forgive the urgency The day starts off innocently enough, but quickly turns against them all, and Danny thinks that maybe the universe is, too. A young girl, not even 8 years old, is taken, and her depressed and suicidal father is their main suspect. A case that he can’t seem to stay away from and can’t trust himself to not get emotionally involved in, because the cases with the kids are the worst. He does, though, and as he listens to mother’s broken cries across from him, he regrets that he has trouble letting things go. The woman raises both hands to her mouth, but nothing seems to stifle her tears and soft words aimed at him. You’ve got to find her, Agent Taylor. Please, save my daughter. And my husband. Please save them. Please, please Agent Taylor. All he can do to keep his thoughts together is promise her that they’ll succeed – but he knows that he could very well be lying. Both of them – father and daughter – could be dead, or even halfway across the country. The second another agent comes to take over, he’s on the path to the bathrooms, passing Martin on his way there and doesn’t meet those bright eyes that have dulled to a cloudy blue over the past few months. Martin follows him anyways and after splashing cold water on his face – waking him up immediately, and that’s the effect he was hoping for – he raises his eyes to look at Martin in the mirror. Turns around and moves towards the still unmoving Martin, bringing their lips together in a quick kiss, reassuring himself that Martin’s really there, and moves closer to the door, eyes downcast. I’m okay, Martin. Really. Don’t worry. That’s all he throws over his shoulder as he walks out, back into the day and for a second he feels like everything is falling down around him. ~ They find the girl, Olivia, he thinks her name is, in one of the abandoned warehouses her father used to own before his business died and left him with nothing. He’s still got his gun pointed around as Martin holsters his, FBI lettering bright in the dim darkness of the room, filled only with the quiet sobs of the tiny girl. No father around. He sighs and turns back to Martin’s whispered reassurances for Olivia, gathered in his arms. ~ Bullets ricochet off the car and he doesn’t even hesitate as he reaches behind his seat and pushes Martin forward, out of harms way and leaning over the small girl whimpering next to him. Stay in the damn car, Martin! Stay with her! He doesn’t think about the quaver in his hoarse voice as he yells the order. The pleading sound that gives away his worry and fear in an instant. He doesn’t wait for any reply from Martin in the backseat, though, before jumping out of the car, gun firing at the dark sedan speeding away in the opposite direction. Takes a breath and starts to notice the civilians crowding around their car, some talking rapidly into their cell phones, others asking him if he’s okay. Then he thinks that this time is different than the last, wrong in a strange way because the sun is shining above them instead of looming storm clouds, and because Martin’s okay. Swallows heavily and pushes back the sudden tears that cloud his vision as he turns towards the man covering the little girl’s body in the backseat of their car and suddenly can’t stop realizing that Martin’s okay. All three of them are safe. Safe. ~ Jack shows up in less than twenty minutes, followed by police sirens, as well as Sam and Vivian in a separate car. The little girl’s frantic mother arrives a few minutes later with Elena. Olivia, that’s the girl’s name, and now it feels appropriate to call her by her name now that they’ve shared a life-and-death experience together. He shares a quick cold and bitter laugh with himself. A shaken Martin next to him grips the back of his jacket tighter, pulls him closer, and he gives in and accepts the comforting warmth offered so willingly. After a minute of accepting Olivia’s grateful mother’s thanks, he turns away. Martin will follow. He always does. They walk back down the loud bridge, listening to the soft roar of the water below them and of the cars inching past on the opposite side of the road. He leads them to their now forgotten vehicle and when he stops at his still ajar door, he rests a hand on the warming steel roof and lets out a sigh, closing his eyes. Feels more than hears Martin come up behind him, a hand tangling their fingers, still resting on the car, and a warm arm wrapping around his waist. A kiss pressed to the corner of his mouth and he leans his head back onto Martin’s shoulder, suddenly not caring who sees them. Turns his head slightly and opens his eyes, abruptly gazing, unguarded, straight into those of his partner’s, whose are still haunted and worried, something else he finds comfort in. He brings his free hand up to Martin’s face, sliding a hair through the man’s hair that has fallen unruly as day came to a stop and night took over. Martin tightens the arm around his chest and kisses him right on the mouth, which is something they never do where anybody from work can see them. That doesn’t bother him today, though. He just wants to be able to hold Martin close and never let go. He pulls back a few seconds later as he hears someone walk by, and turning his head towards the sound of footsteps falling farther away, he sees Jack, a small smile on his face and his eyes with a tiny bit of brightness in them for the first time since this morning. Watches in amazement as Jack mouths go home, Danny. Get him home. He nods, turning his attention back to Martin as their boss walks away from them again. Martin’s resting heavily against him now, weight almost all on him, and half asleep on his feet. Thank you, Jack. He walks Martin around the side of the car towards the passenger side, pushing the sleepy man inside before moving back around. He listens to the engine purr back to life just as Martin falls asleep. ~ Martin’s hugging him from behind again, his shoulder acting as a pillow and he has to remind Martin He laughs for what seems like the first time in weeks, loud and true, as Martin grumbles and rests a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from moving any further. The shuts without a sound and within five seconds, Martin’s plastered against him. The contact makes him feel warm inside and he just absorbs it. He pushes them onto the bed, smiling at the tired voice that whispers goodnight, Danny in his ear. Presses as close as he can against Martin’s side. That’s better. ~ Wakes up what seems like only minutes later, but in reality is almost eight hours, and for some reason, he still doesn’t feel rested. What he wakes to, though, is something that he really can’t say he minds at all. A warm mouth is nipping at his neck, and a hand’s moving under his shirt, teasing and loving at the same time. Something he can’t remember, though, is taking off his clothes. Then Martin bends forward and kisses the spot just below his hairline, and he forgets all about the lack of clothing as his heart clenches, pained, as he remembers the small scar there. In return, he presses his lips against Martin’s willing mouth, sad and just a little bit desperate, before breaking away and tracing a hand down Martin’s heaving chest and pressing light kisses to every piece of skin he can find around the scars on there. Unforgiving wounds and memories that will never fade in both their minds, they lie there on the bed together, touching and memorizing subtle curves and soft skin that have been implanted in their thoughts ever since the first time. Martin presses the supplies they need into his hand, and he starts to wonder where they came from before he remembers that he doesn’t care. Kisses Martin again, both their tongues seeking contact, and they moan together, the deep sound filling the room and for a moment, that’s music to his ears before Martin hushes him. Quiet. The single word breathed against his mouth before they connect again, mouths not really fighting for control, instead synchronizing. Then Martin reaches a hand between them, slick with lube, and strokes his cock agonizingly slow. He doesn’t even try to hold back the gasp that escapes, and then Martin laughs softly against his mouth, and he’s glad he didn’t. Martin pushes him away, and confused, he opens his eyes, and watches and Martin turns onto his stomach, tugging on one of his hands, bringing him forward again. His sweat-slicked chest slides against Martin’s back and he groans, doing the same thing again, just for the hell of it, grinning at the shudder from Martin’s entire body. Turns Martin’s head for an off-center kiss, sloppy, but the total trust Martin gives to him means the world. Grabs the condom from somewhere off to his left, sliding it on as he places a kiss at the top of Martin’s spine. He basks in the hum Martin gives him, eyes closed and body relaxed, and he pushes in then, during that perfect moment. Martin doesn’t act surprised, just pushes back against him, and brings their clasped hands up to his mouth, holding them there, resting his head on them. He lets out a string of words in a language he could’ve sworn Martin didn’t know, but he’s surprised when Martin squeezes his hand harder, gasping and stuttering out I love you, too. God, Danny, love you, too. They don’t say those words often, except on nights like these, where everything is rushed and teetering on the edge of breaking them both, but those words mean everything, just like always. Feels Martin’s coarse hand reach slide down the backside of his thigh and he gasps into Martin’s neck, lips moving but no sound coming out. Whimpers as the hand grips harder and he moves deeper inside of Martin. They both come panting; first Danny, Martin following not far after. He leans forward to catch Martin’s moan at the same time he flattens his free hand over the round scar on Martin’s side. Martin shivers at that, coming, fast and hard, and all the while their lips don’t part. Not even after they’re just lying there, sweaty and exhausted, and he rolls Martin over onto his back, who chuckles into his mouth. He’s the one to break away, mesmerized by the now bright eyes, and he moves forward again to press another kiss to Martin’s cheek. He laughs as Martin mumbles, sleepy voice not more than a whisper, a quick love you. before his eyes fall closed and rest claims him. He soon follows, whispering those same words in the language Martin apparently does know. ~ The next day and they’re all still looking for the father, wanted for the kidnapping of his own daughter. An alley hidden away in the dark part of the sitting mixes the presence of the stench of his corpse and the gunpowder clouding around the wound on his head. Suicide, and Danny can’t help thinking about how he’ll never get to apologize to the family he left behind so cowardly. They check the magazine of the Glock that they still don’t know the seller of. A chamber with ten rounds, eight missing, and, his memory all of a sudden recalling how many shots were fired yesterday afternoon, he tells Jack that seven were fired at them. Seven. The new day is cloudy and saturnine, and in a quick moment alone, he can’t help but yell bitterly at the sky you’re too late! We’re still here, both of us! The grey sky doesn’t respond. We’re both still here. feedback