t h e . l a n g u a g e . i s . l e a v i n g . m e . i n . s i l e n c e

The Language Is Leaving Me In Silence
[by victoria p.]

Rating: G

Summary: "Jotting down incoherent ramblings in a secret notebook is not going to help him."

Notes: Thanks as always to Jen, Pete/Melissa, Dot, and Meg. Written for Snacky, who asked for a fic about Dan, inspired by the song "Chile" by Toad the Wet Sprocket (Please only talk to me was the inspirational line.) Title from "No More I Love Yous" by the Lover Speaks (or Annie Lennox, if you like).

Date: August 15, 2004

Abby asked him to keep a journal, but he thinks it's stupid, and vaguely gay. He writes for a living, words are his bread and butter -- jotting down incoherent ramblings in a secret notebook is not going to help him. It's certainly not going to do anything to stop this nameless dread that sinks like a stone in his stomach or tastes like copper in his mouth when he wakes each morning and heads to work.

Abby asks and he answers -- he's made an art of not-answering, of dancing away from her questions, from everyone's questions. It is the one thing he is indisputably best at. With his family, he was always second best to Sam; at work, he is second to Casey; and in his love life he is now coming in second to that rat fucking bastard Steve Sisko.

He doesn't even come first with Abby, though that's what he pays her for. She has other patients, a life outside her office, of which he is not apart.

He ignores Casey's clumsy pleas to talk, Jeremy's anxious glances, Isaac's fatherly frowns of concern. He blows off Natalie, and avoids Dana.

They all say the same thing.

Talk to me, Danny. Please.

But he can't. He doesn't have the words anymore to explain, they come rushing to the back of his throat and then stop, choking him like grave dust. He's locked into this prison he calls a life, and he wants to get out, out of his head, out of his body, away from the words which are out of his control, but instead he stares at the blank computer screen and begins typing.

end

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Disclaimer: All SportsNight characters belong to Aaron Sorkin and others who aren't me, etc. This piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.