Title: Isn't Someone Missing Me?

Disclaimer: Angst, violence, slash, and language.

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Chapter Twenty: Cloud Nine

The workday drew to a close with a cheer. There was a slow down in the crime spree that had been gripping the city. The detectives weren't running themselves ragged anymore. Flack was able to return home at a decent hour. Danny's dog, Widget, had given him quite the greeting, wagging his tail, barking, and placing his paws on Flack's legs. The dog was so cute that he picked him up and gave him a thorough rub down. He had been more than happy to keep the dog when Danny asked him, even if it hurt to know that the other man would rather stay with Stella instead of him. Eventually Danny would come around. Until then, he was just going to have to wait and take what he could get. If that meant pet-sitting, than so be it. It wasn't like Widget was a terror on four legs. The dog spent most of the time sleeping. Widget wasn't the same dog Danny had picked up on the streets. He had put on weight, filling out. He had also gotten over his shyness, accepting Flack as a friend. A neighbor had told him the dog looked like a Basenji mix.

Flack walked into the kitchen and put Widget on the floor. The dog sat his curly tail wagging as he watched the detective fill his food dish and give him fresh water. Flack patted him on the head before leaving him to his nightly meal. He was going to ditch his work clothes for something more comfortable when there came a knock at the door. Frowning, as he had no clue who would be calling on him, he went to the door.

"I would have used this," Danny said, holding up the key, "but I didn't want to surprise you."

Flack smiled, stepping aside to let him in. His reply was cut-off as Widget came running into the room, barking. He raced up to Danny, a wiggling ball of fur. Flack laughed. "You'd better pay attention to him. I made the mistake of ignoring him last night and he followed me around the apartment like a four-legged shadow."

Danny pocketed the key before bending down to pick up the excited dog. "I'm sorry about leaving him here with you. I would have asked Stella about it but I didn't want to be any more of burden to her." He scratched behind the dog's floppy Collie-like left ear. His right ear stuck straight up giving the dog a funny look.

"It's no problem," Flack said, undoing his tie. "I love having him around. He's the most well behaved dog I've ever seen. Plus, it's nice to have the company. I like having someone to come home to. Even if it is only for a little while."

"About that," Danny said, putting Widget down. The dog bolted back to the kitchen to finish his meal. He didn't like to leave any of his meals untouched, afraid that the food would be taken away. "I wanted to talk to you. About the key."

"What about it?" Flack asked as he walked toward his bedroom unbuttoning his shirt as he went. He smiled softly when he realized that Danny was following him, much the way Widget had the night before.

"Why? Why did you give it to me?"

Flack turned around. His shirt was completely unbuttoned and hanging open. Danny could see the scar from the bomb explosion. Without realizing it he crossed the space between them. He reached out, lightly brushing his fingertips along the scar, tracing the pattern it had left. Flack felt the familiar stirrings in his groin as Danny touched him, arousing him. "I gave it to you in hopes that you would realize that this apartment is as much my home as it is yours," he whispered.

He looked at Danny who looked back at him with an expression that was unreadable. Danny stepped closer, never breaking eye contact. Heat washed through his body as he placed a hand behind Flack's head and pulled him close for a kiss. Their lips met in a hungry kiss, Danny licking his way into Flack's mouth. It felt right, the ember that was growing into a raging fire between them. He thought about the night in his apartment when Flack had pushed him against the wall. He wanted to feel Flack's hands on him, to be touched by the man that made him feel so confused inside. As though reading his mind Flack placed his hands on Danny's hips, brushing them upward under his shirt until they touched bare skin. Danny let out a strangled whimper.

Flack pulled away. Danny's eyes were closed and heat flushed his throat and face. Flack slowly removed his shirt, wanting to know if the blush traveled through to the rest of his body. He felt Danny's breathing hitch and licked gently at the skin on Danny's chest.

"I don't want to wait anymore," Danny admitted, kissing Flack with a passion that swept him off of his feet. They stood in the center of his room, languidly kissing each other, and slowly stripping each other of their clothes. The moonlight played across their bare bodies. Flack felt the cool metal of the ring Danny had been wearing around his neck when he pulled him closer. It sent a new wave of heat through his body to know that the ring had meant something to Danny, too. He excused himself, mumbling lost words into the nape of Danny's neck. Detaching himself he walked into the bathroom, closing the door partially. He leaned forward, placing his hands on the counter of the sink, trying to catch his breath. He hadn't meant for this to happen when he left the key in Danny's locker, though a small part of him had been hoping it would turn out this way. He had to prepare himself for a let down incase Danny changed his mind.

Having made up his mind he switched off the light and stepped into the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway. Danny was on the bed stroking his erection with confidence and complete ease.

"You were taking too long. I was getting restless," Danny said without opening his eyes.

"Please stop," Flack ordered as he walked across the room. Flack climbed onto the bed which caused Danny to speed up his movements. Flack leaned in, physically removing Danny's hand from his erection. The temptation was too great. Without stopping to even think about the consequences, he leaned down and slid Danny's erection between his lips, licking the heated organ with delight. Danny arched his back, yelping in pleasure. His fingers slid into Flack's hair.

Flack moaned around Danny, taking him as deep as he possibly could. The motion sent vibrations throughout Danny's entire body. Danny whimpered, following it with a moan of pure pleasure. He reached his orgasm, shooting deep into Flack's throat. He fought to swallow everything. Flack pulled off gasping for breath as Danny collapsed back into the mattress, dazed and breathing heavily.

"I…I wasn't expecting that," Danny whispered after a moment.

Flack shook his head. "Danny, I…we…you…" He scowled as he tried to find the right words to say what he wanted to say.

Danny smiled at him, finding the scowl sexy. He pulled Flack down to him, kissing him, tasting himself in Flack's mouth. He slid a ring onto Flack's hand. "I found this lying on the nightstand," he said when they broke the kiss.

Flack looked down at it. Looking back at Danny he realized that he was no longer wearing the chain around his neck. Instead, he saw the familiar sparkle on Danny's left ring finger. Danny wrapped a firm hand around Flack's erection. The sensation nearly brought the detective to an instant orgasm.

"If we need to," Danny whispered, "we can both call in sick tomorrow."