Hearts Under Fire (23 page)

“Does he need medical attention?”

“No, sir.”

“He terminated the madman?”

“Yes, sir.” Clark smiled at Whitaker’s way of speaking. He made some of the more deadly military men Clark knew look positively warm and cuddly.

“I’ll escort you to a car, clear a path, and have Sorenson get you to the station. I don’t want the leeches on our hero until he’s out of shock.”

“Agreed, sir,” Clark said, catching Daniel as he stumbled. “I need --”

“We’ll bring you provisions once you’re safe in the car.”

“Thank you, sir. And I’m not going to --”

“Leave him?” Whitaker finished, cutting Clark off as his long strides took him two paces ahead to grab the back door handle on the unmarked cruiser. “I suspected you wouldn’t. And shouldn’t.” Whitaker’s cold, clear eyes met Clark’s, and each man nodded in silent agreement and mutual understanding. Then Whitaker looked at Daniel.

“You have my respect, Professor Germain. And gratitude.”

Daniel looked up wide-eyed at the huge man and ducked his head in acknowledgement. “Thank you. It was... I had to, but you’re very welcome anyway.”

“I will see to it that this goes as easy on you as possible.” Whitaker tried to smile, and Clark nearly fell over in shock.

“You get emotional on me, Isaac, and I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it,” Clark teased, easing Daniel into the car.

The chief gave Clark a look that could reap entire fields of wheat. “Get him in the car, Clark.” Whitaker spat the name, but it sounded mostly good-natured.

“Yes, sir.” Clark bodily moved Daniel and braced his arm and torso so he could lean as much as necessary to get into the back seat. Daniel started to shake all over. Clark slid in next to Daniel, holding him again, and Whitaker shut them inside the car, which blissfully dampened the clamor.

“God, I hate feeling this weak.” Daniel sighed. “Did I just hear you tease the chief? And here I thought you just did that kind of stuff with me.”

Clark rearranged the professor on his chest and laughed softly. “I know Isaac fairly well. He’s a semi-regular at Break.”

Daniel blinked slowly at Clark. “Break. The chief?” He groaned and leaned against Clark. “You’ve just... what did I get myself into, again?”

“True love and hero worship,” Clark said, hands roaming in a soothing dance over Daniel’s hair, back, and arms.

Daniel rested against Clark. “Mm... okay. And here I was thinking it was playing games with trolls and minor gods like Lucian...” He sighed and nuzzled Clark’s shoulder. “That does feel good.”

Clark sucked in a breath that hissed through his teeth, and he trembled. “Scared the shit out of me,” he said quietly. “So help me, I’m not letting you go for a single --”

There was a polite knock on the cruiser window, and Clark had Daniel wrapped against him with arms in a vise-like hold before he even knew what he did. The door opened, and Sorenson knelt down next to the backseat. Clark jerked his head over one shoulder.

“Sorry,” Sorenson said apologetically. “I just brought you this.” In his hands, he held an assortment of food and a pack of cleaning wipes. Under his arm, he had both a bottle of water and a bottle of Gatorade.

Daniel grunted and gently stroked Clark’s arm as he said to Sorenson, “That looks surprisingly tasty right now.” Clark relinquished most of his hold, keeping one hand on Daniel’s side. Daniel held out his hands. “Thanks, this should help a lot.”

“No problem,” Sorenson said, looking at Clark with respect. “It’ll probably be a minute or two before we head out, so don’t go anywhere.” Without waiting for a response, he stood and shut the door.

Turning to Daniel, Clark offered a hesitant smile. “Sorry,” he said. “Not quite as stable as I thought.”

“No reason to be sorry,” Daniel answered. “Right now, you make me feel safe, and I don’t mind.”

Clark kissed Daniel’s cheek. He cracked open the bottle of Gatorade and paused, looking at Daniel’s blood-covered hands. “Get yourself cleaned up a little, first.”

“Yeah. I need it.” Breaking open the wet wipes, Daniel got the blood off his hands. He only managed to get halfway up his forearms before the wipes grew gory. “I’m glad the jail has a shower. I just have to hope they’ll let me use it before the paperwork.” Daniel huffed a laugh. “Too bad it’s very unlikely they’d let us shower together.”

Protectiveness flicker-flared in Clark. “They might not let us shower together, but I’ll be there with you, and it’ll take twenty of them to try and stop me,” Clark grumbled. He handed over the Gatorade. “Not letting you get out of my sight. Period.” He looked at Daniel with a level gaze.

“Let’s try to keep the fighting twenty at once to a minimum, hm? We can make it work more smoothly than that,” Daniel said, with more of his usual calm. He swallowed Gatorade.

“I’m hoping that since I’ve already explained myself to the chief, it won’t be necessary to take on the entire force. Maybe just half.” Now Clark smiled, one hand smoothing over Daniel’s arm.

Shadows warned Clark that someone was approaching the car, and he didn’t jerk this time when both front doors opened and Sorenson and the other officer from the second floor climbed into the front seat.

“You good back there, Danny Boy?” the elder officer asked from behind the wheel, eyes up in the rear view mirror.

Daniel grinned. “Yeah. Thanks, Adams. I’m all set with snacks and everything.”

Adams chuckled. “We’ll find you a juice box when we get to the station, kiddo.”

Clark laughed, relaxing as he finally began to understand how deeply the connection ran between his lover and the police force. He thanked God for small kindnesses and promised the man upstairs that he’d get directions to a church after the dust settled and Daniel was okay.

Chapter 12

The ride to the station was quick, and Clark watched Daniel eat and drink along the way. He kept one hand on some part of Daniel the entire time, unable to break the contact. Adams, Sorenson, and Daniel chatted when Daniel wasn’t leaning against Clark with his eyes closed, and Clark focused on anticipating what came next.

At the station, he helped Daniel out of the car and was delighted when Daniel allowed it. He couldn’t help the kisses to Daniel’s temple or the rub of his hand on Daniel’s back, and even though it raised some eyebrows, no one said a harsh word. The fact that Clark glared at anyone who even dared part their lips while they walked through the maze of desks and counters and holding rooms might have accounted for some of their discretion.

Adams had no problem letting Daniel wash up in the men’s room, and after taking one look at Clark and rolling his eyes, Adams let Clark in with Daniel. The professor kept an affectionate smirk while Clark guarded the door like a vindictive gargoyle. Clark didn’t like letting go of Daniel while he stripped off his shirt, tossed it into the garbage, and washed his arms, face, and neck, but Clark begrudgingly allowed it after checking every stall and crevice.

When Daniel was cleaner and looking more himself, they left the men’s room, and Sorenson appeared with a t-shirt too big for Daniel. Clark looked at Sorenson with new measures of gratitude and respect while Daniel put on the clean shirt.

Hands back on Daniel, Clark followed Sorenson into a holding room: a big table, a few chairs, and even a window. There were refreshments -- coffee and water -- and once again, Clark gave looks that dared anyone to ask him to leave. No one did, and Clark gradually relaxed in his chair next to Daniel’s. The professor stole Clark’s hand to hold while he gave his statement, told the entire story beginning-to-end, twice, and reluctantly let go of Clark while he signed paperwork. Clark had never been so proud in his life.

“All right, then,” Adams said, once Daniel signed for the sixth time. “I think this is all we need.” He smiled, eyes kind and gentle. “You did a brave thing today, son.”

Daniel grinned lopsidedly back. “Thanks. I kept thinking it’d be a shame if I didn’t do what you all taught me when I was a kid. Keep my head, do what’s safe, keep others safe. I guess it’s ingrained, now.”

Adams nodded and pointed a finger at Daniel. “I mean it, kiddo. Not everybody could do that. You were lucky, sure, and maybe a little stupid.” He glanced at Clark when the man snorted. “But the entire city’s going to be talking about you and how you saved the guard and kept anyone else from getting hurt.” Adams shook his head.

“Probably throw you a damned parade,” Sorenson said with a wry grin.

Daniel blinked. “No,” he said in horror. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I wish he was,” Clark spoke up. “But you’re going to be the media’s darling.”

Adams nodded seriously. “The press already got wind of what happened. Heard them talking about a professor taking out the madman in a... how’d they put it?” he asked Sorenson.

“’Show of heroism, bravery, and selflessness the likes of which this city’s not seen in years,’ I think,” said Sorenson.

“Oh, God,” Daniel said, his head thumping onto the tabletop. “You can... oh, just shoot me now. That’s such a load of bullshit. I was just... what the hell was I supposed to do? Run when I’d found a way to get armed? That’s just
stupid
.”

Clark laughed and petted Daniel’s back. “See what happens when you do a good deed and save lives?”

“Takes you straight to hell,” Adams said solemnly. “They’ll probably want to put him on that... what’s that blonde woman’s name who’s got the talk show? The lesbian lady?”

Now Daniel groaned in earnest.

“Ellen DeGeneres, sir,” Sorenson said helpfully.

“Right. Probably put ‘im on that show.” Adams grinned at Clark.

“Maybe even Oprah,” Clark said with a sigh. “Book deal...”

Daniel glared at Clark.

“Movie,” Adams said.

“Definitely,” Sorenson replied.

“Now I wish I did have the evil eye,” Daniel muttered.

“Maybe they’ll even --” Sorenson started, but stopped when they heard yelling in the hallway, inarticulate but coming closer.

“That’s McGaverty,” Adams said.

“Yep,” Sorenson agreed.

“Sir!” McGaverty said, closer now and sounding pissed and worried. “I know you think you can do whatever the hell you want, but damnit, they’re taking a statement in there and that room’s off --” The voice abruptly ceased.

Sorenson pushed away from the wall with his hand on his holster, eying the door. Adams stood and did the same. Clark pushed himself and Daniel back from the table, bodily blocking Daniel in a swift movement built on instinct and fear at the anger and worry in the officer’s voice. He started to stand, and the door opened. Sorenson made to draw, but they all stopped dead when Lucian Gray walked into the room followed by Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum -- one of the two bodyguards who pulled double duty by guarding the doors at Break.

Clark blinked. The vision of Lucian in an exquisitely tailored, dark-gray suit filled the entire room. His long hair was pulled back from his face, his arms were relaxed at his sides...

...but his expression was all thundercloud and carefully-restrained lightning bolts.

Daniel peeked out from behind Clark’s shoulder and gulped. “Small gods indeed.”

Lucian said nothing. His eyes locked on Clark’s face.

“Uh... hi?” Clark said, moving to stand next to Daniel, arm loosely around his waist.

With a snarl and a curl of a thin upper lip, Lucian crossed the room and was around the table in four long strides. Lucian grabbed a shocked Clark by his shirt, shoved him back into the seat, and then bent to kiss him squarely on the mouth.

Clark’s eyes went wide, and his hands opened and closed as he tried to sort this out.

Daniel’s jaw dropped.

“And just like that, Bailey’s dreams for his daughter’s runner-up potential husband are shot to shit,” Adams said.

“You
ass
,” Lucian said, pulling away to glare at Clark.

“The hell did I do?” Clark gasped when he found his voice, and felt Daniel touch his shoulder.

Lucian’s features settled into his version of irritation: chilly gray eyes and flaring, dainty nostrils. “I’m running damage control over a bartender escorting a heroic professor from the scene of a murderous rampage,” Lucian began. “The reporters are trying to figure out what the owner of Glow, Bliss -- and yes, Break -- was doing on-scene. They’re trying to connect it to something larger, and it’s taking every ounce of my considerable control to manage my position. Father is apoplectic over the entirety of the day and over your connection to me.” Lucian’s sculpted eyebrows went up and down. Clark swallowed.

“I won’t sleep for a solid week, and I’m tempted to ask your looming lover here if I can take it out on your hide, Maxwell.” Lucian glared, and Clark didn’t know if he should be irritated, amused, worried, or, what, exactly.

“And you,” Lucian said, standing upright and looking at Daniel. “I want to thank you for giving this city something to cheer about after such a tragedy, but I must confess, I also want to tie you to something rigid while I explain how I feel about you putting Clark and yourself into danger.” He sighed a shaky breath, stepped closer to Daniel, and kissed the professor lightly on the cheek.

“Think we should... give them the room, sir?” Sorenson asked, sounding bewildered.

“And leave the hero at the hands of the merciless political machine and miss the show? Hell no,” Adams replied.

“I didn’t... uhm... mean to?” Daniel ventured. “The danger part, anyway. Is there anything we can do to help?”

Lucian surprised Clark by taking Daniel’s hand and squeezing it as he put the other on Clark’s shoulder and spoke in a slow, carefully-measured voice. “You will help me, most assuredly. First: know that the DA would be a madman to try to prosecute any portion of what you did today, Daniel. Won’t happen, so if that was... a minor worry, then let it cease.”

Daniel nodded, and Clark breathed easier, looking at little Luke in wonderment. It was his day to be proud of everyone he loved, apparently.

“Second: do not return to your homes. The press is swarming, and you don’t need such things.” Lucian tilted his head. “Clark knows where to go.”

Clark thought about it for a second and then nodded.

“Third: you will do an interview with members of the press in a venue that I select at a later date,” Lucian said to Daniel. “Small press conference, really, and Clark will be there.” He said the last with shades of irritation, and Clark shut his mouth.

“It’ll be after things settle.” Lucian sighed. “Now then. I must get back to the public eye. But I’m...” He sighed and showed more vulnerability than Clark had seen in years with a slight tremble of his shoulders and shaky voice. “Glad you’re all right. Both of you.”

Clark stood and hugged Lucian, who was, after all, a young man. Brilliant, entirely too worldly, and a cold, calculating bastard, yes, but also his friend. “Thank you,” Clark said into Lucian’s ear, and the mayor’s son made a soft noise and withdrew from both men, regal façade shimmering and settling like silk over his features.

“Of course,” Lucian said, releasing Daniel’s hand and stepping toward the door. “Oh,” he added, turning with his eyes down and a smile playing on his lips. “When these men are through with you, I have a car for you in the alley. The press might still manage to get close, but I would imagine these upstanding examples of our police force will want to get you both safely into a car and away with minimal fuss.”

Sorenson shifted, frowning. Adams merely smiled and said nothing to Lucian, as if he knew better.

“Excellent,” Lucian said, and took his leave with one hand in his pocket and long hair swishing over the fabric of his suit.

Clark blew out a breath. Daniel sighed, leaned against Clark, and said conversationally, “It is nice to have princes that like us. I think.”

Clark wrapped both arms around Daniel and contemplated. The peace of this moment in comparison to the rest of the day was insane by its contrast, and Clark felt a knot of tension slowly begin to unravel between his shoulder blades.

Adams pushed off the wall and rested his elbows on the back of a chair. “Interesting company you’ve fallen into, Danny Boy.”

Nodding, Daniel slid his arms about Clark. “Seems to be. I had some idea, I think, but it’s getting real today. Maybe to everyone’s benefit, but it’s dizzying.”

McGaverty appeared in the doorway, a scowl on his face and pale skin lit with an angry flush. “His Majesty has left the fucking building,” he grumbled. “And there’s an unmarked car in the alleyway. I suppose that’s for them?” he asked, nodding to Daniel and Clark.

Adams straightened with a sigh. “It is. And we’re pretty much done here. I want one of our cars as escort as they go to...” He turned to Clark.

“The Magnolia,” Clark supplied. “Considering its clientele, the security is tight. There’s an underground garage with a guarded gate that won’t allow press or anyone else through without proper reservation and identification.”

“Good,” Adams said. “Then you’re free to go.” He smiled. “I’ll give Bailey your regards, Daniel.”

Clark immediately starting walking toward the door, arm around Daniel and watching him closely to make sure he was okay.

***

Watching Clark work with the chief and Lucian had changed Daniel’s inner model of Clark. Fitting together all the stories with what he knew of the lover in his bedroom, he was forcibly reminded of his dream with the tiger. Clark was as much a force of nature as the demi-gods of New Amsterdam’s politics, and he was glad there had been no clash with his police family, the safety net of his childhood.

Walking down the familiar hallway, Daniel remembered peeking through wire- reinforced windows while running around with the pack of policemen’s kids. He remembered crouching under desks during hide and seek, going to the hospital to visit injured patrolmen with his aunt, the scent of burned gunpowder, the taste of doughnuts and well-sugared coffee white with cream, struggling prisoners shouting obscenities, and the perfectly-pressed front desk officer there to greet it all.

As they neared the end of the hallway, Daniel picked up his pace when he saw a familiar, slender figure leaning against the front desk. “Mary!”

“Danny! You idiot!” The short, salt-and-pepper-haired woman collided with Daniel, threw her arms around him, and squeezed until he couldn’t breathe. “You moron. You...” Mary shook him, hugged him, and started in again without losing a breath. “Calling me like that again! You’re damned lucky Bailey reported your status when he found you, or I’d have hunted you down. Damnit. Let me look at you.”

She abruptly pushed Daniel away from her and twirled a finger. He held his arms out and turned for her, with a sheepish grin at Clark. “Good?” he asked.

“Good,” she said with a sigh, walked up to him, and poked him in the shoulder. “Don’t. Do. That. To. Me. Again.”

Clark stepped next to Daniel. “Yes, let’s listen to the nice lady, shall we?” Clark quipped, a sly smile showing dimple and upper teeth.

Daniel rolled his eyes and leaned into Clark. He saw Mary’s eyes catch that motion and go wide, then she grinned at him. She tilted her head in Clark’s direction, and he nodded.

“Mary, this is Clark. Clark, this is Mary Innes. She’s... family. She’s the voice that gets everyone through the fire.” Daniel sighed and gave Mary another hug. This time she returned it, and he felt her tremble just a tiny bit. “Thanks,” he said softly.

Gruffly, Mary said, “You’re welcome. Just...” Mary took another breath and then couldn’t seem to say anything. Instead, she punched Daniel hard in the shoulder, and he winced. “Just glad you’re back in one piece. Stay that way.” Mary looked up at Clark. “Heard how you’re takin’ care of him. Keep it up, all right? Sometimes he needs looking after.”

“So I’ve noticed,” Clark said wryly, looking at Daniel. “I’ll do my best,” he said to Mary. “It’s a promise.”

Mary’s eyes widened. “You’ll do. You’ll do. All right. I gotta get back.” This time she gave both Clark and Daniel a nod and stalked off into the bustle of a working station.