He told McCarthy the whole pathetic story. About his stepdad and Bella, and the split-second decision to steal a car. About the accident and leaving Dean there alone.

The sergeant listened intently.

"You realise what you've done?"

"Yes."

He could see McCarthy trying to decide how to handle this. That was more consideration than he thought he'd get.

"Thompson was driving?"

"Yes. He was convicted of auto theft and dangerous driving occasioning death. But he was a minor, so the penalty wasn't as severe as it could have been."

"He's on a good behaviour bond, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"And he withheld information from a criminal investigation, concealed your crime essentially."

"Yes..."

"This admission could be bad for him."

Fuck, Colby hadn't even considered that. He'd been so determined to prove to Dean that he was the most important thing and now he'd gone and landed him right in it.

"What are you going to do?"

"Who else knows about this?"

"Just Dean," he lied, hoping to salvage something from this. He trusted Willow never to talk, but McCarthy would have no reason to.

"Thompson is attending his community service and he's doing an apprenticeship, isn't he?"

"Ah, yeah. He is," Colby confirmed, surprised that the sergeant knew that detail and honestly a little touched that he'd bothered to take notice.

"This is a serious matter. You've broken more than one law..."

"I know."

"However, it was a long time ago and I don't think punishing a man who has already been punished will achieve anything, especially not when he's working towards becoming a productive member of society."

Colby couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying this stays between us."

"You're not gonna report me?"

Colby didn't know what to think, he had fully expected to go to jail for this and had been willing to, to prove to Dean how he felt. As crazy as it was, he was almost disappointed, he wanted to pay for this, wanted Dean to know how sorry he was.

"No. I don't see what good it will do now. But you better believe, you put one toe out of line, and I will haul you over the coals myself. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sarge. Thanks for looking out for Dean. It means a lot."

"I do believe in the fundamental goodness of people, I wouldn't do this job if I didn't. I'm trusting you, Thorne."

In that case, Colby owed him the whole truth. Now that he wasn't going to prison, there were possibilities.

"Then there's something else you need to know. And I know it's too much ask, but I'm gonna ask anyway."

The sergeant gave him a long-suffering look.

"I'm sure you will..."

There was no point beating around the bush, so Colby was just gonna come straight out with it.

"I love Dean, and I want to have a real shot with him. I thought when I walked in here today that I'd be going to prison and I was willing to do that to show him how important he is to me."

"Excuse me?"

"I know you didn't like the idea of me associating with him, but I can't deny how I feel. You said yourself that Dean's working to get his life on track."

McCarthy leaned forward and frowned.

"What I'm hearing is that you wanted to confess now, not because it was the right thing to do, but because you thought you'd get something out of it."

Colby went to argue but he realised the sergeant was right.

"I guess I did. I did a terrible thing. I hurt Dean and I understand how much now. Owning up to this is the only way I can forgive myself and move on with my life. At least try to be better."

Not that Dean would see that now. The thought of asking McCarthy to tell Dean that he'd confessed crossed Colby's mind, but he knew how selfish and out of line that was. The sergeant was right, he was still trying to manipulate the situation to achieve his own ends. If he honestly loved Dean, he needed to put Dean first. And that meant he needed to respect Dean's feelings and stop pushing. Just because he wanted to be with Dean, that didn't mean it was the best thing for him.

"Then do that. Walk out of this office, put the past behind you, and be the best police officer, and friend, you can be."

"I will," he promised, and he meant it. For the first time in his life, he was going to do the right thing.

xxx

He knew he was harsh on Colby sometimes, but that was only because he worried about the kid, and because he knew he could be the best if he applied himself. McCarthy had been at the academy with Colby's old man, they'd always gotten along, and knowing that he'd been killed in the line of duty, well he felt a certain amount of responsibility towards his friend's son.

Of course he'd never told Colby that, didn't want him thinking he could have special treatment (not that he was afraid to ask anyway), but he did his best to look out for Colby and guide him in the right direction when he could.

There'd been mention of a transfer, and now this. He should have reported it straight away, but knowing what had happened to the kid after his father had died, and knowing what a struggle it must have been to drag himself up out of that upbringing, he didn't want to see his career ruined over one teenage mistake. Especially not when his motive was considered.

But to jeopardise everything he'd worked for, over the chance to show someone he loved them, well that person must be pretty special. And besides that, he didn't want Colby transferring to another LAC where he couldn't keep an eye on him.

McCarthy didn't like interfering in the lives of his officers, but this time he was going to make an exception. Because Colby wasn't just anyone, and as soft-hearted as it might be, McCarthy wanted him to be happy.

xxx

"Thompson!"

It took Dean a second to recognise Colby's boss out of uniform.

"A word?" the police sergeant requested.

Dean tried not to freak out just yet, he couldn't think of anything he'd done wrong. But then he worried that something bad had happened.

"Is it Colby?"

The older cop relaxed a little, dropped the tough guy act.

"It usually is, isn't it?"

The friendlier tone surprised Dean. He didn't know this bloke, had only seen him at the station when he'd been hauled in and booked.

He waited warily for the sergeant to continue. He didn't wanna give too much away about how much time he and Colby spent together because he knew the cops didn't approve of their friendship.

"How has he been?"

"Umm..." Was this a trick question? An attempt to catch Colby out?

"I'm here in an unofficial capacity."

"Okay, I guess," Dean shrugged. Talking to the cops really went against his grain, not to mention this was super weird.

"I'm here because there's something I think you should know. Thorne is talking about a transfer. He's a good cop, I don't want to see him go. And I think the reason he's going is because of you."

"I didn't do anything," Dean automatically replied.

"I told you I'm not here as a cop. He told me how he feels about you."

Okay, that was the last thing on Earth Dean had expected. He almost wanted to look around for hidden cameras in case he was being punked. Then his brain caught up with what the sergeant had said.

"Did you say transfer?"

He couldn't believe Colby would abandon him again. Not after everything.

"He had a plan and it didn't work out. I don't really understand it all, but he said he knew how much he'd wronged you and he wanted to make it right."

Dean wondered how Colby had planned on doing that exactly. He had a bad feeling about this.

"He confessed. Told me about being involved with the stolen vehicle and the accident."

That statement left Dean reeling, he'd suffered alone all these years so Colby didn't have to, and now he was hearing it had all been for nothing.

"I'm not taking it any further. But I just thought you should know. Stay out of trouble and I won't stand in your way."

Was the police sergeant giving his blessing? Dean had no idea what to do with that.

"Well, I just thought you should know," the sergeant said again. Then he left Dean to it.

"Um, thanks," Dean called after him.

He stood there trying to process everything he'd just heard, but all he could register was his rising pulse and an insane urge to tell Colby off. He had to find the idiot right now and give him a piece of his mind.

xxx

Colby was looking around the flat, thinking how sad it was that everything he owned would fit in two suitcases if he did decide to go, when Dean burst in looking all fired up.

He had no time to react before Dean had him backed up against the fridge yelling at him.

"How could you be so stupid?! You got away with it! All of it! And then you go and blab! I went to prison so you wouldn't have to!"

Dean's chest was heaving, his eyes were ablaze, and Colby didn't get a chance to defend himself before Dean was crushing their mouths together.

It was a desperate kiss, born of rage, frustration, pain and desire. Dean was being so rough that Colby tasted blood. But he didn't care, he'd waited so long for Dean to let go like this. He dropped his hands to Dean's hips and jerked him forward, but then Dean was pushing back, glaring up at him accusingly.

"You were gonna leave me! Again!"

"What? No..."

"Your boss told me! He said you're getting a transfer."

"No, I was only thinking about it. I thought it would be better for you. I wouldn't have left without talking to you..."

"When has being apart from you ever been better for me?! I love you! I always have! And you landing yourself in prison or moving away is the last thing I want."

I love you...

"You really mean that?"

"How can you be so smart and so dumb?! There's nothing without you!"

"I did it so you'd know you're more important than my job, or my freedom. I was wrong to walk away, you deserved so much better than that, and I understand now how much I hurt you. If you felt even half of what I have these last few months, it's been hell. You're what matters most. And you always should have been."

Dean was looking at him like he couldn't believe what was right here in front of his eyes, like he was really seeing him for the first time since they were kids.

"Let's draw a line in the sand here," Dean said. "Start again."

"No, it's important to remember where we've been. But know that I will never let you down ever again."

Dean was looking into his eyes, into his soul, it was...

"I believe you."

God, he'd waited a long time to hear that. And this time it was Colby that was crushing their mouths together, and Dean was kissing back, and the wall between them was finally crumbling. They did belong together, there could never be anyone else, and now, maybe, they could embrace this. Stop hiding how they felt, stop fighting it, and just be.

This path hadn't been an easy one, they had walked through hell to find each other again, but Colby would do it all over again if it meant they'd end up here.

"Say it again," he grinned against Dean's mouth.

Dean looked up at him, mischief in his eyes.

"I love you. Even if you do tell crap jokes and like olives on your pizza."

Colby laughed and pulled Dean closer. Yeah, they were gonna be alright.

AN: Well there it is. This whole thing took about a month to write from conception to completion. I never meant to write it, it just kind of happened, and it has turned out to be the longest story I've written. Crazy.

It's been quite a journey, I tried to be honest with it, and it has made me think about myself and how I could be better. (Actually committing to and finishing this is a result of that.)

First I want to thank Paddy and Tim. Dean and Colby are real to me because of them. They will never know the impact they have on people just by doing their work.

I want to thank everyone who read, especially those who reviewed, and especially, especially FrankElza for always being there.

Thanks to TreasureHunterGirl for putting up with my constant chatter about Dean and Colby, even though she isn't into slash.

And the biggest thank you of all goes to Gkarthik925. Without you, this story would not exist. I hope it helped you too.

Now, stay tuned people. I'm gonna add a little epilogue to this :)