tertius
„What took you so long?!“
Steve had waited for more than two hours and he knew Danny could have made it within less than half of this time. Danny looked away, focussing something in the distance, way off Steve’s direction.
“You shouldn’t be here”, the blonde stated, hands in his pockets, and tried to pass the other man.
“Danny, we’re partners. Why don’t you share your sorrow or anger, whatever it is?”
“It’s none of your business.”
That hurt.
Steve moved, so Danny couldn’t pass. The blonde looked up at the other man, fiercely annoyed. Again, he didn’t say a word. He swallowed his anger again. It felt like little arrows on his skin, so Steve thought, as he met eyes with his friend. This was not the Danny he knew. Never before had he avoided a discussion or any other argument Steve could think of. He could always put up some really good banters. Steve had to know the reason. Danny mustn’t keep his problems away from him, especially that was what partners were for.
“What’s the matter with you?”
Danny took a deep breath and sighed.
“She did it again”, he kind of muttered under his breath.
“Who did? Rachel?”
The sound of his ex-wife’s name brought him back into reality. Danny’s breath hitched. His eyes began burning. He felt impotent rage cradling him, his fists clenching hard, and he bit his tongue to not lose control in front of Steve. And Steve wasn’t sure if he ever had known Danny in such a condition like now.
“Danny, you know I could help you feel better – just tell me what on earth is eating you!”
But Danny shoved him aside.
“Please go home. I can’t deal with you at the moment. I can’t bear you around. Go. Just go.”
The blonde rushed into his apartment, leaving Steve outside. Steve gulped in hurt. That was way more painful than before. He always thought they were so close to tell each other everything. Hell, he even let Danny know about how his mother has been all motherly and caring towards him and Mary. So why did Danny pushed him away like that? What made him dump Steve like some stranger in the middle of the drive?
