Fic: Careful! This path you're on has some dangerous curves! Part 2
Title: Careful! This path you’re on has some dangerous curves! Part 2
Author: t_boo
Pairing: Matt/Danny,
Summary: Danny's in trouble, Matt's seen the signs before.
Rating: R, Slash, this chapter is VERY tame.
Word Count: 1600+
Disclaimer: Work of fiction, ya know fiction...not real!
**Not beta'd , so the poor grammar is all me.
***Feedback/Concrit is love, but please be kind as I’m very new to this and well, we should all just be nice to each other. So there! (hehe)
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It was a good show. It had some glitches of which only Matt seemed to be aware, but that was the case almost every show. He was hyper aware, because for the most part, he wrote every word and stage direction used during the show. He notices when something isn’t right. Tonight it was only tiny things that if Matt were to bring up to Danny, he’d roll his eyes and look at Matt like he was crazy. So, this time he won’t say anything.
Danny comes in and says, “Good show,” just like he does after every show. The show could have been the worst ever, but Danny will say it anyway.
“Yeah, it was. Are we going to the wrap party?”
Danny turns around from mixing Matt’s drink with a perplexed look, “Don’t we always? I just want to stop by for a few minutes. Cal asked if we wanted to go out somewhere a little less Studio 60.”
Matt watches Danny perform the little ritual he’s kept up with every since leaving rehab the last time. Technically, Danny’s not an alcoholic, but alcohol can and has lead him into dangerous waters. So, he just can’t have it anymore, no question. He says it doesn’t add to his temptation to do it, it actually makes him feel less restricted, somehow. Matt doesn’t really get it, but it seems to make Danny happy to do it, so he isn’t going to argue. Matt’s eyes widen as Danny brings the drink up to his mouth, but before he can say anything, Danny lowers the glass and hands it to Matt. It was all so quick that he’s not even sure it happened. Did Danny almost take a sip of his drink? Matt lets it go because he can’t be sure and almost doesn’t count.
“Less Studio 60? What does that mean?”
“I guess just a bar where there’s not a big chance of running into Jack or Wilson White or … you get the picture. I think he wants to have fun and not be on guard for his bosses all night long. So, that’s what we’re doing,” he says decisively.
“Well, what about us, were his bosses?” Matt says just to be argumentative. He knows what Cal means, he want to have a good time without the possibility of doing something embarrassing or termination worthy. The chances of that happening with Matt and Danny are pretty slim. “Nah, I think I’m going to go home after the wrap party, I’m tired and my back is acting up a little. Is that okay with you?”
Danny rolls his eyes at Matt, “Your just saying that to be difficult. You should be thrilled he’s not lumping you into the same category with Jack. “Your back is hurting?” He walks over to where Matt is standing looking out the window and begins to rub Matt’s back.
“Yeah, a bit. Think I’m going to get home and jump into the hot tub. You go, though.”
Danny looks worried, “I think I should…”
“…Go. You should go, I’m just going home, doing the hot tub thing and going to bed. Nothing exciting, ok.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Promise you’ll call if you need anything.”
Matt laughs, “Okay mom, I will. To quote this guy I know, “Don’t worry about it.”
Danny chuckles, “Yeah, okay… I’ll do my best. It’s hard to practice what you preach."
Matt laughs at that and then says, “Ready to hit the party, get that part of the night over with?”
“Yep," he says giving Matt a quick kiss, “ lets go.”
Matt heads home after their short stay at the party to spend some much needed time in the hot tub. By the time he gets out, he feels like a new man. His back pain is all but gone and he’s feeling surprisingly energetic. He knows where the guys were planning on going tonight, so he decides to surprise Danny and meet them there.
It’s easy to locate the Studio 60 bunch; he just has to follow the loud, obnoxious voices. He stands in the doorway of the bar and watches for a moment. He finds Danny, his back is to him and he’s sitting next to Sam. Don’t they look cozy, he thinks letting his possessive side out for a moment. He shakes his head as if shaking off that thought and heads toward the table. Halfway there, Cal notices him, but keeps quiet when Matt raises a finger to his lips in the universal quiet sign. Just as Matt is about to sit down, Sam takes a glass of clear liquid from the waitress and pushes it towards Danny. Danny takes a sip of it without hesitation. Water…ugh, Matt thinks, why doesn’t he at least order a coke, something with flavor. To each his own, he thinks.
“I’m going to have to ask you people to leave. We’ve had several complaints about the noise level from other patrons,” he says to make his presence known.
Danny turns quickly in his seat, a few expressions running across his face, happiness, surprise and …well, Matt’s not sure what the last one is… anxiety, maybe. There’s a chorus of hello’s and your late's, but one voice is singled out from all of those.
“Matt, you came. I thought your back was hurting?”
“I did and it was. I got out of the hot tub and felt better, so I decided to join the in - crowd." They all scoot chairs so Matt can sit next to Danny. Matt reaches for Danny’s drink, “You could at least order a coke, you know something with flavor,” he remarks.
Danny grabs the glass, “No, you shouldn’t drink from my glass, I think I’m getting sick,” he says hoping Matt will buy the excuse, but knowing he won’t. After all, unbeknownst to everyone there, they share germs and everything else on a regular basis.
He scoffs at that, “Danny…” and says nothing else, just gives him a pointed look.
Danny slumps down in his seat and looks away as Matt takes a drink.
The minute the liquid hits his tongue; Danny’s hesitation to share is understood. Vodka… Matt’s emotions and memories are off and running. He’s remembering all the late night calls from bouncers from bars where Danny had been kicked out… so wasted he couldn’t even remember where his car was. He remembers the nights of Danny’s temper raging because he was unable to get in contact with his dealer and he needed a fix…right now! He remembers the promises to quit and all the times he couldn’t. Most of all, he remembers the call from the hospital where Danny lay on the operating table bleeding to death, only brought back from the brink by the grace of God, because according to the doctors, Danny should be dead. He promised himself then that he wouldn’t go through all that ever again. The lapse right before they took over Studio 60 was minor and Danny seemed to be right back on track with meetings and talk to his sponsor. Matt let it go, Danny seems under control and honestly they never really had time to sit down and really talk it out. But this…the drinking, it’s a bad sign. Each time he’s failed at sobriety in the past always started with just one drink, no big deal. Matt recognizes the path Danny’s on, even if Danny doesn’t. Well, he’s not staying around for the show, this time. He told Danny the last time, before rehab, that it was the very last time he would go through this, if there was a next time, he would be gone and he’d meant it. Obviously, Danny was able to get his act together. This time, Matt still means it and he hopes...nope not going to hope, he knows from experience that hope can hurt too damn much.
“Yeah, you know, I’m feeling a little sick, too. I think I’m going to head home.” His announcement is met with another chorus of voices, but this time it’s, already’s, you just got here’s and party pooper comments.
He says his goodbyes, promising to go out with everyone another time. He turns to leave, but at the last minute leans really close to Danny, “No need for mouthwash tonight, huh?”
Danny spins around to face him, "Don’t go, Matt."
Matt looks at him and shakes his head sadly, “You’re the one who opened the door again, Danny, it must be what you want."
Danny knows Matt’s not talking about leaving the restaurant and his stomach flips so violently he thinks he’s going to be sick right there at the table. "Wait, I’ll come with you," he says hoping Matt will let him.
Matt lets him pull him closer, “No, you need to go to your house tonight. Don’t come over; don’t call, do you understand?" He says firmly. That’s what he says out loud, what he really wants to do is grab Danny and shake him so hard, as if shaking him would trigger some sort of reset button in Danny’s brain. He wants to beg him to come home with him and tell him that everything will be okay because Matt is going to fix everything. If only, Matt thinks, it would never work… never.
Danny pulls back from Matt, looks him in the eye and nods, “Okay, got it,” Danny says firmly, only Matt would ever notice the hitch in his voice. "I guess I’ll just see you at work tomorrow, then.”
“Good,” and with that he turns around and walks out. When he reaches his car, he starts shaking and can feel the panic setting and the tears trying to escape his eyes. He pulls out his Blackberry, quickly locates the number he’s looking for and dials, “Narcotics Anonymous, how can I help you?” Matt lets out a shaky sigh, “ I need to find a meeting …”
To be continued