I have begun shipping these two (I'm a sucker for best friends falling in love), so naturally I wanted to read up on some fics of them. Imagine my surprise when I find nothing, zero, zilch! It seems like I'm the only one rooting for these two lol! For those in the minority who ship these two as much as I do, this one's for you! (:

We're Just Friends

Link finished placing the splint on the younger boy's leg, smiling at him. "There ya go Kyle. That wasn't so bad was it?"

The teen boy smirked. "So what's the damage? When can I get back to playing football?"

"Typical Kyle," An older woman said who was standing by the bed. "Only concerned with his football. You should be taking it easy!"

He grinned. "Oh come on sis, I'm fine!"

"You're wearing a splint you idiot!" She retorted, clearly upset with her little brother's nonchalance. "You should be grateful for Dr. Lincoln."

"Okay, okay," Link cut in. "Your brother is going to be in a splint for at least a week, Ms. Hanson. If there's any swelling then it could be longer. However, you can take him home today."

"God you're such a reckless idiot Kyle." The woman said in irritation. "You'll probably be back here soon."

"Geez, tell me how you really feel." Kyle muttered under his breath.

Link couldn't help but feel like Ms. Hanson was being a bit harsh on her brother. She had been berating him ever since they showed up in the ER. Kyle was an athlete after all, and going by how much he loved football, odds are this wouldn't be his first sport-related injury. However he knew it wasn't his place. He stepped out when the nurses entered the room.

"Hey! I've been looking for you!"

His smile came instantaneously upon hearing his best friend's voice.

"Hey you!"

"So, we're both done for the day, want to pick up some dinner? We can have movie night?"

Link grinned. "Okay, but I get to pick the movie."

Jo frowned at that. "Link we are not watching Encanto again."

He placed his arm around her shoulder. "Oh yes we are. And I'm singing it again too."

In the end Scout and Luna passed out halfway through the movie. Jo and Link put them to bed and ended up sitting on the couch.

"You gotta admit," Link began, a smirk crossing his lips. "I am a natural when it comes to singing."

Jo winced at the statement. "Link you know I love you, but you are a horrendous singer. Don't quit your day job."

"Oh ouch," He replied, feigning pain in his heart.

The two chuckled.

A gentle silence waved over them as they sat staring at one another.

"I'm not tired at all," Jo started, a bit in disbelief.

"Yeah, me neither," He agreed. "Weird right? How often does that happen?"

"Want to watch some scary movies?"

Link smiled. "Sure, just don't get scared."

"Oh please! Last time we had a horror marathon on your cancer-versary you were clinging to me all night!" She replied through laughs.

"In my defense those Insidious movie have one too many jump scares."

The two spent the rest of the night watching horror movies until they crashed.

Both of them headed to work together the next morning.

"Just admit it, you were so terrified!"

"Come on Jo, I wasn't that scared!"

"Uh huh, sure Link. If you pressed any closer to me last night you'd have suffocated me!"

Link sighed in defeat, shaking his head. "You're enjoying this too much Jo."

"Dr. Lincoln?"

The two turned to see a woman in the lobby. For Link it was a familiar face.

"Ms. Hanson?"

"Oh, I hope this isn't a bother." She smiled sweetly at him, which didn't escape Jo.

"Not at all. What are you doing here?"

"Well, um, I was hoping to speak with you. If you have a minute of course." She added with a small blush.

Much to Jo's annoyance, Link was completely oblivious to the woman's swooning.

"I don't see why not. Is something wrong? Did something happen to Kyle?"

"Kyle's okay. Thanks to you. You're an amazing doctor."

Link couldn't help but feel flattered. "Oh, that's very kind of you. So, what did you want to talk about?"

The woman glanced at Jo, who was a bit irritated for some reason. "If you don't mind, can I speak to you privately?"

"Of course. That's not a problem." Link said before turning to his best friend. "I'll see you in a bit Jo."

Jo almost rolled her eyes. "Yeah. See you later." When she looked back she saw as the woman was beaming at something Link said. This time she did roll her eyes.

At first she dismissed it.

But then she noticed she came the next day too.

And the day after.

On one day she stumbled onto a bit of their conversation. No, she wasn't eavesdropping! She only stayed to listen because she had been mentioned. She sighed, recalling it.

"Is Dr. Wilson your girlfriend?"

There was a pause before Link had spoken again.

"What? No."

"Sorry I didn't mean to overstep. It's just I always see you two together."

"Me and her, we're just friends."

"That's good to know."

With that she had walked off. There was nothing wrong at all with what Link said. It wasn't like she expected him to say something else. Because then he'd be lying. They are just friends. Who quite often get mistaken for something else.

When Link saw his friend waving over to him he smiled and took his tray with him.

"Room for one more?"

She smiled back and gestured the seat. "Of course!"

They eased into typical conversation.

"So," Jo began, as the two were finishing their lunch. "You want to grabbed something to eat after work?"

"I can't, not tonight. I'm supposed to remove Kyle's splint tonight. Amy is bringing him in later. It might be a bit late by then."

Jo raised an amused brow. "Amy? Does she call you Link by the way?"

He looked at her with confusion. "Is that a problem?"

"Not really, just noticing that you two have been getting friendly with each other."

"She's just worried for her brother."

Jo scoffed. "Uh huh, right. Is everything you two talk about related to her brother's splint. Because I don't think you can make a conversation drag out for that long."

"Well, of course not literally everything we talk about is related to that."

"I wasn't aware that you and her were a 'we' now."

Link placed his fork down and turned to his friend, a slight irritation in his voice when he spoke. "Is there a point to any of this Jo? Or are you just going to nitpick everything I say?"

Realization of how she was acting sunk in. Why was she being so hostile towards him? He wasn't doing anything wrong. Jo more than anyone knew how kind Link was, especially when it came to work. He was always so reassuring and gentle to all his patients, as well as the families he worked with. Link always made sure every patient received his optimal performance. Nobody embodied the phrase 'do everything that I can' more than Link. In fact he was… he was perfect…

"I'm not nitpicking."

He crossed his arms with a raised brow. "Oh really? What are you doing then?"

Jo knew Link better than anyone. She knows how sweet he can be.

But she can't say the same for the people that come into contact with him. She has no clue how they'd react to his gentle nature. What if they try and take advantage of his kindness?

This was ridiculous, she was overreacting!

Because the bottom line was clear.

That Amy person was crushing really hard on Link.

The idea of that woman asking Link out made her want to empty her stomach. What if she took Link away? Jo couldn't let that happen. Link was her Link.

Wait…

What was she even saying?

Link was a single man. He was free to go out with whoever he wanted to. It wasn't like she and him were an item. Link did not have any obligation to her.

"Earth to Jo." Link said, cutting her thoughts.

"Sorry Link," She began, trying to dig her way out of the hole she'd dug herself in. "I just had a rough morning. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

Link eyed her suspiciously, but he left it at that, to which she was grateful for.

"It's alright. We all have our days. Anyway, I have to get back to work." He smiled as he stood up, placing a soft kiss on her cheek and not realizing how her eyes fluttered closed. "I'll see you at home."

It was so easy to see why they were mistaken for more than just friends.

Due to the shockingly slow day it had been, all of her thoughts had been swarmed with Link and Amy. Had she asked him out? What if she did? Would Link say yes?

It's none of your business!

She had to remind herself that Link was a single man. If she asked him out there was nothing she could do. He had all the right in the world to start dating.

There was a sour taste in her mouth as she walked the hallways. None of this was sitting right with her. Jo didn't want someone else with Link. She didn't want him thinking about someone else.

Link was her precious best friend. Her partner in crime. Their worlds had completely collided, and now it was as if the two lived in their own world. The thought of someone landing into their world and taking Link away from her was nauseating.

There was a sudden rush in her.

The next thing she knew she was sprinting to where Link would be. She made it to see Link stepping out of the room with Amy and her brother.

"Oh, hey. What are you still doing here?" Link asked with a smile.

"I… I uh,"

Well that rush had effectively died out.

"You looked like you just ran a marathon Jo."

"I was looking for you actually."

His face immediately turned serious and he stepped closer to her. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing serious."

"Oh. Can it wait then? I'm finishing up here with Amy. "

"Sis has a boyfriend!" The younger brother joked.

"Kyle!" Amy retorted in embarrassment.

Link scratched his head awkwardly.

"I'm so sorry, please just ignore my little brother." Amy said. She grabbed her brother and began shoving him towards the exit. "Don't worry Link we'll see ourselves out. Thank you so much. You're amazing."

"Of course. Take care Amy. I was happy to help." Link replied before turning to Kyle. "As for you, don't be so reckless, okay? You're all each other have."

The boy threw him a smile. "I will!" He took his sister's hand and the two walked out.

With that Link turned to Jo. "I thought you'd headed home already. What are you still doing here?"

"I was… I was just…"

He turned his head and gave a small smile. "Were you waiting for me?"

She blushed.

"Let's get Scout and Luna, and let's go home Jo."

Jo nodded silently in return, unable to say anything else.

The two were sitting on the carpet and watching a movie on Jo's laptop, with their backs resting on the couch.

Link noticed Jo was distant. "Are you bored? Do you want me to put another movie?"

"What? No!"

Link paused the movie. "Is something wrong Jo? You've been acting a bit different lately."

"Did you ask her out?"

He paused slightly, not expecting that. "Not quite. She asked me out."

Jo lowered her eyes. "She's pretty you know. And she seems to really be into you."

Link smirked. "Are you saying I have a chance with her?"

She let out a forced laugh. "Of course you do! You're a catch remember?"

The memory of that night played over head once the words left her mouth. She probably should have worded that differently. It didn't make her any lest restless knowing that they were sitting here on this very carpet when it happened.

"I remember."

Jo blushed. "R-Remember what?"

He nudged her arm and winked. "That I'm a catch!"

"Right, that. So when are you two going out?"

He leaned back against the couch and smiled, letting a breath out. "Never."

She blinked at him. "What do you mean?"

"I turned her down."

"You did? Why?"

"She was nice, pretty too I guess. But I didn't see myself with her."

"That's good."

He shot her a look.

The blush only grew. "What I meant was that you should be with someone you want to be with, Link."

"It's much more complicated than that."

"Hah, tell me about it!"

"You know," Link started, shifting a bit. "Amy said she knew I'd reject her."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She said it was because I already had my eyes on someone else. Crazy right?"

She could swear her heart skipped a beat. "Yeah. Crazy."

"Maybe we should call it a night." Link suggested when he noticed the air feeling thicker.

"Is it true?" Jo said before she could think. "Do you… do you already have your eyes on someone else?"

What was she doing? She shouldn't be asking him this. She should have just gone to bed. But some part of her was grateful that she asked. It felt like a load off her back.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "I told you it's more complicated than that." His eyes fell on her, he could almost feel his heart racing. He wondered if his friend could feel all the intensity inside his heart.

"It's Dr. Wilson isn't it?"

"W-What?"

"She's the person you really have feelings for isn't it? That's why you can't go out with me."

"You got it all wrong. Jo and I are just friends."

"You should tell her how you feel Link."

Link wondered if Jo could see everything he was feeling through his eyes locked on hers. If somehow his eyes could convey everything that his mouth wouldn't.

At some point through the whole exchange their faces had come extremely close.

"Jo…"

Jo grabbed the side of his face and pressed their foreheads together. "Link…"

His hands came to rest on hers. "It's complicated. Why does it have to be complicated?"

She gently pushed her forehead forward, nudging him. "I don't want you to go away I don't want to lose you. God, I'm so selfish aren't I?"

"I am too."

In one quick motion he moved them so that she was laying on the carpet, he was lying over her, staring down at her. Her hair was splayed across the carpet, mouth slightly open, hopeful eyes staring back at him. Her expression took his breath away. There was no denying anything. He was a man hopelessly in love with his best friend.

"I don't want to lose you either. But, I'm scared. What if–"

He was cut off when a soft hand was placed on his cheek.

"I trust you Link," She whispered softly. "More than anyone."

Without another word he leaned forward, capturing her lips with his.

He felt arms go around him, felt a hand run through his hair, caressing it.

He felt his insides were on fire.

This wasn't a spur of the moment action. It wasn't rushed like the previous time. It wasn't casual. He wasn't in any pain at all, or thinking his world was collapsing.

He was completely lucid.

He knew exactly what he was doing.

This was him kissing his best friend.

This was him wanting to pour everything he had been feeling for her in one kiss. His trust, his hesitation, his fear of the friendship being damaged, his jealousy when she spoke to other men, his anger when he felt used the first time they had sex, his love more than anything, it was everything. He wanted her to understand everything.

For Jo it was the same.

She held him in her embrace, wanting him to understand everything she was feeling. Her joy when they spoke, her support when they worked, her fear of losing him, her gratitude for having him in her corner, her eagerness of this new beginning, and above all else, her love.

When they split apart her arms laid on his chest. Their gaze remained on one another, silently acknowledging that they had just kissed. That they were no longer just friends. Their trust for one another reflecting back in their gaze like a mirror.

He was the one who spoke first.

"I love you."

Her eyes watered.

"I love you too."

He leaned down and kissed her again.

Author's Notes

I wrote this just before the final episode of season 19 aired. I'm so happy they finally got together. Link and Jo both deserve to be happy after everything they've been through. The confession was super sweet.