Daniel sits in a darkened room, idly flicking the flint of his cigarette lighter over his fingers as they languish in the heat of the flame. His eyes are firmly entranced on the dancing flame that licks at his tanned flesh, the flame signifying his anger and it's insaitable need to consume everything in sight. Behind him, the door creaks open, the anger in his body surging at that one instant, filling his every vein and artery with complete and all consuming anger. Darren has arrived and with him he has brought Daniel's last chance to let go of his anguish and his pain.

"Dan?"

The word is slurred and barely recognisable as Darren's lilting, angelic voice. //'He's been drinking again,'// thinks Daniel as he rolls his eyes and stands from his chair.

"Yes Darren it's me, we need to talk." He sighs, frustration creeping into his voice. The blonde in front of him wavers on his feet as his hands grab for Dan, more to gain some comfort rather than to steady his clumsy feet. Daniel grasps Darren's wrists in his hands, tightening his grip in a painful manner and eliciting a small squeal of protest from the shorter man's lips.

"Damnit Darren, look at yourself, half drunk and in a daze," He spits, roughly letting go of Darren's wrists. The shorter blonde looks up at him, perplexed. Dan pulls away from him, disgust and anger bubbling within him, he knows the closer he gets to Darren, the easier it will be for him to lose control in one way or another. He can't let his judgement be clouded, he can't let any emotion creep in and ruin this one chance to speak out against what has been going on between them. He can't just let it pass him by. Something has to be done. And something will be.

A light touch against his shoulder drops him back into reality, his blood runs cold as he recognizes that touch, that light and sensual carress. A shudder traverses his body as he turns to face Darren.

"Dan? What's wrong?"

A growl forms in Daniel's throat, aching to escape. He pushes away the hand that reaches up to touch his face, he relishes in the look of surprise that crosses his partners face as a snarl forms on his lips and that growing growl slips from his mouth.

"You're what's wrong Darren. You."

The words explode into midair, punctuating the darkness that surrounds them both. Dan shakes his head, a million thoughts racing at once, a million things that need to be said.

"What are you talking about Dan?"

His anger boils once more, the unmistakeable tone of feigned innocence in Darren's voice enraging him even more. He turns on his best friend, his lover....His Business Partner.

The last nine years have been more than memorable, on-stage and off. Enough is enough. The buck stops here and so does this friendship, relationship...whatever you want to call it.

"You've always taken such pride in what you do, haven't you Daz? You've always loved being the centre of attention, you love the lights, the red carpets, the parties, the people...You love it all," the words pour forth like a poisened river of acidic pain and hatred. "You love this little world you've created don't you? This little fantasy land where you're what everyone wants, loves and adores. Not anymore Darlin'," the sneer in Daniel's voice gives his usually friendly tone an edge of malice that was before unheard of.

"Dan, I'm sorry if I've upset-"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear a word from your pretty little painted mouth!" Dan yells, stunning Darren into silence. "Look at you, look at us, look what you've done!!!! You stand by and look pretty while I create the music you so proudly flaunt to everyone you can charm. You boast about how the lyrics you write are so dear to your heart, how it pains you so to sing those words, damnit Darren, you don't ever stop to think do you? You're so focused on making an idol out of yourself that you're forgetting to live for today and the people around you. You're losing me in this little quest to make yourself bigger than you are! In this little battle to make yourself a legend you're losing someone that loved you once!!"

Darren frantically reaches for Daniel, wanting to make things right.

"Dan, please! I never meant-"

"I told you to shut up!!!!" He violently pushes Darren's hands away, things need to be said without interruption, now that the ball has started rolling, there's no way to stop it. "I'm tired of hearing you talk! That's all you ever do. TALK. In interviews, on radio stations, in concert. All you do is talk. It's time for me to say a few things, I'm sick of this Darren, sick of all of this, all those things you love so much, the lights, the cameras...everything. I don't want this anymore and I don't want you. I don't want what you've become, a publicity hungry popstar who would gladly attend the opening of an envelope if it would ensure their picture in the paper tomorrow. I loved you once Darren, I loved who you were."

Dan's voice loses some of it's pain as his voice drops to a mere whisper.

"I can't love you anymore."

"Dan....no, please, you can't mean this....."

"I do. I mean every word. I want out Darren. I want out of Savage Garden, I want to get away from you, I'll see out the tour but then that's it, we get back to Australia and I'm done, there's nothing for me here anymore. I need to find some space to breathe and some place to be without you and what you've become. I can't do it anymore Darren, you....you've changed. If I had known that this is how things would've turned out when we discussed you being the public face of the band, I would never have agreed to it. I never see you anymore and when I do, you're too busy doing your hair or wondering what you're going to wear to the next awards show or press conference to give a damn about what's happening in my life or what's been happening to us," the words fall out in a rush, everything that needs to be said, as if to explain but more to make his point. This has been too painful for too long, it has to end.

"But Dan, I love you, don't-"

"You don't love me! I doubt you ever did. Don't argue with me about this Darren, just let me go. I want out."

Darren's shoulders slump as he realises the futility of the situation. Shock sets in. The immense loss follows swiftly. With his head hanging in shame and anguish, Darren senses rather than sees Daniel brush past him on his way out the door. He swallows back tears as he tries to gain some semblance of control over his voice.

"I do love you Dan."

The whisper hangs in the thick night air. Daniel stops and turns to look at the man he loved and, to be honest, still loves. One hand lifts slowly, grazing the back of Darren's neck and drawing the shorter man into his embrace. Dan tips up Darren's chin and silently covers Darren's full lips with his own, tasting his lover one last time. Darren gasps and tries to suppress a sob as Daniel draws him even closer, deepening thier kiss. He wraps his arms around the taller man, not wanting to ever let go. After a few moments, Daniel pulls back, resting his forehead against Darren's.

"Let me go."

Darren nods silently as tears begin to slip from his eyes. Daniel raises a hand and traces the path of one salty tear as it trails over Darren's cheekbone.

"My little Diva. Goodbye darlin'."

A tortured smile and he leaves, the door closes behind him and two hearts are instantly broken.

//'Forgive me Darren, but this is for the best.//