she thought as she stated to walk away.

"You can reach him here if you really have to," the woman said as she held out a business card.

"The Carrier Clinic," she read out loud, "He's in rehab?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yes, and try not to spread it around. It doesn't look good for us."

"Could it be? Could he be in there for me?" Diane wondered as she left the Task Force headquarters and hailed the cab that would take her to Carrier. "Damn him," she thought as she looked out the window of the cab, "He was almost out of my life for good and now this."

As the cab pulled up in front of Carrier she paid the cabbie and hesitantly walked up the steps and opened the door.

"I'd like to see Harry Denby" she asked at the front desk.

"One moment," the woman replied. "Could you please tell Mr. Denby he has a visitor," she asked a nearby nurse.

"The visiting room is down there. He should be down in a few minutes," she told Diane.

She walked down the hall and sat down. Five minutes passed, then ten. She got up to leave just as Denby walked into the room.

"Diane," he gasped. "Why are you here?"

"I...I..." she tried to say something, anything as he walked toward her, but she just couldn't find the words.

"Oh Diane," he said as gently brushed her face with his hands and looked into her eyes.

"Is this for me? Are you straightening up...for me?" she asked trying so hard not to cry.

"You're all I have to live for," he said and kissed her. The kiss was long and passionate and was nothing like that night at the bar. She was shocked at his audacity but didn't resist. "You idiot," she said when he finally pulled back.

He was fully prepared to be slapped across the face and she was about ready to slap him. Instead she just kissed him back and hugged him. He wanted her to stay in his arms forever.

THE END