Um, Ow? (Charlie/Danny start)

[out_there]

***

Dan growled as he lurched over for the phone. He groaned something unintelligible, and then realised he was holding the receiver upside down. Glaring at the green glow of his alarm clock, Dan fumbled with the phone. "It's almost five a.m."

"Huh?"

"You are going to die a slow, painful death, my friend." Murder most horrid was almost too good for people who interrupted a tired man's sleep.

"Danny?"

Dan blinked, trying to work out what was wrong. "Casey?"

The answering voice laughed, but it wasn't Casey's deep chuckle. Dan frowned as he tried to make sense of it. "Danny?"

In fact, it wasn't Casey's mild Midwestern twang, either. It was the sharper accent of someone who'd spent half their life in upper-class New York. "Charlie?"

"Yeah," Charlie replied easily.

Dan went from grumpy and asleep to very concerned in a matter of seconds. He felt like the emotional equivalent of a Porsche. "Charlie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Charlie replied easily, and then Dan heard him call out, "Is anything wrong?" Listening carefully, Dan could hear laughter, pop music and the slurred replies typical of drunk teenagers everywhere.

"You're at a party?"

"Yeah," Charlie said slowly.

Dan sighed and fought the sinking feeling in his stomach. "Does your dad know?"

"Shh," Charlie replied. "I told him I'm studying."

"And you're calling up for a lift home?" Dan was already kicking the covers back and throwing his legs out of bed.

Charlie sounded surprised. "No."

"Then why are you calling?" There was a long pause. "Charlie?"

"Don't know."

"You don't know why you're calling?" Dan repeated carefully.

"I think it was just to say hi. So… Hi, Danny."

Dan took a deep breath and resigned himself to a night of virtually no sleep. "Where are you?"

"I'm here."

"Where's there?"

"John's place."

"Where's John's place?"

"It's here."

Dan rolled his eyes and stared at the dark ceiling. "Do you think John would know the address for his place?"

"Probably."

"Could you go find out?" Dan asked. He was suddenly glad he'd never had a kid of his own. These were the mid-night phone calls he could do without.

***

"Thanks for letting me stay, Danny." Charlie's voice was slightly muffled by his sweatshirt as he somehow got it trapped around his shoulders.

Dan stepped in to help, trying not to roll his eyes again. His mom always said if he pulled that face too often it'd stay that way, and tonight he was coming close to testing her theory. "Not a problem."

The sweatshirt came off eventually, and Dan threw it into the bathroom. From the smell of it, Charlie had either spilled a few beers, or tried to shower in the stuff. On his way back, he grabbed a pillow and comforter for his couch.

Charlie was still standing there, swaying slightly and wearing Casey's wide grin. "No, really, thanks." He blinked and the grin became a little sheepish. 'I really appreciate it, Danny."

"Charlie, you're seventeen and you're going to have the mother of all hangovers tomorrow," Dan said as he led the kid to his couch. "Don't think you're getting out of telling your dad about this."

Charlie's face fell. "Really?"

"Really." Dan spread the comforter over Charlie. "Don't worry about it."

"It'll seem better in the morning?" Charlie asked hopefully.

Dan snickered. "No, it'll seem much worse." Charlie groaned and Dan leaned over to run a hand through Charlie's short, sandy-blond hair. "But there's nothing you can do about it now."

Charlie stared up at him miserably. "Thanks, Danny."

"No problem."

***

Sometimes, it was easy for Dan to tell when he was dreaming. When Casey started discussing the Knicks Dancers and their effect on Marxist theories, it was a pretty clear sign. Dan nodded along to the comment about short skirts and bourgeois power, and relaxed back into the beach chair. He decided not to worry about why they were shooting tonight's episode from Miami Beach, and tried to enjoy the sunshine instead.

It was all fine until Casey leaned over and started licking his neck.

Then the dream went in a remarkably different direction; different, but not at all unwelcome. He laid back and enjoyed the attention, but he couldn't help laughing when Casey's mouth hit a particularly ticklish spot, couldn't help fidgeting as Casey slid a hand inside his Bermuda shorts.

Comments

[celli]

Such an appropriate icon. On all levels.

*hugs*

And you're writing the evil!fic! Woo! I mean, uh--no, I pretty much mean woo. :)

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Such an appropriate icon. On all levels.

*stops and thinks about that*

Um... Yes. Yes, it is.

And you're writing the evil!fic! Woo! I mean, uh--no, I pretty much mean woo. :)

*sniggers* You're encouragable incorrigible.

Huh. Do you think fandom will take away my membership card for doing this? I mean, Danny/Isaac was one thing (it was an almost dare, really. I mean, I can't be held responsible) and Dana/Lisa was just begging to be done (and can be rationalised with the thought of a happy slashy Dan/Casey future about a decade later).

I'm wondering if there's a line that you cross... and if so, is it clearly marked?

[celli]

Um, you're asking the person who wrote (and still needs to finish) a Martha/Lex story. I'm probably not a good judge. But I think as long as you have appropriate warnngs so people can avoid if they want to, you should be okay. If you really really want to be on the safe side, I'd bump Charlie up to 18 and make him completely legal.

[out-there.livejournal.com]

Um, you're asking the person who wrote (and still needs to finish) a Martha/Lex story. I'm probably not a good judge.

*snerk* Good point. you have questionable taste anyway. (Or, y'know, I have 'don't mess with the mom' issues. Either way.)

But I think as long as you have appropriate warnngs so people can avoid if they want to, you should be okay. If you really really want to be on the safe side, I'd bump Charlie up to 18 and make him completely legal.

*thinks* Well, I've cut-tagged it, I've mentioned its Danny/Charlie. I wouldn't up the age because I don't object to that in other fandoms, so that's just hypocritical. (I mean, c'mon, hands up all fans who avoided S1 SV smut because of Clark's age? *rolls eyes*)

[phoebesmum.livejournal.com]

What is it that Bartlet says to CJ? "That line you don't cross? Look behind you ..."

Only not really. I just like the quote.

Speaking of apposite quotes (and a different post), Marge Simpson's mother, to Marge: "I've got laryngitis, so I'm just going to say one thing: everything you EVER DID is WRONG!"

So, will the story continue? If the story continues, I can kill my plagiaristic plot piranha (I like alliteration too) with a clear conscience. *Looks hopeful*

[out-there.livejournal.com]

What is it that Bartlet says to CJ? "That line you don't cross? Look behind you ..."

Eep.

Only not really. I just like the quote.

Phew! Although, to be honest, I love that quote too.

So, will the story continue? If the story continues, I can kill my plagiaristic plot piranha (I like alliteration too) with a clear conscience. *Looks hopeful*

Um... it *should* continue. At the moment, I have more wips than I know what to do with (um, about half a dozen for SN, not counting the random few from other fandoms), but I'd like to finish this.

[phoebesmum.livejournal.com]

Well, we're all dying to know what's going on inside Danny's shorts.

Did I mean that the way it sounded? (Thinks.) Yes, yes I did.