Burning Bright – Chapter 2

By: Paints-the-Sky

Disclaimer: Don't own em'.

Author's Note: A few people have told me that Martin and Danny aren't really that good of friends, at least not enough to bring to parties. But for the purposes of plot points, (wow, three "p's" in a row!) I will make M and D buddies. Thanks to my beta reader, Peaches, and to those who R&R. You make my day!

The more the light shines through me

I pretend to close my eyes

The more the dark consumes me

I pretend I'm burning bright

BRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGG.

Martin jumped, scattering pills across the floor. Saved by the bell.

BRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGG. It was his cell phone.

He flipped open his phone.

"Yeah?"

"Hey man, where are you?"

It was Danny. Martin could hear music and laughter in the backround. Shit, Danny's party, he had forgotten all about it.

"Sorry… I- I got… tied up… at the Bureau, you know how it is," Martin fumbled for the words.

"Well, are you comin'?"

"Um… nah, I'm wrecked… I need… I'd better stay home," Martin tried to keep his voice from shaking, but it betrayed him.

"Okay. Maybe I'll come over later and check on you, 'kay?" Danny's voice was laced with worry.

"Yeah, bye" Martin flipped the phone back shut, not waiting for Danny's reply.

Shit, Martin thought, looking around the room. What had he done? Or almost done.

He felt like crying, thinking of how moments before, he had been ready to down a whole bottle of pills. Ready to end it all. Had it really come to this?

"You need to get some help," his conscious said.

No. No way. He already had a hot-head reputation after the stunt he pulled in the field, he didn't need to become the suicidal guy, too. How fucking great would that be?

Oh yeah guys, I work with hardened criminals everyday, and I go home every night to cry on my shrink's couch about how my Daddy didn't hug me…

Yeah right, like that was gonna happen.

Martin crouched down on the floor, meaning to pick up the fallen tablets.

He should probably call Danny back and tell him not to come, but Martin knew he would anyways.

Martin only plucked two of the little blue pills off the floor, leaving the rest. He swallowed them quickly. Maybe all he needed was a good nights sleep.

Empty pill bottle still in hand, he stumbled out to the front room and slumped into a chair.

An informercial shouted at him from the TV, crying out the benefits of the fresh carrot juice through hishaze.

The TV screen wavered and blurred as Martin fell into a drug induced slumber.

There's nothing every wrong

But nothings ever right

Such a cruel contradiction

I know I crossed the line

It's not easy to define

I'm born through indecision

There's always something new

Some path I'm s'posed to choose

With no particular rhyme or reason…

Rough, violating hands grabbed his shoulders, shaking him hard. His father's hands.

It seemed like only seconds had passed, but for all Martin knew, it could have been days.

Not again thought, Martin thought, please, Dad, don't do this…

"Martin, Martin-- oh God, please Martin… wake up!"

He opened his eyes to see Danny worried face above him.

"Danny, what the--"

"Fuck man, you scared me there," said Danny, sounding immensely relieved. "I thought you'd…" Danny trailed off.

"Thought I'd what?" asked Martin tersely. He didn't enjoy being woken up at three in the morning. "How'd you get in here?"

"Your door was unlocked,"

Danny pressed on, nodding to the empty bottle of sleeping pills that fallen to the floor. "I've been in the bathroom, Martin. What's go'in on?"

Martin rubbed his forehead. Shit, he should've to picked up the pills. He glanced up at Danny.

Danny didn't show any signs of backing off.

"Nothing happened, I just dropped the bottle and didn't pick 'em up. I'm fine,"

"Martin, I can tell when you're lying,"

"Oh really," Martin spat, sarcasm dripping off his words.. He was exhausted, and really didn't need an interrogation right then. "I didn't know you had become a fuckin' mind reader,"

"Christ, what's you're issue man?" cried Danny, taking a step back.

"Nothing. I'll see you tommorow, man,"

Danny took the hint.

Martin got up and followed him to the door.

Danny was halfway out the door when he turned. "Martin, look, I'm sorry. I know what's- what you…" he couldn't finish that sentence.

"Just talk to me Martin," he looked straight into Martin's eyes, and the fear and shame he saw in them only confirmed Danny's suspicions.

Martin broke his gaze as he looked to the floor. "There's nothing to talk about," he said quietly.

Danny opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it, and sighed.

As he shut the apartment door, Martin could see Danny shaking his head in a kind of pity.

Well Martin didn't need his damn pity. He just hoped he hadn't let anything slip.

Everything was safe, everything was secret. For now…

The more the dark consumes me,

I pretend I'm burning

Burning bright…

Authors Note II: The lyrics are from "Burning Bright" by Shinedown. Now click that lil' blue button and make me happy…

PS- Okay maybe you weren't surprised... yet! MUWAHAHAHA!