House

[london_spy]

It was a strange series of events that had led him here, and as he sat in the waiting room of the local A&E, Danny went back through it all hour by hour.

6PM: With class out Danny was back to hunting for the lunatic who'd been targeting fellow students, drugging them and then dumping them at home with no sign of sexual or physical assault. He'd stopped home, changed into club clothes, and set out.

7PM: he'd been walking from the tube to the club when a car started driving along side him- A familiar car. Rich's car.

The window came down, and Rich leaned out. "Get in," the man said, prompting Danny to flip him off. 

Rich laughed, then spoke again. "I know who you're after- If you want them, get in the damn car, Danny."

8PM: Rich had dumped him down the block, having given him a list of what he knew. Apparently he wasn't a fan of this guy either, and while Danny wouldn't consider him a trustworthy source, it wasn't like he had much more to go off.

9PM: He'd headed into the club, spoken to someone Rich had suggested might be in on it all, and had let himself have a drink or two so he didn't stand out like a sore thumb.

10PM: Okay, maybe a drink too many.

11PM: He'd called a car, apparently now was the prime time. He'd used the correct service and rejected drivers until he found one who seemed to fit the bill.

11:15PM: The man had complementary water. It was sealed, and so he took one.

11:30PM: Everything was slow. Fuzzy. 

<i>I warned you. STOP. FOLLOWING. ME.</i>

Was it midnight now? Danny squinted at the clock. He was still drugged, not bleeding, but he was certain his ribs were broken and his left eye was struggling to focus. But he had to wait. They said he had to wait.

His hand was shaking as he pulled out his phone. The screen was shattered but it was still working. Should he call someone? Text someone? No, best not. Best to just go it alone.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"Thanks for this," House added, to Bond. "We're square, though - I mean, you strike me as the type who might need to call on a doctor in the middle of the night to take out a bullet or something, so feel free to stop by."

[london_spy]

"You're not leaving us behind. We're coming. I'm coming," Danny said firmly.

[0_0_7]

Bond snorted a soft laugh of disbelief.

"You're not coming. Go home, Danny. Stay out of trouble," Bond said.

[drfeelbad]

"Danny," House said quietly, "this is wha you wanted. To make sure it's taken care of. There's no reason for you to go. I mean, I'm feeling pretty damn reassured, this man is just oozing competence."

[london_spy]

He wasn't hearing House though, he didn't want to stand down.

"I'll leak it. All of his research, It'll be on Reddit before you can put a bullet in me, and I'll make sure your name's on it," Danny said, sick of feeling helpless and always being shoved to the sidelines. "Think you'll wind up in a trunk too? Or maybe it'll be your friends. Your lovers. Who'll they cut through in your life if it comes out and your name is all over it?"

[0_0_7]

Bond took a breath and let out a heavily put-upon sigh.

"And it'll be wiped from everywhere before you rigor. Don't be stupid, Danny. Everyone's got orders to leave you be. So. Leave it be."

[drfeelbad]

House meanwhile was staring in disbelief at Danny. "Have you lost your fucking mind?"

[london_spy]

Danny fell silent, defeated again.

[0_0_7]

"Take him home, Dr. House," Bond said. "I'll text you in..."

He looked at his watch.

"...Give me two hours. I should have something by then."

[drfeelbad]

House nodded, and then looked at Danny. "All right?"

[london_spy]

"Fine," Danny said softly. "Let's go."

[drfeelbad]

House offered Bond a final nod and then started walking with Danny back to the car.

Finally he said, "Look, as someone who has highly self destructive tendencies myself, I'm not one to talk, but... christ, Danny."

[london_spy]

"I don't like spooks thinking they can dictate what I do," Danny said firmly. "Fuck them."

[drfeelbad]

"All right," said House with a sigh, not really knowing what else to say. "Look, I'm sorry I - I mean, I didn't know for sure that's what he was. I didn't think about... you know." It hadn't even occurred to him, based on Danny's past. Oops.

[london_spy]

"It's fine- Just watch yourself around him," Danny said quietly.

[drfeelbad]

"It's not like we're friends," House said. "I did some doctoring, he said he owed me a favor."

[london_spy]

"Yeah, you're not mates, but I promise you that man knows everything about you and the people in your life. Hell, he probably knows more than you do about your world," Danny replied, pulling out his cigarettes and lighting one.

Yeah, he'd quit. ...And then he'd started again.

[drfeelbad]

"The only reason I even contacted him was to help you," House pointed out. "I mean, I'm sure you're convinced you could have taken care of this on your own, but the last thing I want is you showing up at my doorstep with a bullet in you. Okay?"

[london_spy]

Danny rubbed his face, then nodded.

"Okay," he agreed quietly.

[drfeelbad]

They'd gotten back to the car, and before opening the door, House stopped and put a hand on Danny's arm. "I know you just want to help," he said. "I admire you for that, I just... don't be stupid about it, because I really don't want you to get hurt."

[london_spy]

Greg put his hand on his arm and Danny stopped thinking clearly. He could hear House, but he wasn't listening. He was full of adrenaline and anxiety... And, well, pain medication. So he maybe wasn't thinking straight as he leaned in and kissed the other man on the lips.

[drfeelbad]

House was startled; of course he was. But somehow that didn't stop him from kissing him back, and even putting a hand on the small of his back. It was almost automatic, he didn't even think about it.

[london_spy]

When Greg didn't push him away, Danny kept going. And it was wrong and stupid, but- Wrong and stupid was kind of his brand.

[drfeelbad]

House knew that it was stupid and wrong for him not to pull away, too. But it was a good kiss. A really good kiss. The kind of kiss that made him want to do more than kiss.

His brain was kind of turned off at the moment, and he pressed closer to him and backed Danny back up against the car.

[london_spy]

His hands slipped under Greg's shirt, and Danny moaned into the kiss- before stopping.

Fuck. Fuck his conscience.

Gently he nudge Greg away, pulling his hands back.

"You should go home. James is probably wondering where the hell you are, and I- I should go to bed."