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Blue eyes that glinted icily at the two Officers; Baker and Watson, was a rare occurrence from the normally affable Jim Reed who was postering protectively behind the shoulder of his husband. Pete was standing rigidly in front as the two officers continued to blame him for the shooting of the arrogant half cocked rookie who Pete had grudgingly taken on for training during their last shift. Unfortunately Jim had been off with a stomach ache; and therefore had not been present for the whole debacle. But had been there for the whole event afterwards when Pete had come home earlier than usual three days prior; shellshocked and scarily vacant.
Three Days Prior
“Pete! What are you doing home early?”.
After getting no reaction from the other man, Jim struggled up off the couch with a groan and made his way over to Pete to gently grasp his hands from where they hung at his side. Although limp, Jim could feel the fine tremor that ran through the hands clasped in his, ramping up his worry.
“Sweetheart, talk to me, what happened?”.
“Shot!”.
Pete struggled to get the words out. “They think…I…shot”.
“Who? Who was shot?! Are you okay?!”
Jim frantically started to run his hands over Petes body checking for injuries.
“Hey, hey, hey, no, no, I’m okay, I’m okay!”.
Jim settled with one hand framing Pete’s jaw and the other at the junction of his neck and shoulder. Taking a steadying breath Pete answered again,
“It was the rookie I was assigned with today, Mason”. Reed couldn’t help his expression from darkening a little at the mention of the arrogant man, however Pete’s next words cleared it immediately.
“He was shot and killed in pursuit of a homicide suspect.
"And…” "And what sweetheart?”. Jims heart ached as Pete’s face crumbled, and wide pleading eyes met his own.
“They…they think I shot him”.
“WHAT!?” Reed was utterly floored at the accusation.
“But I didn’t…I, I didn’t”.
“Hey, hey. I believe you. Without a doubt…you hear me?”. Pete nodded, and trembled in relief in face of Jim’s unshaken belief. Guiding his still shaking husband to the couch, Jim asked: “What about Mac, what did he say?”. “Why the hell didn’t anyone call me in, I could have come and collected you”.
“I know, I’m sorry. It all happened so fast, and before I knew what was happening and even thought to get a hold of you I was being sent home on paid suspension. I just wanted to be home so I could start to process what just happened. So, I left and came here as quickly as I could…to you”.
Pete’s energy was rapidly dwindling, and Jim found that he was starting to carry more of his weight as Pete continued.
“As for Mac, there is a pending investigation, and internal affairs have been called in. Although Mac believes that I had nothing to do with the shooting, he is our watch commander and therefore must be impartial”.
Still dumbfounded, Jim fully drew Pete into a hug, shuffling backwards to the couch and shifting their positions to draw their legs up to allow Pete to recline fully on top of him. Pete soon drifted off into a restless sleep as Jim carded his fingers through the short red strands.
Present Day
Two days later saw Pete being summoned to Police headquarters to be questioned about the shooting. Jim went along with him, despite Pete protesting he didn’t need to be there, but was overruled by his husband’s stubborn nature. Both men sat in hard wooden chairs of the waiting room as close as physically possible without being on top of each other; Reed’s leg slightly jiggling with nerves. Pete, despite earlier protestations, was immensely glad Jim was there with him; hearing the door, both men looked up as Mac called him in.
Jim remained behind staring intently at the door wishing he could be in there with him. He couldn’t believe it! How could they think that Pete of all people would do something like this? The stupid rookie must have run off half cocked and got killed as a result; and Pete as his ‘training officer’ was the one under scrutiny. Reed had heard from other TO’s that Mason was an officer who despite several reprimands, and repeatable instructions did not take any lessons to heart and in his arrogance thought that he was correct in everything he did. Reed also knew that Mac had fielded a lot of complaints, including Jim from the one time he had the unfortunate luck to have Mason as a partner while Pete was on leave.
An hour later, the slumped form of his partner shuffled through the door, flashing a small grin at Jim, he stated: “I’m cleared, let’s go back to the station and then go home”.
Nodding, Jim gathered Pete close with an arm around his waist and left the imposing building behind. At the station, Pete and Jim were stopped by Baker and Watson who started hurling accusations against Pete. Jim bristled behind him as he glared at them when something in the manner of one of the taunting officers must have alerted Reed as he made to take a step forward; however Pete subtly shifted to stop him. In tune to his husband’s body language, Jim settled back down, fists clenching at his sides. Suddenly, one of the officer’s, Baker, all but ran at Pete who tried to step back, Reed immediately maneuvering around him to stand protectively in front.
Shocked, Reed yelled “What the hell do you think you are doing!? Attempting to assault a senior officer?!”.
"Fuck off! He deserves it, for shooting Mason!”.
“He did nothing of the sort! Mason ran off half cocked and was taken out by a sniper who was positioned up high. He was found innocent, and cleared of all wrongdoing”.
The screaming tirade started to attract their colleagues with one running off to find their watch commander.
“Reed” Pete attempted to head off his partner’s steam; feeling the unbridled tension in Reed’s frame as he stared the two idiots down. Pete had just put a restraining hand on his arm when Mac’s voice rang out. “Baker, Watson, my office now!”.
Hesitating, Baker opened his mouth to argue.
“Now!”.
Both men turned and disappeared into Mac’s office where they were seen being chewed out and suspended by their irate superior.
“Let's go home love” Pete tiredly stated “A bath right about now and sleep sounds like heaven”. Jim heartedly agreed and both men turned in the direction of the locker room to change and leave for home.
Later, Pete felt a gentle kiss buss against his temple and warm arms wrap around him; as they both continued to stare out at the softly falling snow outside their window.
“It’s over now sweetheart, the sniper that shot Mason has been found and apprehended, and you have been cleared”.
“Let’s go to bed and enjoy our mandated week off”.
“What shall we do?”
Humming thoughtfully, Jim replied “how about…tramping!?”.
"What! In this weather, I think the fuck not!".
Giggling, Jim ran off towards their bedroom, as Pete’s enraged retort chased after him.
Fin.