And that's all she wrote folks. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did :)
*I don't own anything*
"Hey Ryan, where are you?" Esposito called as he walked into his apartment. He heard a crash coming from the bedroom and smiled to himself. He put his gym bag by the washer and headed to his partner.
"The damn controller fell off again." Ryan said, pointing at the remote on the floor. It had been 3 weeks since Ryan left the hospital and he still couldn't move very well.
"I should just put this thing on a leash for you." Esposito laughed as he picked it up. He set it on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm bored! Did anything exciting happen at the gym?" Ryan crossed his arms in a huff.
"It's the gym, bro. Nothing ever happens. Did you even get out of bed today?"
"To do what exactly? I can't work, I can barely move without wincing. I'm so tired of being stuck in this damn bed." Ryan almost shouted in his anger. He slammed his fist into the bed and Esposito smiled. "Stop laughing at me Esposito."
"Babe, I am not laughing at you, just the situation. Why don't you get out of bed, take a shower and then come with me." Esposito stood up and held out his hand.
"Where are we going?" Ryan's curiosity got the better of him and he took Esposito's hand, allowing him to help him up.
"Not saying."
"Fine, but you have to help me take the shower." Ryan smirked and started to walk away. Esposito laughed and started to follow, "If I have to."
An hour later, Esposito and Ryan were riding the elevator up to the bull pen.
"Why are we here exactly? To torture me by watching people doing what I should be doing?" Ryan's arms were once again crossed over his chest.
"Will you just stop complaining? At least you are getting out of the house." Esposito could barely keep his laughter in as his partner scowled. As soon as the doors opened Ryan and Esposito were assaulted by the sound of clapping. They walked out to see everyone in the station standing around clapping and smiling. Ryan glanced behind him to see Esposito smiling and clapping along with everyone else.
"What is going on?" Ryan asked with the first smile he's worn in weeks.
"Ryan, we are just happy to see you back here." Beckett answered pushing through the crowd. She reached him and pulled him into a hug. He hugged her back and smiled at Castle over her shoulder.
"Thanks Beckett. And thank you everyone else, now why don't you all go arrest somebody." Everyone laughed and went back to their business. Beckett, Castle, Esposito and Ryan convened in the break room to talk.
"How are you doing?" Castle asked Ryan as he made coffee for everyone.
"I'm doing great, but I would rather talk about something else. Please tell me what happened with the Track situation, Espo won't tell me." Ryan heard Esposito growl next to him. After Ryan woke up in the hospital and gave his statement, Esposito refused to speak about what happened. Ryan would often catch Esposito staring at him with a sad look on his face.
"Well, we finally found Track's handler and he was able to connect the dots for us." Beckett answered, ignoring the glare from Esposito.
"Since you were absolutely no help to us what-so-ever." Castle interjected.
"I'm sorry, I wish had known that Track was a cop. It probably would have made life a lot more interesting." Ryan replied holding his hands up in defense.
"I'm sure it would have." Esposito growled under his breath. Ryan laughed at him and patted his knee quickly. Esposito smiled at him but Ryan noticed it didn't reach his eyes.
"It seems that, although you didn't know him, Track did know that you and Taylor were cops. Apparently you guys were sent in as back-up." Beckett continued her story, ignoring the looks between Ryan and Esposito.
"But Track told his handler that he thought Taylor figured out who he was." Castle interrupted, enjoying the story a little too much. Beckett glared at him.
"Taylor turned on you, for every reason he told you. Track took you out of the picture to keep you safe. Taylor never really left Track's side and so he became the new objective."
"So basically, Track was a good guy and Taylor was a bad guy. Taylor thought you would figure everything out so he planned to take you out for good this time." Castle finished for Beckett. She smacked him for being so blunt and then they both started laughing. Ryan joined them but Esposito still couldn't see the happy ending through all the pain.
"What's so funny?" Captain Montgomery asked walking to the coffee machine.
"We were just filling Ryan in about Track." Beckett answered.
"So glad it's a funny story." Montgomery smirked. "How are you feeling, Kevin? Are you ready to come back to work?"
"God yes sir." Ryan laughed.
"About that Captain, what is the plan? We all know you and everyone else knows about us." Esposito sat up straight, ready to fight whatever fight he had too.
"Frankly boys, as long as you two don't confirm anything; there isn't anything I can do. As far as I'm concerned, a detective heard one man getting very emotional while talking to his dying partner and nothing more." Montgomery patted Ryan on the shoulder with a smile.
Ryan and Esposito stared at him before sharing a look between them. "Are you sure about that sir?" Esposito questioned.
"Listen, all of you. You are a great team and I can't justify breaking you all up." Montgomery replied. He looked around at the team surrounding him in a fatherly manner. "But like I said: you can't put your relationship on display in anyway. I can't keep you all together if anyone has definite proof about you two."
Ryan nodded but Esposito still looked worried. He made a move to say something but Montgomery held his hand up.
"And no, Esposito, having the same address does not count as definite proof." Esposito laughed and nodded as the man answered his question.
"Well you guys don't sit too long; some of you should be working." He looked at Beckett. "Ryan, we can't wait to have you back."
They watched him leave the room and let the silence surround them. They were getting to stay together and that was all they wanted.
"Ryan, I think we should get you home. It's time to take your medicine." Esposito stood up. Ryan stared at him and smiled.
"I bet it is." He smirked, hoping his partner was sending him subtle signals. Esposito smiled at him.
"Will it seems like it might be time to take my medicine. Beckett, Castle thank you both for this. I'll be back at work next week, as long as the doctor signs off. So save some bad guys for me." Ryan allowed Esposito to help him out of his chair.
"You two go have fun." Castle nearly giggled. Beckett laughed with him this time.
"See you soon guys. Espo, you work tomorrow right?" She asked.
"Unless all the bad guys take the day off I will be here." Esposito responded. "See you guys later. Let's go partner." They said their goodbyes and headed home.
The key slid into the lock and Esposito opened the door. He barely made it inside before Ryan pushed him up against the wall and held him there with one hand.
"Ryan?"
"Hush." Ryan said as he closed the door with the other hand. He winced slightly in pain but continued to hold Esposito still.
"Ryan, please stop. You should take your medicine and go lay down."
"I thought I told you to hush?" Ryan brushed his lips against his partner's. "I plan on taking things very slow and making you do all the work." Esposito growled as Ryan kissed him again.
Esposito pulled his lips away, "Are you sure about this? I don't want to hurt you."
"Then don't hurt me. Besides, we have celebrating to do." Ryan started in on Esposito's neck as he growled again.
"Fine, but you have to take your medicine first and we move this to the bed." Esposito pushed Ryan against the opposite wall. Ryan smiled and began to unbutton his shirt. He walked away and dropped his shirt on the floor.
"Whatever you say." Ryan threw over his shoulder. Esposito shook his head and laughed as he watched his love walk away.
Esposito pulled off his own shirt and followed into the bedroom. Ryan was standing in front of the bedside table taking his medicine. Esposito stared at his very naked partner with a smile. He walked over and wrapped Ryan in his arms.
"You're overdressed." Ryan stated. He tilted his head to the side to give Esposito better access to his neck.
"I think you're naked enough for the both of us." Esposito rubbed his hands up and down Ryan's abdomen. "Why don't you lie down?"
"That depends." Ryan turned around.
"Depends on what?"
"If I lie down, are you going to insist that I relax and go to bed or do you plan on keeping me up all night?" Ryan wrapped his arms around Esposito's neck and pulled him into a kiss. Esposito kissed him back but pulled away quickly. He rested their foreheads together and took a deep breath.
"Damn it Javier!" Ryan yelled and pushed him away. "You have barely touched me since I got home from the hospital and I'm sick of it. I am not going to break."
"You already broke." Esposito said, his shoulders slumped and he looked defeated.
"What are you talking about?" Ryan looked confused. He grabbed a towel from the end of the bed and wrapped it around his waist.
"You broke Kevin. I held you in my arms as the blood poured out of you." Esposito took a few steps to Ryan's side and ran his hand over the bullet wound just under his ribs. "Have you already forgotten what happened? You almost died Kevin. Do you not care about that?"
Ryan's breath caught as he saw the tears brimming in Esposito's eyes. Ryan took his face in his hands. "I'm sorry. Of course I haven't forgotten but I won't let it hold me back. Look what it got me: I'm here with you; we get to stay together at work. I am so happy right now and I hate that you aren't. Please tell me what I can do to fix it."
Esposito removed Ryan's hands from his face and turned away. "I wasn't there." He said.
"What?"
"You were in trouble and I didn't know. And then when I did get there, someone used you as a human shield and then shot you. And I couldn't stop it." Esposito's shoulders trembled as Ryan watched from behind him.
"Javier, turn around and look at me." Ryan grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around. He took his face in his hands again. "Please listen to me. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
Esposito huffed and Ryan laughed.
"It's true. Just think, if Taylor hadn't seen you and felt the need to use me as a shield, I could have ended up shot in the head or something." Ryan smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"That's not funny!" Esposito scowled.
"Baby please, everything is fine now. I am okay and you are okay. We need to focus on our future, not the past." Ryan kissed him once again. "I trust you with my life. You are my partner, my lover, and my best friend. So things got a little dicey in the club, I know that you wont let it happen again."
Esposito smiled. "You're right. I don't think I will ever leave you out of my sight when we are working a case again. I was just scared because I almost lost you." Esposito wrapped his arms around Ryan's waist.
"I understood, I do but it's time to move past this. And I would really love if you would gently lay me on our bed and have your way with me." Ryan wrapped his arms around Esposito's neck and rested their foreheads together.
"I love you Kevin. And I would be happy to have my way with you, when you are completely healed. As for right now, it would be my please to touch you again." He removed the towel from Ryan's waist then helped lower him to the bed laughing. Esposito stood back up to remove his jeans and boxers. He reached into the drawer next to the bed for their supplies and threw them onto the bed.
"Wait." Ryan pushed up onto his elbows and grabbed the condom and held it up in front of him. Esposito raised an eyebrow as Ryan flicked it to the floor. "To the start of the rest of our lives."
They smiled at each other and Esposito made his way back over the love of his life.
THE END!