"This is quite a jam you've gotten yourself into," Lieutenant Issac said when he finally arrived at the police station. That he was silently laughing at them did nothing for Danny's temper. But he knew better than to take his anger out on the Frenchman. Yelling would only delay their release that much longer. He put his hands under his thighs, determined to let Steve do all the talking.
"Not the worst place we've ended up," Steve told him. "Did you talk to the administrators of the hospital?"
"I did. They have agreed to drop the charges if you promise never to step foot on their grounds again," Issac said.
"Of course," Steve agreed.
"Very well," Issac said, turning to talk with the local authorities and assure them that the Americans would cause no further trouble.
"Is it really necessary for him to compare us to street junkies?" Danny whispered.
"I thought you didn't speak French," Steve said.
"A few words," Danny shrugged. "I know he's insulting us. Some friend he is."
Steve shrugged, smiling at the Lieutenant when he returned accompanied by the policeman who had arrested them. "We won't cause any further trouble."
"See that you don't," the policeman said as he unlocked the door to escort them out. He returned their personal effects, impatiently waiting for them to leave his office.
Steve and Danny said their goodbyes to Issac, Steve watching him walk down the sidewalk.
"Is he a good lay?" Danny asked Steve when the Lieutenant was out of ear shot.
"What? What are you talking about? I don't know what that means. What are you saying? Did you have a blow to the head? Did you fall off the statue?"
"Don't try to distract me," Danny laughed. "You are terrible at it. What is that supposed to be? Your version of jive talking?"
"It's 'distract my boyfriend' talking," Steve conceded.
"I don't care who you had sex with before I met you," Danny told him.
"How do you know I had sex with him?"
"The look on your face. It's the way you look at me when you haven't seen me for a while. Like you are starving and I'm dessert," Danny said with a laugh.
"And you aren't mad?" Steve asked, following him down the street toward their hotel.
"Why should I be? I wasn't a monk before I met you. I know you weren't either."
"I figured you'd yell at me in italics," Steve said.
"Not about that. In fact, I don't think I'm going to talk to you for the rest of the day."
"Good thing it's nearly midnight," Steve said, looping a long arm around Danny's waist and pulling him close to kiss his head. "I have better things to do with you than talk."
"Roger that. Check your phone. See if they found him."
Steve nodded, pulling it out of his pocket with his free hand. "They think he went to Australia."
"Okay," Danny sighed. "Australia it is. Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."