Fandom:	Houston Knights
Series:	Playing For Keeps/Pre-slash
Rating:	PG-13
Pairing:	Joe/Levon
Archive:	Starwinder's
Title:	Two Steps Forward
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.

Two Steps Forward
By Starwinder

The forensics people were finished. They'd gone over LaFiamma's apartment with a fine tooth comb in hopes that the Singles Bar Killer had left some clue behind other than the clothes, the same ones he'd been wearing at the bar the previous night, which he had left lain out on LaFiamma's bed.

Lundy closed the door behind the last of them and turned to look at his partner. LaFiamma sat on the couch, his face blank. He'd been there, barely moving since Annie had arrived to take charge of the evidence gathering and ordered him to sit down and stay out of the way. That blank expression had Lundy worried. LaFiamma hadn't been dealing with the killer calling him very well. Now the man had invaded his private space, his home.

[Violated.] The word came unbidden, a memory from a class at the academy where cops were taught that people whose homes were entered by burglars, assailants, or whatever frequently felt violated almost as if they had been raped, even if they had not been home at the time of the intrusion. Just knowing that someone had been in their private space, handling and looking at their personal, private things was emotionally traumatizing.

Then the evidence technicians had come and pawed through everything again looking for clues and LaFiamma had had to sit and watch that. He'd insisted on staying in the bedroom while they dusted for fingerprints and bagged the killer's clothes, only leaving when Annie ordered him out. Of course she had made certain that the techs remembered that this was a fellow officer's home and that they should be respectful of any personal items that they came across. Still there had been a couple of times when LaFiamma had looked upset about where the techs were poking around.

Now Lundy stood looking down at his partner not certain whether to just say good night and go or whether to stay and try to make sure LaFiamma was all right.

[It would be so much simpler just to say "See you tomorrow." and go.] He thought but he couldn't quite make himself do it, couldn't help remembering a night when he had needed somebody and a very new partner, although worried, scared and awkward had tried to help. [Now...] He sighed, [Now he needs me.]

He went and sat down on the couch beside LaFiamma, reaching out to lay a hand on his partner's shoulder.

LaFiamma jerked at the contact as if he hadn't realized Lundy had sat down beside him.

"Are you gonna be all right, LaFiamma?" Lundy asked softly.

"Yeah, sure." LaFiamma's voice was dull, barely more than a whisper, and as expressionless as his face.

Lundy shook his head slightly, "You don't sound all right." He reached up and very gently stroked LaFiamma's hair.

LaFiamma flinched from the touch and, standing up suddenly, moved away from Lundy.

Lundy stood and stepped toward him being careful not to invade his personal space. "LaFiamma...." He began.

"I'm fine, Lundy! I don't need you! Just go on home!" LaFiamma snapped.

Stung by the anger in LaFiamma's voice Lundy grabbed his hat and headed for the door. "Fine! Have it your way!" [Can't the man see I'm just tryin' ta help.] He reached it and yanked it open. He hesitated. [But then again I ain't been real helpful lately.]

Relenting he pushed the door closed and turned back. He said, gently. "Seems to me, that I once told somebody that I was fine... and he not only took me home with him, he took my gun away."

He turned his hat over in his hands. "I think maybe you oughta spend the night at my place."

"Forget it, Lundy!" LaFiamma yelled. "I ain't gonna---"

"Dammit, LaFiamma." Lundy interrupted crossing the room to face his partner. "You ain't gotta be superman all the dang time. Everybody needs somebody from time ta time. I let you help me when I needed it. Now it ain't open for discussion. You can get what you think you'll need for the night or I can throw you some clothes in a sack but you're spending the night at my place."

"Lundy..." LaFiamma looked at him helplessly. "I..."

Lundy reached out and laid a hand on his arm, "Let me be the strong one this time. Okay, partner?"

LaFiamma didn't move. He stared around the apartment, "This place is a mess.... I ought to clean it up... there's fingerprint powder everywhere..." he mumbled.

Catching hold of LaFiamma's arm, Lundy shook him, "LaFiamma! Snap out of it. You can clean the place up tomorrow. You need to get some rest..."

"What if he calls... The lieutenant..."

"I'll call Joanne. Have her route any calls here to my place. Now are you getting your stuff or am I?"

LaFiamma didn't actually say anything, just looked up toward the loft then back at Lundy but Lundy understood. With a nod he went up to get his partner a change of clothes.

LaFiamma was still standing right where he left him when Lundy came back down. With a sigh, Lundy caught his arm and steered him out the door.
By the time they got to Lundy's, LaFiamma was a little more animated, but not much. He did get out of the Jimmy and walk into the house by himself, dropping down on the couch and sitting there while Lundy rustled up some supper.

Lundy came back into the livingroom, "Come on and eat, LaFiamma. It ain't much but you need something."

LaFiamma got up and followed him into the kitchen. He still wasn't anything like his usual self and that continued to worry Lundy.

"You gonna be all right?" Lundy asked as they sat down to eat. "And don't just say you are if you aren't. You know what I mean."

"Yeah. I know what you mean, Lundy." He sighed. Staring down at the sandwich that Lundy had fixed, he suddenly smiled, just a shadow of his usual smile. "Barbecue rib sandwiches, Lundy? I might've known." He shook his head and started to eat.

Lundy watched him for a minute then prodded, "You ain't answered the question, Boy."

LaFiamma smiled again, still a shadow of the smile that Lundy was used to, but he lay the sandwich down and answered the question, "I will be." He said it firmly without any doubt.

"You're sure about that?"

"Yeah, I was shook up when I realized that, that guy had been in my place. Really shook.... But I'll get over it. We're gonna catch this guy and that will help a lot. Putting him away for good will help more. In time I'll quit even thinking about it. It's just right now... with him calling and all, then getting into my place... messing with my things... I don't like people messing with my stuff, ya know."

He fell silent, eating a little more of his sandwich before going on. "I grew up in a big family but we still had rules. Me and my brothers shared a bedroom but you didn't mess with the other guy's personal stuff. You respected each other's private things, otherwise you'd find your private things being passed around.... Of course there were times when we did mess with each other's stuff but in the end it wasn't so terrible 'cause we were brothers.... But to have a total stranger... a killer... messing with my stuff... That I have a hard time with."

"I can understand that. I ain't ever been real happy about strangers messing with my stuff either." He hesitated, "And I reckon I coulda been a mite more understanding about this guy calling you. I'm sorry. " Lundy said softly.

"Thanks," LaFiamma said.

After a moment's silence Lundy said, "Musta been nice having brothers."

"Yeah. Would've been nicer to have had an older brother. Somebody to look out for me.... Instead of always being the one to do the looking out for." He looked down at his plate, his face going sad and thoughtful.

Lundy wondered what he was thinking about but didn't ask.

They finished up in silence and cleaned up the kitchen.

When they were finished, Lundy said, "Guest room's thataway." He gestured down the hall, "Bathroom's right across from it. I think everything you need's in there. I'm gonna turn in."

"Yeah. Thanks." LaFiamma replied then as Lundy turned to go to his room, he added, "Hey! Lundy, uh....thanks for letting me stay here tonight. Getting away from the apartment.... It helped more than I thought it would."

"You're welcome, Partner." Lundy said with a smile before going on to his room.

LaFiamma looked after him for a minute then headed down the hall to the guest-room.

The End.