Probably been said before but what if dennis did use Johnny to get Mac out of the apartment because that was when he was bringing home the guys he had gotten with the S.I.N.N.E.D. system and he knew Mac would be weird about it so he sends him to the motel until he’s done his thing, but also discreetly picks up his phone because using the beads during that time maybe gives him the illusion that when he’s having sex with some other faceless nameless guy he’s actually having sex with Mac but he can’t *actually* have sex with Mac because what if that messes up the delicate balance they currently have, or what if it’s then suddenly too real, all these random people you know it doesn’t mean anything, anyone can get a guy to bang them once, but with Mac it would mean something, something he’s not quite ready to face, something they’re both maybe not ready to face, because Mac’s moved on and Dennis is just catching up, so he hides behind Johnny and the beads, and when the truth comes out, Mac hides behind them just as much because the connection they have through the phone, through the app, it’s safe, for both Mac and Dennis, who’ve never had a genuine relationship, who are afraid to take the leap into one, but it’s still not real and at the end of Frank vs. Russia and continuing through to Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day, Dennis starts to realize he wants it to be... he wants a real connection, he wants to take that leap because he knows Mac will be there to catch him if he falls, but then Mac’s not. Two ships passing in the night or whatever.