Date: 01/20/00

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Disclaimer: Not mine. I'm only borrowing them. Two men in love and doing naughty but nice things. Don't read this if you're under 18 years old.
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Warnings: None
Summary: Life gives Levon and Joe a wake up call.
Notes: Thanks for the beta Gila! Thanks for the moral support Gila and Wolfling. My obsession with the cowboy continues to grow daily :) Feedback? Yes, please!

Time to Say
By Mia Athlas

"Let's roll, partner," Levon said as he raced past LaFiamma. Joe jumped up automatically and grabbed his jacket, meeting Lundy at the elevator.

"What's up?"

"Hostage situation over on Freemont," Levon said through gritted teeth.

Joe could see the muscle jumping in his partner's cheek. "Howard Williams grabbed a civilian and holed up in a convenience store after a uniform spotted him."

"Damn," Joe swore. They had been after Williams for the last week. The man had shot and killed his wife after catching her in bed with his best friend. Levon slammed his hand against the wall at the side of the elevator snapping Joe back to the conversation.

"Hell! The beat cop didn't even have a clue who he was till he started shooting," Levon said angrily as he pushed his way into the elevator.

Joe gave the young man getting off an apologetic look before stepping inside after his partner.

"Anybody hurt?" Joe asked after the doors slid shut. Levon looked about ready to explode. Obviously there was more to the story.

"Petersen; damn greenhorn went and got himself shot."

"God, Levon, I'm sorry," Joe said quietly. "Petersen was the one who spotted Williams?"

"Yeah." Levon leaned back against the elevator wall for a moment. "Damn kid. I told him to always be on guard."

Joe put his hand on Levon's arm, but his partner shook it off and stalked out the door as soon as the elevator came to a stop. Joe knew how much the rookie meant to Levon. His partner had met the boy at an impromptu football game between departments. The kid had been all bravado and guts, ending up--much to Joe's amusement--knocking Levon on his ass and scoring the winning touchdown.

Levon, being Levon, had grumbled angrily and Joe had thought that he was going to take the kid's head off, but surprisingly enough, Lundy had backed off and retreated to the locker room without spilling any blood. After the game, the rookie had come over to them at Chicken's to apologize. Joe remembered the moment well, with a surge of jealousy. The kid was young, not more than twenty-two, broad shoulders, slim waist, short dark hair and dimples that wouldn't quit. He had an infectious smile. Levon seemed to respond to the young man and Peterson had ended up spending most of the evening with them.

You could tell he was new to the force. He ate up his partner's descriptions of their escapades with glee. Petersen's eyes had kept straying to Levon, though Joe could tell the young man had been making an effort to include him in the conversation. In the four months they knew him, he had never tired of hearing about their cases. Secretly, Joe thought that the kid had a crush on Levon. Out loud, he called it hero worship. Hell, he knew his partner and he had no desire to be knocked on *his* ass.

The trip to the scene was a silent, nail-biting experience as Lundy got them half way across the city in 30 minutes. They both jumped out of the truck and spotted Esteban just as their friend saw them and waved them over.

"What's going on?" Joe asked as they approached.

"Near as we can tell Williams has one, maybe two hostages. The one he grabbed is a young lady, about eighteen years old. We haven't been able to I.D. her yet. They've been in there about a half an hour. So far no demands, but no gun shots either. The second potential hostage is Officer Petersen. We know he took a hit, but we're not sure if he's alive or not." Esteban looked at Levon as he shared the last bit of news, but Lundy was staring at the sanctioned off red puddle on the sidewalk.

"What the hell happened, Esteban? How did Frank end up inside? He obviously took a bullet before he went in," Levon said.

"From what we can piece together, Petersen was crossing the street as Williams was leaving the convenience store. Williams saw a police officer crossing toward him and pulled his gun. He got off one shot, that... we think... just winged Frank. Williams grabbed the closest civilian and used her as a shield before Petersen could return fire. After that it begins to get a bit sketchy. Petersen tried to talk to Williams, but the witnesses couldn't hear what was said, then Williams began backing into the store. Petersen followed them inside. The place cleared out fast. We're a little cloudy on what happened from there. One witness," Esteban gestured to a young man on a skateboard, "could see into the window. He said that he saw them talking then Petersen leaned over and put his gun on the floor. He had barely stood up again when Williams pulled the trigger. Our witness saw Frank fall but that was it. He got the hell out of there. The shades were all drawn by the time we got here." Esteban closed his notebook.

Levon's face had grown darker and darker as Esteban spoke. When the detective finished he exploded. "Damn kid! I told him... I told him not to go playing no hero. Should have backed off. Shit! And where is his partner?"

Joe stepped closer to Levon, into his line of sight. "This isn't helping, cowboy. Now settle down. We don't know how badly he's hurt. Besides which, there's still a young innocent girl that needs our help."

Levon met Joe's eyes with a heated gaze but the detective didn't flinch. "You with me, partner," LaFiamma asked.

Finally, Levon broke the gaze and nodded sharply.

"Reckon I am." He looked back at the shop. "Got any ideas, LaFiamma?"

"Yeah," Joe said with a glint in his eye. "Where's the owner?" he asked Esteban. The detective pointed out a balding elderly man standing next to a police car. Joe jerked his head toward the man and Levon nodded.

"Sometimes the best course of action is the most obvious. There must be a back way into this joint." Joe sighed and followed his partner as Levon stormed over to the man.

"Excuse me, sir, I'm Sergeant Lundy. This here's my partner Sergeant LaFiamma."

The man looked frightened but nodded.

"Tell us about how the store's laid out. Is there a back way in?" Levon asked abruptly. So much for finesse.

The store owner haltingly began to explain the set up of the store and the building.

Soon Joe had a mental diagram of the place. After thanking the man, he stepped away.

Levon followed him immediately.

"You thinking what I'm thinking, Lundy?"

"Reckon so," Levon answered, eyeing the building. The store had bars on all the windows, but the owner had tipped them to the fact that the storage room window bars were loose. He had discovered it only that morning as he searched for a reason for his stock shortage. Mr. Jones considered it an internal problem and hadn't called the police, thinking that he could somehow figure out which of his employees were ripping him off and find out why. But what mattered now, was that they had a way in.

"What are we waiting for?" Levon said taking a step toward the building.

Joe caught his arm, gripping it tightly till Levon angrily turned back toward him. "What? If Frank is alive there's no telling how much time he has. We have to go now!"

"We're going, Lundy, but I'm warning you to take it easy. I've got no desire to catch a bullet because you're too emotionally tied up in this rescue, understand me?"

"I understand. Now--let--my--arm--go. With or without you I'm going in."

Reluctantly, Joe released his partner's arm and followed him as he headed to the side of the building.

*****

Joe and Levon carefully made their way to the alley that would take them into the basement of the store. They found the window just like the owner said.

"Don't suppose Joanne would let us do this if she knew about it?" Joe whispered.

"Nope. We're saving her from making the wrong decision," Levon answered as he knelt down and gave the bars a firm push. They both froze as the window swung in with a noticeable screech as the metal of the frame rubbed against the base.

Joe met Levon's eyes and they sat completely still for a full minute, listening. Finally, Levon let out his breath in a gust of air. "Reckon it didn't carry to the store."

"Hope not." Joe grunted as he eased himself past Levon and through the now open window. The jump to the floor was about six feet. He landed lightly and pulled his guns from their holsters. As he moved forward in the darkness, he heard Levon land behind him.

"Clear," Joe whispered when he felt Levon beside him. He knew without looking that his partner stood slightly crouched, gun drawn, with his eyes scanning the room.

They moved forward as one, Joe going low through the door into the hallway outside of the storage room and Levon going high. The hallway was empty and, thankfully, lit by small yellow lights. Silently, they crept toward the stairs at the end of the hall--the stairs that would lead up into the store.

Joe spared a moment to appreciate how well he and Levon worked together at times like these. They may quarrel, brawl and otherwise get the hell on each other's nerves, but when the chips were down, no one could read him like Levon.

"Ready?" Levon whispered.

Joe nodded and they crept up the stairs. As they got close to the top they could hear voices.

"Just be quiet, I need to think!" Joe recognized William's voice. At the top of the stairs, he inched forward. From his vantage point he could see the gunman in the security mirrors above them.

Joe nodded upwards and Levon's eyes followed his gaze. Williams was pacing back and forth, gun clenched tightly in his hands. The girl sat on the floor with her back to the wall. He couldn't see Petersen.

"So what now?" the girl asked. Her voice was muffled by the hands that she held over her face.

"I don't know what now! I shot a cop! How long do you think I'll live if they take me to prison? I've heard stories, I know what'll happen to me. All this is that bitch's fault!"

The telephone began ringing and Williams gestured to the girl. "Pick up that damn phone before it drives me crazy."

The girl scrambled up and stepped away from Williams to comply.

Joe knew that this might be their best chance. The girl was out of the line of fire. He glanced at his partner. Levon gestured to the left, then pointed to Joe and gestured to the right. Joe nodded, then met Levon's eyes. Joe silently counted down, and could see Levon do the same.

Three, two, one...

The girl picked up the phone and Joe jumped out and rolled to the right, bringing his guns up. "Houston PD, don't move a muscle Williams," he yelled in a hard voice.

Williams froze.

"Throw the gun down," Levon said from Joe's left.

Williams stared back and forth between them, wild-eyed. Joe had a sinking feeling that the man wouldn't be giving up today. "No, I know what you'll do to me. I know!" he shrieked.

"You have no chance, Williams. There's no need for you to die today."

"Becky!" Williams screamed. "Becky, help me!"

Joe turned his head in time to see the girl's face for the first time, followed by the muzzle of a gun. "Your daughter?" he exclaimed in surprise before pain tore through his thigh.

Everything changed to slow motion and Joe clearly saw the action around him as he fell. The girl ducked back down behind the counter, avoiding a bullet from Joe's gun. Levon rolled to cover and Williams stepped forward, kicking the guns from Joe's hands. LaFiamma grabbed his leg, trying to staunch the flow of blood and relieve the pain. The voices sounded far away as he struggled to stay conscious.

Williams called out in Lundy's direction. "Throw out your gun, Sergeant, and come out. I'll put another bullet in your partner here if you don't. You know I'll do it. I'm already facing the death penalty, I've got nothing left to lose."

"No," Joe whispered. He felt another sharp burst of pain as Williams kicked him in the side, then the world faded away.

*******

As soon as Levon stepped through the door, he saw Petersen out of the corner of his eye. The rookie was bound and gagged, lying off to the side of the sales counter. The fact that they bothered to bind the young man gave Levon hope that he was still alive.

Lundy's roll came to a stop leaving him on his stomach, gun pointed toward Williams. The next couple of minutes passed in a blur, culminating with Joe's shout of warning and the discharge of the gun in the girl's hand.

Levon ended up breathing hard, with his back against a shelf of canned goods. "Shit," he swore, his jaw twitching as he heard Williams kick his partner. He'd kill that son of a bitch.

"There's no where for you to go Williams," Levon called out. "Give this up before someone dies."

"Too late for that, Sergeant. I'll only tell you once more, come out now or we're going to be adding another fatality to the list."

"Think about your daughter, Williams. If my partner dies--at best, she's going away for a long time. More than likely she'll end up on death row." Levon heard Joe groan and the sound was music to his ears.

When LaFiamma had gone silent he had feared the worst. Levon let his breath out slowly, trying to center himself. Joe was still alive. It was all he needed to know.

"Shut up!" Williams screamed. "Last chance!"

"I'm throwing out my gun, then I'm going to stand up," Levon called out. He said a quick prayer then slid his colt around the corner toward the other man. Taking a deep breath, he stood slowly. As Levon stood, he saw the whole scene for the first time. It hit him hard. Williams stood in front of him with one gun pointed at his chest and another at LaFiamma. The guns shook with the intensity of the man's emotions.

Williams' daughter was off to his right, partially concealed by the sales counter. The phone was off the hook beside her. She clutched a police issue gun in her hands, staring down at it as if she had never seen it before. On the floor at the end of the counter lay Petersen. The young man's eyes were wide open and alert. Levon took in all this in a moment, but what drew and held his attention was his partner.

Joe lay on the floor in front of Williams, clutching his upper leg. His face was twisted in pain. Joe turned his head and looked up at him and Levon could see the anger mixed in with the pain. Anger at him for giving in to Williams no doubt.

Levon was horrified and enraged to see the spreading pool of blood beneath LaFiamma.

"Step over here," Williams demanded.

Levon turned back to the matter at hand. He met the crazed eyes of the killer. He hoped that deep down, the man still had some small part of him that held compassion for his own daughter. If it were there, Levon would find it. First he needed to make sure that a raid on the store didn't take them all out.

"Listen to me, Williams. You need to pick up that phone and talk to the cops outside."

"Why would I want to do that?"

"If you don't, they're liable to come storming in here guns a blazin'. None of us wants that."

As Williams considered the request, Levon took a step towards Joe.

"Hold it!" the gunman yelled. Levon froze, hands spread wide.

"I'm going over to my partner, Williams. Someone's got to stop the bleeding." Levon gestured to the scarlet fluid around his partner. "He dies and your little girl is getting the death penalty." Levon took another step and let out his breath in relief as Williams didn't stop him... didn't *try* to stop him.

"Don't try anything. I'll kill you if you make me. I just need time to figure things out."

Levon turned away from the agitated man and knelt down beside Joe. His partner's face was ashen. "Fine mess you've made here, boy," Levon muttered as he stripped off his holster and outer shirt.

"Not--my--fault, cowboy," Joe gasped as Levon pressed the crumpled garment against his thigh, wiping away the blood. Joe grasped Levon's leg in a steely grip.

Levon winced but didn't move away. He looked up as someone stepped up beside him.

"Here," Becky said. Levon took the first aid kit from her without thanks and looked away. He was afraid of what he'd do to the girl.

"Get away from me," he spat out as he used the scissors in the case to cut up the side of Joe's trousers.

"Shit, Lundy... those pants cost me 200 bucks," Joe whispered.

Levon ignored the protest and finished the job.

"I didn't mean to hurt him none, " the girl said brokenly. "I just didn't want him to hurt daddy."

Levon looked up and fixed her with a hard gaze. "It don't matter what you 'meant', girl. Only what you did. I said, get away from me."

Levon turned back to Joe as his partner's fingers clenched his leg again.

"Becky, get over there and pick up that phone," Williams barked out.

Levon breathed a little easier as she moved away.

"Take it easy, Levon. I'm going to be fine," Joe said with a little grin.

Levon knew what that grin must have taken but could not find an answering one. His partner had lost so much blood and the wound didn't seem to clotting.

"I know you will, partner. You're too ornery to die."

"You got that right..." Joe broke off and jerked in pain as Levon wrapped the gauze from the kit around his leg and pulled it tight.

Levon put his hand on the side of Joe's face making his partner meet his eyes. "You're going to be fine, LaFiamma. The bullet looks like it passed clean through your thigh. You've got to listen to me here though. Just stay still and let me take care of this. You got that?"

"Aye, aye, Sir," Joe muttered sarcastically.

"I mean it. You're still losing blood. You need to stay still."

"I'll try," was all Joe would promise.

"They want to speak to the cop," Becky said, holding out the phone.

Williams gestured to Levon. "Take it and tell them that no one is dead in here, but if I see even a hint of another cop, you and your partner will be the first to go."

Levon glared at the gunman then patted Joe's hand. "You've gotta let go, partner. I'll be right back."

Joe released his leg and let his hand fall to the floor. With one last pat, Levon stood and walked over to the phone. "Lundy," Levon said, his eyes still on Joe.

Williams was staring hard at him and seemed to be becoming more and more agitated as time passed. Levon was glad to feel the comforting weight of his backup gun in his boot. If only he could find the opportunity to use it.

"Levon, is everyone all right?" Lundy wasn't surprised to hear Joanne's voice on the other end of the line. He could always count on the Lieutenant.

"Joe's been hit. He's lost a lot of blood but if we can get him out of here he'll be okay. Petersen's alive too, I haven't been able to check him out yet."

"God, Levon. We just found out the identity of the mystery hostage."

"Yeah, Joanne, we already know. We found out the hard way."

"What's your situation? Are you free to talk?"

Levon looked over at Williams who was watching him carefully. "Not really."

"Is Williams listening in?"

"No."

"If this goes on much longer we're going to have to come in, Levon."

"No, keep your people back. Give me a chance to talk to Williams." Levon met the man's eyes as he spoke.

"I'll give you as much time as I can. What are his demands?"

Levon covered the mouth piece. "She wants to know your demands," he told Williams.

"Demands? Well...uh..."

"We'll get back to you, Lieutenant," Levon said into the phone before hanging up.

Levon slowly backed over to where Petersen was, keeping his hands in clear sight. Relieved when Williams didn't stop him, he knelt down beside the young man. "Hey kid, you okay?"

Petersen nodded slowly.

Levon took in the new bandage on his friend's forehead. He looked over at Becky. "You do this?"

"Y-yes...the b-bullet just grazed him. He's been all right...no s-signs of a concussion or anything."

Levon finally took a good hard look at the woman who had shot his partner. She was small boned, thin with dark curls that framed her startlingly pale face. Her face was splotchy from crying and her eyes filled with fear. "How old are you Becky?" he asked finally.

"Nineteen," she answered shakily.

Damn, she wasn't but a girl. Levon was finding it hard to hold on to his intense anger. "You did a good job with his bandaging."

"I'm going to be a nurse..." she broke off, glancing over to where Joe lay. "Guess that's not going to happen now." She started to cry again as she walked over to LaFiamma. It was all Levon could do not to jump in front of her. She knelt down and touched Joe's face. "God, I'm sorry, mister. I don't know what happened. I was holding the gun... then daddy screamed and it j-just went off. I d-didn't mean to hurt you."

Levon couldn't hear Joe's whispered response. The girl nodded and turned to her father. "Please daddy... please end this. You know the cops have this place surrounded."

"Shut up!" her father yelled. "Go sit down."

Levon stood and faced the man. "She's right you know."

"Levon," Joe gasped out.

"What do you know?" Williams said the gun shaking even more. The man was coming apart before Levon's eyes. He only hoped he didn't take them all out with him.

"I know." Levon walked over and sat on the floor, pulling Joe's head into his lap. It would be wise to look as non-threatening as possible he told himself as he settled down. "I know that a week ago you thought you were a happily married man. That you did have a wife, two kids, friends, a house and a good job. I know from talking to the people around you that you were a good man."

Levon paused and looked down at Joe for a moment, before facing Williams once more. "I know what it is to love someone so much and so blindly that they are all you see--that they are the center of your life. I know, as sure as I'm sitting here, that if you could go back and relive that moment you would. But you can't, Williams. It's done and can't be undone but look over at your daughter. She's 19. 19 and her whole life is in front of her. We can help her. This doesn't have to be the end of her dreams...*if* my partner lives. Think of her. She loves you. She's proven that here today. Help her. Help my partner."

Levon's voice began to get hoarse with emotion. "I know that Joe means nothing to you, but he's a good man. The best. He's helped so many people... saved so many lives. Even mine, more times than I can count. He has a family: an aunt and uncle who love him, brothers and sisters who would never truly recover from his death. And me...I need him alive. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Levon felt Joe grab his hand and looked down at him, brushing an unruly lock of hair off his forehead before turning back to Williams. "Do the right thing, Williams. Let this tragedy end here."

Williams wavered on his feet and suddenly fell to his knees. He looked more desolate than any man Levon had ever had the misfortune of arresting.

His face crumpled and tears began to stream from his eyes. "I killed her. I killed them both," he wailed. "What kind of a monster am I? God forgive me. Becky, I'm so sorry. I'm so damn sorry. I did it."

Levon saw him raise the gun to his own head and barked out. "Williams! Don't you dare do it! Don't you dare leave your daughter with the image of you blowing your brains out!"

The man paused then sobbed once and let the gun clatter to the floor.

Gently, Levon laid Joe's head back on the floor and walked over to collect the gun. Becky ran to her weeping father and held him tightly, crying along with him.

Levon rubbed his face and walked over to the bar to pick up the phone. "It's all over, Joanne. You can come on in. He won't be resisting. And get me a damn ambulance." Levon pulled his knife from his pocket.

Williams hadn't even thought to frisk him or Joe. Levon shook his head and leaned over to cut Petersen free before returning to his partner's side.

Joe was struggling to sit up. "Woah, partner, what the hell do you think you're doing."

"Give me a hand, Lundy," Joe said in a voice that was far stronger than it had been a moment ago.

"Wait one minute here. You're staying right there until the paramedics get here."

Joe looked up at him in surprise. "Paramedics! No way. You can take me to the hospital. Help me up."

Lundy grabbed LaFiamma's arm as the other man winced and hoisted himself to his feet. Joe smirked over at him. "What? You didn't really think I was all helpless, did you? You did, didn't you? I figured Williams might forget about me and get a little too close if I acted helpless enough. Didn't I ever tell you I played Hamlet in my high school play? " Joe laughed.

"I knew you were faking it, LaFiamma," Levon said defensively. "I was just playing along."

"Sure you were Cowboy, sure you were." Joe wavered slightly and gripped Levon's arm more firmly.

"You're a son of a bitch, LaFiamma. And you *are* going to the hospital in the ambulance with the paramedics. You think I want you bleeding all over my truck."

Levon supported Joe through the police swarming into the building.

*****

Not surprisingly, the paramedics insisted on taking Joe to the hospital. Levon couldn't help but smirk as they loaded his partner into the ambulance, much to Joe's dissatisfaction. He truly pitied the poor paramedics as he could still hear LaFiamma complaining after they shut the ambulance doors.

Shaking his head, Levon headed back to the store and spent the next few hours giving statements and filling out paperwork. Now that he knew Joe would be okay, he found he felt sorry for the girl. He hoped that the system would go easy on her.

He was startled from his thoughts by the phone. "Sergeant Lundy."

"Levon?"

The tentative voice on the other end of the phone got Levon's attention in an instant. "Joe? Is something wrong?"

"Are you mad at me?" Joe asked in a hushed voice.

"Mad at you? Hell, Lafiamma, ain't I always mad at you?"

"Well, yeah," Joe's sheepish voice answered.

"What's going on... are you on something?" His partner's voice didn't sound right.

"You gonna come and get me?" Joe asked, ignoring the question.

"Said I would didn't I? Did the doctor okay you to leave?"

"Can I come to the ranch with you?"

"Uh, sure, LaFiamma." Now he was sure they'd given his partner something. No way would he voluntarily go to the ranch. "LaFiamma," Levon began, stopping at the commotion on the other end of the line.

"There you are Mr. LaFiamma. Come on, sir, you've got to come back with me."

"No, 'm talking to my partner."

"He'll still be there after the surgery Mr. LaFiamma. Come on now."

Levon sat up straight in alarm. Surgery? What the hell?

"Joe," he said into the phone once, then again louder. Levon ignored the looks from the other officers in the bullpen his outburst earned him.

"Levon, come get me," Joe said in a hurry.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." Levon grabbed his hat and was about to put down the phone when another voice came on the line.

"Hello, who is this?" a sharp female voice asked.

"Sergeant Levon Lundy. I'm LaFiamma's partner. Who's this?"

"Anna Cody, Mr. Lundy. I'm head nurse here."

"Just what in tarnation is going on over there?"

"Mr. LaFiamma!" He heard the nurse say in exasperation, then Joe was back on the phone.

"Levon?"

"I'm here, LaFiamma. I'll be there soon, you do what the nurses say, boy."

"Levon..." Joe's voice sounded more confused. "I think something's wrong. I don't feel so good."

Levon gripped the phone tighter as he heard a loud crash, then the sharp voice of the nurse.

"Mr. LaFiamma! Shit! We need a crash cart in here stat!"

The phone went dead.

Levon stood completely still, clutching the receiver in his hand.

He felt a hand on his arm. "Levon, what is it?"

He turned surprised to see Joanne at his side looking at him in concern. In fact, as he looked past Joanne, he realised that everyone was staring at him. He looked down at Joanne. "I think Joe's heart just stopped," he said quietly.

With an extreme effort he shook off his shock. Grabbing his hat, he ran for the door, ignoring the commotion his words had caused behind him. What the hell was going on? A man didn't go into arrest from a gun shot in the leg. Damn. He should have stayed with his partner. He should have made sure he was all right. Should have... should have done so many things... should have told him.

Levon tried not to think again until he reached the hospital. Once there he stopped and closed his eyes for a moment at the door to the emergency room. Joe was okay. He'd have his chance for all the "should haves".

Levon walked through the door and directly to the admissions desk. The harried nurse barely glanced up at him.

"A man was brought in here a few hours ago by the name of Sergeant Joe LaFiamma. Tell me where he is ma'am?" Levon gritted his teeth as the nurse continued writing on her chart.

"Just a minute, Sir."

"No... not just a minute Ma'am. Now!" Levon put his badge on the counter. "Tell me where Joseph LaFiamma is?" Levon's voice was getting louder.

"Mr. Lundy?" A voice asked from behind him. Levon spun around to find a young lady in a nursing uniform.

"Yes... wait I recognize your voice. You're the nurse from the phone?"

"Yes, sir."

"What happened? Is my partner okay?" Levon felt urgency grip him.

"Come with me, sir?" The nurse said, turning away.

Levon grabbed her arm and spun her back around to face him. "Is my partner okay? Yes or no?" he demanded.

"He's alive," Nurse Cody answered. "Come with me please, Mr. Lundy? The doctor will explain everything."

Levon release her and nodded abruptly. He followed the nurse farther into the building, ending at an office declaring 'Dr. Lenton' on the outside of the door. Lundy knew the man. He had been tended to by the elderly doctor a time or two.

"Dr. Lenton," he said shaking the man's hand.

"Sergeant Lundy. First of all I want to say that your partner is stable."

Levon let his breath out in relief. But stayed silent, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It wasn't long in coming.

"There was an unfortunate accident with Mr. LaFiamma's medication I'm afraid. The nurse responsible will be dealt with most harshly I promise you."

Levon stared hard at the doctor. "What kind of accident? Tell me what's wrong with my partner?"

The doctor squared his shoulders. "I shouldn't be admitting this, but I know you Sergeant Lundy and I think it will save us all a lot of time if you just hear the truth. There was a mix up in medication and Sergeant LaFiamma was given a painkiller that he was allergic to. I won't go into the hows and whys of it, but the effect is quite cut and dried. He went into shock and his heart stopped."

Levon gritted his teeth against the anger and fear that threatened to overwhelm him and allowed the doctor to continue.

"Thankfully the team was able to get his heart going again." The doctor paused.

"What else?" Levon asked harshly.

"Unfortunately, Mr. LaFiamma is in a coma. I am hopeful that he will awaken soon, but..."

"You can't be sure he'll ever wake up," Levon finished.

"Yes, Mr. Lundy. I'm sorry."

Levon took a step closer to the doctor, poking him in the chest with his finger. "Sorry just ain't gonna cut it here, Lenton. I'm going to want to question the person responsible. I want to make sure that this *was* an accident."

The doctor looked startled, as if the possibility had never occurred to him. "Of course it was, Sergeant."

"I think I'll be the judge of that." Levon turned to the nurse. "Take me to my partner," he ordered. The woman nodded and Levon turned back once more to the doctor. "And I suggest you call your lawyers Doctor, I guarantee you're going to need them." Levon turned and strode after the nurse, anxious to see for himself that LaFiamma was still breathing.

****

"We've just moved him from intensive care," Nurse Cody informed Lundy as they walked. "He's in a private room now. Room 211, end of the hall."

Levon nodded then strode off in the direction the nurse had indicated. He paused outside of the room, his mind filled with pictures of his last visit with mother Minnie. He shook off the image. Joe was not going to die. Levon pushed open the door and went inside.

He stopped abruptly at the image in front of him. It was so different from the other times he had visited Joe in the hospital. Always before, Joe had been awake, and complaining a blue streak. This time his partner lay still as death in the hospital bed.

Levon walked closer and looked down into the pale face and couldn't put a name to the feeling that gripped him. Joe just looked so fragile attached to all those machines. If there was a term he never thought he would use to describe his partner, fragile was it.

Levon sat heavily in the chair next to LaFiamma's bed, and carefully maneuvered around the IV tube to take his partner's hand in his own.

"Joe? Hey buddy it's me, Levon. Don't you think it's about time you woke up? Can't have you sleeping the day away." Lundy looked into his partner's face, half expecting the eyes to open. He sighed sadly when there was no change.

Levon spoke quietly to his partner for a few minutes trying to coax the man to wake. He'd heard somewhere that a person could hear you while in a coma and figured it couldn't hurt to try. He looked up as the door to the room opened.

"How is he?" Joanne asked as she stepped through.

Levon looked back down at Joe. "Not good, Joanne. He's in a coma. Some damn fool nurse mixed up his medication!" Levon said angrily.

"Easy, Levon," Joanne said, rubbing his shoulder. "Are we sure it's an accident? Joe has some pretty powerful enemies."

Levon shook his head. "No...I haven't questioned anyone yet." Lundy knew he should get up and go find the nurse but he couldn't seem to make himself let go of Joe's hand. He had this irrational fear that if he let go, his partner might slip away.

"It's okay, Levon. Why don't you let me take care of that? I'll have a guard posted outside the room just in case."

Levon looked up at his old friend. "Thanks, Joanne."

"No thanks necessary. LaFiamma is one of my men. I'll look out for him."

Joanne left and Levon settled himself into the chair, setting his hat on the stand beside the bed. A guard outside the door was fine but he intended on personally making sure that nothing else happened to his partner. "You'll beat this LaFiamma. You're just too damn stubborn to give up," Levon said out loud.

*************************************

Twenty four hours later, Levon was no longer so sure. In all that time, his partner hadn't moved, hadn't even twitched. If it weren't for the warmth of the hand in his own and the comforting beep of the heart monitor, Levon wouldn't have known Joe was still alive. The waiting and lack of sleep were beginning to get to him, yet he'd turned away Joanne's attempts to get him to leave Joe's bedside. LaFiamma's family would be there in a matter of hours, then he'd be pushed aside. Levon didn't know if he could handle that. He leaned forward, using one hand to brush Joe's hair back from his forehead.

"Come on, Joe. I'm starting to get scared here. I need you to wake up."

Levon's answer was the continued beeping of the heart monitor. He groaned and put his head down on his partner's chest. He was so tired of pretending that all Joe was to him, was a partner.

"You've got to wake up for me Joe. I'm not sure if I can handle any more. After mother Minnie died..." Levon's voice cracked and he cleared his throat before continuing. "After mother Minnie died you're all that held me together. I know I pretended like I was fine... that I didn't need anyone, but somehow you knew I was full of shit."

Levon clenched his partner's hand tighter. "If you die on me, I really will be alone. Seems everyone I care about dies." Levon felt the tears that he couldn't let fall welling up in his eyes again. "I need you to live Joe. I need you," Levon trailed off.

Levon felt a tear escape and wiped it on LaFiamma's hospital gown angrily. He lifted his head and looked into his partner's face. Slowly he leaned forward more and kissed Joe's cheek lightly. He felt the stubble rough against his lips. "Wake up... I love you," he whispered into Joe's ear.

Levon laid his head back down on Joe's chest, listening to the steady heart beat. He was startled when the beat jumped. Levon looked up in alarm, worried that this spelled more disaster for Joe.

A light pressure from Joe's hand made his heart soar. For the first time in over 36 hours Joe's body stirred. Levon jumped to his feet.

"That's it, Joe, fight. Wake up!" Levon caught a sob in his throat as Joe's eyes struggled open. Those beautiful blue eyes. "Joe," Levon said leaning over his partner so that Joe could see his face. "Are you with me?"

Joe's groggy eyes focused on him and Levon smiled. "Hey, partner. Welcome back."

Joe blinked and cleared his throat.

Levon laid a hand on his friend's forehead. "Don't try to talk. I'll get the doctor." Levon felt the pressure on his hand increase as Joe squeezed. He leaned closer as his partner opened his mouth.

Levon almost had a heart attack when instead of whispering something to him, he felt the soft lips press against his cheek. He pulled back in alarm, looking down into the amused eyes of his partner.

"Love you too, cowboy," Joe whispered so faintly Levon wasn't sure whether he actually heard the words or read the other man's lips. Either way it didn't matter. Levon clutched Joe's hand tightly and grinned like a fool.

The door burst open and the doctor rushed in. "He's awake! You should have called us," the man scolded. Levon allowed himself to be pushed to the side, not able to wipe the grin from his face.

Levon knew they had to talk, but for now it was enough that Joe was awake, aware and loved him.

AS he watched the doctor, Levon's attention was drawn by a commotion in the hallway. He slipped out of the room and found Joe-Bill arguing with an Italian man.

Levon stepped up to the pair. "What seems to be the problem here?"

The Italian man gestured toward Joe-Bill. "This fool won't let me pass. I demand to see Joey LaFiamma right now."

Levon regarded the man curiously. "Uncle Mikey, I presume?"

"Sergeant Lundy?"

"That'd be me," Levon acknowledged.

"Thank God. I've heard a lot about you. How's Joey? Is he all right?"

Levon studied the infamous 'Uncle Mikey'. The man looked like he stepped from a 'Godfather' movie. He was about what Levon had expected. "Joe just woke up," Levon said with a grin. "He's going to be fine."

"Thank the good Lord," Joe's uncle said with a sigh of relief.

"He's just getting checked out by the doc. They should only be a few minutes," Levon informed the man. Lundy turned to Joe-Bill who was openly glaring at the mobster. "This is LaFiamma's Uncle, Joe-Bill."

"Yeah, I know all about it," the officer sneered. Levon shot him a hard look.

"Why don't you go get a cup of coffee or something. I'll look out for things here for a few minutes." Last thing Levon needed is for Joe-Bill and Uncle Mikey to get into it.

"Yeah, I think I'd better. I suddenly need a breath of fresh air." With one last look at Joe's uncle, Joe-Bill stalked away.

Levon turned back to the older man. "Sorry about that."

"It's not your fault son, I understand where he's coming from. Honestly, what he thinks is of no consequence to me. All I care about right now is my nephew. Is he really going to be okay?"

Levon was saved from answering as Doctor Lenton stepped out of Joe's room. Uncle Mikey stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I'm Michael LaFiamma. I'm here on behalf of Joe's family."

Levon was surprised to hear that Joe's uncle had made the trip alone. He'd expected the entire clan to descend on them.

"Glad you're here Mr. LaFiamma. Your nephew is awake and seems to be progressing nicely," the doctor said with a smile.

"It's a good thing that he is," Mr. LaFiamma said ominously.

The doctor's smile wavered a bit. "Would you like to go in and see your nephew? He's awake now, but please only stay a few minutes. He needs his rest."

Joe's uncle nodded to the doctor. "I'll be in to see you after I see to Joey and you can explain to me what happened here."

"Of course, Mr. LaFiamma," the doctor agreed.

Levon tried to follow Joe's uncle into the room, eager for another glimpse of his partner alive and well. Mr. LaFiamma stopped him with a hand on his chest. "I'd like to speak to my nephew alone, if I may Mr. Lundy?"

"Uh... sure," Levon said. He wasn't sure why the request surprised him. He wasn't one of the family after all. Still it hurt to be shut out. Levon stepped back and stood guard outside of the door. The door didn't close completely and Lundy could hear the soft voices inside if he listened closely. All the while berating himself for eavesdropping, he couldn't help but listen.

****

Joe was beginning to fidget, wondering why Levon hadn't come back in when the doctor left. He had a lot of things to say to his partner and was desperately trying to stay awake long enough to get things straight between them.

Now that his head was clear he wasn't sure if he'd actually heard the things he thought he heard. He was 98% sure that his memory was true, that Levon had said he needed and loved him, but with each minute that passed he was becoming less certain. He needed to see his partner.

Joe looked up as the door opened again. Finally. He was surprised to see his uncle walk through instead of Lundy. He looked past the man, but no Levon. "Uncle Mikey," Joe said in a warm voice. "You didn't have to come... but I'm glad you did." His throat was still scratchy, but the water that the doctor had given him had helped greatly.

His uncle came over and took Joe's hand for a moment, squeezing it gently before releasing it. "Joey, Joey, Joey, what am I going to do with you? I sent you here so you'd stay alive, and look at you."

Joe smiled at his uncle's teasing. "I'm going to be fine, Uncle Mikey. I'm sorry you had to come all this way. It must have been hard to get away from Chicago."

Mikey looked down at Joe with a stern expression. "You're important to me Joey. Of course I came."

"Where's Aunt Teresa?" Joe asked.

Uncle Mikey turned serious. "She's going to meet us in New York."

Joe looked at him in surprise. "I think you'd better explain that, Uncle Mikey."

"We want to take care of you while you recover, Joey. You know that Aunt Teresa and I have an apartment in New York that we use for vacations?"

"Yeah," Joe said noncommittally.

"Well, when your Lieutenant called and filled us in on your injuries, we decided that as soon as you could take the trip we'd bring you to New York so that your Aunt can dote on you a little."

"Listen, Uncle Mikey..." Joe began before his uncle cut him off.

"I won't take no for an answer, Joey. This is for your own good. With your leg and how weak you're going to be after this 'attack', you need someone to look out for you. What will you do here? No, you'll come with us and while you're there I'll introduce you to an acquaintance of mine who owns a very successful security firm."

Joe sighed. He'd had this conversation more times than he could count with his uncle. "Uncle Mikey, I'm not going to quit being a cop. It's who I am. I'm sorry if it makes things difficult for you, but that's just the way it is."

Mikey patted Joe's arm. "We'll discuss it in New York, Joey."

"No, Uncle Mikey, we won't. I'm not going to New York."

"Don't be stupid, Joey. Of course you are. How are you going to get by here? I know you can't afford to hire someone to help you out."

Joe didn't know what to say. He felt too tired to be trying to argue with his Uncle. He honestly didn't know what he was going to do. All he knew is that he was not going to pack up and go to New York so that his uncle could spend the next month trying to convince him to leave the force.

"Mr. LaFiamma, Joe," a soft voice said. Joe looked up and found Levon standing just inside the door, clutching his hat in his hands and looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"Levon," he said with a small smile. "Where've you been?"

Levon returned the smile briefly then looked at Joe's uncle. "You don't got to worry none about your nephew, Mr. LaFiamma. He'll be staying with me. I'll look out for him."

"With you?" Uncle Mikey said in disbelief. "How are you going to take care of him?"

Joe could almost see Levon bristle at the tone of voice his uncle used but his partner answered back calmly. "I've got some time coming to me, I reckon. I'll take some vacation time. I wanted to do some work around the ranch anyway. This seems like a good time to do it and I can be around for a couple of weeks till Joe gets his feet under him again."

Joe was surprised and touched by the offer, though he knew he shouldn't be. Levon had a habit of taking in anyone who needed a place. Though he hoped that this offer was far more than that.

Joe looked up at Levon hoping his gratitude showed in his face. "Thanks man. I'd love to come out to the ranch."

Levon smiled back at him. "Okay then, I'll leave you two alone." Lundy stepped back out into the hallway.

Joe watched his uncle look speculatively toward the door then back to Joe. "Joey, I thought you weren't going to do this anymore."

Joe closed his eyes. He definitely did not want to have *this* conversation with Uncle Mikey. "Look Uncle Mikey, I'm tired. Can we please talk about this later?"

"Sure kid," his uncle said. "I'll come back in the morning."

Joe breathed a sigh of relief as his uncle stood. "Thanks... for coming and offering and everything. I love you and Aunt Teresa you know, but I just can't uproot my life again. Can you understand that?"

Joe's uncle looked down at him and ruffled his hair. "Yeah, I guess I can. We'll talk tomorrow, Joey. Get some rest."

Joe nodded and watched as his uncle left the room. No sooner was he gone than Levon stepped back in. His partner came over and sat on the chair beside the bed. Now that Joe could see him with a semi-clear head, he noted that Levon looked like he hadn't slept in about a week.

"You look terrible, cowboy," Joe said as he reached up and tapped Levon's face.

"You don't look so great yourself, LaFiamma." Levon paused. "I'm sorry 'bout listening in."

"I'm not sorry, Levon. Did you mean it?"

"About you coming out to the ranch?"

Joe nodded.

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. I just assumed you'd be staying with me... I mean if you'd rather not..."

Joe grabbed Levon's hand. "I want to, Levon. Thank you. Did you mean what you said when you thought I was still in a coma?" Joe asked the question, praying that his mind hadn't been playing tricks on him.

Levon blushed. "I meant it."

"Will you say it again, now that I'm all here?" Joe needed to be absolutely certain that they were talking about the same thing here.

Levon stayed silent for so long that Joe's heart started to sink. Then finally he spoke, slowly and clearly and there was no mistake.

"I love you, Joseph LaFiamma." Levon looked as scared with the admission as Joe had ever seen him.

Joe gripped his partner's hand a hard as he could. "I love you too, Levon," he said in a rush.

"You do?" Levon said in wonder.

"Yeah, weird isn't it?" Joe said with a tired smile. "But I do, I really do. For quite a while now."

Levon finally smiled. "What a waste of time," he said with a shake of his head. "We're both idiots."

"I've got to agree with that. Now are you going to kiss me before I fall asleep on you, or what?"

Levon hesitantly leaned forward and touched his lips to Joe's.

Joe felt him begin to pull back after the chaste touch, but was having none of that. He curled his hand around the back of Levon's neck and held him there as he pressed his lips more firmly against his partner's.

Finally Levon groaned and relaxed, allowing Joe to deepen the kiss.

Joe explored Levon's mouth until he became light headed and had to pull away. Levon sat back with a stunned expression on his face. Joe grinned at him.

"Wow. If that's how you kiss now I'm not sure I'll survive it when you're healed."

Joe lifted Levon's hand and kissed the back of it. "Love you, but I've got to sleep now. You should go home and get some rest."

Levon nodded in agreement then pulled the chair closer to the bed and propped his feet up on the nightstand, obviously settling in.

Joe gave up and shook his head. With his partner's hand held in his own he drifted off to sleep.

****

When Joe woke the next morning the first thing he noticed was how much he wanted to go right back to sleep. The second thing he noticed was his partner.

Levon had fallen asleep in the chair beside Joe's hospital bed, feet propped up on the nightstand and cowboy hat pulled down over his eyes. Joe smiled at the sight. He figured Lundy could fall asleep almost anywhere.

He put his finger up to his lips as Doctor Lenton came in to deliver his pain medication. Joe thought it was odd that the man was doing something so trivial, but took the pills from him with a nod of thanks. His leg was really starting to ache.

Joe jumped as Levon spoke from the other side of his bed. "Morning, Doctor. What's that then?"

LaFiamma looked at Lundy in surprise. The disrespectful tone of voice was not like his partner.

"It's simply pain medication, Mr. Lundy. Nothing to worry about. I'll be personally seeing to Mr. LaFiamma's medication for the rest of his visit. You can rest easy."

"Uh, guys?" Joe said, breaking the staring contest between the two men. "I think I'm missing something pretty important here? What's the big deal about pain meds... and while I'm at it why do you have to oversee my medication personally, Doctor Lenton?"

"I think I'll let you handle this one, Doc. I need a some coffee." Levon gripped Joe's shoulder for a moment. "I'll be right back partner."

LaFiamma nodded.

Joe listened as the doctor explained what had happened. He honestly couldn't remember anything from the time he arrived at the hospital to waking up hearing Levon's voice. He hadn't realised how close he'd come to death. No wonder Levon was acting strange. By the time his partner returned with a steaming Styrofoam cup in his hand, the doctor had already left.

Levon sat back down on his chair and sipped his coffee. "I'm sorry, LaFiamma."

Joe blinked. Of all the things he expected his partner to say, that wasn't one of them. "For what?"

Levon sighed and sat his coffee down on the nightstand. "This whole damn thing is my fault. You warned me right from the beginning not to go storming into the store like that." Levon leaned forward and clasped his hands together, letting them dangle between his knees. "And then not coming to the hospital with you... letting this happen."

Joe looked over at his miserable partner. "Jesus, Levon. What a bunch of crap," Joe began. He stopped as the door opened again. His hospital room was beginning to feel like it had a revolving door.

"Good morning, Uncle Mikey," Joe said as the man stepped into the room.

Levon stood, glanced furtively at Joe and headed for the door. "I'll leave you two to talk. Good morning Mr. LaFiamma."

Levon was gone before Joe could protest. Damn idiot always did try to take responsibility for everything. Joe sighed and gestured to his Uncle to sit. He already felt like he'd been up a full day.

"I've had a long talk with the doctor and he assures me you'll make a full recovery. Are you sure you won't come to New York?"

Joe shook his head. "I'm sure, Uncle Mikey. I'm going to stay here with Lundy."

"What if I told you that you could come back to Chicago to recover?" His uncle asked.

Joe gave him a hard look. "Why? Is that what you're saying?"

"If I were, would you come or would you stay here with your partner?"

"Listen, Uncle Mikey. I'm in no mood to play games. If you've got something to say... say it."

Joe watched as his uncle leaned back and propped his ankle up on his knee, fixing him with what Joe had always thought of as his look of intimidation. He had seen it used many times on wiseguys in Chicago and even a few times on him if he'd done something particularly displeasing to his uncle. "I had a talk with your Aunt Teresa after I left here last night," Mikey said finally.

"Yeah, she okay?"

"She's fine, just worried about you. She said that you talk a lot about Lundy in the letters you've sent to her."

"So?" Joe said, shrugging noncommittally.

"Did you realize that when your Aunt asked you to describe your partner you used the word 'incredible' in reference to his eyes?"

Joe blinked in surprise. "Ah...no. But what difference does it make, Uncle Mikey? Where are you going with this?"

"I'm just saying that a man doesn't refer to another man's eyes as 'incredible', that's all."

Joe sighed. "Listen, Uncle Mikey. We've had this discussion before, my answer is the same now as it was when I was 18 and you caught me in a compromising position with Darren Bradshaw: my personal life is just that, personal. I'm not going to discuss it with you now or ever."

"I want to make one thing clear here Joey. As much as you might wish you weren't, you are a representative of this family and you won't embarrass us again."

Joe felt his eyes harden. "What? Like I did when I became a cop? Or maybe, like I did when I was forced to move here to Houston?"

"All I'm saying is that you need to think of the family for a change, Joey. Give up this policeman farce and I can arrange for you to come home."

Joe rubbed his temple, his head starting to ache from the conversation.

"I thought we were subtly talking about my homosexual tendencies? What does that have to do with my 'policeman farce'?"

"I think that if you came home again... this 'tendency' as you say will go away again. Get you away from boys like your partner Lundy."

"I really don't want to have this conversation with you, Uncle Mikey. And just for the record... my 'tendencies' didn't 'go away' as you say-- Darren moved away with his parents."

"Yes...that was convenient."

Joe starred at his Uncle. A disturbing thought occurred to him that he hadn't considered before. "You had something to do with that, didn't you?"

"I've always looked out for you Joey... and I'll continue to," the last words were heavy with hidden meaning.

Joe had a sudden pang of fear for Levon.

"Just what the hell do you mean by that, Mikey?" he said with a rising voice.

"I'm just saying that sometimes you don't always act in your own best interests, Joey. That's how you ended up here in the first place."

Joe shrugged off his uncle's hand as he tried to pat him on the shoulder. "I think it's time you left."

"If that's what you want, Joey. You'd better think about what I said." Mikey stood up and grabbed his coat.

"I'll think about it, Uncle Mikey but you've got to realize that I can't be who you want me to be... I won't." Joe felt the exhaustion he had been fighting off weighing down on him.

"You'll come around, Joey. I'm not worried." Joe's Uncle ruffled his hair then made his way to the door of the hospital room. He turned before leaving. "I've got to head back to Chicago for business, Joey. Your Aunt Teresa will be calling you later, to check in. Think about what I said." With that he was gone, leaving Joe feeling confused and angry and without the faintest clue what he was going to do.

***************

Levon ran into Petersen, literally, as he left Joe's room and watched in dismay as his coffee spread out across the hospital floor. Lundy stepped back and leaned against the wall as the nurse came over with a mop and a frown and started cleaning up the mess.

"Hey, are you okay, man?" his friend asked, concern clear in his voice.

"Yeah, Frank. I'll be fine. I guess I'm just a little tired is all." Levon rubbed his eyes and realised it was true. He couldn't have slept more than two hours in the last 36. And when he had drifted off finally he had been plagued with a bizarre series of dreams... all of which left his partner dead, yet somehow blaming him from the grave.

"Come on, my friend. Let me buy you another cup of coffee?"

Levon let Petersen take his arm and lead him away from Joe's room. Soon they were settled into a booth at the hospital's cafeteria. Levon finally looked up and examined his friend. Petersen had a butterfly bandage on his forehead, surrounded by a black and blue area.

"I'm sorry I haven't checked up on you before now, Frank. I should be asking how you are?"

"I'm fine, Levon, thanks to you and Joe. Just a crease on my head, and another on my leg. Doc says I'm one lucky son of a bitch." Frank grinned, showing his dimples and Levon had to smile as well.

"Thank God for that," Levon said, sipping his coffee.

Frank's smile faded.

"Seriously though, I do want to thank you for coming in after me like that. That guy was more than a little out of it."

"How'd you end up inside anyway, Frank?" Levon asked.

"I don't know, instinct I guess. Williams just opened up on me when I was crossing the street... bullet winged my leg and I swear I didn't even feel it. I could hardly hear anything my heart was pounding in my ears so loud. I had my gun out and all I could see was the girl's frightened face. So, when Williams started backing into the store, I went too."

"Damn, Frank. Didn't we talk about procedure and not taking any unnecessary risks!"

"Like you and Joe, I suppose?" Frank said with a quirk of his lips.

Levon frowned. "That ain't the point. We've been cops for a long time, Frank. You're just barely out of the academy."

Frank shook his head. "I honestly didn't even think at the time, Levon. I just knew I couldn't leave that girl alone with Williams. Pretty stupid, considering."

"Well, if we're passing out clueless awards, I think I have one coming too."

"No way, Levon. You were great. I couldn't believe it when you got that guy to give up. I thought for sure he'd flip and take us all out with him. You were so cool. I'm just sorry I put you in that position."

Levon looked over at his friend. Maybe LaFiamma had the hero worship thing right after all. "There was no way you could have known how it would turn out Petersen. Sure, I wish you'd waited outside, where the bad guy couldn't use you for target practice. But I understand why you went in... hell, I'd probably have done the exact same thing."

"Really?" The young man practically vibrated with pleasure from the simple words.

Levon shook his head, his mood improving. He had been drawn to the rookie almost immediately. He reminded him of Joe in some ways, Levon suspected that was one of the reasons he took to the boy so readily. "Yeah, really. Though I don't know that I would be so happy about it. I didn't exactly do my best work on this one," Levon looked down into his coffee cup.

"Why do you say that, Levon? We're all alive, including Williams. I'd say that was a darn good day's work."

"Joe might not agree with you," Lundy said sadly. "Maybe if I hadn't been so gung-ho to get inside, maybe if I'd waited for more backup, Joe wouldn't have almost died last night."

Frank regarded Levon closely for a minute before replying. "Come on Levon, Joe would be the first to agree with me and you know it. Where's all this guilt coming from? You certainly aren't to blame for Joe being injured. There's no way LaFiamma thinks that way."

"I can't help but still feel like I let him down."

"I'll tell you what you told me a minute ago," Frank began. "There is no way you could have known how it would turn out, Levon. And blaming yourself--as I've heard you say a million times--is a waste of time."

Frank smiled when Levon glared at him. "Well you do say that an awful lot, you know."

"Shouldn't you be respecting your elders a bit more, boy?" Levon said with a real smile.

"Nah, wouldn't want to make you feel old, might hurt your feelings or something."

Levon stood up. "I think I'll get back to Joe. Thanks a lot, Frank."

Levon squeezed his friend's shoulder for a moment.

"Anytime, Levon. You know that," Frank said wistfully.

Levon choose to ignore the baffling tone and headed back to his partner.

****

Joe smiled as Levon peeked around the corner of the door.

"Coast clear?" his partner asked.

"Yeah, Uncle Mikey is gone, gone back to Chicago."

Levon came into the room, and took his now customary spot beside the bed. "You sound beat, Joe. Did Uncle Mikey give you a hard time?"

"You could say that; same old shit. I don't want to talk about him, Levon. I'd rather talk about you." Joe was worried about how Levon had left earlier and he still needed time to sort through his feelings about his Uncle.

"I'm fine, Joe. You're the one with the bullet hole."

Joe grabbed Lundy's hand and waited till the other man met his eyes. "You don't really think any of this was your fault do you?"

When Levon stayed silent, Joe continued. "Look at the facts, cowboy. I was with you all the way. I chose not to wait for backup. I didn't recognize the girl. I got myself shot. Hell, it was even my idea to go into the building in the first place."

Levon sighed. "I know all that, Joe. But something still nags at me that if I were a better partner, you wouldn't be here now."

Joe rubbed his partner's hand. "I guess I can't blame you, since I feel the same way every time you go and get yourself hurt." Joe grinned, breaking the tension.

They both jumped at a knock on the door. Petersen stepped through.

"Are you up for visitors, Joe?"

"Yeah, Frank. Come on in." Joe said with a smile. "I was just trying to talk some sense into my mule-headed partner."

"I know the feeling," Frank said, winking at Levon.

Levon grumbled something that Joe couldn't make out under his breath, but he knew better than to ask his partner to repeat it.

"How are you doing, Joe?" Frank asked, moving over to the side of the bed next to Levon. The rookie looked down and Joe realised that he and Levon were still holding hands.

LaFiamma stared back at the young man, refusing to let go.

Frank just smiled and said nothing.

"My leg hurts, and I'm feel like I've just come off a week long drunk, but other than that, I feel surprisingly okay."

"Any news on what happened with the overdose?" Petersen asked.

Levon answered. "Joanne seems pretty certain that it was just an accident. The nurse was very upset. She'd been on for a double shift and made a mistake. It's no excuse, but it wasn't deliberate."

Petersen nodded. "That's good news anyway. At least you can recover in peace. Any idea of when you'll be out of here?"

Joe smiled. "Can't be soon enough for me. They want to keep me over for a couple of days, just to be certain. Then I'm off to the ranch for rest and relaxation." Joe grinned up at Levon.

"Now don't you go thinking that I'm going to be your slave, boy," Levon warned.

Petersen laughed. "Well, I'd better take off, if you need any help with him, give me a call, Levon."

"What, me?" Joe asked innocently. "How could you guys ever think that I would take advantage of my situation?"

Petersen headed toward the door laughing as Levon responded sarcastically. "No, not you? You'd never think of such a thing."

Levon leaned closer to Joe's ear and whispered so that Frank couldn't hear. "Don't you worry, Joe. I intend on taking plenty good care of *all* your needs."

Joe's laugh broke off and he stared at Levon in surprise. "I wonder if the doctor will let me out of here today," he said aloud after Petersen had left the room.

*******

Two days later, Joe was finally released from the hospital. Levon had picked him up at the hospital and now had his partner resting on the couch. "Can I get you anything?" Levon asked, heading to the kitchen.

"No, cowboy. Just come over here and sit with me for a minute, okay?"

Levon looked back, then seeing the serious expression on his friend's face, walked back to the couch and took a seat on the edge by Joe's legs. "What is it?"

"We've never really talked about *us*," Joe said.

"Didn't want to push. You want to talk about it now?" Levon asked.

"I think it's time. What do you want out of this, Levon?"

"Whatever you're prepared to give," Lundy answered honestly.

Joe looked confused by the answer. "What does that mean?"

"I've had a lot of time to think on this over the last few days, Joe. I know you're not like me. You need family... people around you. How many times have you talked about having a family of your own? Not being alone when you're older? I don't want to keep you from that."

"Levon..." Joe began, but Lundy cut him off. He needed to get it all out.

"It's okay, Joe. I love you and more than anything I want you happy so I'm here for you, however you need me."

Joe just stared at him in disbelief. "That's a nice speech, Levon. So, what you're saying is that if I went out and found a girl a month from now and got hitched that wouldn't bother you?"

Levon opened his mouth to say it wouldn't but he just couldn't force the words out. Instead he stood and turned his back angrily. He heard Joe snort behind him.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Come on, sit back down for a minute."

Sitting down again was the easy part, meeting Joe's eyes was quite another thing. Levon really did want those things for Joe, because LaFiamma wanted them. He really wanted to be the kind of man that could let him go. But the thought of Joe going to someone else hurt too much. Levon knew that if they went any further he'd only end up with a broken heart.

"Shit, Levon. I can't tell you what's going to happen 10 years down the road. What I do know is that I love you. Sometime during the last two years you went from the bastard that was put on earth just to annoy me to the one person I trust and can't imagine my life without."

Levon smiled a bit at that. He found it hard to believe himself that Joe had come to mean so much to him.

"When I've talked about family, yeah it means a lot to me, but the most important part of that is having someone to grow old with. I have lots of family. What I don't have is someone to share my life with. God...I sound so melodramatic." Joe ran a hand through his hair, blushing a bit.

Levon reached up and grabbed his hand and held it tightly between his own.

"Do you want me to be that person for you, Joe?" Levon practically held his breath waiting for the answer.

"Yeah, cowboy. I guess I do," Joe said quietly. "Want the job?"

"More than anything." Levon moved up the couch and captured his partner's lips with his own. He was slightly surprised when he felt Joe's hand on his chest pushing him away. Moving back, he looked down at Joe in confusion.

"There's something else we have to talk about."

Levon didn't like the worry he heard in Joe's voice. He settled back down onto the edge of the couch and waited. "What is it, LaFiamma?"

"My uncle said some things when he was at the hospital. You need to know before you get involved with me that he's against me being in a relationship with a man."

"So, why should I care what he thinks? Unless you care?"

"It's not that. My uncle is a powerful man... a well connected man. He has the ability to make things that upset him... go away." Joe looked clearly frightened by the idea.

"You're afraid he'll send someone after me?" Levon asked incredulously. "Do you really think he'd do something like that... what am I saying, he's not exactly in an honorable profession," Levon glanced down at Joe. "No offense, Joe."

"Yeah, I know," Joe sighed. "He's always kept me separate from his business, but now... now he seems to think that I should consider giving up you, being a cop and Houston and coming back home to help run the 'business'."

"What did you tell him?" Levon asked.

"I told him no way! What did you think I'd tell him?" Joe said angrily.

"Calm down, LaFiamma, I didn't mean it like that. I was just wondering how you broke it to him that there wasn't any way you were getting involved and how he took it?"

"He seems to think I'll come around. Made some cryptic remark about getting me away from 'boys like you' and everything would get back to normal." Joe grimaced.

"How'd he know about us? Hell, there wasn't an 'us' until about 20 minutes before he arrived?" Levon asked in confusion.

"It seems I wasn't very subtle about you in my letters back home."

"Yeah," Levon said with a grin. "My manly charm had you all aflutter did it?"

"Watch it, cowboy," Joe warned. "Even injured I can still whip your ass."

"Oh, be careful, LaFiamma, with talk like that you're going to get *me* all 'aflutter'."

Joe laughed and swatted Levon on the shoulder. "Easy, cowboy, you don't want to be giving me any ideas." LaFiamma's smile faded. "But this is serious, Levon."

"I know it is," Levon said, letting the grin go. "But look at it this way--since you got here, you've had to look over your shoulder just in case someone chose to ignore your Uncle Mikey and tried to take you out, right?"

"Yeah," Joe answered.

"Well, I don't see that all that much has changed. I've always been ready to help protect your worthless butt, now I'll be on the lookout for my own as well. It ain't like we didn't have enemies before."

"This isn't the same," Joe argued.

"I know it's not but we'll deal with it. Hey, if you're really worried maybe you should stay here... to help protect me and all?" Levon said with a smile. Then he realised what he had asked and wondered if he'd gone too far to fast.

Joe just grinned. "Are you asking me to move in with you, cowboy?"

Levon just stared stupidly at him.

"We haven't even made love yet, aren't you a little fast off the mark?" Joe teased.

Levon blushed and began to stand, but stopped when he felt Joe's hand on his arm.

"I've been thinking that the rent in the place I'm at is getting way too high. Communing with nature is supposed to be good for people in high stress occupations isn't it?" Joe asked.

Levon settled himself back down. "That's what they say."

"Were you serious? I'm not exactly easy to live with... and man," Joe looked around the room, "you'd have to let me do something with the decor around here."

His good humor returning, Levon leaned forward and kissed Joe again. "I think that can be arranged. You wanna do it?"

"Yeah, I do." Joe grinned suddenly. "Man, if we find out we're not compatible in bed it is going to be such a letdown."

Levon grinned up at his partner mischievously. "No time like the present to find out." With that he knelt beside the couch and began to unbutton Joe's shirt.

"Uh, Levon? I'm not exactly in top form here," Joe groaned as Levon leaned forward and started licking and sucking his exposed neck.

Lundy gently bit his chin then met his eyes. "You don't have to do anything. Just lay there and let me have my way with you. Way I figure it, this might be my only chance. You don't exactly strike me as the submissive type in bed. You gonna say no?" Levon ran his hand down his partner's chest and fingered the belt buckle at Joe's hips as he waited for the answer.

"What? Am I nuts?" Joe exclaimed. "Do it, cowboy. Do it." Joe wiggled, then groaned as his injured leg rubbed against the back of the couch.

"Stay still. Let me take care of this." Levon licked his lips, then stood and began unbuttoning his own shirt.

Joe stared up at him, his partner's dark eyes taking in his every movement.

Levon shuddered and felt his cock harden further under the heated gaze. He removed his clothing quickly, wanting to get back to his prize. Finally, he was naked, standing in front of his partner for the first time.

Joe's eyes traveled over his form, coming to rest on his groin, where his cock jutted away from his body.

Levon was suddenly nervous, a feeling that hadn't struck him in years.

"Come here," Joe said finally in a low throaty voice.

Levon complied, stepping forward hesitantly. Joe's hand came up and traced a path from his nipples to his groin, coming to rest on his aching cock. His partner's hand encircled him and began to move, slowly stroking him. Levon arched into the touch.

"You're perfect, Levon. Just perfect," Joe muttered, with his hand still gliding up and down Levon's erection. Joe tugged gently and Lundy stepped closer, looking down just as Joe's lips touched the head of his erection.

He shuddered and tried to hold back his orgasm. His partner's tongue darted out to circle the head of Levon's cock and that's all it took.

Levon arched his back and hollered as his cock spurted come across Joe's face. Levon slid down to his knees, resting his face against his partner's hard chest, gasping for breath. He felt Joe's hand in his hair and a blush spread across his face. Damn, he hadn't meant to come like some teenager the first time someone touched his prick. Levon raised his head and was mortified to see the come decorating Joe's smiling face.

"Oh God," Levon said covering his face with his hands. "I'm never going to live this down am I?"

Joe's hands covered Levon's and he let his partner pull his hands from his face.

"I'll never tease you about what we do in bed, Levon," Joe said seriously. "Much," he added with a smirk. Levon raised his hand to wipe away the evidence, but Joe caught his wrist before he could brush the fluid onto the blanket. "No way, cowboy, that's mine."

Levon thought he would die on the spot as Joe took his fingers into his own mouth and sucked.

"God, Joe," Levon said huskily, before urgently stumbling forward to take his partner's mouth in a deep kiss. He could taste himself there and that fueled his desire for more. Pulling back, he began to swipe his tongue along his lover's cheek until all the semen was gone.

"Levon," Joe gasped. "Can you help me out here?"

Levon looked down to find that Joe was trying to undo his belt one handed--while Lundy was lying halfway across him--and not having much luck. Levon scooted down and batted his partner's hands away.

"Let me," he murmured. Joe nodded and put his hands behind his neck, staring down at Levon while he worked. Soon, Lundy had undone the belt and tossed it away and had Joe's zipper down. He wiggled the pants open enough so that he could reach in and pull out his partner's stiff cock.

He wanted to rip the trousers from his lover's body but he was afraid of disturbing the bandages so he left them be. Joe's erection felt odd in his hands. He fondled it gently, getting used to the size and heat.

"Wow, LaFiamma, now I see why all the girls were hot to beat a path to your door," Lundy said in wonder. He looked up and was thrilled to see a blush spread across Joe's face.

"Uh... yeah... you don't have to..." Joe stammered.

Levon understood. His partner's size might be a deterrent to some--but not to him. "Don't worry, partner... I know just what to do." Levon licked his lips then leaned forward and ran his tongue from the base to the head of Joe's erection.

LaFiamma groaned and his hips twitched.

Levon repeated the motion before taking the head of the cock into his mouth. He glanced up at Joe and found his partner had his mouth open, panting harshly and was watching every move he made. Levon let the head of Joe's cock go with an audible pop and stroked it firmly with his hand as he looked into Joe's eyes. "I love you, you know."

Joe let his head fall back as Levon once again took his cock into his mouth, this time going all the way down. Joe let out a strangled yelp as Levon's lips touched his groin. Then he was pulling back and going down again. It didn't take long before Joe's hips tensed and then he was coming in hot scalding spurts into Levon's mouth. Levon swallowed happily. Finally, Joe went limp and Lundy pulled back, moving to the head of the couch, to touch his lips to his partner's.

Joe opened his eyes and stared at him with a dazed look. "No one's ever...I mean...wow," he said goofily.

Levon smiled at him. "Hey, what can I say... it's always been my special talent." Lundy was inordinately pleased that he seemed to have been the first that was able to take his partner's erection in all the way.

Joe pressed his face into Levon's neck, almost purring in his satisfaction. Levon held him tightly, even after his partner's even breathing told him that Joe had fallen asleep.

The End

--stay tuned for story two in the series featuring trouble at the station and more serious problems with Uncle Mikey.

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