Don grunted as he heaved another box onto his shoulders and carried it up the steps into his brothers house. Turning the corner he glared, as he watched said brother lounge on the sofa.

"You know Charlie, It's not like its my boyfriend I'm moving in here." He walked up to Charlie and gently/not so gently dropped the box on top of Charlie.

"Hmff" Charlie puffed out an irritated breath before grabbing the box and lifting it with him off the sofa. "I was only sitting for a second." He smiled as he carried it up to his room. His and Ian's room. He smiled. 6 months after officially becoming a couple, Ian was moving in with Charlie. His dad had decided when Ian had moved to town that he would be better in the apartment over the garage. To give everyone involved some privacy.

Ian had come to fit into his life perfectly. And true to his word, he took everything at Charlie's pace. They went out, hung out with Don and his dad. Took trips hiking when Ian's work would allow. And he never pushed. Every kiss Charlie stopped as it got to heated, every hand he grabbed as it went to low for his liking, Ian was patient and undemanding. It was the night of their 3 month anniversary that they finally moved past everything that had happened between them and took that final step into giving themselves to each other.

Charlie carried the box to the opposite wall and set it down. Taking a moment to look out the window he saw Ian jump into the back of his truck for another box. He was laughing at something Don said, probably about him, and Charlie loved seeing his boyfriend smile like that.

The past 6 months were so far the best of Charlie's life. He had the man he loved all to himself all the time now. He couldn't ask for more.

But there had been some pretty rough times also. Such as the instance almost a month ago that almost drove them apart. Charlie tried his best to always trust Ian, and let the man know that he did. But sometimes his old insecurities popped up and he became needy. He knew he called Ian constantly. Always randomly showing up at the snipers apartment. Ian had never said anything. Always happy to see his boyfriend.

Except the one time he wasn't. Charlie tried not to think about it. Until he couldn't think about anything else.

...

Charlie knocked on the door. He had seen his truck in the drive so he knew he was home and it was too early for him to be asleep. After Don called and told him they had found the missing child's body he didn't think twice about driving over to be with his boyfriend. Ian had been adamant on finding the child. A little eight year old girl who had been taken from her mother's front yard. Two days of searching, finding evidence, and talking to witnesses they finally pulled the father in for questioning after a shard of the little girls shirt had been found in his trunk.

It only took Ian half an hour to break the bastard and get a confession. He had planned to kidnap his little girl because his ex wife would not agree to joint custody. His plan to get her into his car did not work when the girl started yelling and trying to pull away. He shoved her toward the car with too much force, causing her to trip and slam her head into the car. When he went to pull her up her head lulled to one side at a sick angle. She had broken her neck.

He then quickly put her body in the trunk and took her to a section of a forest not usually walked on by hikers due to the thick brush.

Ian had been the one to pull her little body out of the ditch and carry it back.

Charlie's heart was breaking for the mother and his boyfriend. This is what true nightmares were made of. And he would be there for his boyfriend. Not hearing anything, no tv, steps, nothing, he knocked again. He tried not to think back to when Ian had been with someone else. He tried...

Steps. Ian was coming to the door. Charlies smile fell from his face when the door opened. Ian looked broken. Before he could say anything Ian started, slightly aggitated. "What are you doing here Charlie?"

Charlie was taken aback. He knew Ian didn't notice the tone in his voice and tried not to let it get to him. "I heard about the little girl. I wanted to be here for you."

Ian had sighed and rubbed his face. Charlie noticed that he didn't move aside to let him in. "Not tonight Charlie. I just want to be by myself."

Charlie understood, he really did. He just worried about leaving Ian alone. "Are you sure? I could make you some coffee. Have you eaten?" He couldn't help his gaze going from Ian beyond him into the apartment.

Ian had looked like he was going to answer then his eyes widened. "Do you...Do you think i have someone in here?" He sounded pissed.

"No! I..well" Charlie didn't know what to say. He did trust Ian. He really was just worried about him.

"Christ!" Ian all but shouted and threw the door open, grabbed Charlies arm, and pulled him inside. His grip tight, painful, like his voice. "Go ahead, look. Look everywhere! All I wanted was a quiet night Charlie! That doesn't mean I have someone keeping me company! I just need time to myself! I didn't know you were so fucking needy!"

If Ian had come up and punched Charlie in the stomach, he would have been less shocked, less hurt. His breath caught, it hurt to breathe. He was still looking at Ian, who's eyes were even wider and mouth open. That look held for half a second, before his face fell into devestation. Charlie started backing out of the door, causing Ian to drop his hold on Charlie. "I gotta..." What? Run? Cry? Both?

Ian took a tentative step forward, his hands slightly outstretched, his voice breaking. "Charlie..God I...Charlie please I..."

Charlie could only shake his head. "I gotta go." And ran.

He ran to the elevator, that thankfully had just open and threw himself inside. He punched the button, Doors closing as Ian came barralling toward the doors. His hands slammed them as they finally shut, as he called his name one last time. He knew he had precious seconds. The stairs to Ian's building where on the hall opposite the elevator but Ian was quick. Charlie started running as soon as the doors slid open, nearly knocking over an elderly gentleman.

Making it to his car he got in and slammed the door, starting the car as he went. He threw the gear into reverse as Ian all but fell threw the door in his haste to get to him. Charlie peeled out almost as soon as Ian made it to him. He couldn'nt bring himself to look in the rearview mirror. Not seeing Ian still chasing him.

...

Charlie sat on a park bench. He didn't know what park. He didn't know what time it was, only that most of the businesses surrounding the park had closed long ago. He had turned off his phone and left his car several miles back when he had parked and started walking. He knew it was dangerous, knew Ian would have by now tried to locate him by his phone. He knew he would be worried, knew Don would be if he had called him.

He couldn't bring himself to care.

Was he really that needy? Did he really need to be around Ian all the time? He didn't think so. They had spent time apart from eachother. Both doing their own things. He wanted to believe that he had just pushed Ian too much after such a bad case but part of his mind still played back, what if.

Did he always think that? And he just didn't want to come off as mean by saying so to him? Or was all this just the outcome from a bad case where a little girl had been taken long before her time.

He knew he had to talk to Ian. This was his fault. Even if Ian said differently. He had told Charlie that he wanted to be alone. And Charlie had pushed. He should have respected his boyfriends wishes and left. Maybe he was needy. He needed to be needed.

Sighing, he pulled his phone out. He had to talk to Ian. At the very least let him know he was still alive. He really didn't want to talk about all of this with Ian yet. His words, though he may not have ment them, had cut deep and painfully.

He figured once he turned his phone back on he had about 20 minutes before Ian came, probably driving like a bat out of hell.

He hit the power button then sat it on the bench next to him. He found an interesting design in the sidewalk and was still staring at it when he heard the screech of tires. A quick glance at his watch told him it had been 12 minutes. He must have had someone watching his line. Talk about abuse of F.B.I. man power.

Heavy footsteps. Harsh breathing. A soft whisper of his name. Charlie still didn't look up.

Black boots appeared where he had been staring. Then jean covered knees. Hands on his knees. His name again. He looked up.

Ian looked like a thick mixture of relieved man and broken man. Charlie hated seeing him like that. "I knew you'd find me." He said softly.

Ian didn't smile. He pulled Charlie off the bench and into his arms. His wrapped tightly around him and Charlie could feel vibrations. Ian was shaking. "I'll always find you Charlie."

Charlie let his arms come around and hold his boyfriend. "I'm sorry." he whispered. He had to say that right away. Maybe if he would have listened to Ian, they wouldn't be here now.

Ian gently pulled back, eyes shown brightly with tears. "Charlie...No, god no. I am so sorry. I should never have said that to you. I should have let you in! I grabbed you...God! Did i hurt you?" he asked panicked as he started checking over his wrists and arms.

Charlie shook his head. "No, You didn't hurt me."

Ian looked back to his face and opened his mouth to speak but Charlie needed to first. "Did you mean it? Any of it? Please Ian, If ive been pushing you please tell me."

Ian was shaking his head before he was done talking. "No! No, Charlie I didn't. I was mad, i wanted to kill that fucking bastard, I was in a dark place when you came and I lashed. You were there and thats no excuse!" Ian held his hands to his chest.

Charlie felt the knot that had been in his chest all night start to slowly loosen. "I didn't think there was someone with you tonight. I haven't thought that in a long time. I just wanted to be there for you." He stepped into Ians space and let the other man hug him tight again.

He felt Ian's breath against his ear. "I was so afraid that after all this time you still didn't trust me. It made me angry even though I know I don't have a right. I ruined that trust for so long that I really didn't blame you. I was just messed up." A soft kiss to his temple. "I am so sorry baby. I love you so much."

Charlie couldn't help but smile as he heard those words. Ian really did love him. And he knew, truly, that he didn't mean any of those things he had said before.

Charlie pulled back and kissed him gently. Ian returned the kiss sweetly, his natural taste mixing with the salt of the tears that had dried on his face. Ian grabbed the sides of his head tenderly in his hands. "Please, no matter how angry or upset with me you are, please don't ever turn your phone off like that again. I was so scared."

Charlie felt guilty. No matter how hurt he was, he shouldn't have put Ian though that. "I won't." He meant it.

Ian smiled, a small smile but a smile none the less then gave him a chaste kiss before wrapping his arm around Charlies shoulder. "Lets get you out of here."

Charlie quickly ducked to grab his phone then let himself be led. He was growing tired fast. "Take me home please?"

Ian stopped and looked at him. "Ok, I can do that." He seemed to contomplate something. "Or, you could come back with me." he said hesitently.

Charlie wanted nothing more but he had to make sure. "It's ok Ian. You need time. I'm probably just going to fall straight to sleep."

Ian kept his gaze on him. "I want you with me. I want you in my arms. If you still want to be there that is."

Charlie didn't take any time to think. " I do." Ian squeezed his shoulder tightly before leading him to his car. Charlie would have Ian bring him back the next day to get his car. Tonight, he wanted to be with his boyfriend, because his boyfriend wanted him with him.

...

Charlie was pulled out of the memory by someone sitting beside him on the bed, that same someone taking his hand and kissing his knuckles. He turned his head and met the amused look on Ian's face. "Now what are you up here daydreaming about while the rest of us slave away moving boxes?" he asked jokingly.

Charlie laughed and dropped his head to Ian's shoulder. "Just thinking about everything that brought us here. The Good, The Bad. Mostly just thinking about how much I love you."

Because he did. Even when Ian had hurt him. Even when was not speaking to the man, even when he cursed the man, he had loved him. He always had. And maybe the bad times had to be had to get them where they were now.

Ian cupped Charlies cheek in his hand and kissed him softly before pulling back. "I love you too Charlie. So much. Don't regret giving me another chance?"

He said it in a light tone but Charlie still heard the unsure beat behind it. He was not the only one who was insecure sometimes.

Charlie covered Ian's hand with his own. "Not even for a second."

Ian sighed, relieved, then pulled Charlie to his feet. "Come on, Don's ordering pizza. Maybe we can get the rest of my stuff in here before its time to eat." He dropped his forehead to Charlies. "We get to start our lives together after this. You won't be able to get rid of me."

That sounded perfect to Charlie. "Promise?"

Ian smiled and kissed him, this one more feirce, before pulling back. "Swear."

Charlie nodded his head and slowly they made their way down stairs. Yes, they were starting a new chapter of their lives together. New possibilities. New dreams. Maybe a wedding somewhere down the road if the ring Charlie had found while packing Ians things was any indication. Though he quickly put it back before Ian had seen. He could not wait for that.

Or, maybe he would give Ian the ring he had hidden in his secret box in the garage. Did he have the patiance to wait?

We will see!