Title: His Own Reasons
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Carl Hickman/Louis Daniel
Fandom: Crossing Lines
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 478
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Carl Hickman or Louis Daniel, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

"This is far too dangerous for you to go undercover, Louis."

Dorn's voice was flat, expressionless. Louis frowned, shifting slightly on the park bench to face the other man, studying Michael's face in the bright sunlight.

"Michael, the only way that we are going to flush this killer out is to have someone close to him who can give him that last push when it's needed," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "We need to have an operative in his organization, and I am the best one for that job."

the other man sighed, turning to look at him, those dark eyes meeting Louis'. He could read the trepidation in Michael's gaze, the concern for him.

"What would Carl have to say about that?" Michael asked quietly. "Has he agreed?"

Louis swallowed hard, then looked away, shaking his head. '"No, of course he has not. He doesn't know that I will be the one to go undercover."

He knew that Carl would protest strenuously against this, and that it might cause a crack to form in their relationship. Maybe he shouldn't be the one to do this, Louis told himself with a soft sigh. Maybe he should ask Tommy to be the one to go undercover.

But no, he couldn't do that. It would be risky, and he was the leader of this team. He should be the one to shoulder the most risk.

He couldn't ask a member of the team to do something that he wasn't prepared to do himself, especially if it was dangerous. He owed it to the team to take the lead.

"It's not just yourself that you have to think about now, Louis," Michael said, his voice calm and quiet. "You need to think about Carl, as well. You have a relationship with him, one that you've both waited a long time for. You shouldn't carelessly throw yourself into danger."

Louis shook his head, feeling frustrated. "It isn't careless, Michael. I have thought about this very hard, and I feel that I should be the one to take the most risk."

"But does your lover feel that way?" Michael persisted. "He has a say in this, too."

Louis closed his eyes, nodding slowly, accepting Michael's words. "Of course he does. But in the end, I am the one who makes the final decision."

"Because you lead the team," Michael said softly. "And because you think that you should always be the one to put themselves into the most danger. Don't you see, Louis? You can't always put yourself out there. Not now. Not when you have so much to lose."

"I must, Michael." Louis' voice was even firmer now, the words dropping like stones. "It has to be me. I have my reasons for this."

And he intended to keep those reasons a secret -- even from the man he loved.

***