Ok here we go. Last chapter – as promised – before I'm going on holidays! In return don't forget to review!

Nothing spectacular in this chapter, though, just a little soppy ending… Enjoy!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Danny?" Martin looked at his lover, now worried again, who had remained silent for a long while now, sitting there and seemingly staring right through him.

Finally Danny's gaze became focused again looking Martin straight in the eyes and he started to speak, slowly, word by word. "I was happy, Martin."

"Happy?"

"Happy that she was gone. That's what made me feel guilty…"

"You shouldn't have been. It was probably the best for her. As you said – it was release from…"

Danny shook his head. "That wasn't the reason."

"So what was it then?" Martin asked, still sympathetically.

Danny shrugged breaking the eye contact and looking to the ground. "I was just happy I didn't have to see that horrid face every day, anymore. She wasn't our Mom anymore, Martin. She'd turned into a stranger and she was making me feel… scared."

Now Martin understood. The last information had put the puzzle together and he could almost feel the emotions that had to be going through Danny that very moment. Slowly he crawled over towards his lover and touched his shoulder, gently, before pulling him into a long, warm embrace. He felt the stiffness, the wincing at first touch, but eventually Danny relaxed in his arms.

After a while Martin bent forward a little to whisper into Danny's ear: "You think you may be able to sleep now? You think this kept you awake?"

"I dunno. But it could have caused it all. The sleepless started just shortly after the Kinkley case. Sam said she'd told you about it."

"Yeah, she did." Martin could remember; a very shook up Sam telling the story of scared teenage girl running away from a mother – who according to her – looked like a monster from a horror movie. "Oh my god, I should have known."

"You couldn't have known… I have never spoken to anyone about this, never ever. Not even to Raphi. We always pretended it never happened. Damn, I didn't even really remember this until tonight… But – as it seems – the past has caught up with me."

Caressing his lover's back Martin said: "I think you shouldn't have felt guilty about it. Still shouldn't feel guilty. You were just a kid. Scared, as you said yourself. And it must have been a terrible sight."

"Martin?"

"Yeah?"

"I really appreciate you trying to reassure me about that, but can we not talk about it anymore? I think I just had to get that out, but I don't want to… deepen it."

"Yeah, ok, but if you feel like talking…"

"Martin…"

"Yeah, ok… I understand."

"Can you just hold me? I think I'm very tired now. And I think I can sleep." As if to enhance his words Danny yawned elaborately.

"Yeah, sure… C'mere." And he pulled him even closer, wrapping his arms tightly around his lover's lean frame, ready to fall back to sleep himself and very unwillingly to ever let go of Danny.

His Danny.

– TheEnd –