Fire
Chapter Two
It wasn't until he found himself laying Mr. Reese on the bed in the back room of his beloved library that Finch realized he was even inside the building at all. He had no recollection of arriving, but he was thankful he had done so in one piece considering the state his companion was in. The eminent danger that plagued his thoughts was for now forgotten as he busied himself with gathering supplies to clean up his unconscious partner. His muscles ached and he could barely stand. The strain he put himself under was now catching up with him but he pushed it to the back of his mind as well and continued to get what he needed.
He found an old first aid kit that had more than enough instruments to perform a makeshift checkup on Reese's vitals and was more than happy to find that the man that so often risked his life for a good cause was nothing more than a little bruised and more than anything just dirty. Finch silently thanked whatever deity had spared Reese from a harsher fate yet again and let out a sigh of pure relief. He then thought it would be a good a time as any to clean up the man laying before him and got up to go to the bathroom that was in the small room he so rarely slept in anymore.
He turned on the sink and let the water run for a few minutes as he looked for a washcloth and a container to put everything in. He filled a plastic container with soap and warm water, making sure it wouldn't be too hot as to burn Reese. Once done, he started to head back into the small room but caught a glimpse of himself in the dingy mirror that stopped him in his tracks. Suddenly everything started to flow back. Reese had kissed him. He had pulled him down towards him and kissed him full on the lips. Finch looked at his reflection and saw himself tracing his lips with his free hand. He could still feel the ghost of Reese's lips on his own. He closed his eyes and recalled the taste, the contrast of soft and hard, the way he liked it. He suddenly wished he could do it again, kiss those lips again, but knew it was virtually impossible. Reese was not himself when he had kissed him. He was in shock and didn't know what he was doing. He probably thought Finch was Jessica or something. That had to be it.
As sad as that thought made him, Finch pulled himself together for what felt like the hundredth time that night and walked over to the figure sprawled out on the small bed. He looked at the sleeping man before him and frowned. He tried to remember when it was that he began to care for him as more than just his employee and valuable asset. He had always respected and admired Reese, he was a remarkable man with remarkable abilities after all and Finch understood how lucky he was to have him as a partner. But somehow, and without Finch's knowledge or even his permission, his feelings began to change and he began to see John Reese under a different light.
The man had slowly become an invaluable part of Finch's life. He trusted him, more than he allowed himself to admit. He cared for him, he worried everyday that the missions would eventually become too much and today that worry almost became a reality. He scorned himself at the thought of having put Reese in danger yet again. He knew the reasons were valid, he knew that and he knew that Reese also knew that. They both understood that what they did was dangerous, they had come to terms with it from the very beginning but it still did not stop Finch from worrying about the man he now had strong feelings for. Feelings that he so often foolishly referred to as love. He knew he would never admit this out loud, he knew it was useless, but the fact that Reese had kissed him lit some sort of hope inside of him that, although he wished with all his might that he could stop, was now burning strongly.
Finch sighed slowly as he began to get the washcloth wet with the soapy water. He rinsed it lightly and started to dab Reese's face carefully. The man was blackened with ash and sooth, it ruined his features completely and Finch allowed himself a small smile as he thought of how handsome Reese was whenever he wasn't covered in blood or other messes. He absentmindedly dabbed here and there, trying to get him as clean as possible without waking him up. As he moved his hand he felt Reese stir beneath him. Finch watched as his lips parted and he let out sleepy moan and he instinctively drew his hand back. He looked on, hoping he hadn't waken Reese up and when he saw that he slept on it made him smile again.
Mr. Reese sure is cute when he sleeps. Finch mused and let out the tiniest of chuckles. A grown man referring to another grown man as "cute" was an amusing thought, even if he had been the one to think it. Finch smiled on as he continued to clean up the "cute" man now laying on his bed, a situation he had more than once fantasized about. If only the circumstances where different, John. He moved down towards Reese's neck and stopped before he moved lower still. He slowly unbuttoned his partner's shirt to reveal an evenly tanned chest now marred with dried sweat and dirt. He rinsed the cloth again and began to gently scrub the man's chest. It heaved up and down slowly with every breath Reese took and Finch could feel the defined muscles, the strength behind them, and he suddenly felt very aware of his own weakness. Without Reese, without this specimen of men he would have never accomplished anything he set out to do.
"Thank you, John." Finch said out loud and he could swear he saw Reese smile at his words. That smile made Finch melt every time. It wasn't often that the two men got to smile in their line of work, but when it happened, Finch treasured those moments to the fullest. Reese's smile was always genuine, always holding meaning behind it, a trait that sadly so many lacked nowadays that Finch couldn't do anything but love it when the usually solemn man smiled. Even now it felt as though the smile was drawing Finch forward, pulling him in and making him feel safe, a feeling Finch rarely experienced, unless it involved Reese.
Reese. He slept on, unaware of his employers feelings for him, and Finch almost felt inclined to lean forward and kiss those lips again. Just one more time, he thought and before he knew exactly what he was doing, he was once again met with the feeling of Reese's lips on his own. His eyes were closed and he felt the sting of tears wanting to make their way to the surface but he pushed them back, like so many times he had pushed back his feelings. After a what felt like not enough time Finch pulled away from his embrace and looked at the face of the man he now knew he loved with what he knew must be absolute horror.
"Hmm Finch, you don't have to stop on my account."
Reese was looking at his employer, an overly smug smirk gracing his features and Finch felt the color drain out of his face.
-Note- There are not enough words to express just how sorry I am for taking so dang long to update. I became one of those authors that annoy me so but I will not bore you with a lengthy explanation as to why I suck so much. But I will try to make this promise, and that is to update fairly regularly now, and if break it, well then you have my permission to egg my house. You know, assuming you get my address out of me first. Anyway I do hope this wasn't a huge letdown and remember that reviews make the world go round!