The Italian Stallion
By Glo

Section 2

Part 9: Some Sumo

-----------------------------------

Joe picked at the edging of his new wrestling briefs. They were tight and itchy against his groin, but certainly better than the body suit in the heat. San Antonio turned out to be another canvas arena. Another football field converted in off-season. At least the locker rooms are cool, air conditioned and clean.

Lundy appeared around the corner of the row of lockers, carrying Joe's new cape-style jacket. In order to make a proper entrance; they'd had to come up with something to replace the definitive body suit. The cape was tri-colored. Some would probably think it was the Mexican colors, which wouldn't hurt in certain circles. Here it could go either way, so Lundy had made certain that the words Italian Stallion were boldly emblazoned on the cape. He would have preferred a black cape, but Joe had insisted on his colors patria.

Catching sight of the Italian now as he bent over to lace up a wrestling boot, Levon swallowed his saliva with effort. The boy was really built. Usually hid under those fancy clothes of his. Even the first wrestlin' suit didn't show him off like this. God damn, he's practically naked.

As the blonde stood waiting for LaFiamma to finish, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking back, Lundy was surprised to see Charlie Bacon, The Death's Angel manager. The short fat man stood there holding on to the lapels of a bright green jacket that barely covered his expansive belly. "Lundy? Got a moment?"

Bite! Oh, yeah. Lundy straightened and put Joe's cape down on the bench. "Joe? I'll be back in a minute."

LaFiamma looked up and took in the tableau. Nodding without comment, he went back to lacing his boots. Play dumb for now, he thought, let Levon reel him in. Our first nibble from the looks of it.

Lundy followed Bacon back into a darker recess of the clubhouse. The man was clearly nervous. Once they were alone, out of sight, Bacon faced the cowboy. "Your boy did well in Laredo. There's talk about him now."

Levon nodded but said nothing.

Bacon tugged at his collar and cleared his throat. "If he wins tonight, you may be getting a call from some people. Important people. People who can help your boy, or put him down if they feel like it."

"Yeah? And who might these 'important people' be?"

"If your boy wins, you'll find out. They asked me to give you a heads-up is all. I don't know nothing more."

Lundy looked over the sweating man thoughtfully. We can foller this lead later if the rest doesn't pan out, but it'll be better to wait and see if the next level up comes to pay us a visit after tonight. He didn't even consider that Joe might not win. Joe had the talent, the courage, and the intelligence, and made it a deadly combination when he put them together with his spirit and convictions. Oh, yeah, Joe would win or die trying, and that didn't bear thinking about.

Lundy followed Bacon back into the main locker rooms, watching him disappear into another section of the structure.

Winking at his partner, he made a "later" motion, and then stood back to let Joe stand and accept the caped - jacket he helped slip over the heavy shoulders.

"Ready, pardner?"

Joe came about to face Levon. "Yeah. Let's do it."

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

The haze of cigarette smoke choked the interior of the enormous tent. From Levon's aerie high up one of the entry ramps, the pack of humanity was overwhelming. There had already been eight matches tonight, and the thunderous applause during the last two had nearly deafened him. Big time. We're close now.

He checked LaFiamma behind him. The man looked cool and calm, standing free of people in a kind of shielded space of tranquillity. Joe had explained to Levon early on how important it was to him to have some meditative time before a sporting event. The time helped him get centered, put all his energies in alignment, he said. Levon wasn't too certain what all that meant, but he knew he liked to be alone for a few minutes afore climbing into the chute with a Brahma or a mustang, back in his younger days, on the rodeo circuit.

Facing out toward the crowd again, he watched the current contestants battle it out. They kept running away from each other into the ropes, then ricocheting back to collision in the center of the ring. Looked painful, but didn't seem to be making much progress. Then, one of them missed and they ran right passed each other. The laughter of the crowd was cruel and the two men, turned and grappled together. The screams for blood from the audience chilled Levon. It was over now, one fallen, the other finally triumphant. After a hasty show by the winner and his entourage of teenage beauties, plus one rather ratty looking manager, the announcer was saying the names of the next pair up for battle.

Levon felt his stomach knot. This doesn't git any easier. What a goddamn waste of a good cop to play this crowd, just to uncover some illegal activities. Afraid his bitterness would show, he didn't look back at LaFiamma. No point throwing a spoiler into his concentration. We need this win iffn we're gonna catch anyone.

Swaggering down the runway, Lundy did his now practiced movements, almost feels like I'm dancin' here. He reached ringside and threw out his arms to Joe who still stood in the shadows at the top of the ramp.

To the refrain of "Rocky," now who decided to do THAT? Levon thought, Joe bounced down the walkway. His cape billowed out behind. The white satin ribbon caught the light, his skin was fresh and smooth and glowing. That darkly handsome face looked sweet and sexy to Levon, and, he assumed to others as well.

A chorus of female screams met the entrance of the Italian Stallion, long white satin ribbons fluttered throughout the arena. The announcer made some comment about the Beatles and frantic female fans. Like wildfire, word had evidently spread through the world of wrestling, Levon couldn't think of any other reason for this phenomenon.

Having high-fived his manager, LaFiamma bounded up into the ring, over the ropes. He did a quick little turnaround at the center of the ring. By then, Lundy was up and climbing through the ropes to his side. Holding the shoulders in his grasp for just a beat, Levon squeezed his confidence into Joe, then took up the caped jacket and pulled it free of LaFiamma. There was a kind of glazed look in the brunette's eyes that Levon had come to associate with inner focus for the Italian. Levon walked backwards to the corner of the ring, waving his hat toward Joey and making large swoops with the cape, to show off its colors. There, he ducked back through the ropes and put the cape down on a bench at ringside.

LaFiamma stood now under multiple hot spotlights, solitary, proud. He let himself relax and waited to meet his opponent. Ignoring the cries from the crowd was easy, he just sought out the bright brown eyes of his partner through the ropes and held tight.

While a spot remained on Joe, the rest took flight, swarming around in crazy patterns before settling on the next wrestler and his processional entry. The music became softer and full of flutes, sounded vaguely oriental. The muffled distortions of the announcer's spiel gave way to the shouted call of a name, "...Guamanian Orchid."

Orchid stood, thick-bodied, surrounded by what looked like Pacific Island tribal warriors, all in little more than grass covered g-strings. The 'warriors' danced vigorously down the ramp, a Polynesian maiden in a sarong dropping some sort of flower petals behind them. Stepping in a heavy, body-swinging roll, the Orchid thumped down the ramp.

My god, he's a sumo wrestler, Levon thought in awe. This cain't be good.

Levon leaned forward one hand firmly gripping the corner post from ringside as he watched the huge oriental figure finish lumbering down the ramp. The man made the ground shake, Levon thought, fear rising.

Orchid somehow rolled his bulk under the ropes, held up helpfully by the referee now up on the mat. Clumsily working up to his feet, Orchid planted them squarely and faced off at LaFiamma.

Levon who was watching with trepidation noticed that both men gave small starts as they saw each other face to face for the first time. Joe clearly made some comment. Orchid some reply. Neither could be heard over the rumble of the crowd.

Orchid's knees bent and he tilted forward slightly toward Joe. No rapid jumps here. Sumo stood and pushed until one overcame the strength and weight of the other. His huge belly mound was somehow slick and threatening, the white breechcloth a contrast to his yellowish skin, flushed a coppery-bronze in the heat.

LaFiamma went into a crouch and moved his feet in a tiny dance, never taking his eyes off his opponent. With incredible speed, he moved in and up, landing on top of Orchid's canted shoulders. He wrapped an arm down and around the other's neck, the bald head caught in a neck lock. Joe's head went down and they were close together now, Levon could swear that Joe was saying something in to Orchid's ear. The referee tapped Joe's back, signaling that he break off and try again. LaFiamma nodded and dropped free. Orchid pivoted on one gigantic foot and met the Stallion with a body grab that made it look like Joe was a child in Orchid's crushing embrace.

Lundy tensed. No way to get in there and help, just got to have faith in Joe. But, my god, that guy is a real monster.

The crushing hold lasted for several tense seconds as Orchid turned so that all the four sides of the ring could have a view of his prize. Then Joe fought his arms free, the sweat now flowing freely on both, acting as a lubricant to let him slip from the hold. With both arms raised above Orchid's head, Joe, still held tight against the other's belly, slammed hard into the sides of Orchid's head.

Levon winced. That had to hurt.

It appeared that it did. Orchid gave a mighty bellow and released LaFiamma, grabbing at his head, covering his ears with his hands. LaFiamma staggered free and jumped up to place a flat-footed kick against that protruding belly.

Like a felled tree, Orchid crashed backwards down on to the mat. The match was over. LaFiamma went on his knees next to Orchid to formally hold down the shoulders for the traditional count but it was clear that Orchid was not going to be getting up on his own. Two of his handlers jumped into the ring now and helped lift the sumo wrestler to his feet.

The referee held up Joe's hand, "And the winner is...The Italian Stallion!"

It had been a fast match, fast pin, but still the crowd cheered. Women had left their seats and were gathering at the ringside, frantically waving bits of white ribbon and chanting, "Stallion! Stallion!"

Lundy slid up through the ropes and went to Joe. One look made it clear that Joe wasn't doing as well as it had looked from a distance. Blood was beginning to stream from his nose and mouth, even though there was no cut or bruise to be seen.

"Joe, come on, boy. Hold on." Levon grabbed Joe's hand and pulled. He felt the other clamp down hard, almost painfully. No matter, least ways he's holdin' on. Tugging and backing, Levon got Joe out of the ring. The women were being held back by security men who waved Levon toward a low exit to the side that didn't involve ramps.

Just as well, Lundy thought, as he pushed them through the milling throng and down the rabbit hole. Within seconds, they were free of the mob and in an underground tunnel leading back to the clubhouses. The clatter of his cowboy boots and the pad of LaFiamma's wrestling boots were the only noises.

Emerging into the lit rooms of the changing area, Lundy swung about to look at his charge. The lower half of LaFiamma's face was now a smear of blood. Grabbing up a towel, Levon dabbed at the flow. "What's causing the blood, Joe?"

LaFiamma started to speak, then choked and began coughing, bending double in the process. There was more blood now, splattering the floor. Most of the other men in the room backed away, but one of the trainers approached the two detectives. "He fight the Orchid?"

Lundy who was holding his partner's shoulders and feeling helpless, nodded.

"Got lung compression then, maybe a rib or two broke. He'll probably be ok, most are, but you better take him in for x-rays." The man nodded sagely and patted Levon once. "He musta done ok, some of Orchid's victims don't walk out of the ring."

Levon didn't bother to correct the man. Joe might have won the fight, but he might not last the war at this rate. "Come on, Joe, let's get you washed up a bit and to the hospital." Throwing another towel over the caped shoulders, Levon guided his partner into the locker room.

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

The waiting room at the small hospital was bare and grim. The plastic chairs and thin wood magazine tables didn't hold much comfort. Levon preferred to stand while he waited anyway. It had been nearly an hour since Joe had been admitted through the emergency room.

Levon had called in to Beaumont and Hoffsteader. The Commission official had been sympathetic in passing, concentrating on the conversation with Bacon before the match and the win itself. He was pleased and not unduly concerned that Joe might be seriously hurt. Joanne had been more solicitous, asking if both were ok, wanting to know the details of Joe's injury. Levon felt more frustrated than ever, being unable to give her much information.

The bleeding had not stopped on the way to the hospital. There, the nurses had not even raised eyebrows at the costume. One commented that they always got a few visitors on wrestling nights. No one was prepared to tell Lundy anything as they wheeled a still coughing LaFiamma away.

"Mr. Lundy?"

Levon looked over at the door. A small Mexican-American male, dressed in doctor's greens stood in the doorway. "Yes, sir."

"I am Doctor Hernandez. Mr. LaFiamma is my patient. He asked me to come speak with you."

"How is he?"

"He will be fine. We will keep him here tonight for observation. He has bruised ribs. Severe internal contusions of the right lung. This caused the blood you saw. We have treated the contusions with some probes and inhalant solutions. His breathing will be painful for a few days, but it will not take long to heal. He is very fortunate."

"Thanks, doc. Can I see him now?"

The doctor looked thoughtfully into the worried brown eyes. "He is being taken to a room now. I will have a nurse come for you shortly."

"Thank you." Levon collapsed on a chair when the doctor departed. Gonna be ok. Thank you, God. He raised trembling fingers to his face, wiped them down his eyes and cheeks, stretching the skin. He let the hands fall to his lap and prepared to wait some more. I feel like I'm a million years old, he thought.

The nurse, when she came, was medium height and matronly. She didn't have much to say but led Levon directly to the room where LaFiamma had been placed.

Walking in slowly, Lundy studied his partner who lay propped up on the hospital bed. The private room was small but seemed smaller with several large pieces of equipment gathered near the head of LaFiamma's bed. An oxygen line was attached to Joe's nostrils, but otherwise he seemed free of connections. Both eyes looked blackened, which seemed strange since they hadn't looked bruised earlier. Must be the treatment is as bad as the cause.

"Joe?"

The blue eyes found his and a weak smile followed. "Hey, cowboy. We won again."

"You won. Though it shore don't look it from here. How ya feelin', boy?" Levon tipped back his hat and sat down on the bedside chair.

"Been worse," Joe replied, imitating Levon's sometimes laconic manner.

Lundy laughed. "Good. Shore had me skered what with you coughing up all that blood."

"Yeah, made me nervous, too. Doc says it's no big deal. I'm gonna be fine in a coupla days. Be outta here tomorrow morning. If you come get me." LaFiamma looked meaningfully at Levon.

"Me? 'course I'll be here." Lundy didn't even try to tease, he could see past Joe's façade to the fear just below the surface. He put a gentle hand on LaFiamma's where it rested on the bed.

Joe looked down at the hand on his and smiled. He turned his within Lundy's grasp so that they were holding hands. He pressed gently. "Thanks, Levon. I'm glad you're here, man."

Levon met the blue eyes with his own amber-brown ones and smiled back. "Aim to stay awhile, too, iff'n you'll have me?"

Joe's smile widened into a near-grin, "Yup."

"Yup?"

"Yup. I'm practicing my Texas accent."

"Not bad, boy. You jest stick to me."

"Yeah," Joe said, looking down again at their joined hands, "I intend to."

Part 10: Confessions Overheard

-----------------------------------

Levon sat for a while longer with Joe, then said he'd go find some coffee and bring it back. Right after he left, there was a soft tap at the door.

LaFiamma started to speak, took in too much air which seared his chest, and half-choked, half-coughed instead. While mopping up his chin where spit had dribbled with the cough, he looked up to see the doorway literally filled with an almost inhuman shape.

"Sammy!" Joe smiled.

The man known in the ring as Orchid swept gracefully into the room. He was dressed in a three piece light-weight linen suit, beige with a subtle peach pinstripe. His round face was split in a wide smile.

Mincing over to Joe's side, the mountain of flesh carefully lowered himself into the now frail-looking bedside chair. Two sausage-like fingers touched LaFiamma on the chest. "Joseph LaFiamma! 'The Italian Stallion?'" The voice was cheerful and high-pitched, not quite feminine.

Joe began to laugh, then pressed a hand flat to his chest and the laugh became another painful gasp. "Damn, Sammy, your idea of going easy on me hurts like hell!"

The man looked momentarily crushed. "I'm sorry, I did try to be easy but it was difficult to know exactly how hard or light to hold on. You know I've never had to try to do anything except hurt someone in there."

The Italian shook his head. "It's ok, doc says I'll be fine, my partner will be taking me home tomorrow."

"Is he that fine looking cowboy, the one all in white?"

"Yeah, Sammy - and hands off, he's mine, buddy."

"Oh, too bad, he looked like a nice snack." The sumo wrestler managed a slow, sexy wink that had Joe grinning from ear to ear.

"Like I said, friend, he's mine."

"Who's yours?" Lundy stood in the doorway, two cups of coffee steaming in his hands. His hat was still set back on his head, framing his face and incidentally making him look younger, more innocent somehow.

"You are. You're my partner," LaFiamma said brazenly, figuring Lundy would be too distracted by their visitor to take umbrage or even really understand the implications of that response.

Lundy was staring at the sumo wrestler now. His face told the story - both hands full of coffee and a giant to face off. When Joe realized that Levon looked ready to attack with the boiling liquid, he spoke quickly. "Lundy, this is Sammy Wilder, a college buddy of mine from back in Chicago. Sammy, this is my partner, Levon Lundy."

"He ain't...?"

"I am known as 'The Guamanian Orchid' professionally. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Sammy rose and bowed slightly, more a tipping of the head than anything.

"But - you put Joe in here!" Lundy was plum confused now.

"Not on purpose, Mr. Lundy. Once Joe told me what was going on, I did try to be easy on him, I just haven't had any practice at that. As I was just explaining to Joe before you got here."

Lundy sighed. This was one crazy world. Joe was constantly pulling Chicago rabbits out of his hat on crime cases, but normally the rabbits were regulation sized and mob related. Say... "You a member of the mob up there, Mr. Wilder?"

Sammy tittered, a high bird like sound that contrasted sharply with his build. "No, hardly that. I don't think Joey's family would want me as even a 'known associate!'"

LaFiamma broke in now. "Levon, Sammy studied law with me. He was an exchange student from Guam." Joe turned to face the oriental now, "So, Sammy, how'd you go from law to sumo?"

"More money, more fun, less headaches." Wilder smiled hugely. "And no one questions my choices in companionship." He batted his lashes outrageously at Joe for a moment. The Italian smiled.

Lundy hooked a chair with a booted foot. He dragged it towards the bed from by the door. Sitting down he offered one of the cups to Wilder, the other to Joe.

Sammy plucked one easily from Levon's grasp and sipped, then made a face. "Black? Oh, dear, you boys are tough stuff."

Joe shook his head at the other offered cup. "Don't think it will go down just now, Levon, but thanks, you drink it. You could probably use it."

"Yeah, think yore right there, LaFiamma." The cowboy settled down on to his seat and leaned back, prepared to listen.

Sammy stared at the two men, in turn, then smiled slowly. "Very nice indeed, Joe." Before LaFiamma could derail that comment, Sammy raised his voice, calling, "Oh, Harvey! Come in dear."

A 'regulation-sized' young man appeared at the door. Levon thought he might have been one of the 'South Pacific dancers' from Orchid's show. "I'm here, Orchid."

"Oh, come in, love, don't be shy," encouraged the mountain-shaped man at Joey's bedside. "I want you to meet two new friends. These are Joey and Levon. If they ever need any help, you be a dear and give it to them."

The smooth coffee-colored youth flashed white teeth in a friendly smile and nodded to the two detectives. "Gentlemen." They nodded back, Levon with speculation and newly-born suspicion deep in his eyes; Joey with clear understanding and humorous acceptance.

"Sammy, you can pick 'em. Hi, Harvey, hope he's treating you right, man."

"Like gold, Joey, like gold. Orchid is very kind, very..." At this point, Levon stood up suddenly, the noise of the scraping chair drowning out the rest of the comment.

"Sorry, 'scuse me, gotta go fur a second." The cowboy was sliding sideways out the door, past Harvey and gone.

There was silence in the room for a moment, then Sammy spoke. "Harvey, excuse us for a minute, please. I'll meet you out in the lobby right away, love." The dark haired young man nodded his agreement and faded back out the door.

Joe was staring down the bed to where his feet poked up the sheet.

Orchid placed one kind hand on his nearest shoulder. "He doesn't know, does he?"

Joe raised his shoulders in a small shrug. "No."

"Give him a chance, Joe, he seems like a nice boy. I can see he cares about you."

Joe raised his eyes now, but their blue was misty. "I really thought he was coming 'round, Sammy, but then he does something like this and I don't know anymore."

Orchid leaned over and placed a light kiss on the Italian's forehead. "I could see it in his eyes. He may not be ready to see anyone else like that yet, but he does see you. The love is there, Joe, you'll find a way."

"I want to, Sammy, I do. It could be something really special. I've never loved anyone like I do him. Not even Carrot-top back at college."

"Umm, this is serious." Sammy Wilder folded his hands over his large belly and contemplated his friend. "Well, you will find a way." He paused. "Now, tell me what I can do for you about your current assignment, hmm? How can I help?"

"Right now, we're just waiting. We're bait, really. Unless you know anything about tournament fixin' or betting rings?"

The Orchid shuttered. "No. Nor do I want to. I fight a fair fight. Tonight was the first and only time I ever did less than my best to win, and I would say that since I was aiding a policeman, that doesn't count."

"Just as long as no one else discovers that's what I am or Lundy is."

"You have my word, not even Harvey shall know, Joe. And now, my lovely friend, I must go, amour awaits!" With that, the Guamanian stood and smiled down on his old college buddy. "Good luck, Joe. With your case, and your heart."

LaFiamma returned the smile and took the offered hand to shake. He watched his friend from the past waft out the door.

Where are you, Levon? Joe stared at the open door and waited.

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

Lundy was down the hall at the nurse's station where he had quickly retreated when he heard Sammy bid Joe good bye. Until then, he had been slunk against the wall outside the room, unable to move, to think. Listening to his world crumble and reform in a few short sentences, in Joe's simple declaration of love. For him. For Levon Lundy.

I can't believe it. This damn world of wrestling is full of gays. Here I thought they wuz all macho men, walloping each other, hanging out with sexy wimmun. First Angel, now Orchid. Both bent sideways, queer as any queen in drag. And Joe! LaFiamma swings that way too?

Oh, Bobby, I wasn't such a freak after all. Those names you called me, when you decided you'd had enough 'fun' and wanted to play with girls instead o' me. If Joe ken love me - that way, then mebbe it's not so bad. Mebbe I'm not so freakin' bad after all. Levon felt light-headed. Free. And hard as a hammer. Dang, these frigging jeans weren't made for feeling horny.

Joe 'n' me. We gotta get us somewhere outta here. SOON. Somewhere private. Don't know if I ken wait 'til we get back to Houston.

Lundy was sagging against the counter, staring blindly at a newspaper spread out under him. Blinking, he looked closer at the evening headlines. A late-breaking story bannered the top of the local San Antonio paper: Bacon Found In Bits! The headline topped a lead paragraph that described the grisly murder of wrestling manager, Charlie Bacon, found near the big top arena just hours before the paper went to press. There was little hard information, it promised more to follow in the morning edition.

Dang.

Part 11: Conversations Arrested

--------------------------------------

Levon pulled back from the counter. He stared at the newspaper as if it could be wished away. Unfortunately, it continued to stare balefully back up at him. Charlie Bacon, dead tonight. It had to have happened soon after he talked with me. I already reported in to Joanne and Hoffsteader. Wonder if I oughtta call the local police. Better talk to LaFiamma.

Yeah, and I need to discuss a few other things with him as well. Levon smiled. Like sleeping arrangements, mebbe.

Turning, Lundy started back down the short hallway to LaFiamma's room. He had some apologies to make, to start with. Then, this news. Then, they'd jest have to see if they could talk, come to some clearer understandings.

From the opposite end of the corridor, two large men in tan uniforms were walking towards Levon now. By the time he reached Joe's door, they had stopped there, too and were checking the number against a slip of paper. Innate caution made Levon hesitate, but then he decided it would be better to be with LaFiamma for whatever was going down now. They were still partners.

"Ken I help you gentlemen?" he asked quietly, taking a quick look in at Joe who was watching from his bed, alone again in the room.

"We're looking for a wrestler, known as "The Italian Stallion," the redhead said carefully.

"And his manager, a Mr. Levon Lundy," added the taller man who sported a crewcut and bristle mustache.

"I'm Joe LaFiamma," the Italian called from his bed, "I'm the wrestler you're looking for." He was determined to bring the men and Lundy into his room, where he could monitor what was happening, there was a bad feel to this.

The crewcut stepped into the room, the redhead following closely. Lundy brought up the rear, speaking from behind them now. "I'm Lundy."

The two uniforms stopped in momentary confusion, caught between the two men they had been seeking. Crewcut waved Lundy on into the room past him, and waited until the cowboy was standing beside the patient's bed.

"Ross and Dover, San Antonio Police Department. We've been assigned to do some preliminary investigation into the homicide of a man named Charles William Bacon." Crewcut was brisk and curt.

"I'm Dover, he's Ross," added the redhead with a slight smile. "We were told that you men might know something about what happened to Mr. Bacon tonight."

Lundy looked down at Joe. He could hardly tell him now that he'd just read about this just moments before. Keeping their cover intact was still vital to their assignment. If these policemen were to know about it, the decision to tell them would have to come from higher up, not from him and LaFiamma. He faced the police team, "I did see Charlie Bacon tonight. He cum back into the locker rooms jest as we wuz gettin' set to go up for Stallion's match. Said he wanted to talk to me for a few minutes, private like."

"Can you verify any of this Mr. LaFiamma?" Ross asked blandly.

"Yeah, I was lacing up my boots at my locker when Lundy come in with Bacon trailing behind him. Told me he'd be back soon and left with the man. He was back inside of five minutes. 's'all I know." Joe's voice was still a bit raspy.

"Why are you here in the hospital, Mr. LaFiamma? We understood you won your match?" Dover asked, looking over the prone man who showed no obvious signs of bruising except for two darkened eyes.

"My opponent bruised my lung and ribs when he got me in a bear hug. I was coughing up blood and having trouble breathing. My manager, Lundy here, brought me to the emergency room. The doc who fixed me up said I should stay the night for observation."

Dover nodded as if this confirmed what he already knew, which Lundy suspected was the case. Any good detective would know most of the answers to the questions he'd be asking anyway. It helped establish credibility of witnesses if they independently confirmed known facts.

Ross spoke across the others to Lundy directly. "Mr. Lundy, why did Mr. Bacon want to talk with you privately? What did he say?"

Lundy rocked back on his heels slightly and tugged his hat lower. "He jest tole me that some 'important people' were interested in my boy here. Wouldn't give names or nuthin' - hardly seemed worth the conversation."

"That's it?"

"Yes, sir. Then he went toward anuther part of the locker room and I headed back to my boy, git us started up to ring side."

Ross frowned and made a note on a pad that had materialized from his breast pocket. "What time was all this?"

Lundy looked down at LaFiamma for confirmation, "'Bout six-thirty tonight?" Joe nodded. Lundy turned back to Ross and added, "You kin check the program, it was jest about twenty minutes afore Joe's match."

"Excuse us a minute?" Dover said politely and signaled to his partner. They walked out into the hallway.

Lundy took the moment to speak to Joe. "I'm sorry 'bout running out on you and Orchid earlier, Joe. I wuz ..." he hesitated.

LaFiamma looked up at his cowboy and shook his head slightly, speaking in a low voice, "It's ok, Levon, Orchid and me go way back. He saw you were uncomfortable with what we'd been saying, and I understood."

"No," Levon spoke quietly but forcefully, "no, I don't think you unnerstand at all, LaFiamma. I overheard what you said after I left, I didn't go far, jest outside the door. I - I heard it all, Joe."

The blue eyes looked shocked then scared. "Levon?"

Lundy reached out and placed a hand on LaFiamma's shoulder. "It's ok, Joe. I think I feel the same way..."

At that moment, Ross and Dover walked back in to the room. They took in the interaction between the occupants, then Dover spoke. "Mr. Lundy, we're going to need you to come downtown with us."

Lundy had dropped his hand to his side. "Now?"

Ross nodded. "Yes, now. The detectives on this case want to question you."

LaFiamma, who had been through a roller coaster of emotions in the last few seconds, now looked angry. "Can't that wait until morning? I'd like my manager here tonight while I'm in the hospital." He tried to switch to a pathetic look, but the anger was still sitting out there.

"He should be free to join you in the morning, sir." Dover was politely stepping up now and placing a firm hand on Lundy's upper arm. Ross stood back, resting his hand on his holstered forty-five.

Lundy spared a final look at his partner, "Call Joanne."

"Who?" asked Dover as he moved the blonde away from Joe's bedside.

"Jest a friend of ourn," Lundy said shortly.

LaFiamma wasn't ready to just sit there and quietly watch these two men take his partner away. He pulled back the sheets and kicked his legs free, swinging to the side of the bed.

Ross, who was trailing his own partner and Lundy, spoke sharply, "You stay where you are, mister, no need to bother with this."

The Italian was truly angry now, though, and ignored this warning. "LUNDY!" he started to shout, then coughed and bent over, gagging, hands gripping the edge of the mattress.
By this time, the number of visitors and Joe's raised voice had attracted the attention of the hospital staff. A rather stiff looking head nurse appeared in front of the policemen and Lundy. She peered into the room over their shoulders. "You gentlemen need to leave, please. Visiting hours are over and you're disturbing the patient."

"We're going now," Dover said with a tip of his head, stilll holding on to Levon's arm and bringing him along.

From the room, they could hear Joe coughing, then, loudly, "LUNDY!" again, followed by more coughs.

Levon stopped moving. Dug in his heels, in fact. "Jest let me make sure he's ok? Then I'll come with you, no problems." Dover looked over at Ross who shrugged and nodded.

Letting go of Lundy's arm, Dover gestured for him to return. The nurse stood looking on, holding her wrist up to look pointedly at her watch.

"Only a minute, ma'am," Lundy muttered, touching his hat briefly before sidling past her and back into the room.

LaFiamma was standing at the side of the bed now, bracing himself with a hand on the oxygen machine. His breathing was audible and raspy, his eyes had a wild look and his face was pale.

"Joe, settle down." Levon put his hands on the shoulders clad only in the thin cotton hospital gown and shoved gently. LaFiamma subsided back onto the edge of the bed. Levon swiveled his hips and sat down beside him, placing an arm over the wide shoulders. "You take it easy. I'll be fine, so will you. If I'm not back inside o' couple of hours, call Joanne or Hoffsteader. They can spring me. Now you need to relax, let that lung start to heal."

LaFiamma had listened to all of this with his head down. He raised his face to Levon now. "Lundy...Levon. Be careful." He looked briefly toward the doorway where the men were waiting. He dropped his voice to a thread of sound, "We don't know who to trust, even in the police."

Levon's face held a seriousness that brooked no arguments. "I'll be careful. Now, you rest."

Joe looked into those warm brown eyes from only inches away now. As if hypnotized, he leaned forward, closer still. "Levon, you said you heard what Orchid and I said?" Levon nodded. "Then remember it." Joe closed the distance between them, placing a chaste kiss on Lundy's lips.

Warm, dry, soft. Levon closed his eyes. It was all he could do to stand up. He met Joe's eyes. They were worried yet full of love, tenderness. For me. Levon's heart sung. He smiled and touched the Italian's face lightly with a fingertip, tracing the line of that stubborn jaw.

"You done over there, LADIES?" Came a sarcastic snap from Ross. Lundy realized that the man hadn't really been able to seen anything, was just being mean, so he ignored the remark and smiled into Joe's eyes. "We'll have time."

Joe nodded and watched as his partner walked away, out the door with the two policemen.

The impatient nurse leaned in and pulled the door handle, closing the door, leaving Joe LaFiamma alone with his thoughts.

Part 12: The Alamo and Joe

-------------------------------------------

For the next two hours, Joe LaFiamma sat in an agony of indecision. He knew that Lundy wanted him to wait before calling for help, hoping to keep their covers intact. It was finally too much, dragging on the chain pull light over his bed, he pulled himself upright and leaned over toward the telephone on the nightstand.

Just as his fingers touched the receiver, it rang. "Christ!" He jumped, hand darting off the plastic as if it burnt. Trying to take a shallow breath when his heart was pounding in his mouth, he panted lightly to calm himself and prevent aggravating his sore lung. The telephone ignored his distress, bleating yet again.

Now he sat and stared at the beige creature. Who even knew he was here? Levon! He grabbed up the receiver, almost dropping it in his haste. "Yeah?" He cleared his throat, the word had come out so harshly, no one would have recognized him.

"Joe? That you? It's me, Lundy."

LaFiamma felt his body go lax with relief. Holding the lifeline with two hands now, cupping it closely, "Levon. Are you all right?"

"Yeah. It's a long story, Joe, but I didn't want you to worry. I'm...umm, somewhere near the Alamo."

"The Alamo? You mean, like in Davy Crockett? John Wayne? Or rental cars?"

There was a snort from the other end. "Boy, we REALLY got to work on your education. I'm near the mission. Enyway, I ain't got but cab fare on me so's I'm coming in to the hospital, be there soon."

"Should I do something? Call someone?" LaFiamma was quickly getting frantic with the lack of information.

"Naw. I'm ok. I should be there..." there was brief pause, Joe could imagine his partner looking at his watch, "... in about thirty minutes."

"Well, I'll be here."

"Figured you would. And Joe?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, too." There was a click and then the dial tone.

LaFiamma held the old-fashioned heavy plastic receiver away from him now, held it in both hands and just looked at it as if it were some mystical creature, some oracle. He smiled and lifted it back to his mouth. The bleeping dial tone continued monotonously. Ever so delicately, Joseph Anthony LaFiamma kissed the plastic earpiece and then reverently replaced it in its cradle.

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

A commotion beyond LaFiamma's closed hospital room door alerted him to the arrival of his partner. It was after midnight now. Guess the nurses don't like late night... early morning visitors. Go get'em, Lundy, Joe thought with amused affection as he listened to the wonderful sound of his partner's irate voice cracking sharply.

There seemed to be several other voices, then a rap on his door. Before LaFiamma could answer, the door swung open and Lundy stood there, still dressed in his white suit and hat. It looked a bit tired now, wrinkled and dusty. Lundy looked tired but pleased with himself.

"Hey, partner." Lundy walked in, pulling the door shut behind him.

"Lundy, where the hell have you been? What the...?" Joe's last question was smothered by his partner's mouth, pressing against his. Lundy had simply walked right over, sat down and leaned in for the kiss, even while Joe was talking.

Being a quick-thinking, fast-acting, street-smart, Italian cop from Chicago, LaFiamma knew what to do about this. He slid his arms up around the fine neck of his good friend and partner, and drew the man down on to the bed, on to his chest, and into an even deeper kiss. The hell with twenty questions, if Levon was ready to play, so be it.

Levon was grinning around the kiss now, even as Joe's tongue was driving a new path through his teeth and into his throat. Look at me now, Bobby. You poor bastard, you backward-thinking sinner, you didn't know what good lovin' was, 'cause you never met this Joe LaFiamma. I ain't no freak, I'm the man that Joe LaFiamma loves. And god help me, I love him, too. And... it's all right. Lundy closed his eyes to burrow deeper into the feelings of love and security he felt in Joe's arms, surrounded by Joe, his grin of delight giving way to a moan of increasing passion.

He squeezed his arms tighter in sheer joy. And Joe coughed. And coughed again. Lundy realized what he'd done and let go quickly, giving his partner breathing space. "You ok?" He sat back, holding Joe by the shoulders. The cough had subsided quickly this time.

LaFiamma wiped a shaky hand over his mouth, eyes never leaving Lundy's. He nodded silently.

"Good." Lundy leaned in to give him a quick peck of a kiss on the tip of the Italian's nose.

"Then you sit back and listen, I got quite a tale to tell you, boy."

Blue eyes flashed. "Listen, Levon, I'd rather we get back to..."

Lundy held up a cautionary hand, releasing one of Joe's shoulders. "Uh, uh. Saw where that went? Well, we got us a passel of nurses outside that door," he pointed with his chin and smiled again, "and they won't take kindly to the kind of noises I figure might come out of this room iffn we wuz to continue what we wuz just starting to do."

LaFiamma cocked his head to one side. Then, he shook it sadly. "Oh, Levon, I worry about your priorities."

"LaFiamma, I jest plain worry about you!" A hand came to rest against the side of Joe's face and he settled against it, turning briefly to drop a kiss on the open palm.

"Ok, Levon. You're the boss."

"Like hell. I ken see this here is gonna be a bumpy relationship 'til I get you down the straight and narrow."

"Straight?"

"Well, hell, you know what I mean, boy. Fur now, we talk. I'll fill you in on my little adventure and then you git some sleep." Lundy eyed the waggling eyebrows and mock pout directed at him. "Real sleep. We still hafta git back to Houston tomorrow."

"Ok, ok. So tell me what Mutt and Jeff, I mean Dover and Ross, did."

"Turns out, they weren't no cops a-tall."

LaFiamma stared at Lundy for a moment. "Now, why am I not surprised? I had a bad feeling about them, but then I got distracted." He looked meaningfully at Levon.

"Mmm," Levon tried to sound noncommittal. "Seems that the 'important people' that Charlie Bacon was telling me about sent them. They let me go once we'd had a chat. Jest took me a time to find a telephone and call you and a cab. They said someone may be in touch if we wuz wanting to earn extra money, more'n a regular fee for winning a match. They didn't outright say it, but I got the feeling that losing might be very rewarding."

"Bingo!"

"Riiight. Tonight wuz jest to feel me out and they were wanting to check up on us. Make certain we wuz for 'real'."

The brunette was quiet, then looked up. "They figured if you were a plant that you'd tell a cop that?"

"Yeah. Only we'd decided not to tell anyone, so the cover held."

"You think they offed Bacon?"

"Mebbe. Hard to tell. But we wasn't thinking too clear earlier, neither of us. Otherwise, we'd a noticed that it didn't really make sense that uniforms would be doing the questioning instead of plainclothes. And we'd have wondered how they knew I talked with Charlie earlier. It was real private, you were the on one who even knew I wuz meeting' him. No one saw us."

"Damn, you're right. Guess we did have other things on our minds." Joe began to trace patterns of swirls on the surface of Levon's Jean-coated thigh, where it snagged up against him on the bed. There was a pause.

Then Levon reached down and caged the restless fingers with his own. "Joe, I got to tell you. I only done this kinda thing once afore, and that was with Bobby when I was in high school, college. Then he left me, told me I was some kind freak."

LaFiamma sat back, a shocked look on his face. He lifted both hands to capture the cowboy's face. "Levon. Love is never bad, no matter WHO is doing the loving to who. I'm sorry that happened. You are no freak, and I love you."

Lundy placed his own hands over LaFiamma's. "Um, hard to believe I went from being real irritated with a new pardner to falling in love with him."

"Only took you some two and a half years to come around," Joe said.

"It wuz more'n that, Joe," Levon answered seriously, "It was this case. Being with you all the time. Touching you. Seeing you differently somehow."

"Yeah. Maybe. Or, maybe it was just time. We had to get to be friends first, then more. But when I saw you for the first time in this white suit, I knew."

Lundy laughed softly. "Joe, when I saw you in those biker clothes, and then in that set o' tights. Boy, I got a hard on that didn't want to stop."

Joe grinned. "We got it bad, partner. When we gonna get to do something about it?"

Levon's face changed, become serious. "Just what do you want to do about it, Joe? Have you ever...?"

LaFiamma blinked in surprise. "I thought you understood from Orchid's talk with me. I've been there before. The whole thing. In college. Once up in Chicago, later. I usually end up with the ladies, they seem to like me," he smiled suggestively, then continued, "but the best is with the one you love, then gender doesn't matter."

"You been in love before?"

"Well, I thought so at the time, but now, I'm not so sure. What I feel for you, Levon, is much deeper than I ever felt for anyone before. Levon, we haven't even made it anywhere yet, and I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Lundy crushed the hands below his in his sudden grip. Joe didn't flinch, just looked back at his partner. "We definitely need to get home, boy."

Joe suddenly sagged back against his pillows and yawned. "Yeah. Soon."

Lundy let the now limp hands go, putting them down on the bedclothes. "I'm gonna sack out here on the floor, Joe, we'll leave soon's I can get you checked out in the morning."

"On the floor?"

"Be jest like camping out. I'll rustle up some bedding from the nurses. We come to an understanding about me being here."

"I heard." Joe yawned again. "Ok, Levon. I think I'm going get some sleep." Now that he wasn't frantically wired, with his nerves all strung out wondering where Lundy was, fatigue felt like a heavy blanket over his body. His eyes closed of their own volition.

"You do that, Joe. Sleep well, boy."

There was only the sound of even breathing for an answer.

Part 13: In the hay at last!

-----------------------------------------

Lundy hung back from leaving the room and Joe. The sweet kisses and promise of so much more drew him to his sleeping partner. It took an act of strong will to finally move away, leave the hospital room.

In the hallway, the nurses gathered at the their station down the hall all gave him miffed looks of indignation. No one spoke though. He'd made it clear it would take more than they had to budge him from this floor of the hospital.

The blonde settled his hat more firmly down over his eyes and went over to the bank of telephones nearby. He rested his arm on the narrow ledge and dialed the local number that Hoffsteader's people had given him, it seemed like centuries ago, just before he and LaFiamma left Houston for San Antonio.

When he heard the receiver pick up at the other end, he swung away from the folks in the corridor and created privacy with his shoulder. Muttering the code words, he was quickly shunted through to someone on the night desk at the Commission. It didn't take long to explain the most recent developments: Bacon's death, the fake cops and the tentative offer for fixing a match. The voice at the other end of the phone assured him that all would be passed along to Randy Hoffsteader when he came in, in the morning.

"Ok if we head out in the morning? Or, should I try to contact the local homicide?"

"You can come on back. Mr. Hoffsteader will speak with them in the morning. We'll see that they know what they need to for their investigation, but we want you and LaFiamma to stay under; so, unless you know something more than you've already told me...?"

"No, that's it."

"Then, Mr. Lundy, I suggest you get a little rest yourself and bring LaFiamma back later today."

Lundy hung up shortly after that, agreeing to meet, together with his partner, with Hoffsteader as soon as a safe meeting place could be set up by the Commission's people.

That done, Lundy wandered over to the small group of nurses who were pointedly ignoring him by now. "Ladies." He tipped his hat. Having got their attention, he asked for extra bedding and explained what he intended to do.

That got some outraged looks, but one nurse, evidently more level-headed than the other two, agreed to help him and took him down to the linen room.

From there, arms full of pillow and blankets, Lundy made his way back to Joe's room. Entering quietly, he saw that the brunette was still sound asleep. Good. Want you rested for later, boy. Levon smiled as he shook out his blankets and laid them down on the linoleum into a semblance of a bedroll.

Wouldn't be as comfortable as the ground at a campsite, but he was tired enough, knew it wouldn't matter.

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

After the doctor signed for LaFiamma's release in the morning, and Lundy had picked up the prescribed inhaler from the pharmacy, they started to get Joe dressed in his street clothes. Lundy bundled the wrestling costume into the small carryall that had somehow made it through the events of the night before.

There was a short delay when LaFiamma demanded to know what had happened to his neck ribbon. Seems that the emergency room staff had removed it when treating him for the choking and coughing. Lundy wasn't sure why it was so important to his partner, but LaFiamma got that stubborn look on his face and Lundy had gone off to find the damn ribbon.
By the time he returned, LaFiamma was slipping into his black leather jacket. He was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. The thin gown he'd worn overnight lay in a heap on the floor. "Yo, Lundy, you find it?"

The deep mellow voice sounded nearly normal this morning, the blonde was relieved to note as he raised his hand, dangling the missing item in the air. It was rather bedraggled looking, though no blood had actually gotten on it. "Here you go, boy, though why in tarnation I had to find this fur you is more'n I ken figger."

LaFiamma blushed but only stood to take the bit of satin and smooth it between two fingers. Looking down at it, he said, "Thanks, Lundy." Then he slipped it around his neck and tied it off quickly.

"Ready now, Mister LaFiamma?"

Joe grinned, nothing's really changed, he thought. Well, some things had, he stole a quick good morning kiss from his surprised but pleased partner, some things definitely had.

Levon got to admire the black-clad body that stretched and flexed briefly before they headed out, Lundy in the lead. Seemed normal to be point these days, Levon thought, as he led his partner out of the complex to the waiting Caddie.

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

Three and a half hours later, Levon was turning off the ignition of the convertible and looking over at his partner, sound asleep again, head back, that lovely throat curved up to the light.

Wonder what's with the ribbon anyway, Lundy thought, then lightly touched the satin collar. The touch was enough to rouse the Italian, who blinked and yawned grandly, letting his widely stretched arms rotate around to fall comfortably around the cowboy's shoulders. Levon grinned foolishly, combing back the dark swatch of hair that hung down over LaFiamma's face.

"Know better places than the front seat of this here car, Joe."

"Some of my fondest memories were in car seats..."

"Bet they weren't yore most comfortable ones."

The brunette pretended to consider this as his hands traveled over the slender body in the seat beside him. "Well, comfort wasn't the goal."

Levon laughed. "Come on, boy, we got a lot of catching up to do." He broke free of the loose embrace and climbed out of the car. His partner sat looking up at him reproachfully for a moment, then sighed theatrically and came out on his side.

The noontime sun beat down on them as they gathered their things out of the car and headed for cover of the ranch house porch. Once in the cool interior of the house, LaFiamma slowed to a stop. "Lundy, you got an iron?"

The cowboy, who had been heading toward the bedroom, turned back in puzzlement. "An iron? You mean for ironin' clothes. 'Course I do. It's in the laundry room, hung up over the washer. Board's in there too. Why?"

Joe hesitated. "Got something I need to press."

"NOW?"

The brunette colored but didn't break eye contact. "Yeah, now."

Lundy shook his head and shrugged. "Well, it's in there. Go help yoreself. Guess I'll go check on Fooler." He paused, then added with a quirky smile, "Yeah, I know, I'll give her your regards."

LaFiamma watched fondly as his friend turned and left. Then he headed for the laundry room, little more than a large closet beside the kitchen.

He was done in only a few minutes, then went down the hall to the master bedroom.

When Lundy returned after about twenty minutes, the house was quiet. "LaFiamma?"

There was no immediate answer and the cowboy walked through the house to the back. Once inside his bedroom, he could hear the sound of running water beyond. Taking a shower. Not a bad idea. He started to pull off his clothing when he noticed something bright on his bed pillow.

Joe had evidently pulled back the covers and the bed was invitingly open. On Lundy's side, on the down pillow, lay a white ribbon. Smooth and shiny, it lay curling loosely over the light blue pillowcase. Half undressed, Levon walked over to stand looking down at this small decoration. He figured it was the one from Joe's neck, newly ironed.

The door to the bathroom opened then, steam and LaFiamma both emerging as one. Boy had nothing on at all. 'Cept a wonderful wet sheen. Good god, he was beautiful! Distracted, Lundy crossed to meet his brunette.

Joe circled Levon's neck with two warm damp arms. "You've still got clothes on," he chided the blonde gently.

Levon let his hands slide down the smooth deliciously curved back, stopping to cup the round ass cheeks in his palms. Almost like his fantasy, only he was the one dressed this time. Joe moved against him, pressing closer, tucking his head in against Levon's neck. Lundy inhaled deeply. He wanted to lift Joe up and swing him around but the Italian was too heavy for that, so he settled for squeezing those wonderful globes in his hands and licking a trail of wet kisses along a nearby shoulder.

LaFiamma shivered and clung for a moment, then pushed back and got busy with buttons and zippers. When Lundy stood naked in front of him, Joe slid back up against him, rubbing slowly with his entire body, up and down.

Levon's cock was now at swollen attention. He could feel Joe's lengthening, growing alongside it. "Let's..." a quick catch for breath, "let's move to the bed, Joe."

The brunette nodded and stepped back, tugging at one hand, leading the willing cowboy to the queen-sized bed. They rolled onto the platform together, clutching each other. The first explosion took only seconds. The sensitive skin on their members, inflamed with excitement, scraped together twice and both were spurting thick streams of almost white cum. The sperm strands stuck to them in puddly clumps.

After a timeless kiss that had his toes tingling, Levon propped himself up on his elbow facing Joe. The Italian was lying on his back, one hand curled in the nest of dark hair at his own groin, the other toying lazily with Levon's cock. Both were half-erect again.

As Levon lay a hand on Joe's hip, the taller man stretched up to pull the white satin ribbon from the pillow behind Levon's shoulders. "You gonna tell me now what that's fur?"

Joe toyed with it for a moment, then sat up slightly and snuggled over closer to his cowboy. "I aim to lasso my property and tie it up permanent."

"Yore property?"

"Yup."

Then Joe's fingers and that damn ribbon were busy down in Levon's crotch. Damn. Levon arched back to give Joe more room, still not certain what LaFiamma was up to. Then the Italian was pulling back to admire his handiwork. Lundy looked down at himself.

His half-erect cock was still partly creped in the nest of golden curls. Tied around it, not too tightly, but quite securely, was the narrow white satin ribbon. The bow looked festive among the rose colored projections of balls and cock. Nestled there, ends curling down to be lost in the blond curls, it took on a whole new meaning for Levon.

He looked up and into two bottomless blue pools. "You've been wantin' to do thet since you got it, hain't you?" He accused.

"Yup."

Joe lay beside him, rolling close now to whisper in one pink ear. "Keep it on, Levon. I want to feel it when we make love again. I want to know it's there when you're dressed later. I want to know you're 'hogtied' and mine."

Levon felt light-headed, awash with love. He groaned and pulled his teasing lover close. "God, Joe, if this is what real love feels like, I don't want to ever let go."

"Get used to it, Levon, it's gonna last our lifetimes." Joe murmured, hands stroking the thin rib cage against his chest.

They lay, just holding each other for a time. It seemed enough to Levon, but Joe spoke now. "Lundy, I want to be inside you. To feel you around me, man, to be part of you."

Levon tensed for a moment, then relaxed. This was Joe, he wouldn't hurt him. It wasn't like with Bobby who only wanted crude pleasure. Already Levon had experienced more joy in this short time than ever before in his life. If Joe wanted to do that, then they'd do it. "Ok."

LaFiamma had felt the hesitation. He let his hands rub gently across Levon's chest, play with the hardening nipples, already standing up for him. "Ever do it before?"

"Yeah," Levon breathed against Joe's ear, turning to hide his face on the mattress.

Joe sat up a bit and let his hands roam the thin back now presented. "Levon? I can wait. Forever if you need me to."

"Naw," came the muffled reply, "'s'okay, Joe. We kin do it."

"Got anything I can use as a lubricant?"

"Bath oil, do?"

"Do just fine, I'll go get it." The bed dipped and rose as Joe left and walked quickly to the bathroom.

When he started back, Levon had turned over and was facing the ceiling now, one hand toying with the ribbon. His cock had subsided considerably, but was held half-hard by the ribbon's gentle constriction of the shaft. "You're lovely, Levon."

Brown eyes flew to Joe's face, the look disbelieving. Joe came to rest on one knee beside his new lover. "You are. When I saw you come out of the dressing room, all in white, like some knight or prince, I knew then that I had to have you. That I loved you."

"Thet when you decided on the ribbon?"

"Not a ribbon exactly, just that I would wear white for you, keep you closer to my heart that way until I could show you how I felt, hope you'd feel the same."

Levon raised his arm now, letting his index finger, sticky with cum, trace the outline of those smiling lips in front of him. Joe let him touch for a moment, then parted his lips and sucked the probing finger inside, continuing to suck it, wash it with his tongue.

"Mmmmmmm." Levon hunched his shoulders up towards Joe. LaFiamma's arm came around the smaller man and pulled him up, never releasing the finger in his mouth. Touching foreheads, Joe finally relinquished his hold on the finger, pulling the hand down to his own rock hard cock, shaping the hand around it and groaning with pleasure when Lundy tightened his hold.

Then Joe's rough tongue was washing Levon's neck, under his jaw and along the line of his throat. The blonde head tipped back to allow access, the curls caught now in Joe's strong fingers. "God, Levon, I can't get enough of you." The words sank into a lonely heart, filling it and warming it.

Joe reached back for the plastic bottle of oil and then Levon felt warm, greasy pressure on his most hidden spot. Somehow Joe had managed to push his hand down between Levon's thighs, under his soft genitals, and was teasing his hole. Levon grabbed the wide, heavy shoulders in front of him and lifted himself higher, giving Joe a better angle. With a small cry, he sat down onto the probing finger, surprising both himself and Joe.

The Italian tilted his face up and captured Levon's lips again, diving deep inside even as his first finger was joined by a second, then third, probing the tight opening below. Wiggling inside the ring of muscle, stretching and loosening it, Joe continued to use his fingers to work the tight pucker. Levon broke free of Joe's kiss for a moment to groan and breath deeply, then plunge his own tongue safely back into Joe's waiting mouth.

Sweat dripping from both bodies now, Joe had rolled them over so that he was half kneeling between Levon's thighs, holding the slim blonde up against him with strong arms. Levon was no longer attempting to do any thinking. He just flowed where Joe pushed him, ebbed back into those wonderful arms, up against that hot, slick body.

Joe was panting softly, an occasional catch in his breathing. His heart was pounding and he was lost to the pleasure of this wonderfully responsive man. Both large hands now holding Levon, guiding him up to sit straddling Joe's kneeling thighs, Joe lifted. Levon slid up until he was looking down into those dark blue eyes, lit with passion and love. He braced against Joe's shoulders and let Joe do what he wanted. Anything.

LaFiamma saw the complete surrender in Levon's eyes and his heart seemed to grow and burn with his love for this man who was giving up everything to Joe, even his stubborn, jealously-guarded personal control. Joe knew just how much that meant, his eyes stung with tears of pure love. Levon, you are a treasure. Joe wasn't certain that he'd said that last aloud, but it didn't matter.

His cock was painful now, engorged and thrusting blindly upward. He didn't even have to try and guide it, braced between his closed thighs, it stood tall and straight. Hoping he had loosed Levon enough to make entry easy, Joe caught the soft lips above his in a fierce kiss of possession and thrust up with his hips, gripping the blonde by the hips and dragging Levon down firmly.

Beneath his lips, he felt the gasp of surprise, saw the startled look in Lundy's expressive brown eyes. Before the look could turn to pain, he was moving, slipping back out and then in again, and again. Those eyes began to glow with pleasure, the lips against his became animated, trying to consume him, even as he felt Levon's body trying to devour him, pull his cock in deeper and hold it longer.

He was moving like a piston now, driving in and pulling out faster and faster. Levon eyes were wild, stretched wide. Joe felt the burning pressure inside himself building as he watched his lover's straining face.

With a cry that came from his soul, LaFiamma erupted deep inside Lundy, pumping with a throbbing pulse, slow and profound. He felt the sudden warmth that told him Levon had cum too, spurting between their close-pressed bodies, adding to the earlier sticky deposits.

With a shuddering sigh and repressed cough, LaFiamma sat back on his heels, still holding Levon tightly. Lundy's long, slim legs were wrapped around Joe, ankles hooked and pressed against his spine. Joe wasn't sure when Levon had managed that, but relaxed into the full-body embrace of his lover. Levon's head had come to rest on Joe's shoulder, his arms under Joe's, circling Joe's ribs with a gradually lessening tension. Joe rubbed his own arms up and down Levon's smooth back, letting himself dream as his sat there, holding his new lover in his arms.

After a few minutes, Joe felt himself slip out of Levon. He felt momentarily bereft, then decided it was time for them to lie down, recover. Checking for pillows, he eased them down to the side and into a more comfortable position. Keeping Levon within the circle of his arms, Joe helped the blonde lower his legs and straighten them. Letting one hand move comfortingly down Levon's spine, Joe gathered in the man's lovely round ass, feeling the softening genitals warm one of his thighs. Levon was asleep. Joe lay his head on the disheveled blonde hair, placed a random kiss among the strands, and closed his own eyes. Sleep took him as well.

Part 14: A Proposal and a Fish

---------------------------------

Bird song woke them in the early evening. There was a cooling breeze beginning to stir the cotton curtains that hung over the bedroom windows. Lundy slowly opened his eyes and found a pair of deep blue ones waiting for him. "Hi."

"Hi, yourself, cowboy." There was laughter in that voice, and love.

"How you feelin' Joe?"

"Like a million dollars. How about you Levon? Any pain?" LaFiamma was stroking the blonde's back lightly with arms that still held him close.

Lundy paused for a moment to sense himself. "Feel ok, nuthin's broke."

LaFiamma broke into a husky laugh, "God, I hope not." The laugh broke off into a gravely cough that the Italian pressed away from Lundy's face.

Lundy brought his hands up and framed the face, bringing it back to him. "Yore lungs?"

Joe acknowledged this with a slight nod. "Just a little sore. The doc did say it would be few days."

Levon slipped out of the comfortable circle of Joe's arms, "I'm getting your inhaler. We pushed you a bit, shoulda waited."

"No, this couldn't wait," LaFiamma said softly to Levon's retreating form. He watched the slim, rosy-hued body return from the hallway a few minutes later. The white ribbon still nestled in his groin, it drooped now but the cock was still slightly hard, held up by that ribbon.

"Here ya go, boy." The offered inhaler was gratefully taken and used as Lundy sat back down on the bed, facing his lover.

When Joe was done, Lundy leaned in to take the small device and put it aside on the nightstand. He placed a light kiss on Joe's lips. "Umm, that's nice." LaFiamma said, raising his hands to his cowboy.

Levon captured the hands, then brought them down to the bed between them. "Joe, wait. I gotta talk now, we gotta talk. I need ..." Levon stopped, unsure how to proceed.

"What do you need, Levon?" Joe watched his partner.

"I need to know how this all is gonna work." Levon looked cautiously at the Italian, unsure of the reception this would bring. "We still partners?"

Joe sat back slightly in surprise, "Hell, yes, Levon. All we've done is add another dimension to our partnership. Man, I love you. I want to make this work, for both of us. You do, too, don't you?" Now LaFiamma looked worried, clenching his hands into fists beneath Lundy's.

"Yeah," Levon was thoughtful, his words drawing out slowly, "I do."

LaFiamma smiled, relaxing. "Glad to hear you say those two little words, cowboy." He took up the two fine boned hands in his, brought them to his lips licking the work-thickened knuckles, then looked up into burnt golden eyes. "Remember them, 'cause one way or another, you're going to be saying them again, in front of a third party, make this union official."

"Joe?"

"I'm asking you to marry me, partner."

Lundy looked stunned. He sat there staring at LaFiamma as if the Italian had grown another head. Joe sat looking back at him patiently, waiting.

"LaFiamma, that's awful sudden."

Joe grinned at the use of his last name. "Lundy," he answered pausing so that his cowboy would realize that some things had not changed, "once I know what I want, I go for it. I want you, with me, forever. I love you, cowboy. You belong to me now, baby. Just me. You know that, don't you?"

Levon had cocked his head, listening seriously to all Joe said. He'd noticed the deliberate use of his surname, understood the significance. The Italian was telling him that they would, could still be partners at work, just as before. The rest spoke of commitment, lasting, and exclusive. "You ready to give up the ladies, Joe?"

"Levon, have I even LOOKED at one since you put on that suit?"

"Well, you've not had much chance..."

"Much chance? Didn't you see how they were throwing themselves at me, last two matches?"

The blonde looked down at his lap, caught sight of the white ribbon poking up from his nest of light umber curls. This was serious. Joe was serious. How did he, Levon, feel about all this?

Brown eyes met blue ones, the brown ones helpless, confused, and worried.

"Aw, Levon," LaFiamma leaned close and wrapped his arms around the other, pulling him in close, "I'm sorry. I'm pushing too hard, too soon." His large hands soothed and pressed the slender form to his chest, "We'll talk about all this when you're ready." Joe stopped, then sat back away from Lundy again, hands on his partner's shoulders. "You tell me when you're ready to talk about it. Ok?"

Levon nodded dumbly.

"Ok. For now," Joe squeezed the shoulders under his hands gently, "for now, we'll just continue like always... except for a little loving now and then, umm?"

A faint smile quirked at Lundy's mouth, a spark in his eye. "Yeah," he breathed and let himself fall against the man he found he trusted more than anyone else in the entire world. He was caught and held. Warm. Safe. Happy. Later for everything else, Lundy decided, everything else could keep. Joe would wait for him. This he believed with his heart.

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

For the next two days, things were quiet. They drove into the city, met with Joanne at a quiet bar she suggested in the late afternoon of the second day. After listening to their report in person, she insisted that LaFiamma get checked out and cleared by a physician before going into any more matches. Even the possibility of a fix wouldn't prevent him from being hurt if he wasn't at 100%, she pointed out. Lundy had agreed with her, LaFiamma had shrugged, clearly ready to do whatever Lundy said.

Joanne Beaumont watched the two men leave the small, quiet cocktail lounge. Both were dressed in simple, lightweight suits, making them almost invisible in this setting. Two good-looking men, she thought. Who only had eyes for each other. Something has changed between them, she played with the tiny napkin in front of her, eyes down but unfocussed. She couldn't quite identify it, but her cop instincts and her knowledge of her former partner, Levon Lundy, told her that things were different now, not bad, just different. Finally shrugging, she rose to go pay the bill she'd insisting on picking up for all of them.

She'd hear more after they met with Hoffsteader tomorrow, and, they would not go back under until the doctor okayed LaFiamma, she promised herself.

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

Randy Hoffsteader looked uncomfortable standing at the side of the cattle pen, one clean walking boot hooked on the lowest rail in front of him. He might be a Texan, LaFiamma decided, leaning negligently against the rails, but he isn't very happy around cows. The Italian met the eyes of his partner. Lundy stood in the sunshine, his face in the deep shadow of his tall Stetson, an anonymous cowhand, in anonymous work clothes, worn boots, faded shirt. He was facing Hoffsteader and Joe could tell from his stance that his stubborn partner was about to blow a gasket. Throw a fit. Or whatever the hell they did down here in Texas.

"We done everything you wanted. Joe's won every match, moved up in the standings and now we're gettin' some interest and you want to pull us off the case?"

Hoffsteader took his foot off the rail and turned to fully face the spokesman for this team. It had been clear from the beginning of their association that the thin blonde did the talking and the taller, heavier brunette did the following. He was really finding this man quite distasteful. "It just isn't working out the way we expected. We thought you two would be able to keep a low profile, just attract enough attention to get information."

"That's not the brief you handed us."

"I'm sorry if you didn't understand..."

"We unnerstood alright, you're jest changing the rules all of a sudden, and now I'm wondering why."

The Gaming Commission's official had the grace to look embarrassed. "We just didn't expect Mr. LaFiamma to become such a celebrity, such a phenomenon. Did you see the papers from San Antonio after his last match? 'Cowgirls want to rope the Stallion with the white ribbon and ride him home!'" Hoffsteader's voice rose in indignation at the last as he quoted one of the livelier headlines from a sports column.

Levon snuck a look at his partner. LaFiamma continued to lounge against the cattle pen rails, looking every inch the westerner in Lundy's extra old work boots, and some used jeans and an old shirt they'd gotten at a local Salvation Army store. He looked at ease and amused.

"We can't help it if the fans took a likin' to LaFiamma. If you want to swim with the big fish, and not git eaten, you gotta have teeth."

"Teeth is one thing. This show is something else!"

The deep bass that interrupted was calming and unchallenging, "Show's what they come for. We wouldn't have gotten that bite if I hadn't caught their eye. Everything's going down fine, Mr. Hoffsteader, just let us play it out."

Randy Hoffsteader fidgeted now. The men in front of him were right, he knew it and they knew it, and he had a feeling that they knew that he knew it. This was getting impossible. He'd have to let them continue. He'd report his failure to Lorenzo, let him deal with it. This was past where he could stop it now.

Decision made, he answered almost with relief, "Ok, we go on. I'll let you know where and when the next match will be..."

"You know," Lundy drawled, "I don't think so. Up 'til now, you've been setting ever'thin' up. I think it's time that I show up more doing the managing of my boy. I've met some folks now. Think I ken get LaFiamma here on the next program that will bring yore miscreants out of the woodwork."

The official stared at the cowboy in front of him, then shrugged as if it no longer mattered to him. "Fine. You do that. Let my office know when you have things set up. Keep in touch through the local contacts we've arranged for you." He put on his hat, drawing it down over his eyes, "I'll expect to hear from you within the next couple of days."

Turning on his heels, Hoffsteader walked off.

Lundy met LaFiamma's eyes again. "Somethin' smell to you?"

"Yeah, smells like one of our big fish may be a bit rotten."

"Yeah. Well, like Joanne and Chicken tole us, we're gonna hafta watch our backs."

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

Later that night, Lundy put in a call to Chicken. It was time to start reaching out, making some contacts of his own and Chicken might be able to put him right.

The conversation was short, neither wanted to be overheard. They arranged that Chicken would check around to see what matches might be open for LaFiamma. He'd look for events where it was likely that some questionable wins had occurred in the past. Neither man was happy when they rang off, Chicken was concerned that the two detectives, his friends, might already be in over their heads. Lundy was worried that Chicken didn't have any quick answers, meant he really was on the fringe of things. That could take a while.

When Lundy spoke about this with Joe, the Italian suddenly snapped his fingers. "I know! We call Orchid. Maybe even Angel. Orchid can advise us and I trust him absolutely."

"Couldn't hurt," Lundy admitted. They were sitting out on the porch swing at the front of the ranch house. Joe was slumped, legs straight out with heels dragging on the wooden planks, snuggled up against Lundy who had wrapped an old quilt around the two of them, holding Joe close with a surrounding arm. "Don't know about Angel, though. You beat him and now his manager is dead, he might even know that Bacon wuz trying to talk to me that night."

They glided with the movements of the swing for a few minutes in silence, both lost in their thoughts. The sounds of cicadas sawed in the background. Lundy gripped his lover's shoulder in a quick squeeze. "Let's go in afore the skeeters decide we're tastier than Fooler."

Joe was still chewing on their problem as they traipsed back indoors. He had not yet changed out of the ranch clothes they'd gotten for him. So intent on his thoughts, he didn't at first notice that Levon had stopped and was standing just inside the archway to the living room.

Suddenly sensing that his partner was no longer close behind him, LaFiamma turned to see where Lundy was. He had to smile. The cowboy was shoulder tall against the doorway, leaning on one hip, surveying LaFiamma with an appreciative eye.

"What?"

Levon didn't move, but his smile widened. "You do make a good cowpoke, Joe. Real convincin'. Need a bit more bow in yore legs, but 'otherwize, you'd do."

LaFiamma folded his arms across his chest and rocked back on his heels, shaking his head. "No, Levon, and I'm not going there, either. I may love you, but this is NOT a case of love the man, love the horse."

Lundy laughed, he couldn't help it. His usually sartorially correct, fashion-conscious beau was an absolutely perfect cowboy in that get-up. If he wasn't so dang besotted with the man, he'd have half-believed that LaFiamma had been holding out on him all this time. Was really a cowboy afterall. Naw. But the boy could pass muster, yes, sir.

LaFiamma's eyes began to change color, shimmer and darken. At first Lundy thought it was trick of the light, then realized that they really were changing as the amusement left and they began to heat, passion-bright. Joe hadn't moved, but now he was flexing his legs slightly, bending the knees and letting daylight show between his legs. Not much, but it was enough that Levon could almost imagine the man had been on horseback all his life.

The Italian stood there, knowing that Lundy was beginning to respond to his changed mood. He stared at the cowboy's Levis, looking mighty full now below the belt. He's got a piece of white satin on down there for me. Joe licked his lips and flicked a quick glance up at Levon's face. The blonde was looking a little dazed now and hungry. That's for me, too, Joe thought. He smiled, a slow burn growing in his groin. Glad we bought lots of satin ribbon while we were in town, I have a feeling we're going to be using a lot of it.

As if drawn to him by a magnet, Levon had unstuck his feet and was moving closer now, his breathing already ragged. Then he was in front of LaFiamma. The Italian still had his arms crossed, still stood back on his heels, knees flexed.

"Boy, you are tempting me too hard." Levon muttered, then grabbed. He had a leg behind LaFiamma's, one arm around that surprisingly narrow waist, the other pulling those wrestler's shoulders into his embrace. He leaned over and had Joe in a dip before the other could react. The clench was completed with a wicked, lusty, throat-cleaning tongue plunging hotly into LaFiamma's willing mouth.

Helpless in this position, his own arms trapped, crossed in front of him, tight against his partner's chest, LaFiamma relaxed and let Lundy hold him, support him. He looked up into the shimmer of Levon's eyes and fell head over heels in love all over again. Must be the fifth or sixth time today, Joe thought nearly groaning in pleasure.

The blonde was thin and wiry, but that didn't mean he wasn't strong. He proved it now as he held his friend suspended in space over the old braid rug in front of the fireplace. LaFiamma could feel the change in Lundy's stance, then he was being lowered down onto that old rug, settled there by the fireplace hearth. Lundy sunk to his heels beside him. Touched his lips with a fingertip. "Shhh."

Joe half-lay, half-sat where Levon had left him, watching as the blonde carefully stepped over him and began to build a fire in the fireplace. "Lev -"

"Hesh, now. Joe, jest let me do this, boy."

LaFiamma nodded and subsided, content to watch as the silhouette of the blonde began to glow with the warmth of the flames beyond. Heat rushed out of the open hearth, warming the night, warming the lovers.

Levon gave the now briskly burning stack of split wood a prod with a fire iron, then put the iron down and reached back a hand to the floor. With an athlete's grace he stretched his long legs out in front of him, supporting himself on the one straight arm, then twisted and lowered himself so that he sat facing the fire beside Joe.

Joe gathered him in to his side without speaking. They sat facing the leaping flames, content to hold each other for the moment. The crackle and snip of the fire was like a balm to the two weary gladiators, happy to have this time together. Levon felt a rare peace settle over him, sitting with Joe. Would it have felt this way if we hadn't broken down the walls, the rules? Hard to tell. Usually we'd huv been at each other's throats by now. Wonder if this will last?

The Italian savored this moment, like the tranquil center he always struggled to reach during his meditations, yet seldom achieved or held for long if he did reach it. This, though, this moment seemed destined to stretch out over time, for the rest of their lives. A deep, abiding peace.

Gradually the fire began to burn down, the light dimming. It was formless dark now beyond the windows. Here the light shrank the available space to a small close cave of warmth, with two half-asleep men huddled together, faces ruddy in the dancing heat of the fire.

When the embers became only red coals that winked, Levon stirred and sat forward, letting his wrists come to rest on his raised knees. Joe sank back on to his elbows, still staring into the stars of light that had been burning charcoals only moments before.

"Levon?"

"Umm?"

"This is the way it will be forever."

The last tiny stars of their universe winked out.

"Hope so, Joe, hope so."

Part 15: Cowboy Joe and Legs

------------------------------------------------

When Carol O'Brien called at midmorning, she had news. One of their fellow HPD detectives, Lieutenant Beaumont had put her on the case to do some calling. Locate the who's and where's that Lundy and LaFiamma needed to know in order to keep the case going. Beaumont had been quietly furious when Levon briefed her on the telephone about the meet with Hoffsteader.

"Something is not right there, Levon."

"I know, Joanne, but ain't nothin' to be done about it. 'Stead of crying over it, Joe and me, we decided to jest go around this bump in the road."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Can you get someone to start making some calls for us? We need to know who to contact so I ken arrange for Joe's next match. Make sure it's the right match for what we're trying to invite."

"I can put Carol on it. She's just wrapped up a case with Dale and they are finishing up the reports now."

"Legs would be perfect. 'N if necessary, she could come on in for the show, most of the wrestlers got some woman or more, hanging on them alla time."

"I'll talk with her, Levon. She can do the background work, I don't know about the undercover part. That will have to be voluntary."

"Sure, Joanne, wuz just an idea. Have her call out here at the ranch if she gets any bites. If we're not here, she can leave word with Chicken."

"No problem, Levon."

"Oh, and Jo'?"

"Yes?"

"LaFiamma thinks one of the other wrestlers, goes by name of The Guamanian Orchid, but Sammy Wilder outside the ring. Joe thinks the Orchid might help. Might know some folks for Carol to talk with. If she gets ahold of him, or his friend Harvey, she should say she's a friend of Joe LaFiamma's, ken mention me also. If he ken do anything, he will. They go way back. Thing is, we can't be seen making direct contact with 'im. He's already been to see Joe once at the hospital in San Antonio, if anyone notices him near us now, he could be at the wrong end of a mean dog, you hear what I'm saying?"

"Got it, Levon, and Levon? You and Joe be careful."

And now Carol 'Legs' O'Brien was on the telephone. She'd reached Harvey, Orchid had not been available. But Harvey had been very helpful, once she'd mentioned Joe's and Levon's names. Seems he had instructions to help them whenever he could.

She gave Lundy the name and phone number of the promoter for a league event in Austin. It was drawing some big name contenders, Harvey was sure that Orchid would be going, and lots of other high ranked wrestlers. There was always room on the wild-card draw for free-for-all matches, as long as the wrestler had some wins on record. No problem there, Joe was a contender now.

When she'd finished briefing Lundy, she had a question.

"Levon, Joanne said you might be able to use my help?"

"Legs, don't know if it's too safe..."

"Don't hand me that crap, Levon. Just tell me what I can do."

"'Kay. You know the deal, our cover?"

"Yes, the Lieutenant filled me in."

"She tell you that women are often part of the 'scenery'?"

There was a muffled choking sound, O'Brien was clearly laughing and trying to cover the mouthpiece. Then she came back on the line. "Levon, you want me for my legs, don't you?"

Lundy cleared his throat. "Ah, well, yeah. It would help Joe's cover and we don't want to pull in any innocents..."

"Actually, Lundy, it sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind at all. I've seen some of that stuff on television. How would you want me to dress? Upscale, downscale? Glitz'? Ditzy?"

"Well," Levon was at a loss. LaFiamma, who had been standing behind him, leaning against the wall, his head against the other side of the telephone, took it out of Levon's hand.

"Carol? It's me, Joe LaFiamma."

"Oh, hi, Joe."

"I've been listening, and Carol, I got to tell you, if you wear something like you might wear to Western Night at one of those big dance halls, may be glittered up a bit, a few extra tassels here or there. That'd be perfect. Oh, and wear a white satin ribbon on your wrist."

"On my wrist?"

"Yeah, trust me on this. I'm wearing one on my neck, so it's better not for you to look too close the same, but the fans'll go wild if you've got one on and you're with me."

"Ok, Joe," she sounded doubtful but willing. "You or Levon give the station a call when you have the date set."

"Better not to. You check back here or with Chicken tomorrow, we should know by then."

"Fine. See you soon."

"Ok, and, Carol? Thanks."

LaFiamma handed the receiver back to Lundy to hang up. Levon had been able to hear everything, so neither said any more.

Joe turned then and pressed Levon against the wall, feeling the sharp bones of the cowboy's ribcage, the strong thump of the heart beating within. Holding him back by the shoulders, he kissed him soundly.

Grasping his lover's elbows, Lundy tipped forward into the kiss. When they parted, he asked, "What wuz that fore, Joe?"

"Just so you know, the only white satin ribbon that matters is the one I expect you to be wearing, under your white suit when we go in."

Levon blushed to the roots of his hairline.

"I mean it, Levon, and I intend to tie you off myself. Just so you know."

The blonde nodded and rested his head back against the wall, his Adam's apple showing prominently. Looking up at the ceiling, he said, "Joe, I wasn't worried about you and Legs."

LaFiamma pressed close and let his tongue wash a wide swath across that wonderfully long neck, enjoying the feel of the taut strings of muscle. "Good, cause you're the only one I want, the only one I need, Levon." He lapped down again, tongue scraping on early stubble. "I love you."

Levon stilled a shiver from errant nerves still responding to that hungry tongue. His head came down and he looked his partner in the eye. He spoke softly. "Thank you."

Part 16: Pre-match Interludes and a Hat

-------------------------------------------

They traveled to Austin the next day even though the match wouldn't be 'til the following day. Carol was going to fly in and meet them in the morning, they'd pick her up at the airport there. Levon was the one who insisted they drive over early. He wanted a hotel suite that had two bedrooms so that Carol could be comfortable and they'd have their privacy. Joe had just looked at him with raised eyebrows and said nothing.

Levon was having a little difficulty adjusting to this new LaFiamma who never argued. He wasn't altogether certain he liked it. It was hard to complain about someone who never argued with you, though.

Both men were ready for a siesta. The drive to Austin was all backroads and state highways. LaFiamma's lungs had passed inspection with a doctor in Houston so they were taking their time, the top down on the Cadillac convertible. Joe had even agreed to wear a Stetson, to keep the heat off his head and neck.

The Texan kept stealing glances at his northern partner during the drive, enjoying the sight of Joe in the tall hat. It sat well on his features. Levon had made certain of the fit and styling when they picked it out. He smiled as he thought of the 'discussion' they'd had right there in the store.

"Levon, I am NOT going to wear one of those huge blimps on my head." Joe was studying the larger size crowns available. "I'd look like a poor man's Matt Dillon from Gunsmoke."

Lundy had pursed his lips and bitten back his first reply. Then gestured further into the store, "LaFiamma, jest wait. We're not gonna put you in a ten gallon, boy."

"Ten Gallon? What do they put in those things anyway?"

Lundy had ignored the comments, which continued in a grumbling undertone as LaFiamma trailed after him through the haberdashery. After several attempts at a match, the salesman finally placed what Lundy considered the perfect hat on Joe's head.
By this time, the Italian had stopped speaking altogether and was sitting in grim silence, awaiting the blonde's verdicts as one after another hat was dropped on his head, then removed after decisive shakes of his partner's head.

This time, Levon hesitated, then stepped back and cocked his head to the side. "Joe, straighten up there." The Italian pulled his shoulders back, he'd started to slouch downward in the wooden chair where he'd been held prisoner for the past thirty minutes.

Hopeful blue eyes sought out assessing brown ones. "Now, turn yore head. Good. Nod for me, boy. That's right." Levon stalked around behind the brunette and studied the effect from the rear. "Yep. This is the one." He nodded to the clerk, who bowed and went away to make out the bill.

LaFiamma practically jumped from the chair. Grabbing at the brim, he tore the hat from his head and pulled it down into his hands where he held it and stared at it in puzzlement. "Lundy, I'm glad this one's ok, but it looks just like all the rest to me."

"Trust me on this, LaFiamma, that is yore hat, none other."

Joe had looked up then and started to put the hat back on. Levon walked up to him and Joe paused in the act. The cowboy took the hat from his friend's hands, brushed the ruffled dark hair back from Joe's face with long fingers and neatly set the hat back upon the ex-Chicago detective's head. "There. Now you're almost a real proper Texan."

"Ok, if you say so, Lundy. I'm not too sure how this is gonna go with my leathers, though."

Levon shook his head, "LaFiamma, a man's hat is made to go with a man, not his clothes of the moment. This hat'll be fine. Even with yore black leather."

Now, sneaking peaks at LaFiamma where he was drooping in the passenger seat, the dark grayish-brown Stetson pulled low over his face, Levon thought he looked marvelous. It did look fine with those biker clothes amazingly, even made the brunette look more dangerous if that was possible.

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

That night they ordered room service and simply stayed hidden away. Levon had brought everything for the match up to the room and gave LaFiamma an evening rubdown after he'd worked out to limber up. Levon listened closely but heard no sign of distress in Joe's breathing.

Snuggling together into one large queen-size bed that night, Levon had held Joe until long after the brunette was sleeping soundly. They had made love simply, just lying together and letting the friction between their heavy cocks ignite their passion. Holding close, they came together so swiftly that it was as if there was one grand explosion carrying them up in a tower of sparks.

Joe had staggered out of the bed and returned with a warm, damp cloth from the bathroom. He'd gently wiped away the mess on Levon's belly and groin, delicately picking off the sodden ribbon, smiling at his lover's gentle snore. Coming back after disposing of the towel and putting the used ribbon in their laundry bag, Joe slipped into the bed, a fresh bit of satin between his fingers. He licked and nibbled his way down the blonde's chest and belly, laving the collapsed penis with enthusiasm. Levon groaned above him as his erectile tissue began to swell.

Joe tied off the ribbon, effectively short-circuiting the engorging organ. "Damn it, Joe, you gonna do that ever' time we have sex?" The rumble of Lundy's chest tickled LaFiamma's ear.

He looked up along the path of skin he'd just finished tongue-washing. "We made love, Levon, we didn't just have 'sex'."

Levon looked slightly flustered at this but Joe was already sliding back up and tucking himself into his cowboy's arms. "Relax, Lundy, I love you despite all your failings."

"My what?" Levon held tight to this precious man in his arms, locking his chin over one large shoulder, nuzzling into the thick, dark cascade of his lover's hair. He looked down the length of his body and could see the white bit of ribbon tufting out of his nest of pubic hair.

"Sorry, Levon, I'm too tired just now, the list is too long, you'll just have to-" Joe yawned hugely, "-wait."

So Lundy held his lover as the brunette slept. Thinking that those last remarks were much more like the partner he knew and had come to respect and depend upon. And argue with. Lundy smiled.

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

In the morning, they had gone out to the small municipal airport and met the Southwest Airlines flight from Houston. Carol "Legs" O'Brien joined them, bringing only a small overnight bag and a suitbag with her "costume" as she referred to it.

It was her first sight of Levon in his white manager's suit and LaFiamma in his black leather. She was enthralled by both of them and told them so. "Man, you guys look gorgeous! No wonder you're taking the WWF by storm." She smiled that slow, kicky smile of hers and shook her head wisely. "But Joe, I have to tell you, that hat is absolutely the best. Lundy pick it out?"

LaFiamma who had started to preen, glared over at Lundy when he whooped with laughter.

"Course I did, Carol, you know LaFiamma don't have no taste."

Joe looked ready to erupt for a moment, then he lowered his eyes and that broad, teeth flashing smile lit his face. "Legs, this partner of mine made me sit in some store for thirty minutes, trying on hats! I think he finally let me get this one 'cause he took pity on me."

"You ain't got no cause to be pitiful, LaFiamma," Lundy drawled, as O'Brien climbed into the back seat of the convertible. He adjusted his own hat, then strolled round to the driver's side door, "You bin given a chance to become a real Texan."

LaFiamma, who'd been getting ready to slide into the front passenger seat paused, grimaced with a side quirk of his mouth, his dancing eyes meeting Carol's, "Lundy, please. I'm from Chicago. A Texan? Oh, please."

Levon cast him a telling look and they both burst out laughing, O'Brien joining in.

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

"You ready for this?" Levon asked as he fussed with his bolo tie in the mirror of their bedroom.

"Yeah." LaFiamma was already going into his pre-match haze as Lundy thought of it. Dressed all in black leather, he sat on the end of their bed, waiting for his partner to finish.

"Ok, let's go out into the front room, see how Legs is doing." Levon led the way, carrying Joe's bag of gear.

Carol was standing in the main room of the suite, her bedroom door open behind her. She was trying to tie on the piece of white satin ribbon that Joe had handed her earlier.

"Let me do that for you," Levon said with a quick look at his partner. Joe appeared to be oblivious to both of them at that moment, settling into the overstuffed sofa and closing his eyes.

Carol looked over at him. "He all right, Levon?" she asked quietly.

Lundy nodded. "Always like this afore a match. Says he needs to center hisself."

O'Brien considered this while the cowboy in white carefully finished tying a rather flamboyant looking bow to her wrist. She took this in and eyed him. "Do you have to wear one, too?" She had noted the one at LaFiamma's throat.

Lundy went red, the flush crawling up his face from somewhere below his collar. "I'm already all in white," he stuttered.

The woman detective, tall and lanky herself, measured Levon with her eye. There was definitely something strange here. Lieutenant Beaumont had hinted that she should watch the boys, said she'd seen a change, but couldn't put her finger on it. Carol thought they'd been their usual tear-ups until now. Now, though, Lundy was flustered. She couldn't remember the last time she'd ever seen that. She made no comment.

Dressed in skin tight spandex, O'Brien wore bright red metallic-sheened pants and matching waist-cut jacket, a white bandeau in place of a bra. The jacket had tasseled fringes and a swirl of rhinestones at the shoulders and across the top of the bodice. The sleeves of the jacket were folded back to better allow for the view of the white bracelet of satin that she now wore.

She had silver boots on, western cut. With those long legs of hers and her shoulder-length hair, she was a stunning sight. With the two men, they would make a breath-taking statement when they entered the show later tonight.

"Time to go," Levon said, moving over to his partner and touching him lightly on the shoulder, then grasping one hand and hauling the brunette up. Legs watched as they touched, nothing real obvious, but she was beginning to think she knew what was different and understood why it would puzzle their lieutenant, a married woman, straight as the day was long.

************************ End of "Pre-match Interludes and a Hat"

Part 17: Stalled

--------------------------------------

This time the arena was set up inside a University Tournament Basketball Court. Workers had converted the shell into a wrestling arena with the floor seating flowing in close to the center ring from the foot of the enormous enclosed bleachers. Normal seating was several thousand spectators. The additional floor seating added at least a thousand more. Entry ramps with lighting had been constructed.

Levon stood at the top of one of the entries, there were four, at the cardinal points of the compass. He surveyed the room, thinking of how it would look in a few hours. Already referees and promoters, cameramen and lightning technicians were finalizing their various pre-match tasks. Someone had been testing the sound system, blaring out snatches of a variety of heavy rock beats, interspersed with music of a rarer sort. Levon thought he recognized Orchid's flute music at one point. And, there, the theme music from Rocky. Damn, looked like that was gonna be sticking to them.

Time to git back to LaFiamma. Check on Carol, too. She was in one of the green rooms that had been set up for the contestants' entourages. Sometimes almost as much a part of the show as the wrestlers themselves, managers of these events made every effort to provide for them also.

It had taken little persuasion to get LaFiamma on the program. The Italian Stallion was news in the wrestling world just now. While he was, he was a hot property as far as the promoters of this event were concerned. They had even offered to have him join a tag team, but Lundy had turned that down. Said the Stallion only worked solo.

He, Carol, and LaFiamma had arrived at the locker rooms about twenty minutes earlier. Joe was in the showers, loosening his muscles under hot water. Carol had gone off to the green rooms to look around and wait for the boys. Levon had come here, wanting to get the lay of the land ahead of time and in full light. Once things started, lighting was directed on the action, not the audiences.

No one had given him a second look, no one had spoken to him, or done anything to make him think that tonight would be the night they'd get another nibble. Bacon's words looked to be empty. But, then, Bacon was dead. The second homicide since he and Joe had started working the case. The first had been that homicide in Houston, the bent promoter, found near the Astrodome. Far as he knew, there were no leads yet on either case. He was the best lead on the Bacon killing and he really couldn't think of anything he could do to help there.

The crease between his eyebrows deepened as he frowned in thought and turned back to head for the locker rooms. He nearly ran straight into Ross and Dover, tonight dressed as security guards. The two men looked at him blandly, stepping back to let him pass into the tunnel passageway.

Swallowing a sudden surfeit of saliva, Lundy walked stiff-legged past the two, expecting them to do or say something at any minute. They simply stood and watched him pass, then climbed up and out through the arch and down into the arena. Something dead wrong here. With a sudden feeling of deep panic, Levon broke into a dog trot, then a running stride, heading back for the locker room.

Carol O'Brien was standing in the hallway just after the first corner in the passage. She was chatting with a bevy of beautiful women all in high cutoffs jeans and sporting oversized white tee shirts with some lettering on them. When she spotted Levon slide to a stop and then push off at a run around the corner at the end of the hall, she pulled away from the women and started down the hall in the same direction as Levon was going.

Lundy was running flat out now and gave no sign of seeing her as he crashed past her, hands pushing off the side walls to steady him as he went. She took one look at his face and fear tightened her stomach. Joey. Something must be wrong with Joey.

Lundy skidded around the last corner of hall and nearly barreled into the lax security guard at the entrance. The man ducked back out of his way.

Levon slowed now and strode through the lockers to where LaFiamma had been assigned space. There was no sign of his partner there. The feeling of wrongness continued. He headed for the showers, found that they were not only set up as large shower rooms, but with smaller, more private stalls to the sides. The main room was empty and quiet except for the hollow echo of dripping water. Lundy started down the row of smaller, private enclosures. He was scared now.

The sound of running water was coming from the next to the last cubicle. The pale brown plastic shower curtain was closed in front of it. Levon stopped. All the other shower stalls were empty.

"Joe?" Nothing. He could hear the sounds of banter from further out, in the lockers areas, but here it was silent, except for the water. Cautiously, Levon took hold of the thin, brittle curtain, prepared to apologize if it was someone else in there.

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

Carol had been hurrying after Levon, but she was forced to stop at the locker room door where a security guard stuck out an arm in front of her.

"I think my guy may be in trouble," she explained anxiously, "I just saw his manager run back here. Mr. Lundy?" The guard tipped his head to the side and swallowed his gum.

"Yeah, someone cum through here traveling fast. But you cain't enter here lady, this is men only."

"Can you check on them for me?" Carol slid up against the man and looked soulfully into his eyes. "I'll wait right here for you?"

The guy looked faint for a moment, Legs could put a lot of steam in her act. Then he nodded and trotted off further into the interior of the forbidden space. O'Brien stood and waited. Levon would send for her if he needed her.

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

The curtain was stiff and billowed out at him when he moved it aside. Then he was frantically hauling it out of the way, not even hearing the ripping sound as it pulled free of the few rusted rings above and dragged to the floor in the walkway.

Inside was LaFiamma. He sat on the floor of the cubicle, propped up in the corner, heedless of the warm water pounding down on him. His hair was streamed down over his face. At first it looked like dye was coming out of it, then the color cleared as it continued over his face and down onto his chest. Blood. His eyes were half-closed and his arms hung lax at his sides, the hands, large and capable, now lay face up on the concrete floor, palms open. He was already dressed in his wrestling briefs, but barefoot.

Levon reached in and threw the faucet over to off, cutting off the water. Then he was down in a squat, heart cold, feeling for a pulse. There! Yes, still alive. Grabbing LaFiamma under the arms, he half-lifted, half-dragged him out of the stall and into the walkway area. Kneeling there he pulled the other man into his embrace, probing the scalp for the source of blood.

He found a large lump over the left temple, skin split open, the blood still streamed down. Levon grabbed a towel from the pegs on the wall across from the stalls. He was pressing it to the unconscious brunette when the security guard from the door to the locker rooms arrived.

"Get a doctor!" Levon didn't waste breath on more, turning back to his partner.

Having turbaned the head wound, Lundy heaved, finding himself suddenly strong enough to lift the bigger man into his arms. He staggered to his feet. Get him to the medic station. There's always one in the locker rooms.

Joe stirred then, moaning softly against Levon's jacket. "Joe, it's Levon, I've got you. Hold on, I'm taking you to get help."
By the time he'd reached the end of the line of stalls, the guard was back with a man dressed in trainer's clothes, carrying a first aid kit. They stopped at the sight of the cowboy carrying the injured man.

Backing out of the way, the medic said, "Bring him down here, on your right. It's only a few more steps, there's an examination table in there. You can put him on that."

Lundy didn't spare breath for reply, but turned and saw the table in the white room. Lowering his partner to the table, Lundy sagged against it, arms protesting the work he'd just done.

The medic, it said Garvey on his name tag, circled Lundy and leaned over LaFiamma from the other side of the table. He pulled the towel away, seeing the red stains on it. He had a compress on the cut in moments.

"Actually, this doesn't look that bad," he commented as he snipped off tape and fastened the bandage in place. May not even need stitches."

Lundy gripped the edge of the table with both hands, trying to control his breathing and heart rate. Adrenaline still poured through him, leaving him ready to fly. He wanted desperately to hurt someone. Bad. But he equally wanted to stay by Joe, make sure he was really alright.

"Mister...?"

Glancing up at the medic, Levon answered, "Lundy. I manage Joe LaFiamma here. He's the Italian Stallion."

"Mr. Lundy, did he fall?"

Lundy hesitated. Joe would never have fallen. The man was all grace and balance. Ross and Dover. It had been them, it had to have been. But if it looked like it could have been a fall to the medic, and Joe was ok, then maybe, for now, it would be better for all if that's how it was talked on. "I'm not shore, but ah think you could be right," he answered.

Then, blue eyes, filled with pain, opened and met his.

******************** End of "Stalled"

Part 18: Revelations and Mysteries

-------------------------------------------------

The guard clearing his throat reminded Levon that he and Joey were not alone. He spared a glance at the man.

"You want me to report this?" The guard looked edgy.

"No," Levon answered, "let it be. Looks like my boy slipped in the shower, like Garvey here says." He gestured toward the medic / trainer.

"Lundy..." LaFiamma was mumbling now, stirring on the table. Levon placed a hand on his chest, pushing him back down.

"Stay there, LaFiamma. You need to catch yore breath. Jest hold a second." He turned back to the security guard. Those uniforms didn't inspire any confidence in him at the moment, though this guy probably went home to his wife, lived a normal life, wasn't one of those scum, like Ross and Dover. "There something else?" he asked, subliminally feeling Joe's heartbeat, regular and strong under his hand.

"There's some woman by the door, says this is her 'guy' and asked me to check on him, and you. What should ah tell her?"

Damn, Lundy had forgotten about Carol O'Brien. He'd seen her react out of the corner of his eye as he flew by, gettin' to Joe. She must be ready to kill out there.

"Tell her that Joe's ok. That ah'll be out to see her in a bit."

Garvey interrupted. "Your boy is gonna have to stay put for a bit, make sure he doesn't have a concussion. She can come in here, this part of the layout isn't off-limits, there's a way in that doesn't go through the lockers." He checked his watch. "Two hours until the show starts." The guard shuffled out the door behind him. "Should I tell them to scratch your boy?"

"No!" Joe was trying to sit up again, fighting the hand Lundy had pressed against his chest.

"Stop thet right now! You heard what the doc here said! Now lay still." Lundy had both hands on Joe's shoulders now and held him down. Brown eyes clashed with watering blue ones, dominating them. Joe subsided.

"Lundy, I'm alright. I can go out there tonight," LaFiamma insisted, arms flopping off the sides of the narrow table and gesturing weakly.

Levon met the eyes of Garvey, who shrugged and said, "There's no penalty, long as you withdraw at least two matches before he's scheduled to go out. By then you should know."

"And, if he doesn't have a concussion, does that make him fit to go out there?" Lundy's voice was soft.

Garvey shrugged again, oblivious to the menace in that quiet voice. "Up to you as manager. Look, I got other stuff to do. When your boy is ready to go, just leave everything and I'll take care of things later." He gathered up his kit and walked out hurriedly, a man with things to do.

Carol 'Legs' O'Brien followed the guard, Harold, down a side corridor, he was moving fast, apologetic. "Look, lady, I can't be away from that door any longer, I'll point you to the right place, but I gotta git back."

She didn't answer, just kept going. His news that LaFiamma had fallen in the shower but was ok just didn't make any sense to her. Then there was Levon, charging down that hall. He wouldn't have know about the fall. That meant he'd thought something was wrong. He'd found Joey hurt. So, what had really happened. The policewoman intended to find out, give them back up if they needed it. She had her little derringer and a nasty looking switchblade lodged in her silver boots, and she figured she could take out most of the men she'd seen so far, without even using them.

When the guard turned back with a last word for directions, Legs discovered she didn't need them. She just had to follow the sounds of her friends' raised voices. She smiled to herself, can't be too bad, it sounds just like back in the bullpen on a regular day.

Once she found the right door, she slipped inside. The two HPD cops were facing off across the small infirmary, both ignored her. Lundy was pacing angrily the short distance from wall to wall along side the white glass-fronted cabinets. LaFiamma was sitting on a high metal examination table that looked cold. He was dressed only in his black wrestling briefs and a white square of darkening gauze at his left temple.

Legs found an inconspicuous corner and leaned back against the white dispensary countertop.

"-Damn it, LaFiamma, you are NOT going to wrestle tonight. Yore in no condition."

"Lundy, for the tenth time, I feel fine. No dizziness, no blur. I can handle this."

The blonde cowboy removed his hat and ran his hands back through his hair in frustration, anger. A vivid picture of Joe, lying there unconscious, bleeding in that shower, was still right there for him.

"I ain't lettin' you." The sharp words rang with conviction.

LaFiamma clenched his jaws and his lips were a thin line, but Levon could see the hurt in the expressive eyes. "Joe," Levon continued, trying to be more logical, "you admit you don't remember what happened. But you wouldn't'a been in the shower in yore shorts. And I saw Ross and Dover leaving this part of the arena, heading out into the ringside seating. They saw me, too, but didn't even give me the time a'day."

Legs spoke up now, "They the ones you told me might be part of the 'activities'?"

Lundy didn't take his eyes from his partner but nodded. "Yeah. I figger it's one of two things happened. It was a warning, or their way of fixin' one of the meets."

"What would they be warning us about, Lundy?" Joe's deep voice sounded tired now, his anger burnt out as he recognized the worry in his partner. "They already spent time with you, in San Antonio. Nothin's changed."

"Oh?" Levon paused. "Now that ain't quite right, boy. Remember our big fish, the one who didn't smell so good?"

Joe became more alert, slipping off the table and bracing against it with his back. "Yeah. I had forgotten about that. So, maybe this is not Ross and Dover after all? But another fish?"

Lundy had stopped pacing and faced LaFiamma again. Joe could see the concern there as the cowboy took in his partner's rather wobbly stance. "Joe-"

"I'll be ok, Levon," Joe spoke impatiently. "You need to find out who did this. Help me finish dressing and then I'll go stay put with Legs." He tried to look lecherous and failed, Lundy clearly could see through the ploy at distraction.

Carol interrupted now. "Levon, that sounds reasonable." She turned to LaFiamma. "Are you certain there's no concussion?"

"I'm fine," LaFiamma answered shortly. Then he realized that this was a potential ally, "Legs, talk some sense into Lundy, he won't listen to me."

"Your plan sounded ok to me, Joe. Levon?" She questioned the other partner with a raised eyebrow.

"Alright," the grim cowboy answered, outnumbered for the moment, "we'll play this yore way for the moment LaFiamma, but when I come to check on you iffn I don't like what I see, you ain't going out there on the mats. I have final say here, you heard what Garvey said. A manager can pull his boy in a heartbeat."

"Who's Garvey?" Legs began to ask, but neither man was listening. She let her voice fade and waited.

There was now a silent battle of wills going on in front of her. The two men were communicating at some level she could feel but not see or hear. They HAVE changed, she thought, they're angry as a coupl'a fighting cocks but they haven't gone nose to nose like they would have in the past.

Joe broke first. He sighed and turned around, putting his forearms down on the examination table that had been behind him. The slump of his shoulders spoke of surrender.

Lundy looked surprised for a second, then took a big stride and was standing behind the brunette. As if Carol was not there, Levon reached out and gathered the other up, pulling the man back up against him, holding Joe to his chest. With arms wrapped tight around LaFiamma's torso, Lundy took a deep breath. Joe had allowed the touch, even relaxed against it. Carol was certain that neither even knew she was there anymore. They were so intense, so focused on one another.

Levon bent his head to Joe's ear, but Carol could hear what he said.

"Joe, I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to keep picking you up off'n the floor or taking you to hospitals, doctors. Please."

She could see LaFiamma's hands flex over his partner's arms where they wrapped across Joe's chest. The brunette inclined his head back, resting it on the white clad shoulder. "I'm sorry, Levon. It's been hard on you. But it's our job, man. I am alright, really, I am. You gotta let me do my part."

They stood in silence and O'Brien felt as if she was witnessing something that they really hadn't intended to make public. Then Levon answered, "Ok, Joe. If you still feel this way in a few hours, I'll leave you in the match. May god forgive me."

She had to strain to hear Joe's answer. He whispered, "Thank you."

Levon then did something that had Carol reeling. He pressed his face forward against the side of Joe's cheekbone and kissed him.

She hastily spun on her heels and slipped back out the door to wait for them in the empty hallway. Oh, man. Joe and Levon? Levon and Joe. Well, she'd had suspicions earlier. Now she knew. They had to be aware that she'd been there. That meant they didn't mind that she knew now. About them. Oh, man. She hugged herself.

Levon left a soft chuckle in Joe's ear as he stood back and freed his friend from their embrace. "I think we just blew Legs' mind for her. That gal just took off."

Joe turned back to face his lover, "Legs?" He looked around as if suddenly realizing that she had been there and now was not.

"Yeah, but she didn't leave 'til I kissed you, boy." There was amusement in Lundy's voice.

Joe shrugged, "Sooner or later, the world will know, Levon. We just start one friend at a time."

Carol smiled out in the hallway. That was nice, one friend at a time. And she was evidently the first. Wow.

Lundy appeared at the door now, steering LaFiamma in front of him with possessive hands on the man's naked upper arms. "Legs," he called easily, "go on back to our green room. I'll bring LaFiamma out to stay with you, soon as I git him the rest of the way dressed."

Carol ducked her head and swung away without a word. "Legs?" She stopped and waited. Levon's voice continued, "Thanks for understanding."

"You're lucky people," she answered without turning, then continued on down the hall.

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

Joe was restless, waiting with Carol for Lundy's reappearance. He kept reaching over and checking the time on her small wristwatch.

The white satin ribbon he had tied around his neck fascinated her. It reminded her of a painting she'd studied once, taking an extension class on Spanish art. The Maja by Goya. Only there it was a nude woman and she wore a black ribbon. Both exuded heavy sexuality.

She could see how women would go wild for him, his body firm and well defined, the face of a beautiful choirboy, then that ribbon, sharply contrasted against his dusky olive skin, showing off the thick masculine neck and heavy shoulders. Oh, yes. And now she understood about the ribbon. At least some of it.

The women she'd spoken to earlier were groupies for a wrestler named "Samson." They had been excited to see the white ribbon tied into a bow at her wrist, asked her if she was with the "Stallion" even before they introduced themselves. When she said she was, they had been full of stories of the spreading use of the streamers, like thin white banners that the female wrestling fans had started to wave during his matches.

Joe continued to fidget. He had his boots on now and the oriental-styled great sleeved cape with 'Italian Stallion' emblazoned on the back of tri-colored cloth. Lundy had evidently rubbed him down with skin oil, because he glistened. Good thing it was air-conditioned or he'd be suffocating under that layer of oil. As it was, probably helped keep him warm. Carol moved over beside him where he had sunk into one of the large couches. "How you feeling, Joey?"

"I feel fine, Legs. Just wish Levon would get back here. Don't like him out there without back up." The dark face was tense.

Carol put a hand on his nearer forearm. "He's a good cop. He'll be fine."

Joe switched his attention to the lady cop here in the room with him. "You saw us, didn't you?"

She started to pretend to be puzzled, then changed her mind. Honesty. "Yes."

"You ok with it? Us?" Joe face was an appealing mix of apprehension and courage.

She was touched by him, them. "Yeah. You look good together. Take care of him, he and I go back a ways. We got history." She grinned. "I ever hear that you hurt him, Joey..."

The Italian beamed at her. "I love him, Legs. And, you know what's really strange? He loves me back." The glow on that face warmed her soul.

She put a small hand over one of his two large ones, where it rested on his knee between them. "That's not so strange, Joey." Her smile was teasing now. "You are lovable, you know, when you want to be."

"Hands off my property, Legs." Levon stood in the doorway. He was looking friendly, Carol decided as she hastily withdrew her hand. At least he wasn't doing the Lundy Frown, as it was known down at the station, a scowl that could peel paint.

Joey was bounding up and in Lundy's face in seconds. "Any trouble? Find any thing? You ok? What took so long?"

Levon tipped his white Stetson back and fisted his hands at his hips. "Boy, how in tarnation am I supposed to answer you if you keep firing questions at me like that?" His grin was contagious.

LaFiamma mirrored his partner's pose, hands on hips as he waited for his answers.

Carol had joined them now, and as the three stood close together, Lundy lowered his voice and reported. No one had seen anything of Joey's attacker that they were willing to tell Levon. He'd run into several managers that he was beginning to recognize, two of them, Jimmy Fowler and Warren Hooter both said they'd listen around.

Ross and Dover had not been in the shower room area, though, that much he had found out. They'd been chatting up a wrestler named "The Garbage Man" and his manager, Gartner Plunkett. He hadn't been able to talk with those boys, they'd disappeared out a back door and the latest posting of the program listed The Garbage Man as withdrawn from the event. It was Fowler who had described the confrontation. He thought they were real security guards, warning the wrestler and his manager about something, but his description of the redhead and the tall crewcut confirmed their identity for Levon. Now, Levon was forced to admit that they were probably not involved in the attack on Joe. It had happened at the same time as far as he could tell from the information he'd gotten.

"So," LaFiamma summarized, "someone, we don't know who, may have attacked me, we don't know why."

"We do know that a certain big fish wanted you pulled from this case," Lundy reminded.

"Yeah." He turned to O'Brien. "Legs, when you go back, talk to - Joanne - tell her that we think our fish may have tried to stop us."

"Sure," Carol didn't question the coded language, she'd ask them later for clarification, in a less public place.

Levon, finished with his report, studied his partner openly now. "Well, Joe, how are you feeling? Truth."

"Fine, really, no problems, Levon. I'm ready." Joe arched his back, stretching. He picked the dried gauze off of his temple. "I'll just go clean this up a bit."

Lundy stopped his progress to the door with a look. "Not alone."

Carol spoke up, "Go ahead, Levon, I'll meet you boys at the entry gate, north side, that's where Joe has to come in. His match should be coming up in about twenty minutes."

Levon stepped up beside Joe. "Ok, LaFiamma, let's go get you all pretty for yore fans."

The last Carol saw was the glint in LaFiamma's eye as he turned to answer and the two men strode through the door. She heard the rumble of his voice, but couldn't make out the words as they moved away.

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