Standard Disclaimer: Houston Knights belongs to Jay Bernstein and Michael Butler and Columbia Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended. This is fan fiction, written out of love for the shows. I am making no money off this. I have no money so please don't sue me. Any original characters who may appear in these stories are the property of the author.

One Step Forward
By Starwinder

Lundy sat slumped in a booth at Chicken's. He wasn't talking, not to anybody and that had Chicken more than a mite worried. Not to mention that he was working on his fifth beer and showing no sign of slowing down.

Chicken was almost relieved to see LaFiamma come stalking through the door, until he saw the look on the man's face. It was that 'I know you're here, Lundy, and we're going to have this thing out.' look. With a groan Chicken did a quick look-around, assessing how much damage he could expect if that look evolved into one of the partners not infrequent fist-fights.[Two-three hundred dollars easy...maybe as high as five. If'n LaFiamma starts it-- Lundy won't pay and there ain't no use at all in putting it on LaFiamma's tab. Maybe I can steer them outside before they get started... .]

He headed for the end of the counter hoping to cut LaFiamma off before he got to Lundy but as he stepped around the end of the bar he saw LaFiamma stop. He was looking at Lundy, at the defeated slump of his shoulders and the bowed head, at the half dozen long necks in front of him, most of them empty.

He stood for a moment just watching his partner then he began to move toward Lundy again. In the moment he had stood there his whole attitude had changed. The belligerence simply disappeared . He moved to the booth and dropped into the seat opposite Lundy, reaching out he picked up the remaining full bottle of beer and weighted it in his hand.

Lundy looked up, "I ain't had but five, LaFiamma. That's the last of the six-pack. I ain't ordering no more." He said in a tired voice.

Chicken walked up to the table as LaFiamma sat regarding the beer in his hand.

After a minute LaFiamma seemed to make a decision. He looked across at Lundy, "You've had enough." He turned to Chicken and held out the beer, "Put it back in the cooler, Chicken."

Chicken reached out and took the beer, but he gave Lundy a questioning look before making a move.

Lundy looked up at Chicken, "You think I've had enough, too, Chicken?"

"I think you can handle it, but I'd feel better if you let me put this one back on ice." The big man shifted the bottle in his hands.

Lundy shook his head, but said, "Go ahead on then. Put it back.... Just don't forget I done paid for it."

Chicken nodded, "Thanks, Lundy." He said gruffly, his voice betraying how glad he was that Lundy had decided to call it a night with the beers.

Lundy turned back to LaFiamma, "Satisfied?" He demanded.

"Yeah," LaFiamma said grudgingly, deciding it would probably be better if he didn't tell Lundy he wouldn't be satisfied till he had him safe at home.

An awkward silence descended, not what LaFiamma had been planning on when he came in, but then when he'd come in he'd been planning to pick a fight. He wasn't certain which was worse. The yelling and fighting or the bloody awful silences. He decided he hated the silences more.

Looking across at his partner he said, "So, you finally gonna face the fact that your buddy, Brissom is involved in this?"

Lundy didn't look at him just shook his head and took a sip of his beer, a small sip, figuring since it was the last one he was getting tonight he'd better make it last. Finally he replied. "I told you this afternoon, LaFiamma. It ain't that I disagree with you. It's just hard to accept. John and I were real close once. He was like a father to me when I was a rookie."

LaFiamma leaned toward Lundy, clasping his hands in front of him on the table and said "I understand that, Lundy, and I'm sorry that the way this thing is turning out is hurting you but I need to know if you're ready to follow this case where it goes. I gotta know if I can count on you for back up if it comes to a shoot out or if I need to figure that I'm flying solo on this. That's all." As he finished he leaned back in the seat.

Lundy regarded him for a long moment before saying, "You really think I'd leave you in the lurch, Boy?"

"I don't know what to think, Lundy. That's why I'm asking you. Do I have a partner or not?"

Lundy looked down at the beer in his hand, "I can't say I'm happy about where this is going, LaFiamma... but we're partners. I'll be there. I won't like it... but I'll be there."

LaFiamma gave a sigh of relief, "Okay,... and thanks." He looked at the empty beer bottles in front of Lundy, "You want me to drive you home?"

"I can manage."

"You've had five beers, Lundy! You're over the legal---"

"All right! All Right! Fine! Have it your way! I'm drunk! Take me home." Lundy slid out of the booth and tossed LaFiamma the keys to the Jimmy, stalking toward the door.

LaFiamma caught the keys and followed him out. "That ain't what I said, Lundy. I just said that you were over the legal...." His voice faded as he walked out the door behind Lundy.

Chicken watched them go and grinned shaking his head.[One of these days they're gonna figure out that they like each other!]

The End

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