Title: The Little Things by that_1_incident
Fandom: Without A Trace
Pairing: Danny/Martin
Categories: Angst, romance
Length: Medium (2720 words)
Warning: Author warns for themes of addiction
Rating: PG-13


Author on LJ: [fan-fik-shuh-n]
Website: Also archived on fanfiction.net as '~easytodancewith'


Summary: In hindsight, Martin thinks it’s pretty funny that it wasn’t Sam’s gentle confrontation that reached him, nor Viv’s pointed concern, not even the lady at the Starbucks down the street from the FBI building who asked if he was okay when his hands wouldn’t stop shaking long enough for him to count out his change. In fact, all it took was Danny slipping a piece of paper into his hand after work one day with an address and a time and a promise: I’ll be there if you are.

Review: This is quite a short story and rather light on the actual slash side of things, but it does offer a perceptive insight into addiction and the courage required to overcome it. Martin has been abusing pills, and although his rational mind knows he needs help he has yet to convince his subconscious which shies away from the whole idea - until Danny silently offers his support. It's the knowledge that Danny will be there beside him which gets Martin in through the door of the meeting, and the touch of Danny's hand which helps him to face his demons at last. And afterwards, when they share a cab home, there's the quiet promise of more to follow.

What appeals to me here is the understanding that although these guys are attracted to one another and are prepared to admit it, they are not looking at a moonlight-and-roses scenario - not least because they are both addictive personalities and that makes everything else in their lives just that bit more complicated. On the other hand, there is also the merest hint of a suggestion that they could become one another's drug of choice, and that therefore each could provide the solution to the other's problem. It isn't glib, thank goodness, but it's optimistic all the same.

This is a story in which not much happens, so if you're hoping for hot mansex I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. However, it does offer valuable character insight and a gentle upbeat ending from a writer who obviously knows her subject and expresses herself both clearly and well, and - as that_1_incident shows us here - sometimes little things like that can be really important.

Link: The Little Things