Author's note: This is about Detectives Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito but will involve several other characters from the show. I'm not sure exactly where this is going to go (aside from the obvious, a romance between Esposito and Ryan). I may jump around in time somewhat (e.g., flashbacks), and I'll try to stick more or less to the themes of the series and reference a few episodes, but no promises... it's obviously a parallel reality, though even on the show they're very friendly.
Let's Fall in Love
Kevin Ryan, alone in the precinct's break room, stared down at the printout, not really reading the information there. It was a month after the "incident" and he was basically healed, and back at work, but Beckett and Montgomery insisted he to do desk duty for a while until he was "back to one hundred percent." Kevin had protested, but he was secretly relieved. The 12th was his haven; he felt comfortable here, and he needed to feel safe right now. "God if my parents had any idea what happened, they'd probably drag me back home and lock me in my old room," he smiled ruefully to himself.
Kev had just turned another 30-something year. He was strong, slim, with boyish good looks; he could pass for mid-late 20's. He had toned down and bettered his wardrobe somewhat over the years as a Detective, but he still liked to do funky things with his ties once in awhile. At the moment he was wearing one out of his new normal range, he needed the color to lift his spirits. There was still healing to be done from the battering he'd taken in that alley.
Without notice he felt the terror seize him again - they smashed the window and dragged him out. He was sure he was going to die then as they beat him and kicked him over and over... He clutched at the paper and screwed his eyes shut. He wasn't going to cry again, not here at work.
"Kev you okay?" a voice with a little Latin heat asked from close behind him.
He jumped involuntarily and spun around. "Don't scare me like that man!" He snapped, then immediately felt bad when he saw the pain in Javier Esposito's eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, I'm just still on edge." He felt his eyes tearing up. The last person in the world he wanted to hurt was Javi.
"No, Kev, it's okay, I understand. I shouldn't have come up behind you like that." Javi said softly, then the handsome, muscular Detective tentatively reached out and drew Kevin into a hug. "You're shaking, dude, do you want to go home?"
Ryan lowered his head onto Esposito's strong shoulder. "No... I just need a minute." He took a deep breath. "I don't know what I would do without you Javi." He wrapped his arms tightly around his lover.
"You know I'm here for you babe, I'm not going anywhere." Javi gently stroked Kev's back, felt the tension ease somewhat. He pulled Kevin gently closer to him, and tenderly kissed the younger man on the neck.
The two stayed like that for a minute, and Kevin was thinking maybe they had better back off, since even though it was late and they were away from the bullpen, someone might see them. No one knew about their relationship; not a clue. Esposito had a reputation as a tough veteran and ladies' man, and people teased Ryan about his boyish crushes on questionable women. They were probably the least likely two anyone would expect to end up together.
They heard someone softly clearing their throat behind Javier. The two jumped apart like magnets with the same charge. Esposito blushed and if possible Ryan turned even more red.
It was their boss, their friend, their fellow Detective, Kate Beckett.
They both had trouble making eye contact with her, as she just stood there holding a folder, her eyebrows slightly raised. "Uh, hey, Beckett," Esposito stammered, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I was just, uh, checking on Ryan and the financials for the TriBeCa case. "I can see that," Beckett said in her usual all-business voice. "Ryan's been through a lot recently and I'm sure he appreciates his partner and fellow cops showing their concern and support."
The guys looked up in surprise then, first at each other, then at their boss, who maintained a totally deadpan expression while glancing back and forth between them. "So... you're okay?" Javier asked Beckett. Kevin was still speechless.
"Why shouldn't I be? Though I probably don't have to tell you that a little more discretion would probably be the better part of valor. I'm not sure Brass - or even Montgomery - would interpret this like I did. So you boys just be careful."
With that, Beckett turned and started to walk towards the bullpen. Just at the door she turned back and said, "Though, while your personal lives are none of my business, I do wish you'd confided in me so we could head off any work-related issues. You guys have been together what, a year now?" She cocked an eyebrow, and, not waiting for a reply, walked out grabbing the door handle as she went, leaving the two guys staring after her, jaws slack with amazement.
The door closed softly behind Beckett. "Holy shit!" Kevin finally said. "Beckett knows! Sounds like she knew, like almost from the beginning?"
"You're the brains, I'm just the muscle." Javier said and smiled. "But we both know Beckett can read everybody like a book. I guess she figured us out."
He pulled Kevin back to him and tenderly kissed his neck. It was one of his favorite things to do, partly because he knew it turned his lover on so much. Then he whispered in Kevin's ear, "I guess we better listen to Beckett, babe. I'll talk to you later." He stepped back, gently held the younger man's shoulders and smiled, then let him go and headed out toward the bullpen.
Kevin thought back to the first time Javier put a strong hand on his trim shoulder, and a shiver of pleasure went through him... It had been about a year earlier when everything changed between them, which made him all the more amazed at Beckett's observation skills.
To Be Continued...
Comments, Con-Crit, etc. always appreciated.