Quiet laughter could be heard coming from up in the locker room, along with barely audible kisses being exchanged behind the cover of Doug Penhall's locker door, where Tom Hanson was currently leaning against as his lover kissed him.
A few minutes later, the two police officers made their way down the stairs and were about to sit down to do some work, but Fuller called out Doug's name, beckoning him to come into his office.
"Be right back," Doug said to Tom, who only smiled and sat down at his desk as Doug was ushered into their Captain's office.
"So, Tom…" Judy said conversationally, gracefully sitting at the edge of his desk. "How's it going?"
"Good," the young man replied, still smiling. She was the only one who knew about their relationship so far, and he knew that she always loved to hear details about them. "How are you, Judy?"
She rolled her eyes and lowered her voice as she said, "I meant, how's it going between you and Doug?"
Tom gently bit his lip and sighed, "It's great, actually." He lowered his voice and added, "He's such a romantic… he makes dinner for me every night, and whenever I try to say that he doesn't have to do it, he just shuts me up and…"
"Yes??" Judy said, sounding interested.
The other cop smiled blissfully and finished, "What we do is for our eyes and ears only, Judith."
"Alright, Thomas, I'll get the information from Douglas," she said, hopping off his desk and sticking her tongue out at him before she left.
Soon, Doug walked out of Fuller's office, looking angry and miserable as he made his way over to Tom, who frowned in worry as he stood and said, "What's the matter?"
Doug just shook his head and said, "I have to –"
"Penhall, Hanson, you two are undercover over at Lincoln, right?" Fuller called out again, interrupting Doug.
They both nodded, and Fuller continued, "Well, the guy you're trying to bust just made a new deal – I want you down there immediately."
As they hurried out of the office, Doug mumbled, "I'll tell you later, alright?"
Tom nodded, quickly placing a kiss on Doug's cheek as he replied, "Don't worry about it, okay? I'll talk to you later."
Doug nodded sullenly, getting into his car. Maybe it would work out in the end. He sighed. Hopefully.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah."
"Oh." Tom turned around and averted his gaze from Doug's. "Why do they need you?"
"They've started a new undercover unit down in Florida, and they needed a few people from over here."
"Why'd they choose you?" Tom asked quietly, still keeping his eyes on the floor instead of Doug.
"I've been with Jumpstreet for a while now, and they said I had the most experience," the other cop replied, running his hand through his hair as he added, "Look, Tom –"
"I really have to get this report written up before tomorrow, Doug," Tom said, walking away from his lover and not noticing the hurt that flashed across Doug's eyes. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright?"
Doug sighed and nodded. "Okay."
He walked to Tom's apartment door and opened it, slowly making his way down the hall. Tom closed the door behind Doug, holding his emotions in until he heard his lover walking down the stairs that led out of his apartment building.
Quickly, Tom walked into his bedroom and fell onto his bed as he began sobbing, burying his face into his pillow. His tears rolled down his cheeks and left moist trails across his face as his gasps and sobs wracked his entire body. He never even heard his front door open, or the sound of footsteps entering his bedroom.
Suddenly, he left somebody's hand on his shoulder, and Tom sat up, falling right into Doug's arms.
"Doug," he sobbed, "Please don't leave…"
He wrapped his arms around Doug's shoulders and let himself fall against his lover's strong chest, sobbing, "Don't leave… don't leave…"
Doug put his arms around Tom's waist and pulled him up to sit on his lap, whispering, "Shh, calm down… we'll think of something, we'll work something out…"
Tom only continued crying quietly, trying to stop the sounds involuntarily coming out of his mouth before he said, "What… what if… we n- never see each other again?"
"That won't happen," his lover reassured him, sounding only half-convinced himself. "That can't happen. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Tommy."
Tom now rested his head on Doug's shoulder, still sitting on his lap on the bed, and quietly said, "I love you, Doug. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Doug pressed his lips against Tom's cheek and entwined his fingers into his dark brown hair as he replied, "I know, if feels like I couldn't live without you…"
"Promise me we'll do everything we can to keep you here, okay?"
"I'll try," the older cop whispered, "I'll try…"
Tom pulled away slightly, looking concerned. "Unless you… don't want to stay here?"
"No, no – how can you think that?" Doug said, looking into Tom's dark brown, watery eyes as he reached up with both hands to gently wipe the tears off his cheeks. "Of course I'm going to try to stay here…"
He leant forward until their lips touched, and he was glad to feel Tom's hands slide around his neck as they kissed tenderly, both of their heartbeats racing as they slowly fell onto Tom's bed, Doug still cradling Tom close to him when he let out another quiet, stifled sob.
"Tom," Doug whispered, almost on the verge of tears, "Please don't cry like that, you're making me feel horrible…"
At that, Tom sniffled again and wiped his eyes, looking up at his lover through long, dark lashes as he said, "I'm sorry, I'm such a wreck sometimes…"
He began sliding his fingers through Doug's wavy hair, murmuring, "It just really took me by surprise, that's all. I got scared."
"Of what?" Doug questioned quietly.
"That I wouldn't be with the man I love," he replied, once again averting his gaze. His eyes filled with tears again. "What if you can't stay, Doug?"
Doug sighed. "I don't know," he said truthfully.
"I don't expect you to give up your job, you love being a cop…"
"Let's not worry about it now, alright?" Doug said quickly, sending a pleading look to Tom, who took the hint and merely nodded before tilting his chin up so they could kiss again. This time, they both let themselves drown in the sensation of feeling soft hands and even softer lips caress each other's skin.
Soon, they were both lost in pleasure as they slid out of their clothes, always maintaining eye contact, except for when Tom had to close his eyes and arch his back as Doug slowly entered him. But their lips never had to part for more than a few seconds, and they were both thankful for it.
--
Tom woke up later, expecting to hear Doug's deep, steady breathing next to him, but his room was quiet. He lifted his head off the pillow and looked at the other side of the bed, which was empty. He looked down at himself and realized that Doug had carefully covered him with blankets, so he wouldn't get cold.
"Doug?" he called out; the first thought that appeared in his mind was that Doug had already left to go to his new job, and Tom quickly sat up, almost shouting, "Doug, where are you?"
His heart jumped into his throat – oh no, Doug left already, and Tom would be alone – he couldn't believe this was happening, he'd never been happier in his life than when he was with Doug, and now he's gone and –
Like a sign from heaven, Tom noticed a sheet of paper on his bedside table. Quickly, he picked it up, pulling the blankets tighter around his bare skin as he began reading,
Tom,
I just left to go to the office to talk to Fuller. I'll call you tonight.
Love you,
Doug
The dark-haired cop sighed with relief and momentarily closed his eyes, forcing his mind not to think about what would happen if Doug left.
They just had to figure out a way to make Doug stay.