Disclaimer: I don't own Shameless.

A/N: I know it's been forever since I wrote something for Shameless. But, the last couple of seasons just killed me. But, then episode 9.6 happened and all of my Gallavich feelings started up again. I also loved the Lip and Ian moments we saw. It's been years since we had those and boy did I miss them! And of course, that ending. Pure perfection!

Reassurance-Chapter 1

Lip's leg is bouncing a mile a minute as he waits for Ian to be escorted in to the other side of the plexiglass. It's been nearly two weeks since Ian has gone in, but it's the first time that Lip has been able to find time to visit. Things have been crazier than normal as of late. Things have been crazy down at the shop and he booked a couple more sober companion gigs. And then there's the whole clusterfuck with Fiona.

He hasn't been waiting long, but it's still long enough to think about every worst case scenario concerning his brother. Is he getting his meds? If not, is he on the verge of going manic? Or worse, is he in his bunk and refusing to get out of bed? Did that cocky smirk of his piss of the wrong guy? Did Ian cross paths with one of Terry's homophobic prick friends?

Lip runs a hand over his head. Jesus. What's taking so long?

Then almost as if someone heard him, the door to the visitation room is unlocked and the inmates are lead in. It takes a few seconds for the siblings to find each other and that's only because Ian finds Lip first. For Ian's hair is still that disastrous dark hue and not the familiar red that Lip knows. When they do make eye contact, Ian gives him that familiar shit eating grin that Lip knows all too well.

With Ian sitting just inches from him, Lip gets a good look at him. He lets out a breath he didn't even realize that he's been holding. Ian looks…good. No cuts. No bruises. Not even a scratch. Wait a second…Is that a hickey on his neck?

Ian picks up the phone so Lip does the same.

"Hey, Lip." Ian greets turning his neck allowing Lip to get a better look at the impressive hickey that's marring the left side of his pale neck.

"Ian," Lip says with a mischievous smile of his own.

"What?"

"You know what. Here I am feeling like shit because I haven't been able to get down here to see you, but it looks like you have had plenty of company to keep you busy."

"It's not like that."

"Bullshit. You've already gotten laid. Do I need to add more cash to your commissary account for lube and condoms?" Lip asks chuckling.

"It's…" Ian starts but then stops.

"It's what?" Lip asks, dropping the smile from his face when he sees how serious Ian is. "What is it, Ian?"

"It's…it's Mickey."

"Mickey?" Lip asks genuinely confused. Ian hasn't mentioned Mickey in over a year. What brought this on?

"What about him? Last I heard he was in Mexico."

"He was," Ian says playing with the cord to the phone. "But, then he rolled on the cartel he was working for and he's here…with me. He's my cell mate."

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

He did not see that one coming.

"You and Mickey?" Lip asks.

"Yeah," Ian says with shy smile.

At first Lip wants to say what the fuck is he thinking. But then he looks at Ian. Sees his unmarked face. Sees the same goofy smile plastered on his face that used to always be there years ago, but only makes a rare appearance nowadays. That's because of Mickey.

"That's… that's… good." Lip says. And much to his surprise, he genuinely means it.

Lip and Fiona disagreed about a lot of things. Ian and Mickey's relationship is one of them. Where Fiona sees their relationship as toxic, Lip doesn't. Maybe that's because Lip has been there from the beginning. To be honest in the beginning, he would have agreed with Fiona. He thought it was a disaster that would end up only hurting Ian. Hell, he lost count of how many times he told Ian to fuck someone else.

But unlike Fiona, he saw the evolution of their relationship. He saw it grow from the random hookups to becoming something that's so much more, so much deeper. Maybe it's because of the disastrous way her and Jimmy/Steve's relationship ended, but Fiona became so much more jaded after that. She couldn't see how it was Mickey that brought Ian back after he ran away to join the army. Lip and Debbie tried, but failed. That was all Mickey. She couldn't see it was Mickey who realized something was wrong when Ian wouldn't get out of bed. Nor, did Fiona see the heartbroken look on Mickey's face as they drove home from Terre Haute after picking up Ian and Yevgeny.

No, Fiona didn't see it. But, Lip did.

"It is?" Ian asks.

Lip rolls his eyes. "What do you want me to say? That it's not okay?"

Ian shakes his head. "I just wasn't expecting you to say that. Do you mean it?"

He does.

"Maybe it's because I'm sober now, but I learned some things. Sometimes you're better off not questioning things and just go with it. And that pretty much sums you guys up. I really don't understand how you guys work, but you do. Anyone can see that. You obviously love him. You have since we were kids. And he loves you. Anyone with a set of eyes can see that. That night at the Alibi after Yevgeny's christening, when Mickey came out for you. Jesus, Ian. People are still talking about it. It's going to be part of Southside history. And let's not even mention how you were this close to running off to Mexico to be with him."

"I really wasn't going to," Ian starts but stops himself.

He may not have then, but they both knew it was bound to happen at some point. If not In Mexico, then somewhere else. Some day he and Mickey would be together again.

"Listen, man. Like I said, I don't really get everything about you two. But, you love him and he loves you. And if that keeps you happy and safe in here, then it's good."

A huge smile spreads across Ian's face. "Thanks, Lip. I needed to hear that."

"No problem, Ian. That's what brothers are for," Lip says.

They spend the rest of their visit talking about what's going on with the rest of their siblings and Frank, as well as neighborhood gossip. All too soon, time is up. Before Ian leaves, Lip makes a promise that he will be back next week. As Ian is ushered back to his cell, Lip can't help but feel relieved. Yes, Ian still has nearly 23 months left on his sentence, but Mickey will be there along with him. That's all the reassurance Lip needs.

I just needed a little more Ian and Lip interaction. I really miss those scenes and of course we needed some Mickey love as well. This is only going to be a two-shot. Next up, Lip visits Mickey….