Being There

Synopsis: Danny isn't going to let Martin down, not this time.
Characters: Danny
Episodes Referenced: Post season 4, The Road Home
Rating: PG
Genre: Post episode
Notes: I'm pretty sure that in real life Martin would not have recovered from his addiction in the space of a week or two like it appeared on the show. I'm also sure that Danny would have been there for him all the way.

Danny woke on Martin's couch, it was early but in truth he hadn't really slept. The events of the last few months kept running through his mind and no matter how he played them he still felt that he'd let Martin down. It was true that he'd tried to help earlier and Martin hadn't wanted to know, but if Sam could get through to Martin then he should have been able to as well. Of course Sam had been there for Martin since the ambush, had visited him everyday in the hospital and at his apartment, whereas Danny had avoided him. He had also avoided all Martin's attempts to talk about that night; it had angered him that Martin wanted to discuss what had happened when all he wanted to do was forget it and move on. Now the same thoughts kept coming to him; maybe if he had sat down and talked it through with Martin, maybe if he hadn't spent the last six months keeping Martin at arms length, then maybe he'd have seen this coming.

He looked toward the closed bedroom door and wondered how Martin was doing, but he didn't go and check on him, not yet. Hopefully Martin was asleep, though Danny doubted it would be a peaceful one. He pumped the pillows and sat up a little. He needed coffee but he didn't want to go to the kitchen, fearing the sound would alert Martin to his presence - he wasn't ready for the day to start just yet.

Martin had taken the first step last night, but he still had a long way to go and it wasn't going to be pleasant or easy. But Danny had made a promise to Sam and Martin, and to himself for that matter - he was going to be there through all of this, no matter how tough it got. Regardless of what Sam thought though, he wasn't an expert and he wasn't sure what today would hold.

Of course Martin being Martin had already taken matters into his own hands. He'd checked himself into a clinic upstate, had made the arrangements before he even went to the meeting yesterday evening. Danny had gone on the internet last night, checking the place out and it looked fine he supposed. He'd readily agreed to drive Martin up there and to collect him again when he was ready, he was relieved that his friend was decided on his own to do this. They were due at the clinic at noon, he glanced at his watch and decided to give Martin another hour in bed before the day began.

Danny was determined Martin was going to get through this and he was going to be with him, because that was what brothers did - it shouldn't have taken Sam to remind him of that.

End