Mac closed the door carefully, but the sound was still enough to startle Danny. The younger man looked up, and Mac's heart dropped. Dark bruises were blooming over Danny's face and neck; punctuated by angry red scratches and a split lip. Danny looked away, mistaking the guilt in Mac's expression for pity.
"You shouldn't have come," Danny whispered. "It's too dangerous. Someone could see you."
"I don't care about that right now," Mac answered, sitting down opposite Danny. "I'm more worried about you."
"I didn't tell him anything," Danny looked at Mac now. "He just thinks I'm in love with you. He doesn't know who you are."
"That's not what I meant," Mac protested softly. "I shouldn't have let you go alone. I'm sorry, Danny."
"Wouldn't have mattered," Danny mumbled, looking at his injured hands. "I saw the look in Sonny's eyes tonight. This was gonna happen, even if he didn't have an excuse." Mac moved to his knees in front of Danny's chair; covering the younger man's hands with his.
"I could have stopped him," The mutinous look in Mac's eyes actually made Danny feel a little safer.
"Would've messed up your case," Danny argued back quietly. "He wouldn't have dealt with you if you'd defended me."
"I don't care about that."
"You should," Danny stood up abruptly, knocking Mac off balance. "You've been working to catch him; get him off the streets so he can't hurt anyone else. I don't matter compared to that." Mac wanted to argue, but he knew Danny wouldn't listen. Instead, a question hit him.
"Why now?" He asked softly. "According to your record, Sonny hasn't assaulted you in five years." Danny laughed lowly and shook his head.
"I haven't reported it in five years. Doesn't mean it hasn't been happening." Mac rose slowly to his feet, waiting patiently for Danny to continue.
"Maria's brother, Michael," Danny explained. "He was always the one that made Louie bring me in."
"The 'unfortunate accident'?" Mac asked quietly.
"Sonny shot him," Danny stated flatly. "Blamed it on some kid from Pelham Bay. I always knew why; he made sure of that." Mac felt true anger well up inside him, and he didn't know how he would be able to look at Sonny again without putting a bullet in the man's head.
"C'mon," Mac sighed, reaching a hand out to Danny. "I'm taking you home with me."
"Mac," Danny began to protest, but the look on Mac's face quickly silenced him, and he moved into the embrace the detective was offering.
(~*~)
Mac closed the door quietly behind them; watching carefully as Danny walked around the room. It took a moment for Danny to realise he was being watched, and he turned to look at Mac.
"Guess I'll take the couch," Danny mumbled. "I'm pretty tired, think I'm gonna get some sleep." Mac stepped forward and took Danny's hand. Silently, he led the younger man through to his bedroom.
Danny seemed confused, but the intense look was still in Mac's eyes, and it kept him quiet. Slowly, Mac raised a hand; ghosting it over the bruises on Danny's forehead.
"You're squinting," Mac noted.
"Lost my contacts," Danny replied; his voice barely a whisper. Mac nodded, letting his hand run through Danny's hair; checking for wounds as much as offering comfort. Danny's eyes slid closed, and so he jumped a little when he felt Mac's lips on his forehead. Danny sighed softly as Mac moved around; kissing each of Danny's bruises. He moved slowly; feeling Danny relax further with each kiss; across his jaw and down his neck. Mac carefully removed Danny's shirt, and he pulled back for his first look at the damage Sonny had done. Mac barely held back a sharp intake of breath at the patchwork of blues and purples he saw. Letting his hands run down Danny's sides, Mac felt the younger man tense.
"C'mon," Mac mumbled, leading Danny to sit on the bed. "I have some ointment for these. It'll help you sleep better." Mac left Danny long enough to retrieve the ointment, before sitting on the bed next to the blonde. Dipping his fingers into the ointment, Mac spread it carefully over Danny's battered chest. A slight hiss escaped Danny's lips at the first contact, but he fell silent soon after. Mac stayed quiet too; focussing his efforts on methodically rubbing the ointment in and massaging the abused flesh. He felt when Danny completely relaxed; the tension that had been radiating off the younger man all night had been dissipating in increments since Mac started his work. Moving slowly, Mac slid onto the bed and settled himself behind Danny; starting the whole process again on his back. Danny was practically asleep by the time Mac finished, and he manoeuvred the younger man carefully into his bed. Standing up, Mac took one more look at Danny before turning to leave; intending to sleep on the sofa. A hand on his stopped him, and he looked back at an already half asleep Danny.
"Stay," He mumbled before letting his eyes fall closed; trusting Mac to follow his request. Sighing softly, Mac slid off his clothes as silently as he could, before sliding into bed next to Danny.