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Chapter 3:

Danny felt groggy as though he had spent a night out drinking and now had a vicious hangover that wouldn't quit. Danny knew there was no possible way he had spent the night drinking because he swore to himself a long time ago that he wouldn't drink anymore. Still didn't explain the throbbing pain in his head.

Danny groaned a bit as he shuffled around. He felt cold and he smoother his face into his pillow only to be met with hard concrete. Danny tried to sit up, but his head hurt so much that he decided to lay down still.

"You're awake. Was afraid you were gonna stay asleep all day... or that I'd hit you too hard and you wassint ever gonna wake up."

Danny heard a voice talking to him, but it was muddled and drowsy sounding. It could have just been his head injury.

"Course that wouldn't've been any fun. You wanna have fun dontcha, Mr. Taylor." Danny groaned as he tried to wish himself back into his own semi-comfortable apartment.

Any minute Spot was going to start barking at him seconds before the alarm clock rang. He pinched himself hoping this was all just a bad dream.

"See way I figure it they're gonna start looking for you soon. If they haven't already. Big man like you. Really made a name for yourself now didn't you. I'm sure the cops are looking for you right now. Probably don't want to after the way you got that bastard off. You know that one that killed all those little kids. I better they're just going to let you die. Say they couldn't find you fast enough."

Danny let out a little sob that he tried to cover up with a groan. There was no way this bastard was going to get the best of him and see him weak. He didn't do weak. He couldn't do weak. He had to be strong in this kind of situation.

He knew he was mentally quoting Martin in his head. Martin had been in two hostage situations when he and Danny were together and Danny had been at a total loss of what to do when they happened.

Martin had told him if he ever found himself in that kind of situation he had to remain calm because someone would always come to the rescue if Martin himself couldn't break buildings to do so. He even made Danny take target practice and bought him a gun. Danny remembered thinking Martin probably thought it was romantic.

He had made sure that Danny kept it cleaned and went to target practice regularly. After he had left, Danny had just let the gun sit around in a box somewhere in his house. Danny really wished he would have used it now.

"No." Danny muttered. The man, whoever he was Danny couldn't see his face, laughed at that.

"No, you think they'll actually want to find you. You're scum. Complete and utter scum. Really, what do you gotta live for anyway. Do you know what it's like to love somebody? With your whole heart.

"So much so that you can't even breathe. I don't think you do. I think you just sit there in your fancy apartment and look at yourself in the mirror. I mean who could love a narcissistic bastard like you?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So that's it. Case over." Danny said bright smile on his face.

"Thank God. That was the longest case I've ever seen. Who knew the defense attorney was going to bring in so many of those motion thingies." Martin said as they walked to the courthouse parking garage.

Danny laughed a bit at Martin's mixed up notions of how law worked. It was kind of funny how he got frustrated when he tried to explain what he was thinking about law wise and Danny couldn't understand him. He'd frown and pout and the little wrinkles on his forehead would be noticeable and Danny thought it was extremely cute.

"It's an old tactic. The guy was guilty as sin and the defense attorney was just throwing things left and right hoping he could get his hands on something or at the very least delay the inevitable."

"Yeah, well, got me out of work didn't it." Martin said with a smile, smile number two if Danny was correct.

The one that was slightly crooked and his eyes didn't twinkle as much, but he reserved it for jokes he told because Martin seemed to hate laughing at his own jokes. He would just smile that smile and everyone else would laugh. Danny could feel himself smiling back, not a smirk or a grin, but a real smile. He knew he was in deep shit.

"Yeah, well this one was so easy it was almost like I wasn't working." Danny said honestly.

He loved this job. Putting the bad guys away gave him a thrill that he hadn't even known he would get just from simply doing his job. As a law student he had thought about what he wanted to do figuring he could be an ADA for a little while till he figured out if he wanted something different. He actually really liked his job and wasn't thinking about living any time soon.

"And it helped that I had such a great witness in you, Agent Fitzgerald." Danny said giving his flashiest most charming grin to Martin and as if on cue Martin's ears turned slightly red.

He'd really been flirting with Martin shamelessly for a long time now. It was so easy to get under his skin and to be truthfully honest Danny liked it. Liked getting a reaction out of Martin no matter the reaction.

He liked it when Martin paid attention to him.

"Well, I helped I guess. I mean anything it took to put that guy in jail." Martin said and Danny was really starting to like his big hero complex thing that masked his trying to please people complex thing. Danny knew how to read people.

They walked in comfortable silence to their cars, Danny occasionally looking at Martin when he thought Martin wasn't paying attention and he was very sad when they made it to their cars. He had no real reason to see Martin anymore.

No excuse to try and pry into his life. It would be left up to fate and Danny would have to wait patiently for the next time Martin had to testify on one of his cases. But Danny wasn't a patient man. He didn't leave things up to fate. He was a take charge kind of guy who liked to lay it all out on the line.

So when Martin started to get into his car offering his kind 'see you around', Danny had to stop him. He put his hand on the open car door and looked Martin straight in the eye.

"Tell me if I'm outta line here, but... my friend's having this New Years Eve party. These things tend to get wild knowing Tessa and I would... I mean you know if you have plans... I mean why wouldn't you have plans you're an adult and you probably have your own friends, but..." Danny pinched the bridge of his nose and lowered his head. Had his head not been lowered he would have seen Martin's total shit-eating grin.

"You asking me out on a date, Counselor?" Martin asked and Danny looked because of the innocent tone and say Martin smiling coyly at him.

"Yeah, I am, I guess... but you know New Years Eve is a big holiday, so I wouldn't hold it against you if you had other plans. And if you have... you know someone... else to spend that time with. I mean it would only be reasonable." Danny knew he was making a total ass of himself when Martin started giggling which he hid behind a cough though not very discreetly.

"I don't... have someone else. I'd love to go with you to a New Years Eve party. I haven't really been in New York that long and you said you've been here for awhile, so... you know if there's ever a time you have free to show me some... sights, well here's my card." Martin said as he pulled out a business card and a pen. He wrote something on the back and handed it to Danny.

"Has my number, though I think you already have that, and now my address. Call me some time." Martin said as he got into his car.

Danny waited for him to drive off before he started jumping up and down.

He had tried setting up dates with Martin, but they were both so busy with their jobs that they'd end up canceling. Danny was almost sure that Martin was going to cancel on him for New Years, but Martin said he was going to get time off so Danny wasn't too worried. He knew Martin's job made him work long hours. Danny was getting accustomed to working long hours as well. Not that he was complaining.

He liked his job well enough that working so hard didn't bother him. He knew Martin wasn't giving him the brush off. It was just that Martin loved his job too. He was so dedicated to it that it consumed him. Danny figured that Martin hadn't really been on many dates since he moved. He never had time to meet people.

They had managed to snag one lunch before the New Years Eve party. It was short and they had just barely caught up with each other before Martin's cell phone rang and Danny's rang shortly after. Danny wasn't sure it even qualified as a date, but it was time with Martin so it didn't really matter to him. Time with Martin was good time in his book.

So Danny found himself in front of Martin's door at nine on New Years Eve ready to knock on Martin's door. It would be the first time they saw each other in regular clothes, not suits for work, and Danny had been a little obsessive on what to wear.

He had decided on snug fitting dark jeans, a dark beige button up shirt with the top two buttons undone and a dark brown leather jacket. Danny thought he looked pretty good. He took a deep breath before knocking on Martin's door. Danny could hear some noises from inside the apartment and heard Martin's muffled voice say 'just a minute'.

When Martin opened the door Danny couldn't help but stare at him. It wasn't that he was wearing anything overtly sexy, just a dark blue long sleeve shirt that looked warm and comfortable, a pair of black jeans that didn't look too snug, but fit right.

It seemed that he made some sort of effort with his hair trying to spike it a bit rather than comb it to the side like Danny had seen him do before. He had a pretty warm looking jacket hanging on his arm and a nervous smile on his face. He looked good... better than Danny had seen him in his work attire with stripes on stripes or garish brown suits. Danny really had no idea he knew how to dress.

Danny looked up at Martin's face in time to catch him licking his lips. His eyes looked slightly glazed and Danny smirked. He knew he's picked the right outfit.

"So we gonna stand here all night or are we going to go to the party?" Danny asked smirk still firmly intact.

"Um... yeah sure... I just... um... let me turn everything off and I'll be out in a second." Martin said retreating back into his apartment.

He was in there for a few seconds before he came out again closing his door behind him. He locked it quickly and turned to Danny nervous smile in place.

"You look..."

"So do you. Now come on, if we're late Tessa'll have my balls." Danny said grabbing a hold of Martin's hand to pull him along.

They made it to Danny's car Martin blushing slightly and Danny having to keep himself from grabbing Martin and kissing him. The car ride to Tessa's was a silent and pretty short. Danny found himself glancing over at Martin more than once, but Danny would chide himself when he caught himself. When they arrived at Tessa's, Danny could see the look of confusion on Martin's face.

"I know, it's an art gallery. She doesn't live here." Danny said. He could hear the loud music coming from the gallery. He could see the people inside laughing and dancing and generally having a good time.

"So... she works here?" Martin asked.

"No, her sister works here. Her mom owns the place. Tessa really doesn't have an artistic bone in her body. Gotta love the irony in that though. He mom's an artist and owns this place... her dad plays in some sort of symphony... or well he did, before he retired. Her sister works here. I think her older brother was into music as well. She just never got into either. Became a doctor." Danny said as he opened the door to the gallery. He moved aside and Martin stepped in.

"You say doctor like it's a bad thing." Martin said once he and Danny were inside.

"Well, if you ask me I have nothing but respect for her. You ask her parents... she's the black sheep of the family." Danny said.

Danny grabbed hold of Martin's hand and steered him through the crowd stopping to say hi to a few people and introduce Martin to them. He knew a few of the people here. most of them were Tessa's friends from work or various other places. She knew a lot of people.

Danny had met her a three years ago when he was still in law school. He had had a major cold and had gone in to get himself checked out. Tessa had been his doctor. She was still a resident at a county hospital at the time. She had very shamelessly hit on him something Danny found unprofessional, but she was so charming Danny didn't seem to care.

She had long dark auburn hair and bright green eyes. She was tall and undoubtedly pretty, but Danny knew he was gay... had probably always known and she really didn't stand a chance. He had of course told her so and she took it surprisingly well.

She had still asked him to come to lunch with her, just as friends, and they had been friends ever since. He'd been to her New Years Eve parties before and they got way out of control some times. Tessa hung out with some pretty wild people.

"Tess." Danny said when he saw her back. She was talking with some guys Danny hadn't seen before. She turned around bright smile on her face when she saw Danny.

"Daniel Taylor... I can't believe you made it. Mister Hotshot himself took time away from his busy schedule to come to my little ole' party." Tessa said throwing her arms around Danny's neck.

"Nice to see you too Tess." Danny replied.

"And who do we have here." Tessa said untangling herself from Danny. She walked over to Martin and looked him over appraisingly.

"He's cute." Tessa said with a wink. Martin gave her his nervous smile.

"Down girl. You're scaring him. Tessa Grant... this is Martin Fitzgerald. Martin... this is Tessa." Danny said.

"Hi." Martin said holding out his hand.

Tessa pfft and pulled Martin into a big hug. Martin looked over at Danny with a startled look on his face.

"Didn't I say down girl. Look at you, you're pawing all over him."

"Sorry is that your job." Tessa said suggestive smile on her face. Martin blushed even deeper and Danny rolled his eyes.

"Second date."

"Well you know what happens on the second date... right." Tessa said wiggling her eyebrows.

"That's the third date. Anyway it's none of your business." Danny said.

"Oh, you'll tell me later. I know you. He's cute though." Tessa said.

"He's standing right here." Martin said hotly.

"Oh and he's a got attitude. I like him. Don't screw this one up." Tessa said.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Don't you have to play hostess?" Danny muttered.

"Oh don't get all moody. You're right though. I do have to play hostess. I hope you two have a wonderful time. I'll talk to you later." She said as she walked off into the crowd. Danny looked over at Martin who was shifting around nervously.

"She's certainly..."

"Brass I know. Don't worry she's not always like that." Danny said though he wasn't exactly telling the truth. Martin nodded.

"You wanna get something to drink?" Danny asked. Martin smiled.

"Sure."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Well his car was a total waste of time. Nothing of any importance. And it was messier than his house." Sam said slightly annoyed.

"What do you got on his address book?" Jack asked her. Sam flipped through the pages somewhat before sighing.

"Most of them are crossed out. I'm guessing they were friends he doesn't talk to anymore. Either that or girlfriends. Can't really make them out he blacked them out pretty good. There is one I can make out. Tessa Grant. Can't tell if it's a work address or an apartment. Doesn't look like an apartment, though." Sam said.

Jack walked over to her and looked at the number. Sam was right about most of the addresses being crossed out. It looked like Danny had taken a permanent marker to the names. Some pages were even torn out. It seemed that Danny hadn't used this book in a good long while.

"This was the only address book?" Jack asked.

"There was a palm pilot, but it just had meetings and appointments. I'm telling you Jack this guy lived like a hermit focused on nothing but his work... which should be a crime considering what he does for a living." Sam said. Jack let it roll off of him.

"There wasn't much in his apartment. Feed the dog, looked around a bit more, but it doesn't look like there's anything important. Find anything in the car." Jack and Sam turned around to see Martin standing behind them.

"Nope, just another pig sty. Though we did find an address book, but the names were scribbled out. Only one name had any luck. Tessa Grant. Maybe we should talk to her." Sam said.

Jack looked over at Martin who, had Jack not known him for such a long time, appeared to have a blank look on his face. Jack knew better though. Martin knew Tessa Grant, probably pretty well.

"Yeah, you should do that. Martin..."

"I'll go with her... unless you need me to go with you to... Taylor's office." Martin said. Jack would have to commend him on his ease later.

"I'm actually going to interview the neighbors. We'll meet back at the office and then me and you can go to his work." Jack said. Martin nodded his head.

"Okay then, see you later." Martin said as he followed Sam who was already walking to her car.

Once again the drive to Tessa's was filled with Sam's inane chatter. Martin wondered if she could even sense that he really didn't give a damn what she had to say. It wasn't that he didn't like Sam.

She seemed like a real nice person, which was all Martin could really say about her despite working with her for years. Martin didn't like to get too personal in any relationships. He didn't have many friends and he could say with utmost certainty that Jack probably knew him better than most people which was highly sad in Martin's book.

Martin had never made it an effort to get to know Sam. She came on board after Martin had already left Danny and didn't really feel like talking to anyone. He was only close with Jack and Viv because they had been part of the team before Martin had taken a downward spiral.

Viv often commented on it hoping that Martin would some day be able to pull himself out. She couldn't be farther from the truth. She always warned Martin that if he throw himself too much into his job he'd burn out early. It was just a risk Martin was willing to take. He didn't have anything else of great importance in his life.

And now he was pretty much about to out himself to Sam, someone he didn't even know. She kept Jack happy that was about as far as Martin's knowledge of her went. There was know way Tessa wouldn't make a scene.

Martin knew Tessa and he knew that she was Danny's best friend. She'd want an explanation for why Martin left with or without Sam in the room. Martin figured he might as well do it now. There was no way that through the course of the case Sam wouldn't find out. He had to do it quick like pulling off a Band-Aid.

He walked with Sam out of the car and into the expensive looking building that Tessa worked at. She had come a long way from county hospitals. She now owned her own doctor's practice and made a substantial amount of money. Martin took a deep breath when they found her offices.

He listened as Sam informed the secretary that they were FBI and needed to see Tessa Grant right away. The secretary nodded and led them to Tessa's office. Martin could her the soft sounds of music coming from her office, but couldn't make out the song. The secretary stuck her head in the door.

"Dr. Grant, there are some people here to see you..."

"I thought I told you to cancel all my patients today, Marie?" Martin could her the sadness in her voice. "

But, Dr. Grant it's very..."

"I don't care. I'm in no state to see people. Anybody. At all." Tessa said louder. Marie looked scared and Martin thought she had a right too. He stepped in front of Marie avoiding Sam's questioning look.

"Not even for an old friend." Martin said shyly. He saw Tessa's eyes widen with shock and her mouth hung open a bit.

"Holy fucking shit! Martin... what the hell did you do to your hair?" Tessa asked. Martin smiled. It was such a Tessa thing to say.

"You know I've been getting lots of negative comments about my hair. Don't think you're the first Tess." Martin said.

"I'm hardly the first in anything, Marty. So what brings you here. You hear about Danny?" Tessa asked.

"Actually that's why I'm here. Official business." Martin stated.

"Oh, right... Danny always boasted about you being in the FBI... though I'm not sure why they'd let you work the case. Isn't there a conflict of interest?" Tessa asked. Sam had decided to come out from behind the door.

"Oh sorry, Tess, this is Special Agent Samantha Spade." Martin said. Tess held out her hand and Sam shook it bewildered look still on her face.

"Hi, I'm Tessa Grant. And judging from the look on your face I'm guessing you didn't know about Marty and Danny."

"Nope, not at all. Now I know why Jack didn't want you working the case." Sam said.

"Oh, Jack... how is he. Still a workaholic?" Tessa said with a gleam in her eyes.

Martin noticed Sam's put off look.

"Yeah, but he tries. So, now that you know why I'm here, why don't we..."

"Martin... I haven't seen Danny in nearly three years." Tess said.

"What?"

"Yeah... you know I was always on your side about him switching to business law... but after everything that happened I couldn't fault him for wanting to change his life. It was a harsh blow you and Danny were dealt and I know he never recovered from it. And before you start looking and acting all hurt I know you had to deal with it too and Danny wasn't the most sensitive person at that time."

"Understatement of the year, Tess."

"Yes, well anyway, I wasn't surprised when you left. Danny was being a jackass and I couldn't blame you for needing some time away from him. Danny seemed to think it was some great injustice though. Couldn't figure out why you left and at first I couldn't exactly either.

"And you know Danny. Everything that goes wrong is the universes fault because it just loves to screw over Mr. Taylor. I'll tell you his parents and Rafi really screwed him up... but I guess that's unfair to Rafi."

"Gotta remember the foster care system didn't do much better."

"Yes, I know Martin, but he just felt so..."

"Entitled."

"Yeah. Got on my nerves sometimes though I'd never tell him. Anyway I was on his side cause you weren't exactly answering my calls. You know I think being around me just made it harder, what with me married and all. I couldn't understand his pain, but I drew the line when he came to my place drunken then all hell telling me that I was a shit best friend."

Martin fidgeted in his seat. He felt guilty for not calling Tess or Sylvia when things went wrong with him and Danny.

There might have been a way to stop Danny's downward spiral, but Martin was on his own path of self-destruction that he didn't really want Danny's problems on him. He took the cowards way out, he knew it, but he couldn't just sit there and watch Danny ruin himself.

"Nothing I said helped, Tess. He'd just come home every night piss drunk and we'd fight and he'd just shut the door to his study and not talk to me."

"Yeah, well I figured that's probably how it went down. I don't blame you Martin. I never knew Danny off the wagon. He'd had two months of sobriety under his belt when we met. Three more years when he met you and two more before you guys spilt. He was doing so good and I just... I flipped out on him. I couldn't believe he was jeopardizing everything he'd worked so hard for.

"I also knew I couldn't help him. He didn't want my help. He said I reminded him of a time when he was happy. Like he didn't deserve to be happy. Of course once Danny gets his mind set to something he can't let it go. So I just... I just let him go." Tess said.

"And you haven't seen or heard from him since?" Martin asked.

"He came to Lisa's funeral. I saw him, just a glimpse. We said like three words to each other before he left. Said it was part of his twelve steps. Guess he never got around to you."

"No, must have missed that."

"Sorry, Martin, I know it's hard to think about that, but really... he's an idiot." Tessa said.

Martin smiled at her. She was a really good person. She deserved to be happy.

"How are the kids and Bill?"

"So nice of you to ask that Martin. The kids are fine. I divorced Bill about a year ago. Which I'm totally fine with."

"I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch with you. I really..."

"Martin... you were a wreck. I'm not mad that you didn't call... okay yeah I'm a little ticked off, but I understand. But now that we've seen each other again... you're going to have to call me. And I'll expect updates on when you find Danny... despite him being an asshole." Tessa said.

"But of course. Look I really should be heading out. Gotta talk to Danny's bosses." Martin said.

He got up from his seat and was about to walk over to Tessa to give her a hug when he heard it. Tessa must have seen the look on his face because she heard to find the remote to her stereo and pressed stop.

"Martin, I'm sorry..."

"No, it's okay. It's been three years you know. I'm fine. See you later Tessa." Martin said grabbing her in a quick hug before walking out of the door.

He didn't wait to see if Sam followed him. He just walked straight out of the office and out of the building. He stopped at the car pounded his fists against the hood for a second before pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He just knew that today he was going to need them.

He was in the middle of lighting his first cigarette in months when he saw Sam walk over to him.

"So, I'm finding out more about you today then I have in the entire time I've worked with you. Look you smoke." Sam said.

"Only when I'm nervous or agitated or sad or worried or basically when I feel the need." Martin said taking a drag off of his cigarette.

It was really Danny's fault that he smoked. The man used to smoke like a chimney.

"Somehow it doesn't suit you."

"Yeah, well I didn't really think it suited me either." That stood in silence while Martin smoked his cigarette.

"So you gonna tell me what made you bolt. I'm assuming it had to do with the song that was playing right before you bolted. I mean I wouldn't been a good detective if I didn't pick up on that." Sam said. Martin laughed.

"Yeah, it was the song. It was our song."

"Still Remains by Stone Temple Pilots was your song... with Danny Taylor." Sam said somewhat questioningly.

"It's a romantic song." Martin said defensively.

"Yeah, it is... I just didn't know you listened to... music. You know Martin there isn't much I do know about you." Sam said walking into the driver's seat of the car. Martin sighed taking another drag from his cigarette.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Almost midnight. You know what that means right, Fitzie." Danny said with a leer on his face.

"Hmmm... I think on the stroke of midnight you're supposed to kiss someone... to you know bring in the New Year." Martin said.

He had had the best time talking with Danny, dancing with Danny- though he usually hated dancing- basically being around Danny. Martin hadn't been on a date in such a long time he had been so nervous before Danny showed up.

He had agonized over what to wear. He had even called Viv to ask for advice. She just laughed at him a little bit before telling him that if he wore a blue shirt, any blue shirt at all, he should be fine.

Martin hadn't really had anything that he would consider 'causal, yet still cool enough to go out in'. His wardrobe consisted of work suits and shirts, some jeans, a few sweaters, sweats and white shirts.

He wasn't overly interested in finding anybody to spend his time with, but Danny... Danny was different. He hadn't expected Danny. He hadn't expected Danny to ask him out or like him. Danny who knew how to dress and seemed to know just how good looking he was, but didn't care. Just being around Danny made him feel special.

People were definitely drawn to Danny. It was hard not to be. Their had been a few who had tried to flirt with him over the course of the night.

They'd eyed Martin speculatively before turning on a nice smile to Danny all the while Danny's arm would be wrapped around Martin's waist. Occasionally he'd kiss Martin's neck or take Martin's hand in his own and play with his fingers. Sometimes they'd take the hint. Others needed Danny to tell them to back off. But Danny always did.

"Hmmm, and I know who I want to kiss at midnight." Danny said playful smile on his face.

"Really... was it that brunette who kept talking about architecture or that black haired guy that kept asking what your sign was?" Martin said teasingly.

"Okay, now I'm worried. If you don't get the message, my arm around your waist, all the kisses on your neck. Who do you think I wanna kiss at midnight, Fitzie." Danny said pulling Martin into his arms Martin's back resting against Danny's chest. Danny let his head fall on Martin's shoulder and sighed.

"You keep calling me that."

"Keep calling you what?"

"Fitzie... no one has ever called me Fitzie in my entirely life." Martin said.

Danny turned Martin around at his eyes and had an incredulous look on his face.

"You mean your last name has been Fitzgerald your whole life and you've never been called Fitzie?"

"Nope, could have had something to do with the fact that my dad was richer than everyone else's dad so they didn't make friends with me. All I know is no one has ever called me Fitzie." Martin said.

"Hmm... well then I'll call you Fitzie. It'll be my name for you. Less cornier than 'baby' or 'sweetheart' or 'honey'. Fitzie. I like it." Danny said with a smile on his face. Martin smiled back and couldn't help but lean up a little and place a small kiss on Danny's lips.

"Nah uh, Fitzie. It isn't midnight yet. Oh listen... they're playing our song." Danny said.

Martin listened to the song playing. Her briefly remembered it. He knew it was song by Stone Temple Pilots. He'd never really taken the time to listen to the words, but now that he did he couldn't help but smile.

"You trying to tell me something, Taylor."

"Just that I really like you. That I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since we met that day in my office. That I can't believe how sappy I'm letting myself sound right now." Danny said laughing slightly.

"Oh, just shut up and dance with my Danny." Martin said pulling Danny out onto what was designated the dance floor. Danny willingly followed.

Pick a song and sing a yellow nectarine

"You really want this to be our song? I mean you're right it is kind of sappy." Martin said his arms on Danny's forearms, Danny's arms wrapped around his waist as they swayed to the music.

"Well, yeah, 'songs' are supposed to be sappy. Couples are supposed to be sappy Martin."

Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave

"I wouldn't know. I've never really had a song with anyone before." Martin said truthfully.

"Well, neither have I. It's a couple thing though. Couples have songs. Only seems fitting that we have one, no. And this one at least is by a rock band. No sweet soft sounds of jazz or anything equally disturbing."

If you should die before me

"Jazz disturbs you? I happen to like classical music myself."

"Must be all that money from your rich daddy."

"No, I just like the soft sounds. I do like some rock music. This is a good song."

"So than that's settled. This is our song."

Ask if you can bring a friend

"Yeah, yeah it's our song. If it's so important to you than this is our song."

"Hey look at us. Two dates and we've already got a song."

"We've been on two dates. I was under the impression that we've only been on one... this one." Martin said. Danny sighed while twirling around a bit.

"No, lunch. Remember lunch Martin. We did lunch. That counts as a date."

"Really, I thought it was just lunch. I mean we did lunch during the case... do those count as dates?" Danny seemed to be thinking that over.

"Hmm... no that had to do with work. Those don't count."

"Well so long as we're clear."

Pick a flower, hold your breath

People started to count down, but Martin could only hear the music around him and he could only see Danny in front of him smiling that wide smile as he mouthed the numbers. Martin didn't even bother to say them.

It was enough for him that Danny was mouthing them coming closer and closer as the numbers got smaller and then after one Danny leaned in and kissed Martin hands gripping at Martin's side just slightly caressing.

Martin smiled into the kiss Danny's lips soft on his own and Martin didn't even know he could get this light headed over a kiss, but he was. Because it was Danny kissing him. Danny's perfect mouth kissing his sucking lightly on his bottom lip. Danny's tongue swiped Martin's lips and Martin opened his mouth letting Danny's tongue in.

There was nothing like kissing Danny. The feel of his tongue caressing Martin's. The way his hands clenched onto Martin as though he were a life line. The little slight moans Danny made as he explored every crevice of Martin's mouth. Martin knew his knees would buckle and his head would get dizzy just from kissing Danny.

When the kiss ended their lips centimeters apart both breathing harshly, Danny smiled placing one small kiss on Martin's nose before pulling away a little further.

"Happy New Year, Martin."

"Happy New Year, Danny."

And drift away...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Martin stubbed out his cigarette before heading into the passenger seat of the car. Sam was sitting looking slightly agitated as she started the car.

"You know this certainly makes you far more interesting. I mean I thought you used to sit around in your apartment watching some boring television."

"You're surprised that I actually have a life... well more like had." Martin said as they pulled out of the parking garage.

"Well, yeah Martin you certainly don't let it show that you have a life. I've said that to Jack before. He always gives me a weary look. Now I know why. He knows all about you and Danny and just how much of a life you can have."

"I dated Danny Taylor. Is it such a big news flash."

"Yes, I didn't even know you were gay."

"Well, you wouldn't. It's not like I go around advertising it. Not every gay guy sounds effeminate or likes Liza Minnelli."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you..." Sam said. Martin sighed. He hadn't really meant to snap at her... if what he did was snap at her.

The stress of the case was finally hitting him. He'd have to go through Danny's life, piece by piece and examine everything and what he was seeing so far wasn't at all to his liking.

He hadn't wanted to leave Danny in the state he was in, but Martin wasn't strong enough to hold the both of them up. He could only take it for so long before Danny's lies and problems just got to be too much for him.

"Look, I'm sorry. It's just... it's hard remembering that part of my life."

"How long were you guys together?"

"Two years... give or take. Some good years too." Martin said with a soft smile on his face. Sam smiled back at him.

"So... was it love at first sight?"

"According to Danny he loved me before he even saw me."

"Wow, that's certainly... romantic. Why can't all guys be that romantic." Sam asked rhetorically. Martin laughed at that. He really couldn't picture Jack as the romantic type. The man was way too obsessed with his work.

"Yeah, that was Danny. Mister Romantic. I remember our first time... wait never mind." Martin said feeling himself blush.

"Now, nah uh, you have to tell me now. I mean I'm totally interested." Sam said. "We have a case to work Sam."

"I know that, but I'm getting to know you and I'm really liking this you. And I'm getting to know Danny a little better. Sorry for all the name calling earlier. This'll help me with the case... I'll see him as human." Sam said.

Martin gave her a questioning look. She should have been a lawyer. She certainly had Danny's way of persuading people. And to use the case to her leverage. Certainly crafty.

"Alright... well it went something like this..."

Chapter 4

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