Before We Met

David and Daniel


It was a luxury to have an entire day with David - or at least the 12 hour period that Daniel knew made up the day. It went by too fast, however, and all too soon he found himself dressing, apologizing, speaking of an important meeting with a client that he needed to attend. Promising that it wouldn't take long. If his dark haired lover thought such a meeting was strange at such a late hour, he didn't mention it, saying only that he'd miss him and be waiting for him when he returned.

He didn't think anything of it until after the city had gone to sleep, as he followed Mr. Hand and his posse out of he underground.

There was a figure slumped in a doorway nearby, sleeping with the rest of the city, and as he glanced over, he felt his heart stop. David? Here? Had he followed him? Had he seen them Tune? He looked away quickly, trying not to show any reaction, any indication that this man was any different from the thousands of others in the city, and made a note to be somewhere else when the city woke up, anywhere that didn't involve reappearing out of that door. He finished his work quickly, nervously, falling behind the Strangers like he often did, but that was common. They didn't care, as long as the injections were complete before the Tuning ended, which they always were.

When everything was over with, he hurried back toward where he'd seen David, slowing as he neared the corner, trying to be casual in his approach. His lover had just climbed to his feet and looked more than a little disoriented, running a hand over his face, blinking muzzily.

"David? What are you -- doing here?"

Green eyes looked up, confused. "I... I'm not sure. I... wanted to meet you, but... I think I.... Something happened, I passed out somehow. I must have bumped my head... had the strangest nightmare..."

"What happened?" Daniel asked, steering him gently back to the road, toward his apartment.

"There was this... door, that wasn't there, and then it was there, and these men in black coats drug you through it..." he said slowly, still seeming rather disoriented. "And then the door was gone again, and I beat on the wall until my hands were bloody, but you never came back..." he sighed, and Daniel quickly, discreetly checked his lover's hands, but there was no sign of a struggle.

"I'm here now," he said softly, and his lover gave him a little mournful smile.

"Yes... but you won't be forever."

Daniel gave a soft sigh. He glanced up along the street ahead of them as they walked, and suddenly felt his blood run cold. A few blocks ahead, just close enough to make out, he could see familiar silhouettes - white skin, black hats, long black coats. He fell back behind David, keeping his voice low. "Turn the corner up here. Pretend you don't know me. Act normally, go home. Don't look back, don't wait for me. I'll meet you there -- later."

"What -"

"Go!" He hissed, and reaching the corner, crossed the street to meet them. He didn't dare look back, didn't dare show any sign of familiarity toward the other man and could only pray that his lover had done as he'd asked.

He greeted them as they neared. "Mr -- Hand. You are out late, yes?"

"We could say the same for you, doctor. Strange that you should be in this area."

"I wanted to -- find you. There is work I wished to -- complete tonight. The templates needed for tomorrow are -- complex, they will require more time -- than normal. I would like to complete them now -- if I may."

For a moment, he thought they would call his bluff, but then the Stranger nodded. "Come with Us, then." They started to walk again, and Daniel struggled to keep up. "We passed this way to check on an inconsistency. There was a subject by the door when We left, We are concerned he saw the Tuning."

"There was no one when I -- arrived," he said quickly. "I make sure, always. Perhaps it is simply a -- coincidence?"

"Perhaps. We will change your pickup place, We think. To make sure. Please make sure not to attract attention to yourself, doctor. It would be most inconvenient for Us if you were followed."

"I understand," he replied. They reached the alleyway in question, and he waited patiently while they searched around in their strange way. Then Hand Tuned open a doorway, and he followed them through into the Underneath.

It was some time before he could get away, before he had finished enough work to make his excuse plausible. Then he calmly packed the newly filled syringes away, and made his way back to the surface. He took an indirect path back to David's apartment, stopping quietly every so often to make certain they weren't following. Finally he slipped into the back entrance of his apartment building and up to knock on his door.

He wasn't prepared for the speed at which the door was opened, for David to pull him into his arms, pulling his hat off to bury his face in his hair. "I thought you weren't coming back," he whispered, and Daniel returned his embrace with a little shiver, closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't -- get away any sooner," he breathed, catching David's mouth as he pulled back, kisses trembling, yearning. Trying to push away fear, to take comfort in his embrace. "Love, they -- they saw you, when you followed me."

David paled. "What did they say?"

He shook his head a little. "I played dumb, and they believed me. For now." He looked up at him, searching his eyes, not knowing how to impress on him the severity of the situation. "Love. It is absolutely imperative -- that you never, ever try to follow me again -- and never try to find me."

David nodded slowly, somberly. "I'm sorry... I thought you said it didn't matter...."

"If I come to you, no. It doesn't. But there are certain times and -- circumstances, when they will find out about us -- immediately, if you are with me or -- possibly even near me. They know what you -- look like now, so it is more dangerous than it was -- before. I'm sorry that I cannot -- explain more. Just please believe me, and -- please do as I ask."

His lover looked down, arms tightening around him, voice very soft. "I'm sorry to have put you in danger."

"You didn't know." He reached up to stroke his fingers through his hair, dreading what he needed to do next, stalling as long as he could. "David...."

Green eyes looked up at him again. "Yes?"

He bit his lip. It was a gamble, he knew - trading a week for a hopefully longer time afterward. He would check the records, check the plans for upcoming experiments as soon as he could, but in the end, he wouldn't know for sure when David's number would be up, when he would be scheduled for a new imprint. "Love... I need to lay low for a while. I am sorry."

David looked back at him, eyebrows knitting together just a little. "Lay low?"

He closed his eyes for a moment and nodded. "It is... quite likely that they will check up on me -- within the next few days. I cannot chance being -- near you when they do."

The crease between David's eyebrows deepened, voice very soft when he spoke. "For how long?"

He sighed. "A week, I hope. No longer than a week. Hopefully less." He couldn't gamble more than a week. It was too uncertain, not knowing how much longer this identity had.

The dark haired man closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling in a soft sigh. "I understand. Daniel...." He swallowed hard, bringing his gaze to his again. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to... to cause this."

"I know," he said again, trying to reassure him. "I know you did not mean -- any harm."

David nodded with a soft sigh. "Will it always be like this? Hiding, looking around every corner.... you can't do anything?"

Daniel stepped back, pulling away from him, unable to make himself meet his gaze. "Hiding is all I can do."

"Have you tried? The police -"

"They don't care about that, I have told you -- that. " he murmured, wrapping his arms half around his chest. "You have no idea - what they are capable of."

His lover's lips pressed together tightly, looking helpless, almost frustrated. "Then why the hell did you ever get involved with something like that?"

He looked up, wounded, David's words slicing deep. "You think I - had a choice? They found me. They needed - my skills. I was not given a choice -- in the matter."

"But surely - "

Daniel stared up at him, fighting the urge to lash out angrily against the pain. It wasn't David's fault, he didn't know.... "Doctor Wright. Have you ever had to - suture you own eyelid after it has - been sliced open?"

David swallowed hard, silent for a long moment, and glanced away, ashamed. "No. No, I - I haven't. I'm sorry." He gave a long sigh. "I didn't mean to be angry with you, I'm sorry. Just... what on earth do you do for them, Daniel?"

Daniel closed his eyes, letting his head drop. "I cannot tell you that."

His lover's voice was hardly above a whisper. "Is it legal?"

"It... is not illegal." He sighed, a shudder running through him. "I'm sorry, I -- can't say more. David... please believe me... I did not choose -- this life. If you no longer wish -- to see me... I will understand."

He felt David's arms slip around him, pull him close, press his lips to Daniel's hair. "Don't say that. I can't do without you," he murmured softly. "Didn't mean to upset you. I just hate so much that I can't protect you."

He let himself cling to him, feeling tears sting his eyes, shivering in his arms. "I'm so sorry, David," he whimpered, and gentle hands cupped his face, drawing him up for a trembling kiss.

"Shhh, love... you have nothing to be sorry about."

"I don't know how I can survive without you," Daniel whispered, miserable, closing his eyes as David began to map his face with kisses. Slipping his arms up around his neck, he caught his mouth hungrily, needing to feel, to lose himself in David. "Make love to me before I go," he whispered almost desperately, and David nodded, silently pulling him closer.

They had sex in the front entryway of his apartment, not being able to make it any farther inside, emotion and uncertainty driving them to need the intimacy all the more. Tearing at each others mouths with kisses until Daniel could hardly breathe, pulling clothes off, pushing clothes aside. Daniel was pressed back against the door, lifted, held securely and penetrated, fucked hard and deep, entirely helpless in his lover's arms. He clung to him, body shuddering under the intensity of the sensations, crying out breathlessly with each thrust, loving the total loss of control to someone who would never try to hurt him. Expressing desperate need and desire with hungry kisses instead of words, in the clench of his hands on his lover's skin, loosing himself in him entirely, craving so badly the oblivion he could only find with David.

Afterward they clung to each other silently, leaning back against the door and trading soft, trembling kisses, unwilling to break away, to end the intimacy. Finally David gave a soft sigh, pulling back and finding his discarded shirt, using it to tenderly clean Daniel up, helping him dress.

"You promise that you'll come back?" He asked softly, agony plainly apparent in his eyes.

Daniel nodded, leaning in to kiss him one last time. "I promise. No matter what."

He went about work as normal for a time, hiding the agony of longing and loneliness behind a cold exterior. It was all they expected from him, after all, after so long. He thought he caught sight of Mr. Hand or one of the others, a few times after the tuning when he returned home, but no one confronted him, and after a few days Hand lost the suspicious look, and everything returned to business as usual. Then he began to take quiet chances, and searched through the records, checking for any sign of a need for a subject like David. It was so difficult to know, when he wasn't fully privy to their plans to the information they used to distinguish their subjects, and nothing he found did anything to quell his fears.

Finally, he decided to sneak up to the floor where they kept those records, praying he would be able to find something before they caught him. Part of him - the smallest part, that he fought to suppress - thought that perhaps if he found David's file, he could hide it, misfile it, or somehow keep it out of their hands long enough to let him keep his current identity, stay a spare a little bit longer....

He carried with him a pile of papers, orders for the memory templates he had created over the past few nights and for nights to come. Something to make it look like he had purpose to be there, or so he hoped.

The room was empty when he entered, which wasn't entirely unusual. The experiments were already planned for the next few nights, there would be no need to reference this material for a time. Taking a deep breath, Daniel started to work.

The files were separated by gender, and then numerically, a unique identifier for each subject regardless of what name their imprint had. The Strangers could then find them based on when the last person was imprinted, and what type of role they currently played, but Daniel had none of those abilities and could only look through them all, one by one. Thankfully, the files did bear photos of each subject, something that made his task slightly less hopeless, and as the faces passed before his eyes, he tried not to think, not to remember the dozens of imprints, identities he'd injected each one with.

He'd looked through at least a hundred files when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. One of them, one of the nameless hundreds that never had need or care to talk to him. It took every ounce of courage he had to stay calm, to keep leafing through like he was supposed to be there. Hopefully he wouldn't check with the others, wouldn't tell Mr. Hand....

The Stranger left, and Daniel gave a soft sigh of relief. He had to look faster, before anyone else came. Every inch of him wanted to run, to leave before Hand did find him. But he knew that this might be the only chance he got, once the silent one had conferred with the others he would certainly be kept from ever entering this area again.

He was so focused on getting through the files that it took him a moment to realize that he had passed David's photo, and he flipped back quickly to the file a thrill running through him at the realization of success. Now to hide it....

"Doctor, We have not authorized you to be in this area."

The words jerked him back to reality with a shock of fear, the voice belonging to the only one of them that was more trouble than Hand, and he glanced up over the top of the cabinet he stood behind to confirm his fears. He quickly stuffed David's file into the middle of his paperwork, grabbing a handful of the others and setting them on top of the cabinets, opening several of the other drawers and doing the same. "Mr. Book. I am preparing for the -- Helens experiment, for tomorrow."

The stranger crossed the room and stepped around the bank of files to him to face him, flanked by two of the others, one of which looked rather like the one Daniel had just seen. "Your work does not require these files."

"Not directly," Daniel replied, fingers tightening on the papers in his hands, trying not to let his fear show. "However, the work order mentions a template for a - subject with, ah, self-harm scars." He indicated the top sheet in the stack he held. "So I was looking for a Spare that meets the criteria - "

"We can create scars on anyone We choose, Doctor. Leave this area immediately."

"Ah yes," Daniel said quickly, "but what will you do when half of your -- subjects bare scars on their wrists? I cannot imprint half your city to be -- post-suicidal. Your resources will be -- limited, if you do this. Perhaps it would be best -- to take my advice?"

Book's eyes narrowed slightly, and Daniel only had a split second to steel himself before the blast hit, throwing him off his feet and through the air to slam into one of the file cabinets, which toppled from the blast. The landing knocked the wind out of him, and he gasped for breath, fighting desperately back the blackness that threatened his consciousness, clutching the paperwork tightly. If he passed out, or if he dropped the papers, that would be the end of it.

He managed to get control of himself and climbed stiffly to his feet, body aching, bruised from the fall. He was quietly pleased to see that a side effect of the blow had been to scatter files all over the room from the drawers he had opened and the cabinet that had been knocked over. Some even looked as though they might have fallen down the center void, the tunnel that all the floors opened onto, that ran down to where they kept the Machine. Easy to lose files that way... and a good thing. There was no way he could hide the file now, not without revealing that he'd taken it in the first place. He'd have to take it with him, and pray they wouldn't search his paperwork.

"My apologies, Mr. Book. I will -- return to work, and do as you -- say."

"We will not be so lenient next time," Book said sternly as he passed, and Daniel apologized again, heart beating, trying to behave as calmly as he could.

Even once he was back in his work area, he didn't dare pull the precious file from amidst the other papers, afraid to display any action out of the ordinary when they could be watching him. Thankfully, the silent one that normally helped him with his work disappeared as Daniel was finishing up, and he quickly slipped the file up underneath his vest to snuggle flush against his side before buttoning his coat over the top, and heading back to the surface.

He didn't go straight home as he had planned, but walked the few blocks extra to his office, which existed more for his own research than for seeing actual patients, of which he had none. The experiments themselves were a bit of a farce, nothing more than frivolous things to occupy his time alone. But the library, that was the reason he kept the office.

The Strangers really had no interest in books. The ones throughout the city had, he assumed, all come from the same place that they had, but seemed distributed without any rhyme or reason as to their owners, and were perhaps more for decoration than actual knowledge. His library was the only one that was fully in tact, cataloged, hundreds of books on mainly psychology and the human mind. He had convinced them that they would help him with the experiments, though in reality he used them for nothing more than his own reading and study.

He pulled a volume from the top shelf that was large enough to hide the file in and tucked it inside, then slipped it sideways behind the rest of the books, almost entirely hidden from view. There was no need to read it - he knew who David had been before. The important thing now was to keep him David.

Walking home, he passed within a block of the hospital and sighed, pausing on the street corner to look down toward it longingly. David would be due in the ER soon, and every inch of him ached to go and find him, ached for his kisses, his touch. But if Book had found his performance at all odd, then he was sure they would check up on him, and he couldn't take that risk. So he fought it down, pushed away the loneliness, and turned and headed for home. The file was hidden, so time would be on his side now, if only he could be patient and continue to keep from rousing the Stranger's suspicions.

The walk home was uneventful, and Daniel let himself lose himself to his thoughts. Finally he climbed the steps to his building, waiting in the lobby for the elevator, exhausted in the aftermath of the rush of adrenaline that stealing the file had brought. He entered the elevator as the doors opened, hitting the button for his floor, thinking back to his encounter with Book, analyzing his reactions. Perhaps he'd actually pulled it off, perhaps they wouldn't question his actions....

"Hold the door, please - "Just as the door was closing, he heard a familiar voice, and a dark-haired figure slipped through the gap.

Daniel felt his lips part, staring at him almost disbelievingly, feeling his pulse quicken. "David...."

His lover gave him a soft, tentative smile. "Hello, Daniel." When Daniel didn't respond, he lowered his head, glancing away. "I'm sorry... I didn't intend to follow you. But I saw you come in here on my way to the hospital...." David's eyes turned to his, pleading. "I needed to see you. I'll leave when the elevator stops."

Daniel tried to make himself speak, tried to tell David to go, to tell him he couldn't be sure that it was safe, but all he could think about was how long it had been since he'd seen him, touched him, how much he'd craved the sound of his voice, warm and smooth like cream. So instead, he reached over and hit the button to stop the elevator before slipping his arms up around David's neck and catching his mouth. His lover's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, returning his kisses with a soft groan, and Daniel realized he was trembling against his lover, whimpering almost helplessly into his mouth. "David - "

"Shhh...." Warm hands, stroking his hair, his back, pulling back just enough to look at him, cup his face gently. "God, I missed you so...."

He nodded ever so slightly, still not quite trusting his voice, letting David claim his mouth again, press him back against the wall, breathless and yearning. Letting desire melt the icy knot of fear in his stomach, he arched up against him, fingers tangling in David's dark curls to encourage more kisses, parting his lips to let his lover claim him, pulse racing. So good to taste him again, feel the warm press of his body, to feel David's hands dance over his sides, cup his ass to pull him closer. He didn't resist, letting his hips arch against the other man's, whimpering at the pulse of sensation it sent through him, the delicious friction of rocking slowly against him. David could do anything he wanted right now, Daniel knew, even take him right here, and he wouldn't, couldn't stop him.

"Love - !" He managed to gasp finally, panting softly as his lover pulled back from his kisses.

"Are we safe right now?" His dark haired lover asked softly, and Daniel hesitated, then nodded slowly.

"I think so, for now," he whispered. "For a little while. But you have work...."

"Shhh," David breathed again, running his thumb lightly over Daniel's bottom lip. "Is this where you live?" At Daniel's mute nod, he gave him a small smile, gaze hopeful. "May I come up? I won't stay long."

He couldn't say no, not with his lips still tingling from the kisses he craved so badly. Daniel nodded again, reaching to turn off the emergency stop on the elevator, taking him out as they reached his floor and the doors opened. He found his keys, unlocking the door and opening it, looking up at David as they stepped inside. The longing was worse, far worse now that he was here than when they were apart, and they barely made it to Daniel's couch, falling on each other with desperate kisses, hands yanking at clothing, craving contact, needing to feel. He straddled David's lap, coats and shirts pulled away, rocking his hips slowly against the arousal he could feel through his lover's slacks. He tilted his head back, arching to let David kiss his neck hungrily, stroke and tease and lick the poor rumpled skin of his chest, nipping and sucking at his collarbone hard enough to leave pink spots that had nothing to do with scars.

"My sweet Daniel," he murmured, voice low and throaty, drawing him in to kiss him again, nipping at his bottom lip. His hands slipped down to cup his ass, urge him closer, seeming to very much like the way the blond was almost writhing on his lap, rocking closer, seeking more sensation.

"David," he found himself gasping, stealing his lover's breath with his kisses, fingers buried in dark curls. "Oh god, need you so...." he arched up against David's hand, which had slipped between them to cup his erection, almost painfully constrained by his slacks. His lover tugged them open, teasing him more, moving to kiss the soft spot just behind his ear.

"Come ride me then, love," he breathed, voice low and husky, sending a stronger shock of desire down Daniel's spine to his groin. He pulled away just long enough to slip out of the remain of his clothes and tug down David's pants and boxers, to grab the bottle of lotion from the drawer the side table, which was not ideal but nearby and the closest thing to what he needed anyway in his lonely little apartment. Then he pressed close, straddling his lap just as David had requested, rocking slowly onto him, body arching back with the pleasure of penetration, supported by David's arms wrapped tight around his waist.

It amazed and overwhelmed him, as it always did, the effect that being with David had on him. Giving himself entirely to this man, opening up to him, displaying his vulnerabilities, it all mixed together into the most blissful emotional release, building the physical sensations far more intensely than he ever thought possible. Clinging together, pressed tight to him with his arms around David's shoulders, he buried his face to David's hair, whimpering as they rocked slowly together, then a little faster, a little harder as their passion grew, his erection rubbing agonizingly sweet against the warmth of David's stomach. His lover covered his neck and shoulders in warm kisses, sucking at and teasing his skin, groaning soft and low as he bit at the crook of his neck, sending a beautiful, intense flare of pain down his spine.

He gasped David's name, and the dark haired man pulled back just enough to kiss him, hungry and breathless, bucking up a little more underneath him, moving a hand to bury in Daniel's hair, hold him to the kisses. Daniel moved a little harder, craving more, crying out softly against his lips. His thighs shuddered from the strain of balancing and moving in the unfamiliar position, but this was what he liked best - being so very close to him, bodies pressed tight together as if this act could make them one being, David's arms around him, mouth on his, breathing each others breath.

David's free arm tightened around his hips, helping support him, helping him move harder, their voices mingling in breathless cries of pleasure, losing themselves to the passion and need of being so long apart, sensation building hard and fast and irresistible until it all broke free for both of them, leaving them shivering and breathless in the aftermath of orgasm, holding tightly to the the closeness and intimacy.

"Come meet me tonight," David murmured softly in his ear, stroking gentle fingers through his hair. "Let me sleep with you in my arms...."

He felt his cheeks flush, drawing back to look at him with a soft smile. "I'll do my best."


When David finally left for work, Daniel took a long shower and dressed, then curled up in an armchair by the apartment window to look down at the street below. He still had a few hours before the night would all begin again, but for now, he could relax. The window had never seen sunlight, but still it was nice to have a bit of a view, to watch the cars drive through the streets down below.

There was a book, hidden in amongst all the others on his shelf in his small apartment library, that looked just like the other books. A large medical dictionary, which he had carefully removed the inner pages from and replaced with blank paper, though as it turned out he probably hadn't needed to try and hide it. They'd never, as far as he knew, made any attempt to search his apartment or read his personal notes. He had written in it often, in the first days he could remember here, like it would help him hold onto hope. But he hadn't had reason to write lately, not for a very long time.

Now he wrote about David. About everything they'd done, about how David had somehow known his name when they met. The walks along the river, the way David had first kissed him. He detailed the places they'd been, the way it felt when they made love. He wrote briefly about Anthony, and Michael, and it made him smile. And finally he wrote about how he felt, how alive David made him, the warmth and beauty and hope that had entered his life when he'd given up on ever finding happiness again.

When he finally closed the book, it was almost time to leave, and he tucked it back into its place on the bookshelf with a smile. For the first time in a very long time, the thought of the night's work didn't terrify him. When it was over, he would be able to see David again.


The experiment they were initiating that night involved a woman who'd had an affair, and her husband who was recovering from attempted suicide. It hadn't occurred to him until they were outside, with the city around them asleep, that they would need to visit the hospital to place the male subject, and it made him nervous, anxious to bring the Strangers so close to David, something he tried very to bank down and not display.

It was their last stop for the evening. When they entered, there was nothing out of the ordinary, the waiting room filled with subjects, fast asleep. He stopped at the admitting desk with the smallest member of Hand's posse, the one in the body of the little boy - Sleep - who started to sort through the hospital records, changing and adding to them as needed. The nurse slumped over the desk was his responsibility, and he recognized her from the night he'd come here looking for David. Her imprint would not change her entire persona, just add information about the patient that was needful for their experiment. Injecting her neatly, he tucked the empty syringe back into its place in the bag and started down the hall in the direction the others had gone. He still needed to imprint the subject, and at least two of the hospital staff with knowledge about the situation like he had for the nurse.

He passed the door to the nurses station at a hallway intersection, but stopped as he caught a flick of movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look down the branch of the other hallway, and felt his whole body turn to ice at the identity of the figure that had just exited one of the hall rooms, the person dear than anyone in the world to him... who was very much awake.

The dark haired man saw him too, and started toward him quickly. "Daniel? How did you get in here? What are you doing here?"

"Shhh!" He moved without another thought, rushing to meet him and clamping a hand over his mouth, voice a low hiss to keep him from fighting. "Don't say another word. It's not safe." He glanced around, then dragged him into the nurses station, shutting the door behind him. There were small television monitors there, he discovered with relief, which showed the hallways surrounding the station. He'd only have a few minutes before they came looking for him, and he knew he had to act fast. It was almost unheard of, for a subject to resist the order to sleep during the tuning, but when they did, the Strangers called them strays, and hunted them tirelessly until the subject was found and executed.

"What did you see?" he hissed, eyes darting to the television monitors and back to his lover.

David's voice was very low, and very tight, almost factual, trying to keep away any emotion. "The nurse I was with passed out with no warning and fell to the floor. The patient we was examining did, too. And everyone else I've run into, everyone but you. There's nothing immediately wrong with them, but they won't wake up." His voice quavered at that, and he drew a few deep breaths, though Daniel could see his hands clench into fists at his sides. He looked to the monitors as well, keeping his voice just above a whisper. "What are you watching for?"

"My employers," Daniel murmured without a second thought, more than a little afraid of being overheard. "I don't have -- much time. I need you to lay on the floor -- pretend to be sleeping like them -- and don't move until you hear the hospital -- come back to life."

"Come back to life? Daniel, what is going on? These people collapsed - "

He tore his eyes away from the screen, meeting David's gaze, pleading, trying not to panic. "I need you to -- trust me. Please, love. Hurry."

Green eyes narrowed slightly, voice angry. "I'm not doing anything until you tell me what's going on."

"I will explain everything later -- I promise!" He turned back to the monitors and caught a flash of movement at the end of one of the halls. "Get down!"

"Daniel - "

He set his bag up on the counter, opening it up and fumbling for and grabbing for one of the syringes in a panic. He wouldn't, could never inject it into David, but he had to come up with some reason to have been in here.... "Get down or they -- will kill you! Please!"

The dark haired man dropped to his knees, eyes widening as he saw the syringe. "What is that?" He made a grab for it, but Daniel had already flipped the device open, and as David tried to wrench it from him, the syringe activated, piercing his palm. Daniel yanked it back in a panic, though not before half the contents had been injected under his skin.

David drew a sharp, shuddering breath, but held in the cry of pain, clutching his hand tightly. "What the hell - "

"Get down!" Daniel squirted the rest toward the corner of the room quickly, pushing him back with strength he didn't know he had, onto his back to sprawl on the floor. He glanced up at the monitor. Hand and Quick were only a few doors away. "Lay still and don't move -- no matter what!" he hissed, using the empty syringe to pierce the skin of his forehead just enough to draw blood, just as the door opened.

"Doctor. You're running late. You must hurry."

David, to his credit, lay perfectly still, eyes closed and breath even. Daniel got back to his feet carefully, forcing himself to be calm despite being more frightened than he'd ever been in his life, his heart beating fast and furious, and tucked the empty syringe back in the bag. "My apologies. I had difficulty locating -- the doctor we needed."

Hand glanced behind him briefly. "He is bleeding," he observed with a note of disapproval. "You have been careless, doctor. Clean it up and complete the work in room 302. You have five minutes."

"Of course," he replied, stomach tying itself in knots, wishing they would just leave.

"Until tomorrow night, then, Doctor," Mr Hand spoke before turning. "Be Prompt. We have the imprints for the Murdoch experiment to prepare."

He nodded, giving a little shiver. They seemed a little more interested in murderers and hookers than he felt was healthy at the current moment, both of which he despised creating, and the plans for this experiment included both. He took a cotton ball from his bag, moistening it with a touch of rubbing alcohol, watching the figures retreat as he knelt down again. "Stay still, don't move yet," he murmured softly under his breath. "Meet me at the bar on the corner -- by my apartment. If I'm not there by -- two am, then you know they've -- found me out." Standing, he grabbed his bag and left, schooling his expression to mask the bone-chilling fear inside.

He finished up and left the hospital quickly through a fire escape, just as the world around him was starting to wake up. As much as every inch of his being wanted to rush back to David, he forced himself to keep moving like nothing had happened, to return home, tucking the bag in its place under the table in the hall and having a drink of water to calm his trembling nerves. He forced himself to wait at home for half an hour, then put his coat and hat back on, heading downstairs and walking to the little bar on the corner.

He spotted David at a table at the back, sipping a glass of amber liquid over ice, and made his way over to him, slipping into the chair next to him. "How's your hand?" he asked softly as the man looked over at him, expression guarded, none too happy.

His lover held it out to him, palm up. There was a little bruising, but no swelling. "I think it will be ok, it doesn't hurt and I'm not feeling any effects for the moment. I trust that whatever was in that syringe wasn't harmful?"

He shook his head. "No, no. It should break down -- harmlessly."

"Care to explain what it is you stuck me with? What does it do?"

He flushed darkly, looking up as a waitress approached them, and ordering two more of whatever David happened to be drinking. "It was -- an accident, I'm sorry...." He lowered his head with a soft sigh. "You are familiar with -- sodium thiopental, yes?"

Green eyes widened. "It was truth serum?"

"No, no," he said quickly, recoiling a little from his anger without meaning to. "But the idea is -- similar. It is meant only for -- direct cranial injection, however. It should have no effect on you in this case."

"What does it do, Daniel?" The man asked again, pointedly.

He closed his eyes for a moment, rehersing the information he'd planned in his mind. "It... disrupts short term memory storage and -- leaves the patient open to -- hypnotic suggestion."

"It what?!"

He held up his hands, more than a little frightened at his anger. "Please -- I will explain, just -- please, keep your voice -- low...."

His lover's lips pursed, pressed tightly together, but he nodded. "I'm listening."

"It's my -- employers." He leaned closer, mouth almost pressed to his ear, wanting to be sure that the music would mask anything he said to anyone nearby. "They are a shadow branch of the government," he said softly, fighting down the guilt that washed over him at the onset of the lie. "They develop and test -- vaccines against biological warfare agents -- that have been stolen from the soviets. At least, that is the official mandate. There are other things, things that I -- don't even want to know about. When they are finished with a -- subject, I must ensure that their -- reprogramming is successful. Then the subject is returned to the -- real world. That is what we were doing -- just now, at the hospital. They take care of the paperwork, they take care of everything, like nothing ever -- happened."

His lover turned to look at him, and Daniel was silent for a long moment, letting him take it in, praying that it wasn't so far from reality that the doctor wouldn't be able to accept it. As horrible as he felt for lying, it was the best scenario that he could come up with that would both impress the severity of the situation on him while still being believable.

"The entire hospital was asleep," David said finally. "How...."

"They have access to some very -- advanced technology, extremely secret chemical -- technology. Advanced enough to target an entire building -- to sleep for a very -- specific amount of time. A very advanced form -- of anesthesia. A substance that we have -- been made immune to. Something that, it seems, you -- are naturally immune to. If they find out about this -- it will be very, very bad for you." He closed his eyes with a shudder, not having to fake his fear. "I'm so sorry, David. I never meant to -- put you in danger."

His lover shook his head slowly. "No - no, if you hadn't been there tonight, they would have seen me, not you." He let his hand rest on Daniel's under the table. "I'm sorry I was angry with you."

He gave his head a little shake. "It's all right. They frighten me -- too. David..." he turned more towards him, catching his eyes, trying to wordlessly impress on him the urgency of the situation. "If it happens again.... please promise me that you will -- behave like everyone else, until you see them -- wake up. Please."

The dark haired man lowered his face, nodding slowly, leaning closer. "I will. I'm sorry, love. I can tell that it terrifies you." He hesitated. "Do you think we can go home?"

He smiled, feeling a soft warmth flow through his body at his words. "Yes. Please. Go ahead, I will follow you shortly. Safer to travel alone, for a while, I think. Until I can be sure that they -- aren't watching."

Green eyes looked up to his, concerned. "If it's not safe...."

He shook his head slowly. "I think it should be -- fine. David, I - " He stopped, shivering a little, lowering his eyes. "I can't do this without you -- anymore."

David smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "I will always be here for you, love."

Daniel closed his eyes, shivering a little under his touch, wishing so badly that he could be sure of that. But perhaps... perhaps they really would have time. Perhaps he could keep him safe, keep him off the Stranger's radar indefinitely. He looked back at David, giving him a warm smile. "And I for you. As long as it is within my -- power."

It struck him, then, that this was what everything really meant, what all their time together had lead to. It was more, now, then just a love affair. More than a limited time to make memories together. More than rings exchanged as keepsakes. Somehow, when he'd never expected it, he'd found this wonderful man who was willing to be with him regardless of everything, all the hardships, all the darkness. Even now, knowing what was as close to the truth about him as anyone in this city could know. Someone that he would do anything for, anything to keep safe. Stealing the file, hiding David during the Tuning, he would have never chanced to do anything like that just for himself. But he had someone to protect now.

He realized that David was watching him with a little questioning look, and he smiled, feeling the most heartbreakingly wonderful affection for him. "Head home, love. I will be there -- soon."

David nodded, stretching. "At least the bartender won't have to kick us out this time."

Daniel turned to him sharply. "What?"

"Last time we were here, remember? We drank until last call...." He gave a soft chuckle under his breath. "I was so hungover the next morning."

Daniel stared at him silently for a long moment, lips parted. They'd never been here, not this time around. Not since... not since Michael. He caught himself and forced a smile to cover the shock. "Yes. Perhaps it is good that you -- are not normally a drinker, yes?"

David grinned, and stood. "No kidding. See you soon."

When he returned to David's apartment, it was almost like nothing had happened other than their separation, which they made up for in David's front entryway with frantic need, taking pleasure and comfort in the display of physical desire. Afterward they curled in bed, talking softly for hours, enjoying the intimacy, having a light dinner that David threw together in his kitchen. Eventually they made love again, drawn together by mutual need and desire. It was less frantic this time, but just intense, exploring and claiming each others bodies entirely with their hands and lips before coupling, slowly driving mutual pleasure to a deep, shuddering release.

David nuzzled his hair afterward, arms around him, voice warm and sleepy. Happy. "Love you Daniel," he murmured softly. "Always and always..."

"And I you," he replied, stifling a yawn. "No matter what -- happens. Promise...." With that, he let himself drift off to sleep, warm and safe.


~~~TBC~~~