Partnered

by:

JJS4 & A.K. Hunter

Chapter Three

Kevin wanted to get away from the stress. He couldn't remember ever being so upset. Sure, he was upset when Javi got shot, but he knew that Javi hadn't intentionally set out to put himself in that position. With Alexis it was different. She was out of her depth and she couldn't see or accept it. Just thinking about it got him even more upset. How could they have paired him with someone like that? Someone who was so incompetent? She could have gotten herself killed. Did she have a death wish? There was no other reason to explain why she had acted so recklessly.

He figured the only thing that would turn his day around a little was seeing his partner—his real partner. Having someone to vent to would help out a lot. Javi was always asking about the rookie, and rather than blowing it off like usual, Kevin had a lot to tell him.

Kevin arrived to Javi's room to find him flipping through stations. He felt so bad for him, being cooped up like that. It was hard to see, but he'd never let Javi see how bad he felt for him, he'd never hear the end of it. "How you feeling?" Kevin came in and dropped a bag on his bed.

"Like I've been shot," Javi deadpanned, looking at the bag. "What's this?"

"I come bearing gifts." He'd stopped before going the hospital and picked up some of Javi's favorite candies.

"Bro, this is best present I've gotten in a while."

Kevin smiled. "What about those sponge baths you get? They don't seem like they'd be too bad. I've seen your nurse." Kevin definitely wanted to ask for her number, but Javi had set some ground rules, which meant Kevin couldn't ask for numbers or even flirt with his nurses.

Javi rolled his eyes. "I wish. Nothing sexy about a woman having to bathe you because you can do it yourself. It's so demoralizing," Javi sighed, looking back up to the TV.

Kevin felt bad, he'd never really thought of it that way. "Well, maybe when you get out of here, you can ask for her number."

Javi shrugged, turning off the TV. "Daytime television sucks, bro."

"You don't like soap operas?"

"I'd rather be shot again," Javi replied, dropping the remote on the bed next to him. "How are things at the precinct? Anything new with the case?"

Kevin let out a deep breath. "Let me start by saying you can't get out of this bed fast enough, bro."

"Couldn't agree more," Javi smiled tightly. "Is it that bad?"

"We caught a lead on the guy who shot you." Kevin saw Javi's eyes spring open.

"Really?"

"Yeah, the rookie—" Kevin stopped, shaking his head.

"What? She screwed up? He got away?"

"No. He's in holding as we speak."

Relief flooded over Javi's features. "Well, that sounds like she did what she was supposed to do."

"No, she didn't!" Kevin snapped. "She wasn't supposed to go anywhere near him, but instead she met him head on and ended up getting injured." Kevin shook his head. Talking about it was get him angry all over again. How stupid was this girl?

"Damn, is she okay?"

Kevin nodded. "Just some bruised ribs and cut on her face."

"Where were you when this happened?"

"Not there."

"What?" Javi shifted his head, giving Kevin a look of disbelief.

"I didn't get there fast enough. She was already pretty banged up by time I showed up."

"So what was with this guy?"

"He's insane. Like really. Could smell the crazy coming off of him."

"And that's why I got shot?"

"Apparently you scared the nutcase when you approached him."

Javi sat there letting it sink in, while Kevin's blood began to boil. "She knew this guy was a psycho, so why the hell would she go after him alone? What kind of person does something like that?"

"People like us, bro," Javi smoothly replied.

"But she's just a rookie."

"We were all rookies at one time." Javi bit into one of the candy bars Kevin had brought. "From what you have told me, it seems like a win."

"Bruised ribs is a win?"

An amused grin grew across Javi's face. "Wow, you almost sound like you're worried about her."

Kevin shook his head. What the hell? "You've been shot; you have no idea what you're talking about."

"Classic deflection. I expect more from you, Kev."

"Javi, I don't like her."

"I didn't say you did. I just said you seemed concerned about her."

Kevin scoffed. "Okay, are we done talking about this, Dr. Phil?"

"Okay, sure." Javi smirked. "So, how is she doing? Getting attacked like that," Javi shook his head, "must have spooked her quite a bit."

"I don't know." Kevin said. "Didn't stick around long."

"What?" Javi nearly yelled at him. "You didn't check on her to see how she was doing?"

"I know what happened."

Javi sighed. "Not what I meant, bro. She might be going through some emotional trauma." Kevin didn't reply. "She's your partner."

"You're my partner."

"Not until I get back to work. Until then, she's your partner and you should go check on her."

"Why?"

"Kev, I got shot and you nearly went crazy on all the doctors and nurses here, telling them that they better do their job."

"Your point?"

"Alexis. She got attacked. Maybe you could show her some of the same concern you showed for me. She has to be a wreck."

Kevin sighed. "What am I supposed to do? Hold her hand while she cries on my shoulder?"

"Just go check on her. Let her know she has support."

Kevin weighed his options. He could go home and feel guilty or go see Alexis and try and make the feeling inside of him fade. Would he actually feel better going to see Alexis? Would she even want to see him? It was partially his fault that she went out on her own and got injured. Could he face that? Would he be able to look at her without being angry?

"I don't know, Javi."

"Yes, you do."

"I haven't exactly gained her trust. What if I go and she doesn't want to see me?"

Javi shifted in the bed. "Go see her and earn her trust. If I were you, I would."

Kevin looked dumbfounded for a moment, but then it hit him. He wanted to be like Javi. Kevin's partner was well respected, got along with almost everyone he met; he was kind. Kevin used to be like that before everything got turned around. Sometimes he missed that old version of himself. Sometimes. He had the opportunity to try to be more like that guy everyone used to genuinely like. He could also use this opportunity to work on his partnership with Alexis. Clearly they needed it.

He could be upset that Alexis had gone out and made a mistake that got her hurt, but she was still his partner and—no matter what he said to Javi about Alexis—he didn't want her to get hurt. That was why he was upset, not just because she went behind his back, but because she allowed herself to even be put in a situation that would cause her harm.

"Maybe you're right."

"Maybe? Course I'm right," Javi said, throwing a candy bar wrapper at Kevin's face. "Now go make sure your partner is okay."

Kevin needed to go see her. He needed to go check on her and see how she was doing. He wasn't sure how Alexis would take to seeing him, but he wanted to let her know that he was sorry that she had gotten hurt. After all, he could blame himself just as easily for her being in the hospital.

He found her room easily enough and was hoping he wouldn't be interrupting her if she had company. He knocked on the door, but no reply came. Was she asleep? He decided to go in, gently twisting the handle with one hand while the other carried a bouquet of flowers. He wasn't usually the type to buy flowers, but they seemed appropriate. He didn't know what Alexis liked, so flowers seemed like a good choice.

Kevin walked in to find her asleep, just like he suspected. He closed the door behind him and slowly walked over, setting the flowers on the table near her bed. She looked pale and small in the hospital bed, especially with stitches on her cheek. He surprisingly found it hard to look at her in that hospital bed. It didn't make sense for her to be there. It felt wrong. Seeing how badly she'd been hurt made a feel a little sick.

He looked around her room to see if anyone else had left her anything, but the room was bare. That made him question the flowers. Obviously other people had stopped by, so why didn't they leave anything? Were the flowers inappropriate?

The door behind him opened and he turned around. A nurse came in a stopped mid-step when she saw him. "Oh, I wasn't expecting anyone to be in here."

"Why's that?"

"I think you're the first visitor she's had since being admitted," the nurse replied, looking over one of the monitors by Alexis' bed.

"Seriously? Nobody else has come to see her? Maybe her mother or father?"

The nurse shook her head. "Afraid not."

"Well, doesn't she have an emergency contact?"

"Yes, her grandmother, but we weren't able to contact her and that's the only number we have to reach anyone." Even the nurse seemed saddened that Alexis appeared to have nobody to care for her. "Poor girl, she could use some company," she said, scratching something on the chart in her hands. "How do you know her?"

"I, uh, work with her."

The nurse nodded. "Well," she said as she started to leave, "it's nice of you to come see her. I'm sure she'd appreciate it." She smiled, leaving Kevin standing there, trying to figure out why nobody came to see Alexis. No family or friends? It didn't make sense to him.

He looked back down at his new partner. He'd realized he didn't know the girl laying there at all. She never talked about family or friends; she kept it professional, which he liked, but right now he was hoping he knew a little more about the girl he was working with. Why didn't she have anyone in her life?

He questioned whether or not he should stay until she woke up but decided against it. He wouldn't know what to say to her. Instead, he grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a note for her and placed it in the flowers. He gave her one last look before turning around and leaving. He'd come back another time.

The next day, after a long and boring eight hours at the precinct, he was ready to go and see Alexis, to actually talk to her. Ask how she was. Ask why apparently he was the only one who gave a damn about her being in the hospital. He couldn't wrap his mind around it. He was an asshole to most people, but he knew if he was in the hospital more than a few people would show up, especially his family.

He was just making it to his car when his his cell rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and sighed. Really? She had to call now? He didn't want to, but he answered. "Hey, sis."

"Hey stranger. Why haven't you called me recently? Is everything okay?"

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Yes, don't go getting all mother hen on me. I'm fine. I've just been very busy with work."

"Are you sure that's all it is?"

"Jesus, I just said so. Any other questions?"

"Don't go being an asshole to me. I may be a mother now, but I can still kick your ass, Kevin."

He sighed. "Yes, I know. I'm sorry. It's just been a long day," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry I haven't called in a while. How are things going?"

"Well, your nephews and niece are quite handful, and Frank isn't any better." She laughed at her joke.

Kevin smiled just imagining it. "Somehow I don't doubt that you are keeping them in line."

"An ongoing battle, but I'll win."

"I believe you. So everyone's doing good, then?"

"Yeah, but the kiddos miss their Uncle Kevin."

"I miss them too."

"So how's life going for you? How's Javi doing?"

Kevin just realized he hadn't told Gwen the news. "Uh, actually he's in the hospital."

"What? Is he okay?"

"He was shot, but he's doing better now."

"Oh my gosh! Tell him I said that I hope he's able to get back to work soon. That has to be killing him."

Kevin smiled. Gwen was fond of Javi. Kevin would bring him to family dinners every once in awhile. Everyone loved him. Gwen loved hearing all the stories of when Kevin would do something stupid or funny and Javi was always more than willing to share them.

"I'll pass on the message. I hope he gets back soon, too."

"Is that why you've been so busy?"

"Sort of."

"Didn't they assign you a new partner?"

"Yes, they did, but the thing is that she's in the hospital too." Right then, something clicked inside of Kevin's mind.

"Wow. I hate to say it, Kev, but you sound like a terrible partner." He knew she was joking, but it didn't stop him from agreeing. He'd never thought of it that way before.

"Very funny," he replied, not wanting Gwen to get suspicious.

"How are things going besides work? Are you seeing anyone?"

He snorted. "I didn't tell you? I met this amazing woman; she's like the whole package. Bought a ring and everything."

"You're a jackass!"

"Yeah, but you still love me."

"Only because I have to."

"Aw, you're too sweet to me."

"Don't be a stranger. Pick up your phone and call me from time to time or else."

"Or else, what?"

"I could call a certain lady I know who will strike fear into your heart."

"You wouldn't."

"I so would."

He believed her. She wasn't against pulling the mom card. "I'll try to keep in touch more, I promise."

"You better. I should get going. I love you."

"Love you too. Give my love to the kiddos."

"I will. Be safe, Kevin."

"You got it."

"Bye.

He hung up and just sat in the driver's seat of his car. Thoughts forming in his head. He hadn't been there to cover Javi or Alexis. Maybe he was a terrible partner. Both of the people who had been assigned to him had been badly hurt. He'd have to work on that moving forward. Kevin glanced over at the hospital doors. He'd start by making things right with Alexis.

Alexis wasn't in her room. When he went to ask the nurse about the vacant room, the nurse told him that Alexis had signed herself out. Kevin couldn't believe it. Why would she do that by herself? Did she even think to call him? He shook his head at himself, of course she didn't. He didn't exactly treat her nicely. Why would she call him?

Still he didn't like the idea of her being alone. If nobody visited her in the hospital, why would they visit her when she was out? He weighed his options, optimistically thinking that he had any. Javi had said that she might be a little emotionally vulnerable. Leaving her to deal with that and her physical injuries on her own wasn't an option. He left the hospital, stopping by the precinct to get Alexis' address. She may not have a lot of people in her life, but she had him, for all that was worth.

Every breath was agony. Just existing hurt on a cellular level. Alexis lay on her couch, head spinning around the constant burn in her chest. She'd been discharged earlier that day, leaving alone against medical advice. They didn't want to let her go alone, but she didn't have another option.

She'd been blissfully high on morphine, but that was hours ago. Now the pain was overwhelming and oppressive. She'd tried to go to the pharmacy to pick up her meds, but she couldn't even put her shoes on. Walking made her head spin.

The best she could do was lay on her couch and hope that sleep would eventually save her from the pain.

Alexis jolted in surprise when she heard a knock at her door. Could she even answer the door? It seemed so far away, and everything hurt so much.

"Alexis?" A voice echoed through the door. Was that Ryan? What was he doing here? Could he not wait until she was back at work to yell at her? The get-well flowers had been a pleasant surprise, but Alexis didn't think he was stopping by her apartment to be nice.

She decided to try to ignore him, and her phone immediately started buzzing. "Detective Asshole" flashed across the screen. With a long-suffering sigh, she answered, "Hi."

"Where are you?"

"My couch."

"Why didn't you open the door?"

She paused, trying unsuccessfully to catch her breath. "I don't think I can." A thin layer of sweat had broken out on her skin, and blood pounded in her ears.

Seconds later, her doorknob twisted open and her least favorite person walked into her apartment. "You don't lock your door?" he asked, turning the knob on the lock behind him. He stopped when he saw her curled up on her couch. She must have looked as bad as she felt, because she'd never seen that expression on his face before. "You look terrible."

Did he have to be such an ass all the time? She cleared her throat, wincing at the pressure it put on her ribs. "Did something happen with the case?"

"Umm... No."

"Then why are you here?" she asked breathlessly.

A crease appeared between his eyebrows as he watched her. "Alexis, do you need to go back to the hospital?"

The soft tone in his voice sounded like concern, and for a moment she was totally dumbfounded. Finally, she found her voice. "N-no. It's okay. I'm fine." Air escaped between clenched teeth.

"Like hell you are," he said, calling her bluff. "Where's your meds? You clearly need another dose."

"I don't have any."

"Why the hell not?"

Why was he getting angry at her? "I didn't think about it—I was drugged up from the hospital, and now that the morphine has worn off I can't go..." Her nervous babbling abruptly stopped as she pulled much need air into her lungs and almost choked from the pain of it.

Kevin stalked away, and Alexis' eyes closed. What had he even come over for? To yell at her? She heard him rummaging around in her kitchen, and he returned a minute later with a small bag of ice, which he placed in her hand. "Put this on your ribs."

She complied, wincing and huffing at the icy pressure.

Kevin watched her with a look she'd never seen before. If it was anyone else she would say the expression was worry.

"Don't you have a boyfriend or family who should be taking care of you?"

She shook her head, too tired to explain the specific set of events that had left her to deal with her injury on her own.

He sighed. "Which pharmacy are your meds at?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Alexis—"

"I'll be fine."

"Alexis—"

"This ice is working wonders," she lied. She was still in a world of pain; now she was just cold. Chills danced over her flushed skin.

"You look like shit," he said flatly. "Stop lying. Now where's your pharmacy?"

After a few wheezing breaths, Alexis gave in and told him. He immediately left, and for the umpteenth time Alexis wondered why he was bothering to help her. She shifted, trying to find any possible way to get comfortable. Thus far, she hadn't figured out a single damn way to ease the pain. Thank God for Ryan. That thought brought her up short. She'd never been particularly thankful for him before. Some time later, Kevin let himself back into her apartment, waving the paper bag in his hand. "They gave you the good stuff."

"Great," she groaned as she tried to sit up. Heat flared around her ribcage, and she couldn't hold back the whimper of pain. Instantly, cool hands wrapped around her shoulders as he pulled her up into a sitting position. Her tangled hair fell over her face in a curtain, and he brushed it behind her ear.

Before she could process the intimacy of the simple gesture, Kevin wiped his hand on his jeans. "You're all sweaty."

"Sorry," she said reflexively. "Can I have my meds now please?"

He pulled the bottle out of the bag and looked down at her with a small frown. "Have you eaten recently?"

She shook her head. She hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon—before her body had been used as a punching bag. Between the pain and the plethora of drugs that had been through her system, just thinking about food made her nauseous. "I'm not hungry."

"You need to take these with food. They'll make you sick if you don't."

"I'm already sick," she held her hand out, her eyes begging for a release from the pain. Alexis didn't like medicine—more often than not it just made her sick—but anything was better than her current state. She could barely breathe.

He walked away again, slipping the small pill bottle in his jacket pocket. "Ryan!" she whined. "Please!"

He rummaged through her cupboards and returned with a glass of water and a sleeve of crackers. He set the glass on the table in front of her, tossed the crackers in her lap, and sat down on the other end of the couch. "Beg all you want. You can have the pills when you finish the crackers."

"Are you serious?"

He shrugged. "I know you get off on being stubborn, but it'll hurt like hell if you take them now and end up puking later. I'm trying to do you a favor."

She opened her mouth to argue and he rolled his eyes and cut her off. "Jesus, it's ten crackers. You could have finished them by now if you weren't so busy fighting me. Is this why you're all alone? Because you act like a spoiled brat to everyone who tries to help?"

For a brief moment, his words cut deeper than the pain in her chest. She kept her head down and forced the crackers down her throat with shaking hands. Embarrassment and anger coursed through her, and she blinked back tears. Why was he here? Was this his way of punishing her for tracking down Jared alone? Didn't he understand that she'd already been punished enough for it? She'd spend the next six weeks healing from her stupid decision, and she'd be on bedrest for at least three of them.

Plus she'd now be known as the foolish rookie who got in over her head and nearly got herself killed. She couldn't work; she couldn't do anything but lay on her couch, alone, in pain. And just when she'd thought that maybe she'd had someone she could rely on for help, he was just there to be an asshole to her when she had never needed some kind words more. Was it so impossible for him to act like a human being for just half a second and be nice to her?

"Are you crying?"

She shook her head as tears slid down her cheeks. God, she was so embarrassed. She wanted to run and hide, but she couldn't do either of those things, not when her body was betraying her. Her hair escaped and covered her face again.

"Okay, okay, take them. I was just trying to help." He rested two pills in her palm, but her fingers just curled around them as she kept crying. Each sob threatened to tear her chest in two. In the back of her mind, she knew her tears didn't have anything to do with the crackers. She'd just been through one of the most traumatic experiences of her life, she was in terrible pain, she hadn't eaten or slept much, and she was alone through all of it. Kevin's attitude wasn't anything new; she knew from experience that he wasn't even being particularly mean to her. It was just last straw.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know I messed up, and I know you must be furious. You hate me. I get it."

"I don't hate you."

She looked up at him in confusion. "You don't?"

"Would I be running your errands and force-feeding you crackers if I hated you?"

She had no response to that.

He set the half-empty package of crackers on the table and offered her the glass of water. "Here."

She automatically put the pills into her mouth and washed them down, still crying, occasional hiccups escaping her. She finished the glass of water, surprised at how thirsty she was.

"Do you want more?" he asked when he took the glass from her, and she shook her head.

"Do you want anything else?"

After sitting in awkward silence for a few moments, she shook her head again. She honestly had no idea what she wanted or needed. Her body and mind were totally out of whack.

"You should try to get some sleep."

That sounded nice. As it was, her limbs and eyelids were beginning to get heavy. Kevin helped her get comfortable, supporting her back as she curled up, taking the brunt of the pain and pressure off of her ribs. She looked up at Kevin with glazed eyes, and for a moment she thought he was going to reach for her. She tensed, thinking he was going to tuck her sweaty, tangled hair away again. His cool touch had been both comforting and mortifying. Instead, he plucked the mostly melted ice pack away from her ribs. The bag of frozen cubes hadn't stood a chance against the heat of her flushed, pain-ridden body.

"You're pretty hot, Princess."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

He snorted as he walked back into her kitchen. "You know me—always a sweet talker."

Her eyes fell shut, the powerful pain medication already enveloping her body in nothingness.

"Hey."

Something cold pressed against her arm and her heavy eyelids opened just a bit. Kevin leaned over, offering a fresh ice pack, and her fingers brushed against his as she clumsily took it from him and placed it against her ribs. With the pain dulled, the icy coolness felt like heaven. She mumbled a thank you. As her eyes shut again and her body sank into oblivion, she thought she heard a gentle whisper.

"Sweet dreams."

Author's Note: Kevin's got a soft side, after all. Thanks so much for your support. Hope you like the newest installment. Please review!