Title: Ice Forms Over

Disclaimer: Slash. Violence. Language. Angst.

Author Note: The reader's lost interest in the story. Thus, I eventually lost interest in the story. Sorry for the hasty ending.

POV: Danny

Chapter Ten: Chasing After You

Martin jumps in the car and we're off before he can even get his seatbelt buckled. The nagging feeling is pushed to the back of my mind but doesn't fade entirely. A part of me wants to turn this car around and head back to the office. Should Martin be seeing any amount of potently dangerous action? The car flies around another corner. The buildings are mainly deserted in this area. It's odd how that works out; three blocks away people live in well-kept homes. I slow the car as more reports come over the radio. Beside me Martin fidgets with his tie. He's been doing it a lot lately. My guess is that it is his new nervous habit. I begin to heavily doubt being here with him. What if things get too tense?

"Stop." His voice is almost startling in the silence of the car. I realize that I hadn't even bothered to turn the siren on. Good thing there hadn't been any cops around.

I slow down. "What am I stopping for?"

"There was a car in the alley back there," he replies looking over his shoulder.

I stop the car. "We should call for back-up." It's a rational thought and that's the way I hope Martin takes it. Honestly, I don't want to do this with him. I'm afraid of how he'll react.

He pops open his door. "No, we can't afford to wait. Ricky may not have that extra time."

Martin is nearly back to the alley when I get out of the car and catch up with him. His hand is already resting on his gun. There's a numb feeling in the pit of my stomach. I grab Martin by the shoulder and turn him around.

"Wait."

"We can't, this kid needs our help. We may be his only chance for survival. Are you willing to deny him that?" Martin snaps.

I stop, taken aback by the tone of his voice. "Well, no, but I'm not sure you should be doing this. I mean-"

He glares at me before stomping off like a five-year-old. I grab my cell phone and quickly dial Jack. I relay the situation to him. Needless to say he's very upset and demands that I keep an eye on Martin if I can't keep him leashed. Back-up will be there as soon as possible. By the time the call is over Martin has disappeared beside one of the buildings. I make hast in the direction he headed. My gun gripped firmly in my hands.

"Martin?" I call my voice a little above a whisper.

He doesn't answer. Where the hell did he vanish too? I glance around a corner and see the car that must have caught his eye. But he's still not around. The warehouse to my left stands empty. Or so I think, until I hear the gunfire inside. My heart nearly stops as I rush to find the nearest entrance. I pray that I don't find Martin lying on the pavement like I did last time guns went off.

The door is peeling-paint red and standing ajar. I hear shouting from inside the building but the words don't register. My brain is in full panic mode and all I can think about is Martin and his safety. The case is the farthest thing from my mind. That kid just isn't as important to me as Martin.

I follow the sounds of the shouting and hear another gun go off. Some yells in pain. The sound is coming from an upstairs room. With a quiet grace I rush up the stairs. A big window allows me to peer into a large office. Martin is hiding behind a stack of crates near the door. Another man is using an ancient desk for protection. Lying on the floor nearest him is an unmoving body. A young kid, most likely Ricky and he's not moving. I take a closer look at Martin. He's bleeding from his left shoulder.

If I make an appearance in the doorway the perp will pop out from behind the desk to take a shot in my direction. But it'll give me a great shot at him. Steeling my spine I take that last step into the entrance. Just as predicted the perp spots me and takes a shot. Our guns go off at the same time. The sound is nearly deafening in the large warehouse. I watch the guy behind the desk as my bullet hits him above his right eye. That's when his bullet hits me.

I hear Martin cry out. I think he says my name but my hearing hasn't returned yet. The bullet hits me square in the chest. The force is enough to force me to take a step back. I trip over an old piece of wood. I see a horrifying look on Martin's face as he rushes toward me. He won't get to me in time. I close my eyes to keep the look on his face from being permanently etched in my mind.

My body hits the wooden railing along the outside of the small landing. The old rotten wood gives under the pressure of my body. Martin yells again. His fingers brush softly against mine as he tries desperately to grab my hand. It's hard to describe the feeling of your body falling through open air. I fall for what feels like hours. I know what lies at the bottom, waiting for me. Flashes of Martin and Jack and Sam and Vivian filter through my mind. I blackout before I hit the ground.

Someone whispers in a sorrow filled voice as a hand touches my cheek. Breathing is hard and my chest feels like it has a large hole in it. I hear the tearing of fabric and smell the blood. My blood. With the little energy I have I open my eyes to see Martin franticly putting pressure on the open wound.

He gives me a sad smile. "Lucky for you this stack of empty boxes broke your fall."

I cough as I feel the blood in my throat. "Numb…."

He cocks an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Feel…..numb."

I see the tears in his eyes. The irony isn't lost on me. The rolls are reversed but we've already been here before. Only this time I don't think the injured party is going to be living. Martin looks off in the direction of the door. For a minute the warehouse is lit by the sunlight pushing through the door. The sound of footsteps on the cement floor sound miles away. I hear Jack. Martin cries out for an ambulance, I think. My hearing is going again.

Martin looks me in the eye. "I…I overheard what you said in the hospital. Your true feelings toward me. All this time I think I've been trying to figure out where I stand and now it's all clear to me. I feel the same way, Danny. You hear me?"

I do my best to nod.

"Why did you come chasing after me?" His voice nearly breaks my heart.

"I'm….always chasing….after….you," I manage. "Someone needs…..to….keep an eye….on you." Martin stares into my eyes. I give one last coughing fit before the numbing darkness welcomes me into its embrace.

Fin