White Flag
a tag to Planet Electric
by Laura Boeff
"Knock, knock."
Ace looked up in surprise
at the unexpected voice that intruded into the quiet of the Express' library/living
room. For a moment anger rushed through him and it must have touched his
eyes as Vega ducked his head, the older man hovering in the door, awaiting
his permission to enter. Ace considered refusing it for an instant, then
sighed. No. Vega had just made a mistake. Had called it wrong and thought
Ace guilty along with everyone else. It hurt him -deep inside- that the
man that had had a part in raising him didn't know him better by now. But,
that hurt wouldn't be absolved by ignoring the detective.
"Hello, Vega," he
called, voice still a touch cold with his churning emotions. Vega flinched
slightly, but accepted the formal use of his name.
"Hey, Ace. I... I'm
sorry. I'm sorry I didn't believe you, in you," he got out without preamble.
"I should have more faith in you by now."
"I understand. I was
a criminal at one time."
"One time, a long
time ago," Vega almost argued, then shook his head. "It's still wrong that
I gave up on you. I'm suppose to be the intuitive one. You failing that
lie detector test should have been the first clue something was rotten."
Vega shrugged slightly and sighed. Then looked at him, brown eyes sincere.
"I am sorry."
Ace held his gaze
for a second, then nodded. "Apology accepted. Come on in," he invited,
standing politely. The relief was tangible as Vega relaxed, wandering in.
The cop sat slowly in the easy chair across from Ace.
"How are you doing?"
Vega now asked.
Ace took a deep breath.
"Relieved that it's over and my names cleared. I'll be dodging the media
for awhile, but that's not something I'm not use to doing." He smiled slightly.
Vega hesitantly returned it and Ace felt better himself. He hated being
angry, never stayed that way for long.
"What's he doing here?!"
The sharp demand jerked
both men's attention to the door where Cosmo stood. Normally, such a harsh
tone would be answered by Vega, but this time the older man was silent
beneath the teen's withering gaze. There was no missing Cosmo's opinion
of Vega at this moment. The two of them always seemed to be at odds, now
more so then ever.
"Sit down, Cosmo,"
Ace ordered gently. They'd only been home from the hospital for a few hours.
The narcotics Cosmo had been subjected too still filtering through his
body. He swayed in the door, face still pale and eyes still wide and a
touch glassy despite the angry glare he gave the detective.
Without ever removing
his accusing gaze from Vega, Cosmo came and sat on the couch beside Ace,
red brows etching a dark glare.
"I came to offer Ace
my apology," Vega said softly in answer to Cosmo's original question.
"Huh. Now you believe
he's innocent? Now you want to kiss and make up?" Cosmo shot back snidely.
"Cosmo..." Ace let
his disapproval into his voice. Cosmo was still on edge. Still recovering
from the drugs, and stress, and fighting everyone else who had written
Ace of as being guilty.
"Oh come on, Ace.
He says he's your friend, then the first sign of trouble he happily writes
you off as no good and goes trailing Friedrichs playing 'yes man'." Cosmo
argued angrily, Vega flinching slightly.
"I didn't agree with
Friedrichs," the detective countered.
"You sure as hell
didn't argue with him either!"
"Like I could. He
does outrank me."
"That's never stopped
you before!"
"Enough!" Ace had
to shout and Cosmo jerked, flashed him a look then fell silent, chest heaving
with anger.
Vega looked guilty
himself, ducked his head. "Sorry," he mumbled.
It was not surprising
though that Cosmo refused to apologize for his anger. Ace sighed. Cosmo
was passionate about many things; Ace's integrity was one of them. He touched
the teen's arm, felt the flush of heat and worried slightly. Cosmo should
still be in bed resting. Being mad at Vega was the last thing either of
them needed.
"We all make mistakes, Cosmo,"
he explained calmly. "Vega made one. It doesn't mean I can't forgive him."
Cosmo said nothing,
gray eyes flashing with barely restrained emotion. The teen had been close
to losing his partner and guardian to a prison sentence. That fact wasn't
going to go away easily, or soon.
"I am sorry, Cosmo.
I truly am. Sometimes I have too much faith that our system is without
fail and believe it when I should question it. This was one of those times.
I should have been questioning it all to hell. I will question in the future.
I am sorry."
The apology was levered
toward both of them. Ace smiled and nodded. Cosmo just let out a huff and
crossed his arm over his chest. Derek flashed him a worried look, but Ace
just shook his head slightly. Cosmo would be Cosmo. He would forgive and
forget in time. In his own time.
"Who's handling the
case?" Ace asked to change the subject.
"Wilson's got the
clean up. You made things easy for him, Cosmo." Vega looked hopefully to
the teen. Cosmo shrugged and mumbled something sarcastic, not giving into
the baiting praise. Vega nodded to himself. Yup, he was Cosmo's bad side
for sure right now.
"I'll keep you updated,
but it looks like everything should be wrapped up pretty cleanly," Vega
went on.
"That's good to hear,"
Ace admitted. "I would like to be kept informed."
"No problem." Vega
levered himself up. "In fact, I should get back to the office and see how
everything's going."
Ace rose with him
and accepted the proffered hand; shaking it firmly.
"Take care, Derek,"
Ace offered with a smile and Vega nodded sliding a look toward Cosmo who
ignored him. With a sigh of his own, the cop left them.
Ace arched an eyebrow
at his assistant.
"We all make mistakes,
Cosmo," Ace said simply, then smiled. "You've made a few yourself."
The teen glared at
him, then let out a gusting breath, giving up his defensive stance.
"Yea, yea, I know.
It's just... Man, the way everyone wrote you off like that." Cosmo snapped
his fingers for emphasis. "It seriously burned me, ya know."
"I know. It was a
bit disturbing that, " Ace sighed, then his smile returned. "But not everyone
wrote me off. Thank you."
Cosmo now blushed,
shrugged and grinned. "No prob, bro. Someone has to keep you out of trouble."
"Full time job, eh?"
Ace now teased. Cosmo rolled his eyes.
"You know it," Cosmo
countered. "But it's a job I love."
"I'm glad you do,
partner." Ace offered the teen a hand and Cosmo accepted, letting the older
man haul him off the couch. "And, even in the end, my friend's came through
when they were really needed. That matters for something."
Cosmo let out what
could be a chuckle, or a snort. "Only after they had a little sense kicked
into them."
Ace nodded. "And knowing
you, you kicked hard."
Cosmo laughed. "Oh
yea. And I'd do it again."
"Never doubted it.
You up to something to eat?"
"Uhh... you're not
thinking of going out.. are you?"
Ace laughed at Cosmo's
cautious tone and smiled.
"How about a couple
of world famous super hoagies with extra mayo straight from the fridge?"
Ace bowed toward the door with a flourish. "Courtesy of chef Cooper."
Cosmo grinned. "You're
on!"