Summary: Well, I can't quite figure out how to give a brief summary without telling you the whole story. Let's just say that the boys finally tell Joanne about the change in their relationship. A Joe owie, and a little angst for Levon. That about covers it.

words in [...] and/or italics are thoughts.

Friends, Partners and Lovers
Chapter 9
By Katherine Lehman

Joe LaFiamma flopped down on the grass, in the shade, next to where his partner and friend, Levon Lundy, was lying on his back. He couldn't believe what a work out playing touch football had been. He was glad the game was over. In another hour it was going to be hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk, and he wanted to be out of the sun when that happened.

The game had been the result of a challenge from Vice to Major Crimes. Working together on a drug case had spawned a small rivalry that some bright light had suggested settling on the playing field. It was supposed to be a friendly game. Joe snorted, and gently rubbed the bruise he knew was forming above his knee. [Friendly, my ass.]

Levon glanced over at him. "Somethin' wrong?"

"No." Joe sighed. "Just thinking this game wasn't as friendly as I thought it was going to be."

Levon shook his head. "Knew it weren't gonna be all that nice when they pitched a fit about me bein' quarterback."

Joe nodded at that. His partner would have been the natural choice for quarterback having excelled in that position in both high school and college. But when the Vice squad insisted he had to play another position to keep it fair, Levon had just shrugged. As long as he got to play, he didn't seem to really care what position. Little did the guys from Vice realize that Levon was a damn good wide receiver. If they had, they might have insisted he not play at all. Joe grinned broadly, reveling in the fact that they hadn't just won the game, they had kicked ass. The final score was 28 to 7.

Levon wore a grin that matched Joe's. "You did a damn fine job as quarterback."

Joe snorted. "Oh sure. You called all the plays. I just did what you told me."

Levon shrugged one shoulder. "Callin' the play is easy. It's the execution that makes it work. Face it, Joe, ya done good. Now suck it up, an' take yer compliment like a man."

Joe chuckled and threw a mock salute at his lover. "Yes, sir."

In truth, Joe had enjoyed the game. Although, it had been incredibly difficult to ignore a charging assault knowing it was his job to throw the ball, when what he really wanted to do was face his approaching 'enemy' and take him out of the game. He now understood why Levon had described it as 'hitting your target while under fire'. And hitting his target, wasn't the same as firing a gun. For one thing, it took a lot more effort. He could feel the affect of numerous throws on his shoulder. [Probably a good thing Levon wasn't quarterback. If my shoulder hurts, his would be in agony by now.]

"You should run with me sometime."

"Huh? What for?"

"You looked good out there today too. Never knew you were so fast." Whenever he looked down field for Levon, he was always where he was supposed to be. And he'd out run numerous efforts to stop him with apparent ease.

Levon chuckled. "You do distance, Joe. I sprint. Don't think I could keep up with you."

"You kept up all morning." They had started the game at ten o'clock and had played until lunch. Levon never looked winded during the game. A mystery to Joe given that Levon didn't engage in any sort of regular excerise regime. [Maybe riding horses is more of a workout than I thought.]

"That's just cuz we took a few time outs. And they took a few too." Levon laughed, dismissing Joe's assessment. He sat up with a faint moan, one hand rubbing at the small of his back. "I'm too damn old for this."

Joe snorted. "Not too old. Bastards tackled you seven times."

"Counted 'em, did ya?" Levon raised an eyebrow.

"It was supposed to be touch football." Joe frowned, not at all please with the amount of punishment his partner had received. The game had gotten rougher as it went on. Joe had taken a few hits during the game, but that hadn't bothered him as much as seeing Levon getting repeatedly taken down. Of their teammates, only Joanne and Carol had escaped body-bruising contact. "Full out tackles are supposed to be against the rules."

Levon smirked. "Yeah, well I think they learned their lesson. Doubt they'll wanna play again any time soon."

One of the overzealous tacklers had gotten up with a bloody nose from 'accidental' contact with Levon's elbow late in the game, and another left sporting a beautiful black eye. Joe had felt obligated to take out the biggest offender, Michaelson, with a shoulder to the solar plexus. Michaelson had lain on the ground for a good five minutes trying to get his breath back. Joe had found the sight of the large man lying on the ground gaping like a fish out of water to be very, very satisfying.

Joe got to his feet an offered a hand to Levon. "C'mon old man. Let's get out o' here." The rest of their team had left ten minutes ago after packing up what was left over from the picnic lunch they'd had after the game.

Levon took Joe's hand letting him pull him smoothly to his feet. Together they headed for where Levon had parked the Jimmy. Joe noticed Levon's shoulders were a bit pink, despite having applied sun block that morning.

Joe let his eyes roam over his lover. For once the ever-present Stetson had been traded in for an old blue baseball cap. Instead of his usual button down, long sleeve shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots, Levon was wearing a dark green tank top, cutoffs and sneakers. The tank top revealed Levon's well-toned, upper body. His lean, wiry form made for nice muscle definition. Seeing that much skin on his normally more covered lover had made Joe's mouth water.

Joe couldn't help thinking that Levon's state of dress, or near undress, as it seemed to him, verged on indecent. It wasn't. There was nothing improper or socially unacceptable about what Levon was wearing. It just felt as though the whole world was getting to see what had, up until now, been reserved for only Joe's eyes. It had taken all his will power to let Levon leave the house without commenting. He was not going to act like a jealous, possessive lover and tell him to change cloths, no matter how much he wanted to.

[Damn good thing no one really paid too much attention to Levon, or I'd have decked someone. He's mine. God...he looks good enough to eat.] Joe took a deep breath, and caught the faint scent of his lover on the wind. He must have reacted to that in some fashion causing Levon to glance over at him.

"What?"

Joe swallowed hard, and refocused his mind. [Not going to tell him what I'm really thinking.] "You're....ah, you're a little burned, Cowboy."

Levon looked at one shoulder, and shrugged. "Ain't bad." His brown eyes wondered over Joe, assessing him. He cocked his head to one side, and lips quirking up in a small smile.

Joe was also dressed down for the game. He had forgone his usual jacket, dress shirt and slacks in favor of a tank top, shorts and sneakers. It was his usual work out gear. Levon let his fingertips ghost down one arm from shoulder to elbow, causing Joe to shiver slightly, enjoying the feel of that gentle caress.

"You tan real nice, Joe." Levon's voice was a little husky, and Joe shivered again. "Hmmm...Feel nice too." Levon caressed his arm again, before moving away slightly. "Wanna go home and take a shower?" Levon grinned slyly over one shoulder, brown eyes sparkling. It was a look of invitation that Joe easily recognized.

Joe shook himself slightly. That voice, inviting look, and the tantalizing view before him made it hard to concentrate. Finally realizing what it was Levon had said, Joe grinned. "Definitely. A shower is a great idea."

Levon laughed lightly, amused by Joe's momentary lapse. Joe swatted his partner on the ass. "That will be enough out of you."

Levon smiled, but didn't say anything more. He opened the door to the Jimmy and casually hopped in the driver seat. Joe slid into the passenger seat with a quiet sigh. He watched as Levon unlocked the console between the seats, pulling out his watch and bracelet. After putting them on, Levon handed Joe his pendant. Not knowing just how physical the came was going to be, Joe had heeded Levon's suggestion to take it off earlier, not wanting it to be damaged or lost. And considering just how rough the game had gotten, he was glad he had.

Levon dug a little deeper into the console and withdrew Joe's gun. He passed it over once Joe had finished hooking the chain of his necklace. Joe had grown up in a household where men routinely packed a gun or two at all times. Concealed weapons were the norm in his Uncle Mike's house. His uncle never went anywhere without one, and his many bodyguards were always equally well equipped.

Joe had been given his first gun on his sixteenth birthday, along with a stern lecture about when and how it should be used. Uncle Mike's bodyguard, Vito, had spent several weeks at the shooting range showing him how to use it. He had more or less carried a weapon ever since. Although, he'd only really felt the need to constantly have one since the seminar in Dallas. Prior to that incident, he would occasionally leave his weapons at home. But he now felt naked and vulnerable without some form of protection. He never wanted to be caught off guard like that again.

Because he wasn't in his usual street clothes, he couldn't wear his shoulder rig, or even an ankle holster. Blatant displays of weapons tended to make the public nervous. But he did have a belt holster that positioned the gun at the small of his back. He just un-tucked his tank top and let it conceal the weapon. Watching Levon's long fingered, graceful hands, rest lightly on the steering wheel, made Joe smile thinking about how those hands would touch him once they got home. [Might not even make it to the shower.] Joe grinned. Wouldn't be the first time they'd ended up on the floor. [Hell the first time was one the floor.]

Glancing out the window, Joe frowned. "Thought we were going home, Cowboy." They weren't headed for the ranch or the apartment.

"Gotta pick up the wine ya ordered first. 'Member?"

"Oh. Right." Joe had ordered several bottles of wine from a small specialty shop that carried wines from thirty different countries and almost as many states. The owner, Mr. Klein, had called yesterday to let him know that his order had arrived. Knowing the game would be over by two in the afternoon, Joe had told Mr. Klein that they would be by to pick up his order today.

Levon pulled up in front of Klein's. It was an out of the way, hole in the wall sort of place that unless you knew what to look for you'd never be able to find. Joe shook his head slightly remembering the first time they'd stopped here.

A year or so after moving to Houston, Joe had complained about the selection of wines available at the store near his apartment. Levon had offered to take him to a place that carried the widest selection in Houston. He'd taken him to Klein's.

Looking at the place, he was skeptical at first. "Here? Lundy, you have got to be kidding. You don't even drink wine. I should have known better than to ask you." Joe had been disgusted with his partner for dragging him to what looked like a dump, and that disgust was readily apparent in his voice.

Levon had scowled at Joe. "Look, LaFiamma. I may not know anythin' about drinkin' wine, but I sure as hell know where ta go in Houston ta get it. Yer the one always tellin' me ta keep an open mind. So open yer mind, boy, and lets go see if he's got somethin' that will suit ya."

Joe had gone in simply to humor his partner, fully expecting to be disappointed, but ended up being so impressed with the selection and quality that he hadn't been anywhere else in three years. He made regular visits to restock his wine rack. He and Mr. Hugh Klein, the owner, routinely discussed the merits of various wines. Joe had only recently begun to special order wines that he wanted to try or had come to really appreciate.

Together, he and Levon headed inside the store. Joe shivered slightly, stepping into the air conditioning, feeling little goose bumps rise on his skin. He breathed in and felt his whole body relax a little. It felt good to be out of the heat. Four years in Houston and he still wasn't totally used to it.

Joe smiled when he immediately spotted Mr. Klein behind the counter. He was waiting on a customer, but nodded to both Joe and Levon. "Be right with you, Joe."

"Take your time, Sir." Despite being a regular customer and sharing a love of good wine, Joe always felt compelled to address the older gentleman as sir. Anything else just seemed disrespectful somehow. "We'll just browse for a bit."

Joe and Levon split up and began wandering up and down the aisles looking at what was available. Joe headed for a row reserved for white wines from New Zealand. Levon headed for the scotch aisle. In addition to carrying the largest selection of wines in Houston, Mr. Klein had an impressive array of scotch. Levon was partial to single malts. He didn't drink hard liquor very often, but Joe knew he liked having a bottle on hand. [Calls it sippin' whiskey.]

Joe had just picked up a Chardonnay that he thought might be worth trying out when he heard the bell above the door jingle. He looked over in time to see two men walk in. They were wearing ski masks, carrying what looked like a shotgun and two handguns. [Shit. Who in their right mind robs a liquor store in the afternoon??!!]

Joe carefully replaced the bottle, while ducking down, and moved silently to the end of the aisle. From there, they couldn't see him. The thing that worried him was he couldn't see his partner either. [Levon...where the hell are you? C'mon, Cowboy. Move so I can see you.]

He heard the two men yelling at Mr. Klein. "Don't move old man. Ya' hear me. Don't move!! You...on the floor." Joe guessed they were talking to the customer that had been at the counter when he and Levon had entered.

Joe pulled his gun. He really didn't want to get into a gun battle. Not when civilians could be hurt, and sure as hell not when he only had one gun, and no back up. Levon wasn't packing today and there was no way he could call for reinforcements.

Joe breathed easier when Levon appeared at the end of an aisle four rows to the left of his position. Levon held up one finger, and then pointed toward the door. He then held up another, and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

Joe nodded. [Okay...one near the door. One at the counter.] That matched with what he'd seen and heard.

"Give me the money, old man!!"

Joe knew Klein well enough to know the man would not simply give in easily. The man had immigrated to the United States, from Germany, after loosing most of his family in a concentration camp when he was a young man. He had refused to let what had happened to him crush his spirit. Mr. Klein had been determined to make a new life for himself.

And he had. He had gotten married, raised three children, and operated his own business. He opened the store in 1947. And had kept it going ever since, despite economic upheavals, natural disasters, and his wife's death due to cancer just two years ago. He was a stubborn man, not the sort who would back down. Right on cue Joe heard Mr. Klein refuse.

"No. I'm not giving you anything." Mr. Klein's voice was overly calm. Joe could tell the man was scared, but he was controlling it. "Get out of my store."

"Don't make me hurt you. Just give me the money."

"I said no. I meant it."

"Jus' shoot him, Jerry." Joe heard that coming from the one near the door. [Jerry must be the one near the counter. The one with the shot gun.]

Joe flinched when he heard the lever action on the shotgun, and then a loud report and sounds of shattering glass when it was fired. He was relieved to hear Mr. Klein curse in German, and the customer whimper in fear. It meant both were alive.

"Next time, old man, I'm gonna shoot you. Give me the money or yer dead."

Joe raised an eyebrow at his partner. They were going to have to do something quickly or this robbery was likely to become a murder. He didn't really hold out much hope that the two men would not make good their threat.

Levon held up one hand indicating that he wanted five minutes, and then made a cover me motion with one hand. Joe wasn't sure what his partner had in mind, but he nodded, ready to back his play. Levon slid around the far side of the aisle and began moving forward. Joe slipped into his aisle began stealthily moving toward the front of the store.

Joe caught a glimpse of Levon in the mirror that hung from the ceiling. His partner had picked up a bottle, and hefted its weight, seeming to consider it for a moment. He then stood up, still mostly hidden by the shelves, and whistled sharply. It was the same loud, piercing whistle he used to call in the horses from the pasture. It drew the attention of both gunmen to him and away from Mr. Klein and the customer who was cowering on the floor in front of the counter.

"You boys need ta put those guns down now." Levon's voice carried easily across the tense silence of the room. "Be best if no one here got hurt."

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm a cop. An' you boys are under arrest."

"A cop! Jesus, Jerry. Ya said this would be easy. Nobody was supposed ta be here, but the old man. Ya..."

"Shut up, Mike! Jus' shut the hell up." Jerry turned his head to yell at Mike, and that was when Levon let fly with the bottle he'd picked up. Joe absently noticed that it was a beautiful throw, and right on target. Levon aimed for Mike, the gunman near the door. The bottle hit him hard in the center of the chest, causing him to stumble back, and pull both guns in toward himself and away from other potential human targets.

Joe, seeing his opening, popped up and fired, aiming to disable rather than kill. He picked the more dangerous of the two targets, the man with the shotgun. At close range the shotgun had the potential to inflict massive, probably fatal damage, even if the man using it was a lousy shot. While the handguns Mike held could be just as deadly, unless his aim was good, it was unlikely that he would actually kill someone in the room.

Joe's shot hit Jerry in the shoulder, forcing him to drop the shotgun, knocking him back against the counter. Jerry slid to the floor, scaring the man still cowering there even more. Mr. Klein had the good sense to duck behind the counter. He hadn't lived as long as he had by being stupid.

Joe switched his aim toward Mike. "Houston P.D. Drop the guns! Now!"

Seeing Mike raise his guns, Joe sighed. [Should have known the idiot wouldn't do this the easy way.] Joe ducked down behind the shelves when Mike began firing randomly in his direction. He knew Levon was also hunkering down waiting for an opportunity to take Mike out. The sound of gunfire, shattering of bottles and the smell of spilled liquor dominated the room. In the midst of this chaos, the unknown customer panicked, and stood up almost directly in the line of fire.

Mike changed his aim to focus on the man's movement. Joe immediately noticed. [Shit.] He launched himself at the man, tackling him. Joe felt the burn of a bullet in his right arm, and another left a trail of fire across his ribs. He grimaced thinking Mike's aim might not be lethal but he was definitely able to hit a moving target.

Fighting to stay focused, Joe caught a glimpse of Levon nailing Mike with another bottle. This time he hit him in the head, dropping him like a rock. He felt a moment of satisfaction seeing the man hit the floor.

Levon came forward to quickly snag the shotgun from where Jerry dropped it, before kicking the hand guns well out of Mike's reach should he come to any time soon. With the threat more or less neutralized, Levon turned toward the older man slowly standing up behind the counter. "Mr. Klein...would ya please call 911? Tell 'em we got an officer down. Need 'em ta send an ambulance and a black an' white for one prisoner."

"Certainly, Levon." Joe heard Mr. Klein hesitate for a moment. "Is...is Joe all right?"

"I'll let ya know in a minute." Levon was next Joe a second later. Joe hissed in pain when he put pressure on his shoulder wound. "Easy, Joe. I gotcha."

"You okay?" Joe got out between clenched teeth. [Keep forgetting that getting shot hurts like hell. How a person could forget something like that is beyond me.]

"Yeah. I'm fine." Levon held him still when Joe would have tried to instinctively move away from the added pressure on the wound across his ribs.

"How...bad?"

"Jus' be still. We'll git this taken care of when the paramedics git here."

Joe grimaced. He hated riding in ambulances. Truth was he just plain hated hospitals. And he wasn't at all thrilled that Levon hadn't given him a straight answer. "How bad?"

"Yer stubborn, ya know that?" Levon sighed, his expression an odd mixture of concern, affection, and annoyance. "Jus' grazed yer ribs. Yer arm got hit a little harder. Looks like it went through yer tricep. Not bad. Hurts like hell though, I'm sure."

"Got that right." Joe could hear the sirens getting closer. He closed his eyes, and let himself relax. Levon would take care of him.

"Joe? You still with me here, partner?"

The hint of fear in Levon's voice made Joe open his eyes again. He knew from past experience how unnerving it was to have your wounded partner pass out on you. And he was all too familiar with the fear it generated. "Yeah, Cowboy. I'm here."

"Good."

"What about me?" Jerry whimpered from where he'd fallen, still lying against the counter, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "He shot me. Ain't ya gonna do anythin' for me?"

Levon smiled, but there was nothing pleasant about his expression. "You ain't gonna bleed ta death 'fore the paramedics git here. An' you'd do well ta keep yer mouth shut, or I'll put you out of yer misery permanently. Ya hear?"

There was no mistaking the threat. Jerry shrank back a bit wanting some more distance between himself and the blond cop with hard brown eyes. He glanced over to where Mike was lying unconscious. Joe could tell he thought his partner in crime was dead. He didn't see the need to tell him differently. [Be less likely to cause trouble if he thinks he's on his own. At least until back up gets here.]

"Levon?" Mr. Klein called from his position near the phone.

"Yeah?"

"Joe is all right?"

"He'll be fine, Sir."

"That is...good. Very good." Mr. Klein moved out from behind the counter. His expression clearly showed the fear he had felt, and his concern for Joe. He handed a towel to Levon to use to stop the bleeding.

"Thank you. You were very brave."

"Jus' doin' our jobs." Levon dismissed the compliment and focused on Joe. He pressed the towel over Joe's arm. Joe forced himself to hold still knowing it would do more to stop the bleeding than Levon's hand, even if it did hurt like hell to have him putting pressure on his arm.

Mr. Klein shook his head sadly. "Not everyone would have done their job. It would have been easier, safer, to remain hidden and allow them to kill me. I know this. It has happened before." Mr. Klein patted Levon on the shoulder, and then Joe. "You are both very brave, honorable men. I am grateful you chose to come to my aid."

Joe smiled tightly. "You're welcome. Can't have my only supplier of Sicilian wines hurt, now can I?"

Mr. Klein smiled warmly. "Of course not."

A minute later the whole place was swarming with uniformed cops, and paramedics. Joe ignored them. He didn't really register the blue uniform or the man kneeling down to look him over, until the man asked Levon to move away.

"Sir, I need you to move so I can look at his injuries."

Levon nodded, and shifted, preparing to move away. Joe reached out and grabbed Levon's wrist, just above his bracelet, keeping him close. "Don't go too far, Cowboy."

Levon smiled gently. "Hadn't planned to, Joe." He reached out to cup Joe's face, but stopped when he noticed the blood on his hand. He turned his hand over, and let the back of his knuckles caress Joe's cheekbone. "Jus' gotta get outta the way so the man can do his job. I'll be right here."

Joe nodded, and forced his fingers to let go. He kept his eyes on Levon while the EMT looked him over and treated his wounds. Levon never moved more than an arm's length away.

Joe shivered slightly. He knew he was cold because he had bled all over the floor, and shock was probably setting in. Not to mention the air conditioning was still cranked on high. The EMT offered him a blanket, which he gratefully accepted, snuggling into it and closing his eyes. Levon reached over to touch Joe periodically, so that even with his eyes closed, Joe knew he was there.

Joe listened while Levon talked to the patrolmen, relaying what had happened. Joe added his own commentary to the story, filling in details that he'd thought important or that Levon had simply left out. Levon turned over the shotgun, and Joe's gun as well.

Any shooting involving a cop required a full review by Internal Affairs. IA would want his gun to confirm that he'd only fired once, and to match the ballistics from the bullet in Jerry's shoulder. They'd also dig out the bullets Mike and Jerry had fired from where they were imbedded in the walls. There would be a complete review of the witnesses' testimony, to determine if there were any major deviations. The evidence would help to establish that their version of the events, had in fact, been what really had occurred. IA was paid to be suspicious, and they were usually good at it.

Joe protested when the medics prepared to lift him on to a stretcher. "I don't need that. I can walk."

"LaFiamma--"

Joe glared at his partner. "I can walk."

"Uh-hunh. Prove it." Levon's level stare challenged him to make good on his claim. With a small groan, Joe managed to lever himself up until he was sitting. He closed his eyes, and swallowed hard, when a wave of dizziness, nausea and pain made him want to lay back down again. He would have, but Levon had slid in behind him, and held him steady until the floor stabilized, and he didn't feel quite so much like he was going to throw up. Joe relaxed against the solid warmth of his lover, and conceded.

"Okay, okay. I'll ride the damn stretcher."

Joe was grateful that his partner didn't feel compelled to say 'I told you so.' He simply helped to make Joe comfortable for the trip to the hospital. Joe mentally snorted. [Comfortable, my ass. I hate riding in an ambulance. I'd rather sit through a root canal without anesthetic. And I really, really hate hospitals.]

Joe wasn't aware he'd said the last bit out loud, until he heard Levon say, "I know. Don't care for 'em either. Ya won't have ta stay, Joe. Jus' have ta let 'em finish patchin' ya up, and then I'll take ya home."

"You going to ride with me, Cowboy?" He asked as the wheeled the stretcher out to the ambulance. Joe didn't really think the medics would let him, but he figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

Levon tipped his head in a silent question to one of the EMT's. The man looked sympathetic, but shook his head no. "Sorry, man. Got a full load this trip."

Levon nodded. He locked eyes with Joe. "I'll meet you there." It was a promise. The internal tension he'd been feeling at going to the hospital eased slightly. Levon always kept his promises. Not that he doubted for a minute his partner would be there, it was just nice to hear it.

"Don't keep me waiting too long."

"Wouldn't think of it." Levon raised two fingers to the brim of his baseball cap in a nonchalant salute. "I'll be right behind ya."

Lieutenant Joanne Beaumont had just gotten out of the shower when her phone rang. She knew it wasn't going to be someone wanting to sell her aluminum siding. For some reason the phone always sound different when it was a work related call. It could just be her imagination that made it seem as though the ring was somehow more strident, but she was seldom wrong when she thought it would be work.

Sure enough, it was a dispatcher telling her two of her detectives were involved in a liquor store robbery. She hadn't even needed to ask which ones. Lundy and LaFiamma. No one else would have gotten involved in stopping a crime on their day off.

LaFiamma and Lundy, her very own problem children. They were friends, good friends, but it was hard to tell some days. They fought like cats and dogs half the time, arguing long and loud about whatever had set them off. They often saw a situation or a case so differently, it was like they weren't even speaking the same language. Other times they were so in sync, they didn't need to speak to communicate. It was freaky to watch, and frustrating to be on the outside, looking in, trying to figure out just what was going on. If they weren't so damn good at their jobs, Joanne would have shot them years ago.

The two of them got involved in more shit than anyone else in the department. They would never back down from a challenge, and seemed to feel obligated to solve every case that came across their desks. As a result, they had the best case closure rate in Houston, and possibly the whole state. That made her look good, something that Joanne honestly appreciated.

Being one of the few women in a command position, in a field still dominated by the "good 'ole boy network", she had to constantly prove to her superiors and her male counterparts that she could do the job. It wasn't enough for her to be as good as the other divisions; she had to be better. And having her detectives excel certainly helped her do just that. Major Crimes set the standard other departments tried to meet.

The dispatcher told her the call had come through with an officer down tag. The 911 system was set up to flag those calls immediately, and relay information to the cop's home office so that coworkers and family would be notified as quickly as possible. As head of major crimes, it was Joanne who got the call.

She asked the dispatcher which one was hurt, but the dispatcher didn't know. All she could say was that one of Joanne's detectives had been transported to Mercy General Hospital, and that he was in stable condition. Joanne let it go. She'd get the details from either Lundy or LaFiamma once she got to the hospital.

Joanne threw on some clothes, and headed out. It didn't take her long to get there. [Have to wonder about my life when I know the fastest way to every hospital in the city from both my home and the office. From anywhere in the city really.] As she pulled into the parking lot, Joanne noted that Levon's Jimmy was already there. She took that to be a positive sign, because it meant at least one of them drove. If the injuries had been something life threatening, both men would have ridden in the ambulance rather than come separately.

Once through the doors, Joanne spotted Levon pacing slowly back and forth in the waiting room. She hesitated for a moment, trying to gauge the situation by studying her former partner's behavior. Pacing wasn't something he normally did. Lundy was more the type to sit and wait, if not patiently, at least quietly. Pacing was more LaFiamma's style. [That man could wear holes in the floor.]

Joanne watched silently. Levon looked a little shaky, but didn't seem to be panicked or frustrated. It was more like he was trying to think something through. [Man always said he thought better on his feet. I'd bet money, he's going over whatever just happened. Well, good. Then he can fill me in.]

Joanne stepped forward. "Levon?"

He stopped in mid-stride and looked up. "Lieutenant."

"You okay?" Joanne asked, concerned when she noticed blood on his hands, and clothing. She wasn't sure if it was his or someone else's.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"And Joe?"

"Joe's in with the docs. Should be okay." Levon raised a hand to rub his face, and grimaced when he saw the blood that still covered his hands. Joanne noticed a faint tremor in his hands before he balled them into fists.

"Why don't you go get cleaned up?" Seeing he was going to protest, Joanne held up a hand. "I'll be here if they've got any news. And you can tell me what happened when you get back." Levon nodded and headed for the rest room.

A nurse appeared a moment later. She glanced around the waiting room and seeing only Joanne looked puzzled. "Excuse me...I was looking for Sergeant Levon Lundy. His partner said he'd be here."

"He just went to get cleaned up a bit. I'm their boss, Lieutenant Beaumont. Is there something I can help with?"

"Mr. LaFiamma wanted his partner to hold on to his personal items." The nurse held a small bag in her hands. Standard hospital policy was to remove items that could get in the way of treating an injury. Usually they were left at the desk, but Joanne could understand Joe's wanting Levon to have his things.

"I'll hold them until Lundy gets back. If that is all right?"

The nurse offered the bag to Joanne, and left with a quick thank you. In the bag was Joe's wallet, his necklace, watch and his holster. [Have to ask Levon where the gun is.]

Joanne sat down in one of the uncomfortable chairs and waited. She motioned for Levon to sit down next to her when he reappeared. [Probably would be the best thing for him if he sat down for a bit.] She handed the bag to him. She watched as he reached in and withdrew the necklace. He looped the chain around his fingers, and gently held the oval in one hand.

Joanne knew Joe wore it all the time. She couldn't honestly remember when he'd gotten it, but she hadn't seen him without it for some time now. It was something he would play with when troubled or deep in thought. Joanne clearly remembered sitting in this same room, with Joe, waiting for word about Levon after he'd been attacked in the alley behind Chicken's place. Joe had been playing with the pendant then.

This was the first time she'd really looked at it up close. The interlocking, scripted L's, with the diamond cutting glittered in the florescent lighting. The gold flame relief seemed to flicker in the reflected light. It was a truly exquisite piece of jewelry.

Levon stared down at the pendant thoughtfully, rubbing his thumb across it over and over. Joanne decided that now would be a good time to get him to talk. "Tell me what happened."

Levon began relaying what happened, all the while gently rubbing his thumb across the pendant. Joanne didn't interrupt, letting him tell it at his own pace. She knew she wasn't going to get the whole story. [Never do with Levon.] He was, without a doubt, one of the most observant people she'd ever had the opportunity to work with, but he wasn't the most forthcoming.

She'd talk to Joe as soon as she got the chance. He'd fill in whatever Levon left out. [Funny. He will do that even if he hasn't heard what Levon had to say. Almost as if he already knows what Levon is going to say, or as if Levon knows what Joe will say, and neither one felt the need to duplicate the other.] If their reports were written together, they were the most complete documentation she'd ever get. But when written separately, it was like reading about two different events.

"What happened to Joe's gun?" Joanne asked, nodding toward the empty holster in the bag when Levon finished.

"Gave it to the officers at the scene. Reckon IA would want a look at it. Was a righteous shoot, but" Levon shrugged one shoulder, "ya know how they get when a cop shoots somebody."

Levon sighed, and looked guilty. "Wasn't packin' today. Didn't think I'd need a gun. Left Joe in a lurch. Wasn't able ta back him up."

Joanne reached out to put a hand on his shoulder, and shook him slightly. "Doesn't sound that way to me. Even without a gun you managed to provide some pretty good back up."

Levon shook his head. "Joe got shot, Lieutenant. Was my fault."

"It. Was. Not. Your. Fault." Levon didn't look convinced. Joanne sighed. [I hate it when he gets stubborn. The man is like a mule when he gets that way.]

"Look...even if you'd had your gun, those two idiots would still have tried to rob the store. There is no way to know what would have happened if you'd been able to shoot one of them, instead of lobbing a bottle of booze. It could have escalated into a gun battle that could have gotten either of you or the civilians killed. And if you hadn't stopped in at all, Mr. Klein would most likely be dead."

Seeing that he still wasn't convinced, Joanne continued. "You know better than to play the 'what if' game. I know you do. Things happen the way they happen. Dwelling on what might have happened or what should have happened is pointless. The best you can do is learn from this, and make sure it doesn't happen again." He had given her the same speech after a bust had gone bad when they were partners.

Levon smiled ruefully and shook his head. "You really did listen when I talked, dincha?"

Joanne smiled in return. "Just to the stuff that wasn't complete and total bullshit."

Levon chuckled, and hugged her. "Thanks."

Joanne hugged him back. "Your welcome. Joe is going to be fine, Levon."

He nodded his head against her shoulder. "I know." He shuddered once, and took a deep, shaky breath. "Jus' don't...don't like seein' him get hurt. Ya know?"

"Yeah, I know." [All too well. Don't like seeing any of my people getting hurt. They are my family.] Levon let go, and Joanne didn't fight him when he pulled away. [He never was one to accept comfort for long. Must go against the whole cowboy image or something.]

Levon took off is hat and ran his fingers through his hair. Joanne recognized that gesture of frustration and impatience. The light flashed off his bracelet as he moved his arm to rake his fingers through his blond curls again. She noticed him wearing it over the past month, but hadn't really given it much thought.

Being silver, and having a substantial look to it, the bracelet matched the watch he usually wore. She knew the watch had belonged to his paternal grandfather. It was something of a family heirloom, and had vast sentimental value.

But the bracelet was relatively new, and didn't have the same southwestern design as his watch. Joanne studied it. The detail of the horses framing the oval in the center was outstanding. [Very lifelike.]

She was puzzled by the scripted, interlocking L's that filled the center oval. [Those are the same one's on Joe's pendant. At least, they look identical to me. Hmmm. why would they both have that??]

Joanne didn't know much about art, but the designs seemed to have been done by the same artist. They had a similar feel and look to them. The flame and the horses were both very realistic, vibrant even. [Maybe they got them from the same place. But...Joe doesn't wear his like it was something he bought himself.] If she had to guess, she'd say it was an item that had an emotional context for Joe, something he valued more for the thought behind it than just for itself. [Definitely a gift.]

Levon's bracelet she wasn't sure of. It could be something he bought for himself, but she didn't think so. [If it was a piece of equipment for the ranch, or riding gear, then I'd say he bought it. But the man rarely wore his wedding ring, so it seems a bit out of character for him to buy an article of jewelry for himself. Of course the wedding ring isn't really a fair comparison.]

She knew that Levon and Caroline were already having trouble by the time she partnered with him. His job and her drinking had been pulling them apart for a long time. They had even separated on more than one occasion, trying to work through their problems, always getting back together. She knew Caroline was thinking of leaving again when she was killed.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a doctor appeared. Both she and Levon stood as he approached. Some part of her wondered if anyone ever actually sat down to hear bad news. [No one I know ever does.]

"Sergeant Lundy?"

"That'd be me." Levon answered. "How's Joe?"

The doctor cleared his throat and glanced down that the clipboard he held. "He'll be fine with a little bed rest, and good as new in a few weeks. The wound he sustained to his rib area is fairly minor. Was bloody, but didn't really do anything in the way of major damage. Just needed a few stitches to close. The wound to his right arm was a bit more serious. The bullet passed cleanly through the tricep muscle, without hitting either the bone or major blood vessels. However, it did tear up the muscle. He will have to restrict movement with that arm, and wear it in a sling for the next week or so, depending on how quickly it heals. I also cautioned him about any heavy lifting until it heals."

Levon raised an eyebrow. "That little bit of advice went over real well, didn't it?"

The doctor winced. "Like a lead balloon. He didn't think much of my suggestion that he spend the night either."

"Joe doesn't really care for hospitals."

Joanne couldn't help but think of that as a monumental understatement. [You could say he dislikes hospitals about the way you could say the ocean holds a little water.]

"Can I see him?" Levon asked.

"Sure. He's in curtain area one. And, if you could convince him to stay the night..."

"Sorry, doc." Levon shook his head, but he didn't look very apologetic. "Best I can do is convince him ta let me look after him."

The doctor sighed. "Better than nothing, I suppose." He handed Levon a prescription slip. "Pain killers and antibiotics. He shouldn't need them for more than a day or so. See to it he gets some rest, and that he drinks plenty of fluids."

"Can do." Levon nodded, and then headed for where Joe was waiting.

Joanne thanked the doctor, before trailing after Levon. [I know he could convince Joe to stay if he wanted to. I've seen the two of them talk each other into the damnedest things before. Wonder why he doesn't even want to try? It wouldn't hurt Joe to spend a night in the hospital. Might even be a good idea, no matter how much he hates it. And Levon isn't usually so quick to volunteer to take care of anyone. I know they're close, but Levon is the last person who'd I'd have thought would willingly play nursemaid. But then when he was hurt, Joe was more than willing to look after him. Maybe he just figures he owes him one. That doesn't seem right, though. There's more to it than that. Levon didn't sound like he was volunteering out of obligation.]

She had the distinct impression that she was missing something. All the pieces were right there, but she couldn't quite make out the picture. [Come on, woman! You used to be a detective, trained in the art of observation. Figure it out.]

Joanne hesitated just outside of the curtained area. From where she was standing she could see Joe and Levon, but they couldn't see her. Joe was sitting on a gurney, wearing green surgical type shirt. [Must have cut off his tank top.]

Levon was standing next to the bed. He was leaning in close so that they could speak softly enough to not be over heard. If she had to guess, Joanne assumed they were discussing what the doctor had told Levon and comparing it to what he'd told Joe. There was nothing obviously intimate about the setting, but Joanne got the distinct impression she was watching a private moment. The closeness and nearly constant eye contact between the two enhanced the overall impression.

She watched as Levon handed over Joe's pendant. Joe sat forward, and attempted to raise his arms to return it to its usual place, but stopped in mid-motion with a wince. Levon took it back with a shake of his head.

"Why didn't ya jest ask me ta put it on for you?" He sounded mildly annoyed and faintly exasperated.

Joe shrugged one shoulder. "Thought I could do it."

Levon gave him a sly look. "Un-hunh. Like you were gonna walk ta the door instead of takin' the stretcher?"

Joanne was astonished when Joe blushed. "That was different."

"If you say so. Don't seem all that different ta me." Levon's tone was light, teasing. "Here. Let me put it on for ya."

Joe shifted slightly, giving Levon easy access to reach around his neck and return his pendant. It could have been just a simple gesture of a good friend and partner, but Joanne felt there was more to it. She frowned. [What am I thinking? Levon was married. And Joe chases every woman he meets. Except that isn't totally true...or at least it hasn't been in some time. And being married doesn't mean Levon isn't interested in men. Joe is certainly a good looking man. And Levon is just as easy on the eyes.]

She found herself thinking about her best detective team in an entirely new way. Whether it was at work or the football game earlier that day, Joe and Levon always turned up together. Usually in Levon's Jimmy. [It wasn't like Joe didn't have his own vehicle and needed a lift. And he's lived in Houston long enough so it isn't like he needed help to find his way around. He knows Houston almost as well as Levon.]

Joanne knew, Levon had confided more of his past to Joe than he had anyone else. That whole fiasco with Levon's father a few months ago was proof of how close the two of them had become. Joanne had been almost jealous that Joe was privy to information Levon had refused to share with her. She was mature enough to realize that who he told wasn't as important as the fact that he'd finally found someone he trusted enough to open up to.

There was no doubt that he trusted Joe implicitly, and that Joe trusted Levon just as completely. It hadn't been an easy road for either of them to get to that point. Both of them having "issues" that made their current level of trust incredibly difficult to achieve. Watching from the sidelines, Joanne was very familiar with the how far their partnership had come from their first day together.

Shaking off her thoughts, Joanne moved forward, but stopped again to watch. Levon had pulled back, and would have stepped away from the bed if Joe hadn't stopped him. Joe reached out to grab his arm, just above the bracelet.

"Don't go too far, Cowboy." They shared a small smile.

It didn't really surprise her that Joe would initiate some kind of contact. Joe was a tactile sort of person, often initiating some kind of physical contact with people around him. Joanne hadn't really given his casual touching nature much thought, until she realized how much of that contact was focused on his partner. Levon was much more reserved, and definitely more conscious of personal space. He didn't object to Joe's nearly constant invasion of his space. In fact, he seemed to encourage it.

There was no denying that they were connected on some fundamental level. It reminded her of the relationship she had with her husband. Joanne sighed. She could almost hear Levon saying, "only way ta ever know anythin' fer sure, is to ask. But ya better be damn sure you can handle the answer."

[Am I okay with them being a couple? Hmmm...may have to give that some serious thought. I don't think I'm disgusted or offended. A little hard to picture them that way....might be best not to go there just yet.]

Realizing she'd been standing in the hallway for several minutes, Joanne squared her shoulders, and walked into the curtained area. "How are you feeling, Joe?"

Blue eyes met hers. "I'm good, Lieutenant."

"You want to tell me what happened?"'

Joe glanced at Levon, before he and Joanne shared a look. He raised an eyebrow at Levon, and smirked. "You didn't tell her everything. Did you?"

Levon snorted. "Ain't like she's not gonna read the incident report, an' the forensics stuff, an' IA's findings. Didn't see the need ta go inta detail."

Joe chuckled. "Cowboy, why don't you go get my prescriptions filled while I fill the Lieutenant in what you left out."

Joanne watched as a look passed between them. They were having an entire conversation with just their eyes. She couldn't be certain, but she'd be willing to bet money that Levon was checking to see if Joe was really all right before he was willing to leave him alone.

Levon nodded once. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He reached out, and what Joanne could only think of as a caress, gently let one knuckle ghost over Joe's cheekbone. It was an unconscious gesture, one that couldn't be interpreted as accidental.

It wasn't the sort of contact that she'd ever seen between them before. [I'd have noticed something so obviously intimate. But then, I haven't exactly witnessed them in this situation before either.] If she was right in thinking they were more than just partners and friends, then the shock of dealing with one of them being injured hadn't quite worn off yet, or she wouldn't have seen this caress. [If they were always that careless, I would have caught on long before now. Always assuming that there IS something to catch on to.]

Levon stepped away. "He's all yours, Joanne. Doc told him ta sit here for little while 'fore he can leave. Make sure he stays in that bed until I get back."

"Will do." She ignored Joe's scowl with practiced ease. Once Levon left, Joanne gave her undivided attention to Joe. "So, tell me your version." She wasn't too surprised when his description of events was different, but complimentary to Levon's. She now had a complete picture of what happened at the wine shop. [Now if I could just get as complete a picture about what was going on between the two of them.]

Levon was back. "Okay, LaFiamma. Got yer pills. Ya ready to get out of here?"

"More than ready." Joe swung his legs over the side and moved to stand up. Levon was quick to position himself next to Joe, catching his arm when he swayed.

"Easy, Boy." Levon waited until Joe was steady before letting go. "You all right, now?"

"Yeah. Just got a little dizzy. No biggie."

Together they headed toward the exit. Joanne noted that Levon stayed close enough to catch Joe, should he need help. She wasn't surprised that he did it. What did surprise her was that Joe didn't object. He didn't normally accept offers of assistance, didn't like the implication that he needed help. [Just as independent and stubborn as Levon...except for when it comes to each other.]

She followed them to the Jimmy. Once Joe was safely belted into the passenger seat, he closed his eyes and relaxed. Joanne asked Levon as he headed around to the driver side, "You going to take him to your ranch or back to his apartment?"

"Ranch."

She nodded. Levon looked at her. He smiled slightly and shook his head. "Why don't you come out later? That way ya can ask me whatever it is ya wanna ask."

Joanne frowned. "What makes you think I want to ask you anything?"

"Ya got that look on your face."

"What look?" Joanne was immediately defensive.

"The one you get when yer tryin' ta put together the pieces of somethin', an' ya got all the pieces, but ya ain't sure what the picture is." Levon shrugged. "Seen it enough to know."

She smiled wryly. [Busted.] "What time?"

"How 'bout dinner time?"

[Well, no time like the present, right? Gives me a few hours to deal with what I think of all this. Not sure if I'll be ready by then, but when opportunity knocks it is best to answer the door.]

"I'll be there."

Levon resisted the urge to run his fingers through Joe's hair while he slept. He didn't want to wake him since Joe had only fallen asleep a few minutes ago. [He's okay. I don't need ta touch him to prove that. Can just look at him.] Levon forced himself to stay where he was.

He'd managed to convince Joe to take the painkillers the doctor had prescribed. He knew Joe didn't like taking pills. Levon didn't like taking them either, but there was no reason for Joe to be in pain if he didn't have to be. And it had been obvious he was in pain.

Levon smiled watching Joe sleep. It was one of his favorite past times. He loved having the chance to just take in the beauty of the man without having to explain why he was staring. He wasn't sure he could put how he felt or what he saw into words anyway, and this way he didn't even have to try.

He hadn't been able to convince Joe to lie down in the bedroom, but at least the couch wasn't a bad place to sleep. Having slept on it himself many times, he knew that first hand. Next to the bed, it was the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house.

When they'd gotten home, Joe had insisted that he didn't want to lay down, that he was fine. Rather than argue about it, Levon had compromised on letting him settle, more or less, comfortably in the living room. Levon had grabbed a quick shower, and changed his clothes while Joe surfed the TV channels. Wasn't too long after that he'd managed to get Joe to take his pills and finally lie down. Levon sighed and sipped his beer.

[Joe might need his rest, depending on what Joanne has ta say when she gets here.] He hadn't told Joe that she was coming by later. He didn't want his partner to worry. He was more than capable of worrying enough for both of them.

Levon had a pretty good idea of what she was thinking. He'd worked with her long enough to understand how she thought, and what she thought. She was far too observant to have missed it when he'd caressed Joe's cheek. He hadn't been able to resist touching Joe, even though he knew it was likely to be witnessed. And she couldn't have missed the significance of the matching L's on their jewlery. He'd seen her glancing back and forth between the pendant and bracelet.

[Hell, a blind man could see they were made by the same artist. And there is no way she could have missed how important the pendant is to Joe. It's the only piece of jewelry the man wears, and he wears it every day.]

While nothing they did was out of the ordinary for good friends, he knew Joanne could see more than most. He also knew she would start looking deeper. She would seek out confirmation of her suspicions. [Better she hears it from us than from someone else. Not that anyone other than Annie knows, but if she starts askin' other people, could be that someone will start thinkin' the same way she is.] That wasn't something Levon was prepared to deal with just yet. One step at a time was all he could handle.

He briefly considered starting something for dinner, but decided against it. He was too nervous to really think about food, and there was no point in making something that might end up ruined if this meeting went badly. There were always leftovers in the fridge that he could warm up if the need arose. Levon sipped his beer again, and glanced at the clock on the mantel. He heard a soft knock at the door. [Right on time.]

Levon put his half empty beer on the kitchen counter as he went to answer the door. "C'mon in." Joanne stepped in. She opened her mouth to say something, but Levon put up a hand to stop her.

"Joe's sleepin' on the couch." He kept his voice low. "You wanna talk on the porch?" Levon tipped his head toward the back door.

"Sure." Joanne also kept her voice low, and moved past him. She stopped to look at Joe. "He okay?" She didn't quite whisper, but it was close.

"Yeah. Just took his pain pills 'bout an hour ago."

Joanne nodded. She headed out the back door, and Levon followed. He made sure to close it quietly behind him. With any luck, he could settle all this without havin' to involve Joe. [Not that he isn't part of it, but he don't need ta hear this if it goes all wrong. Leastwise not right now. That can wait until he's feelin' better.]

Joanne walked over to the rail before she turned and leaned her back against it. She sighed softly. "I suppose the best way to do this is to just ask." She took a deep breath. "So...here goes. How long have you two been more than just partners and friends?"

[Trust her not ta waste any time. No point in denyin' it.] "Awhile."

Joanne frowned. "And just how long is that exactly?"

"About nine months."

"Nine...."Joanne stopped. She pinned him with a hard look. "Who else knows?"

"Just Annie."

"I see."

Levon could tell by her tone, and rigid body posture, that she was pissed. He couldn't tell if was because someone knew before she did, if it was because they had waited so long to tell her, or if it was his and Joe's relationship. He was seriously hoping it was the first or second and not the third.

"Wanted to tell you first, but Annie...well, it's a long story. Let's just say that she caught me an' Joe kissin' and let it go at that."

"And when were you planning on tell me?"

Levon ran a hand through his hair, and looked away. "Just as soon as we figured out how to tell you."

"Just as soon...." Joanne clenched her hands into fist, her eyes narrowed. "How hard is it to tell me you are FUCKING YOUR PARTNER!"

Levon stepped closer, suddenly furious with her for belittling what amounted to the best thing in his life. His relationship with Joe was not about sex, it was much more than that. Without even realizing it, he was in her face, towering over her.

"It. Ain't. Like. That." He snarled, his voice soft, but the threat was almost tangible. Part of him enjoyed the fact that he had scared her just a little. She couldn't back away because she was already against the rail, but Levon could tell she wanted to. He took a deep breath and forced himself to step back. It wasn't right to do that to a woman, much less his boss.

"And keep your goddamn voice down." Levon hissed, still angry but regaining control. "Joe got shot today, and he needs ta rest. You will respect that while yer here. If you can't do that then this conversation is over. Understand?"

He waited until she nodded before he forced himself to back up another step and give her room. She wasn't the only one he'd scared. It wasn't normal for him to lose his temper quite so fast.

"What is between me and Joe is more than just sex. If all I wanted or needed was ta get laid, I sure as hell wouldn't have picked my partner. You know me better than that, Joanne."

She took a shaky breath, and then another. She shifted a bit, so that she was no longer trapped between him and the rail. Her expression was sheepish and apologetic. When she spoke her voice was quiet, conversational. "I thought I knew you. Hell, Levon, you were married."

"So? Your point is...what? I can only love one person my whole life?"

"No. I just...well, you've got to admit this is rather unexpected. I never knew you were into guys. Didn't realize Joe was either for that matter."

Levon shrugged. "Yeah, well, there is a lot you don't know about us."

"Obviously." She said dryly, crossing her arms over her chest.

Levon sighed. "Look....when it first happened, I wasn't...I didn't know fer sure how Joe felt about it, about us. Wasn't any point in tellin' you what was going on if it weren't gonna be going on fer very long."

Joanne frowned. "If you didn't know it was going to be more than a one time thing, why did you even start?"

Levon shook his head, and walked over to the railing. He leaned against it, resting his forearms across it. He looked out of the pasture, trying to think of a way to explain what he had been thinking at the time. "Because, I worked out how I felt, and figured out what I could handle. An' if it was all I was ever gonna get, well, I was gonna take it. Knew I could still work with him no matter how it went, and that I would still want to."

Levon shrugged one shoulder. "Didn't know for sure what it was Joe wanted, but I knew what I wanted. Wanted him. Ya know how that is? Ta want someone so badly, even if you can't keep 'em? I was willin' ta take whatever he was willin' ta give."

Joanne stepped closer. She rested a hand on his right arm briefly, before mimicking his posture, leaning on the railing. "I can understand that. And I can see why you wouldn't have told me right away. I am not totally letting you of the hook for that one, but I do understand."

Joanne sighed, and rubbed one hand over her face. "You said you two have been...well, together, for lack of a better word, for almost nine months now. That is beginning to sound awfully permanent, Levon. Lot more than just a fling."

"Yeah. Well, me and Joe talked about us." He looked at her, and smiled softly. "Found out we were on the same page. He loves me. I love him. Decided it was worth it ta see how far we could go with it."

"This is what the next of kin thing was all about...wasn't it?"

"Sorta. When I got hurt, Joe started thinkin' that maybe we needed somethin' in writin'. Lotta horror stories out there about same sex couples bein' kept apart, an' he didn't want that to happen to us."

"You couldn't have told me all this then?" Joanne's eyes narrowed. "You lied to me."

"I didn't lie." Levon was quick to correct her. He was always careful to be honest with her. "Told you Joe wanted someone closer than his family ta be legally able ta make medical decisions for him...and that is true. Jus' ain't the whole truth."

"You're splitting hairs, Levon." Her voice was ripe with accusation.

"Well, it ain't like I haven't done it before." Seeing the expression on her face, Levon continued, "An' it ain't like you haven't done the same thing a time or two either."

Joanne smiled tightly and tipped her head, acknowledging his point. He knew she knew exactly what he was referring to. "Fair enough. Still doesn't explain why you didn't just tell me the whole truth. Did you think I'd condemn your relationship? I'm not a bigot. I'm not homophobic, or anything." She sounded slightly hurt and a bit insulted.

"No. I know yer not. Wasn't worried that you'd have a problem with...me and Joe. Was worried that you'd have a problem lettin' us continue ta work together. Department has got rules about stuff like that." He saw her nod in understanding.

"An' if you had to split us up....in addition ta probably getting one of us killed, you'd have to give the rest of the office a reason. You know as well as I do, not everyone is as open minded 'bout stuff like this. Got enough ta deal with every day without addin' hostile and homophobic coworkers ta the list."

"Getting one of you killed?" That instantly got her attention. She put the safety of her officers above everything else. "How?"

"You know as well as I do that there are times this job requires yer complete, undivided attention. I'd be too damn worried about Joe and who's supposed to be watchin' out fer him, ta watch out fer myself. Know he'd be the same way. Hell, when you sent him outta town for that trial, he called me twice a day ta make sure I wasn't doin' anythin' on my own, without back up. Pretty damn sure he didn't actually pay attention ta what was goin' on cause he was worried 'bout me. Only reason I wasn't as worried 'bout him was cause I knew he was in court the whole time. Not much dangerous that should happen in a courtroom. An' I know a few guys down that way. Asked 'em to check on him now an' agin just to be sure."

Joanne grinned. "Joe know you did that?"

Levon chuckled. "Hell, no. Would jus' piss him off if he knew."

"I've no doubt about that." Joanne snorted. "Okay. So you two have been together for awhile, and no one seems to have noticed. Well, other than Annie that is."

"Yeah. Well, there were extenuating circumstances on that one."

"Hmmm....Do tell?"

Levon sighed. "Remember...ah...me and Joe havin' ta go upstairs ta talk to the brass 'bout what happened with my father an' his lawyer?"

"I remember."

"Yeah, well, when we left, the Chief asked us ta bring that file back to you. In the elevator, the photos slipped out. Sort of upset Joe seein' what happened when I was sixteen."

Joanne blanched. "I can imagine. Upset me too."

Levon shifted restlessly. It was a part of his life that he tried very hard not to think about. He hadn't even been able to look at the pictures. He had managed to ignore most of what he couldn't outright avoid seeing by concentrating Joe. In all honesty, Joe's reaction had scared the hell out of him. He'd never seen Joe quite so shaken, and he never wanted to ever again. [Course, if I had looked at those pictures, I'd a been as big a basket case as Joe. Probably woulda been worse.]

Levon cleared his throat. "Yeah, well, Joe kind o' lost it. He wasn't expectin' ta see...." Levon sighed and hung his head for a moment. "No way ta really soft soap that, is there?" Levon whispered, more to himself than to Joanne, and then shrugged. "He wasn't expectin' ta see me lookin' like I nearly got beat ta death. Kind a rocked his world a bit, and we needed a minute ta sort of get it together. Was after we got things sorted out, that Annie more or less walked in on us."

"And....she's okay with the two of you being...lovers?"

Levon smiled slightly. "Oh yeah. She was more than just okay with us. Thinks we're good for each other. She thought we ought ta tell you, but I didn't want to. Least not until we could come up with a way ta let you know that wouldn't force you ta split us up. Annie even offered ta help us find a way."

"I gather that you haven't had much luck since we're having this conversation now?"

"Nope."

"You think I am such a stickler for regulations that I wouldn't make an exception?" Joanne sounded offended by the notion she was so bound by the rules they were forced to keep information from her.

"Not without a damn good reason you wouldn't." Levon kept his voice matter-of-fact. "It's your job. An' yer very good at it. Makin' an exception fer me and Joe....stuff like that could cost you in the long run. Had ta make sure we had a good reason for you ta stick yer neck out like that."

"The fact that I'm your friend wasn't a good enough reason?"

"You bein' my friend was the reason I didn't want to put you in that position in the first place."

Joanne sighed, and shook her head slightly. "Okay. Let me see if I got all this. You and Joe have basically been together, as a couple, for nine months. In all that time, the only one who knows, other than the two of you, is Annie. No one else has guessed or asked or noticed?"

"Nope. Weren't any reason for anyone ta notice. We try ta keep work and home separate. Neither one of us are into public displays, so it hasn't been all that hard ta act professional at work. An' we were spending a lot of time together when we was just partners and friends. No reason for people ta notice we're spending a little more time together. Haven't really done anythin' out of the ordinary. Well, at least not for us."

Joanne chuckled at that. "I don't think there is anything that qualifies as ordinary for the two of you."

"Might be right about that."

Joanne pursed her lips in thought. "Joe's not living here with you?"

"Most of the time, yeah, he stays here. But he's still got his apartment. Would be way too obvious if he moved in here permanent, or I moved in there. Didn't want to raise any eyebrows. An' sometimes it's nice to have a place in Houston that's closer ta the office. We stay at his place when it's easier than comin' here."

Joanne nodded. She cocked her head to one side and seemed to be thinking. "You know, I just finished a six month review of the department."

Levon frowned. [Okay. And that means what?] He didn't ask, he just waited for her to continue, knowing she was going somewhere with that.

"Did you know that your case closure rate has gone up since the last review?"

"Joe probably knows, but I haven't really paid much attention to it."

"You know what that means?"

Levon shrugged. "We're getting the job done."

"Yeah. And you're doing it better now that the two of you are a couple than you were before. I'd be a fool to mess with something that so obviously works."

Levon raised an eyebrow at her. "We both know people who've been fools over lesser things."

"Yeah, but I'm not one of those." Joanne smiled. "Or I try not to be. Besides, no one else has noticed anything, and by all rights I could just as easily claim ignorance. This conversation never happened."

"That how you wanna play it....plausible deniability?"

Joanne shrugged. "Well, it'll work. If I did split you up..." Joanne sighed heavily, and waved a hand in a vague, meaningless gesture.

"I'm not sure what I'd tell the brass or the rest of the office. I'd have to give them some kind of reason. And there aren't a lot of real good reasons out there for me to break up a team that has worked so well together for four years. Especially when neither of you have requested it. An' neither one of you are planning to request it. Are you?"

"No." Levon's answer was firm.

Joanne nodded. "I am not willing to put either of you at risk from hostile homophobic coworkers by outing you. I know all about how politically correct theories work out in practice. Lots and lots of talk about diversity and tolerance, but in real life there are a lot of risks in being different."

She shot him a scathing look. "And I'm not sure who I could even partner you with. Given your track record with psychopaths, destruction of vehicles, gun battles, obsession with your cases...I doubt I could convince anyone else to work with either one of you."

Joanne studied Levon, her eyes narrow, appraising him. "So long as the two of you continue to keep work and home separate, I'm willing to pretend that I don't know any more than I did this morning. Think you can do that?"

"We can do that." Levon waited a beat before looking at her. He made eye contact and held it, wanting the truth. "You okay with this? With me and Joe?"

Joanne took a deep breath. "I'd be lying if I didn't say it would take me a bit to get used to it. Have some preconceived notions in my head that I'll have to adjust. I have been thinking of both of you as straight since the day I met you." She shook her head, and her expression taking on a self-mocking aspect. "Never really thought of the two of you as a couple, or that you both were into men. Can't believe I missed that."

"Wouldn't feel too bad 'bout that. We almost missed it ourselves."

"It doesn't bother me that you are together. I'm not interested in hearing the details, mind you, but I don't have a problem with same sex relationships. You are both consenting adults. As long as it doesn't have a negative impact on the job, we'll just keep working the way we always have. And for the most part...I'd have to agree with Annie, you two are good for each other. You deserve to be happy, and if you make each other happy, then more power to you."

Levon smiled warmly. "Thanks."

Joanne leaned just enough to bump his shoulder with hers. "You're welcome."

He shifted to bump her back. "Ya wanna stay for dinner?"

She looked at her watch. "Much as I'd love to take you up on that. I can't. My husband is expecting me to be back soon."

Levon nodded. He turned, and stopped cold, seeing Joe leaning casually in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "How long you been standin' there?"

"Long enough."

Levon didn't think Joe too was angry or upset. [Definitely not happy, which means I'm gonna hear about it.] Joanne glanced from Levon to Joe trying to gauge the situation. "I think you two need to talk. I'll just show myself out."

Joe stepped out on to the porch, making room for Joanne to leave. He waited for the front door to close behind her before glaring at Levon. "You knew she was coming by?"

"I invited her. "

"Why?" Joe's voice was quiet, but the hurt and betrayal he felt at being left out came through loud and clear.

Levon hung his head, unable to maintain eye contact. He felt guilty about giving them away when they had worked hard to keep their relationship private. And he felt guilty for not including Joe in his conversation with Joanne, even though he still felt that was the right decision. [Didn't want him ta get hurt...and it sounds like he did anyway.]

"I screwed up at the hospital. When I was in the waitin' room I was....playin' with your pendant. Kinda the same way you do. Saw her make the connection 'tween it an' my bracelet. And then...I couldn't keep from touchin' you. Joanne is a good enough detective ta start makin' connections, and I could tell what she was thinkin'. Invited her ta come here and ask. Figured it would be better if she got her answers from one of us, than for her ta go stirrin' up trouble at the office."

Levon raised his head when Joe put a knuckle under his chin and gently forced him to look up. He hadn't even heard Joe move closer. "You didn't think I should be part of that conversation? I thought we agreed to do it together." Joe's blue eyes no longer held any anger, but still showed a degree of hurt he felt at being excluded.

"Didn't know for sure how she'd react. Didn't want you ta have ta deal with it if she got nasty. Especially not now." Levon delicately touched a finger to Joe's upper right arm, ghosting over the white bandage that encircled it.

"It's a flesh wound, Levon. Not something incapacitating."

"Don't matter. You hurt. Reason enough not to put you in a position that could add ta that." Levon swallowed hard against the thought that it could have been worse, a lot worse.

"But it would be okay for her to hurt you?"

"Better me than you." Levon shifted a bit, knowing this answer wasn't one Joe would like, but his inability to lie to his partner wouldn't let him say anything but the truth.

"Not to me." Joe whispered harshly. "Not to me. You do not sacrifice yourself for me, Cowboy." He then pulled Levon into a warm embrace.

Levon tenderly wrapped his arms around Joe, mindful of the wound he had on his ribs. He laid his head on Joe's shoulder, and relaxed, simply enjoying being close. [Wish we could stay like this forever.]

"We do stuff like this together, Levon. Together."

Levon nodded his head against Joe's shoulder. "I know....just, I just didn't want you to be hurt. Known her a long time, an' Joanne's got a tongue that could cut steel when she's pissed....an' it was my fault she was puttin' pieces together. Figured I ought a take the brunt of it."

He felt Joe place a kiss in his hair and then turn his head to rub his cheek against the top of his head. "Not your fault. We both could have been more careful. Besides it wasn't like we weren't planning on telling her. It was just a matter of timing."

Levon sighed, and moved to slide closer to Joe. "Forgiven?"

"Yeah. Just don't do it again."

"Promise."

Joe nuzzled his hair. "Good." He hesitated for just a moment before speaking again. "She was actually okay with us."

[He sounds so amazed by that.] Levon smiled. "Long as it don't interfere with the job, she can claim ignorance. Said our closure rate has gone up since we got together, and she doesn't want to mess up somethin' that obviously works. An' there isn't anyone else she could partner us with. She thinks the way we do things makes other people nervous."

"Always said she was one smart lady."

"Agrees with Annie that we're good for each other."

"A very smart lady."

Levon chuckled. "She is that." He pulled back just enough so he could see Joe's face. "We wake you up?" [Hope he didn't hear everything. Not that any of it was really all that bad, just...he really didn't need ta hear all of it. Especially the part with me havin' someone check on him while he was in San Antonio.]

"Not really." A faint blush rose across Joe's face. "I...ah...never sleep well if you're not with me. Woke up looking for you. Figured you'd be out here." Joe's eyes narrowed. "Just didn't expect Joanne to be here too."

"I'm sorry." Levon couldn't help but apologize.

Joe reached out to cup Levon's cheek, his thumb stroking across the cheekbone. "It's okay. I know why, and I do understand. Don't agree, but I understand." He leaned in and kissed Levon. It was a sweet, gentle kiss. He pulled away slowly. "Love you, Levon."

Levon smiled. "Love you too, Joe."

"We okay?"

"Yeah. I think we are. What's say we go find something for dinner?"

"Sounds good."

Together they headed back inside. Levon headed for the fridge, pulling out left overs that could be warmed in the microwave. He waved off Joe's attempt to help.

"Sit down." Joe scowled at him, but sat at the kitchen table and let Levon handle putting together a meal for them. Levon snagged a bottle of water and handed it to Joe. "Doc said plenty of fluids."

Joe just rolled his eyes, but he took the bottle. Levon smiled when Joe drank almost half in one long swallow. [Losin' blood always makes you thirsty.] He forced his mind away from the picture of Joe lying on the floor bleeding. [Do. Not. Go. There.]

They ate quietly, not feeling the need for conversation. Normally this time of day was a chance for them to reconnect and unwind, but tonight they were both just content to be with each other. Levon noticed Joe yawning more than once. "Tired?"

Joe shrugged. "A bit. Been a long day."

"Yeah. That it has." Levon studied his partner. "You okay?" He knew the question would just annoy Joe, but he couldn't keep himself from asking. He just had to be sure.

Joe stared at him for a moment, and then smiled. He slid his chair back from the table. "C'mere."

Levon frowned but got up and approached Joe. Joe patted his lap. "C'mere." Levon hesitated, and Joe reached out to pull him forward. With a quiet sigh, Levon sat so that he straddled Joe's legs.

Joe pulled Levon's hand up, and placed it against his throat. "Feel that?"

Levon nodded. He could feel Joe's pulse beating strongly against his fingertips. It was a steady, reassuring beat.

Joe raised both hands to frame Levon's face, and pulled his head forward enough so that their foreheads touched. Levon closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. He could feel Joe's heartbeat, hear his soft breathing, almost taste the scent of him. Levon's other hand rose to cup Joe's face. [Warm and alive, and here with me. He's okay. Nothing that won't heal.]

Several minutes later Joe asked, "Better?" His question was soft, little more than a whisper.

"Much." Levon relaxed for what felt like the first time that day since Joe had gotten shot. "I just..." Levon shrugged unable to find the words to express what he'd been thinking and feeling.

"I know." Joe moved his head just enough to lay his cheek against Levon's. "Been there. Done that."

Levon wrapped his arms around his lover. "Thanks."

"Any time."

Levon took a deep breath and pulled away. He got to his feet and offered a hand to Joe. "Let's get you tucked in. Yer tired."

"You going to join me?"

"Yeah." Levon smiled warmly at Joe. "Go on ta bed. I'll be there soon as I clean up here."

"Good." Joe headed toward the bedroom, before stopping to look back. "Don't take too long, Cowboy."

Levon raised two fingers to an imaginary hat. "Wouldn't dream of it. I'll be right behind you."

The end.