Special mention to corkycat (you should definitely look up her stories), fudge (who always has a kind word) and misenoma (who's been so fantastic about this fic). All of the above are absolutely fantastic and gave me the motivation I need. Thank you, guys!

Javi was watching his partner panic and trying desperately to think of something to say. He was so used to the other man being the calm and collected one that he didn't really know how to deal with this situation. Kevin had just identified the men who had attacked him. And their goddamn son of a bitch of a lawyer had boldly accused him of lying about it and questioned their relationship and the dedication they had to the job. Kevin had lost it. He had been reasonable but there was no mistaking the fire in his eyes and the anger in his tone as he'd set his bag down and began to fumble one handed with the buttons of his loose shirt. Right there, in the middle of the bullpen, with half the force looking on and his left arm strapped to his body, he'd pulled aside the material of his shirt to reveal bruises that were still a sickly looking blue-green despite the ten days he'd spent in hospital after having woken up. When he'd finished speaking, finished laying himself out open and vulnerable for them all to see, he'd shrugged his bag over his shoulder and walked out of the room with quiet dignity. And, following him, Javi knew that there wasn't a cop in the room who wouldn't stand behind them.

Now it was the night before Kevin would stand up at one of the biggest trials of the year. Once a benevolent pillar of the society, Mason Senior was being exposed as a ruthless greedy fraud with a son who was all set up to follow in his footsteps. The trial towards his part in the death of Tye Malloy and the attack on a member of the NYPD was the pebble that brought down an avalanche. Former employers had stepped forward to testify and business rivals were lining up with their accusations, most of which had basis in fact. What had once been a relatively simple murder investigation had turned into the biggest case any of their team had ever worked on. Castle, of course, was in his own personal heaven. Any book he wrote about this would be an instant bestseller. Afer the testimonies today it was certain that Mason senior and Mason junior would be serving at least some jail time, along with the group who had attacked Kevin. The next few days would only determine the amount of time they spent behind bars.

But Javi was starting to worry about his lover. The Irish detective was looking paler and paler. His sleep was restless and, all too often, Javi caught him waking from nightmares. The other man shrugged them off and did his best to act completely normal but Javi knew him better than anyone. He knew that for the first few seconds after a nightmare, when he still wasn't sure where he was, Kevin would fight tooth and nail to get away from any touch. The Hispanic detective had to watch while his lover surfaced from the dream before he could offer what comfort Kevin would allow.

"Amante," he said gently "It's one in the morning. We've got a big day tomorrow. Let's go to bed."

"Not tired," the younger man said immediately "You go. I'll catch up." Javier didn't believe him for a second.

"Want you with me, baby." he said "I can't sleep without you." He'd discovered early on that the best way to get Kevin to do something he didn't want to do was to make him feel as guilty as possible about it. His lover sighed but stopped pacing in favour of walking towards their bedroom. For the meantime they were staying in the older man's apartment for the simple reason that it was bigger and he had a king-size bed. Javi watched with no small amount of appreciation as the other man started to slip out of his clothes, leaving him in plain black boxers. He felt his heart squeeze as he automatically began to catalogue the scars left behind from the attack that had happened just over two months ago. His partners skin was clear of the smudges of bruises but surgery had left a scar twisting round his torso just below his ribs and another over his shoulder joint where a team of surgeons had stitched him back together in an operation taking five hours. His ribs were finally healed though he still ached occasionally. What had worried the older man for a long time were the recurring headaches, although they seemed to be fading now.

Kevin climbed into bed and smiled tiredly at his lover. He flipped the blanket back in a clear invitation for Javi to join him. Well that was one invitation he wasn't going to pass up on. He pulled off his clothes and slid in beside his lover. He rolled over until he was spooning the other man and tried to ignore the pang of hurt when his partner remained stiff against him. Sighing, he closed his eyes. Maybe tomorrow he would be able to get Kevin to open up to him.

Kevin was running as fast as he could but he had no idea where he was. Every corner he took led to another baffling series of turns that he tried to make sense of but couldn't. He knew they were gaining on him but couldn't seem to make any headway. The curses and taunts terrified him and he could hear his breath sobbing in his throat. A turn he took led to a dead end but before he could turn back he was being tackled to the ground. Not again, not again, God, please, not again. Then the pain started and it was as if he was frozen in place; unable to fight back or to run away. All he could do was cry out. He woke to the sound of his own screams and to Javi's desperate whispered reassurances as his lover tried to calm him.

"It's OK, Kev. It's alright, querida. I'm here. I'm here. Just a nightmare, baby. Only a dream. I'm here. I've got you. Kevin, everything's all right." He didn't even hear the words; just let them wash over him as he tried to slow his breathing and his racing heartbeat.

"Javi?" He hated how his voice wobbled halfway throught the words, making him sound like a child asking for his mother. He felt like a child; as lost and confused as he'd been after a nightmare back then.

"I'm here," murmered his partner "I'm here, Kevin." The Hispanic detective reached out and curled his arms around his lover, drawing him into his body and rubbing gently over dream chilled skin. "You're freezing, Kev," he said "Let me warm you, babe," he added as he reached for the blanket and wrapped it over them both. He'd never seen his lover this affected by his dreams and he was scared for him. There was silence for a while as he tried to bring some heat back into his shivering partners limbs.

"You wanna talk?" he asked finally. He didn't want to push but this wasn't healthy. Kevin needed to talk to someone and if it wasn't him then he was getting him some proffessional help. He was sure that idea would go down like a ton of bricks.

"I'm fine," the other man muttered. "Let's just go back to sleep."

"You're not fine," Javier insisted "We need to talk about this, Kev. If you can't talk to me then who can you talk to?"

"It's just dreams, Javi. They'll pass with time. Let's not talk about this right now. Please, Javi. I don't wanna talk. I'm fine. I really am." When the older man didn't look convinced Kevin twisted until he was straddling his hips.

"If you really wanna help," he murmered as seductively as he could "Then why don't you get me tired? I'm sure if you work hard enough," he nipped at an earlobe "I'll end up exhausted." The groan from his lover had a feral smile working it's way across his face. Sinced his accident, they hadn't really been intimate. Javier had been too worried about hurting his lover and his worry had made Kevin hesitant as well. It was way past the time for that to change, the Irish detective decided. He ground down against his partner and was pleased to note that certain parts of the other man were definitely taking a keen interest in events.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Javi asked gently "I don't wanna hurt you, babe. It's only been a couple of weeks since you had pretty major surgery."

"It'll be OK," Kevin told him "In fact," he added, sliding his lips down the other's jawline to rest at his pulse, "It's gonna be better than OK." He bit down with enough force to leave a light imprint of his teeth behind. Javier immediately tilted his head to offer his lover better access to the vulnerable skin at his throat. Kevin shifted to gain better friction for both of them. One of his injuries twinged slightly and, though he tried, he couldn't hide his wince of pain. Javier stopped him immediately.

"Kevin," he said warningly. The Irish detective gave him the best puppy dog eyes he could manage and the older man sighed as he gave in.

"We do this my way, babe," he insisted. I don't want you getting hurt. Lie down and let me do the work." The younger man moved until he was lying on his back in the centre of the bed. His skin was already flushed and his pupils dilated.

"Javi," he murmered invitingly. It was an invitation the Hispanic detective didn't need twice. He slotted himself over the other man's body, taking most of his weight on his elbows and knees.

"Kevin," he whispered, trying to put as much emotion as possible in that one word. The other man reached up with his good arm and brought their lips together. The kiss was fire and heat and left them breathless and aching and wanting more. Their tongues swept together until the need for air had them drawing back. Javier immediately began to nibble and taste along his lover's delicate collarbones. He was obviously doing something right because Kevin's words were becoming more and more unintelligible. Deciding he liked the way his partner fell apart beneath him he began to use every method he had at his disposal to make the younger man come apart. He internally catalogued every response his lover made and noted every sweet spot and erogenous zone. He didn't know how much experience the other man had had with men and he wanted this to be memorable for all the right reasons. He mapped out the smaller body and when he had tasted every inch of it he began to prepare his partner. There would be other times when Kevin could be the aggressor but he wanted their first to be this way around.

His need was an all consuming ache by the time he had the other man stretched and slick enough to receive him.

"Roll over for me, amante," he whispered, but Kevin shook his head.

"Wanna see you," he gasped "Gotta see you, Javi." The older man would have argued but his lover's expression stopped him. Giving in, he eased himself gently into tight heat, watching Kevin's face for any sign of pain. He moved as slowly as he could until he could go no further and waited for some signal that he could move the way he desperately wanted to. Kevin tilted his hips slightly and Javier knew from his delighted gasp that he'd nailed the right spot. He began to undulate against his partner and the other man surged back against him until they found the perfect rhythm. The heat began building and building until they were both close to completion.

"Come with me," Javi whispered "Come with me, carino." They reached climax together, shuddering and gasping through a pleasure so acute it was almost pain. Javier eased himself away from his lover and dropped down on the bed at his side, conscious of his still healing injuries.

"I love you," Kevin whispered and Javier couldn't speak for the immesuarable joy filling him. "You don't have to say it back," Kevin said hurriedly "I just wanted you to know. I can wait until-" Javier cut him off with a kiss.

"I love you," he told the other man "I didn't wanna rush you so I waited to hear it from you first. I love you." he repeated himself. Kevin's smile was like the sun coming up. He wrapped himself around his lover, ignoring Javi's protests that he would hurt himself.

"Mason's going down tomorrow," he whispered "I'm gonna enjoy watching that." He grinned cheekily up at the older cop "I'm gonna enjoy you so much more," he murmered seductively but the effect was ruined by a huge yawn.

"Get some sleep," Javi snorted amusedly.

"Night," Kevin whispered "Love you."

"Straight back at ya, querido," Javier murmered quietly. He pulled the other man towards him until they were entangled beneath the covers. "Should have figured this out sooner, Kev," he whispered to the already sleeping man "I've no idea how I lived without it before." He soon followed his lover into sleep, certain that nightmares would be kept away for one night at least. After all, he'd found a pretty effective cure.

And that's it! The end. Thank you so much to those who reviewed or left a comment. Please add yourself to the list and tell me what you think of this! Thank you again, greekprophet xx