Danny hadn't survived growing up rough and being an FBI agent for this long without being able to read people. And the "book of Martin" was not exactly hearts and flowers these days. After Jack and Sam split up, he'd noticed that Martin and Jack seemed to have developed a subtle chemistry that had made Jack's debate on whether to move with his family less than easy to accept for Martin. It wasn't obvious, but for someone paying as much attention to him as Danny, Martin had definitely seemed more affected by the recent uncertainty, and happier that Jack had chosen to stay in New York, than simple affection for a boss or even a friend would account for.

At first, he'd worried that Deputy Director Fitzgerald's kid was going to use his last name and not his skills at work. After he'd worked with Martin for a while, Danny started to realize two things: being a high mucky-muck's son wasn't necessarily all roses either, and Martin could actually pull his own weight. Once Danny looked a little harder, knew Martin better, genuine professional respect and liking made his initial attraction to Martin's looks even stronger.

He'd had plans for Martin of his own for a long time now-plans that had been changed but not abandoned by the recent shake-up with Jack. The last thing he wanted was to be Martin's rebound fling-he'd rather be just friends and co-workers than to get a taste and nothing more. He'd managed to keep from falling so far, but it wouldn't take much on Martin's part to push him over the edge into love. That scared him, because he would have bet his next paycheck Martin wasn't even close to being in love with anyone right now and sure as hell not with him.

So I guess the question is, do I try for more or do I just tell my hormones to shut the fuck up? Danny thought to himself over a cup of coffee and a dose of painkillers for his aching head, sitting at his desk at the end of another long case. He and Martin were the only two still here, making the office feel curiously intimate.

Maybe the atmosphere was affecting Martin too, because he asked casually, "I know you don't drink, but Dave Ray's playing at the Borderline tonight. I promise, they do great nonalcoholic drinks as well as booze. I'll even buy."

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