Title: Epitome
By: RussianPhoenix
Pairing: Mac/Don
Rating: PG
Summary: Set at the end of the season 2 finale, Mac Taylor gets Don Flack to squeeze his hand, and the hidden love these two share will be revealed.

***

Mac Taylor looked at his watch for the thousandth time. It was past 1 in the morning, and the rest of the team had gone home, even Stella. But the veteran Marine could not bring himself to part with the younger, injured detective, Don Flack.

Flashbacks wracked Mac's brain. He kept seeing the young Lt. Stan Whitney dying on the ground in Beirut. Bloody holes full of shrapnel filled his mind's eye. Mac rubbed his real eyes angrily, muttering, "Out, out. It's done. Out...."

But it wasn't over. Not yet.

He stood from his chair and approached the sleeping officer. Mac grasped Don's hand in grip fueled my memories. "Don," he whispered harshly, "squeeze my hand if you can hear me."

Nothing happened.

Tears crowded the older detective's eyes. Without making a move to brush them away, he said again, "If you can hear me Don, squeeze my hand." He leaned closer. "Please, squeeze my hand Don...."

More memories paraded through his psyche: images of a fiery Beirut, coupled with new flashes of Don gasping weakly on the office building floor. Blue ink surrounded them.

A twitch in his hand pulled Mac from his reverie. His wild eyes looked at the pale fingers he so tightly grasped.

Don squeezed his hand.

A large single tear traced its way down Mac's bruised face. "That's good, Don," he whispered gently. "That's real good." He squeezed back. "Now all you've gotta do is wake up."

The faintest voice Mac had ever heard murmured, "I'm up, Mac.... I'm up." Don's bright baby blue eyes opened slowly and looked up at the other detective.

"Hey Don," Mac said quietly, pulling the chair up behind him so he could sit closer to the other man. He stroked the bedridden detective's hair. "How're you feeling?"

"Do you really wanna know?' Don groaned. "It, it hurts."

"I'll get a nurse to give you some painkillers," Mac said briskly and reached for the call button. But Don's touch on his chest, cool and shaky like an autumn leaf, stopped him.

Don whispered, "It's not my body that hurts, man.

"It's the fact I almost lost you."

The hardened NYPD detective's heart swelled with happiness. Mac had known for some time about Don's feelings for him. He just didn't realize how deep or strong their current ran... or how he felt in return.

"I'm sorry Mac," Don whispered, a stricken expression on his face. "I-I didn't mean to –"

"Shut up, Flack," the Marine replied softly, running a finger down the other man's bruised cheek. "You didn't do anything wrong. Love is never wrong."

Don's blue eyes widened. He reached out again tentatively and touched Mac's face. The older man's eyes closed in pleasure as his cool touch stroked his nose, his cheeks, his lips. His hand traveled down Mac's muscular shoulder, his arm, and finally to his callused hand.

"I'm scared, Mac," Don murmured.

Mac took Don's hand in his again. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you Don," he growled. "I promise." He leaned forward and pressed his soft lips, infinitely gentle, to the injured detective's forehead. Then, he kissed his nose. Don closed his eyes as Mac pressed his lips into his cheeks.

Then he kissed him softly, sweetly, on the lips.

Don gasped slightly and tilted his head so he could better explore Mac's mouth. His tongue whispered against Mac's, both striving not for dominance but unity. For the first time since Claire's death, Mac felt complete.

Don, who was rapidly losing strength, fell back onto the hospital pillow, his eyes still closed. Mac brushed his love's hair again, marveling at its silkiness.

"Are you gonna leave, Mac?" Don asked quietly, the barest hint of fear creeping into his Yonkers-trained cadence.

"I never leave a man behind," Mace grinned, placing another kiss on the detective's cheek. "And I don't abandon the people I care about.

"Especially the ones I really love."

Don smiled, but he was definitely worn out. So, what had begun as the epitome of a horrible day ended with love and devotion blossoming in the NYPD detectives.

Mac didn't let go of Don's hand even as he, too, fell asleep 5 minutes later.

***