Chapter Twenty-three: Scarecrow

"Danny?" Jack asked as he walked outside into the predawn hours, the sky starting to lighten near the east. "How long have you been out here?"

The young lawyer looked at him, shrugging. "Roughly since you first called."

"You can go inside, you know," Jack told him. He leaned back against the wall beside him, crossing his arms over his chest. "He asks for you every time I go in to see him."

A ghost of a smile appeared on Danny's lips. "That's…I wouldn't really expect anything less."

"So why don't you pay him a visit?" Jack asked. He looked out over the parking lot to keep from making the lawyer feel he was under scrutiny. Whatever kept him from going into the hospital wasn't really any of his business but after watching the way that Danny nearly fell apart during those hours Martin was missing; his behavior now didn't make any sense. Where had all that love gone, all that desire and hope? In its place he found fear and what looked like a good dose of anxiety.

Danny ran a trembling hand through his hair. "Victor is still in there, isn't he?"

Jack nodded, then added a verbal "Yes" for emphasis.

"That's why I won't go in."

"Because of Martin's father? You could just say that you're a concerned friend," Jack suggested. "We can lie and say that Martin met you after someone we found went to you for help. It wouldn't be that far fetched."

Danny shook his head, his eyes locked on the ground. "Pointless. He already knows, Jack. He saw us and…and now he doesn't want me anywhere near Martin. I'm not good enough for his son."

"It's not that," Jack said, trying to get over the surprise that Victor knew. But did he really expect less? When it came to Martin his father made sure that he knew everything about him. Jack wouldn't exactly be surprised to know that the older Fitzgerald already knew about Martin's little drug hiccup. "You are good enough for him, Danny. I can say that with honesty. You're perfect for him. And I can tell that you love him deeply. His father, on the other hand, is just mad that you aren't a young woman. Victor wants his son to get married and live the American dream."

"That dream is different for everyone."

"Precisely, so don't let him get you down." Jack clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, you're going in to see him. I'll drag his father away to talk business, that should give you two a few minutes to get caught up."

Danny chewed his bottom lip in indecision. He really did want to see Martin. He wanted to hold him close, to kiss his lips and feel his heart beating. Finally he slowly nodded, "All right. I'll go."

He followed behind the FBI agent, his hands buried in his pockets. What would he do when he saw Martin? He didn't yet know the explanation behind them, finding him or his current condition. He figured that it was a good sign that Martin had been asking for him. That meant he was at least conscious and that had to be a good sign. As he walked down the hallways through the throng of doctors and nurses and patients he couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Should he tell Martin that his father didn't want them together? Or would it be better if he kept that little detail to himself? Maybe the older Fitzgerald was right in the long run. He wasn't good enough for Martin. Martin came from a family with money and prestige, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. And what about him? He'd been born into a family with an abusive father and had the scars to remind him. His parents died young, leaving him and his brother to fight through foster care. There was the alcohol that took up so many years of his life, the fact that his brother was a convict.

They came from different sides of the tracks. They couldn't make this work. Victor was right. He just wasn't good enough for Martin. But he loved, oh how he loved him. He wanted to hold him close, to feel skin on skin. At the moment he would settle for hearing his voice.

When they reached a certain point Jack told him to wait. Danny could see the waiting area outside one of the rooms. Everyone was there; Sam, Vivian and Elena. And of course, Victor. Why had he bothered to tell the older Fitzgerald that his son had been found, that he was in the hospital? Perhaps it had been an attempt to show that he was an upstanding guy. As he stood there he watched Jack approach the FBI director and draw him away down a hallway. They were now out of view of Martin's room. Without saying anything to the girls he headed for the door, bracing himself before he pushed it open.

"Danny."

All his worries and doubts washed away the minute he heard Martin speak his name. "Fitz. Boy am I glad to see you."

"Likewise," Martin said, a smile gracing his features.

Danny took in the minor cuts and bruises, the sling on one arm. "How are you doing?" he asked, settling on the edge of the bed. He took hold of Martin's good hand. How could he have sat outside for so long?

"Fine," remarked Martin, squeezing his hand. "I had a separated shoulder and have a few bumps and bruises but I'm otherwise okay."

Danny felt the smile tugging at the corners of his lips, rubbing circles with his thumb into the back of Martin's hand. "I'm sorry, Martin." He locked eyes with the man he loved. "I'm so sorry that I didn't come in here earlier to see you. I just…"

"Hard to deal with?"

That seemed like a convincing enough lie so Danny went with it. "Can you forgive me?"

Martin slipped his hand free of Danny's grasp and placed it softly on Danny's cheek, smiling. "I don't think I could ever be mad at you. I love you, Danny."

It seemed like the right moment so Danny leaned over, placing his lips on Martin's. A shockwave of sensations ran through his body as they kissed. Martin's lips parted slightly allowing Danny's tongue access to his mouth. He loved the taste of Martin. As the kiss deepened they both felt like the only two people in the world, lovers trapped in a sensational liplock. When they broke apart, lips swollen, cheeks flushed, neither one of them said anything. That was the beauty of their love; they didn't have to speak of their feelings to know how much they loved one another.

The sound of someone knocking on the doorframe made the two of them jump. Sam smiled apologetically when they turned to look at her. "Sorry, but Danny you need to leave. He…it would just be better."

"No," Martin said, grabbing hold of Danny's hand. "I want you to stay."

"I'm sorry. Fitz but I can't. I'll explain everything when you get out, I promise." As a way to seal his promise he kissed Martin again, this kiss shorter but no less meaningful. And then he was out the door, making his way down the hall before Victor realized that he'd even been there.