Title: Tessellation (29/33)
Author: Emono
Rating: FRAO
Fandom: NCIS/Dark Angel crossover, mixing CSI's
Pairings: Jethro Gibbs/Logan Cale, Mac/Horatio, Catherine/Abby, Tony/Speed, Danny/McGee, Greg/Jimmy
Series: The Not-So-Dark-Angel Universe
Disclaimer: I do not own either, why? Because I'm poor, that's why.
Summary: Danny can't take it anymore, and the lovers make up.
Beta: gil_follower
Warnings: AU, H/C, fluff, angst, SMUT, top-McGee
Prompt: "Forgiveness where the act of forgiving doesn't matter"
~One Week Later~
"I can't stay here."
Logan looked up at the soft confession, lowering his coffee cup. Danny was sitting on the sofa, a plain jade blanket pulled at his hips. The bandage on his face had been removed, revealing the stitches down the curve of his cheek. But there were still ivory bandages peeking out of the edges of his jean shorts and the sleeves of his t-shirts. Dr. Chase had done a great job, the wound wasn't too puckered and it was already starting to lose it's redness.
"Danny…"
"I can't" Danny glanced at the hallway, his voice soft "I'm crowding the two of you."
Logan's smile was understanding, "And this had nothing to do with missing Tim?"
Danny absently traced the bandages on his thigh, "No…"
"I'm sure he'll be glad to have you back" Logan assured his friend "IAB is just now backing off him…I'm sure he'll receive you with relief. You haven't so much as called him, he doesn't know how you feel."
"What if he doesn't want to know?" Danny blurted out, flushing "What if he hates me now, huh? Ever thought of that, smart guy?!"
Logan closed his eyes against the hostility, but kept his soft smile, "Whatever you may think, whatever you are feeling, you should know Tim loves you."
Danny pulled the blanket tighter around him, absolutely sulking and reveling in the blurry world around him. His body was aching, but he didn't even spare a glance at the pain meds on the coffee table. He couldn't bear to put his glasses on, he didn't want to see every face but the one of his lover.
"I'm leaving in a week" Danny stated solemnly "Whether I go back to New York or stay for the rest of my leave…is for Tim to decide."
Logan nodded in agreement, "Remember, you have three full weeks left."
Danny reached up and gingerly fingered the wound on his face, "I know."
»*»
~One Week Later~
Tim came home, just a bit weary and craving a hot shower. The team had been pretty busy the past two weeks, betrothing like Robert Mead. Some people still skirted him because of that, even Kate would shoot him sympathetic looks now and then. But he didn't care what they all though, he didn't care that no one but Gibbs, Tony, and Abby would look him in the eye.
All he wanted was to know if Danny was ok. He had tried to go to Gibbs' house, but every time he had lost his nerve halfway there. He had even tried to call, but his digits shook too much and he always ended up putting his phone down altogether.
Tim all but ran to the bathroom, he had to try and wash this grief off him with blazing hot water and soap.
A half-hour later, he had a towel wrapped around his hips and one over his hair. He staggered out of the bathroom, taking a thankful breath of unheated air. He felt better physically…but his heart still ached. He contemplated calling Danny, maybe the man wanted to talk to him after two weeks?
"…Tim?"
McGee looked out form under the towel, mid-scrub of his hair. He gaped, all the breath leaving him in one rush. Danny was standing there, leaning against the back of his reading chair. He had a heavy jean jacket over his shirt, curled into it almost protectively. The bandage on his face was gone, and Tim was relieved to see it was healing well. Blue eyes caught where his gaze was focused and flinched, without his glasses his face was easy to read.
"Danny" Tim sighed in relief "You're here…you came back."
"Yeah, I…uh, let myself in" Danny shifted his weight, hips half-cocked "So…I heard you knifed that bastard Mead in the elevator."
Tim's features hardened, towel slipping down to his shoulders, "I killed him because he gave me a knife and no choice."
"I knew it" Danny choked, despair in his azure eyes "Ya killed him because of me…I made you a murderer! Ya almost lost yer job…I'm so sorry…"
"Danny" Tim walked over, cupping the man's unmaimed cheek and looking down into those eyes he loved so much. The brunette bussed their lips briefly, never shutting his eyes from the fear the man would dissolve away. "I killed him because of what he did to us…for hurting you. He was going to kill me in that elevator, and all I could think of was getting back to you."
"Don't" Danny pushed him away, tears in his eyes "Don't force yourself to touch me."
Tim could only stare like an idiot, confusion welling up in him, "What?"
"I've seen myself, I know what I look like" Danny turned his face away, hiding the stitches on his cheek "That guy cut me good…and it's going to scar. I…I don't want you to touch me if you don't want to…not if you think you have to."
"You think I'm repelled by your scars?" Tim grabbed the blonde a little roughly by the back of the head, forcing their eyes to meet "Danny…I'm just ecstatic you're alive. I thought I'd never see you again, and I thought…he'd hurt you worse than this" (they both knew he meant Danny had been lucky not to be raped) "When I saw you covered in your own blood, I though you were dead. Then you spoke, I was so relieved…but I knew I had to kill him. You mean everything to me, Daniel, don't ever think I wouldn't want you just because of a few scars."
Danny blinked up at his lover, seeing nothing but sincerity in those dark depths. He seized his lover' face, bringing him in for a swift kiss. Hot tears sprung from the corners of his eyes, slicking the others cheeks as well as their lips moved so naturally together. Danny pressed close, soaking in the warmth of the other man and relishing every bit he could get. Pure relief pumped through his veins…Tim didn't find him repulsive!
After all his fears and sleepless nights, he knew his lover still wanted him.
"I love you" Tim stated firmly, wrapping his arms around the blonde's waist. Danny gaped at the special agent, heart swelling in his chest. "I know I never said it…before. But I wasn't completely sure until now, and you deserve my whole heart."
"Show me" Danny rasped, mouth trembling "Touch me…show me how much you love me."
Tim's eyes darkened at this, fingertips already slipping up the back of the man's shirt to tease bare skin "I don't want to hurt you."
"I've healed enough" the CSI cursed how breathless he sounded, how needy "Stitches come off in two days…I need you now, babe."
Tim couldn't resist, not after so long separated from his lover. He moved them towards the bedroom, but missed the doorway by a few feet. Danny gave a soft grunt when his back hit the wall, but with the way his lover was ravishing his mouth he didn't care. Tim hadn't taken a lead in all their encounters, but this raw passion was making up for it. Those wide-palmed hands were slipping his jacket down his arms, then following the line of his exposed forearms back up.
Danny barely flinched when his lover touched a half-healed cut, the hot fingertips searing away any pain that could have been caused. McGee shed the blonde's t-shirt, revealing his torso. Danny made a distressed sound, pushing at his lover's shoulders.
"Don't" Tim ran his hands down his lover's torso, caressing every nearly closed cut and red line there "You're beautiful, don't hide from me."
Danny found his mouth claimed, he melted into the wall. He found his legs hiked around soft, pale hips…he circled the man's neck with his arms and held on for dear life. With a surprising show of strength, he carried the Italian through the door and to the bed.
"I can walk, ya know" Danny grumbled before he was dropped to the bed, his dark haired lover grinning after him. A bolt of lust shot straight through him at the look, his cock giving a heavy twitch of interest. "Mmm…I like that look on ya, babe."
"Seeing you spread out for me…after I thought I'd never get this again…" Tim crawled over him, trailing his thumb absently from his lover's navel to mid-thigh "I don't know where to start."
"Start here" Danny's tongue darted out to wet his lips, he found his mouth seized in a kiss once more. His lover straddled his hips, bare skin brushing. It was pure fire, those sure digits trailing lightly down the line of his torso…working the button of his pants open.
Tim thought seriously on how they were going to do this with Danny's wounds, he would have to be careful. He'd never topped before, but something primal had been awakened in him and he had to be inside the blonde now or something in him would burst from the sheer need. Danny was mewling beneath his careful touch, eyes closed and lips parted. Even with that long cut on his cheek, he was beautiful.
"My Danny…" Tim maneuvered the man up "Trust me with this?"
Blue orbs fluttered open, shining, "Yes."
Danny found his clothes tugged away, leaving him barred (and scarred) below his lover. Tim shoved his hand under the pillows, fingers curling around the spare tube of lube he kept stashed there. Danny couldn't be too submissive, he harshly demanded Tim get on with it before he finished without him. Teasing smiles were exchanged, but the blonde arched and sighed heavily when cautious fingers touched him there. It went by in a blurry haze, pleasure washing over him as Tim mouthed his collarbone and the hollow of his throat.
It could have been a few minutes or a few weeks…time slowed down for the lover's. It had been so long since they had felt the other's touch, so long it had just been pain. But all that worry and hurt faded away, replacing it was love and this forever burning ember that had been between them since the start.
Danny's back was pressed to the cool, smooth headboard…Tim between his thighs, his legs wrapped around the NCIS agent's waist. His hands trailed down pale, smooth shoulders…loving the contrast of his tan skin against alabaster. Everything felt soft and right, bodies melding together as they joined. Danny received him with the biggest grin, lacing his fingers behind Tim's neck and letting their foreheads press.
"Love you" Danny muttered hoarsely.
"Love you too" Tim echoed, bussing their lips "Are you ok?"
"Mmm…" Danny all but purred, sliding up the headboard a bit before grinding back down "Move, babe."
Their dance was slow, all smooth caresses and stifled gasps. Tim did most of the work, letting his lover just feel. For once, time was blessing them…the world narrowed down to the two of them, bodies locked in passion…sliding against each other so close it was hard to tell where one started and the other ended. Anyone looking on would have been forced to drop their mouths and stare, and describe them as nothing less than 'beautiful.'
Sweat slicked them, easing their ride. The higher their pleasure mounted, the more incoherent they sounded. It had never been so intense before, not even their first time…this was much more akin to 'we're alive and breathing and in love' sex that kept them heated and just on the edge. Every thrust, every grind, sent them spiraling deeper into their pleasure. Danny's prostrate was struck on every push, his vision going dark at the corners…hell, it had never been like this…with anyone.
"Can't hold on" Danny huffed, meeting their lips sloppily "Can't take it…so good, amore mio…"
"Let it all go for me" Tim whispered hotly in the hollow just below his lover's jaw, breath getting harder and harder to draw as liquid fire pooled in the base of his belly.
"Tim! Oh shit, Tim…" Danny broke first, back arching against the slick surface of the headboard…jaw dropped in a silent scream of pleasure. Tim pulled back, still moving into his lover's body as he took in every delicious moment of his orgasm. The slick of his cum gave them just that extra slide, and Tim couldn't help burying his face in that tan, warm neck and following him into bliss with a strangled moan of the blonde's name.
Several minutes went by, their sounds reduced to pleased hums and pants. Danny gave a soft purr, then wrapped his arms around his lover's sweat-slicked neck and melted against him. Tim couldn't keep the smile off his face, and carefully lowered them backwards into the bed. They squirmed and grunted, Tim swiped the sheet over them before throwing it on the floor to be washed later. They ended up side by side, upside down on the bed. Danny folded his arms beneath him, cheek resting there, and Tim was on his back with his hands behind his head.
If they had given it a moment's thought, they would have realized it was a parody of their moments after their first time.
"Is this what you thought about when you first started flirting with me?" Tim asked softly, hazy eyes locked on the ceiling.
"I consider it courting" Danny gave a snort, unfolding one hand to lay it between them "And no…I didn't think it'd end up like this."Tim's brow creased, he unbent his own arm and laced their fingers, "What do you mean?"
Danny smiled, squeezing his lover's hand, "I never thought I'd end up in love with you."
"Me either" Tim's eyes were heavy, the toll of the past few weeks weighing down on him "I'm sorry, Dan…I can't stay awake much longer."
"It's ok" Danny scooted closer, nuzzling at the other's shoulder sweetly "You can make it up to me later. I've got two weeks of leave left…I don't think I want to get out of this bed more than I have to."
Tim's eyes fell shut, and he let Queen Maab take him.
TBC
