A/N: Hi everyone! We're getting closer and closer to the end. You didn't think I would leave you hanging, did you? Not with Ryan collapsing in his partner's arms! By the way, there is no Esplanie at this point. They aren't dating yet. That would just make this whole thing like a soap opera. AND: the key to Kevin's condition is in the medication he's being prescribed. ;) The end is just three chapters away. I hope you'll stay with me. Thanks for the faithful reads and reviews. Yours till the wheels fall off ;)

"I left the engine running, I just came to see, what you would do if I gave you a chance to make things right.."-Rihanna

Esposito

Javier paced back in forth in anger outside of his partner's hospital room. He wanted, no, needed to see him. But he couldn't. No one was allowed in; no friends, and no family. The curtains were drawn tight, and the doctor would tell him nothing. But Montgomery, Lanie, Castle, and Beckett were there, and somehow that made it a little more bearable. They kept vigil in the waiting area and left Esposito alone with his thoughts in the bustling hallway. Drained, he sat against the wall, rubbing his overworked eyes with his palms. He remembered their last conversation and swallowed hard. Kevin hadn't been ready to talk, not then, but Javier had pushed him anyway. Maybe it was his fault that he'd collapsed. Maybe he'd pushed him past the breaking point. Maybe...he shook his head. No, he was being stupid. He was doing the exact same thing he'd told Jenny not to do: he was blaming himself for something he could not control.

"Is he okay?" Jenny asked breathlessly, looking down at Javier. He jumped up and looked behind him.

"I-I don't know. They won't tell me anything."

"You haven't been in?" He shook his head ruefully.

"They won't let me."

"Maybe I-"

"Nope. No one in. Not even family." Jenny nodded and nibbled on her bottom lip. Javier crossed his arms, then uncrossed them, and then stuck them in his pocket. To say he felt awkward would be a bit of an understatement. Jenny reached out and touched his shoulder.

"What happened?" she asked softly. Esposito refused to meet her eyes.

"He came back today, and we went into the interrogation room to talk. At first, we were talking, and then.." She waited patiently for him to continue on.

"And then..I don't even know how it happened, but we were yelling, and then all of a sudden he just looked really bad, you know? Like he was gonna pass out. I went to go get him water, and when I came back..." Javier blinked hard and swallowed. He hadn't gotten around to processing what he'd seen, but now that he was talking about it, it was as if he was reliving the whole thing all over again. His hands trembled in some sort of fear as he remembered how...unhinged Ryan had been. He'd been rocking back and forth and covering his ears, shouting at something Javier couldn't see.

"When you came back," Jenny urged anxiously. He took a breath.

"When I came back, it was like he'd completely lost it. He was yelling 'no' so loud I thought everyone at the 12th could hear it. I don't know who he was talking to..it was like he was talking to himself..or hearing things."

"Oh," Jenny dropped her hand and turned away, covering her mouth to mask the sound of her desperate tears.

"Dios..I didn't mean to upset you Jenny. I shouldn't have told you. Pido disculpas," he murmured, I apologize. She said nothing, simply forced her way into his arms. Their past awkwardness melted away as they held each other tight against the crushing feeling of change and failing relationships.

Ryan

Kevin shifted restlessly in his hospital bed, trying in vain to burn the images from his foggy mind. They'd switched him onto another medicine, Zyprexa or something of the sort. He couldn't really remember, but he must have consented, because he was disoriented in a way that the other pill hadn't caused. He'd only been on it for an hour or two, but already he was dizzy, groggy, and thirsty as hell. But of course, because his life seemed to have become a giant paradox, he wasn't in any shape to drink anything. He clearly remembered it taking four or five tries to get the pill to stay down. He also remembered seeing Javier cuddle with Jenny. Right in front of him. How dare he? How dare he accuse Kevin of not telling the whole truth when he sure hadn't been either? Something hinted that this hadn't been the first time they'd touched. How could they be so stupid? Did they think he really wouldn't see? Sure, he'd been falling in and out of sleep for a while now, and sure, the curtains were closed, but he'd still seen. The nurse had opened them up because the doctor had decided it was okay for him to have visitors. Not that he wanted any. He was in no shape to see anyone, let alone talk to those two. His anger boiled in his veins, dangerously close to spilling over. He wanted his revenge, and he wanted it now. But..and then he stopped thinking. His head hurt too much.

I can help. Ryan moaned inwardly and covered his eyes with his forearm.

"I thought the pills were supposed to make you go away," he hissed.

The pills aren't strong enough. Don't take them, I already told you..it's what they want.

"Who's they?" Kevin demanded, knowing he'd asked the same thing before with little to no response.

Javier and Jenny. Look of the two of them. They look like lovers.

"Stop it," Kevin sighed, feeling some relief as the medicine finally seemed to do what it was supposed to.

No. I bet you he's had his hands all over her from the moment she came running to him. Look at her smile. She's never smiled at you that way, has she? Ryan watched as the two of them disentangled themselves from each other and shoot a panicked glance into the room. He quickly closed his eyes and feigned sleep. But not before he'd seen the love in their eyes. (Or so he thought.)

Are you ready to listen? He was.

Esposito

They were allowed to see him. And...they were pretty sure that he'd seen them. But Ryan looked asleep, and peacefully so. Jenny whirled around to face Javier.

"You go. Talk to him." His heart hammered at the idea. What would he say? They'd tried talking earlier, and it'd landed his partner here. He communicated this to Jenny, who just shook her head and gave him a gentle push into the room.

"I'll go..after you..maybe," she faltered. Javier squared his shoulders and marched in. Just like going into battle, he thought, just like it. Ryan was propped up against a tall pile of white pillows, his head lolled slightly to the right. His breathing was slow and even..but he was faking it. Javier could easily tell. This hurt him almost like a physical blow. Did he really not want to talk? Esposito stood next to his friend and laid his hand over his.

"Kevin, I know you're not asleep. But..I know you don't want to talk. It's okay. I guess you blame me for landing you here, huh? It is my fault, and you've got every right..every right to blame me. Just..Jenny wants to see you next. Be good to her, huh? You worry her," Javier stooped down to briefly press his lips against his partner's cheek, "Dormir bien," he whispered, turning to leave, sleep well.

Ryan

He waited until Javier left to open his eyes. And then he saw Jenny, his Jenny, stride into the room. Even in jeans and an oversized long sleeve shirt, she was still the angel she'd always been. His heart swelled when he noted that she still wore her ring. But then he remembered what he had to do. At least he wouldn't have to pretend. She stopped a foot or two shy of the bed, and Kevin reached for her.

"Jenny," he said. She bit her lip in consideration and then took his hand. He rubbed her palm with his thumb, hating the way she flinched on contact.

Stay strong. Right. He had to be strong. He raised his crystal eyes to hers and smiled weakly.

"Hi."

"Hi." She only met his gaze for a moment, but that was long enough. He already had her. Now all he needed was to convince her.

"Jenny..I'm so sorry. About everything. About scaring you, about the house, about..about hitting you..I can't even believe I'm saying all this. Look," he squeezed her hand just a little bit tigher, "Look, I understand..I understand if you don't want to marry me anymore. You have every right to say no. I don't want to force you-" Jenny pressed one cool fingertip to his lips, blinking back tears. Some part of him wanted to cry as well.

"Kevin, don't talk like that.." she was about to break.

"Jenny..I love you." And she was his again.

"I love you too, Kevin."

Montgomery

He strode back into the waiting area and sank into his chair, the one he'd taken a few down from Beckett and Castle. The way they said, heads together, made him smile. Their relationship was..complicated, to say the least. They'd certainly had their ups and downs, but never had they abandoned each other. He studied Lanie, who sat closest to the corner of the room, looking around the corner every two seconds to see if Javier was coming, no doubt. Montgomery wasn't stupid, he'd seen the looks she shot him. Most of the time, Javier returned them. But recently, all of his attention had been on Ryan. He sighed silently to himself. Javier and Kevin; the two biggest troublemakers he'd ever encountered while working on the force. Only the two of them could nearly break the law in ways no one had ever thought possible and kid their way out of it. He knew he'd have to sit down and talk to Esposito. Ryan, too. And probably Castle and Beckett, because they seemed to know something that maybe he did not. He and the doctor had talked, and things were not looking good for Ryan. With such a disease...well, Montgomery just didn't know what to do. He couldn't have Kevin breaking down every time they went out on a case. He'd figure something out..all in good time, of course. Esposito rounded the corner, and Montgomery rose to meet him.

"Javier? Let's talk."