Author's Note: I am really excited that my story is getting noticed more & more. Thank you for all the kind words and reviews; hope you enjoy this special chapter!
As usual, Ben woke up at 7:30, went and took a shower, dressed in a plain white t shirt and his uniform pants, went down stairs and made coffee, gathered his things and was on the way out by 8:30. It was humid and the air was suffocating outside. It barely went below 80 degrees last night and Ben was already sweating as he pulled out of his garage. It wasn't all that bad though because sometimes if Ben and Coop were in the car to long, Cooper would strip off his uniform shirt and vest, leaving him in a white t shirt. That was something Ben could deal with. He then shook his head because he shouldn't be thinking about his partner, or the way he would grin if Ben did something really extraordinary, like catch someone in a foot pursuit. Ben thought of why he liked John and he liked to think that maybe it was because he respected him because he was his TO. He didn't like the fact that maybe he actually had feelings for someone twice his age and not to mention size. A scowl had made its way to Ben's face as he pulled into a parking spot at the station. Ben got out and grabbed his bag with his uniform and extra clothes. He then grasped his vest from the back seat. Looking over, he saw John's car and a smile formed. He quickly dropped it though when a uniformed officer passed by.
"Hey pretty boy, wanna grab a drink?" The officer asked and winked, walking towards a squad car. Ben narrowed his eyes, before he started towards the locker room. He got several more taunts like that before he finally made it to the locker room, his blood boiling. Thinking he was alone, Ben slammed his fists into the locker several times.
"Whoa, whoa Boot stop!" Cooper called and pulled Ben away from the locker and sitting him down on a bench. Ben felt tears sting his eyes and he blinked them back before Cooper saw.
"Sherman, what happened?" Cooper said and squatted down in front of him despite the pain ripping through his back. Ben buried his face in his hands trying to hide the tears that insisted on falling. He felt Cooper lay an awkward hand on his shoulder and he almost smiled.
"Already being taunted huh?" Cooper asked and squeezed his shoulder in a soft sign of support.
"I didn't mean to lose my shit Coop, I just- I don't know what happened." Ben said and ran a hand through his hair.
"You'll get used to it, but if you ever need to beat the shit outa someone, come to me." John said and gave one of infamous half smirks. Ben nodded and got up, slowly making his way towards the sinks. He splashed some water on his face and looked over his knuckles; most of them were bloody and opened. Ben sighed washed them off and patting them with towel to clot the bleeding. After the bleeding had stopped, Cooper came up behind him and sat gauze, tape, Neosporin, cloth and peroxide on the counter.
"Give me your hand," Cooper said as he held out his own. Ben silently weighed out his options: Let Cooper bandage his hand or tell him he's fine and risk an infection. Ben sighed and put his hand in Coop's. John grabbed the peroxide and put Ben's hand over the sink. Slowly, he poured the peroxide over each individual wounded knuckle as Ben hissed slightly. Grabbing the cloth, Cooper dried of the wound and applied to Neosporin before bandaging it. He did the same with the other hand and once he was done he looked at Ben.
"Go get dressed; I'll meet you in the car." Cooper replied and grabbed his vest and uniform shirt. Ben sighed and went over to his locker. He looked over at the one he repeatedly hit and cringed slightly. He had inflicted much more damage than he had anticipated. The locker was dented and bloody, it was probably unfixable. Ben quickly laced up his boots, grabbed his vest, uniform shirt, belt, weapon and quickly exited the station. He walked outside and was met by a squad sitting right in front of the exit. Cooper sat in the car looking at his phone perplexedly. Ben had to smile because after all it was his partner, his TO and the man he ultimately had feelings for. Ben slid into the passenger seat and Coop put his phone in his pocket before putting the car into drive and speeding out of the parking lot.
"I bet you that today and tonight are all going to be garbage calls." Cooper said and glanced at Ben and smirked. Ben shook his head and smiled slightly, he was already forgetting what had happened a half hour ago. John had that type effect on him. Something would piss Ben off or make him upset and Cooper would walk into the room and Ben would immediately relax. Just one look into Cooper's eyes and Ben was happy. Maybe that's what he should look for in a good girlfriend. Then again, maybe he shouldn't be looking for a girlfriend and instead he should be looking for a boyfriend. He wasn't gay though. Was he?
"Whatcha thinking Boot?" John asked and looked over at him with curious eyes.
"Just…I- nothing…" Ben replied and huffed slightly. He wanted to tell John, but he was afraid that he might become pissy or take it the wrong way. Ben liked John in this mood, he was happy. Then again that may change once they start dealing with people.
"Whatever you say…" Cooper said, trailing off and focusing his attention back on the road. Yeah, Ben thought that telling him would be a good idea. They knew everything about each other, give or take, so why change it? Ben let a huff of air blow out his mouth.
"Cooper, John, I need to ask you something." Ben said and turned his attention towards his partner.
"Yeah sure," John said and looked over at him and back at the road. It was no or never, Ben knew that, but it didn't stop him from hesitating.
"What did you feel when you figured out you were- that you liked men?" Cooper looked over at Ben a cocky smirk making its way to his lips.
"You think your gay, Boot?" Cooper asked and slowly halted the car to a stop in an abandoned parking lot.
"N-no?" Oh my God, Ben thought, this couldn't be going any worse. Cooper shifted so he was facing him and the smirk was gone.
"Listen Boot, I'll tell you the heart wants who the heart wants. Whether that's right or wrong is for you to decide. Okay?" Ben nodded and sighed. Cooper was never one to give a straight answer; he didn't know why he thought this would be any different.
Author's Note: Hopefully you liked this chapter. If you didn't, well that's okay too. I hope to post a new chapter soon.