My Champion – sequel to Home is where the heart is...

Brooks studied Martin. He was under the impression that the younger man was quickly regaining his strength and it was getting harder to keep the Texan confined to bed, but Todd's instructions had been clear. "Stay where you are!" Brooks pointed a finger at Martin, who was trying to get up from the couch, warning him not to push the matter. They had given in, allowing Martin to crash on the couch instead of resting in bed, but that was where Brooks drew the line. "You have been out of the hospital for a grand total of four days! You need to rest!"

Martin sighed, growing frustrated now that Brooks kept him on a short leash. "I'm doing better!"

"Yes, you are," Brooks agreed, "but you're also prone to overestimating your strength. So we'll follow Todd's instructions instead; rest and no strenuous activities." Martin was restless and Brooks figured he knew why. "Is this because Ronnie's visiting?" His friend had kept his distance these last few days, limiting himself to merely texting Brooks, but now the City Attorney had announced a visit. It was probably the very reason why Martin was on edge.

Martin hated the fact that Brooks knew him that well. "Maybe… Probably." He didn't look forward to Ronnie's visit and could easily have done without it, but he knew his father in law worried. It wouldn't do to refuse Ronnie.

"Hey, everything will be fine!" Brooks exchanged his chair for the coffee table, where he sat down and searched Martin's eyes. "Why are you nervous?"

Martin shrugged, carefully though as he didn't want to irritate his shoulder wound. "He'll act all concerned."

"That's because he IS concerned," Brooks admonished the younger man. "Ronnie cares about you. Maybe you can try to let him in? Just a little?"

Martin wasn't sure he should, but for Brooks' sake, he'd try.

/

"Thanks for having me, Brooks." Ronnie removed his coat and smiled warmly at his friend. He could never repay Brooks and Todd for taking care of his troublesome son in law. "How's Marty doing?"

Still wondering how Ronnie got away with calling Martin that, Brooks chuckled. "He's doing better than we expected. His wounds heal up nicely and he's getting restless. He's trying to move about, which Todd tries to nip in the butt." Todd had toughened up where Martin was concerned; he had to, otherwise Martin would try to return to work. They'd both vetoed that idea and told Martin to accept he was on sick leave for at least another week. It was needless to say that Martin had cursed at hearing that.

"Good, you need to slow him down. He takes so little care of himself!" Ronnie followed Brooks into the living room and smiled at seeing Martin resting on the couch, tucked beneath a quilt, and watching television. Martin looked much improved, thankfully. "Marty!"

Martin flinched. Ronnie's overly enthusiastic tone worried him. "Ronnie," he said calmly while making eye contact. He hadn't seen his father in law since he'd left the hospital. Ronnie had texted him each day though and he had replied – short and to the point, but he hadn't ignored him.

"Please sit down." Brooks looked at them and realized they needed a moment alone. "Want something to drink? I just made coffee."

"Coffee's fine with me, thanks!" Ronnie sat down in the chair next to the couch and examined Martin closely. "You look well!" Martin really did!

"These mother hens are overdoing it," Martin said the moment Brooks disappeared into the kitchen. "They won't let me do anything! Todd wants me off my feet and Brooks is even worse. They constantly hover and tell me to rest. It's getting old."

Ronnie however grinned. "They're just what you need, admit it." He'd often despaired where Martin was concerned. It had never crossed his mind that Brooks and Todd would be the cure. He felt grateful that they had taken Martin in. "How's the injury?"

Martin decided to be honest. Ronnie was too adapt at detecting any lies. "Shoulder's much improved and hardly hampers me." But the abdominal wound was a different story.

"And your abdomen?" Ronnie excelled at reading between the lines. Martin excluding that wound told him a lot.

"Could be better. It's inconvenient." Raising his legs, walking about, bending down, those things still caused him pain, so Todd had told him to listen to his body and rest. "Hopefully they'll let me go back to work next week. I can do paperwork." He knew better than to pressure Brooks into letting him ride with Roger.

"You hate paperwork!" Ronnie pointed out. It was good to see Martin putting up a fight for it meant he was getting better. "Anna sends you her love. She would love to visit too." Those words made Martin avert his gaze and it told Ronnie it was too soon to bring that up.

Brooks picked that moment to join them. He placed the coffee in front of Ronnie and handed Martin some hot chocolate, having realized the younger man liked the hot drink. Martin briefly gave him a thankful look and then wrapped his hands around the mug. "We have a hard time keeping him away from the precinct. He even wants to do paperwork, imagine that!"

Martin felt grateful that Brooks tried to do away with the rising tension between Ronnie and him. "At least that way I'm useful! All I do right now is rest!"

"And what's wrong with that?" Brooks calmly inquired while sipping from his coffee. "You're injured, you need to rest."

"I'm getting better!" Martin glared at Brooks.

"Yes, you are, but you're not quite there yet. So try being patient a little longer."

He'd do so, but only because it was Brooks.

/

"We can't keep him down much longer," Todd mused when they went to bed two days later. "He's getting restless. Today I caught him climbing the stairs, while I had told him not to!" He joined his life partner in bed and wrapped his arms around him. "I don't like it either, but we need to give him some space."

Brooks got that, but he wasn't giving in easily. "He's not going back on the job just yet!"

Todd nodded. "Maybe we can take him to the beach tomorrow? We're both off from work and I'd love to go surfing. We'll monitor him and see how it goes. If he does well, we might allow him to tag along with you on Monday. He can do paperwork," he added quickly, because Brooks was about to protest. "No active duty for him yet, I agree!"

Brooks didn't like it, but agreed. "What if he wants to go for a swim?"

"He can. His wounds healed up, so it shouldn't be a problem. Swimming might actually be good for him." Todd snuggled up and sighed contently. "I understand that you're worried where Martin is concerned, but you need to tone it down."

Brooks sighed; Todd was right. "I can't help feeling protective. He saved my life, Todd, twice."

"And we're indebted to him," Todd agreed. "But we also owe it to him to treat him accordingly."

Todd was correct. Still, Brooks preferred knowing Martin safe at home. He also knew it was an illusion though. He closed his eyes, focused on his partner's comforting presence, and let himself drift off into sleep.

/

Martin relaxed at having his freedom returned to him. They were on the beach, Todd was surfing and Brooks remained close. They'd switch every so often and then Brooks would be out there riding the waves while Todd monitored him. "Why don't you join Todd?" Martin suggested, trying to convince Brooks to give him some space. He was abiding to their rules and not exerting himself. They should cut him some slack.

"Not happening," Brooks muttered. He'd love to surf alongside Todd, but he refused to let Martin out of his sight, knowing the Texan was prone to getting himself into dangerous situations.

"What if I join the two of you? I can do with a swim and I promise not to overdo it," he promised quickly, seeing Brooks was about to object. "Give me some space, Brooks!" he exploded, fed up with them hovering close all the time.

Recalling Todd's warning, Brooks nodded hesitantly. "Stay close."

Relieved that he'd gotten through to Brooks, Martin carefully got to his feet. Todd had removed his bandages that morning, proclaiming him sufficiently healed to go swimming if he wanted to, but had also urged him not to overdo it. Martin intended to heed that warning as he didn't want to end up in hospital or confined to bed again. He followed Brooks into the water and enjoyed his temporary freedom. Carefully, he started swimming, letting himself float and simply enjoying himself.

Brooks kept a close eye on his charge, but when Martin behaved himself, he relaxed. Maybe they'd gotten through to the Texan after all.

/

That evening, Martin fell asleep on the couch. The fresh air, the exercise, and the excitement of finally being out in the open had drained him.

"He's doing well," Todd remarked and looked at his life partner. "You should allow him to tag along tomorrow. Let him do paperwork. Being back at the precinct will do him good."

Brooks realized the same thing. Martin needed to be among his friends. "I'll let him," he agreed, "but he's on desk duty. He can do paperwork and I'll team him up with Cruz or Bailey. He is NOT riding with Murtaugh."

"Sounds like a good compromise." Todd approved. He'd briefly worried that Brooks' protectiveness would hamper Martin's recovery, but his lover was adapting.

/

He hadn't thought it possible, but the prospect of doing paperwork at the precinct excited him. He'd been cooped up for almost three weeks and wanted to get back in the game. He'd abide to Todd's and Brooks' rules for now. He'd stick to paperwork and behave himself.

/

Roger felt relieved at seeing Riggs march into the bullpen. His partner still moved awkwardly, but he was back. "Riggs, I can't believe you're back! I thought you'd died!"

Martin grinned wickedly. "Only the good die young, Rog! All the evil seem to live forever!" He slowly sat down at his desk, taking his healing abdominal wound into account. "Damn, it's good to be back!" He looked about and felt at home.

"Riggs!" Cruz walked over to the detective's desk and looked him over. "Welcome back!" He'd missed the Texan and was glad to have him back.

"Cruz, it's good to be back, buddy! I missed this place!" And the people in it!

Bailey smiled welcomingly at him. "Someone told me you're looking forward to doing paperwork. I find that hard to believe; your typing skills are nonexistent!" But she was happy to have him at the bullpen. The place wasn't the same without him in it. "You worried us when you went down," she added. "It's the first time ever a cop was shot in the break room! How do you manage to get into those situations?"

"Talent and sheer luck!" Riggs grinned broadly. Damn, he'd missed them! "So tell me, what's happening? Any interesting cases?"

"The only interesting cases you'll get your eyes on are the files you'll be typing up," Brooks said resolutely as he joined them. Seeing Martin back in his element made him happy. Addressing his team, he said, "Remember guys, Riggs is on desk duty. Do not, and let me repeat that, do NOT let him talk you into taking him into the field."

Martin gave Brooks a reassuring smile. "I get it, cap. I'll stay put." He'd promised both Brooks and Todd that he'd stick to his desk.

"You'd better!" Brooks warned him. "Otherwise we'll confine you back to bed!"

"Aye, sir," Martin said, and nodded. "Message received and understood." He'd abide to the rules, for now.

TBC