Partners, Friends and Lovers
Chapter 12 Part 2
By Katherine Lehman

Joe shook his head slightly wondering just how many people owed his lover favors. Not only had be been able to secure copies of all the evidence to be had regarding the arson investigation, he'd also managed to get them free use of a tech lab. He briefly considered asking just what sort of marker the blond had called in before deciding it didn't matter.

"Didn't have to call in any markers, Joe." Levon gave him a sly look.

"How did you...""

"Damn good thing you don't play poker." Levon snickered, lightly bumping Joe's shoulder with his. "Ya'd lose yer shirt."

"I would not." Joe scowled, arguing in spite of the fact that he'd thought similar things already knowing how easily Levon had read him in the past.

Levon shook his head. "You keep tellin' yerself that."

Joe snorted and opted to let it go for now. "So if it wasn't a marker... what did you use to get all this?"

Levon shrugged. "Man can never have too many friends."

Joe rolled his eyes, somehow not at all surprised by that non-answer. It was on par with a lot of the less than specific answers he got from Levon. Joe still wasn't sure how often his lover did it simply without thinking about it, some innate character trait, and how often it was a deliberate tease to rile Joe.

"Let's get started." Levon nodded toward the video equipment. "Only got this place for a couple hours."

Joe nodded. They knew that the propped rear door made the most likely access for the arsonist. Given the time constraints they had on using the video equipment, they had already agreed to start with the tapes that covered the back door, saving those that covered the front of the building for later review.

Joe popped in the tape from a week prior to the fire. They weren't sure how long the arsonist might have cased the building. It was possible that the crime had been one of one of opportunity but neither of them believed that.

"We ready?"

"Cue it up."

Joe took a seat next to Levon as they studied the grainy footage. Deftly running the controls Joe fast forwarded through spots with no activity, slowing down to nearly frame by frame as people came and went. Joe verbally identified residents that he knew, Levon recording them on a small note pad for elimination or questioning later. It was always possible someone living in the building has set the fire.

"Stop." Levon commanded. "Go back a few frames."

Joe did as directed not sure quite what his lover had seen. Levon pointed to the upper right hand corner of the screen. "There."

Joe frowned looking closer. He pursed his lips. Just barely in the visual range of the camera a figure stood, clearly watching the comings and goings of the residents of the building. Joe couldn't make out any more than a general build, the individual's face obscured by a hood.

"Think that might be our guy?"

"Could be." Levon squinted. "Time and date clock says it's three days 'fore the fire."

Joe slowly advanced the film. He growled in frustration unable to get a clear shot, the individual never stepped far enough into the field of view for easy identification. Whoever it was obviously knew just where to stand. He knew Levon was marking the frame numbers and location for one of the techs on the off chance that they might be able to enhance the picture.

Joe cursed quietly as he noted that the back door had been propped nearly every night that they'd reviewed so far. The resident propping the door was different each night which made Joe shake his head. People were idiots, no doubt about it.

"Counted four different people." Levon shook his head. "Think we could charge them with something?"

"Unfortunately it's not a crime to be stupid." Joe answered, his tone laced with disgust.

"Ought to be."

Joe nodded in agreement. Their actions had made it decidedly easy for anyone to gain access to the building. It was something their mystery man obviously had no trouble figuring out.

Joe advanced the video to the night of the fire. At 1:40 am their mystery man approached the door. He ducked his head as he approached the door, effectively hiding his face but there was no mistaking the gas can he carried with him.

"White. 'Bout six feet, maybe a little under I'd say." Levon observed quietly. "Slight build. Guessing about 160-170 pounds."

"With that windbreaker on hard to say that for sure." Joe countered rewinding the film and then halting it at the cleanest picture they'd gotten so far. "But I think you're probably right."

"Not a lot to go on."

"They get any prints off the door?"

"Too damn many." Levon shook his head. "Gonna take the lab awhile ta sort 'em all out."

Joe nodded. Given the number of people they'd already seen using the entrance just over the course of a few days he'd expected that. "Maybe we'll get lucky."

"Maybe." Levon's expression told him clearly his statement was one of wishful thinking. "Let's see if we can get a better shot of him leavin'."

Joe advanced the film again. After their arsonist the only people to enter the building were him and Levon. He was glad that they were both conscious of the presence of the cameras and made a practice of being very discrete at his place. There was nothing untoward for anyone else to see, just two good friends.

Twenty minutes after they'd entered the building their mystery man left. The man continued to keep his head down, but flipped his middle finger to the camera. "Little prick." Joe froze the frame glaring at the image.

"Joe... back that up a bit and then run it again."

Arching an eyebrow in askance, Joe did as Levon indicated. His partner watched the image intently, sharp brown eyes clearly seeking something, but Joe had no idea what. He let the film run until the man stepped completely out of view, disappearing across the parking lot into the predawn darkness.

"Again, please."

Joe complied. "What are you looking for?"

"He seems familiar."

"Familiar?" Joe blinked. "How the hell can he seem familiar, Levon, we can't even see his face?"

"Way he moves." Levon frowned, eyes still studying the video. "Can't quite put my finger on it, but we've met him before."

From anyone else Joe would have scoffed at that, but his partner had a proven uncanny ability to assess people and situations. If Levon thought they'd met the mystery man before then odds were good that they had. Joe cocked his head studying the freeze frame.

"From a case you think?" Joe glanced toward his partner. "Or just someone we've run into in passing?"

"Don't know." Levon shook his head.

"Okay." Joe accepted that, filing away the possibilities for future reference. "If we know him... you think he might know us?"

Levon considered his question clearly understanding where he was going with it. "Possible this was personal, LaFiamma." The blond rubbed his chin. "But I'm guessin' he don't know us all that well."

"Why?"

"Fire started in the basement." Levon shrugged one shoulder. "If the son of a bitch knew us well he'd likely have started it on your floor. Made damn sure we couldn't get out of the building."

"Assumes he meant to kill us, or at least me since he probably wouldn't have expected you to be spending the night." Joe said calmly, arguing the point. "Could just be he wanted to do a lot of damage."

"When we catch him, we'll ask. Real polite like." Levon's grin was more like a wolf baring its teeth.

Joe nodded. He was definitely looking forward to that interrogation. He took a deep breath and refocused. They had to catch the prick first.

"Want to see the rest?"

"Might as well." Levon nodded. "If the guy hung around afterward we might still get a better shot of him."

"Probably better chance of that with the still shots." Joe pointed toward the file of photographs.

"Probably." Levon agreed. "But we don't want to miss something either."

"Right." As tedious as it might be, it was still necessary. Joe started the film again. He watched as various residents began streaming out of the building, most dressed in their night clothes. About half the building had left through the back door, the rest had used the front entrance. There was no sign of their arsonist.

Levon sighed. He looked more resigned than disappointed. "Let's take a look at the front door coverage."

Joe popped out the tape and replaced it. "Going to start before the fire again. If he was casing the place he might have started with the front."

"Makes sense." Levon agreed.

The coverage of the front was better than the back, the camera having a wider field of view, and the area was better lit. They watched people come and go but didn't spot anything unusual. There as no sign of their arsonist.

Joe kept the tape running through the night of the fire, focusing on the view of people leaving and the gathering crowd. Rescue and emergency personnel kept most people well back from the building and unfortunately out of clear sight of the camera. Joe hadn't really expected to see anything but it was worth reviewing.

He had a better sense of how many people were present and the arrangement of residents and gawkers within the crowd. It would make viewing the still shots a lot easier since he'd know who he could ignore and who he'd need to take a second look at. Joe shut off the tape and removed it. He handed it to Levon to return to the box of evidence.

Levon held up to sets of photos. One set Joe knew were crowd shots, the other were photos taken of the aftermath of the fire. "You wanna split 'em up or go through 'em together?"

"Split them up." Joe decided. It would be faster that way. If they needed a second review they could do that together the way they did the video.

"Which ones you want?"

Since it had been Levon who thought the arsonist was someone they knew, Joe opted to look over the shots of the aftermath. He might find something there. And he'd already committed to memory what areas of the crowd shots he thought the video indicated would be the most promising. He could look at them after Levon was finished with them.

Joe studied the fire shots objectively. He'd seen enough fires to understand the burn patterns and what they indicated. It was easy to trace the path of the fire from the basement up. Joe cocked his head as he studied photos that showcased the first floor walls. Something was definitely not right there. The burn pattern wasn't at all what he expected.

"Lundy?" Joe called naturally falling into the habit of addressing his partner by his surname when they were working.

"Yeah?"

"You get Annie's report on that other accelerant they thought was used on the first floor?"

Levon pursed his lips, clearly thinking. He nodded once and dug into an unopened file. He fingered through several sheets of paper before finding what Joe had asked for and handed it to him.

Joe scanned the report. The main accelerant had clearly been gasoline. No mistaking that. The secondary accelerant appeared to be lighter fuel, like one might use for a barbeque. He frowned. Why would their arsonist bring lighter fuel and gasoline?

Joe went back to studying the photographs. Suddenly he saw it clearly. The soot and water had obscured it to some degree, blurring the words but something had definitely been written on the wall. He could make out 'Fuck' easily enough so it wasn't hard to guess the next word was 'you'. The third was too corrupted by fire that had licked up the wall from the carpet burning hotter from the combined accelerants and the fact that the lighter fluid sprayed on a flat surface had likely begun to run.

Joe grimaced. It wasn't a clear indicator that this was personal but it certainly made a good case for it. He looked up wanting to show Levon what he'd found but the expression on his partner's face stopped him cold.

"Levon?"

The blond's jaw was clenched so tight Joe was honestly surprised that he couldn't hear his teeth grinding under the pressure. His eyes were centered on the photo he held in one hand, the other hand was clenched in a fist so tight the knuckles had bleached white. The steady controlled breathing worried Joe the most. Levon could sit still for hours but there was an intensity about him, a relaxed and ready attention that added a sense of vitality to him that was now conspicuously absent.

He reached out to lightly touch the tense shoulder nearest to him. "Levon... you okay?"

Bleak brown eyes rose to meet his. "Found our man."

If he hadn't been look right at Levon, Joe wouldn't have recognized his voice. "Who?"

Levon's lips twisted in a grim parody of a smile. He held up the photo he'd been looking at, offering it to Joe. "Third guy on the right, behind the redhead in her bathrobe."

Joe gingerly took the photo, pulling it closer to him for better scrutiny. He cursed quietly as he recognized the person Levon had pointed out. Joe had to forcibly stop himself from crumpling the photo in a tight fist.

"That little bastard."

"Yep." Levon took a deep breath and Joe could almost see him forcibly reining in the fury that radiated off him like heat from an open flame. "He's wearin' the same winbreaker as our arsonist, but I'm not sure that's enough for us to hang the Commissioner's kid. Gonna need a rock solid case for that."

Joe took a deep breath, following his lover's example. He wanted that little prick to go down and to do that it had to be done right. He wished now that they pushed to hold him more than one night. Drunk driving was bad enough but they'd had no indication the kid was a fire bug.

"So we need something more concrete to tie him to this." Joe agreed, his enforced calm adding a constrained note to his voice.

"Yeah, but at least we got a start." Levon commented. "Can point the fire investigators in the right direction and get a few more eyes lookin' at him. Bound to turn up somethin'."

Joe grimaced. "You plan to share then?"

Levon held up both hands as though weighing something. "Joanne is going to be pissed were involved to start with. And arson isn't in our usual purview. Makes sense to involve the experts."

"Point."

"And it won't hurt to involve a department not directly under the commissioner's chain of command."

"Better point." Joe conceded. As much as he didn't like the idea it would be foolish not to share the information they'd gotten. The commissioner had already managed to see to it his son's prior DUI's hadn't resulted in the loss of his license. It wasn't quite corruption, but Joe still hated the blatant nepotism of it.

He didn't like the idea they probably wouldn't be the ones to bring in the little prick either. Joe reminded himself that it didn't matter who caught him just so long as he was caught. "Okay... so we got a shot of the arsonist that he bears a striking resemblance to. We got the message he left on the wall."

"Message?" Levon arched an eyebrow.

Joe handed him the aftermath photo he'd been looking at. He traced the words he'd spotted with his index finger. "The 'fuck you' is pretty clear but the third word is anyone's guess."

"Lab boys might be able to get more out of it. Likely wouldn't hurt to send the inspectors back to take a second look."

Joe nodded. "What else we got?"

Levon held up another photo. Joe cocked his head as he studied it, recognizing the item taken in close up after a moment. "Police issue flare."

"Yep." Levon nodded. "Annie's report and the fire inspectors both list it as the likely ignition source." The blond gave another of those wolfish grins. "Partial serial number on it too."

"We can trace it?"

"Probably." Levon shrugged. "Won't know for sure until we do. Will get us a box lot at best but that should give us a distribution time frame. Not like we use that many o' the things. And each box lot is ear marked for a specific precinct."

"Damn but they should all be this easy." Joe shook his head. He wouldn't be too surprised if they found the kid's prints somewhere. Since he'd been sent to the drunk tank they had his prints already on file for easy comparison. "You know, I think I like it better when we deal with the hardened criminal types. More of a challenge."

Levon snorted. "He may be a dumb kid, but he still could have killed a lot of people."

Joe nodded. There was no way he could have forgotten that. The little bastard had hurt a lot of people, no one fatally, but he'd still done some serious damage. Joe was looking forward to seeing him punished.

"Anything else we need to do here?"

"Got a snitch or two we need ta talk to." Levon neatly collected the significant photos they'd selected before returning the rest to their respective folders. "Might be this wasn't the first time daddy's little boy was playin' with matches."

"Okay." Joe clipped the notes Levon had made regarding the frames on the video they wanted the techs to see about enhancing. "Let's go see if we can make a case the little weasel can't slither out from under."

---

Levon slipped downstairs intent on finding out some information. The desk sergeant always knew more than anyone else. It was something of a given, but getting him to share it took a bit of doing. Mike Anders wasn't really a gossip. It didn't hurt that he and Levon got along well.

"Hey, Mike." Levon greeted as he leaned against the counter.

"Hey, Lundy." The big man smiled as he nodded to Levon. Mike towered over him by a good six inches and was built like a linebacker but he was one of the mildest mannered men Levon had ever met. Nothing ever seemed to ruffle his feathers. Made him a damn good choice to meet and greet the public in Levon's opinion.

"I'm sneaking across the street ta get a cup o' the good coffee. You want one?"

"Only if you promise not ta drop it like ya did the last time." Mike waggled his eyebrows.

Levon snorted. "There were extenuating circumstances."

"Yeah, yeah." Mike wagged his finger at Levon. "Don't be getting it by any cars this time. Took a good ten years off my life pullin' that stunt."

"Didn't do a whole hell of a lot for me either." Levon rolled his eyes.

"So is it true that LaFiamma is stayin' with you 'till his place is livable again?"

"Not like I didn't have room." Levon shrugged casually. "Man's my partner and my friend. Couldn't exactly leave him out in the cold."

Mike nodded like he hadn't expected anything else. "You know some of the guy in Vice have a bettin' pool going."

"Do they?" Levon stifled a grin. He had overheard something to that effect but hadn't been able to confirm it until now. "What are they bettin' on?"

"How long it takes 'fore uniforms get called to your place for a domestic disturbance." Mike snickered. "Evidently they are laying odds of five to one you two try ta kill each other 'fore the month is out."

Levon ducked his head a bit to hide his smile. They had no idea just how damn domestic he and Joe really were. He sighed and shook his head, schooling his expression into one of amused annoyance when before looking up.

"You lay a bet?"

"Hell no." Mike chuckled. "You two have been workin' together for more than four years now... figure iffen you haven't come ta blows by now you ain't gonna."

"Always thought you were more than just a pretty face."

Mike lightly stroked his chin, grinning broadly. "Don't you forget it."

"I'll make a note." Levon laughed. "You want yer usual?"

"Yep." Mike reached into his back pocket and withdrew his wallet. He pulled out a five offering it to Levon. "Ought to cover it."

"Be back in a minute." Levon slipped the five into his pocket and headed across the street. He'd developed a real fondness for the coffee and the lady who served it up just the way he liked it. They'd never exchanged more than polite courtesies but she always smiled when he came in and knew what he wanted as soon as he walked in. Service like that was worth the trek across the street.

Levon unconsciously double checked both directions. Although he had deliberately darted into traffic to save a child he was still somewhat wary at this intersection. It was another reason he persisted in going to the coffee shop; he wanted to face this small fear and see it put to bed.

He shook his head calling himself a fool at feeling relieved to have crossed the street without incident. His sense of humor kicked in making him smile as he reminded himself that little victories counted too and getting across the street without injury ought to count as a victory. It was worth the reward he'd crossed the street to get in the first place.

He wasn't surprised to have to wait in line. The place was usually packed no matter what time he stopped in. Levon figured that was a good sign the place would last awhile. He hoped so. Joe raved about their coffee, was the only stuff he'd drink if he didn't make it himself.

Normally he would spend time watching the other patrons. People watching was a habit as much by nature as being a hazard of the job. But today, his thoughts were focused elsewhere.

Just as he'd predicted, the day after the fire, a number of people had offered Joe a place to stay. It hadn't taken long for word to get around he was staying at Levon's. So far no one had even questioned it. The betting pool that Vice had didn't surprise Levon at all. Given how volatile he and Joe's work relationship was, how frequently they at stood toe to toe arguing so vehemently it seemed words might give way to blows at any moment, it was actually logical to assume they wouldn't last sharing space away from the office.

No one seemed to have caught on that their disagreements at work stayed at work. They argued about cases not everyday stuff. But then none of their coworkers saw them outside of work that much, no reason for them to know just how well they got along. Despite their arguments there wasn't anyone who didn't think they were genuinely friends, a good team.

Annie naturally saw them as being good for one another long before she knew they were lovers. Levon considered that as just more proof that she was a damn sight smarter than most people. He didn't hold her shutting him out of the fire investigation against her. It was her job, he knew that. He made a mental note to tell her so later. Maybe he should send her some flowers, make sure she knew he and Joe weren't mad. He knew her favorites were red carnations. A dozen of those wouldn't cost much and it would make her day. Was good all the way around.

He sighed, jaw tightening as his thoughts flowed naturally towed the arson case. Fire Marshal, Mark Halberg, had planned to bring in the Commissioner's kid later today for questioning. It grated on him that he and Joe were not allowed to participate in the arrest or the interrogation. He understood the reason for it, but that didn't mean he had to like it. At least they were given permission to observe, probably because Beaumont recognized the futility of saying no.

Levon's expression soured knowing the Commissioner would be there as well. He disliked Andrew Carson intensely. Pompous windbag was more politician than cop. Politics had its place, but Levon didn't think it belonged in law enforcement.

Levon was pretty sure he'd have to ride herd on his lover. Joe had taken it personally when the fat bastard had spent half an hour dressing Levon down for doing his job arresting his son. He'd been bothered by it less than his partner.

Being pissed about the fire and making sure the little prick paid his dues certainly had kept Joe from dwelling excessively on what he'd lost. Levon had already been in touch with Rosa to ensure the photo albums and all the pictures within could be replaced. He had failed to realize that Joe hadn't told his family about the fire yet when he called but fortunately Rosa was a sensible sort. She made sure the rest of the family knew Joe was safe and spaced their calls to confirm that so they weren't overwhelming. Since they were calling the ranch now, Levon was definitely grateful Rosa could manage the LaFiamma clan. He added her name to his mental list of need to thank. He'd have to ask Joe what her favorite flowers were.

The insurance company had completed their assessment, although there was no word on when they were going to pay out, or if. Levon grimaced, not at all surprised by that. Once the fire had been labeled arson it was bound to slow things up.

That hadn't kept them from cleaning out Joe's stuff. Chicken had helped out. Levon was grateful for that. The big man certainly had the added muscle they'd needed to manhandle stuff out of Joe's place.

Getting solid oak furniture down a spiral staircase wasn't something Levon ever wanted to do again. He had been half tempted to tell Joe just to hire the stupid fools from the moving company that had moved him in to move him out. But he was pretty sure if they had any sense they'd have turned him down. Either that or made him pay through the nose. If he hadn't been in love with the man, he sure as hell wouldn't have agreed to it.

Joe's bedroom suite was taking up space in his barn drying out. So far it seemed to be drying evenly, no warping or cracking yet. Levon planned to strip it in another week or two. Although he really had no idea what Joe would do with it when he was done. He shook his head and reminded himself that he still had to finish it first. No point in getting the cart before the horse.

Finally he made it to the counter. He got his usual, Mike's and something for Joe while he was at it. He briefly considered making Joe's a decaf. His partner was already wound up tighter than an eight day clock, but knowing how much having his coffee the way he liked it meant to Joe Levon abandoned the idea even before it was fully formed.

He thanked the woman and headed back out, one cup in hand the other two neatly placed in a cardboard carrier. Levon once again double checked the street before crossing, feeling foolish for being so hypersensitive. But then Mother Minnie always said better safe than sorry. He hoped the mother of the little girl he'd braved getting hit by a car for taught her the same thing for future reference. If she'd waited and looked both ways she might not have ever been in danger in the first place.

Levon sighed when he got back into Reisner welcoming the cool blast of air conditioning. Born and raised in Texas he was far more used to the heat than Joe, and he often teased his partner about his lack of tolerance, but there were days when it got to him too. Not that he'd ever tell Joe that.

"Hey, Mike I got yer coffee." Levon nodded toward his partner leaning against the counter. Joe didn't look happy.

"Didn't tell me you were going across the street for coffee, Lundy."

"Got you a cup." Levon offered the cup not quite sure why Joe would be upset.

Joe gave him a dark look. "That's not the point."

"Does that mean you don't want it?" Levon smiled slightly.

Joe rolled his eyes. "Give me that." He held out his hand for the cup Levon offered.

"No need ta worry, LaFiamma." Mike commented quietly, sipping his own cup of gourmet coffee, a twinkle in his gray eyes. "I watched him ta make sure he looked both ways."

"I'm a big boy, ya know." Levon snorted. "Can take care of myself."

"Sure you can." Mike snickered, trading a knowing look with Joe. "Might just be a good thing you moved in with him LaFiamma. Wouldn't hurt ta have someone there to keep an eye on him when he's not on the clock."

Joe grinned. "Thanks, Mike."

"Yer gonna be getting your own damn coffee from now on." Levon stated firmly. He wasn't all that upset and he knew Mike knew it too.

"Don't worry, Mike, I'll get you a cup whenever I go." Joe offered, still grinning. "Can't stand the sludge in the break room."

"Always knew you were a good man, LaFiamma." Mike saluted Joe with his coffee cup.

Levon rolled his eyes. "Suck up."

"Damn straight." Mike grinned. "Cup o' java this good is worth makin' nice." He cast a questioning look toward Joe. "You doin' okay?"

"What?" Joe frowned.

"Heard they were bringing in the little bastard that torched yer building." Mike sipped his coffee. "Figured you'd be pissed that they didn't let you be the one ta bring him in."

"I am." Joe's lips curled in a sneer, before forming a teeth baring smile. "But I'm willing to sit back and let someone else collar the little prick if it means Carson can't get him off."

Mike shook his head. "Knew that kid was gonna end up behind bars eventually."

"You met him before?" Levon asked, moving to lean casually against the counter. Mike had been a desk sergeant for more than a decade, moving into the position after working as a uniformed street officer for almost as long. Odds were good if the Carson kid had been in trouble, more than Levon knew about, then Mike would know.

"Oh yeah." Mike snorted. "Think that kid's been in trouble since he was in short pants." The big man shook his head, expression disgusted. "Both mom and dad were more interested in other things... like climbin' the social ladder and the like, so the kid made do with nannies and private schools."

He sighed heavily. "Would have done better to jus' pay attention to what really matters in life and warm his ass once in awhile. Commissioner has spent a pretty penny bailin' that boy out o' trouble."

"Knew he had a few DUI's." Levon commented quietly.

"Countin' the one you brought him in for," Mike held up one hand fingers splayed.

"Five?" Joe blinked, glancing toward Levon. "Thought you said your arrest was the third time?"

"Thought it was." Levon shrugged one shoulder.

Mike pursed his lips. "Fraid not." His expression soured. "Second time he smashed up his car. Damn lucky he didn't kill someone."

"Sounds like he's an alcoholic." Joe observed. "You'd think they'd have checked into a detox center or something."

"And admit the kid has a problem?" Mike shook his head. "Fat chance."

"He ever torch anythin' before?" Levon asked. They hadn't been able to find anything like that in the kid's history, but the history they had was far from complete.

"Not that I know of." Mike shrugged. "Know he got himself kicked out of a few fancy schools though. S'why he's in Houston at all... ran out of places ta send him, I guess. Carson's always played that as a 'boys will be boys' thing, but rumor has it at least one expulsion was cause of a pipe bomb."

"Jesus." Joe hissed. Levon seconded that curse. A pipe bomb was far from simply being high spirited hi-jinxs.

"Is only a rumor." Mike's expression turned wry. "But given what he's being brought in for today, I'm guessing there might be more'n a little truth to it."

Levon grimaced. "Probably." He cocked his head to one side. "Should o' told Halberg to check inta the kid's school records."

Mike smirked. "Think a little bird might have already mentioned it."

Joe chuckled. "You sneaky son of a bitch."

Mike's expression turned innocent. "Don't know what you are talking about." He winked at Joe. "Ya might not be from 'round here, LaFiamma, but yer one of ours now. We take care o' our own."

Levon sipped his coffee to hide his smile. Sometimes Joe forgot that he wasn't an outsider anymore. Was nice to see him reminded now and again, especially when it came from someone other than Levon. The monster sized chip on his shoulder that Joe had come to Houston with had initially kept him from being welcomed with open arms, but he'd proven himself many times since then.

"We better head upstairs." Levon nodded toward the elevator. "Don't want to be late for the show."

Mike chuckled. "I wanna hear all about it."

Joe grimaced. "Pretty sure it'll be all of the building."

"Yeah, but I want to know the truth."

"Will do, Mike."

"Thanks for the coffee, Levon."

"Yer welcome."

He and Joe headed for the elevator. Levon was relieved it was empty. It would give them a minute to talk without worrying about having to censure themselves.

"Vice has a running bet on us."

"Mike knew for sure?"

"Yep."

"He bet?" Joe raised both eyebrows, blue eyes alive with curiosity.

"Nope." Levon mimicked Mike's expression and tone of voice as he reiterated the desk sergeant's earlier comment. "He said, and I quote, 'You two have been workin' together for more than four years now... figure iffen you haven't come ta blows by now you ain't gonna.'"

Joe snickered. "Guess he doesn't know about the first night we started working together."

"Only time we ever really came ta blows." Levon whispered, wincing in memory. He regretted that more as time went on. He never wanted to be like his old man.

"Hey." Joe reached out to cup his face, voice soft and warm. "It's okay. Not like I didn't fight back. And you can't say I didn't push all your buttons. Even I know I deserved it."

"Don't make it right."

Joe leaned in to place his forehead against Levon's. "You aren't anything like your father. Trust me."

"Don't ever want to be." Levon sighed, brown eyes focused intently on blue.

"You won't be." Joe's tone made it clear he was making a promise.

"Thanks."

"Any time, partner. Any time." Joe kissed him, merely a light press of soft lips against his before he stepped back. As much as Levon would have loved for more, he knew better. The elevator was not the right place for being demonstrative.

Levon took a deep breath and then another. He refocused. "We ready to do this thing?"

"Yeah." Joe nodded. "Much as I wish to hell we were going to be doing more than watching, I'm sort of glad we aren't."

"I hear that." It would be too easy lose control. This case was way too personal. They didn't want to do anything wrong that might get it thrown out. Levon knew the kid was already a menace, no reason to give him a chance to make to more damage.

"Get your game face on."

Levon smiled at Joe's directive before adopting a bland expression. He was ready for this to be done. Maybe they'd be able to get things back to normal yet. Well, at least what was normal for them.

"Let's go do this thing."

He watched Joe release a breath slowly. "We stay calm, cool and collected."

"No fuss. No muss."

"And he goes to jail for a very long, long time."

"Agreed." They stated together.

The elevator dinged announcing their floor. They walked out together, in step as usual. Levon smiled. There wasn't anything they couldn't handle as long as they took it on together.

---

Staring at an interrogation room from the other side of the one way glass was a novel experience. Joe was far more comfortable being in the room than being an observer. He glanced over toward his partner. "Feel weird to you?"

"Very." Levon grimaced.

"This Halberg any good?" Joe hated the idea of relinquishing control of a suspect interview to an unknown commodity.

"Has a damn fine reputation. Been told he's a good fire marshal and one hell of an arson investigator." Levon shrugged one shoulder. "But I've never met him."

Joe blinked. "Don't tell me there is actually someone in this town you don't know?"

Levon chuckled. "City this size, LaFiamma, there is bound to be someone I don't know."

Joe snorted. This would be the first time that had ever happened. Sometimes he was convinced there wasn't anyone Levon didn't know in Houston. The cowboy had a phenomenal memory for names and faces.

"Would feel better if it was someone you knew."

"Me too." Levon gave him a rueful glance. "Would feel a hell of a lot better if it was us in there."

Joe nodded. "Yeah."

He glanced toward the door when it opened and forced himself to remain relaxed as Lt. Beaumont entered with the Police Commissioner hard on her heels. Joe didn't miss the slight stiffening of Levon's posture, but the blond's expression remained blandly neutral, giving away nothing. Not for the first time did Joe envy his partner's 'game face'.

He tipped his head in greeting to his boss, watching as Levon did the same. A quick understanding smile passed between Levon and Beaumont. Joe liked and respected the petite brunette. She was a good boss and a better friend.

The commissioner on the other hand... Joe shook his head. He simply didn't like him. If he'd never met the man or didn't know anything about him, it might have been easier to feel more neutral. On the surface there was nothing overly objectionable about Carson.

Salt and pepper hair was carefully styled, blue eyes sharp and clear as they viewed the world through designer wire framed glasses. The suits he wore were easily as good quality as those Joe favored and were obviously tailored to fit. A tan that could only be courtesy of a tanning bed gave him a nicely faux 'outdoor healthy' look. He smiled easily, too easily in Joe's opinion.

Carson looked relaxed, bored even. Joe knew the older man didn't expect his son to be here long. Their conversation with Mike earlier had confirmed the fact he'd been bailing his kid out of trouble for years. This time would be different. Joe was determined to make sure of that.

Joe's attention was redirected toward the interrogation room as Carson's son, Cory, was escorted in. Even if Joe hadn't known who he was, he'd have had no trouble figuring out Cory was related to Carson. Cory was definitely a younger version of his father.

It wasn't hard to guess that the man who entered with Cory was his lawyer. Having turned eighteen just a week ago, Cory was technically an adult which made legal counsel necessary rather than simply having a parent or guardian present. Joe figured that was probably a good thing. The lawyer's presence meant that so far everything was being done by the book.

Mike Halberg walked in carrying a file and closed the door behind him. He looked like every other good old boy Joe had encountered since moving to Houston. He wore a western style shirt, jeans and boots. Halberg appeared to be a laid back, easy going sort, reminding Joe of Levon. He had a feeling that like Levon, Halberg was nobody's fool and he took his job seriously.

The neat, almost military hair cut had Joe giving his partner a questioning glance. Levon's lips quirked upward in a small half smile. "Former Marine." The blond mouthed silently. He held up one hand fingers splayed, curled it into a fist and then did it again.

Joe gave a slight nod. Ten years as a Marine. That little bit of information definitely explained the hair cut and the posture. He didn't even question how it was Levon would know that bit about Halberg's past. Joe had long since come to take it for granted that Levon just seemed to know stuff like that.

"I'm Marshal Halberg." Halberg's voice as he introduced himself was a rich husky baritone that made Joe wonder if he smoked. "You were apprized of the charges against your client, were you not?"

"Of course." The attorney almost looked insulted. His client just lounged in his chair looking insolent.

Halberg laid the file open in front of him on the table. "I am assuming then that you've also received copies of everything we are about to discuss."

Cory rolled his eyes and sat forward. "Look, man, you know who my father is, right? He'll clear all this up. I don't need to be here."

Halberg's dark brown eyes regarded Cory steadily for several moments. The teenager was clearly uncomfortable with the intense, silent contemplation. "Son, I don't think you realize how serious the charges are." Brown eyes flickered toward the attorney. "Maybe I should leave you two alone for a few minutes to explain it to him."

"I've already tried." The attorney grimaced delicately. Joe almost felt sorry for the poor bastard. Almost. He was sure the guy was getting well paid for his trouble.

"Charges don't mean squat." Cory waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. "My dad will make all that disappear." The teenager looked smug. "He's good at that sort of thing."

"So I've heard." Halberg returned dryly. "But attempted murder takes a bit more than waving a wand."

"Murder?" Cory scoffed. "I didn't try to kill anyone."

"But you did set the fire."

"Can't prove that." The attorney laid a hand on Cory's shoulder and shook his head. The teenager shrugged it off with a snarl. "Don't be tryin' to tell me what to do mouthpiece."

Halberg raised an eyebrow, lips curling in the suggestion of a smile. "Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are ya boy." He shook his head. "I can prove you set the fire or you wouldn't be here. Course it don't hurt that you all but just admitted to it."

Cory leaned forward. "My old man will have your badge." He hissed, clearly confident of his ability to see that threat carried out.

"I don't work for your daddy, boy." Halberg returned calmly.

Joe just managed to stifle his grin at that response. He saw Levon's cheek twitch and knew he'd had a similar reaction. The sudden stiffening in Carson's posture made Joe wonder of the Commissioner was upset with Halberg or his son. Joe was betting he'd only just realized the club he might normally have wielded had no clout.

His son was definitely doing jail time. It remained to be seen for how long. Joe was pretty sure the attempted murder charge was a bit of a stretch but arson, reckless endangerment, and destruction of private property were a given.

Cory blinked, his stunned expression in reaction to Halberg's statement was priceless in Joe's opinion. He hoped the cameras were running and recording this. Maybe he could get a still frame of that expression.

"You set the fire." Halberg reiterated coolly. "Nearly 60 people lived in that building. And more than half of them were home when you set the fire. Could have killed a lot of them."

"I wasn't tryin' to kill any of them." Cory snapped.

"What were you trying to do then?"

Joe held his breath as the attorney again moved to interfere. He breathed easier when Cory again shrugged off the lawyer and shot him a dirty look. Kid was going hang himself at this rate. That didn't bother Joe much at all.

"Planning a little wennie roast were ya?" Halberg snorted. "Just playin' with matches like some grade-schooler?"

"No." Cory bit out, leaning forward in his chair. "Just wanted to put it to that fucking cop."

"You wanted to hurt Sergeant LaFiamma?"

"No." Cory scowled.

"No? So you what... set fire to the wrong building?" Halberg gave him a hard look. "Ain't buying that. Not when I know you cased the building for several days beforehand."

"Not him." Cory shook his head, sneering. "That dumb cowboy partner o' his. The one like you."

Joe felt Levon stiffen beside him. He knew his partner well enough to know the insult wasn't the reason. The blond blew off stuff like that all the time.

"You had a problem with Lundy?"

"Hell yes I had a problem with him!" Cory shouted, planting both hands on the table as he stood up and leaned forward into Halberg's space. "The faggot had me kept in the drunk tank. ME! Like I was some fucking alcoholic. He had my car totaled. Totaled!"

Joe winced internally at the reference to the destroyed car. He never thought anyone would blame that on Levon. Or that the stupid kid would be looking to even the score.

"Sit down." Halberg ordered, unfazed by Cory's outburst. When Cory looked like he might refuse, Halberg gave him a look Joe recognized as being not too dissimilar to those he'd gotten from his Aunt Teresa as a child. "Sit down, now, before I make you."

"You can't touch me."

"Wanna bet?" Halberg gave the teenager a nasty smile, one that promised he could deliver on his threat and that the young man wouldn't like the results.

Cory abruptly sat. He crossed his arms over his chest giving Halberg a surly look reminding Joe of a pouting toddler. The attorney cast a wary eye between Cory and Halberg.

"Cory, I would advise you to exercise your right to be silent."

"That the best you can do?" Cory shot back. "That damn Lundy arrests me like some common criminal and throws me in the drunk tank for more than a day and no one does a thing. Can't let something like that just slide."

"Why would anyone do anything?" Halberg asked, tone dry, expression as goading as his tone. "You were drunk. It was your third arrest for a DUI. If yer daddy hadn't stepped in you'd have spent a lot more than one night in jail."

"My old man should have busted him down to working as a crossing guard." Cory glared at him. "Wasn't going to let that fucking dumb ass faggot ruin my ride and let him get away with it."

"I still fail to see how setting fire to LaFiamma's building was going to punish Lundy."

Joe wouldn't mind an answer to that himself. He could see the muscles in Levon's jaw flexing. He wasn't sure what his lover was thinking but he had a good idea of what some of it entailed. If he hadn't wanted to strangle Cory Carson before, Joe sure as hell wanted to now.

"I asked around." Cory smirked. "I know those two are close. Hurt one, hurt the other."

Joe clenched his hands into fists. Blue eyes raked over the senior Carson with a blend of anger and contempt. "Great kid you got yourself there, Commissioner."

The older man opened his mouth to reply but Beaumont raised a hand to lightly touch his arm and shook her head. "It would be best if you showed some of the restraint your son appears to lack." She gave Joe a warning look as well. Joe's attention was redirected back to the other room when Halberg asked another question.

"So the little message you sprayed on the walls was for Lundy?"

"Fuck you, Pigs." Cory smirked, clearly unrepentant and obviously pleased to be able to say that out loud.

"Given yer daddy is the head porker, ya think that little slur might be why he's gonna let you twist in the breeze?" Halberg gave the teenager a little wicked smile. "That maybe yer old man is choosing ta let you hang this time?"

"He wouldn't do that." Cory snapped back, but his expression belied the confident tone.

"You really think so?" Halberg lightly rubbed his chin. "Lettin' you get away with attempted murder of sixty people is a career killer. Can't see him doing that for the likes o' you."

"I wasn't trying to kill sixty people!" Cory shouted, leaning forward. "Wouldn't have shed any tears if that mobbed up LaFiamma had bought it, but you can't accuse me o' trying to kill everyone in that damn building."

Joe snorted at the 'mobbed up' characterization. It wasn't entirely inaccurate given the connections his family had, but he wasn't the dirty cop the teenager was trying to insinuate he was. He glanced toward Levon, not liking the way he could hear his partner's teeth grinding.

"You were trying to kill Sergeant LaFiamma then?" Halberg raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't it have made more sense to start the fire on his floor?" The question clearly implied he thought Cory was definitely an idiot.

"Didn't know which apartment was his." Cory snarled. "Only knew the building."

"So you figured you'd start the bottom and just let the fire work its way up?"

Cory opened his mouth to answer, but the attorney managed to interject before he could say anything. "Do not answer that."

Cory glared at him but remained silent. Halberg snickered. "Good thing you got someone to muzzle you, boy. Might have admitted to actually settin' that fire."

"Fuck you."

"Don't think you're man enough for the job." Halberg actually grinned. "Whiney ass daddy's boys aren't my type."

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"I just did." Halberg's grin shifted into something feral and intimidating. "Not a thing you can do about it."

Carson turned to Beaumont, expression frosty, posture stiff. "Are you going to allow him to talk to my son like that?"

The brunette regarded him calmly. "He's not my officer any more than he's yours." Her candid statement was said with out insult or sarcasm. "There's not a lot I can do about it."

"You could end this interview." He argued, blue eyes icy.

"No." Levon interjected. His voice was soft but Joe recognized the tone and set of his partner's features. They marked the man at his most dangerous.

"Excuse me?" Carson puffed up, reminding Joe of an insulted rooster.

"Kid's got legal representation. He's been read his rights. He's technically an adult." Levon's golden brown eyes met the Commissoner's, gaze remorseless and as unyielding as his tone of voice. "This plays out the way Halberg calls it."

"I don't think you understand, Sergeant..."

"No, I think you don't understand." Levon smoothly cut him off. "That little bastard tried to kill my partner."

"That's just teenage bravado." Carson waved a dismissive hand. "It means nothing."

"Nothing?" Levon growled, stepping forward toward the older man. Joe reached out to catch his arm, not liking the murderous look that suddenly appeared. Not that he didn't agree, but he couldn't see how beating the shit out of the Police Commissioner was going to help them.

Levon shrugged out of his hold still moving toward the older man. "I'll show you 'nothing' you sanctimonious, self-centered son of a bitch."

"Stand down, Lundy." Beaumont ordered, placing herself between Lundy and Carson.

Levon glared at her, and for just a second Joe was afraid the blond would lash out at her. He laid a hand on Levon's shoulder, squeezing once, not liking the way normally solid, yet pliable muscles felt rock hard and stiff. Levon took a deep breath, hands flexing into fists once and then relaxing. He gave the Commissioner a nasty smile. Joe couldn't suppress his satisfaction at seeing of fear on the older man's face.

"Maybe ya should have spent more and got yer boy a better attorney. Or warmed his ass a little more when he was younger instead o' wastin' yer money on expensive schools out o' state." Levon stepped back. "But this time he's gonna face the music, and he'll stay in that room until Halberg says different."

The intent stare between them was broken by further commentary from inside the interrogation room. Joe had almost forgotten the interview was still being conducted. He hadn't heard Halberg's question, but Cory's answer carried through clearly enough.

"Would have torched Lundy's place, all right! I would have hit him first but I didn't have any wheels and my fucking father wouldn't buy me a new car!" Cory was standing again, shouting at Halberg. "Goddamn cowboy lives outside of town and I didn't have any way to get there."

The teenager sneered. "That's when I figured out it would be better to torch LaFiamma's place." Cory almost gloated. "If I'd have managed to kill him it would have been even better than if I killed Lundy. Let the bastard suffer."

"Son of a bitch." Levon's curse was vicious for all its lack of volume. "I'm gonna skin the little prick and mount him on the wall."

Even with that verbal warning, Joe still nearly missed catching Levon in a restraining hold. He'd forgotten just how strong the lanky blond was. Holding him without hurting him was taking nearly everything Joe had.

"Levon... Levon... listen to me." Joe panted holding Levon tightly to him, trapping his arms and forcing him back against the wall. "Please. You know this isn't right. C'mon man."

"Right?!!" Levon hissed, struggling against him. "I don't give a rat's ass about right. I'm gonna kill that bastard. Slow and painful."

"Levon, stop it." Joe tried again. "You don't mean that."

"The hell I don't." Levon snarled.

"Levon." Joe pulled him in closer, leaning into whisper in his hear. "Don't you dare think of leaving me alone. You promised me forever and I am going to hold you to it."

Levon stilled so suddenly, Joe was grateful for the wall they were up against. "Leave you?"

"You kill him and what do you think happens?" Joe continued to whisper, shifting his hold so it wasn't so much confining as comforting. "Carson will have a needle in your arm so fast it'll make your head spin." Premeditated murder warranted the death penalty in Texas.

Levon sighed softly and nodded his head against Joe's shoulder signaling his acquiescence. Joe breathed easier and slowly released him. "You okay?"

"No." Levon shook his head, a wan smile gracing his pale face.

"Maybe you two should go get some air." Beaumont didn't so much suggest as order.

Joe waited to see how Levon wanted to play it. He wouldn't mind staying to see how things played out in the other room, but what they'd seen so far Halberg had it well in hand. Levon traded a look with Beaumont that Joe couldn't hope to understand.

She smiled slightly, a dark gleam in her eyes Joe recognized readily enough having see it before. "I'll stay here." Beaumont stated calmly. It was definitely a promise. Carson wouldn't interfere, she'd see to it. They could leave this to her.

Levon nodded. "Let's get some air." He stepped away from Joe and out the door.

Joe followed, stopping for just a second to lean in to speak quietly to Carson, pitching his voice so that he wasn't overheard. "Just so you know... your kid tried to kill me. Levon isn't the only one who might want to even that score, he's just the only one I can convince to not do it."

"Are you threatening me and my son, Sergeant?" Carson frowned, speaking just as low as Joe had.

"You know my background and why I'm in Houston." Joe stated neutrally, not admitting to anything, letting his tone infer a great deal more.

He stepped away and turned to back to Beaumont. "Make sure we get copies of the tape? Want to see for myself how this plays out."

"Certainly."

Joe nodded and closed the door quietly behind him. He knew Levon had headed for the roof. It was his favorite place to go when things at the office got to be more than he could handle. Joe headed for the stairs and started up.

Only a few seconds behind his partner Joe expected to catch up to him in the stairwell. He wasn't worried when he didn't. When Levon worked up a head of steam he could really move. Joe just hoped sprinting up to the roof would take some of the edge off for him.

Joe hesitated at the door to the roof, taking a deep breath and then another, centering himself. For Levon to lose it so completely it would take him more than a few minutes to get himself back under control enough to talk. Joe berated himself for not paying enough attention to his partner. What happened in the interrogation room was not nearly as important as his lover.

He stepped out on to the roof. He winced as he saw Levon pacing. Pacing was something Joe did routinely, but Levon only did it when he was extremely agitated. The blond's arms were wrapped around himself as though he was physically holding himself together.

Joe moved forward, placing himself directly in front of Levon, halting his movement. Joe opened his arms in invitation, relieved and grateful when his lover didn't hesitate to take what he offered. He hugged Levon to him, giving physical comfort he knew his lover needed.

He ran a hand lightly up and down Levon's back concerned, but not surprised by the tremors he could feel. Joe was all too familiar with the affect of strong emotions. He waited patiently. He knew from past experience he wouldn't have to wait long.

"Thanks, Joe." Levon whispered, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Any time, partner." Joe pulled back slightly but didn't let go. "You want to talk about this?"

"Not really." Levon bit his lower lip. "But I owe you an explanation."

"Don't owe me anything, Cowboy."

"Yeah, I do." Levon smiled, one hand moving to caress Joe's cheek. "Owe everything ta you."

Joe felt the blush warm his cheeks and dropped his eyes. He kept thinking that at some point he'd get used to how his lover could say such profound things and make it seem so incredibly simple. He raised his eyes when Levon moved his hand to run a knuckle under his chin.

"Was the reason I got so pissed. You are everything and that stupid, vindictive brat could have easily taken it all." Golden brown eyes were earnest as they held dark blue. "Lost everything once... hurt like hell, Joe. Can't do that again."

Levon shuddered, eyes closing. "Shit was so bad between me and Caroline when she got killed... but it still hurt so much. Like I died inside. When I found out the damn bomb was meant for me..." Levon shook his head as he trailed off, the anguish on his face made it hard for Joe to breathe.

He pulled his lover to him. "Shhh... I get it. It's okay."

"Would kill me, Joe, if you died. Yer my heart and soul. Reason I get up every day." Levon's hold on him was painfully tight. "God... scares the hell out of me to even think of you not being there."

"I'm here." Joe assured his lover. "I'm okay."

Levon just clutched him tighter. "Sweet Jesus... if he'd been a bit smarter, I'd have lost you. All because I..."

"No!" Joe shook him, blue eyes fierce as he pushed Levon forcibly away so he could make eye contact. "You didn't do a damn thing wrong. You understand me! You. Didn't. Do. Anything. Wrong."

"Only reason he..."

"Bullshit." Joe cut him off. "You said it yourself... he was weaving all over the road. He could have killed someone." Joe shook his head. "He was more pissed over his car. And I was the one that did that."

"Was one sure fire way to keep him off the road." Levon smiled weakly.

"Yeah." Joe agreed softly, pleased to see some color returning to his lover's face. "But in hindsight, I shouldn't have done it." Joe shrugged. "It was mean and petty."

"Felt good though, didn't it?"

Joe snorted. "Doesn't make it right."

"Not like you could have predicted this."

"No more than you could." Joe raised his hand to cup Levon's face. "Not your fault, Cowboy."

Levon sighed, his expression apologetic. "Don't expect me to agree with you right away."

Joe smiled. "As long as you do agree with me at some point."

Levon chuckled. "I tell you lately that I love you?"

"Tell me?" Joe's smile widened into a warm grin. "Pretty damn sure you show me all the time, Cowboy, but I wouldn't object to hearing you say it."

"I love you." Levon whispered, leaning into place a gentle kiss on Joe's lips. "Need you like I need air to breathe."

It always made him feel an odd mixture of humility and pride when Levon said things like that. It was so truly awe inspiring to be loved by this man. He wasn't sure what he did to deserve Levon, but he was damn grateful.

"Same here, Cowboy." Joe rested his forehead against Levon's. "You know that, right?"

"Yeah." Levon tilted his head up to place a quick kiss on Joe's nose. "I know."

"You okay, now?" Joe asked cautiously. Levon certainly seemed calmer.

"Yeah, I'm good." The blond shrugged one shoulder, expression rueful. "Sorry about... well, about comin' unglued there for a bit."

"S'okay." Joe lightly patted Levon's shoulder, relieved to feel the absence of tension in the hard muscle. "Wasn't that far from kicking his ass myself."

Levon raised a hand to rub tiredly at his eyes. "You think anyone would notice if we just headed home a little early today?

"Only one who might notice would be Joanne."

Levon pursed his lips. "Can't see her pitchin' a fit."

"We got comp time on the books." Joe pointed out. He wouldn't mind leaving early either... once they knew for sure Cory Carson had been booked and was being processed through the system.

"Got us a plan then." Levon snickered, amusement making his eyes twinkle. "We make sure the little brat is tucked in all nice and warm into a three by five cell and we head for home."

Joe couldn't suppress the smile and warm feeling that arose from 'home', and how easily Levon knew what he was thinking without him having to say a word. "Sounds good to me, Cowboy."

"You are so easy." Levon gave him a sly look.

"Yeah." Joe agreed with a wink. "But I'm not cheap. Going to cost you more than dinner and a movie."

"How much more?" Levon gave him an appraising look.

"I'm sure you're good for it." Joe waggled his eyebrows. "And you know I'm worth it."

"Damn right you are." Levon laughed, giving Joe a quick peck on the cheek and a solid pat on the ass before stepping away. "Let's go do this thing. We got better things to do."

"Amen, brother." Joe nodded, more than happy to put this day behind them. "Amen."

---

Levon used a foam brush to spread the stain and finish remover liberally over all the drawers from Joe's dresser, nose wrinkling a bit at the smell. It was a good thing he had a nice ventilated place to do this. The stripper definitely wasn't a product to be used in an enclosed space. It worked like a charm though.

He'd already started on the nightstands, letting the stripper work for the better part of twenty minutes or so. It would be ready to remove once he finished coating the drawers. So far the stain and old varnish was lifting easily enough. He already planned to sand the whole bedroom suite to ensure the wood's tone would be even before he stained it a new, lighter shade. He wanted to make sure any rough edges had all been eliminated and that the color he chose would remain true when applied. When he was done the wood would have a muted warm red-brown hue and a finish as smooth as silk.

Levon smiled as he began working on the nightstands, pleased with how easily the old finish peeled away in long strips. He'd forgotten how much he enjoyed this sort of work. It was satisfying to see be able to see the different stages culminate in the end product. And it was relaxing to work with his hands.

Not that police work wasn't rewarding. It just wasn't the same. He wasn't always afforded the opportunity to see it through from start to finish. Cory Carson being a recent example of that.

He studied the wood beneath his hands, but brown eyes were more focused inward as he remembered the outcome of Cory Carson's arrest and sentencing. Levon would have preferred a trial but that wasn't the way it worked out. He shrugged. Having the kid take a plea wasn't all bad.

Levon had resigned himself years ago to the fact that a trial wasn't always the best outcome. Sometimes it was better to just make sure criminals were off the street than to trust a jury of twelve people to see justice was served. Criminals didn't get put away for as long, but Levon had learned to count any time served as a victory.

Cory's attorney had been smart enough to realize just how damning the evidence against his client had been. The teenager all but confessing to the attempted murder of a police officer certainly hadn't helped in his defense. It hadn't taken long for him to work out an agreement with the district attorney.

Levon grimaced. He never really understood the lawyer side of the law. It seemed far more malleable and subjective than the enforcement side of things. Joe seemed to get it far better than he did, but then the blond figured time spent in college studying it had probably helped.

Watching the two lawyers negotiate Cory's future reminded Levon of horse trading. He wondered if in the end it had been the attorney or the Commissioner who convinced the kid to take a plea when it was offered. The kid had seemed insolent and defiant when plea offers started being bandied about. The Commissioner, the attorney and Cory had left he room, had a private discussion and when they returned Cory looked like someone had sucked the wind out of his sails, like he suddenly realized he was going to jail and all they had to discuss was just how long he'd be viewing the world through bars.

Levon figured the older Carson was the main reason Cory stayed quiet for the rest of the meeting. He was willing to bet the Commissioner hadn't done it with Cory's interest in mind. It was far more likely he saw the publicity of a trail as more damaging to his reputation than his kid just quietly going to jail.

Levon snorted; damn glad his own father hadn't been a substantial part of his life since he was sixteen. He had no trouble imaging his rat bastard of a father selling him down the river to protect himself. Levon wondered who Cory was more pissed at now... him or his father. It didn't really matter to Levon. The kid kept his mouth shut during the rest of the plea bargain and let his lawyer speak for him.

Cory Carson had initially been charged with attempted murder, arson, destruction of property and 48 counts reckless endangerment. Texas law regarded anyone over the age of 15 charged with a capital crime as being old enough to be tried as an adult. The attempted murder charge alone guaranteed he'd treated as an adult even though Cory had only been 17 when the crime had been committed.

The district attorney agreed to remove the attempted murder charge in exchange for Cory serving the maximum sentence for the arson and reckless endangerment charges. That amounted to ten years of hard time. It wasn't quite the biblical punishment Levon would have liked to have meted out, but he'd take it.

He shook his head, disgusted with the statistic that had murderers nationwide only serving six years on average. At least they managed to do better than that on this case. It was small consolation, but it would have to do.

He used an old rag to wipe the remaining residue from the wood. He ran a hand over the surface, nodding to himself. It wouldn't take much to make it smoother than a baby's bottom. Levon was glad Joe had favored a clean style for his furnishings. The lack of intricate carving or appointments would make it a lot easier to sand.

"Hey."

He glanced up to see Joe leaning in the doorway, and nodded a greeting. Joe had been on the phone talking to someone from the insurance company when Levon had headed to the barn. "You get things settled with the insurance company?"

Joe made a face. "Not exactly."

"Okay." Levon frowned. "You want me to guess or you gonna give me the specifics?"

Joe sighed. "With the fire officially labeled arson... not to mention the fact that the arsonist was more or less targeting me personally, they tell me they are not obligated to pay the full amount."

"I don't..."

"Think of it as being akin to life insurance... accidental death vs. suicide." Joe held up his hands, palm up as though balancing a scale. "One pays double while the other pays the minimum."

Levon nodded. He made a 'go on' motion with one hand sensing there had to be more. Conversation wouldn't have taken as long as it had if there wasn't.

"They agreed to pay about half the face value."

Levon grimaced. "Generous of them."

Joe snorted. "Yeah. Very."

"That enough to replace anything?"

Joe shrugged. "Not even close to everything."

"Damn." Levon shook his head. "Sorry, Joe."

Joe smiled wanly. "Real glad half my stuff was here or I'd be in debt up to my eyeballs trying to replace the basics."

"You want me to add more silver ta that lining?" Levon offered.

Joe raised both eyebrows. "Do tell?"

"Them not paying out gives us an even better reason for you to stay here longer." Levon pointed out quietly. "Could play up your financial distress just a bit. Exaggerate enough to make it seem like you don't have an option but ta stay with me."

Joe snickered. "Don't think that would be too hard, Cowboy. Half the office thinks I was living above my means."

"No reason not to use that assumption in our favor."

"True." Joe sighed. "You want to hear the rest?"

"There's more?" Levon wiped his hands on a clean rag, stepping closer to the other nightstand and incidentally closer to his lover making it easier to hear him.

"Seems the owner's didn't have enough insurance to cover what it will cost to repair the building. They only had enough to cover the outstanding loan, so the bank will get paid out, but..."

"Repairs could take awhile." Levon finished.

"If ever." Joe nodded. "Guessing they will end up selling it to cut their losses." Joe ran a hand through his hair. "I expect they'll make some clause that gives former tenants first choice, but I'm thinking with all the new construction in the area that if someone does buy the building, it won't be just an apartment complex but more likely high-end condos."

A condo would require an actual buy in from the tenants akin to buying a house. Entire renovation or even new construction would likely put them well out of Joe's price range. Likely out of all the prior tenants' price range especially if they all got answers similar to Joe's with regard to an insurance pay out. Assuming they even had insurance. Levon was continually surprised by how many renters and leaseholders had none.

"Several of the tenants and the building owners want to sue the Commissioner and his kid for damages."

Levon was surprised by that, although he shouldn't have been. It only stood to reason that a lawsuit would be pending given the amount of damage that had been done. "They ask you to sign on?"

Joe nodded. "Not sure I want to."

"Why?" Levon cocked his head to one side. "You don't think you should hit the Commissioner where it would do the most damage?"

Joe sighed and waved his hands in a meaningless gesture. "Already did something mean and petty... and it came back to bite me in the ass."

"Ah." Levon nodded. He started working on the other nightstand. "You really think joinin' the suit is petty and mean?"

"No." Joe chuckled. "But I'm sure there are those who will."

Levon shrugged one shoulder. "People think what they want ta, Joe."

"True." Joe moved closer, making it easier for Levon to make eye contact and continue working. "No reason to give the bastards more fodder though."

"I reckon everyone in the building is gonna sign on to that lawsuit." Levon remarked casually as he worked, glancing up briefly. "Doubt anyone will even notice yours."

Joe cocked his head to one side. "You think?"

"Doesn't matter if they do." Levon shrugged, unconcerned. "Petty or not, I wouldn't mind sticking it to Carson." He grinned thinking about the Commissioner's reaction. "Hell, he can only assign us meaningless stakeouts for so long."

Joe snickered. "That's the silver lining?"

"Nah." Levon laughed. "The silver lining is that the lawsuit is gonna take a year, maybe more 'fore it's settled."

Joe gave him a quizzical look. "That's a good thing?"

"Yep." Levon nodded. "See we already got people thinkin' yer just stayin' here cause the insurance money didn't pay out enough, right?"

"Right... And?"

"Can tell them you are waitin' on the lawsuit settlement 'fore you can think about puttin' a down payment on one o' those fancy new condos." Levon eyed the wood he was working on, satisfied with its appearance. "So we figure it'll be a year 'fore you can really be expected ta leave. And we both know that damn lawsuit won't pay out enough for ya to get a place o' your own with it bein' split so many ways and all. An' all them fancy condos will be taken by then so you'll be stuck havin' ta look for a place ya can afford that measures up to yer standards."

"Damn." Joe stared at him as he took in everything Levon said, a slow smile spreading. "We're looking at two years of my living here without anyone even raising an eyebrow."

"Yep." Levon smirked. "By then, they'll have forgotten you ever lived anywhere else."

Joe stepped forward, hands reaching out to cup Levon's face before he dove in for a breath stealing, soul searing kiss. "You are a genius, Cowboy."

Levon blinked, trying to recover his breath. He smiled. "Told ya I was the smart one."

"Smart and beautiful." Joe stated, blue eyes bright and warm.

Levon rolled his eyes. "If you say so." Joe gave him a disappointed look that Levon didn't understand. He honestly couldn't figure out why it mattered so much to Joe that he didn't see himself as beautiful.

Levon sighed silently. He made a shooing motion with one hand. "I gotta finish up here."

Joe smiled and shook his head. There was a determination in his expression that made Levon wonder just what the hell his lover was committed to doing it. He opened his mouth to ask but Joe interrupted him before he could.

"How long you going to be out here?"

Levon glanced toward the drawers he'd coated with stripper. "Got another twenty minutes or so."

Joe nodded. He gave Levon a quick kiss. "I'll have dinner ready by then."

"Okay." Levon grinned. "I tell you yet how much I like havin' you here?"

Joe waggled his eyebrows, a sly smile curving his lips. "I think you might have mentioned it once or twice."

"Good." Levon nodded. He didn't want Joe to have any doubts on that score. Ever.

He watched Joe walked away. He knew the extra wiggle in the brunette's walk was there just because he knew Levon was watching. Levon shook himself and took a deep breath. "Ought to be a law."

Biting his lip, Levon went back to work. There would be time to play after he finished. "Work first, boy." Levon told himself. "You know that."

It didn't take long to finish with the dresser drawers. Levon chuckled to himself thinking any job was easier and faster with the right incentive. He cleaned up the area, making sure everything was back where it belonged.

He gave the whole bedroom suite a second look. It was nicer than the one he had. The one in the master bedroom he'd gotten not long after he and Caroline had gotten married. At the time they hadn't had a lot of money and they'd joked about replacing it but some how never got around to it.

Levon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Maybe it was time to get rid of it. Joe's king size bed certainly would have more room than the queen they slept on now. They could go pick out a mattress that suited them both... something with the right amount of firmness and give. It would be nice to blend their belongings, to truly have a merger of possessions and styles.

Levon smiled. It would be one more thing that implied permanence. He couldn't see that as a bad thing, and he was confident Joe wouldn't either.

Levon nodded to himself. He'd wait to suggest it until he'd completed refinishing the suite. No point in saying anything until then.

Satisfied that he was finished for the night, Levon flicked off the light and headed toward the house. He slipped in through the back door, toeing out of his boots. Whatever Joe was making smelled wonderful.

He padded into the kitchen, a grin surfacing as he caught sight of Joe in an apron. It wasn't a frilly, feminine thing, and the blond found something endearing about seeing Joe wearing something so uncharacteristically utilitarian. He leaned against the door, arms crossed against his chest as he watched his lover work.

"You are the only man I know who can make an apron look sexy, you know that?"

Joe looked up, a slight smile curling about the corners of his sensuous mouth. "What? In this old thing?"

Levon chuckled, brown eyes warm. "I gotta clean up 'fore dinner." He gave Joe an inviting look, running his tongue over his lower lip. "You think what yer doin' there can wait long enough for you to join me?"

Joe pursed his lips, expression thoughtful. "I don't know---"

"I'll make it worth your while." Levon deliberately dropped his voice an octave, letting it get rough knowing what that did to Joe. He lowered his eyes coyly, looking up from under his lashes.

Joe took a deep breath, eyes darkening. "Are you propositioning me?"

"You betcha big boy." Levon raised a hand to lightly rub the side of his neck where Joe had placed a small, barely visible love bite that morning. He could almost feel Joe's eyes following his movements.

"Well... when you put it that way," Joe cleared his throat, "how could I refuse."

Levon grinned slyly, turning slowly to saunter away, casting a look over his shoulder. "I'll just go make sure the water's warm"

He knew full well he wouldn't even make it half way down the hall. That wasn't a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.

He gasped but didn't resist when Joe caught him, forcefully but gently pressing him face first into one wall. He shivered when Joe leaned in to nuzzle his neck, nibbling one his ear. "You are such a tease, Cowboy."

"Tease is someone who don't ever give you what is offered." Levon argued quietly, moving his hips to lightly rub his ass against Joe's groin. "I got no problem with the follow through."

"Good thing. A damn... good thing." Joe growled in his ear, hands moving to caresses his arms and sides making Levon shiver again. "You... follow through... very nicely."

Levon grinned. He knew the hitch in Joe's breathing was his doing. He rolled his hips again, delighted to feel his lover's erection through their combined clothing. "Thought we were gonna get wet."

"Oh we are." Joe stepped back, giving him enough room to turn around but not to really escape the circle of his arms. Not that Levon had any real intention of trying to escape.

Joe kissed him, his mouth warm, wet and demanding. Levon let him control the kiss, wrapping himself around his lover, frustrated by how little skin he could touch. He whimpered when Joe finally came up for air.

Joe's hands cupped Levon's face, thumbs stroking his cheekbones, blue eyes nearly black with passion. "God... What you do to me, Levon Lundy."

"S'good thing, right?" Levon smiled hesitantly.

"Damn good thing." Joe rested his forehead against his.

"I tell you lately I love you?"

"You tell me every day, Cowboy. Would rather you show me this time." Joe smiled wickedly. "Think it wasn't all that long ago you told me you prefer action to words."

Levon laughed lightly, pulling Joe into a fierce hug. He nuzzled Joe's neck. "What's say we take this somewhere comfortable?"

"Good plan." Joe chuckled. "Don't forget naked."

"Right." Levon kissed his cheek. "Better plan."

"We are a good team." Joe breathed out whisper soft, eyes bright with love and affection. He stepped back, holding out a hand to take one of Levon's.

"The best." Levon agreed, letting Joe pull him to the bathroom. If he had his way, they'd be a team for long time to come. Rest of his life should be about right.