JE Owns the rights to anything familiar - all mistakes are mine.

I've been a little short on time so if I haven't responded to your terrific comments, please know I have read them and appreciate each and every one.

For Margaret, who may love Hector and Zip even more than I do. ;)


Bullet Wounds

Hector POV

"I can't apologize any more, Hector, and you know you would have done the same thing."

That was probably true but I was still pissed off. He knows how much I hate hospitals.

"I couldn't dig a bullet out of your arm in the middle of the street…are you really not going to talk to me?"

He could have, he just chose not to. Now there are police reports to be filled out and statements to be made and I'm in a fucking hospital. I haven't been in one since Zip took a bullet on the job and I hoped to never have to be in one again, but here we were. I know he's fine but since we walked in the door I can't stop seeing him unconscious and white as death with that bandage on his neck. It's making me nauseated and I want to get the hell out.

"Ranger gave the order," he went on and that snapped my head up. "Stephanie agreed with him, by the way."

Bringing Steph into it was a low blow. He knew I couldn't say no to her. "Is she okay?" I asked, speaking for the first time since we arrived.

"She's fine," he assured me with obvious relief that I'd finally ended the silent treatment. "And the lunatic with the stolen gun has been arrested. Again."

Stephanie, by proxy, was the reason all this shit went down, but I wasn't mad at her. She was just filling in at Vinnie's while Lula got the fat sucked out of her thighs, which was the answer I'd received when I made the mistake of asking, so really I should be pissed at Lula for the bullet wound.

Unfortunately, Zip has been at the business end of my temper since he said he was taking me home and then drove me to the hospital. "At least something good came out of this shitshow. How long before we can get out of here?"

Zip grimaced and I rubbed at the headache starting to develop at my temples."Costanza is on his way here for our statements."

Great. Just fucking great. I leaned back in the chair and inspected the bandage on my shoulder. It didn't hurt yet but I knew it would ache later. I didn't have a choice when I saw what was about to happen. I moved in front of Stephanie and turned into her, taking the round in the meaty part of my shoulder. It was a small caliber weapon so I knew the damage would be minimal but that was preferable to Steph getting shot.

"Can you at least get me a new shirt? There are some in the back of my truck." An enthusiastic nurse had cut off the one I'd been wearing and I felt awkward sitting around without one.

Zip gave me a raised eyebrow. "Will you still be here when I get back?"

It was a reasonable question because all I wanted to do was sneak out the first exit I saw but I nodded my assurances and Zip took off for my truck. He came back so quickly I was sure he'd run the whole way and I slipped the shirt over my head while we waited in silence for the cops to arrive and release me from hell.

Another hour passed before we were done and I signed myself out of the hospital so we could leave. I still wasn't in a talking mood until Zip dropped a bombshell on me during the drive to Rangeman. "Let's move in together."

I'd been an asshole for the past few hours and had barely said two words to him and he thought now was a good time to bring up living together? What the hell?

"Are you insane?" I countered incredulously.

"Obviously, but I don't see what that has to do with anything."

I laughed out loud. How does he always know what to say to diffuse my brain? "You want to live together?" He cut his gaze to me as he turned onto Haywood and though he was grinning, his eyes were serious.

"We pretty much are already, so why not make it official?"

"How are we already?"

"When was the last time we slept apart?" He shot back and I had to think about it. When I came up with the answer, I will admit to being surprised at the passage of time. A week before he'd been shot was the last time we didn't spend the night together and that was over three months ago.

"You are either at my place or I am at yours and I don't see that changing any time soon, do you?"

Try never. "You didn't freak out today," I commented, changing the subject. He doesn't normally handle it well if I get hurt, and I know exactly how that feels.

"That's because I saw what you were going to do and knew it wouldn't be that bad."

"And yet you still took me to the hospital." Zip gave me an excellent version of a Stephanie eye roll as the gate opened into the underground garage of Rangeman Enterprises.

"You're gonna have to let that one go, Hec." He killed the engine and turned his golden eyes to me. I reached out and brushed my thumb over the pink and bumpy scar of the wound still healing on his neck.

"That is sometimes easier said than done, mi amor." I wasn't mad anymore; how could I be when he looks at me that way?

"I know," he agreed and covered my hand with his, pressing them both into his neck. "We have dangerous jobs. Maybe we should think about a career change. I don't think anyone at the button factory gets shot or stabbed on a regular basis. Steph's Mom says they're hiring right now."

I found myself laughing again and then Zip's lips were on mine in a gentle kiss. "I hate when you get hurt."

"Me too," I told him. "Let's go upstairs."

"My place or yours?" He asked as we made our way to the elevator.

"According to you it doesn't matter." The door slid open and we rode the car to the 4th floor, ending up at my place since it was the closest to the elevator.

We ate some leftover Chinese for dinner and Zip fell asleep with his head in my lap while we watched some mindless television show. I let him sleep for a while but knowing we'd both be more comfortable in our bed, I coaxed him that way and he went under again as soon as his head hit the pillow.

I wished I could have joined him but I couldn't turn off my mind. I kept thinking about his comment on the drive home. We did practically cohabitate already so why not? Because it was a full and undeniable commitment, that's why, and I wasn't a commitment kind of guy. Except as much as I want to deny it, I've been committed to Zip since the first time he touched me.

Rolling over on my side, I propped my head up in my palm and stared down at his peaceful face. He looked even younger when he was sleeping and for a second I let past doubts surface. Too old, too stubborn, too broken…

"I can almost hear your brain spinning," Zip mumbled into his pillow, "what's keeping you up? Shoulder hurt?"

A smile formed without my consent at the drowsy quality of his deep voice. Even half asleep he's still attuned to me completely and it immediately vanquished my wavering confidence. If this man, who loved me in spite of my many, many flaws, wanted to live with me then I was going to make it happen.

"A little. I'm going to the living room so I don't keep you up."

"Nope," Zip said and reached for me, dragging me into his embrace. He settled his face in the crook of my neck and kissed me there before falling back into a deep sleep.

I managed to doze for a while, in the comfort of his arms, but slipped out of bed at just after five in the morning. I was going to take care of our living arrangements and with any luck I'd be able to do it quickly.

And luck turned out to be on my side. Ranger was sparing with Cal when I entered the gym and from the bruise forming on Cal's clavicle, they were probably just about done. No one else was in the room so when Ranger landed the final blow that had Cal raising his hand in surrender, we had some relative privacy.

Cal gave me a nod on his way to the locker room and Ranger set his dark eyes on me while he ran a towel over his head. "You want to go a round?" He asked with a grin, knowing I only got in that ring as a punishment.

"Absolutely not. But I would like a minute, if you have one to spare."

He grabbed a Gatorade out of the fridge and gestured to the benches that lined the boxing ring. "How's your shoulder?" Ranger inquired as we took a seat.

"Just a scratch. It'll be fine in a couple of days."

"That's what I told Stephanie when she demanded I send you to the hospital. I kept her from going though, knowing you'd hate it if she were there too. Did Zip survive the deception?"

There was a tiny tilt to his lips as he lifted the bottle to his mouth.

"He'll live," I allowed, not able to stop the smile.

"Good to hear. Now, what's on your mind?"

I could always count on Ranger to get right down to business.

"Is the renovation of apartment twelve complete?"

"Shit," Ranger said which made both my eyebrows rise in surprise. "I'm going to owe Steph another twenty."

What the hell is he talking about? "Do I want to know what that means?"

"She bet me that you and Zip would be living together by the end of the month." He turned to me fully when I didn't respond. "That is why you're asking about the apartment, right?"

"Yeah," I finally said. "Although now I'm not sure if I should be offended that you were betting against me."

Ranger laughed and finished his drink. He was in a really good mood and since he rarely showed that side of himself, I couldn't help but join in. "So we can have the apartment?"

"Shit, Hector. Both you and Zip have now taken a bullet for my wife. I'll buy you a fucking house if you want one."

"I think the apartment will do," I said with another laugh. "But I'll keep that in mind the next time I back her up on a capture."

"I'll let Rodriguez know and he'll take care of the details. You can move in immediately. Let me know if you want help and I'll get a team together." With that he headed for the exit and I tossed out my thanks before he made it out the door.

"You're the one who deserves the gratitude, hermano."

He left me alone and I didn't waste any time. I found Rodriguez already in his office and Ranger must have called him the second he left the gym because he already had the transfer paperwork started and was handing me a key fob by the end of our short conversation.

When I was walking out, he surprised me with this statement, "You and Zip are good together. I'm happy for you."

I could only nod as I left, a little taken aback at the sentiment. Zip and I hadn't exactly been hiding our relationship lately, but I didn't really think anyone noticed until Rodriguez said that. I appreciated the support since I knew there were probably going to be a few that weren't okay with it.

I went to the kitchen and got some of Ella's freshly brewed coffee for Zip and then headed back downstairs.

He was still sleeping when I entered the bedroom so I waved the cup of coffee in front of his nose a couple of times until he opened his eyes.

"Is that Ella's?" He wanted to know as he reached for the cup.

"Yep." I handed it over. "Drink it quick, we have moving to do."

Zip took a couple sips before what I said registered in his sleep addled brain. "What?"

"We're moving into the two bedroom apartment down the hall. I want to be done by lunch so drink up."

The blank expression on his face made me smile. "Are you serious?"

"I'm always serious."

Zip set his mug on the nightstand and I found myself being dragged into the bed by the collar of my shirt.

"I love you," he told me between kisses.

"I know."

"We're really going to live together?"

"Only if you stop kissing me long enough for us to move our stuff."

He kissed me again and then said, "Is it furnished already?"

"Yes, and painted. The renovations were finished last week."

His dexterous hands found their way up and under my shirt. "Then I think we should take a few minutes to say goodbye to this bed." He yanked off my shirt and attached his mouth to the bare skin of my chest.

The only thing I could argue about was the time. The bed deserved more than a few minutes for a proper sendoff.