AN: Yep, another sex scene in this one. Enjoy!

It had the potential to be incredibly fucking awkward, but somehow, it wasn't. Colby's main concern as always was the search for his sister, and nothing much ever seemed to worry Dean. For all he knew they hooked up with a lot of other guys, so the other night with him was no big deal.

In the few days since they'd all had sex, nothing about their living arrangement changed. That didn't really surprise him, as far as their friendship went, it had always been pretty easy.

Right from the start Colby had believed in him. When the whole town had been ready to lynch him, Colby had stepped up and offered him sanctuary, trusted him enough to share his home with him. Ebony was the only thing they'd ever argued over, but Colby's life had been pretty messed up since she hit town, and it was understandable that he was a bit on edge. It was a good thing he had Dean to count on.

Robbo was up early, planning on going for a run. As long as he stayed in town limits his ankle monitor wouldn't ping. Dean was ready for work, about to walk out the door, running just a little late as usual.

"Where's Colby?" Robbo asked, noticing his absence immediately.

"Just ran downstairs to grab me some breakfast."

"Aw, how sweet," Robbo teased, because he knew Dean didn't really like that romantic stuff.

"Well it gets him off that computer for a minute at least."

"He's pretty set on finding his sister, isn't he?"

"Well it's the whole reason he became a cop."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Dedication, right?"

"Erring towards obsession." Not that he could really say much, going deep UC and creating a whole new identity to find his family's killer was towards the extreme end of the scale. But it made him aware of the fine line Colby was walking too. "Do we need to step in?" he wondered.

"There's no stopping him, I know that much. I think all we can do is try to bring some balance. At least until this job hearing thing. Hopefully they'll let him pull the uniform on again and that'll give him something else to think about."

For a second Robbo had the urge to pull Dean into his arms and comfort him. Those big green eyes gave away more than Dean intended them to, and Robbo wanted to chase that fear away.

He had even taken half a step forward when Colby swung the door open.

"Here you go, babe." Without even pausing, Colby managed to press a kiss to Dean's cheek and hand the breakfast over. Dean hadn't even got the word 'thanks' out before Colby was on the couch, opening his laptop again.

They shared a look, and in it a silent conversation passed between them.

Take care of him.

I will.

xxx

"Look!" Colby said, rushing across the room and shoving his phone at Robbo. "I found my sister. Amazing, isn't it?"

"That's one word for it..." Robbo answered, a bit surprised. He wanted it to be true for Colby's sake but if this whole thing with Ebony had taught them anything, it was that there was no such thing as coincidences. The timing on this was way too suss. "Are you sure it's her?"

"Absolutely," Colby happily assured. The thing Robbo felt most keenly when Colby smiled like that was concern. Not only for Colby's safety but for his state of mind too. He was so desperate to find his sister that he might be beyond listening to reason. Still, Robbo had to try.

"Did she give you some proof?"

Colby tensed and backed away from him, the smile disappearing from his face. Robbo didn't like cutting Colby down, but it was too big of a risk to run if Colby was wrong.

"What? You don't buy it?" Colby asked in a half accusatory tone.

"Well it's just a coincidence," he said, trying to be as gentle as possible. "I mean Ebony disappears and then a few days later your sister pops her head out of nowhere."

"You think this is Ebony?" Colby was getting worked up, Robbo didn't mean to be cruel, or to hurt him, in fact that was the last thing he wanted to do, but he needed him to understand the very real danger he was in if this was Ebony and not his long-lost sister.

"Ebony spent a lot of time here, she could have looked at your sister's file at any time."

When he saw the doubt on Colby's face, he felt a little bad, but mostly relieved because it meant Colby was considering the possibility.

"No, this is... This is her..." he insisted, but he didn't sound so convinced now. "It has to be..."

It was hard to see his hope draining away like that. Robbo resisted the urge to comfort him because right now his safety had to come before his feelings. Maybe if Dean was here they could have tended to both, but he wasn't. Maybe that was a good thing, Dean was already worried enough without seeing Colby strung out and on edge like this.

"I'll tell ya what," Robbo offered, resting a hand on Colby's shoulder. "Don't do anything, I'll call my mate at the feds, and see if the forensics have had any joy with Ebony's burner phone. Alright?"

"Okay, okay..." Colby allowed, shrugging him off. Robbo ignored the sting and pulled out his phone.

A quick conversation with Lance confirmed Robbo's suspicions.

"Well?"

"Well Lance reckons the email address found on Ebony's burner phone was the same email address used to set up Bella Steele's social media account."

Colby looked gutted.

"I'm sorry mate."

But he soon pulled himself together despite the crushing blow. That was the fighter coming out in him.

"So, you're right. She was just pretending to be my sister."

The reckless determination coming over Colby's face now, told Robbo that they weren't out of the woods yet.

"What do you want to do? Give the cops the address?" he suggested.

"No, no. They go rushing in there and she's just watching the place, she'll go to ground. And we'll never get a chance to catch her."

"Sure, it's a risk-"

"Is it a risk you're willing to take?"

Robbo understood that things were different for them. Yes, Ebony had it in for both of them, but Colby had someone he loved. Robbo didn't. That meant Colby had more to lose.

"So what are you suggesting?" he wondered.

"I don't know yet. Look, I'm meant to meet 'Bella' tomorrow at ten, so we've got some time to come up with a plan."

"You're playing a dangerous game here mate. Let's sleep on it and we'll regroup tomorrow."

"Alright."

xxx

God he loved the way Dean looked at him, his feelings were so plain to see. He knew that Dean worshipped him, it had always been like that. Ever since they were kids and he had rescued Dean from some bullies, kids who were picking on him because he was so skinny and his clothes were all dirty and mismatched. It hadn't been Dean's fault that his parents were hopeless, that they were more inclined to spend their dole money on cigarettes and booze than food for their kid. Colby had seen Dean being beaten that day, tired and hungry and at the end of his rope, and when his eyes had connected with those big, pleading green ones, he knew he had to do something. He'd snapped, beat the crap out of those kids, and Dean had idolised him for it. Followed him around everywhere after that. And Colby had figured if he was stuck with the kid now, he might as well teach him to take care of himself. So that's what he did, and after a while he discovered he needed Dean as much as Dean needed him. Dean had brought a purpose to his life, and a refuge when his own stepfather was too much to take. Dean was the one person he could count on to always have his back. He had absolute faith in their bond and that's why when his stepdad took off with Bella, he had asked too much. Dean had paid a huge price because of his loyalty, a lost future and a stint in jail, and Colby had been too ashamed to face him again, couldn't stand the thought of Dean looking at him with anything other than complete adoration. So he'd stayed away, thrown everything he had into finding Bella, but eventually fate had brought them together again. And he should have known that Dean wouldn't hold a grudge. Of course he'd puffed and blown at first, too proud and stubborn to admit how he still felt, but those walls had come down pretty quick, and here they were back together, more in love than ever, and Colby needed it. Needed Dean. Needed the love and attention Dean gave him. Which also meant he needed to keep him safe. No matter the cost to himself this time.

He crushed his mouth against Dean's, kissing him hard, needing to express this bond between them as strongly as he could.

Tomorrow he was going to risk it all, so he was determined to give Dean something special tonight. Something to hold onto in case the unthinkable happened and he didn't come back.

"Jesus Colby," Dean panted, breaking the kiss and gasping for air. "I need to breathe too."

"It's your fault," Colby shot back, "for being so damn irresistible."

"Guess I can't argue with that," Dean grinned, pulling him back into another smothering kiss.

It was hot and fast, and he realised he was making light of this. A defence mechanism, but he couldn't, not tonight, there were things he needed to say. What if this was the only chance he got? He pulled back and gazed down at this beautiful person beneath him.

"Listen," he said, touching his fingertips to Dean's face, looking into his eyes. "I know I've been a bit distant lately, I want to make it up to you."

"Yeah?" Dean smirked. "How do you plan on doing that?"

Usually Dean topped, but not tonight. Tonight Colby wanted to bury himself inside Dean, he wanted Dean to feel that this was different, feel how far gone Colby was for him.

"I want you to lay there and let me take care of you."

The laughter faded out of his eyes, replaced by something more thoughtful.

"Alright."

Dean was so trusting, and so precious. Colby knew he didn't always appreciate just how much.

"I don't know if I deserve you."

Dean's brow furrowed a little.

"Colbs, you're freaking me out a bit," he said, trying to hide a genuine fear behind a joke. Maybe he was being too obvious. So he wasn't going to tell Dean he loved him, just have some mind-blowing sex.

"I can stop..."

"No," Dean said with a quick shake of his head. "Never do that."

Colby smiled and pressed his mouth to Dean's again, slower and gentler this time.

He took Dean liked he promised, made it slow and careful, taking his cues from Dean, giving him exactly what he wanted. Usually they fucked, but this was making love. This time, he was determined to say a proper goodbye.

He dragged it out as long as he could, backing off each time he thought he might come, determined to hold this connection between them.

Eventually he couldn't hold on anymore, and they came together, sweat-soaked and sore, burned into each other's souls.

"Fuck," Dean puffed, looking up at him with that worshipping look which was as vital to Colby as air. "That was something else."

"You bring out the best in me," Colby offered, biting his bottom lip, unused to openly admitting such things. It was a little embarrassing, but he wanted Dean to know how much being with him meant.

Dean gave him a funny look.

"You're very serious tonight."

There were a lot of replies he could've given, things about how important this love between them was, and how he couldn't live without Dean, but in the end he couldn't bring himself to say any of it. There were no words that could do his feelings justice anyway.

"Shut up," he settled on, shifting closer and tangling himself as tight as he could with Dean. He really hoped this wasn't the end.