Dale had been going about his daily routine for a month now…he did his job, he cleaned his house, he talked to people…but the whole time his mind was on J.D.

He knew that this was an infatuation that would reap no good results. Not only would nothing come of it…but it could result in serious bodily harm. Remember where you are, Dale, Wyoming, for Christ's sake! People die out here for what you're thinking. Ya gotta get over this.

But he couldn't release the image of J.D. striding toward Billy…his confidence, the way that shirt fit across his chest. Nor could he blot out the feeling of J.D. pressing against him, backing him away from the gun.

He would try not to think of how good it would feel for J.D. to hold him, to touch him, to whisper in his ear things meant only for him and no one else. But he failed every time and fantasies of him and J.D. would return, each time stronger than before. Why does it always have to be men I can never have? Why can't it ever be someone that can feel for me what I can feel for them?

In the last month, he had seen J.D. twice but the urgency of the situation…both times there had been bad vehicle accidents…prevented him from saying hello.

The first time, Dale had been pulling the gurney toward the ambulance. He was walking backwards, pulling while his partner pushed. He happened to look up and caught sight of J.D. who had just stepped out of his cruiser and was walking toward the scene…J.D. looked up and saw him. Dale did a double-take which did not go unnoticed by J.D…nor did J.D. miss Dale stumble while their eyes locked. When Dale looked up again, he saw J.D. smiling. Damn, now he's laughing at me. I'll never be able to face this man again. He must think I'm some kinda idiot.

Dale recovered and with one last, quick glance finished putting the patient in the ambulance and left for the hospital. J.D. saw the blush of embarrassment that rose from Dale's neck to engulf his face.

The next time he saw J.D. he caught himself smiling this goofy kinda smile when J.D. caught sight of him. He kicked himself for two days after that.

J.D. had been doing kinda okay the last month since the incident at Billy's…and his first sight of Dale…except when he slept. Then Dale would come to him in dream, kinda nervous like he was, and ask J.D. to hold him, to protect him…the very thing J.D. most wanted to do. He could feel Dale, naturally and without thought, work to create a place for J.D. to rest and escape from the daily struggle of upholding the law.

In his dreams, they'd lie together…sometimes on the couch, sometimes in the bed, occasionally in the forest under the great pine trees that grew on the mountains. On occasion, J.D. would wake with a tightness in his throat and a tear threatening to fall, the image of them making quiet but passionate love haunting him.

J.D. had seen Dale twice since the incident at Billy's. Both were at accident sites. The first time, he had just stepped out of his cruiser and taken only a couple of steps when he looked up to see Dale, about fifty feet away, pulling a gurney with a patient. He saw Dale look up suddenly, then double-take when he saw who it was. He watched Dale stumble, nearly falling, as he backed up to the ambulance. J.D.'s muscles twitched as he unconsciously went to catch him. Of course, he was too far away but when he realized what he had just done, a little smile came to his lips. He felt for a moment the need to protect that he so craved. Seeing Dale's embarrassment, he turned away so as not to make it any worse for him.

The second time, at another accident, was an even shorter instance and J.D.'s turn to double-take. He looked up to see Dale, not knowing he was there, and saw him smile this quirky, goofy kinda smile, and then go all serious, the blood flushing his face. Dale tried to look everywhere but in his direction. It hurt him a little but he let it go. Dale was busy with a difficult situation and didn't have the time to spare him.

Then one day when J.D. was home cooking dinner…with Dale on his mind…things began to add up. He had thought that Dale was just a nervous type and all his stumbling and double-takes were just how Dale was…how he reacted to people. J.D. had thought that his interest in Dale would never be reciprocated.

But J.D. began to look at each of the times he had seen Dale and in a flash he saw that Dale might feel the same way he did. He got so caught up in this revelation that his dinner burned right under his nose before he could shake himself free from the vision.

He turned the stove off and sat down at his table. He was shaking a little and telling himself, Don't get carried away. Don't make any assumptions before you know. You might be wrong…then again, of course, you might be right. Oh, God, let me be right.

J.D.'s infatuation with Dale increased significantly with his realization that Dale MIGHT actually have feelings for him. It was a heady thought that, after all this time since Nathan (who still brought a tear to his eye when J.D. thought of him,) there might be someone that he could love and care for.

So it was that one day when he arrived at the hospital to ask some questions of a patient, he turned a corner, his mind occupied by the incident he was investigating, and collided with Dale.

"Damn!" J.D. said caught off-guard and surprised. Dale just let out a "woof" as he practically bounced off J.D.'s greater height and weight. A minor degree of irritation rising and "watch where you're going" were blown away when J.D. saw it was Dale.

"Dale…" J.D. managed to stutter out. Dale, recovering, looked to see J.D. The color drained from Dale's face and he stood frozen in his spot.

Neither one could move for a matter of a couple of seconds.

"Sheriff," Dale said very quietly…less a greeting or acknowledgment and simply a recognition of who stood in front of him.

More seconds passed. Dale began to start fidgeting. J.D. never moved just staring at Dale.

Life returned to both.

"Um…I'm sorry, Sheriff…uh…wasn't watching where I was going. Sorry." Dale looked right at J.D. for a moment. J.D., if he was uncertain about Dale's interest, was now completely assured. The look in Dale's eyes was so full of longing that it was unmistakable. Dale broke eye contact and dropped his head, blowing out a breath of air. He turned his head to the side then down again.

"Dale…," J.D. said and stepped forward one step.

Dale backed up a step and then another grabbing the bag he was holding to his chest, "Gotta go…," his hand going to his forehead revealing his confusion, "um…something I gotta do…an appointment. Uh…good to see you, Sheriff," and he went to step around J.D.

J.D. reached out and took him by the arm…not forcefully, just enough to let him know he didn't want him to leave.

"Dale, I…"

"I really have to go, Sheriff…"

J.D. was still holding Dale's arm, "Dale, can I talk to you…"

Dale looked up at J.D. with fear, anguish and desire in his eyes. None of these were lost on J.D.

"Please…," Dale said, his voice strained, quiet…said in just the merest of breaths. His eyes teared up just enough to be noticeable.

J.D., his heart sinking, slowly removed his hand, nodded once, and watched Dale walk away. He saw Dale get to the exit door but when he grabbed the door knob he hesitated for a moment. J.D. saw the slight turn of Dale's head as if he wanted to look back, he saw the slump of the shoulders showing dejection. Then Dale opened the door and was gone.

J.D. didn't move for a long time. He didn't notice that people passed him by wondering why he was standing in the middle of the hall alone and unmoving.

Dale of course didn't have an appointment. He was headed home with nothing to do that day. But the whole way there his mind was on nothing but J.D. and once again the feel of their bodies close.

He could remember every point of contact…how his hand had gone to J.D.'s chest unconsciously to prevent the crash. He could still feel the strength in the muscles there…he could still remember the smell and heat of J.D.'s body close like they had been. He would never forget J.D.'s eyes from the first time they had met but contact with them again only reinforced their power and self-confidence

Once home, he dropped his bag as he walked, oblivious to where he dropped it. He sat on his couch, head in hands. Why can't I get over him? Why can't I forget him? Damn that man for being here. No…no…I don't mean that. I just want…I want to touch him so bad…to stand close…I want him to hold me. But he ain't gonna do that. It ain't never gonna happen. What am I gonna do?

Dale didn't get up for a long time.

J.D. got home later that night after questioning the patient…half-heartedly, briefly, all the time thinking of Dale.

He sat on his couch, head in hands. Why is he so afraid of me? Maybe the Sheriff thing? Officer of the law and all that? There's nothing for him to hide. I shouldn't have but I did check up on him. He ain't got a record of any kind. No reason there. But he keeps running…like a rabbit from a coyote. Am I a coyote to him? But I ain't done nothing to scare him away. I've barely said two words to him. Patience, J.D., patience. Just wait. Just wait…but so hard to wait.

J.D. didn't get up for a long time.