Fandom:	Houston Knights
Series:	Playing For Keeps/Preslash
Rating:	PG-13
Pairing:	Joe/Levon
Archive:	Starwinder's
Title:	Lonely Knights
Author:	Starwinder
e-mail:	starwinder2of7@gmail.com
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.

Lonely Knights
By Starwinder

Joanne had gone to take Lilly home, leaving Lundy and LaFiamma to finish up their reports before they left. When they were finished they walked to the elevator in silence. Lundy had a sad look on his face and Joe figured he was still thinking about his former mentor.

They were alone on the elevator and Lundy leaned against the back wall for the ride down. LaFiamma turned to watch him and after a few minutes he asked, "You OK, Lundy?"

Lundy sighed and then nodded, "I'll be all right. Just a little depressed I guess."

LaFiamma nodded slightly then turned to face away from Lundy.

After a minute, Lundy said, "That was a nice thing that you did in there."

LaFiamma looked over at him, "What?"

"Telling Lillie that John was on his way back to get her when we picked him up."

"No big deal."

"Maybe not....but I appreciate your doing it." Lundy hesitated. "Lotta people wouldn't have cared enough to try and ease her pain."

"Maybe." Joe's voice was noncommittal. He leaned his shoulder against the side of the elevator and stared at the floor.

Lundy studied him for a long moment wondering what was wrong. He had meant the comment as a compliment but it seemed that the remark had started LaFiamma sinking into a depression.

They finished the ride in silence. When the doors opened on the parking garage, Lundy headed for the Jimmy but LaFiamma turned and started toward the exit on foot.

Lundy turned back, "LaFiamma. Jimmy's over here." He called.

LaFiamma turned to look at him then shook his head, "I'll just walk." He started off again.

Lundy shook his head then took off after him, catching up he caught LaFiamma's arm and gave it a tug, "Huh-uh! You're already getting depressed. Last thing you need is to walk and brood all night. Come on. I'm taking you home."

"What'd you care if I get depressed, Lundy?" LaFiamma demanded as he pulled loose from Lundy's hold.

"Boy, I got to work with you. You spend all night walking and brooding and I catch hell tomorrow. I'm doing me a bigger favor than I am you. Now, come on!"

LaFiamma looked toward the exit then back at the Jimmy and finally turned and headed for the vehicle.

Lundy gave a sigh of relief and followed him, making sure LaFiamma actually got in before he got in himself.

They drove to LaFiamma's in silence and when LaFiamma got out to go in Lundy pretty much resigned himself to having a depressed partner the next day. Then LaFiamma turned back and leaned in the window to say, "Hey, Lundy you wanna come up and have a beer or something."

Lundy switched off the Jimmy and got out coming around to join LaFiamma, as they walked up the sidewalk he said, "You mean to tell me that you actually have beer."

"Well, Yeah. I got this cowboy for a partner and all he drinks is beer. A guy's gotta look out for his partner. You know. Make sure that he's got something to drink when he drops by. Stuff like that."

"You telling me I gotta start stocking bottle water, LaFiamma."

"Bottle water, Gatorade, maybe even a decent bottle of wine, depending on how friendly you wanna get." The last was said in a teasing tone as he opened the door to the apartment.

Lundy noted that LaFiamma seemed to be cheering up a little but the last remark seemed a little odd somehow. He wasn't certain what had happened but the mood had definitely changed.

LaFiamma flipped on the lights and crossed to the kitchen. "You hungry?" He asked over his shoulder.

"I ain't exactly starving but I could eat something."

"Go through the fridge and pick out what you want. I'm gonna change before I start cooking." LaFiamma went up the stairs to the bedroom and left Lundy in the kitchen alone.

Lundy had the strangest feeling that something was going on that he wasn't quite aware of but he decided that it was just his imagination and went to plunder around in the kitchen.

When LaFiamma returned to the kitchen he had changed into a simple pair of sweat pants and a tank top. He padded barefoot into the kitchen and Lundy couldn't help but be reminded of that first night after the fight they had at Gilley's when they had come back to the apartment to clean up and LaFiamma had changed into an almost identical outfit. His eyes dropped to LaFiamma's feet as he remembered how he had had to keep tearing his eyes away from them that night. Then as he realized that he was staring at his partner's feet again, he closed his eyes and turned away before opening them back.

"Something the matter, Lundy?" LaFiamma asked.

"No, I guess I'm just a little tireder than I thought."

"So, sit down and rest. It'll be a good half hour before supper's ready." LaFiamma said as he busied himself with preparing the meal. After a minute he added. "You want to talk about---"

"John. No. Wouldn't help none. It's just gonna take some time."

"Yeah, I reckon lotta things just take time." LaFiamma agreed in a sad voice.

They fell silent again and Lundy couldn't help thinking that in some ways they were a lot alike. Neither of them was real forthcoming as far as their personal thoughts and feeling went. They were much more comfortable yelling at each other than talking to each other.

He sat on one of the barstools and watched his partner cook. There was no denying that LaFiamma knew his way around a kitchen. He chopped, sliced and diced like a professional chef.

"Where'd you learn to cook?" Lundy found himself asking.

"You don't grow up in a big Italian family without spending time in the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home in an Italian family. Everybody gets in on the act. My mom started teaching me when I was little. I liked it and I had a knack for it, so I took some cooking classes in college" He shrugged. "I guess it's a good thing that I learned. Most of my cousins were married straight outta high school or college but I'll be thirty in a year or so and no wife in sight so I guess it's good that I can take care of myself."

Lundy nodded, "Well, lotta women just don't want to deal with what a cop's wife has to."

LaFiamma just shrugged and went on with the cooking. When He finished he set the table and they sat down to eat. Even though he hadn't eaten at LaFiamma's all that much Lundy had gotten used to the table settings and having to say grace before they ate so he went on and did it without being asked.

After supper they retired to the living room. Lundy sat on one end of the couch and LaFiamma dropped down on the other. He started to swing his feet up then realized that they would be in Lundy's lap if he did. But before he could put them back down Lundy reached out and pulled then into his lap.

LaFiamma stiffened just a bit with uncertainty until Lundy began to massage one of his feet, then he relaxed into the luxury of it with a low sigh. "I'll give you all night and half tomorrow to quit that." He teased.

"Figures. You been up on'um since what? Five o'clock this mornin'-."

"Yesterday morning, Lundy. It's past midnight now." He groaned as Lundy hit a sore spot. "Oww!"

"That's where it hurts, Huh?"

"Yeah, right there.... Oh, man. That feels so good." He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.

Lundy took the opportunity to look at him. He looked absolutely gorgeous. There was a slight smile on his face. His long well muscled body was relaxed, almost limp. Lundy wondered what LaFiamma would say if he let his hand slide up his leg to massage what he really wanted to massage.

LaFiamma opened his eyes and regarded Lundy, seriously. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

Lundy smiled sadly at a memory, "I reckon most husbands learn it. I used to give Caroline foot rubs, in exchange for back rubs."

At the mention of Caroline's name LaFiamma dropped his eyes away from Lundy's and stared down at the floor. After a minute he pulled his feet out of Lundy's grip and sat up. The atmosphere in the room cooling rapidly, "Thanks for the foot rub, Lundy but it's getting late and you know we gotta work tomorrow," he rose from the couch, "maybe you should go now."

Lundy rose and reached for his hat which was on the coffee table. He wasn't certain what had been happening between them but he knew that mentioning Caroline had brought it to an abrupt end. The silence between them now was suddenly awkward. "Uh, yeah..... I'll pick you up in the morning then. Uh..." Not knowing what else to say he headed for the door.

LaFiamma watched him go, feeling very lonely all of a sudden. "Good night, Lundy." He said as his partner opened the door to leave.

"Good night, LaFiamma." Lundy replied then he closed the door and was gone.

Standing in the hall Lundy looked back at the door and cursed himself for mentioning Caroline but he didn't know what else he could have said without lying.

Inside the apartment LaFiamma picked up the throw pillow off the couch where Lundy had been sitting and wrapped his arms around it as he sank back on the couch. He could smell Lundy's after-shave on it. If only the man hadn't mentioned his wife or if there hadn't been such sadness in his face when he said her name. He buried his face in the pillow, breathing in the scent of his partner.

The End