Author Note: DO READ!

Hey guys, I hope you all are well. I am back with another mini-fiction. I know, I know after such a long time I am back yet again. What to do? I can't help it, every once in a while I do have to write on CID because I can't get over this show, ever, just like SPN. Most of my inspiration is linked with CID and these amazing characters we grew up watching and loving!

Now coming to the story, it is more of a dedication to my cutie who has been my support system for writing again. This one for hun, thank you for pushing me to write and to actually write this story. :)

This story starts from CID's episode aired on 25-Feb-16 (Karo Yaa Maro Series) where Abhijeet was shot while on run and Daya takes him to doctor's house. This is an AU story. Yes, it IS a slash m/m story so if you can't handle it, don't bother reading it. It was supposed to be OS but it will now be a 2-3 chapter mini-fic. It is going to be angst story with lots of feels.

It does take place in real time but at same time it is more of AU version but taking the real events from episode and following the same timeline; starting from Abhijeet getting shot, then going into case of Duplicate Daya (Karo Yaa Maro Series) and continues after that case.

P.S. - I know, title sucks but this will be for now, I might change it later on.

Enjoy!

UNDEFINED|ABHIJEET & DAYA

Abhijeet was shot which is not surprising at all. Working in CID for almost 17 years it has somewhat became part of his job rather part of any CID officer, he stopped counting after he was shot 3rd time after starting his job. Exactly why he was not surprised when he got shot at, AGAIN.

The bullet was stuck in his arm but under these unusual circumstances they couldn't go to hospital so Daya took him to the nearest doctor's house they managed to find. Daya, his partner in crime, his best friend for over a decade, his partner in CID, his confidant. They do everything together, always stick together, fight together, save each others' lives, always have each others' backs and they lived better and worst part of their lives together.

He got shot while being on run from CID and goons because they were robbing someone's vault in which they succeeded quite well. 'Us against the rest', that's what Daya had said. Abhijeet wouldn't confess this to anyone else but robbing that vault, being on chase was thrilling for him... the thrill to be doing the wrong thing for right reasons caused him more excited about the case that even taking a bullet while on run didn't bring his spirit or thrill down. And he felt glad that Daya was there to share this thrill with him. Abhijeet wouldn't have enjoyed this adventure with anyone else as much he enjoyed with Daya.

Daya, selfless, self sacrificing, brave and his best friend. But there was something else, something more, he was same yet somehow different and Abhijeet cannot pin point what exactly is different but he could see when he started to notice it. When Abhijeet got shot, immediately after that Abhijeet started to sense something is different with Daya. Of course, he was being himself worrying a lot about his friend and finding aid as quickly as he can while carrying Abhijeet with him.

Between barely being conscious, the pain shooting through his arm and thrill of case Abhijeet was hardly paying attention to Daya's words of comfort but he could feel the tension, the worry seeping through his friend's body which was in a way soothing for Abhijeet.

It wasn't until they were in the Doctor's house when Abhijeet starting to pay attention to his friend more. Daya was very worried and doing everything to convince the doctor to help them, to help him! Even in his pain Abhijeet was comforted by his friend, his loyalty and his worry for Abhijeet made him smile internally; Daya was being Daya, worrying too much for Abhijeet, it's not like he was going to die. It was just a bullet in his arm.

It was until Doctor was treating him when Abhijeet started to notice subtle changes in Daya maybe because Daya's mask was wearing off as Abhijeet was slipping between consciousness and unconsciousness. At that point he would believe that he must have imagined it. Abhijeet could swore he saw Daya experiencing his pain. The pain he was experiencing it was visible on Daya's face mixed with fear and worry. First he wasn't sure so he turns his face lightly towards his friend not wanting to see his wound when a hiss escaped his mouth and at same time he noticed Daya wince in pain, on his pain. He turned his face away unable to look at his direction. Wounded guy would thought it was maybe the sight wasn't nice enough but when Daya turns around he face is masked again as his eyes meets with Abhijeet, he gives assuring smile with more controlled emotions on his face.

The painkiller was very effective; Doctor wasn't kidding when he said only one tablet will be enough. Abhijeet could feel his pain dulling and Daya didn't need to convince him too much to actually get some shut eye. The painkiller made his drowsy and within minutes he fell into dreamless slumber.

Abhijeet slowly felt coming back to world of living. How long he was out? An hour, hours or days? He couldn't tell but he felt better than before and comforted. First thing he felt was warmth seeping through his hand and providing warmth in his whole body. Maybe he was close to heater or something, he felt heat, a lot of it. It took him moments to realise the source of warmth and heat is a large hand which was covering his hand, holding onto him in a tight grip. He tried opening his eyes but he couldn't open them immediately but he tried to move his hand. With his hand's slight movement he felt the other hand moving away with a jolt and he felt a tiny electric shock. The lack of warmth makes him cold again and finally slowly he tries to open his eyes to see who was there.

Opening his eyes he finds Daya standing in front of him with a smile on his lips.

"Kya..?"

"Kaisa feel kar rahe ho?"

"Behtar... par? Tum.. yahan... rest?"

Abhijeet didn't know what to ask but the implication of his broken sentence was enough to send Daya in panic mode even if for a split second before he masks it behind his careful smile.

"Main rest kar aya hon. Tumhe uthte dekha..."

"Tum yahan pehle se nahi thay?"

"Na..hi toh."

Strange. Then why did Abhijeet felt as if Daya was next to him for a longer than what he is saying. Was it all his imagination? The hand, the warmth? The presence?

Abhijeet looks at Daya who maintain his posture in a friendly manner yet something feels off, like his is trying to be normal. Abhijeet moves his gaze from Daya to his hand, bringing it closer to his face, he examines it.

"Kya howa, Abhijeet? Dard ho raha hai? Doctor ko bolayon?"

Without waiting for his answer Daya was ready to run out of the room as is h was looking for way out and Abhijeet was more confused.

"Nahi.. haath theek hai. Bas.."

"Bas?"

"Koi aya..."

"Kya?"

Abhijeet realises Daya can hear his mumbling, he shakes his head.

"Nahi kuch nahi. Bas painkiller kafi strong thi."

"Dard theek hai na."

"Haan theek hai."

"Good."

"Hume nikalne ki tayari karni chahiye."

"Haan bilkul. Lekin tumhe mujhe pehle kyun nahi uthaya... pata nahi kitne ghante."

"Don't worry, tum thori hi dair soye thay aur waise bhi rest zaroori tha tumhare liye es waqt."

"Hmm.. chalo, main bag pack..."

"Woh sab hogaya hai... tum bas fresh hojayo phir chalte hain."

"Ok?"

"Main zara neeche doc se milkar ata hon."

"Haan jayo."

Daya quickly leaves the room and Abhijeet sits there for a minute trying to gather his thoughts. He could swore that he felt a presence even when he was out and then hand covering his... it can't all be his imagination, right? Or could it be?

'Bas kar, Abhijeet... time nahi hai es sabka, wahan logon ki jaan khatre mein hai.' Shaking away all of this from his mind, Abhijeet gets freshen up and is ready to leave.

Leaving the house had proven more work than they originally anticipated because the wife had to inform the "CID" about them seeking refugee at her house, instead she unknowingly gave the information to the people who were responsible for putting bullet in his arm. When Daya saw them in the house, it took a lot of self control and some convincing from Abhijeet to not to nab them there and then. Daya was angry and Abhijeet for once in his life was unable to read his friend properly and that was slightly worrying. But he pushes this out of his mind as they have bigger fish to fry right now. He can deal with Daya later, duty is first.

Abhijeet couldn't wait for the case to be over as he cannot deal with losing anymore innocent lives. At least now rest of CID knows and Abhijeet is at relief that they don't need to run from them. They are waiting for Khajori at the exchange point and with each passing minute his patience level is going low. The pain killer's affect is starting to wear off slightly; Abhijeet keeps shaking his arm and slightly massaging it to keep the pain at bay.

"Dard ho raha hai?"

Abhijeet hands still for a moment as he looks at Daya who was looking at him with same worried expressions. He didn't realise in his rant that Daya was paying attention to him slightly more than usual. Abhieet schools his expressions and laughs.

"Nahi nahi.. us doctor ne itni taghri pain killer di hai ke dard bhaag gaya."

Before he could continue Khajori makes his entry. 'Finally!' He was internally happy with distraction before his mind could wander off again!

Katori.. everything had to tie up with him in the episode. It seems all the recent cases are just tying up with him which is getting on his nerves and everyone else's too. At least they managed to solve the case before 24 hours were over.

Now that Abhijeet is finally at home. Another case done, another adventure is over. The thrill is is fading and pain is back. He should take pain killer, but doesn't seem like a fine idea taking pain killer empty stomach. Any thoughts regarding case are now replaced with food. He was just complimenting on what to eat when door bell alerts him of another presence.

Daya?" There he is, standing at his doorstep with bags filled with food in his hands.

"Mujhe maloom tha tumne khaya nahi khaya toh main le aya."

"Arre yaar, kya zaroorat thi main toh banane wala tha."

"Es dard ke saath."

Abhijeet doesn't realise he was massaging his hand. 'Damn!' He needs to stop doing this and again Daya noticed it.

"Kya howa?"

"Nahi kuch nahi... Tum andar ayo na."

He moves away from door and Daya finally enters the house making his way straight in the kitchen. Upon entering Abhijeet finds his friend serving dinner so easily in his kitchen, knowing where everything is. It seems as it is more of Daya's kitchen than his and that's when the sight hits him.

So many dinners, lunches they shared in this kitchen with each other and with CID family and Daya's familiarity with his kitchen and his house has never caught him off guard like it has today. He is also feels at ease and feels same familiarity at Daya's house yet the casualness and with the authority Daya is preparing food in his kitchen is a surprising sight as if he is watching all of this first time in his life. All of sudden, all of thoughts from the moment he was shot and then doctor's house starts creeping back in his mind.

Something is off about Daya and Abhijeet is realising now. Daya seems somewhat changed to him or is it Abhijeet who is noticing things which he hasn't before. Is all of this his imagination or he is over thinking. Suddenly his mind is so full of all different kind of thoughts, pain in his arm shooting through his body, he feels difficult to breath.

"Abhijeet."

He can hear someone calling him at distance.

"Abhijeet!"

A hand grabs him tightly, soon he is seated.

"Kya howa? Tum theek ho?" 'Daya. He is here.' Abhijeet takes deep breathes and finally speaks.

"Haan main theek hon bas..."

"Jaanta hon, khana nahi khaya opar se dard bhi ho raha hai. Jaanta tha tum takleef mein hge esi liye aya hon. Tum baitho khana lag gaya hai."

"Main.."

"Khayo, phir pain killer deta hon."

"Tumne kyun bother kiya Daya?" Daya stills at the kitchen counter and Abhijeet realizes he said something wrong.

"Kya howa Abhijeet? Aaj se.. aaj se pehle toh tumhe koi problem nahi hoyi toh aaj?

Daya is hurt by his words and it is obvious, he has pinched look on his face and hurt was visible from his words.

"Arre mera woh matlab nahi... main toh woh bol raha hon ke mujhe bas hlaki si goli lagi hai tum toh aise pareshaan thay jaise..."

"Jaise?" The challenge in his voice makes Abhijeet think twice before speaking.

"Tumhe nahi pasand toh main chala jaata hon." Daya announces defensively.

"Arre yaar, kya hogaya main... main toh mazaq.."

"Mazaq? Yeh mazaq nahi hai aur tumhe goli lagi hai aur yeh choti baat nahi hai. Pata hai na kya halat thay, hum hospital bhi nahi jaa sakte thay aur tum.."

"Acha sorry... tum baitho, khana khayo."

"Nahi.. mujhe chalna chahiye."

"Daya yaar..."

"Nahi.. tum, khayo... mujhe waise bhi aik do kaam karke ghar jana hai. Pain killer yahan rakh raha hon tum le lena zaroor aur please khana properly khana. Jaanta hon jab tum bemaar hote ho yaan recover kar rahe hote ho, khane ko lekar bohut moody hote ho."

"Daya"

"Main chalta hon.. Good night."

"Arre Daya..."

It was futile to call him as Daya leaves slightly muffed and doesn't even stop to hear Abhijeet's sorry. Abhijeet sits at his dinning table shocked and speechless at unexpected turns of events. No matter how harder he tries to avoid, all of those thoughts are coming back in his mind. Abhijeet is sure he has words has hit close to home with Daya but he cannot understand how and why.

This. Their ranting and their routine is nothing new but Daya's reaction and his walking away is certainly new. In last 24 hours Abhijeet has started to pay attention to his friend more than before and now he can see smaller things - emotions, body language and words which he never paid attention to. Abhijeet can feel there is something more to Daya than he has been letting on but what.

Food was quite good and exactly what Abhijeet wanted to eat. Taking his pain killer Abhijeet finally tries to take some shut eye deciding on talking to Daya next day if he would still be upset. An hour passes but no sleep even with the pain killer he just keeps tossing and turning. Giving up he lays on his back and stares at ceiling. Finally he starts paying attention to all of the thoughts and events occurred in less than 24 hours.

His mind goes back what happened in the bureau earlier today which really shook Abhijeet and forced him to think about Daya.

Catching the criminals and getting them behind locker usually isn't difficult, once case is solved, they are brought to bureau and proceed from there. Today was same day, things were going usual until Daya had entered in interrogation room and hit the guy hard, who had fired a sho at Abhijeet. Nikhil & Freddy watch in shock as Daya barges in and literally pins the guy to the wall.

"Teri itni himmat ke aik CID officer par goli chalayi?"

"Sir?" Nikhil tries to intervine but Daya doesn't listen while the goon struggles against Daya's grip.

"Tujhe kya laga tha, tu bach jayega? Abhijeet par goli chalayi hai. Aik jahbaaz officer par. Tujhe main chodhonga nahi."

Abhijeet could hear some commotion and goes towards interrogation room.

"Arre saab, aap toh... aise bol rahe... ho jaise, aap par goli chalayi ho."

That riles up Daya more and tightens his grip on goon's throat.

"Abhijeet par goli chali yaani mujhpe goli chali."

"Daya... Kya kar rahe ho, chodo." Abhijeet breaks Daya apart from the goon who slides down the wall while massaging the neck.

"Pagal hogaye ho." Looking around Daya realises he had an audience and worse Abhijeet was there too. He looks at Abhijeet in surprise before turning away and walking out without saying a word.

He had never seen Daya in this rage; almost killing the guy makes him wonder what had gotten in Daya. But his words get stuck in his mind like everything else Daya did recently "Abhijeet par goli chali yaani mujhpe goli chali." What did he mean by that?

He forgets about the case but focuses on Daya. "Us, against rest of them." Daya had said it but in that moment he didn't pay attention but now thinking back he is sure, Daya had said this even if it was as lightly as wind whispering through his ears. Closing his eyes he can pin point the exact emotion he had said it with. It was thrill of case, it wasn't the adventure but it was said in awe, it was said with hint of proudness. Them against rest; as if Daya is proud that Abhieet is standing with him and not them.

The realisation makes him unsettle but his mind doesn't stop, memory after memory starts to play in his mind. He replays his stay at doctor's house with more focus on Daya.

Daya's anger when the wife threatened to call the cops on them, he was close to begging to doctor for Abhijeet.

Daya as his friend, as his partner as his best friend always worry when Abhijeet is in danger or unwell. In fact they all worry for each other. Though, Daya and Abhijeet worry for each other slightly more than others. Abhijeet closes his eyes hoping to escape from his thoughts when another memory hits him hard. He hears voice. Daya's voice. He is speaking to him but Abhijeet can't remember when this was, all he can feel is words.

"Aik bar bas haath anay ki dair hai, dekhna chodhonga nahi usay main. Itni himmat uski aik CID officer par goli chalayi? Tum par goli chalayi? Ji toh kiya wahin usko..."

Abhijeet feels a hand pressing on his hand and all of sudden that familiar warmth and heat shots through his body, he feels warm all of sudden.

"Tumhe nahi pata jab bhi tumhe taqleef hoti hai toh mujhe taqleef hoti hai. Tumhara dard mujhe mehsoos hota hai... chahe phir woh goli ka ho yaan... Jaanta hon tumhari aadat bhi, abhi jab hosh mein ayoge toh phirse wohi strong, painless Abhijeet ban jayoge. Konsa dard, kaisa dard? Shayad tumhe kabhi pata hota ke jab tak tum dard mein hote ho, main dard mein hota hon. Esi liye tum chah kar bhi kabhi pana dard mujhse chupa nahi sakte."

Silence. Absolute silence all around Abhijeet, he tries to open his eyes but the warmth, the words are not letting him wake up. He struggles when suddenly he feels pressure on his hand and hears Daya's voice again.

"Jaanta hon CID officer hote howe mujhe aise kamzoor, par kya karoon? Tumhe.."

Abhijeet feels a gentle squeeze on his hand and he almost feels a ghost of fingers going through his hair. The feeling of hand in hair quickly vanishes making him question whether it was there in the first place. Abhijeet starts to wake up which alerts his friend and he snatches his hand away. Abhijeet's eyes open with shock and ceiling is staring back at him.

So, it wasn't his imagination? Daya was there, beside him at Doctor's house while he was sleeping and the whole one-sided conversation and the hand? The way he was holding onto his hand, like a lifeline, soothing and warm, like he is crossing a path between life and death while holding his hand. The gentle creasing on back of his hand with Daya's thumb, like someone creasing a beautiful memory. It is all Daya and it wasn't his imagination. The realization sends Abhijeet off the track. Suddenly he feels as if he is falling and deep pit is forming in his stomach. Various emotions are running through him at once, he is unable to think and to proceed with the information and facts his mind is providing and where it is going.

Before his mind could take him further, Abhijeet's eyes open with a sharp phone ringing and he instantly gets up to answer his phone. ACP's name is flashing on the screen, it takes him moment to gather his thoughts and to wake up. Strange, he doesn't realise when he fell asleep.

"Hello."

"Abhijeet, jaldi se city hospital ajayo." The word hospital was enough to make him get up from bad, already gethering his stuff.

"Hospital sir? Kya baat hai?"

"Abhijeet.. Daya.." Abhijeet's heart sinks.

"Daya? Sir kya howa, woh theek hai?!"

"Daya ko kisi ne uske ghar pe attack kiya hai, tum jaldi se ajayo."

ACP Hangs up without saying bye and Abhijeet is frozen to the ground. He remembers the night before and how Daya left his house and all those thoughts about Daya are back. He doesn't waste anymore time and immediately leaves for hospital.

The attack made Daya forget his personality. Abhijeet doesn't know how to react to this. But then Daya starting to speak differently and his personality was completely different, Abhijeet felt as if he is watching a scene from cheesy Bollywood movie about twins. How come Daya be not like Daya at all?

Since the personality shift Daya was also keeping his distance from Abhijeet and that made him think whether it was because of what happened recently or does he not remember their friendship at all. Or does Daya know that Abhieet is on to him somehow? Abhijeet doesn't know, he doesn't know what to think, at all. He spent night and whole day thinking about everything, putting pieces together, reflecting on their relationship and the hurdles but reflecting on recent circumstances and Daya recently, Abhijeet could not help but to feel that somehow, somewhere down the line something changed and Abhijeet is grasping on to that just now.

I hope you all enjoyed it. I think you can take a guess where it is headed. :) I can't say exactly how soon or late the next chapter will be posted, but I am trying my best to post it as soon as possible. As I work as well, so I would have to wait for my days off to write and post, but hopefully it will be soon. :)