John

I'm heading toward the supply room when I spot a familiar face leaning against the wall, arms folded over his chest.

"Hey Roger, what are you doing here?" I greet him as I grab a clipboard and start filling out a form.

"Filling in on Ninety-Nine." He answers casually, glancing over the half-door. "Checking out the scenery."

I shake my head at that. "You never change."

"Never will, babe." He responds cheerfully. "And you still haven't said when you're coming up to the cabin for some fishing."

"Kind of tough when we're on opposite shifts." I point out.

He arches an eyebrow. "That's rarely stopped you before. Unless someone else is taking up your time these days."

I finish my form, clicking my pen and sticking it back in my pocket. "Jealous?"

"Only of the time this person is stealing from me." Roger replies. "So who's the lucky one this time?"

Neil appears at the half-door with a box of supplies for Roger. "You're all set." He turns his attention to me. "Well, hello."

I can't help smiling as I hand him my clipboard. "Hey."

He disappears, and it takes me a moment to realize that Roger's still standing there, a knowing expression on his face. "I see."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing." Roger peeks back through the half-door. "He is awfully cute. I see why you like him. How long has that been going on?"

"Uh, I don't know. A month or so, maybe a little longer." I reply, drumming my fingers on the half-door. "We've kind of had a hard time coordinating our schedules."

Roger regards me skeptically. "Not that hard a time, apparently."

I huff in response. "Stop. You know what I mean."

One of the nurses passes by, and I offer a quick nod and a smile in greeting. She responds similarly, continuing down the hallway.

"And still charming the ladies, too." Roger comments. "No wonder you don't have time to go fishing."

Neil returns with my box before I can respond, and our fingers brush against each other as I pick it up, sending a little spark through me. I clear my throat. "Thanks. See you later."

He smiles a little. "I'm sure I will."

I tuck the box under my arm and start back toward the base station. Roger soon catches up with me. "He's really into you. I can tell."

"Yep, seems to be."

"And you're very much into him."

"You're very perceptive." I reply a bit more sharply than I intend. "You have any other insights, Amazing Kreskin?"

Roger looks baffled. "Why so defensive?"

I set the box down on the desk and go for a cup of coffee while I'm waiting for Roy. "I'm not."

"You are."

I let out a short sigh. "Roy's just giving me a lot of grief, that's all."

Roger rolls his eyes. "Of course, he is. Poor thing is so…"

"Strait-laced." I cut off Roger before he says something too outrageous. "He just doesn't get it, you know."

Roger nods sympathetically just as his partner shows up. "I've got to go. But call me…if you can find the time."

"Bye, Roger."

"I didn't know you two knew each other." Dixie comments casually.

I nod as I swallow my coffee. "We went to the academy together. Got to know each other really well. Been friends ever since."

"I see." Dixie nods, returning to her paperwork. "He's rather…flamboyant, isn't he?"

I can't help laughing a little at that. "It's okay, you can say it. Yeah, he's gay."

Dixie arches an eyebrow. "You certainly have interesting friends."

I shrug casually. "Life's too short for boring people, Dix."

Dixie merely smiles and shakes her head, and it isn't long before Roy finally shows up. "Ready?"

"Yep." I pick up the handy-talkie and push the button. "County Squad Fifty-One available."

With no response forthcoming, we head back to the squad and climb in for the trip back to the station. "Did I see your friend Roger around earlier?"

"Yeah." I answer. "He's filling in on Ninety-Nine today."

Roy shakes his head. "I've worked with him a time or two. He's a weird one."

I can imagine how that went. "You get used to him. He's a good guy, actually. You know we were at the academy together, right?"

"Right." Roy nods. "He was in the paramedic class right behind you."

"Who do you think talked him into it?"

Roy gives me a sideways glance. "Interesting, seeing as you weren't all the way convinced yourself."

I wave Roy's comment aside. "Sure. That was before I really got what we were trying to do. But once we really got into it, I saw the value, you know? And it's a good thing I talked him into it, right?"

Roy sighs patiently. "Yes, it's a good thing."

We ride in silence for a while before Roy breaks it. "So is Roger just a friend or…"

"You really don't want to know the answer to that." I cut him off.

"You're right, you're right." Roy huffs as he backs the squad in. "Do you have any friends that you haven't…you know, had some kind of relations with?"

I'm a little offended at the comment, mostly because we both know it's not true. "Plenty. Aren't you one of them?"

"Figured I was an exception." He replies dryly.

"Hardly." I answer sharply as we climb down from the squad. "Unless…"

"I'm a married man, Johnny." Roy cuts me off, clearly wincing as we enter the day room. "And even if I wasn't, I wouldn't be interested."

Part of me really enjoys Roy's obvious discomfort, but I decide to back off and change the subject a little. "You still want me to come over tomorrow to help you out with the deck?"

Roy shakes his head. "No, Joanne hasn't made up her mind on what color stain she wants. Not sure why it matters so much."

It makes me think of Neil and his paint problem. "Yeah, I don't get it either. Well, if something changes, let me know."

The tones go off, sending us out on our next call, and we're gone most of the day, one call after another before finally ending up back at Rampart to restock. This time no one is waiting at the supply room.

"Hey, Neil." I call out as I grab a clipboard and fill out the form.

He suddenly appears. "Hey, long time no see."

"Funny." I hand him the clipboard and wait as he fills a box. I glance around to make sure no one's passing by before leaning over the door. "You remember how I was gonna help Roy out tomorrow?"

"I remember."

"Turns out he doesn't need me." I tell him. "So, uh, I'm free to come help you out if you want."

Neil returns with the box. "Absolutely. You can come over whenever you're ready."

"I'll just come over right after shift." I tell him. "Maybe we can get that painting knocked out early and…you know, have the rest of the day free for…whatever comes up."

Neil looks greatly amused as he looks me up and down. "I like the way you think."

God, if only he knew the kind of thoughts I've been having about him.

"Come on, Johnny." Roy calls out as he passes by. "Got another call."

I nod before turning back to Neil. "See you tomorrow, I guess."

"I'll count on it."

I can't help smiling a little to myself as I trot to catch up with Roy. Things have started to look up in a big way.

Neil

I'm doing everything I need to do to get ready to paint, gathering supplies and equipment when I hear the door open.

"Come on in, don't bother knocking." I call out, assuming it's Barry.

"Sorry." John sounds almost sheepish as he enters, closing the door behind him. "Figured you knew I was coming."

I feel bad for being so snarky. "No, it's my own fault for assuming you were someone else."

John frowns a little. "Who else is coming?"
"Just my friend Barry." I tell him. "He was planning on helping out already before you were suddenly available."

John's frown slowly changes to a smile. "So you didn't need me here."

That damn smile of his always stirs something up in me. I cross the room and slip my arms around his waist, tilting up my chin so that I can get a good look at him. "I don't need you here. But I do want you here."

"Hmm." Johnny murmurs, his hands sliding up the back of my shirt as he leans down and starts leaving a trail of kisses down my jawline, moving down my neck. "Think I want you right here and now."

I move my hands further up his shirt, thrilling to the feel of his mouth wandering over my skin, completely lost in the sensation. The painting can definitely wait. This feels too good to stop.

"Neil." Barry's voice stops me in my tracks as Johnny quickly pulls away. "Oh my. Hello."

Johnny looks a little uncomfortable, wiping briefly at his mouth with the back of his hand before he seems to recover, greeting Barry with a nod. "Hi. I'm John. Friend of Neil's."

Barry seems to size up John. I know Barry already has an opinion about John. What he walked in on certainly won't do much to change his mind. "Yes, I can see that. It's nice to meet you."

He breezes past John to greet me with a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. "He's cute, at least." He tells me quietly.

"Yes, he is." I answer, responding in kind. "Now be nice to him, please."

Barry rolls his eyes a little before pulling away. "I suppose we might as well get started."

I turn on the radio, tuning it to an AM station and setting it in an open window, and we each start working on a wall, chatting idly as we go.

"You'll never believe who I ran into at the opera last night, Neil." Barry starts.

"Probably not." I reply absently.

"Andrew Parker."

I'm sure I'm supposed to recognize the name, but I can't recall. "Who's that?" I ask.

Barry lets out a little huff. "You remember. Doctor Andrew Parker? The plastic surgeon?"

Now I remember. "Oh, him."

"Yes, him." Barry sounds a little exasperated. "He asked about you."

"Oh, did he now?" I reply mildly. "That's nice."

I hear Johnny's barely suppressed chuckle. That's all I need.

"Yes. He asked if you were seeing anyone." Barry continues.

I sigh irritably. "So, of course you told him I was."

"Well…" Barry trails off. "I wasn't really sure that this…thing between you two was still, you know, going on."

Barry's about as subtle as a sledgehammer, I swear to God. "Obviously it is. In case anyone else you run into asks."

"I'll send out a press release." Barry snaps before falling silent for a moment. "So Johnny, what is it you do?"

"Firefighter-paramedic with the county." John answers tersely.

"Oh, that's interesting." Barry replies in a tone that suggests he's anything but interested. "How long have you been doing that?"

"Been with the department almost ten years." John replies. "Been a paramedic for about five of those years, maybe? Went to the academy almost straight out of high school."

"Nothing wrong with that, I suppose." Barry answers. "Did you know that Neil here was nearly a doctor himself? Such a shame."

I find myself increasingly irritated with Barry's behavior. "I like nursing. I'm good at it."

"Of course you are, dear." Barry replies smoothly. "But you would have been an amazing doctor. But then again, I suppose you wouldn't have met John here otherwise."

"Well then, it's a good thing I became a nurse." I snap back.

"Oof, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed." Barry responds. "It simply seems like a waste of your talents, that's all. Especially doing whatever it is you're doing now."

"Inventory control." I reply.

"Right, that. How is that part of nursing?"

I can't help but laugh a little at that. It does seem out of line with what most people think nurses do. "It falls under administration. Someone has to do it. The paramedics weren't exactly thrilled at first. Right, John?"

"Right." The tension in John's voice is gone now. "Usually we'd just resupply at the base station. Now we have forms to fill out before we can get what we need. And I get why it's necessary, but it's kind of a pain."

"Oh, now you get it." I tease him. "You were the loudest complainer at first."

"I was not." John sounds a little affronted.

"Okay, one of the loudest complainers." I acknowledge. "Some of them are still grumbling, but I think we're all figuring out the system as we go."

"Still lots of room for improvement." John points out.

"Agreed." I reply smoothly. "We're having an administrative meeting next week to go over the numbers."

John pauses. "They're not going to start putting limits on what we can take, are they?"

"They might." I know I need to tread carefully. "But I think they mostly want the information this time around. I don't think they'll want to make any changes right away."

John lets out a hmph. "You know how these damn bureaucrats are. They have no idea how the real world works. Bunch of damn bean counters."

"Well, I can't disagree with you there." I reply with a laugh.

After a couple of hours, we have the first coat done, and I step back to check out our handiwork. John rests his arm and head on my shoulder. "It's a good color."

I elbow him lightly. "Better than beige."

"Beige?" Barry sounds positively scandalized. "Please tell me you did not consider beige."

"I did not." I assure him. "That was this guy."

John merely shrugs. "I'm not a decorator."

"Obviously." Barry huffs.

John pushes himself off, lightly kissing the back of my neck. "Okay if I start a pot of coffee?"

"Of course. You know where everything is?"

John nods and starts off toward the kitchen. Once he's out of earshot, I turn to Barry. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Barry feigns innocence. "What?"

"What, indeed." I scoff. "I told you to be nice to him."

"I have been nothing but nice." Barry replies. "I asked him about his job, I made conversation. Now, I still don't think he's right for you. You can do better. But he is rather nice to look at, I'll grant that."

I take a deep breath. "I will make that determination. And right now, he is right for me, so back off."

Barry presses his lips together as he wipes his hands off on a rag. "Say no more. But when it all falls apart, I don't want to hear about it."

"Fine." I reply sharply.

Barry glances over his shoulder toward the kitchen. "I just want what's best for you, that's all. After everything that last guy put you through…"

I place a hand on his arm. "I appreciate it. Really."

John pokes his head out of the kitchen. "Coffee's ready for whoever wants it."

"I'll be right there." I tell him before turning my attention back to Barry. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Actually, I should get going." Barry replies, a note of resignation in his voice. "And don't forget, we're hosting Nicholas's birthday party this weekend. You must come. You can even bring that guy if you want."

"John." I tell him. "His name's John."

"Right. John." Barry replies breezily. "Bring him too."

"I'll consider it."

Barry kisses my cheek and leaves, and I let out a heavy sigh. I don't know if I want to subject John to Barry's behavior again.

I make my way to the kitchen, where John is leaning against the counter, taking a drink from a mug. He regards me warily. "Does Barry want some?"

"He left." I reply as I reach up for a mug of my own and fill it, taking a quick sip. "John, I'm sorry about Barry. I don't know what got into him. He's not normally so…"

"Rude?" John offers.

"Rude, condescending, all of that." I let out an exasperated huff. I'm covering for Barry's behavior, even though I know I shouldn't. John deserves better than that. "You know, he worries about me, and he's deeply skeptical about anyone who…you know, plays both sides of the fence."

John shrugs. "Kinda sounds like he's the one with the problem. Don't see what that has to do with me."

"Well, he did think you were cute. You've got that going for you."

John smiles a little at that. "Yeah, my friend Roger thought you were cute, too. Kinda agreed with him."

I set down my coffee mug and move toward John, sliding my hands to his waist and under his shirt, moving my hands up his stomach before leaning in to kiss him. "And I agree with Barry. You are very cute."

John sets down his own mug, that slight smile never leaving his face, and I feel his hands move up the back of my shirt as he pulls me in closer. "Suppose we've got some time before that first coat dries, right?"

"Right." I answer. "And I suppose you've got some ideas on how to fill that time."

John's face breaks out into a full smile. "Oh yeah, I've definitely got some ideas."

I can't help laughing a little as he kisses me hard, and I lose myself in him. Maybe I could do better than John, but at the moment, I doubt that very much.