Title: Pride & Joy - Relief
By: nancy
Pairing: Mac/Danny
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: daddy!kink, m/m sex, language, angst
Summary: Mac's keeping an eye on Danny.

Previous story in series - Pride & Joy - Comfort

Mac had been keeping an eye on Danny the entire week. He knew it was only a matter of time before Danny broke down under the weight of the stress and he intended to be there when it happened. Between an unexpected visit from IA on Tuesday on a past case, a child’s murder to investigate, and a rape-homicide case, the younger man was stretched more than thin.

Normally, Danny had plenty of defense mechanisms and employed them all when things got on the overwhelming side. The problem was he’d just gotten over a bad flu the week before and wasn’t up for going to the gym, Flack was out of town at some conference so his best friend was out of reach, and the weather was miserable, which took out walking in the park or taking in a game in whatever spare time Danny could find. All of which meant that the multiple shifts on horrible cases and the IA digs went a lot deeper than usual.

So Mac watched and waited in person and via Stella. His attempts at comfort had so far been rebuffed, but it was only a matter of time. Danny’s bloodshot eyes bespoke a lack of sleep and, quite possibly, hidden tears of frustration or rage.

As if on cue, the phone rang from an internal extension. Mac picked it up with, “Taylor.”

“You better get him before he comes to blows with Adam,” Stella said bluntly. “I came in to find them arguing over magnification.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“No, he’s in the locker room by now. I told him to go home.”

“Thanks, Stella.”

She snorted into the phone and replied, “Just make sure he actually gets some sleep.”

Smiling, he promised, “I will.”

Mac hung up and then closed down his computer, packing up his laptop to bring with him. When he reached the locker room, Danny was just exiting, coat in hand and a defeated air settled over him like a blanket. Offering a brief smile, he said, “C’mon. I’ll take you home since I’m heading out anyhow,” for the benefit of the other people walking the hall.

Danny sighed, but didn’t argue.

It didn’t take long before they were in the SUV and Mac was driving them home. Danny had moved in to Mac’s larger apartment months ago, but still maintained his own for the purposes of mail with the department, subletting it to help with the money. No one could afford to keep an apartment in New York City if they weren’t using it, unless rich; it didn’t matter what borough you lived in.

Danny was sound asleep by the time Mac pulled into his parking spot beside Danny’s motorcycle. Mac watched him sleep for a few minutes, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the lines of worry etched into his forehead, even out of it. Rubbing his thumb over those lines, he said, “Danny, wake up. We’re home. Come on, baby, wake up now.”

Grumbling even before his eyes opened, Danny yawned and blinked awake, looking almost cross-eyed with exhaustion. “What?”

“We’re home,” Mac repeated.

Danny sighed and rubbed his eyes before climbing out of the SUV.

Mac grinned fondly to himself and reached in back to grab both their bags, following Danny to the elevator. The younger man practically slept walked to the apartment once off the elevator, fumbling with the key and barely able to open the door.

“Undress before you get into bed,” Mac called after him, putting down the bags and taking the key from the lock.

Danny waved half-heartedly, but didn’t bother responding.

Mac checked the answering machine while securing the apartment and putting their bags in the living room. He heard the toilet flush while pouring himself a glass of milk and then rinsing it out when he was done. When he got to the bedroom, Danny was facedown in a pillow, the blankets haphazardly up to his hips and clearly naked beneath them. Mac smiled at the sight and went about his business getting ready for bed.

Joining his lover in bed, Mac drew the blankets all the way back and sat lightly on Danny’s ass, bottle of massage oil in hand. He poured some of the scented oil into his palm and rubbed it into Danny’s broad back. Mac didn’t care that Danny slept through it, he just wanted to get the other man as relaxed as possible. He worked over the other man from scalp to toes, taking his time and listening to the even, slow breathing; evidence of a job very well done, since Danny didn’t even wake once.

When Mac was finally satisfied, he put aside the bottle and pulled the blankets up over them both. He turned off the bedside lamp and slowly tugged Danny into his arms. A muffled, “Love you, Daddy, thanks,” surprised a smile out of him. Mac kissed Danny’s temple and made a note to tell Danny he didn’t need to feign sleep to get a massage like that in the future.

Aloud, he simply replied, “Love you too, baby. Sleep well. No alarm in the morning.”

Danny sighed explosively and then grew heavy on top of him, signaling a true sleep.

Smiling to himself, Mac closed his own eyes and let himself drift, thoroughly content, surrounded by his lover and the soothing smell of the oil.

Next story in series - "Untitled CSI:NY Fic"