Danny had heard enough. He knew the Andes were a pain in the arse but this was getting disrespectful and no one was disrespectful to Nicholas. Not on Danny's watch. The force with which he slammed the ice cream bowl on the desk surprised everyone, including himself.
"Because last night we sat through three hours of so-called 'acting' and the kiss was he most convincin' momen innit!" It wasn't until he was finished that he realised he had just quoted Nicholas; Word for word. But that was okay. If anyone knew what was going on it had to be Nicholas and it angered him that only he seemed to understand that. Weather by words or pure force of tone, his outburst subdued the Andes. Danny took advantage of the relative quiet to give Nicholas a few pats on the shoulder, you know, to let him know he was there for him; Had his back. Any remaining tension was dispelled by Frank who chose that moment to walk in, still finishing today's ration of Chunky Monkey. His request for them to go to Arthur Webley's farm caused Nicholas to deflate a little but Danny was thrilled. He couldn't wait to watch Nicholas do more police work. He knew he should feel embarrassed by his boyish excitement but he didn't. Everything Nicholas did was amazing and he couldn't help but be excited. However, Danny knew Mr Webley and figured Nicholas could use some help. While Nicholas went to get the car Danny went to find PC Walker.
"By the power of grayskull..." Danny gasped as his eyes gathered in the contents of the barn. There were enough guns and ammunition to outfit a small army; or navy if one considered the sea mine. It looked menacing enough before it started ticking. For a moment, they all held their breath as if it were a joke. There wasn't really a bloody isea mine/i and it wasn't really ticking ... Only there was one; And yes, yes it was.
Danny knew he shouldn't be enjoying himself while running for his life but he was anyway. This was everything he had ever dreamed of and it was all happening right now, to him. And it was all thanks to Sergeant Nicholas Angel. As they dove head-first over the hedge almost perfectly in sync, he felt something new. It felt like a soft warmth that bloomed in his chest and spread towards his gut. He had no idea what it was or what it could mean. He only knew it had everything to do with the man gasping and sheltering beside him behind the hedge.
It took all day to process the evidence, as Nicholas called it, but when it was all finished he seemed pleased. Danny had just had the best day of his life and he wasn't ready for it to end. It may be greedy to want more after such a superb day by Nicholas' side but he wanted more. Buoyed by Nicholas' good mood and the persistent warmth that refused to leave his chest, Danny found the courage to ask him out again. They were friends after all and going out to do fun things together is what friends do so he felt it was an innocent enough thing to ask.
The pub was a fantastic idea, if Danny did say so himself. He was even able to convince Nicholas to drink something other than cranberry juice. But the most brilliant part so far was that smile. It was the first time Danny had seen him truly smile. He was astonished at how gentle and so very genuine it was; and it was all for him. Danny was instantly possessive of it, promising himself that he would always give Nicholas a reason to smile. Then it was fading. The light that had radiated from his face was dissipating, leaving Danny to loath at its absence. He had to have it back. His mind scrambled before deciding to gamble with an old favorite, the 'OW, My Eye!' trick. It went off perfectly. Danny smiled widely feeling more than a little pleased with himself as the sound of Nicholas' laughter filled the air. He wanted to hear that laugh more and see those eyes twinkle with mirth every day. He would have to stock up on ketchup packets for future spur-of-the-moment tricks.
The feeling of comfortable familiarity between them grew stronger with every pint they tossed back and it was doing very strange things to the tenacious and still unidentified feeling in his chest. By the time they left the pub, he felt as though he were about to burst with happy, tingly feelings. He also couldn't seem to keep his hands off Nicholas. Danny's hand wouldn't stop brushing his arm as they carried George Merchant home. Once they dropped Merchant off, he reached over and caressed the back of Nicholas' neck. The odd thing was Nicholas never asked him to stop. Sometimes he got the feeling Nicholas enjoyed the attention Danny gave him. He couldn't have only imagined all the little glances or looks of trust.
Too soon, they arrived at Danny's flat. Nicholas turned and started to say goodnight but Danny just couldn't let him go; not yet. While his fogged mind scrambled for ways to stop Nicholas from leaving he heard himself say,
"Unless you want to come in for coffee?" Danny didn't even own a coffee maker but who really meant 'coffee' in these situations. Nicholas refused but only the part about coffee. It was cute that Nicholas thought he was being serious.
"Tea?" Another refusal but again only to the beverage so he went for broke.
"How about another beer?"
Persistence pays off in the end, so they say. True to his word Danny fetched another beer from the refrigerator and settled on the couch beside Nicholas, happy but a little uncertain on what to do with him now that he had him. He took a stab at conversation by asking about the only thing he knows Nicholas cares about other than his job; his peace lily. He regretted it immediately as once the plant is brought up, so is Jeanine. At the mention of her name, Danny felt a chill move through his body and an unpleasant tightness painfully squeezing his heart. What's worse is Nicholas appeared sadder and sadder as he continued until he settled on the heart of his unhappiness; his inability to switch off. The honesty and vulnerability in the whispered confession was heartbreaking.
Nicholas looked so lost and fragile in that moment that Danny was is nearly overcome with the need to pull him into a tight hug and promise him anything just to take the pain away. With no little effort, Danny forced the idea away. But why?! Wailed something deep inside Look at him! He's practically begging for you to do it! At least try. He hasn't refused you yet. No, It wouldn't be right, he reasoned against himself. Nicholas was drunk and vulnerable and Danny would never take advantage of his momentary weakness. In a commendable display of self control, he decided to go with his second idea. He was going to comfort Nicholas the same way he had comforted himself for the last five years.
Time seems to be stuck on fast-forward. Point Break was finished (was it always this short?) and they were on to Bad Boys II, but it was later than Danny expected. Before Bad Boys II was really underway his eyelids started to droop. As he slipped peacefully into sleep he was only aware of contentment, watching his favorite films side by side (hip to hip) with his new best friend.
Morning arrived unwanted and uninvited with the ringing of the phone. It was within arms' reach because this isn't the first time Danny has fallen asleep on the couch but it is the first time he's slept beside his partner on said couch with said partner's body pressed firmly against his own. Nicholas was awake with the first ring and answered only moving away from Danny as much as was required to reach the phone. Danny can just make out the voice on the other end but he couldn't quite make out what was being said but he knows it's bad when Nicholas stiffens.
"We're on our way!" And he's moving. He's up from the couch, straitening his clothes and cursing as he goes.
"Oi, whas goin' on?" Danny asks, still bleary eyed and missing the warmth of Nicholas' body.
"It's George Merchant. We have to get to the station," Danny's up now and right behind Nicholas as they rush out the door. Long afterward Danny would assume it was the chaos surrounding George Merchant's death as to why no one noticed that Nicholas had answered Danny's phone at the arse-crack of dawn or that they arrived at the station together and wearing the same clothes as yesterday.