Yep it's not finished, yet... (and I'm on holidays, so I got lots of time for writing; I'm trying to finish this before going away on holidays to Denmark for two weeks with no internet access...)

It was a long day for Martin Fitzgerald. Not just because the first weeks on a new job were always tough (and it had only been a short while since he'd left the missing person's team he'd been working with for almost four years to a different department, in order to be able to stay together with Danny as a couple) but also he couldn't remember ever having been that eager to get home to see how his lover was doing.

Around noon he found himself calling up Vivian not even knowing whether it was to check if Danny had stuck to his word and stayed at home or because, silently, he hoped for her know what to do about the situation.

"No, he's not come in today." Vivian's voiced sounded slightly amused but also filled with sympathy. They small-talked for a while about this and that until Martin saw his boss come round the corner and decided it was time to hang up, which Viv was more than ok with since she did have to get back to work as well.

"Oh, and Martin?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you take some advice?"

"Sure. Spill it; I'll take any advice at the moment."

"Don't try call or anything. Danny, I mean. Just leave him alone for a bit. You might doubt it, as he may seem vulnerable to you now, but he can handle it. He's gonna ask for help, if he really needs it but until then you'll just achieve the opposite by trying to get too involved in what he considers as being his own business."

Martin sighed. "That's gonna be hard, but I'll try. Thanks, Viv."

After what seemed like a never ending of boring desk work Martin arrived at home to find the place looking dark and somewhat deserted. Yet, as he turned on the light and carelessly loaded the bag of groceries he was carrying onto the kitchen table, Martin called out, softly:

"Danny? You home?"

There was no answer; Martin hadn't expected one, anyway. He removed the bag and was about to start to unpack it when he found the note; the bag had been lying on it. It simply said, "Fitzy, don't worry. Went to bed. You were right this morning. Love you" but it made Martin smile stupidly all over his face.

As he put away all the stuff he'd bought he realised it wasn't nearly enough to make the frigde look as well stocked up as it would if Danny had done it.

Martin didn't have the same experience; he rarely ever went to buy groceries; that had never been changed – not even by Danny and his constant nagging about his lover's unhealthy eating habits. ("I swear, Fitzy, one day, you're gonna wake up and find that you're fat! And don't think I'd be attracted to that." Martin had laughed at that comment.) It wasn't like Danny wasn't happy with a pizza or something from time to time as well but more often than not he liked to cook his own food – if he could muster the time for it – and therefore he usually made sure they weren't short of supplies.

But lately, as his had sleep gone, his appetite seemed have gone along with it and he hadn't bothered buying food at all. That was one of the things that worried Martin most; he didn't like the fact that Danny was skipping meals – and more than he could actually afford to.

Now Martins thoughts were interrupted by his own stomach, rumbling unreasonably loud complaining it hadn't been fed for a while. With a sigh, Martin turned on the oven.

After he'd eaten he decided to take a careful look into the bedroom see how his lover was; and found him for once sleeping soundly. Smiling to himself Martin returned to the small living-room and turned on the TV. He was exhausted, even though he didn't quite know for sure what from. He'd sat at his desk most of the day. But after thinking for a while he came to the conclusion that he was probably just exhausted from worrying too much.

There was nothing on TV he could bear to watch and so he decided to get an early night as well. He wasn't exactly sleepy, yet, but the thought of spending a little time with his lover without having to listen to him constantly nagging and snapping at him – which had become a little too common an occasion lately – enlightened his mood. And Danny was cute when he was asleep.

Ten minutes later Martin crawled under the thin summer covers making himself comfortable but not yet turning off the light. He had to resist the urge to pull Danny up close to himself and hold him tightly in his arms but was careful not to touch him at all – afraid that the slightest touch would disturb his much needed sleep.

So instead he watched him, studied the features he knew so well and had finally come to love – which had been a surprise, even to himself, to be completely honest. Martin had never considered himself being gay or the possibility that he could be with another man. Yet, he remembered those words his favourite aunt had once told him; love was for the person, not for their gender. Back then Martin had found it hard to believe those wise words but as the years passed by, he'd never forgot about them – and that meant a lot.

And then things with Danny had happened, all too quickly for Martin to even notice at first. Then it had been difficult until finally he'd given in, allowed himself to feel the way he did. But it had been confusing, strange somehow – and yet, it felt so right. Within days all doubts had vanished and he'd known that Danny was the right one.

And he still knew.