Lyrics from 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol

If I lay here...

-o-o-o-

Kitt reached out and traced a finger over the edge of the red scar, gently outlining the shape of his own hand, burnt into skin of his partner. Michael didn't flinch, the burn had been deep enough in places to kill off nerve endings. There were parts of him that would now never feel his lover's touch again.

Michael's hand closed over his. //Beauty?//

"I'm sorry."

Michael drew Kitt's hand to his mouth, pulling the AI closer, and kissed the replacement syntheskin. "I told you not to worry about it."

Kitt couldn't help it. It hurt to see the damage he had done.

They were lying in their new bed, the window open with a cool afternoon breeze taunting the curtains. They had moved to this safe house the day before and there were boxes of new supplies lining the halls. Nick had been through the place the previous week, beefing up security, interfacing it with the warehouse....nagging both Michael and Kitt about the need to move in the first place. The ex-agent would much prefer them under his protection and within his immediate sight and reach.

But Michael and Kitt needed their privacy.

So they could lie together on their bed idling an afternoon away in each other's company.

Nick had let them go, but not without some serious precautions. Kitt was beginning to suspect the house had more security than the Pentagon at the moment.

"I'm sorry. I can't help it." Kitt looked away.

But his partner reached up and forced him to look back at him. Michael's blue eyes were intense. "You did what was necessary."

"I know. I just wish I didn't have to."

He had been devastated when he discovered what he had done. Nick had pulled him aside shortly before the first time the AI had to change Michael's dressings.

He had stared at the former agent, not wanting to believe what he was telling him. Kitt knew about the burn to Michael's ribcage, but he had not considered its size and shape.

Upon removing the dressings, the burnt, ugly shape of his hand was revealed. It was red raw and weeping fluid. Michael had paled at the necessary treatment, his pain obvious, but Kitt had had tears in his eyes.

"It's just proof that you can't keep your hands off me." Michael smiled impishly at him.

Kitt didn't smile. He didn't find it funny in the slightest.

//C'mon, Beauty.// Michael reached out and rubbed his arm. //You're missing the point.//

"And what exactly is the point of me branding you with my hand, Michael? What?"

"I will forever be held by you." Michael's eyes glistened at him, the emotion dancing across the link more than Kitt could contain. A single tear ran down his cheek.

And suddenly he was wrapped in his lover's arms, Michael whispering into his hair how much he loved him

-o-o-o-

If I just lay here...

-o-o-o-

Nick was crossing the floor of the warehouse, heading for the Stealth when his laptop beeped at him. Throwing a brief apology at his partner, he diverted to the computer and pulled up the appropriate window.

He had mail.

A click of the mouse and the unsigned message flickered on to the screen.

Nicholas frowned.

 Round one to you, Mr MacKenzie. Are you ready for Round Two?



-o-o-o-

Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

-o-o-o-

THE END