Chapter Text
Martin knows he should be working, but he can't seem to focus long enough to get anything done. Not with Danny sitting at his desk, engrossed in a pile of paperwork and all Martin would have to do is stand up and cross the room. Perch on the side of Danny's desk like he used to and strike up a conversation and...
"Martin, come take a look at this." And now apparently Danny's a mind reader.
That doesn't bode well for Martin but he stands all the same. Crosses the room and he won't perch. Stands with his arms crossed over his chest mere feet from Danny's desk and Danny has the nerve to arch an eyebrow.
"Apparently our missing girl ran an online community for sex fetishes," Danny states, pointing at the screen and Martin can't tell if his amusement is genuine.
Thinks maybe it might be a mask for something else but the lead is valid, the closest they've gotten to finding an actual direction and Martin forces himself to stop thinking about Danny as anything other than a coworker.
"Any way we can find out the identities of her members?" Martin asks, relaxing a little but leaving his arms crossed.
"Already on it," Danny replies, and obviously Danny's time outside Missing Persons has done nothing to diminish his skills.
"I'll call Vivian and let her know," Martin states, pulling out his cell and he jumps when Danny places a hand on his wrist.
His fingers freeze over the numbers and he turns to stare at Danny, eyes wide and Danny's expression is serious. Slightly nervous and suddenly there's too much moisture in Martin's mouth. Danny seems to struggle with himself for a moment before breaking eye contact, his hand falling away and whatever he was going to say disappears into the air around them.
Martin continues to stare until the need for oxygen reminds him that he's holding his breath. He inhales slowly, glancing back down at his phone and telling himself it's better this way. Calls Vivian and relays the details, getting the go-ahead to question the site's members and Danny's still not making eye contact. Staring at his computer screen like it's the most fascinating thing in the world and Martin clears his throat before pocketing his phone.
"Vivian said to go ahead and bring in anyone we need for questioning," Martin explains, watching Danny nod and obviously Vivian's no longer concerned about them working together.
~*~
They find their missing woman just after eight o'clock, chained to a motel bed and looking none to impressed that the FBI took an interest in her extra-curricular activities. It's probably the strangest case Martin's ever worked, but, at the very least, it ended well; as well as threats of lawsuits and men dressed in leather can ever end. Still, it's good enough for Martin.
With the exception of anything case related, he still hasn't spoken to Danny. Not since they were standing in the woman's hotel room, verifying that, yes, she wasn't being held against her will. He's the last one in the office, the lights already dimmed and the white board cleaned. He's stalling, he knows that, but the thought of going home doesn't appeal to him and the thought of going anywhere else leaves him feeling sick and guilty.
"You know, you really do need to get a life," Danny's voice echoes from behind him.
Martin spins around to stare, blinking at Danny and not really knowing what to say. He thought Danny had left, gone home or wherever it is he's staying and Martin doubts he's had time to find an apartment.
"Thanks for the advice," Martin replies, tone bitter and Danny's smile fades.
Danny shifts restlessly for a moment something close to sadness settling onto his features and Martin instantly regrets his choice of words.
"I'm sorry," Martin apologizes, running a shaking hand through his hair and Danny just stares at him.
Like Martin's some sort of puzzle and any minute now the final piece will click into place. Except Martin's not a puzzle, he's not made up of pieces and nothing will ever click in place.
"Me too," Danny finally answers, crossing the room and standing just outside Martin's reach.
For a moment, Martin doesn't know what to say. Doesn't have words and Danny's still staring at him. Still looking slightly out of place and completely defeated and Martin has to fight against the urge to kiss him.
"What do you want from me?" Danny asks and Martin can't tell if he really wants an answer or if he's just trying to break the awkward silence.
"You don't know?" Martin replies, giving Danny a pointed look and Danny knows.
Has probably known this entire time but of course Danny's a master at making things difficult.
"Are you still in love with her?" Danny asks, ignoring Martin's answer and suddenly it all makes sense.
Danny leaving, the rings, the awkward tension between them and of course Danny would still be threatened by Martin's relationship with Sam. It's so clear it almost hurts and the urge to kiss Danny intensifies.
"No. I'm not sure I ever was," Martin responds.
Silence seems to stretch on into eternity and Martin's starting to think Danny's not going to say anything.
Not going to comment on Martin's confession and Martin's half tempted to take the words back. Tell Danny he did love Sam, but it's a lie and he's tired of lying to Danny. Tired of lying to himself and Martin finds himself shifting nervously.
"I... I should go," Danny finally states and Martin's stomach sinks.
Bile rising in the back of his throat and he doesn't think he can handle this. He's half tempted to demand a direction, either way, because he spent three years involved in a dead-end relationship and he's not about to go down that road a second time. But Danny doesn't look like he intends to say anything else and he's heading back to the elevators before Martin can even process what's happening.
"Wait."
And he still doesn't know what he wants to say. What he can say that might change Danny's mind and the words probably don't exist. Because this is Martin's doing, Martin's fault for thinking he could ignore Danny and play at being a husband. Martin's fault for choosing Sam over Danny and even though, at the time, he didn't know Danny was an option, he knows he should have known.
Should have realized it the second Danny left but he tells himself that Danny came back, and that has to mean something. A second chance if only Martin could get the words out but he can't, they remain frozen on his tongue and Danny's still staring at him. Halfway out of the office and Martin crosses the room to stand in Danny's path.
"Do you... do you need a place to stay?" Martin asks and it's probably the worst thing he could have said.
Danny blinks, looking at Martin like he's crazy before shaking his head and laughing. "No, I've got a room at the Radisson, but thanks," Danny replies, still laughing and the air's not quite as heavy as it was.
"I don't know what to do about this," Martin confesses, smiling slightly and Danny stops laughing.
"Go home, get some sleep. You still look like shit," Danny replies, tone teasing and Martin nods.
Moves aside and lets Danny pass. And it's not what he wants, but it's probably the safe option. At least now he thinks there might be some chance for a friendship and, even though it's not his first choice, it's better than nothing.
~*~
He wonders how so many Americans can spend their lives watching television. There's nothing on, at least, nothing that holds his interest. He's spent the past two hours flipping, landing on random programs only to dismiss them and move on to the next. He long ago gave up on sleep, the night replaying through his head and he can't help but wonder what he could have said to keep Danny from leaving.
Frustrated, he turns off the television, casting the room into darkness before standing from his place on the couch. He's still wearing the day's suit, his tie gone and shirt wrinkled. He considers changing, but it's late and technically he should be sleeping. Not that he can foresee that happening anytime soon and he's heading toward the door before he can reason where he wants to go.
He takes Sam's car, his own still making that rattling noise and he keeps expecting it to break down at the side of the road. Sam's car smells slightly like smoke and perfume, an odd mixture that causes his nose to twitch and his lungs to constrict. He opens the window, pulling out of the driveway and heading down the street.
For a while, he drives in random circles, all leading him nowhere and it's not until he passes Federal Plaza that he knows where he's going. And Danny's probably sleeping, but it doesn't stop Martin from parking across the street from the hotel. Doesn't stop Martin from climbing out of the car and heading inside to the front desk. There's a chance they won't let him in or maybe even send him away, so he pulls out his credentials just in case.
Flashes his badge and demands Danny's room number. He even goes so far as to warn them not to announce his presence and he has a feeling this qualifies as abuse of power. Not that he cares. He's too overcome by exhaustion to care and by the time he finds himself standing in front of Danny's door, a strange sense of calm has replaced all his previous apprehension.
He knocks, the sound carrying through the hall and, for a moment, he thinks Danny might not answer. Raises his hand a second time and when he hears rustling on the other side of the door, he lets his arm fall back to his side. Takes a steadying breath and then the door is swinging open.
Danny staring at him from beneath sleep-creased eyes and his hair is a mess of spikes. Sticking up in all directions and Martin resists the urge to reach out and smooth it down. Shifts instead, forcing his expression neutral and maybe Danny won't question his presence.
"Martin? What are you doing here?" Danny asks and Martin knew it was too much to hope for.
"You're full of shit, you know that?" Martin replies, cringing at the words and it's not what he meant to say.
Wasn't even aware he was angry until it came out, heat pooling in his stomach and it has nothing to do with the image of Danny in only boxers. Not entirely, anyway, and Martin's jaw clenches as he waits for Danny's response.
"You came all the way over here to tell me that?" Danny asks his tone incredulous like he thinks Martin might just be crazy.
"Yes," Martin replies, the simple answer said with such force that Danny actually laughs.
Stands aside and motions for Martin to enter and Martin congratulates himself for getting this far. And now that he's in Danny's room, he doesn't know what to do. Because he doesn't have a plan, doesn't know what he wants or even what he hopes to accomplish.
"Okay, I'm full of shit. Care to explain?" Danny asks once the door is shut, the room still dark and Martin's starting to think this is a bad idea.
"You really expect me to believe you don't care? You leave cryptic messages for me, show up in New York and take your old job back and you really think you can pretend this has nothing to do with me?" Martin questions, accusation bleeding into his words and guilt flashes in Danny's eyes.
"That's a little self-absorbed, don't you think?" Danny retorts, moving across the room to flick on a lamp.
"Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you're not here because of me," Martin continues, dreading Danny's answer but needing it all the same.
"And so what if I am?" Danny asks, his frustration obvious, and Martin's starting to think maybe Danny doesn't have an answer.
Maybe Danny doesn't even know why he's here and maybe this is just as confusing for Danny as it is for Martin. And now Danny's pacing, up one side of the room and down the other and Martin's tempted to step into his path. Stop him before he wears a hole in the carpet but Martin knows better. Knows Danny needs time to reason all this out and maybe Martin should have just stayed home and slept. Considers leaving to do just that.
"I can't keep doing this with you," Martin whispers instead, his anger dissipating into defeat and this isn't how he pictured this conversation.
"You still don't get it, do you?" Danny finally answers, suddenly stopping and anger flashes in his eyes. "I'm over you."
The words hit Martin hard, but he knows Danny doesn't mean them. There's no force behind them and, if anything, it sounds like Danny's trying to convince himself, not Martin.
"Then why are you here?" Martin asks, closing the distance between them and feeling instantly guilty when Danny looks up.
Pain flashes in his eyes, so raw it takes Martin's breath away and he suddenly wishes he could erase the past three years of his life.
"I don't know," Danny answers after a pause and Martin places a hand on Danny's shoulder.
Squeezes a little harder than necessary and leans into Danny's space. Hesitates for only a moment before closing the distance between them, pressing his lips against Danny and when Danny kisses him back, Martin can't help but whimper. His whimper turning into a moan when Danny instinctively opens his mouth and lets Martin's tongue push inside.
And kissing Danny shouldn't be this addictive, but it is, it's everything Martin's wanted in longer than he can remember. Certainly longer than he was aware of but now that he has it, he's not going to question it. And there's still so many things left unsaid, but this is a start and the rest of the conversation can wait. At least until the morning and when Danny pulls Martin's shirt free, Martin stops thinking.
Stops worrying about the future, stops worrying about everything but the feel of Danny's hands sliding against his skin. Danny's tongue mapping his mouth and the heat radiating off Danny's body. They're moving backward, inching toward the bed and Martin pauses when Danny's knees hit the back of the mattress. Pulls back long enough to make eye contact and Danny still looks lost.
"Either you tell me to leave, or I stay. And tomorrow we deal with this, because I can't keep playing this game with you," Martin whispers, staring into the depths of Danny's eyes and Danny blinks before nodding.
"Good," Martin comments before surging forward, reclaiming Danny's lips and pushing Danny until they're both sprawled across the bed.
Falling in a tangle of limbs with so much heat between them Martin's half afraid they might spontaneously combust. It doesn't happen, and Martin struggles out of his clothes, wrinkled shirt landing on the floor at the foot of the bed and his pants following behind. He shifts to slide out of his boxers, pulling Danny's off a fraction of a second later and then it's nothing but skin.
Silk and heat and Martin settles on top of Danny, rocking against him until they're both flushed and moaning. Breath coming in laboured gasps and Danny's bucking up into the sensation, wrapping his legs around Martin's waist and pulling Martin even closer. Closer still and Martin wants to crawl inside Danny. Stay there for an eternity and then Danny can never change his mind. Never decide this isn't worth fighting for and Martin thinks maybe they should have had that conversation first.
But there's still time, and if the way Danny's moaning is any indication, Martin has a feeling he'll still be here come morning.
~*~
Epilogue:
Vivian warned him, gave him advanced notice and Martin almost wishes she hadn't. Because he's spent the entire morning stressing about this moment and by the time Jack strolls into the office, Martin's nerves are frayed and he can't seem to sit still.
Sam's with him, looking happier than she ever has and Martin has to admit, Jack's good for her. Better than he ever was, anyway, and he can't help but be happy for her. Can't help but smile when she enters the room and suddenly the tension he's been feeling all morning vanishes.
Danny still looks slightly tense, like he thinks Martin might actually throw away their last four months together and go crawling back to Sam. Not that it will ever happen and Martin smiles reassuringly at Danny, reaching under the table and taking his hand, squeezing just hard enough to make his point. It seems to help and Danny relaxes back into his chair, returning Martin's smile.
They've had this discussion more times that he can count and it bothers him that Danny still doubts. But this is the first time either of them have seen Sam since they began their journey toward a relationship. It hasn't been easy, not by a long stretch, and Martin still feels like he's making amends. But they've come a long way and they're finally getting to the point where the trust has been rebuilt, a commitment made and Martin's not about to let Sam's presence screw all that up.
Not when everything he wants is sitting right next to him, smelling faintly like spice and cologne and Martin squeezes Danny's hand that much harder.
"Martin, Danny," Jack acknowledges, nodding in their direction and Martin stands, pulling Danny up next to him and purposely not releasing his hand.
The gesture seems to relax Danny further and Martin catches the hint of a grin just outside his peripheral vision.
"Jack, good to see you again," Martin replies, returning Jack's nod before glancing over at Sam. "Hi, Sam."
"Hi, Martin. Hey, Danny," Sam replies, looking slightly out of place herself and the entire situation is so strange, Martin wants to laugh.
He doesn't, but he can't help but grin, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it all and the act seems to lighten the mood. First Sam joins him in silent laughter, and then Danny and finally Jack until the four of them are standing around the conference table, laughter echoing around the room and of all the ways Martin pictured this moment, this isn't one of them.
"I hear congratulations are in order," Danny finally speaks, his voice soft and warm and Martin's instantly transported back in time.
Back to the beginning, before Jack left and before Martin screwed up. Back when they were actually a team and a wave of nostalgia almost overwhelms him.
"Thanks," Sam replies, rubbing the swell of her stomach and smiling at Jack.
Pride flashes in Jack's eye and Danny grins, nodding his approval and it strikes Martin that Danny would make a good father. But discussions about adoption are something to save for another day, for now Martin's content to catch up with his former colleagues. His former friends and this will probably be the last time they're all standing in a room together, but it's a nice ending, as far as endings go.
A nice beginning too and maybe now Danny will stop worrying about Sam or her place in Martin's life. And maybe now they can move forward, mend the remaining holes in their relationship and start planning a future.
And Martin does want a future with Danny, and even if it takes time, Danny's worth the wait.
Fin.