1+1+1=Whole 5/6
A/N: This chapter came from discussions with bubbleslayer. My thoughts on Don and his love life is I think Don is insecure when it comes to his heart he thinks he's never going to get to be happy combined that with his control issues and you have Don deciding to be the 'bigger' man and falling on the proverbial sword......what an idiot!
Pairing(s): Don/Coop/Lia(OFC)
Rating: Pg-13
Warning(s):Slash
Author's Notes: As always thank you my beta bubbleslayer who as always helps me with content and reigns me when needed
Don tossed and turned all night. He kept dreaming about Coop and Lia.
He watched from the shadows as Lia slid her panties down and straddled Coop on the couch. Coop unzipped the back of her dress and slid the fabric down to expose her from the waist up. He sucked on one of her nipples as she moved her hips in a steady rhythm. Lia tossed her head back and moaned wordlessly. Coop looked over and met Don’s eyes and grinned.
~
Coop and Lia walking hand in hand, Lia whispering in his ear making him laugh.
~
Lia writhing in pleasure underneath Coop, moaning his name over and over again saying that Don never could make her come like this.
~
Lia saying softly, “I’m sorry Don. I don’t love you. I love Bill. We’re leaving you.” Handing him the key to his apartment before walking away with Coop’s arm around her.
Coop looking over his shoulder and saying, “Sorry Man, we don’t need you.”
~
Don awoke with a gasp. He found himself tangled in the sheets and alone in bed. He rubbed his forehead in weariness and despair. He made his way to the bathroom and splashed some cool water on his face. He stared at himself in the mirror for a minute trying to figure out what he should do. All he wanted most in this world was to be loved and to love. Over the last couple of years Don had lost so much with his mother’s death but gained so much too, a best friend in his brother. His relationship with his father was stronger than ever and his team was more than just a team but good friends. Now, with both Lia and Coop in his life he’d thought he’d found the last missing piece of his life. But, now it was about to crumble between his fingers. He should’ve known that things wouldn’t last, that as usual life would find it necessary to take things away from him. He heard some noise coming from one of the other rooms. He let out a sigh as he left the bathroom in search of who was here. He found Coop in the kitchen sipping coffee and waiting for the toaster.
Coop looked up as Don approached, “Morning,“ he said, “You wanna bagel?”
Don shook his head, “Nah, just some coffee.” He grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured himself a cup.
Coop handed him the creamer and a sweetener packet. Coop inquired, “You okay man? ‘Cuz you look like hell.”
Don grunted back in response, “Yeah, thanks.” He shrugged, “Didn’t sleep so good.”
Concern showed on his face when he asked, “Your ribs still bothering you?”
“Yeah, sure. My ribs.” Don looked around, “Where’s Lia?”
“Uh, she left about an hour ago. She was going run some errands before going back to her place.” He gave Don a grin, “ She took your bag to the dry cleaners and said she’d pick up the new stuff and give it to you later.”
“Oh, that was nice of her.”
“Yeah man, she likes taking care of you.” The toaster popped with his bagel, “She told us to come over later, that she’d make dinner at her place. Something about her place is nicer anyway.” Coop rolled his eyes at Don. “Maybe we should just move into her place any way. If it’s so much better.”
Unable to stop him from grinning in reply Don said, “Sure, she’d love that. You know she goes there to hide from us.”
“I don’t know why,” Coop laughed.
“More like she’s hiding from you. She like’s me and only puts up with you for the sex.”
Don watched something pass over his face before Coop replied with a slight smile at the old joke, “Well, there’s no account in taste,” he said as he took his bagel and coffee into the other room.
Don watched him walk away feeling all the good natured teasing ebb away. He sipped his coffee trying to use the caffeinated liquid to help clear his mind. He rubbed his jaw and headed off back to the bathroom to grab a shower. He placed the cup on the sink, removed his tee shirt, and turned on the hot water. He opened up the medicine cabinet to take some pain relievers and spied a bottle of Lia’s body lotion and face cream that she kept there. They were lined up next to Coop's aftershave and cologne. The memory of her body lotion mixed in with Coop’s aftershave always turned Don on. He sighed as he closed the cabinet and got a good look at the fading bruises on his chest. He ran his fingers over them. They were a mottled purple, green, and yellow. He stripped his pajama pants off and stepped into the hot water, letting it run over him.
About fifteen minutes later Don heard a knock out the door. Coop stuck his head in and said, “Hey, either save me some hot water or let me join you.”
“Yeah, I’m almost done.” Don sighed and quickly scrubbed some shampoo into his hair. He decided to forgo shaving and quickly washed his body and face. He turned off the water and grabbed his towel to dry off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom. Coop was pulling some clothes out of the bureau. He walked past Don and tossed a pair of socks at his head. “If there is no hot water left for me I’m telling Lee.”
Don caught the socks and shook his head at Coop’s comment. He stopped at the bureau to grab some things out of it and his eyes looked down at a candid photo that he had taken of Coop and Lia in her apartment. They were both laughing and Coop had his hand on Lia’s back as they leaned forward on the countertop. It was at that moment that Don decided that he would do what was best for the two people he loved. He would step aside and let them be happy together - without him.
&&&
Don watched Lia and Coop at dinner. Most of the tension that he had seen between them had virtually disappeared. They were back to their light teasing and ribbing of each other.
Don met Lia’s eyes. She tilted her head and looked back, her eyes questioning him.
“Don?” She took a sip of her wine, “You all right? You’ve barely eaten.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied.
“Sure? Bill said your ribs were bothering you again earlier. Do you need some more pain relievers or a hot water bottle?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
He watched her give a look to Coop who shrugged back.
“So, you two happy?” Don asked.
Coop answered, “Yeah, I got a full belly of good food. I’m happy.” He leaned over and squeezed Lia’s shoulder.
She grinned back in response.
“That’s not what I meant, Coop.”
“Uh, okay,” said Lia. “Happy about what? I am not sure what you are talking about.”
He leaned back in the chair and ran his hand though his hair, “With this, with us?” He gestured to the three of them.
Coop looked over at Lia before answering, “Yeah, sure.”
“Everything’s fine. It’s good,” added Lia as she sipped her wine.
“Are you sure? “
“Of course it is. Why would you even ask such a silly question?” she said nervously.
‘Cuz I heard you two talking last night.” Don watched Lia’s face drain of color before answering.
“Don let me explain….”
“Yeah man, don’t read too much into it. It’s not what you think,” said Coop.
“Nah, I think you’re wrong. I think you two have feelings for each other. There’s no denying that.”
Lia started to speak, “Don listen….”
Without listening Don cut her off, “And I’ve been doing some thinking. I care for you two enough that I can step aside.”
Bewildered Lia said, “What are you talking about?” She turned to Coop, “Bill? What’s he talking about?”
“I have no clue.” He looked over at him, “Don, what’s going on?” asked and equally puzzled Coop.
“I’m saying that I know you two want to be together, and I want you both to be happy, so if it is without me than I will accept that.”
Coop’s mouth hung open as Lia stared at Don in horror.
Don watched realization creep into Lia’s eyes. Her hands were shaking as she said, “So you think because Bill and I have feelings for each other that we want to be together?”
Don looked her in the eyes as he replied, “Yes.”
Her lip curled, “Without you?”
Don nodded, “Yes. I love you two enough that I can let you go.”
Lia shot daggers at Don. Her voice was filled with anger, “Don Eppes, you’re a fucking idiot.” And stormed out of the room.
Both men visibly jumped when they heard the door slam. Coop glared at Don, “She’s right, you’re a fucking idiot.” He got up from the table and went after Lia