Danny woke early the next day, Victor still asleep beside him. He thought about the day, wondered if he'd be able to endure Steve shadowing his every move. He needed to get through it without incident and determined he'd ignore any trap Steve tried to lay down to get him talking. He remembered the evening before, thinking about Steve as Victor made love to him and flushed at his betrayal of his lover. Danny knew he needed to focus on Victor, deciding it was a test of will to resist his own mind when it came to Steve and the ideas he was planting. He rolled onto his side and looked over Victor who was sleeping peacefully. Maybe he'd been wrong to insist on Steve's innocence. Perhaps it would been better to let Victor do what he needed to protect him.

Danny sighed and shook his head, knowing the consequences if he'd not begged Victor to give Steve a chance. He couldn't have lived with that on his conscience. But he had to live with these consequences now, ones that threatened his relationship and existence with Victor. It had all been simple before Steve had arrived and now, everything was becoming chaotic again. It was still early and he didn't know Victor's plans for the day but he was still fast asleep. Getting out of bed Danny showered and dried himself off vigorously, thinking back over his time spent under Victor's care. When his guards would follow his every move, even shadow him as he showered to ensure he scrubbed up nicely before he was taken to Victor.

Victor liked him clean, like only the best should be presented to him. He had high expectations and what was wrong with that? Danny considered as he looked at himself in the mirror. Why shouldn't he want his Daniel to present his best self to him? Danny felt a lurch of pride in his chest at the idea. It was something Steve obviously didn't understand, Steve saw Victor as he'd always known him and Danny understood there was a past. Steve had spent years hunting Victor and failed, always close but never enough to snare him. Of course Steve still felt wary of Victor, suspected his behaviour, because Victor wasn't acting how Steve wanted him to act. Steve couldn't understand the Victor Danny had come to know and cherish. It would take time but he would and Danny had to be patient enough to show Steve there were other sides to the man.

But Danny knew he also had to focus and protect himself against Steve's efforts in planting doubt in himself and his faith in Victor. He could only do that be chanelling his energy into pleasing Victor and that was something Danny was capable of. Over the months Victor had given him to tools and taught him how to do just that and all he had to do was put that teaching into practice. Smiling to himself, brushing a hand through his blonde hair Danny left the bathroom, finding his lover still asleep. Going to Victor's side of the bed, he got to his knees and waited for him to wake up.

He didn't know how long he was there for before Victor stirred. It didn't matter, all he cared about was that Victor found him there waiting for whatever he had planned for the day. A thrill ran through him at Victor's hum of satisfaction at the sight, a hand reaching out from the bed to run through his hair.

"Morning," Victor said, voice still laced with sleep.

Danny didn't move as he replied with a 'morning' from his position.

He listened as Victor shifted, legs swinging off the bed as he sat up, stretched and dissappeared into the bathroom. Danny waited, listening to the shower running then turning off, Victor returning to him, skin still damp as he dropped his towel to the floor and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Come here," Victor ordered softly and Danny shifted nearer as Victor spread his legs and placed a guiding hand on his head. "Perfect."

Danny wrapped his arms loose around Victor's waist as he got to work with his mouth. Victor hummed in pleasure as he swallowed him down without any hesitation and Danny settled into the pace Victor set with fingers wrapped tight into his hair. Danny moaned himself, cock sliding hard against his tongue, drops of precome hitting his taste buds as he breathed in Victor's scent through his nose. He let his teeth scrape just a little on the underside, just to hear Victor's predatory growl and tightening hold of him. It thrilled him to be able to be able to tease and please Victor this way. Victor's hips canted forward in rhythm and Danny kept his jaw slack, just how Victor liked, listening to his lovers breath growing heavier and grunting as they continued.

He let all tumultous thoughts fall away, when he was like this with Victor nothing else mattered or needed to be focused on. He had to remember moments like this to help him carry on through the day when things became difficult and the old chaos and doubts raised their ugly heads. Victor's fingers pressed at the nape of his neck, pushing him down, forcing him to take more and Danny swallowed around the cock head hitting the back of his throat every few seconds. Victor's words were drowned with gasps and groans and Danny held himself steady, knowing he was close, ready to accept his fill. Victor came with a shudder and gasp, his hold in Danny's hair painful, like he was going to tear out a patch but Danny ignored the pain, felt liquid seeping down his open throat as he swallowed and milked the spasming cock.

"Fuck," Victor gasped out with satsifaction, not letting up on his grip of Danny's hair until he was cleaned up. Danny licked along the shaft when he finally drew his mouth away, Victor breathing deep above him and stroking the side of his face with his fingers. Smiling down at him Victor drew him up a little, gave him a soft kiss of appreciation before drawing back again. "Get my clothes," he ordered quietly.

Danny helped him dress and went to fetch his own clothing before Victor pulled him into another lazy kiss. With a smile Victor pulled him to the door and Danny followed, hand in hand as they made their way downstairs.

"You want to go swimming today?" Victor asked as they headed for the dining room.

"Are you?" Danny replied, curious as to Victor's plans.

"No, I've calls to make this morning, meetings to set up," Victor informed him.

"Maybe later then," Danny shrugged.

He paused in the doorway finding Steve already standing waiting, shadowed by Huggy. Steve barely glanced at him and followed Victor's movements carefully. Danny wondered if Victor sensed the evident still uncertainty of Steve's behaviour towards him but Victor didn't seem to mind it even if he did.

"Steven," Victor said with a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Steve didn't say anything and Danny ignored him and stayed close to Victor as he sat down. Victor took his wrist and pulled him close, making him kneel beside his chair. Steve sat down a few chairs away silently as the breakfast was served up. Huggy and Mo also sat at the table.

"Nothing for Daniel," Victor remarked and Danny tried not to frown, ignoring the pang in his stomach at the smell of cooked breakfast. Victor petted his hair softly as Danny listened to liquid being poured out, coffee most probably. "He's already been fed this morning."

Danny was glad his head was bowed because he felt the sudden heady rush and heat in his face at the implication. Maybe nobody would pick up on Victor's meaning but he knew exactly what Victor was alluding too and he smiled to himself despite the present company. Victor made no attempt to draw Steve into conversation but made small talk with Huggy and Mo as they all ate. Every now and then he'd lower his hand and fed Danny small tit bits of bacon from his own plate which Danny accepted, tongue flicking out to lick the lingering grease off Victor's fingers at the same time. A thought lingered as he wondered what Steve thought of the behaviour but he chased the question away, he didn't really care, he was simply pleased he could spend time with Victor. If this kind of situation was what he needed to prove to Steve his words meant nothing to him, then he'd take part in it with strong enthusiasm.

Breakfast finished, Victor pushed his chair back and sighed, hand resting on Danny's head a moment.

"Daniel is spending the morning with me," he remarked. "He can work out with you guys then take him to his room."

Danny listened to chairs being scraped back as Victor tapped him on his shoulder to stand. Huggy and Mo took Steve with them as he and Victor made their way to the study.

"Sure you want to spend the morning with me?" Victor asked as they walked along the hall.

"Of course," Danny replied like any other option was laughable. Victor gave his ass a quick squeeze as Danny opened the study door.

He knelt by the desk as Victor sat down and listened as Victor made various calls, setting up meetings and making plans. Victor barely paid him any attention and at one point entered into a long phone conversation that had his pacing around the room, leaning against the window and completely oblivious to anything else around him. There was a knock on the door which went unheeded the first few tries until Victor eventually hung up the phone and bid the person to enter. They spoke in low tones and Victor leaned down to him eventually, a hand brushing through his hair.

"Daniel, I have to step out for a while," Victor explained. "Wait for me here. You can pick out a book and read. I won't be long then maybe we'll eat lunch together, go for that swim."

"Okay," Danny replied, standing when Victor put a hand on his arm, urged him to his feet.

Victor kissed him quickly and left with a wink. Danny chose a book from the shelves and settled onto the large armchair Victor had in the corner, losing himself in the pages of the particular mystery he'd been slowly working through the past times he'd been allowed to read in the study with Victor. His stomach grumbled but he ignored it, he'd eat lunch when Victor returned and he chuckled to himself at Victor's remark at breakfast, remembering the taste of cum on his tastebuds from that morning.

The study door opened and he looked up to find Steve easing through the door quietly, wild eyed and Danny recognised the look.

"Steve?" Danny said, getting to his feet. "What the hell are you doing?"

"You have a short memory Danno," Steve said, closing the door carefully and eyeing the windows. "We're going. Now."

"What the fuck are you on about?" Danny asked him, noticing the gun in Steve's hand. He frowned and looked at him again, Steve positioning himself by the door, watching him carefully.

"I told you Danny. I'm here to take you home and it's happening today," Steve informed him calmly. Too calmly.

"Steve," Danny shook his head, a sudden thought entering his head. "Where's Victor?"

"You tell me," Steve said with a small shrug. "I thought he'd be here with you."

Danny felt a small rush of relief in his belly. Victor would know Steve was attemping a rescue again, people would come for him and all he had to do was keep Steve busy for a while longer. Steve had made a vital mistake in coming for him.

"You came to kill him?" Danny asked, looking at the gun again.

"I would have given him a chance to let us go," Steve admitted. "But I doubt he'd have taken it. I'd have carried out measures to ensure we were allowed to leave."

"I'm not leaving," Danny said shaking his head.

"Yes you are Danno," Steve informed him, taking a few steps forward. "So I suggest you start getting your head around that idea."

Danny smiled and shook his head again. Surely Huggy and Mo had alerted everyone in the house. Victor kept a few men around for incidents, just in case. "No Steven. You leave if you want to, but I'm not going anywhere."

"Damn it Danny," Steve snapped suddenly, voice not as low as before. "We've been watching this place for months. We were tipped off that this was one of Hesse's hideouts. We knew he'd be back, so he's been given time to settle in and think he'd gotten away with taking me as well as you. You really think I'm stupid enough to walk into this without a plan? We had to make him think he'd succeeded."

Danny let the words sink in, didn't want to believe them but something about the way Steve explained it to him told him it was true. Steve wasn't alone in this mission but who else was coming? The rest of five-O? Or had he gotten some of his navy buddies to help him out? Cold fear suddenly crept up his spine and he knew he needed to get to Victor, warn him. They'd be able to get away together, he just needed to get past Steve and that wasn't going to be easy. Steve knew where his alliances lay now and wouldn't trust him as he once had. He couldn't quite accept what was happening and shook his head at Steve who stayed near the door.

"I don't, I don't understand," he said softly, mind whirring as to a plan. Any plan to get out of the study away from Steve. He used his confusion to mask his intention, dropping the book he was still holding onto the desk. Maybe he could rush Steve? Steve wouldn't shoot him, would he?

Steve looked at him pityfully and Danny let his shoulders sag, as if he were confused and afraid. Anything to make Steve think he was the victim he considered him to be. He was steeling himself to rush the man when there were shouts beyond the room and Steve turned into alert mode. He grabbed the door, peering past it briefly as they both heard shouts.

"I'll come back Danny," Steve hissed to him, turning to look at him with a defiant, hard stare. "You're coming with me whether you like it or not."

With that he left the room and Danny heard gun fire, three shots. Steve didn't come back into the room and he went to the door quickly, easing it open to see the damage. Had Steve been shot? Looking out he saw a figure slumped against the wall, bullet wound in their neck. It was Mo and Danny felt a slight sickening feeling as he looked first one way, then the other. No sign of Steve, no sound of anyone. If he didn't go now he'd not have another chance, Steve would force him if he didn't go willingly. He just needed to get to Victor. Where would he be? Slowly he made his way along the passage, passing Mo's lifeless body and reaching the stairs. Would Victor be in his room? Danny wished he had a weapon but after a quick look back at Mo he assessed any weapons he'd carried had been taken, probably by Steve. Danny made his way silently up the stairs, keeping low and listening for movement.

He looked in Victors room and found it empty, he made his way to his own room and found no-one there either. He lingered, pressing against the wall and taking a few breaths. Where did he go? What would he do? He heard gunshots again, sounding distant, outside. At least the action was all going on outside. He just needed to form a plan. If Steve was telling the truth and people were coming then there was nowhere to hide in the house. He needed to get outside, hopefully with Victor, make a run for it on the road. The longer they stayed at the house, the worst the outcome.

He wanted to wind the clock back to that morning, in the bedroom, when everything had been still and perfect. Shaking his head he squeezed his eyes shut, cleared his mind. Victor, he just needed to focus on Victor and stay away from Steve and any other people who had come to get him. He needed to get outside. Checking the hall and peering down the stairwell he heard nothing and saw nothing, maybe his way stealthily down the stairs. He'd go through the work out room and into the changing area that led to the swimming pool.

The garden beyond was dense by the pool and he could use the bushes as cover, perhaps find Victor as well. Victor wasn't stupid, he'd know it was safer outside than in, more chance to lose the pursuer. He took to the halls, winding through them, a few doors were open leading into empty rooms. Nobody was about and he wondered where Steve was, was he looking for him? Breathless, Danny reached the workout room, slipped into the changing rooms and hovered at the doorway. He saw movement, somebody he didn't recognise slipping around the side of the house. He waited, giving them a chance to move on as he mapped his route to the bushes, it was going to be the most dangerous part of this so far. Shit why did this have to happen? Why hadn't Steve stayed away, left him alone? He was happy, he was different now and he didn't want to go back.

He slipped out of the door and took to a quick pace around the curve of the pool, he'd have headed into the heavy growth of bushes if something hadn't caught his eye, a body lying just beyond the wall of the house to his right. He stumbled to a halt and stared, something recognisable about the clothing, the hair colour.

Victor.

It was as if everything became still and he couldn't move his legs at first, felt his knees weaken. He stood frowning for the longest time before he moved towards the man, thoughts catching up to his intitial shock. He was just hurt of course, had gotten into a fight with who ever was helping Steve in his stupid attempt at a rescuse. Danny ran over to him, coming to a halt again as reality hit him. The way Victor was lain, the blood starting to pool around him, he dropped to his knees and stared at the lifeless eyes looking up at the sky.

"Victor?" Danny said, reaching out a hand.

His skin was still warm as Danny touched his face, got an arm under him and straightened him up a little, pulling his head into his lap. Victor lolled in his grasp like a ragdoll and Danny pressed fingers to his neck checking for a pulse, not so surprised when he didn't find one.

Danny sat for a long time holding him, grim, confused. What did it mean now? He knew Victor wasn't infallable - but death? Danny didn't know where that left him. What would happen to him now? What was he supposed to do? Everything was chaos and as he sat there, fingers curled tight round Victors lifeless hand, his world was shrinking rapidly.

Had Steve done this? Not that it mattered, Danny knew it was his fault. If he hadn't convinced Victor to trust Steve, Steve wouldn't have been given the opportunity. Victor would still be alive. As he sat motionless he heard movement behind him but he didn't shift, unable to rouse himself as everything seemed to implode inward within him.

"Danny," Steve's voice was low and gruff.

He didn't turn to look at him, laying Victor down and looking at him with a fleeting hope it was just a nightmare. Victor would wake up, Steve would be gone, everything would go back to how it should be. He fingered the gun that had fallen, discarded by Victor's lifeless hand from when he'd been shot.

"Turn around Danny," Steve said, less gruff than before. Danny thought he sounded alert, cautious and gave a small laugh, same old Steve. Victor was right, Steve was wired different - chaos was something he strived for.

"Up, slow and steady." Steve yelled this time, strained, awkward and un-trusting. "Now."

Danny gave a final look at Victor before he did as ordered, getting to his feet and slowly turning. Steve was at the ready, gun trained on him and an uncertain look on his features. Danny understood, Steve didn't want to trust him but there was an old bond there that couldn't be shook. It confused his natural senses.

"Put the gun down," Steve said, eyes darting to Danny's hand, then back up to his face.

Danny wrapped his fingers imperceptibly tighter round the gun.

"Danny," Steve warned, taking a wary step closer.

Danny gave a small laugh and shook his head at the absurdity.

"I'm not going to shoot you Steven," he said simply, surprised at his outward calmness. Inside he was a tumolt of grief.

Steve didn't flinch, gesturing with his own weapon as he repeated himself slowly, "Put. It. Down."

"Can't do that," Danny replied, lifting the gun a little and weighing it in his hand, looking down at it as he lay his thoughts out in his mind.

"Danny," Steve sounded strangled, confused, caught between instinct and an old bond he refused to give up on.

"Nothing left now," Danny shrugged, looking up at him and giving a wan smile. "You killed Victor?"

"Yeah and I'm not sorry," Steve spat out but he seemed to relax just a fraction, his voice becoming softer. "Come on Danny, we'll put the guns away, we'll talk, just you and me."

"There's nothing to say," Danny shook his head, frowning. So much silence, he was used to silence, but now it felt deafening. He lifted the gun a little higher and Steve tensed again, eyes flitting down to his hand, watching, alert.

"You going to shoot me Steven?" Danny asked, "Like you shot Victor?"

"No Danno, I'm not going to shoot you," Steve shook his head, looking Danny right in the eyes.

Danny wished he could trust him, but Steve was the enemy now. A liar, someone who'd used him, used his closeness to Victor to trick them until he could carry out his plan.

"You shouldn't have come for me," Danny pointed out to Steve.

"Wasn't an option," Steve shot back through gritted teeth. Danny had to smile, Steve was still deluded in thinking he actually wanted to be resuced.

"You should leave," Danny said after a pause.

"Not without you," Steve seemed to relax again, flitting between cautious and anxious. "I already told you, I came back for you and we're leaving here together."

"I'm not going with you Steven," Danny looked down at the gun again and gave a grim smile.

"Yeah you are Danny," Steve countered. "Maybe I lied, maybe I will fucking shoot you. I don't care how it goes, you come quietly or we fight this out but one things for sure, I'm taking you away from here, back home. It's what I came here to do."

"I am home," Danny said under his breath. Without hesitation he lifted the gun, only it wasn't pointed at Steve. He watched the other mans eyes grow wild, confused, heard his voice break with anger and pain.

"Fucking hell Danno, don't do it," Steve hissed quickly, dropping his own gun down and drawing near, all thought of his own safety brushed aside. "Don't do it, not like this, fuck Danny please."

"Victor's dead," Danny calmly pointed out again, knowing if Steve could just understand what that meant that this would make sense to him. The gun muzzle was cool against his temple and his finger itched delicate on the trigger. Steve went mute, eyes everywhere, desperately searching for words, looking for another option. Steve didn't understand and Danny pitied him for it.

After all, he, Daniel, loved Victor. Didn't he?

What else was there? His finger squeezed tighter as Steve stumbled forward in shock.

~ the end ~

(before you lynch me - there will eventually be a follow up and no, Danny doesn't die. But I really needed to wrap this one up and this final chapter had been written for months. I just needed to connect the dots. It could have gone on indefintely with chapters but for no purpose as this was the intended end for this particular fic. Like I say, I have plans for Danny's path back to lie - if that is possible.)