Notes: OK, tons and tons of notes. First of all, Nora and Daniel are not now, nor have they ever been together. I love Mark too much to have him be... well the other man and tear apart a marriage. Daniel is Paul Cramer's killer. That remains the same and he is still trying to frame Jen for the murder. Hmmm... this fic takes place before Jen's death, but after Hudson and Julie's deaths. Oh, and Marcie works at the police station still, well... just because I said so I think that's all for now.

He knew it was wrong to lust after the older man. Was lust even
the word, he thought. No, maybe it wasn't lust, but Mark certainly
couldn't keep his eyes off the middle aged politician. This was wrong.
This was so wrong but he couldn't help the way he was feeling.

Mark had come to know Daniel Colson through his father, John J.
Solomon, Attorney at Law. The greatest defense attorney this side of
the Llantano River, followed at quite a distance by Evangeline
Williamson. Mark had grown up with the idea being drilled into his mind
that he would be a lawyer like his father, but that was never what he
wanted. Mark had always been shy and soft spoken. He certainly didn't
like confrontation. He wouldn't make it one day as an attorney. But
sitting now with Marcie at the LPD, Mark couldn't keep his eyes off the
man whom he had fallen for. The man, who in turn, had fallen for Mark.

"...Hello" Marcie giggled. "Earth to Mark." Mark looked at her.
"You're like a million miles away."

"Sorry," Mark said. "My mind is somewhere else. What were you
saying?"

"Lunch," Marcie said as Mark watched Daniel through the corner
of his eye. "You up for it? Or do you have to work?"

Umm... I'm not sure," Mark said. "I've gotta make a call first. I'll
meet you outside?"

"Sure" Marcie said. "She grabbed her purse and headed out of
the police station. Mark made his way slowly over to the payphone. He
inserted the change and dialed waiting as the phone rang.

Daniel excused himself from speaking with Nora as his cell phone
rang. "Hello?" he said.

"Daniel" Mark said. He stood only about 100 feet him. "It's me."

"Hi..." Daniel said. "What's up?" He looked over, seeing Mark on
the payphone.

"Are you busy?" Mark asked him.

"Nothing that can't wait." Daniel said. Nora looked at him
curiously.

"Can we meet? Usual spot?"

"Sure" Daniel said. "Give me a few minutes. I'll meet you." Daniel
hung up the phone. "Nora..." he said "I gotta go. I'm gonna have to
finish up this case later."

"Is everything OK?"

"Yeah," Daniel said. "Great. Just something I've been meaning to
do. I'll call you when I'm back at the office."

"Sure," Nora responded. "No hurry or anything."

Meanwhile, Mark had made his way outside to where Marcie was
waiting. "So... lunch?" she said.

"Marc..." Mark said. "raincheck? I just got off the phone with
Adam down at the center."

"You have to work?" Marcie asked.

Mark hated lying to her, but he knew he couldn't tell anyone
about he and Daniel. Not even Marcie. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, sorry...
it's kinda last minute."

"No, that's OK." Marcie said. "We'll do it some other time."

"Maybe you should call Michael. He could take my place."

"I don't think..."

"Just for lunch." Mark said. Marcie pursed her lips. "Think about
it. It isn't a date or anything."

Marcie nodded. "You'd better go. I don't want you to be late."

"I'll see you later." Mark said as he turned from her,

"Hey!" she called. "Have fun."

Mark smiled. He intended to.

>>>>>>

Room number thirteen. It seemed like it should have been so
unlucky. But for such a sleazy hotel, no other room was much better.
Plus this one was always available, permanently on retainer under the
name Theodore. Mark had never understood why and had never really
cared.

He managed to make it out to the room before Daniel, but knew,
just like he always knew, that he followed right behind Mark. Daniel
had to be careful though not to make it look suspicious. Although Mark
was perfectly happy letting everyone know that he was gay, Daniel was
a public figured, worried about how it would look if he came out. Mark
was willing to keep the relationship a secret. He cared about Daniel and
if that's what it took right now for them to be together, he was willing
to do it.

There was a knock on the door. Two quick knocks, the signal.
Mark waited a moment before swinging the door in. "I was beginning to
think you weren't coming." he smiled softly, teasing him.

"I practically followed you down here." Daniel said stepping inside
and letting Mark close the door.

"Staying at least two miles behind me," Mark said "I know."

"You sound like it's not the same thing we've been doing for
months." Daniel said.

"I know," Mark replied. "I know that. I just... I just keep thinking
about the lies Daniel. Who we're lying to so that we can see eachother."

"I thought you said you were OK with it" Daniel said crossing in
front of him. "We agreed..."

"I know we did" Mark said following him. "We agreed and I am OK
with it. It's the way you need things right now. I get that."

"So then we're not going to argue about it. I didn't come here to
argue."

Daniel's temperament had changed. Ever since Paul Cramer was
killed, Mark noticed a marked change in Daniel's attitude. He chalked it
up to the stress of the case, but it was ongoing. And it worried him.
"What is the matter with you?" he said. "Don't tell me nothing. It's
something I can see it." Daniel didn't respond. "What is it that has you
so frazzled. Why won't you just talk to me."