Title: Sirens
Author: Me, Emma (orpheous87)
Part: Standalone
Rating: 12
Pairing: Judd/Jones
Genre: Angst / Drama
Beta: silverferret89
Summary: Danny and Harry have an up and down relationship that comes to a head one night (that's not a euphemism btw!).
A/N: Dedicated to froomstevenson as Sirens was her prompt. This is my first ever attempt at writing Junes. I hope it turned out okay. If anyone else wants to prompt me, please go here to do so. I'd really appreciate it too, coz I want to write but have no real inspiration! >.<
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em and this has likely never happened. Sadly.


Most of the time, things were good between them and when things were good, Danny couldn't be happier. But when things were bad, they were really bad and Danny often wondered if it was worth it. Of course, he usually decided that yes, it was, because despite all the arguments and the hurt feelings, he knew that he couldn't live without Harry.

"Oh, come on, how can you not like that song?" Danny asked incredulously as he looked at Harry.

"I just don't! The drums are weak and the bass is just... it's rubbish!" Harry replied, a smirk threatening to take over his face.

"But the guitar solos are epic!" Danny argued, frowning at Harry. "You must like it a little bit?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope, sorry Dans," he said, trying not to grin. He enjoyed winding the northerner up a little bit too much.

Danny huffed and turned away from Harry slightly, knowing that he was being wound up, but not being able to stop himself from feeling miffed.

"Aw, you know I'm only teasing Dans," Harry continued, his tone softening slightly.

Danny folded his arms across his chest, resisting the urge to smile at Harry's words. "I think you should make it up to me," he said, slightly childishly.

"Anything. What do you want?" Harry asked, lightly stroking the Boltoner's hair.

"Take me out. Somewhere nice," Danny replied after a moment's thought, wondering if Harry was being serious and was actually going to do anything for him.

"You got it. Come on," Harry said, jumping to his feet and holding out his hand.

Danny couldn't help but smile as he took Harry's hand, allowing the older brunette to pull him to his feet.

Harry grinned at Danny as he pulled him towards the door. He had somewhere nice in mind to take the younger male, and he hoped Danny would like it.

"Woah, woah, are you going to tell me where we're going?" Danny asked, resisting Harry's force slightly.

Harry shook his head. "Nope."

"But... can I go like this? Is it smart enough?" Danny asked, slipping slightly on the laminate floor as Harry continued dragging him to the front door.

The older male stopped and studied Danny briefly before nodding. "Yeah, it's smart casual. Just don't put those awful old trainers on," he said.

Danny tutted. "There's nowt wrong with my trainers," he muttered, eyeing his battered old Adidas trainers lying by the stairs.

"Uh-huh. Just put your nice shoes on and we can go," Harry said, pointing Danny in the direction of the shoe cupboard before pulling on his own shoes.

Grumbling, Danny pulled his 'going out' shoes out of the cupboard and put them on obediently. "Okay. I'm ready," he announced, standing up again.

Harry looked Danny up and down and nodded. "Okay, let's go then," he said, smiling as the Boltoner self-consciously brushed his clothes down.

Danny willingly followed Harry out to the car, knowing better than to ask where they were going again. Harry wouldn't tell him and it'd just lead to another argument.

The journey was quiet, but not unpleasantly so, with Danny watching out of the window as Harry drove. He placed one hand lightly on the older male's thigh, smiling as Harry glanced at him. He liked moments like this, when it was just the two of them. When they were both completely happy. Things always seemed to be better when they were alone. When other people were around, that's when things seemed to go downhill and he couldn't figure out why.

Harry drove for a few more minutes, finally pulling into a car park in the centre of town. Danny looked around, still not sure where they were going. There were a lot of restaurants in this part of town, including one that was his favourite and he hoped that was where they were heading.

He got out of the car and waited for Harry to join him. He bounced impatiently on the balls of his feet. He was quite hungry now.

Harry smiled as he got out of the car and to Danny's side, taking his hand as he locked the car. "Come on then," he said.

"Are we going to Alessandro's?" Danny asked hopefully.

Harry shook his head. "No, not today. I know it's your favourite, but I thought we'd try somewhere else," he said, leading Danny out of the car park and up the street. They passed Alessandro's and Danny gave it a brief look of longing, but soon put it out of his mind as he saw where Harry was leading him to.

"Here?" Danny asked, turning to Harry with an awestruck expression. "But this place is supposed to be mega expensive!"

Harry shrugged. "So?" he asked.

"You don't have to take me here," Danny said, pulling against Harry's hand as he tried to turn them around. "Honestly."

"Danny. I want to," Harry said patiently. "Now come on. We have a table booked for 8pm," he added.

"You planned this?" Danny asked in a slightly accusatory tone. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise," Harry said, rolling his eyes slightly. "Is that so wrong?"

"Well, no, but if you'd told me I would have changed!" Danny exclaimed. "You said it was smart casual! This place is smart smart!"

"Danny, don't be ridiculous. You look fine," Harry said, sighing and pausing to look at the Boltoner.

"Are you sure?" Danny asked, sounding wary as he glanced down at himself.

"Yes. Now come on," Harry replied, tugging on Danny's hand before giving it a gentle squeeze to show he wasn't really angry.

Danny bit his lip but didn't say anything else as he followed Harry to the restaurant. He didn't want to be responsible for the mood of the evening turning sour. He knew Harry wouldn't tell him he looked okay if he didn't, and ordinarily he wouldn't be bothered about looking good just to go to a restaurant, but this place really looked smart. He kept quiet as Harry gave his name for the reservation, simply looking around at the decor before following the older male to the table when they were shown.

"This is really nice Haz," Danny said quietly as they sat down. "You didn't have to do this," he added, looking down at the dark mahogany table.

"Dan, for the last time, I wanted to," Harry said, looking directly at his boyfriend. "Besides, you wanted me to take you out to somewhere nice. This is nice, isn't it?"

Danny nodded, giving Harry a small smile. "Yeah," he said. "It's lovely." He meant it too. The dark wood of the tables matched the laminated floor perfectly and the rich red and green tableclothes complimented it nicely.

"Good," Harry replied with a smile of his own. "Now, choose whatever you want from the menu."

Danny picked up the menu and began to scan it. After a few seconds, he lowered the menu and looked across at Harry. "I love you, Harry," he said quietly, but sincerely. It wasn't the first time he'd said those three little words, but he'd yet to hear them said back to him and he desperately wanted that moment to be now.

Harry looked up from his menu and gave Danny a smile. "I know, Dan," he replied before looking back at the menu.

Danny frowned and lifted his menu again, feeling disappointment settle in his stomach. What was it going to take for Harry to say it back?

After a few more minutes, Harry put his menu down again and looked for a waiter to come and take their order. After catching one waiter's eye, he looked to Danny. "Are you ready to order?"

Danny nodded silently, putting his menu down again. He ignored the odd, gnawing feeling in his stomach. He didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the restaurant. He looked up and smiled politely at the waiter as he turned to him to take his order.

****

Danny put his knife and fork down as he finished his last mouthful of food. He'd enjoyed the meal, and he could see why it was so expensive here. The food had been amazing. He and Harry had made small talk while they ate, and it grated on Danny that Harry hadn't been concerned over his sudden disinterest in making conversation.

The waiter came to collect their plates and Harry asked if they could see the dessert menu. Danny studied his fingernails. He didn't really want dessert. In fact, all he really wanted, was to go home where he could talk to Harry without worrying about having to watch what he was saying.

"Choose what you want, Dan," Harry said as the waiter brought the menus back to the table.

Danny bit back a sigh and picked up the menu that had been placed in front of him. He barely glanced at it before putting it down again. "I want to go home."

Harry looked up sharply, blinking in surprise. "What?"

"I want to go home," Danny repeated, looking steadily at Harry.

"But... we haven't had dessert yet," Harry said falteringly, unsure what was wrong.

"Harry. I. Want. To. Go. Home," Danny said slowly, emphasising each word. He wasn't sure he could keep his thoughts to himself for much longer.

"Danny, what's wrong with you?" Harry asked bluntly, frowning. "You ask me to bring you out, so I do. I buy you nice food, and I'm trying to get you a nice dessert but you just want to go home? Why?"

"Why?" Danny asked, realising that they were actually going to do this now. "Harry, what did I say to you earlier?" he asked, wondering if the older male had even registered his words.

Harry blinked again, frowning as he tried to remember. "Well... you said that you... wanted to watch the football tomorrow," he started slowly. He was sure that couldn't be what Danny was trying to get at though.

"Before that," Danny said, swallowing thickly. "Before we ate."

"You... oh," Harry said, trailing off as he realised what Danny was talking about. "But Dan... you've said that before..."

"I know I have! I've said it loads of times! And you've never said it back!" Danny exclaimed, his voice raising with each sentence. "Why Harry? Why don't you say it? Am I not what you want? Is this not what you want?" he continued, lowering his voice to a loud, harsh whisper as he realised that people were looking at them.

"Of course I want you Dan!" Harry replied, frowning. "How could I not want you?! I just..."

Danny shook his head, blinking back tears. "Forget it Harry. I'm going home. I don't want to hear more of your excuses," he said, getting up and throwing his napkin down on the table. "I'll see you back at the house."

Danny stalked out of the restaurant, wiping angrily at his eyes. He hadn't wanted that to happen. He hadn't wanted to cause a scene but now, even without looking, he could tell that people were looking in his direction. This was the part of his relationship with Harry that he hated. The bit that made him wonder if it was really worth it. He wondered what had changed. The night had started so well and now here he was, trying not to cry as he walked out on his boyfriend.

He was vaguely aware of Harry calling his name as he stepped out of the restaurant and onto the path. Looking around him but not really taking in his surroundings, he stepped onto the road, intending to go to the taxi rank that he knew was on the other side.

"DANNY!"

Harry's scream, the squeal of rubber on tarmac and a flash of light were the last things Danny remembered before everything went black.

****

Danny opened his eyes slowly. He could hear sirens all around him, not really knowing the reason for their presence. He shivered, realising that he was incredibly cold. Apart from my hand, he thought. His hand was warm and he struggled to open his eyes fully, so that he could see the source of the warmth. He let out a small groan of pain as he tried to turn his head.

"Danny!"

That's Harry's voice, he thought wildly. My Harry. "H-Harry..." he whispered hoarsely, trying to turn his head in the direction of the older male's voice.

"Shh," Harry whispered, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Don't talk. I'm here. I'm here," he continued, squeezing Danny's hand gently. "I'm always going to be here. I'm sorry Dan, I'm sorry. I love you. I love you, I love you so much."

Danny felt warmth flood through him at Harry's words and although he wanted to know why the older male had never said it before, he was in far too much pain to ask why now. His eyelids felt very heavy again and he found that he couldn't keep them open any longer, the pain in his side too great.

****

The next time Danny's eyes opened, he closed them again quickly, blinking against the harsh light that invaded his vision. He groaned groggily.

The groan made Harry sit up sharply in the seat at Danny's bedside. "Dan?" he asked, grabbing carefully for the younger male's hand. "Dan, are you awake?"

"Wh-what happened?" Danny croaked, turning his head to the sound of Harry's voice. He cracked one eye open, waiting until it was adjusted to the light before opening the other one.

"You were... you were hit by a car," Harry whispered, feeling tears spring to his eyes again as he recalled the evening's events. "You have a few broken ribs, which caused some internal bleeding, a broken arm and a broken leg," he added. "I... I thought you were dead."

"Harry... Harry don't cry," Danny whispered, his voice cracking slightly.

"This is my fault Dans," Harry continued whispering, a tear creeping down his cheek. "It's all my stupid fault."

"Why didn't you say it?" Danny asked, his voice a little rougher now.

"Because... because I couldn't," Harry admitted. He knew that they had to have this conversation now. That Danny had a right to know why. "And please, please don't think that it was because I didn't love you. Because I do. I love you more than anything. I have for a while. I just... to say it never seemed enough. That's... that's why I tried to show you, by buying you things and treating you and... and... look what happened."

Danny felt his own eyes tear up now and he gave Harry's hand a squeeze. "You idiot," he croaked out. "All I ever wanted was to hear you say those words back to me," he added. "I could see it, I really could, but... but not hearing you say it made me doubt it. I thought... I thought you were regretting being with me. You're the first person I've ever said those words to and... and it killed me that you never said it back. No-one ever has said it to me. That's why I kept saying it... I was just... I was hoping to hear you say it too."

"I'm sorry Dans," Harry whispered immediately. "I'm so sorry. I love you so, so much. I just... I've never felt like this about anyone and I... I wasn't sure if..."

Danny smiled tearfully as he looked up at Harry. "I love you too," he whispered hoarsely, cutting the older male off mid-sentence. "Come here," he added, tugging on Harry's hand, trying to show him that he wanted a hug.

Harry carefully hugged Danny to him, being cautious not to squeeze him even the slightest bit. He didn't want to cause any unnecessary pain. As they parted, he smiled tearfully down at the Boltoner. "When you get home... I'm going to be better," he whispered. "I promise."

"I believe you," Danny whispered back, returning Harry's smile. He really did believe him too. He could have done without landing in hospital to have this conversation with his boyfriend, but he was certainly glad that they'd had it. He hoped that things wouldn't get so heated between them in the future. At least, not in that way.