Sylum Challenge #71 - Sorrow
author: Allie the Gator
Fandom- Sylum/Without a Trace
No spoilers.
Warnings - Gator angst ;-)
A/N: As always, these are Gator AU, not SylumVerse, even though the characters are the pairings/situation in Sylum.
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Martin Fitzgerald wandered out into the the back year of the manor, headed for the swamp area. He saw Danny sitting on a log at the edge of the swamp, reading a heavy book.

"Hey, Danny," he called softly, not wanting to disturb the man.

Danny looked up with a wide grin "Martin!" he called back, accent heavy, a sure sign he was tired and distracted, "come, sit," he finished with a gesture next to him

Martin sat, looking over at the book Danny was reading. It was a federal law book. He looked a question at the other man, who just shrugged at him.

"Figured, if I am going to be around awhile, maybe I can get my law degree in my next 'life'. So, I have a head start here." Martin smiled at the easy acceptance in his mate's voice.

"You know, Martin, Allie told me a joke earlier?"

*Blink* *Blink, blink* "um...Danny? You talk to the Alligator?"

*Shrug* "Well, Martin, everyone else does. Besides, she's not an Alligator, she is an Allie Gator."

"...."

"Come on, Martin, you've been here before, surly you've talked to the Gator?"

"..."

"Martin? Martin! No wonder she was in a hiss about you!" Danny rolled his eyes in disbelief at his partner.

"Sorry..." Martin wispered, dropping his head.

"Don't appologize to me, Martin, apologize to her," he gestured next to him, where the Log next to them suddenly blinked. Martin startled, slipping off his log, checking it carefully for eyes and legs before sitting back down. Danny laughed out loud at him.

Danny gestured to the big gator, who stood and waddled around to him. With one hand on her big head, he looked at her. "Allie, Martin has something to say to you." He pointed at his wide-eyed mate. Martin slid back off the log, kneeling  in front of the gator. The Gator lifted her head and placed it on Danny's lap with a contented smile. Danny snickered when he heard Martin's gulp.

"Al...um...*cough* Allie...Gator..." Martin tentatively reached out one hand, Danny grabbed it and placed it next to his on the big muzzle, with a small smile, the man continued "Allie, I am very, very, very sorry. You have no idea my depth of sorrow here, girl. Everyone told me you were friendly and I really should have come out sooner to meet you. I am very sorry girl." He looked up at Danny, who smiled back at him.

With a scratch to the wide muzzle, Martin looked back with a bigger smile, "am I forgiven, Allie? You really are a sweet gator."

Allie looked over at the sincere man. She turned her head, placing it on his crossed knees. With a happy grumble, she settled her big head in his lap, leaning against Danny. With a contented sigh, Martin leaned his head against Danny, who turned back to his studying with a happy smile.

Martin suddenly sat up, Allie grumbling unhappily, until he distractedly patted her head with a murmered "sorry".

"Martin?"

"Danny, you never told me the joke!"

"oh," Danny replied with a laugh, "that. Just Allie says to me 'you know there only 3 lawyer jokes in the whole world?'

"I told her I did not know that. She says...this so funny, martin...she says 'that's because all the rest are true!'" Danny laughs to hard, he has to set his book down, sliding off the log to sit next to Martin with Allie snuggled tight up against both of them.

Martin chortles, too, snuggling in close to his mate and petting the gator. With a slight laugh, he murmers "I'll let you introduce Allie to Jack. I want to watch."

11-17-2006