how this will end The gunshot is loud, the recoil of the weapon harsh, both disruptive of the damp night’s silence. Deafening is the echo of the lifeless man in front of him falling to the ground, and then all that surrounds him is his own harsh breathing. Stutter of breath. Choking for air, gasping as cold greets his lungs. Vaguely, Danny remembers to holster his gun again, flipping on the safety before snapping his hand away, burned by the chilled weapon. Eyes drifting away from the body soaked in blood and towards Martin, living, breathing Martin, whose slightly trembling hands try to grip the gun still pointed at the kidnapper. Danny looks past Martin, straight into the wide eyes of little Ethan, and he drags his eyes back up to Martin’s face, and as he’s about to call his partner’s name, Martin turns and takes a step towards Ethan, gun slipping into the holster on Martin’s hip. Danny turns away, closes his eyes against the burn there, tears slipping past, and he allows them to scar a path down his face. Still world around him unnerving and he opens his eyes again. Simply stands there, watching as Martin gathers Ethan in his arms. Danny smiles a small, sad smile before catching Martin’s dolorous gaze, nodding his head back down the alleyway, towards where they parked the truck. He turns and begins on his way, puddles of water both below and in front of him dimpling as he walks through them, not even turning back to make sure Martin follows. He knows Martin will. He always does. By the time they reach the Denali, nearly camouflaged in the night’s mute darkness, the soft, pattering rain has returned, wind following soon after, howling around them as Danny unlocks the car, watching as Martin opens the backdoor for Ethan to climb in. He settles into the drivers seat, watching from the rearview mirror as Martin digs around in the trunk to find a blanket for Ethan, soaked clothes hanging off the boy’s small shoulders, dripping hair falling down in front of his young face. The trunk to the Denali slams shut and through the window, he can see Martin stop, can spot the hesitation. He turns his head to watch Martin, smiling softly at Ethan when the boy looks up for a quick second before wrapping his arms around himself, seeking protection from the world. If only that method worked. Stares at Martin again and watches as the other man turns away from the wind, moving closer to the side of the truck, but Danny can clearly see one of Martin’s hands digging through a coat pocket. Sees a bottle a second later and sighs, and he looks away, closes his eyes against the sight. “You okay back there, buddy?” Stupid question. “Cold.” Deep brown eyes look towards him, wanting comfort so, so badly. “Hold on buddy, I’ll turn the heat on, okay? Then we’ll you get back home. That sound good?” Rapid nods and those eyes brighten up a bit, and Danny smiles. The engine rumbles as he turns the ignition, and as he’s fiddling with the heater, Martin opens the passenger door, climbing in and twisting to hand the blanket to Ethan. “I called Jack. Told him we got Ethan. He said to just get back, and that he’ll send someone out for the body.” Martin says, and Danny can feel eyes on him. He nods, not even looking at Martin as he turns the car back towards civilization. ~ “Martin, what the hell are you doing here?” His tired voice asks, and he sighs as he looks towards the clock in the hallway, telling him he’s only been asleep for not even an hour. He blearily wipes sleep from his eyes, squinting at the soaked and shivering man in his doorway. Martin shrugs, unfocused eyes staring past Danny, and he stumbles forward into the apartment, one hand reaching out for balance, landing on Danny’s shoulder. “Martin? Martin, look at me – Fitz.” “I can’t find them, Danny. I have to find them.” Broken voice hoarse in his ear as Martin falls against him, one shaky hand gripping his shoulder, the other slipping down his side, Martin’s cold face pressed to his neck, and he guesses he always knew this would feel so right. Closes his eyes and leans into the embrace before he knows what he’s doing. His eyes open as Martin shivers, once, twice, three times before moving closer into Danny, seeking warmth. “You’re freezing, Martin.” “I’m cold.” “Yeah, I know, come on.” Tugs on Martin’s sleeve and moves to stand behind the shivering man, slipping the sopping wet jacket off of Martin’s shoulders. Looks up at Martin’s face, grimaces at the blank expression there, and he takes a step backwards, pulling Martin towards the bedroom. “Danny, no – I can, I’ll sleep on the couch, just give me some bla–” “Just go lie down, Martin.” Watches Martin swipe a hand over his face, hears a sigh echo in the room and then soft footsteps padding towards the bed, blind in the dark of the room. Climbs into bed after Martin, watching from his side as the other man curls up around the extra pillow, and Danny reaches for the blanket at the edge of the bed, pulling the warmth over their bodies. Feels Martin sigh next to him before quiet breathing evens out, and Danny eventually falls into sleep as well. ~ Wakes up to harsh, quick breathing next to him, and he sits up, looking over towards Martin only to see him leaning over the side of the bed, head hanging between his legs now-boxer clad legs, one arm wrapped around his middle, the other clutching his head. Danny can see, in the moon’s soft light drifting through the open curtains across the room, the glint of panic in Martin’s unfocused eyes. Reaches a hand out to Martin’s, touching his shoulder lightly and then all he can hear is broken words falling from a broken man. “I – Danny, I can’t sleep without them, I need them to –” “No, you don’t Martin, you don’t. Think about something else, Fitz, something else.” “No, Danny, you don’t understand, I need –” “No, Martin, I do understand, so lets just go back to –” Words cut off by Martin’s mouth covering his, desperate for reassurance, and, right now, he’s willing to give that to Martin. Feels Martin move back fully onto the bed, pushing him back into the mattress and kissing him deeper, harder, with more need, more want. New sensation and he can't get enough, leans into Martin's touch, wants more himself. Feels Martin’s erection against his thigh and reaches down to pull Martin’s boxers off. Wraps a hand around Martin’s now-freed cock, and he both feels and hears the moan against his mouth. A trembling hand moving up Danny’s side and he shivers, arching into the touch and pumping faster, desperately, until Martin comes in his hand, mouth slowing against his, and he comes a second later as well. He feels the tension in Martin’s body disappear as he collapses next to Danny, kissing the side of his neck before closing his eyes again. Danny watches as the hand resting on his chest stops trembling all together a moment later, and he smiles, turning and pressing a kiss to Martin’s slackened, now-sleeping face. feedback