Fic: Betrayal, Part 3/3
"Betrayal" continues to the end here.
Nyota also worked at The Palms, but she had a regular 9 to 5 position in the accounting department, and when she’d left yesterday she’d gone down to her mom’s in Miami. She didn’t hear about anything that had happened until this morning, and even then she only heard a little bit - no one seemed to know everything, and Leonard and Jim were suddenly on leave. When she hadn’t been able to get hold of anyone by cell, she’d panicked.
They all sat in Leonard’s living room, and they both recounted their stories, each of them filling in what the other didn’t know. When they were finished, Nyota sat quietly for a moment, thinking. And then because she was logical and intelligent, came to the same conclusion that Leonard himself had.
“One of the guys on the security team must be involved. He must have overheard you, Leonard, and tipped someone off. How else would they know to go after Jim at his home?”
“Assuming the two things are even connected,” Jim said, unsettled at the thought that someone he worked with would so easily have a hand in his death.
“Yes, we are assuming that,” Nyota said. “It’s too coincidental.”
Leonard nodded. “The police are making the same assumption.”
While they talked, Leonard’s phone rang. He stood and took the call in the kitchen. Jim followed him with his eyes, and Nyota watched Jim watching Leonard.
“So…you were sleeping?” she said quietly. Jim’s eyes snapped back to hers and he flushed, making her smile teasingly.
“Yes, sleeping.” He narrowed his eyes at her amused expression. “Stop it.”
“What?”
Jim rolled his eyes and focused on Bones as he came back in to the living room. “Who was that?” he asked.
“Gordon. He wants me to come in.”
Jim nodded, biting his lip. Gordon was the General Manager of The Palms. “Are you…”
“I still have a job.”
“What?” Nyota exclaimed. “Of course you do!”
Leonard shrugged. “I wasn’t sure. I left a crime scene - “
“And saved someone else!” Nyota exclaimed.
Leonard and Jim locked eyes, each both remembering their own prospective of their terror in that moment.
“Well, in any case, now I know for sure that I still have a job. And I have to get ready to go.”
“I’m coming too,” Jim said, standing.
“No, you’re staying here,” Leonard said.
“What…no. I’m coming.”
“Why the hell…”
“Okay,” Nyota said, standing. “I’m relieved to see you’re both okay, and now I’m going back to work. And Jim, you should stay here.”
She hugged and kissed each of them, and Leonard unlocked the door to let her out and locked it again behind her, then turned to look at Jim, a hundred reasons that he should stay put on his lips.
“I’m not staying here,” Jim said before Leonard could say anything. “I was chased right out of my home. Damned if I’m going to be chased out of my job.”
They stared at each other defiantly for a few seconds, but Leonard eventually sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Fine. But you don’t go anywhere without me. Understand?”
Jim smiled slightly, and nodded. “I understand. But I can’t go like this, or wear what I had on yesterday, so hurry up and get changed. We need to stop somewhere I can buy something appropriate.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Despite the vague sense of danger and trepidation that hung over him, coming back to The Palms was like coming home, and the anxiety he’d been feeling - and doing his best to hide - lessened. He knew this place like the back of his hand. If he couldn’t be safe here, he’d never feel safe anywhere.
“Before I go see Gordon, I need to check something,” Leonard said. “I need to go down to the Security Office.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to go to my office…”
That brought Leonard up short. “I want you to stay with me,” he said. “It’s not safe-“
Jim smiled and put a hand on his arm. “Bones…I appreciate the concern. You know I do. But I don’t need a babysitter. If you want, walk me to my office. I’ll stay there until you come get me.”
A reluctant smile pulled at the scowl on Leonard’s lips. “So, no babysitter, but a chaperon is okay?”
Jim shrugged. “Think of it as a compromise.”
“Fine,” he said. “A compromise. But you don’t leave your office without me, got it?”
“Got it.”
That settled, they made their way to a service elevator, nodding to one of the guys on the security staff they passed along the way. Leonard used his key to call it to the restricted floor, and they got on silently, neither noticing the other guard stopped just past the elevator.
As they rode to the floor that held most of the administrative offices, Leonard kept his eyes on Jim, and Jim kept his eyes focused down. He wasn’t unaware of the older man’s scrutiny, and he could feel himself flushing under Leonard’s gaze. Leonard had been up front with Jim from the beginning about what he thought this relationship could be, and though Jim hadn’t disagreed, he’d been a lot more reticent. Leonard let him set the pace, though, without complaint, and last night had been a first. An amazing, wonderful, right first. They had a lot to talk about.
Leonard walked Jim to the office suite he shared with his admin and another person, and stopped him from entering right away with a gentle hand on his arm.
“Stay here until I come to get you, okay?”
Jim smiled and rolled his eyes. “Yes, sir!”
“I mean it Jim….please. Someone….just, don’t trust anyone right now. Okay?”
Seeing how serious and concerned Leonard was, Jim’s smile softened. “I promise, Bones. I promise.”
Satisfied, Leonard nodded and he used his security card to open the door. Jim’s was back at his apartment, and he made a mental note to get a new one issued to him today. They walked into the office suite together, Leonard going first to look around and convince himself that Jim was safe here. The other two people who shared the space were not currently there.
“Okay…call me if you need anything. Otherwise, I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Perfect,” Jim said, moving to his desk. “That’ll give me enough time to check on a few things.”
Leonard lingered in the doorway for a moment, watching as Jim sat and turned on his computer. Jim looked up, an eyebrow raised in question, and a small smile touched Leonard’s lips as Jim’s face flushed. “I’ll just…” Leonard gestured awkwardly and slipped out of the office, the door closing and locking with a click behind him.
Still fighting a feeling of apprehension at leaving Jim alone, Leonard hurried down the hall back to the elevator. The security office was two floors down, on this side of the building. Not five minutes from Jim’s office, he told himself. Everything will be fine.
His officers greeted him with relief and happiness when he walked into the nerve center of the security department. For a hotel as large as this one, which almost daily doubled as a convention center, and was quite often host to any number of well-known celebrities, the security department was a large one, and was comprised mostly of people like him….ex-cops. Of course, there were exceptions, and though Leonard was aware his approach might have been biased, the first thing he wanted to do was account for everyone who was working the previous night who hadn’t been on the job.
“Smith, can you get me a complete schedule and duty roster for the last two days,” he requested. “And then I’m gonna give you some timecodes to put on a cd for me.”
“Yes, sir, no problem.”
“Thanks.” And in the meantime, Leonard took out his cell to give his friend and captain of the city’s police force, Chris Pike, a call. He’d had a thought, and he wanted to see if there was anything Chris could tell him.
While Leonard was working, Jim sat at his computer, clicking through emails and reports, and thinking about so much more than work. He finally felt like his blush was fading, and his stomach had butterflies that seemed to migrate to his heart, though not because of any lingering anxiety over being here. Things with Bones had been going so well… were going so well. And now…they’d slept in the same bed, Jim wrapped in Bones’ strong arms. Even after the shock of seeing someone shot, and then running for his life, and having Bones show up just in the nick of time…the terror of realizing how close he’d come to dying that night…even after all of that, being held by Bones made him feel safe…and was just right in a way that he’d never experienced before.
This was a first for him.
Not a first relationship…he’d a few before. But this was the first time it felt so….right. Which was a little bit of a surprise for him. He’d come to terms a long time ago with the fact that he could be happy with either a woman or man. But he’d never been in any kind of relationship with a man. He’d had a few dates, some kissing and groping, but nothing ever went far, or went on for long. Jim wasn’t in a hurry, and he found that most of the people he’d been out with were on a much more…streamlined…timeline than he was. But Bones had made it clear from the very beginning that he was fine with letting Jim set the pace, and he’d been true to his word. Jim never felt pushed, nor had Bones ever even hinted at having a problem with the pace of their relationship. And Jim was surprised at how easy everything was. And how much he wanted…more…everything…with Bones.
Their relationship had definitely developed into something that he knew was going to be an important part of his life for a long time. And there was still a lot more to come, too. Some of which made him a little nervous - just because it was all new - even as the thought of being with Bones filled him with warmth.
The outer office door opened with a beep, as someone used swiped a card for entrance, startling Jim out of his reverie. Expecting to see one of his officemates, he was surprised to see one of the guys from the security team. Hendorff, he thought.
“Hey, it’s Hendorff, right?” Jim said. “Did Leo send you? I’m not quite….”
“Shut up,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Jim questioned. He rose from his desk as the other man stalked towards him, for the first time getting the feeling something was very wrong. “What’s the problem?”
“You! You’re the goddamn problem. How the fuck did you even see anything anyway?”
Jim’s heart lurched in his chest, but he strove to keep himself from reacting in any way. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said flatly.
“Don’t even bother,” Hendorff sneered. “I was in the room when you called your fag boyfriend. This was supposed to be easy - I wasn’t supposed to even be involved! - and then you had to stick your fucking nose in it.”
Swallowing hard, his heart galloping in his chest, Jim took an involuntary step backward when Hendorff pulled a gun out from under his jacket, hesitated, then raised it to point right at him. Hendorff was breathing hard, his hand trembling slightly, and sweat was gathering at his hairline.
“O-okay, okay,” Jim said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “You don’t have to do this, Hendorff. Whatever you’re wrapped up in, we can help you get out of it.”
“No! It’s too late for that. I owe too much…we made a deal.” His arm seemed to steady. “And he won’t pay me unless I….”
And then all hell broke loose.
Desperate, Jim moved fast and grabbed a heavy crystal “Employee of the Year” award from his desk, and calling upon all the training he had as a college baseball pitcher, threw the heavy object at Hendorff’s sizeable head, then dove around the side of the desk in a bid to get away.
Hendorff let out a surprised shout as he tried to duck. In such close quarters, though, he wasn’t able to avoid it completely and it glanced off his head, a sharp edge opened a cut that immediately started bleeding. It didn’t stop him long, though, and he again raised the gun. Not seeing any other way, Jim launched himself at Hendorff low and hard, and they both fell, struggling for control of the gun. There was another crash from somewhere else, but Jim barely registered it as he fought to keep the gun pointed away from him. Hendorff was larger and more skilled at hand to hand, and Jim couldn’t block the knee that came up and caught him in the stomach, forcing all the air out of him with a painful grunt, and the next second, Jim was on his back with Hendorff over him, leaning his weight onto Jim’s chest.
Terrified, expecting to be shot at any second and struggling to breathe, Jim desperately grasped Hendorff’s arm, struggling with the weight of the much heavier man on him, when suddenly the weight was gone as Hendorff was pulled backwards.
Scrambling away, Jim looked up in confusion. Bones had an arm around Hendorff’s neck, pulling him back and off of Jim. Another officer grabbed his arms, and secured the gun.
“Stop fighting, Hendorff. STOP!” Leonard yelled furiously. Gasping, face red with exertion and the pressure Leonard had on his windpipe, he finally gave up and let his body relax. “You okay?” Leonard asked, eyes finding Jim, who was staring at Hendorff in shock. “Jim!” His eyes snapped up to Leonard. “Are you okay?”
Swallowing, Jim nodded. “Y-yes,” he stammered. Shakily, he pushed himself to his feet and stood, pressed against the wall. He watched as Leonard and the other officer secured Hendorff’s hands behind him.
“Cooper, are the police here yet?” Leonard asked.
Cooper spoke into his walkie, then turned back to Leonard. “Just pulled up.”
Leonard hauled Hendorff up and guided him to one of the office chairs. “You sit there, and don’t move!” he growled. “What the fuck were you thinking, man?”
Hendorff just clenched his jaw and glowered, keeping his mouth shut. Of course Leonard didn’t have the authority to arrest anyone, but he also didn’t have to warn Hendorff of his Miranda rights, either. Clearly, Hendorff decided to keep his own council and keep his mouth closed.
Leonard just shook his head in disgust. “Keep an eye on him, Cooper,” he said, eyes on Jim. Cooper acknowledged him, and Leonard moved around the desk to where Jim stood, still pressed against the wall, chest rising and falling quickly as his heart raced.
“Jim,” Leonard said quietly. “It’s okay. It’s over.” He reached out to Jim, who seemed stuck in shock, staring at Hendorff. Jim jumped when Leonard grasped his shoulder, and that touch seemed to snap him out of it.
“Bones…what the hell…?” Jim asked shakily.
Leonard sighed deeply and drew Jim into a hug, holding him as tightly as Jim clung to him, shuddering.
“It’s a long story, kid. I’ll tell you everything.”
______________________________________________________________________________________
In one of Bones’ old, soft t-shirts and a pair of his pajama pants, Jim sat in a corner of the couch, legs pulled up and arms wrapped around his knees. He looked up as Bones came over to him and gratefully accepted a cup of hot chocolate. When Bones had offered him tea, he’d asked for hot chocolate jokingly, laughing softly when Bones rolled his eyes and muttered “infant” under his breath. He hadn’t really expected Bones to have hot chocolate mix in his cupboards - the kind with marshmallows, his favorite - but he’d shrugged and gave Jim a little smile.
“I remembered you ordered it last time we had breakfast out,” he explained. “So I bought some. Just in case.”
It was funny how such a little thing could mean so much.
The police had found the guy who’d broken into Jim’s apartment. Turned out, Leonard had managed to wing him, and he’d ended up in a hospital with a gunshot wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding. As required, it was reported, and he was apprehended easily. Jim’s apartment was released by the police, and Leonard had gone with him to gather some of his things. Jim hadn’t felt ready to move back in yet - wasn’t sure if he ever would - and Leonard could only give him his support, and an open invitation to stay with him for as long as he wanted.
“So, you asked Captain Pike to check if they had my phone? How come?” Jim asked. He blew across the top of the cup and watched as Bones took a seat near him.
“Because of something you said to Nyota…that your phone rang and scared you when you were behind your building,” Leonard replied. “I wanted to know who called you.”
“And it was Hendorff,” Jim said.
Leonard nodded. “And then I just new. I didn’t know how he was involved completely, but there was no reason for him to be calling you right then, except to help the asshole find you.”
Jim nodded, so grateful that Bones had put that together. “You saved me. Again.”
Leonard smiled with his eyes, and shrugged a little. “You’re worth saving.”
Jim blushed a little, and fixed his eyes on his mug. After a moment he cleared his throat and managed to look back up at Bones. “So Hendorff confessed everything?”
“Yup. All of what he knew. He didn’t know why Jamison had arranged to have his wife killed, though there’s speculation it was because she was going to turn over some incriminating information about some of his “business” practices. The police think she thought she was there to meet with her husband.”
Jim was quiet for a moment, considering that. They were still looking for Jamison, and Jim had no doubt that he’d insulated himself with an army of lawyers. He was a mess of confused feelings over the fact that when Hendorff had reported that Jim called Bones because of what he’d seen that night, Jamison had ordered his hired gun to find and kill him. Jamison had always been good to Jim, and they’d known each other for a long time. Apparently not very well. That the man could do that to his wife… obviously Jim hadn’t really known anything about the kind of man he was.
“Hey,” Leonard said quietly. He could see the tumultuous feelings in those blue eyes. He set his cup of tea down and took Jim’s mug as well, then grasped Jim’s hands tightly. “There was no way you could know all this was going to happen. Even if you’d known Carole checked in.”
“I know,” Jim said quietly. Not that it helped much. Jim could only imagine how Bones felt, with one of his officers being involved. Hendorff’s role was to facilitate things - bring the guy who killed Carole up to the room, check Carole in himself (and not inform Jim), and he informed Jamison when Jim called Bones to report what he’d seen. “How did they get Hendorff to cooperate? I mean…why…why was he willing to k-kill me?”
Leonard sighed and drew him into a hug. He had no doubt that it was going to take Jim some time to get over this. It was going to take some time for him, too. The sense of betrayal he felt over Hendorff’s involvement ran deep and stirred feelings of anger
“He was deep in debt because of gambling, and Jamison offered him a way out.”
Jim nodded, figuring it was something like that. He remembered Hendorff saying that he owed too much.
“He didn’t want to kill me,” Jim said quietly. “He said they wouldn’t pay him unless he did.”
Leonard pressed his lips together and pulled Jim to him a little tighter. There was nothing to say to that. Would Hendorff have gone through with it? He hoped not. But Jim could’ve been killed or seriously hurt, and if he hadn’t gotten there…
He closed his eyes against that thought, not wanting to follow it any further. Beside him, Jim let out a sigh and turned in his seat to more fully face Bones. They were quiet, just taking each other in. Jim was lost in the depths of those hazel eyes, and his heartbeat quickened with nervous excitement. He’d been thinking about them a lot…and now he thought maybe it was time to stop thinking.
Leonard leaned in and pressed a kiss to Jim’s lips. It was sweet, and gentle and reverent, and a reminder of everything they had - as well as what they could lose. And Jim, he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Bones, holding him and loving how they just fit together so perfectly. Bones gently held the back of Jim’s head, and his hands roamed over Bones’ strong back. Leonard kissed down his throat, finding that spot that made his breath hitch and staying there to worry that spot until Jim started to squirm and laugh, pushing against his shoulders, unbearably ticklish right there. Bones chuckled against him, a low, warm sound and let up, going back to his full lips, and kissing him again. Leonard shifted, and Jim followed his lead, laying back on the couch, relaxing into the feel of being held so tenderly.
“Bones,” Jim murmured against his lips. “Let’s go to bed.”
Bones pulled back to breathe, and they rested forehead to forehead, sharing the air. They were quiet for a moment, Jim’s words hanging between them. Jim’d been through a lot, was probably still feeling pretty vulnerable, and Leonard didn’t want to take advantage of him.
“I thought you wanted to take things slow,” Leonard said. “You know I don’t mind, Darlin’.”
“I know,” Jim said, flushing slightly. He looked up at Leonard from under his lashes. “I - I just have a new perspective on things. How…fragile…life is. How things can change without you ever seeing that change coming. And I want to live my life now…and I want you to be a…complete…part of my life.”
Leonard’s lips curved into a little smile, relieved to hear nothing but sincerity in Jim’s words. And he wholeheartedly agreed.
“I like the sound of that Darlin’,” Bones said. “But there’s no rush. You’ve been through a lot…maybe we should let things settle for a couple of days. No one’s going anywhere.”
Touched that Bones cared so much for him, and respected the pace he’d set for them, Jim smiled. He cupped Bones’ cheek, smoothed a thumb over one dark eyebrow. There was so much he wanted to say - three words the most important of all - but he felt suddenly shy, and covered by leaning in to kiss Bones again.
“I know, and it means so much to me,” Jim said when they parted, “that you say that. But…I know what I want. I want you, and if you want me…”
Leonard smiled and rolled his eyes. “Darlin’, you have no idea how much I want you…and for how long.” Not needing to hear anything else, reassured that Jim wasn’t just caught up in the moment and really wanted to take this next step, he stood, and pulled Jim to his feet.
They took their time with each other, each learning the other’s body in a slow, sensual exploration. They shared secrets and whispered pleas, rode the waves of their completion as they gasped and clutched each other, and kissed between soft cries of overwhelming pleasure.
They luxuriated in each other, in that moment, and in the knowledge of all the time they had coming to be together.
Back to Part 2
Nyota also worked at The Palms, but she had a regular 9 to 5 position in the accounting department, and when she’d left yesterday she’d gone down to her mom’s in Miami. She didn’t hear about anything that had happened until this morning, and even then she only heard a little bit - no one seemed to know everything, and Leonard and Jim were suddenly on leave. When she hadn’t been able to get hold of anyone by cell, she’d panicked.
They all sat in Leonard’s living room, and they both recounted their stories, each of them filling in what the other didn’t know. When they were finished, Nyota sat quietly for a moment, thinking. And then because she was logical and intelligent, came to the same conclusion that Leonard himself had.
“One of the guys on the security team must be involved. He must have overheard you, Leonard, and tipped someone off. How else would they know to go after Jim at his home?”
“Assuming the two things are even connected,” Jim said, unsettled at the thought that someone he worked with would so easily have a hand in his death.
“Yes, we are assuming that,” Nyota said. “It’s too coincidental.”
Leonard nodded. “The police are making the same assumption.”
While they talked, Leonard’s phone rang. He stood and took the call in the kitchen. Jim followed him with his eyes, and Nyota watched Jim watching Leonard.
“So…you were sleeping?” she said quietly. Jim’s eyes snapped back to hers and he flushed, making her smile teasingly.
“Yes, sleeping.” He narrowed his eyes at her amused expression. “Stop it.”
“What?”
Jim rolled his eyes and focused on Bones as he came back in to the living room. “Who was that?” he asked.
“Gordon. He wants me to come in.”
Jim nodded, biting his lip. Gordon was the General Manager of The Palms. “Are you…”
“I still have a job.”
“What?” Nyota exclaimed. “Of course you do!”
Leonard shrugged. “I wasn’t sure. I left a crime scene - “
“And saved someone else!” Nyota exclaimed.
Leonard and Jim locked eyes, each both remembering their own prospective of their terror in that moment.
“Well, in any case, now I know for sure that I still have a job. And I have to get ready to go.”
“I’m coming too,” Jim said, standing.
“No, you’re staying here,” Leonard said.
“What…no. I’m coming.”
“Why the hell…”
“Okay,” Nyota said, standing. “I’m relieved to see you’re both okay, and now I’m going back to work. And Jim, you should stay here.”
She hugged and kissed each of them, and Leonard unlocked the door to let her out and locked it again behind her, then turned to look at Jim, a hundred reasons that he should stay put on his lips.
“I’m not staying here,” Jim said before Leonard could say anything. “I was chased right out of my home. Damned if I’m going to be chased out of my job.”
They stared at each other defiantly for a few seconds, but Leonard eventually sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Fine. But you don’t go anywhere without me. Understand?”
Jim smiled slightly, and nodded. “I understand. But I can’t go like this, or wear what I had on yesterday, so hurry up and get changed. We need to stop somewhere I can buy something appropriate.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Despite the vague sense of danger and trepidation that hung over him, coming back to The Palms was like coming home, and the anxiety he’d been feeling - and doing his best to hide - lessened. He knew this place like the back of his hand. If he couldn’t be safe here, he’d never feel safe anywhere.
“Before I go see Gordon, I need to check something,” Leonard said. “I need to go down to the Security Office.”
“Okay, well, I’m going to go to my office…”
That brought Leonard up short. “I want you to stay with me,” he said. “It’s not safe-“
Jim smiled and put a hand on his arm. “Bones…I appreciate the concern. You know I do. But I don’t need a babysitter. If you want, walk me to my office. I’ll stay there until you come get me.”
A reluctant smile pulled at the scowl on Leonard’s lips. “So, no babysitter, but a chaperon is okay?”
Jim shrugged. “Think of it as a compromise.”
“Fine,” he said. “A compromise. But you don’t leave your office without me, got it?”
“Got it.”
That settled, they made their way to a service elevator, nodding to one of the guys on the security staff they passed along the way. Leonard used his key to call it to the restricted floor, and they got on silently, neither noticing the other guard stopped just past the elevator.
As they rode to the floor that held most of the administrative offices, Leonard kept his eyes on Jim, and Jim kept his eyes focused down. He wasn’t unaware of the older man’s scrutiny, and he could feel himself flushing under Leonard’s gaze. Leonard had been up front with Jim from the beginning about what he thought this relationship could be, and though Jim hadn’t disagreed, he’d been a lot more reticent. Leonard let him set the pace, though, without complaint, and last night had been a first. An amazing, wonderful, right first. They had a lot to talk about.
Leonard walked Jim to the office suite he shared with his admin and another person, and stopped him from entering right away with a gentle hand on his arm.
“Stay here until I come to get you, okay?”
Jim smiled and rolled his eyes. “Yes, sir!”
“I mean it Jim….please. Someone….just, don’t trust anyone right now. Okay?”
Seeing how serious and concerned Leonard was, Jim’s smile softened. “I promise, Bones. I promise.”
Satisfied, Leonard nodded and he used his security card to open the door. Jim’s was back at his apartment, and he made a mental note to get a new one issued to him today. They walked into the office suite together, Leonard going first to look around and convince himself that Jim was safe here. The other two people who shared the space were not currently there.
“Okay…call me if you need anything. Otherwise, I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Perfect,” Jim said, moving to his desk. “That’ll give me enough time to check on a few things.”
Leonard lingered in the doorway for a moment, watching as Jim sat and turned on his computer. Jim looked up, an eyebrow raised in question, and a small smile touched Leonard’s lips as Jim’s face flushed. “I’ll just…” Leonard gestured awkwardly and slipped out of the office, the door closing and locking with a click behind him.
Still fighting a feeling of apprehension at leaving Jim alone, Leonard hurried down the hall back to the elevator. The security office was two floors down, on this side of the building. Not five minutes from Jim’s office, he told himself. Everything will be fine.
His officers greeted him with relief and happiness when he walked into the nerve center of the security department. For a hotel as large as this one, which almost daily doubled as a convention center, and was quite often host to any number of well-known celebrities, the security department was a large one, and was comprised mostly of people like him….ex-cops. Of course, there were exceptions, and though Leonard was aware his approach might have been biased, the first thing he wanted to do was account for everyone who was working the previous night who hadn’t been on the job.
“Smith, can you get me a complete schedule and duty roster for the last two days,” he requested. “And then I’m gonna give you some timecodes to put on a cd for me.”
“Yes, sir, no problem.”
“Thanks.” And in the meantime, Leonard took out his cell to give his friend and captain of the city’s police force, Chris Pike, a call. He’d had a thought, and he wanted to see if there was anything Chris could tell him.
While Leonard was working, Jim sat at his computer, clicking through emails and reports, and thinking about so much more than work. He finally felt like his blush was fading, and his stomach had butterflies that seemed to migrate to his heart, though not because of any lingering anxiety over being here. Things with Bones had been going so well… were going so well. And now…they’d slept in the same bed, Jim wrapped in Bones’ strong arms. Even after the shock of seeing someone shot, and then running for his life, and having Bones show up just in the nick of time…the terror of realizing how close he’d come to dying that night…even after all of that, being held by Bones made him feel safe…and was just right in a way that he’d never experienced before.
This was a first for him.
Not a first relationship…he’d a few before. But this was the first time it felt so….right. Which was a little bit of a surprise for him. He’d come to terms a long time ago with the fact that he could be happy with either a woman or man. But he’d never been in any kind of relationship with a man. He’d had a few dates, some kissing and groping, but nothing ever went far, or went on for long. Jim wasn’t in a hurry, and he found that most of the people he’d been out with were on a much more…streamlined…timeline than he was. But Bones had made it clear from the very beginning that he was fine with letting Jim set the pace, and he’d been true to his word. Jim never felt pushed, nor had Bones ever even hinted at having a problem with the pace of their relationship. And Jim was surprised at how easy everything was. And how much he wanted…more…everything…with Bones.
Their relationship had definitely developed into something that he knew was going to be an important part of his life for a long time. And there was still a lot more to come, too. Some of which made him a little nervous - just because it was all new - even as the thought of being with Bones filled him with warmth.
The outer office door opened with a beep, as someone used swiped a card for entrance, startling Jim out of his reverie. Expecting to see one of his officemates, he was surprised to see one of the guys from the security team. Hendorff, he thought.
“Hey, it’s Hendorff, right?” Jim said. “Did Leo send you? I’m not quite….”
“Shut up,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Jim questioned. He rose from his desk as the other man stalked towards him, for the first time getting the feeling something was very wrong. “What’s the problem?”
“You! You’re the goddamn problem. How the fuck did you even see anything anyway?”
Jim’s heart lurched in his chest, but he strove to keep himself from reacting in any way. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said flatly.
“Don’t even bother,” Hendorff sneered. “I was in the room when you called your fag boyfriend. This was supposed to be easy - I wasn’t supposed to even be involved! - and then you had to stick your fucking nose in it.”
Swallowing hard, his heart galloping in his chest, Jim took an involuntary step backward when Hendorff pulled a gun out from under his jacket, hesitated, then raised it to point right at him. Hendorff was breathing hard, his hand trembling slightly, and sweat was gathering at his hairline.
“O-okay, okay,” Jim said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “You don’t have to do this, Hendorff. Whatever you’re wrapped up in, we can help you get out of it.”
“No! It’s too late for that. I owe too much…we made a deal.” His arm seemed to steady. “And he won’t pay me unless I….”
And then all hell broke loose.
Desperate, Jim moved fast and grabbed a heavy crystal “Employee of the Year” award from his desk, and calling upon all the training he had as a college baseball pitcher, threw the heavy object at Hendorff’s sizeable head, then dove around the side of the desk in a bid to get away.
Hendorff let out a surprised shout as he tried to duck. In such close quarters, though, he wasn’t able to avoid it completely and it glanced off his head, a sharp edge opened a cut that immediately started bleeding. It didn’t stop him long, though, and he again raised the gun. Not seeing any other way, Jim launched himself at Hendorff low and hard, and they both fell, struggling for control of the gun. There was another crash from somewhere else, but Jim barely registered it as he fought to keep the gun pointed away from him. Hendorff was larger and more skilled at hand to hand, and Jim couldn’t block the knee that came up and caught him in the stomach, forcing all the air out of him with a painful grunt, and the next second, Jim was on his back with Hendorff over him, leaning his weight onto Jim’s chest.
Terrified, expecting to be shot at any second and struggling to breathe, Jim desperately grasped Hendorff’s arm, struggling with the weight of the much heavier man on him, when suddenly the weight was gone as Hendorff was pulled backwards.
Scrambling away, Jim looked up in confusion. Bones had an arm around Hendorff’s neck, pulling him back and off of Jim. Another officer grabbed his arms, and secured the gun.
“Stop fighting, Hendorff. STOP!” Leonard yelled furiously. Gasping, face red with exertion and the pressure Leonard had on his windpipe, he finally gave up and let his body relax. “You okay?” Leonard asked, eyes finding Jim, who was staring at Hendorff in shock. “Jim!” His eyes snapped up to Leonard. “Are you okay?”
Swallowing, Jim nodded. “Y-yes,” he stammered. Shakily, he pushed himself to his feet and stood, pressed against the wall. He watched as Leonard and the other officer secured Hendorff’s hands behind him.
“Cooper, are the police here yet?” Leonard asked.
Cooper spoke into his walkie, then turned back to Leonard. “Just pulled up.”
Leonard hauled Hendorff up and guided him to one of the office chairs. “You sit there, and don’t move!” he growled. “What the fuck were you thinking, man?”
Hendorff just clenched his jaw and glowered, keeping his mouth shut. Of course Leonard didn’t have the authority to arrest anyone, but he also didn’t have to warn Hendorff of his Miranda rights, either. Clearly, Hendorff decided to keep his own council and keep his mouth closed.
Leonard just shook his head in disgust. “Keep an eye on him, Cooper,” he said, eyes on Jim. Cooper acknowledged him, and Leonard moved around the desk to where Jim stood, still pressed against the wall, chest rising and falling quickly as his heart raced.
“Jim,” Leonard said quietly. “It’s okay. It’s over.” He reached out to Jim, who seemed stuck in shock, staring at Hendorff. Jim jumped when Leonard grasped his shoulder, and that touch seemed to snap him out of it.
“Bones…what the hell…?” Jim asked shakily.
Leonard sighed deeply and drew Jim into a hug, holding him as tightly as Jim clung to him, shuddering.
“It’s a long story, kid. I’ll tell you everything.”
______________________________________________________________________________________
In one of Bones’ old, soft t-shirts and a pair of his pajama pants, Jim sat in a corner of the couch, legs pulled up and arms wrapped around his knees. He looked up as Bones came over to him and gratefully accepted a cup of hot chocolate. When Bones had offered him tea, he’d asked for hot chocolate jokingly, laughing softly when Bones rolled his eyes and muttered “infant” under his breath. He hadn’t really expected Bones to have hot chocolate mix in his cupboards - the kind with marshmallows, his favorite - but he’d shrugged and gave Jim a little smile.
“I remembered you ordered it last time we had breakfast out,” he explained. “So I bought some. Just in case.”
It was funny how such a little thing could mean so much.
The police had found the guy who’d broken into Jim’s apartment. Turned out, Leonard had managed to wing him, and he’d ended up in a hospital with a gunshot wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding. As required, it was reported, and he was apprehended easily. Jim’s apartment was released by the police, and Leonard had gone with him to gather some of his things. Jim hadn’t felt ready to move back in yet - wasn’t sure if he ever would - and Leonard could only give him his support, and an open invitation to stay with him for as long as he wanted.
“So, you asked Captain Pike to check if they had my phone? How come?” Jim asked. He blew across the top of the cup and watched as Bones took a seat near him.
“Because of something you said to Nyota…that your phone rang and scared you when you were behind your building,” Leonard replied. “I wanted to know who called you.”
“And it was Hendorff,” Jim said.
Leonard nodded. “And then I just new. I didn’t know how he was involved completely, but there was no reason for him to be calling you right then, except to help the asshole find you.”
Jim nodded, so grateful that Bones had put that together. “You saved me. Again.”
Leonard smiled with his eyes, and shrugged a little. “You’re worth saving.”
Jim blushed a little, and fixed his eyes on his mug. After a moment he cleared his throat and managed to look back up at Bones. “So Hendorff confessed everything?”
“Yup. All of what he knew. He didn’t know why Jamison had arranged to have his wife killed, though there’s speculation it was because she was going to turn over some incriminating information about some of his “business” practices. The police think she thought she was there to meet with her husband.”
Jim was quiet for a moment, considering that. They were still looking for Jamison, and Jim had no doubt that he’d insulated himself with an army of lawyers. He was a mess of confused feelings over the fact that when Hendorff had reported that Jim called Bones because of what he’d seen that night, Jamison had ordered his hired gun to find and kill him. Jamison had always been good to Jim, and they’d known each other for a long time. Apparently not very well. That the man could do that to his wife… obviously Jim hadn’t really known anything about the kind of man he was.
“Hey,” Leonard said quietly. He could see the tumultuous feelings in those blue eyes. He set his cup of tea down and took Jim’s mug as well, then grasped Jim’s hands tightly. “There was no way you could know all this was going to happen. Even if you’d known Carole checked in.”
“I know,” Jim said quietly. Not that it helped much. Jim could only imagine how Bones felt, with one of his officers being involved. Hendorff’s role was to facilitate things - bring the guy who killed Carole up to the room, check Carole in himself (and not inform Jim), and he informed Jamison when Jim called Bones to report what he’d seen. “How did they get Hendorff to cooperate? I mean…why…why was he willing to k-kill me?”
Leonard sighed and drew him into a hug. He had no doubt that it was going to take Jim some time to get over this. It was going to take some time for him, too. The sense of betrayal he felt over Hendorff’s involvement ran deep and stirred feelings of anger
“He was deep in debt because of gambling, and Jamison offered him a way out.”
Jim nodded, figuring it was something like that. He remembered Hendorff saying that he owed too much.
“He didn’t want to kill me,” Jim said quietly. “He said they wouldn’t pay him unless he did.”
Leonard pressed his lips together and pulled Jim to him a little tighter. There was nothing to say to that. Would Hendorff have gone through with it? He hoped not. But Jim could’ve been killed or seriously hurt, and if he hadn’t gotten there…
He closed his eyes against that thought, not wanting to follow it any further. Beside him, Jim let out a sigh and turned in his seat to more fully face Bones. They were quiet, just taking each other in. Jim was lost in the depths of those hazel eyes, and his heartbeat quickened with nervous excitement. He’d been thinking about them a lot…and now he thought maybe it was time to stop thinking.
Leonard leaned in and pressed a kiss to Jim’s lips. It was sweet, and gentle and reverent, and a reminder of everything they had - as well as what they could lose. And Jim, he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Bones, holding him and loving how they just fit together so perfectly. Bones gently held the back of Jim’s head, and his hands roamed over Bones’ strong back. Leonard kissed down his throat, finding that spot that made his breath hitch and staying there to worry that spot until Jim started to squirm and laugh, pushing against his shoulders, unbearably ticklish right there. Bones chuckled against him, a low, warm sound and let up, going back to his full lips, and kissing him again. Leonard shifted, and Jim followed his lead, laying back on the couch, relaxing into the feel of being held so tenderly.
“Bones,” Jim murmured against his lips. “Let’s go to bed.”
Bones pulled back to breathe, and they rested forehead to forehead, sharing the air. They were quiet for a moment, Jim’s words hanging between them. Jim’d been through a lot, was probably still feeling pretty vulnerable, and Leonard didn’t want to take advantage of him.
“I thought you wanted to take things slow,” Leonard said. “You know I don’t mind, Darlin’.”
“I know,” Jim said, flushing slightly. He looked up at Leonard from under his lashes. “I - I just have a new perspective on things. How…fragile…life is. How things can change without you ever seeing that change coming. And I want to live my life now…and I want you to be a…complete…part of my life.”
Leonard’s lips curved into a little smile, relieved to hear nothing but sincerity in Jim’s words. And he wholeheartedly agreed.
“I like the sound of that Darlin’,” Bones said. “But there’s no rush. You’ve been through a lot…maybe we should let things settle for a couple of days. No one’s going anywhere.”
Touched that Bones cared so much for him, and respected the pace he’d set for them, Jim smiled. He cupped Bones’ cheek, smoothed a thumb over one dark eyebrow. There was so much he wanted to say - three words the most important of all - but he felt suddenly shy, and covered by leaning in to kiss Bones again.
“I know, and it means so much to me,” Jim said when they parted, “that you say that. But…I know what I want. I want you, and if you want me…”
Leonard smiled and rolled his eyes. “Darlin’, you have no idea how much I want you…and for how long.” Not needing to hear anything else, reassured that Jim wasn’t just caught up in the moment and really wanted to take this next step, he stood, and pulled Jim to his feet.
They took their time with each other, each learning the other’s body in a slow, sensual exploration. They shared secrets and whispered pleas, rode the waves of their completion as they gasped and clutched each other, and kissed between soft cries of overwhelming pleasure.
They luxuriated in each other, in that moment, and in the knowledge of all the time they had coming to be together.
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