My Captain, oh Captain!

The Set-up

Ten years in prison changed things for Dane Abernathy. He went in a good cop framed for murder. He came out harder, more cynical, but had an appreciation for things he took for granted too. He also came out knowing who he could really trust, who he should keep in his life with everything he had in him. People like his parents, brother, and extended family. They stood by him, all through the trial and his long sentence. At least one of them visited him once a week, if not the entire Abernathy clan. They had made the other inmates nervous because nearly every member of his family had been or was a cop. Then there were his former NYPD brothers in blue. They didn’t visit, but they sent cards and letters, telling him about their lives, the bad guys they’d caught, and asking about him and his family.

People like his old partner, Thomas Hall, who was there once every month, at the beginning of every month like clockwork. Thomas would bring him all the latest news, talking with him until visiting hours were over. When Thomas had been promoted to captain, the youngest in the history of the NYPD, the guards had let them break the rules and bust out the champagne. His lawyer, Patricia Leven, was another one of those people. She and Thomas had worked tirelessly together to get him out of the prison hellhole, to prove his innocence. Then she had gone and won the biggest settlement in NYPD history: one hundred million dollars. Patricia was smart enough to make sure that she was called every time he had suffered through the other inmates’ beatings and torture. She documented every single bruise, cut, and broken bone. One look at all those pictures and he had been able to name his price. And now that he was out of prison, she and her investment broker girlfriend took care of all his money. Dane counted them among his friends.

Life in prison had also taught Dane about people who didn’t deserve a damn thing. People like his ex-wife who had served him with divorce papers even before he went to trial. People like his so-called best friend, who he had saved from drowning the summer they were thirteen. Other friends, outside the force had declared him persona non gratia as well. Dane was fine with that. He had his family. He had his brothers in blue. He had his detective’s badge again. Those were the only things he needed.


~*~*~*~*~*~


The Welcome Home


Dane walked into Sullivan’s, his favorite bar, and into an explosion of love, welcome, and good cheer. Arms grabbed him, lips kissed him, smiles graced every face. He returned every one of these expressions of affection gratefully, whole-heartedly. He held onto his crying mother the longest, he lifted his laughing, little brother off the floor in a bear hug, his father, he grabbed gently, whispering his thanks and his apologies. Robert Abernathy cuffed his son’s head, admonishing him that there was nothing to apologize about. Dane went person to person, thanking them personally for standing by him. He finally stopped at the end of the bar where he found the smirking, laughing-eyed man who had made this all possible. Thomas Hall was nearly as tall as Dane but a hell of a lot slimmer. Dark, spiky hair set off equally dark eyes and high cheekbones. “Hey, pretty.”

Thomas rolled his eyes, knocking back the rest of his beer. He unfolded his long, lanky body from the bar stool. “Don’t make me punch you, Abernathy.”

“What? No love for your partner?” Dane grinned, slipping his thumbs into his jean pockets, rocking back on his heels.

“Not if you’re calling me ‘pretty’ again.” Thomas glared but his eyes glinted with amusement. “Couldn’t we pretend you’re back in prison and calling anyone ‘pretty’ would get your ass kicked?”

Anyone else and their ass would already be kicked for that comment. But Thomas knew, the smug bastard, he could say and do whatever he wanted for the rest of his natural life and Dane wouldn’t do a damn thing about it. “In your dreams, pretty boy,” Dane scoffed.

Thomas rolled his eyes, grabbing a beer off the bar, holding it out to him. Dane grabbed it, draining it. It tasted good but he wanted something else. He dropped the bottle on the bar and grabbed Thomas instead. His old partner squawked indignantly but let Dane wrap him in his arms.

“You’re welcome, Dane.” Thomas whispered the words straight into his ear, his usually prickly attitude dissolving away as he melted in Dane’s arms.

It heartened Dane to know Thomas didn’t mind his tactile approach to their friendship. Before he had been sent to prison, they’d slapped each other’s back and there was the occasional hand on the shoulder, but nothing more touchy-feely. His acceptance boded well for their future.


~*~*~*~*~*~


The New Partner


Dane walked into the bullpen on his first day back on the job. People he didn’t know gave him a wide berth and assessing eyes but those who did slapped his shoulders and shook his hand. He grinned at them all. The gun and badge clipped to his belt felt damn good. He headed straight for the captain’s office. Nearly whistled at the appealing picture he found in there. “Hey, pretty boy.”

Thomas didn’t even bother glaring from behind his desk. His hair shone in the morning light through the windows, his crisp white dress shirt set off his tan, the sleeves rolled up to show off strong forearms. “Captain, Hall, Thomas or Tommy. You call me ‘pretty’ or ‘pretty boy’ at work and I’ll kill you.”

Dane didn’t hide his unrepentant grin as he took the seat in front of Thomas’ desk. “Sure, no problem.”

Thomas gave him The Look. “Your new partner’s on her way in.”

Dane shrugged. “Okay.”

Thomas watched him with those dark eyes for a moment longer before turning back to his work. Dane took the time to study his old partner, now boss. When they first meet, Dane had hassled the new guy by calling him “pretty boy” because Thomas was damn pretty. Pretty enough to be a movie star or model but everyone had learned quickly that the new guy had the temper and disposition of an ex-con. Dane’s mother had said that temper was a defense mechanism. When a young man looked that gorgeous, he had to come up with some way to be taken seriously. It had worked since Thomas was the youngest person ever to be promoted to captain at the age of thirty-five. Of course, those good looks came with the fountain of youth. Thomas looked like he was still twenty-five. Yet another reason why he had to continuously fight to be taken seriously. Dane might tease him but he knew firsthand how intelligent, stubborn, loyal, and ambitious the other man was.

A knock interrupted his thoughts. A red haired, statuesque woman stepped inside. “Cap’n? You wanted to see me, sir?”

“Yes. Callie Venn meet Dane Abernathy. Your new partner.”

Dane grinned, pushing up from the seat to hold out his hand. She took his hand, eyeing him up and down.

“You any good at this job?” She asked bluntly.

Dane smirked. “Don’t know. I’ve only had my shield a total of eleven months. Of course, most of that time was before I went to prison.”

“Really?” She raised an elegant eyebrow. “What’s your closure rate?” Venn’s eyes went hard, mad, thinking he was messing with her about doing time. She had to be new, a transfer or something, because everyone and their momma knew about his jail time.

“Fair to middlin’,” he said, just to rile her up some more. Detective Callie Venn either had her eye on a higher position or was just one of those people who hated losing.

“Captain--” she started to protest.

“Dane, quit messing with her.” Thomas stood up, leaning over, hands planted on his desk. “You,” he glared at Dane. “Don’t kill anyone. And you,” he glared at Venn, “don’t seduce your partner. Now get out and solve your cases.” That vein in his temple was throbbing; it meant there was an imminent explosion coming. Paperwork must not be going well.

Venn must have known that too because she was getting the hell out of Dodge. Dane held his peace as he followed her out. They paused at what Dane assumed were their desks. They both turned to stare at their captain, who was still glaring at them through his window.

“Did you really kill someone?” She asked, not taking her eyes off their boss.

“Nope. I was framed for murder.” He didn’t turn his head to answer either, eyes still glued on the pretty glaring at them through his office window.

“Oh yeah,” she said, bobbing her head and red hair. “You’re the guy everyone’s talking about.”

“Yup. Do you normally seduce your partners?” She didn’t look like the kind of woman to go after men; more than likely she had to beat them off with a stick.

“Nope.” Her pretty mouth hardened into thin lines. “Damn bastard fell in love with me, stalked me, then decided if he couldn’t have me no one could.”

Dane snorted. “Let me guess. In prison?”

Venn smirked, all mean and justified. “And permanently singing soprano.”

“Ouch.” Dane grinned, slinging an arm around her neck. “Venn, I think we’re gonna make a great team.”

They grinned at each other.

Dane wiggled his fingers at Thomas, who rolled his eyes and went back to work.


~*~*~*~*~*~


The Exes


Dane glared at the incredibly cute woman on the other side of his condo door. Blonde hair, blue eyes, cute button nose, and boobs and hips any man would want to play with. He wanted take a cleansing shower at the mere sight of her. “What do you want, Laura?”

“Dane--”

The rest of her words spilled over and around him, making not a lick of sense. He stood there and let her talk because he didn’t care enough to stop her. Didn’t care enough to even close the door. It was the only way he could cope with the love of his life’s betrayal. Well, he thought she had been the love of his life. Her betrayal had hurt the most. It still hurt. So much so he couldn’t, didn’t want to deal with her. Ever again. So he went away, letting his mind drift to better things.

“Dane?” A big hand on his heart, a male voice in his ear, a cologne and warm body scent he viscerally recognized.

“Tommy?” He turned to find his lips brushing against a stubbled cheek.

“It’s me.” Thomas pulled him into the condo, the door was already closed.

Dane could hear Laura’s angry shouts from the other side. He stared at the door for a second longer then shrugged. “Want a beer?”

Thomas laughed. “Hell yes.”

They curled up together on the big couch, one of three pieces of furniture in the living room of his new condo. It, the big coffee table that served as a dining table, and the biggest damn television he and Thomas could find were all the furniture that was in the room. There were no curtains to impede the light from the big windows that overlooked the park. The light played on the big pieces of art his mother, father, and brother had bought for him. Splashes of color and life that had missing for ten years. The kitchen was fully stocked with every conceivable kitchen utensil; Dane cooked until he couldn’t eat it all and had to give it away to anyone who would take it. He also consumed every homecooked meal his family brought him. He was getting fat and happy with all that food. The only other piece of furniture in the sparse condo was the biggest damn bed he could find. It had the softest damn sheets he could find and the best damn mattress under them. He loved that bed. Even more than the high definition, plasma, flat screen they were currently yelling at.

It felt so normal, like there hadn’t been ten years separating the last time he and Thomas had been able to do this together. Ten years ago, they would have watched the ball game at his and Laura’s one story, ranch house. The television would have been one of those old numbers that wasn’t high def or flat screened. Their beers were the same brand they both liked, but ten years ago, Laura would be grumbling but smiling as she kept them supplied. Ten years may have changed a lot of things, but it hadn’t changed them.

Dane glanced at Thomas, noticing how the light from the dying sun made his dark hair burnish with gold. Well, the time hadn’t changed Thomas, but it sure changed him. Dane hoped that Thomas would accept this change in him as he did with everything else: a quirk of an eyebrow and a smirk on his lips.

They were arguing over the game and what to eat for dinner an hour later when the doorbell rang. Dane opened it to find George. “What the hell do you want?”

The man who had been his best friend opened his mouth and said the words guaranteed to piss Dane off. “Laura called me. How could you treat her like that?”

“Dane! Dane! No!”

Only the feel of Thomas’ lanky, strong body plastered against the front of his stopped Dane from strangling George. He sneered. “Goddamn cliché. My best friend and my wife.” He wrapped his arm around Thomas’ hips, easily picking up his much, much slimmer, lighter and real best friend and stepped back. He viciously slammed the door in George’s face.

Thomas glared down at him. “He-man, are you gonna put me down now?”

“No.” Dane tightened his arms. He needed comfort after the day he’d had. Thomas was the best cure for what ailed him so he carried the other man to the couch, slumping onto it. At first, Thomas was stiff as a board. But as the silence grew, he relaxed into Dane’s arms. When Dane woke up, Thomas was gone.


~*~*~*~*~*~


The Bite in the Ass


“All units: be advised.” The dispatcher’s voice came through the radio with barely any static. “The silent alarm at the Wells Fargo at 79th and Oak has gone off. All units respond.”

Dane instantly threw the car around. Thankfully, the street didn’t have much traffic.

“Abernathy!” Venn yelled as she grabbed the oh shit bar and the dashboard.

“She said ‘all units,’” he justified.

“Yeah, but we’re homicide,” Venn argued.

Dane sighed. “That’s Tommy’s bank.”

“Tom—Captain Hall?” Out of the corner of his eye, Dane could see her incredulous expression. “So what if it’s his bank?”

“It’s also his day off.” Dane dodged a slow-moving car, barely making it through the light. “He said he was going to the bank today.”

“So? He’s probably come and gone already.” It was obvious from her tone of voice, Venn thought it was weird he knew Thomas’ schedule. And obvious that she thought he was overreacting too. Little did she know.

He barked out a pained laugh. “His rookie year, on his day off, the grocery store he was in got robbed. The guys ended up holding everyone hostage for five hours.”

“Okay, so once—watch out!”

He threw the wheel left, inches from hitting a merging car. “In the first year we were detectives, it was a restaurant. He and his date were one of the last people the hostage taker let go before he killed himself.”

“Okay, so twice. That doesn’t mean--”

“Five years after I was sent to prison.” He jumped on the brake, swerved, then slammed on the accelerator again. “He was at the post office on 81st and Grand.”

“Wow. Thirty-six hours, wasn’t it?”

“Thirty-eight.”

“Wow.”

“Yup.” Dane nodded grimly. It would have been funny as hell had he been on the outside and knew what was going on. When he saw the news coverage, his gut had tightened in fear. He tried to call Thomas when they allowed him to use the phone but there had been no answer. Somehow, he just knew Thomas was one of the hostages. But he was in prison, only able to watch television for an hour a day. The frustration of not knowing for sure where Thomas was nearly got him killed when he wouldn’t let another inmate change the channel.

His fears had been confirmed by Patricia. She called him, telling him she couldn’t reach Thomas. She had always been able to reach him, he always took her calls, even when he didn’t take anyone else’s, she had told him. Their suspicions had been confirmed by Thomas’ captain, who had sent patrolmen to his apartment and found it empty but had found his car in the post office’s lot. Dane hadn’t breathed easy until he saw Thomas two days after the hostages had been freed. Thomas had shown up at the prison, hollow-eyed exhausted but full of reassurances and smiles. That was the day Dane realized his feelings for Thomas had changed.

“But Dane,” Venn argued, but in soft tone meant to be reassuring and cajoling all at once, “that doesn’t’ mean he’s in there.”

“Call him on his phone.” Thank God, they were nearly there.

Venn gave him a look, but did it anyway. After several rings, she snapped her phone shut. “He always answers.”

Dane grunted as he flung the car into a parking space, not caring that it really wasn’t a parking space. “Always. But not now.”

She shook her head, silently following him as they flashed their badges at the uniforms holding back the press and lookeloos. They identified themselves to the situation commander, offered their assistance and reassurance that they would stay out of SWAT’s way. He and Venn posted themselves a few feet away from the command post, within hearing distance but out of the way.

Through two hours of negotiations, Dane didn’t move. Venn got them food and talked to other officers. She was the one who called the rest of the squad to let them know what was happening to their captain. She was also the one who proved his hunch by spotting Thomas’ car and running the plates. Sometimes, Dane hated being right.

When the bank robbers finally gave themselves up, Dane was right there to snatch Thomas out of the line of fleeing hostages. He hustled them both away from the crowds, barely noticing Venn was at their backs, running interference between them and the rest of the squad. Everyone else could have Thomas later. Right now, Dane had to make sure he was okay.

“Dane, you big lummox. Put me down.” Thomas affectionately chuckled the words into his ear, arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders. “What is it with you and carrying me around?”

“Teddy bear,” Dane grunted, carefully setting Thomas down on a convenient low brick wall. It put them perfectly at eye level. Starting at the top of Thomas’ burnished but mussed hair, Dane let his eyes and hands wander down his body, making sure Thomas was in perfect health. Blue eyes shone with amusement and relief, full lips were quirked up, and the rest of his fine, fine body was whole and hale.

“See, I’m fine.” Thomas cupped his jaw, eyes searching Dane’s. “I’m sorry you were so worried.”

“You are never taking a day off without me again.”

Thomas rolled his eyes. “Yeah, sure, right.”

Dane glared, grunted, and came to a decision. It took only a tiny jerk to get Thomas’ thighs to open up and wrapped around his hips. It also got Thomas’ mouth to drop in surprise. Dane took advantage by swooping in for their first kiss. He grinned into it when Thomas moaned, one hand tightening on his shoulder, the other moving from his jaw to clutch his hair. Dane wrapped an arm around Thomas, lifting the lighter man so that he could grab a handful of ass. They could have stayed there indefinitely, tasting each other, wrapped around each other, had it not been for the wolf whistles, catcalls, and clapping.

Thomas pulled away and hid his face in Dane’s shoulder. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.” Dane nudged him out of his hiding place, kissing those swollen lips again. Hissed when Thomas used the hand in his hair to jerk him back.

Thomas was glaring at him. “You better fucking mean this, Dane. I can’t . . . not with you.”

Dane pulled him even closer and stared him straight in the eyes. “I mean this, Tommy.”

Thomas bit his lip, eyes still searching Dane’s. He nodded when he came to his decision. He pulled Dane down for a short, sweet kiss. He pulled away to yell, “Stop watching, you perverts!” over Dane’s shoulder.

Dane roared his laughter.


~*~*~*~*~*~


The Negotiations


Dane trailed his fingers down the curve of Thomas’ cheek. Thomas hadn’t swatted away his hand because he was fast asleep in Dane’s bed. Dane would have loved to say that he had exhausted the other man with incredibly fantastic sex. But the sad truth was exhaustion from being held hostage, yet again, the subsequent debriefing, and the impromptu party at Sullivan’s after that. Thomas had passed out in the car and didn’t even wake up to complain about being carried into Dane’s apartment like a child. Dane grinned; he really did like toting him around like a teddy bear.

Thomas had been dead weight as Dane wrestled off his clothing and forced water and ibuprofen down his throat. He definitely didn’t want his friend to wake up the next morning with a hangover, not with the plans he had for them. Those plans were looking good as Thomas shifted into his touch, mumbling Dane’s name even as he curled closer. Dane bit his lip, savoring the feel of that delicious, sleekly muscled, smooth body tucked into his. He briefly wondered what Thomas would do if he got this show started before he was fully awake. Dane forgot the thought as soon as he thought it, knowing he wouldn’t take advantage of Thomas that way. So he simply lay there, watching Thomas sleep.

“Dane, stop staring.”

His body shook as his laughter rumbled through it at Thomas’ disgruntled slur. “Not staring.”

“Liar.” Thomas opened his eyes and stared up at Dane. Those pretty eyes swept down then back up. “You got me naked.”

“Yup.” Unrepentant was he.

Thomas knew it too. “Smug bastard.”

“I got you naked, pretty. I’m entitled.”

Thomas rolled his eyes but shifted his hips, rubbing his morning hard on against Dane’s. “That for me?”

“Uh huh.” Dane shifted too, not only rubbing his cock against Thomas’ but also enveloping him with his body. Grinned when Thomas raised his arms to circle his shoulders, one hand in his hair. He made a mental note to ask Thomas about his fixation with his hair later. Much later. When it didn’t look like he was about to get laid.

Thomas gave him a smile that was joyous but serious. “You know how I feel about you, right?”

“Yeah.” Dane nodded, letting his smile deepen into serious as well, instead of light and teasing. “Tricia clued me in awhile back.”

Thomas’ smile slipped.

He couldn’t have that. “Took me a little time but I realized I felt the same way about you.”

Thomas sighed, eyes closing. From the way he melted into Dane’s arms, Thomas knew everything he was and wasn’t saying. He always did. “Ever been with a guy?” he asked.

Dane shook his head, feeling his lips twitch. “Gonna give me lessons, captain?”

Thomas opened his eyes to glare. “‘Pretty’ in the bullpen and ‘captain’ in bed. You’re just asking for an ass kicking, aren’t you, Abernathy?”

Dane smirked. “Can I have your ass first?”

Thomas huffed as if exasperated. “If you must.”

Dane laughed again, as if Thomas wasn’t spreading his legs to cradle his hips under the sheets. As if slim hips hadn’t bucked up against him at his request. “Oh yeah, I must. I got the supplies and everything.”

Thomas bit his lips when he turned his head to where Dane was pointing with his chin. The condoms and lube were sitting there on the nightstand. He reached for the lube but left the condoms there.

“Tommy?” Dane asked, hearing the surprise and urgency in his own voice.

Thomas turned those baby blues up at him again. “I trust you.”

“Jesus God.” He had to reach down and squeeze himself to keep from coming right there and then. Ten years since he’d had even had sex, even longer than that since he’d barebacked. And now he had this gorgeous man under him, saying things that made his eyes rolled back into his head and his toes curl. Yelped when sharp teeth nipped his earlobe. “Tommy!”

Thomas was grinning at him. “Knew you’d like that.”

Dane had to kiss him for that, falling into the movement of Thomas’ lips, tongue, hips and hands. When Thomas coated his hand with the lube, Dane had no idea, but definitely felt the results, groaning as Thomas slicked up his cock. “Great hands,” he managed to praise.

Thomas’ deep throated chuckle was wicked, wicked, wicked. And knowing, as he held up his still slick fingers. “Do you want to watch or do you want to help?”

“Jesus God.” Dane couldn’t move as he watched Thomas trail those fingers down between his legs. “Watch,” he croaked. Couldn’t believe how erotic it was, watching Thomas preparing himself for Dane.

“Thought so.” Thomas laughed but it died away as he eased his fingers into his ass.

Dane couldn’t tear his eyes away. “Next time, I get to do that.”

“I’d like that.” Thomas huffed out another laugh, hips moving languidly, eyes closing in obvious pleasure.

Dane was pretty sure he could come from just watching Thomas ride his own fingers. Next time, he promised himself. Next time, Thomas would ride his fingers, then his cock. His heart nearly stopped when Thomas’ eyes flashed opened, the light in them pure lust.

“C’mere,” Thomas coaxed, slipping his fingers out, fitting Dane’s cock in their place.

Dane braced himself above his lover, staring down into Thomas’ eyes, watching the bright pleasure flare in them. Had to grit his own teeth at the delicious slide inside Thomas’ body. From then on, it was all a blur of soul deep kisses, heat, tightness, thrusting in and out. Dane barely held on as he watched Thomas stroke himself off, but once Thomas’ inner muscles clamped down in climax, Dane lost any grip on sanity, roaring his orgasm. He barely had the presence of mind to not crush Thomas, rolling them, so his lover was sprawled all over him. He laid there, Thomas in his arms, panting thanks to the heavens for such mind-numbing pleasure. “Damnit, pretty, I think you broke me.”

Thomas snorted into his neck, hips shifting, rolling, making Dane groan. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’re still hard.”

His lips pulled back, baring a wolf’s grin. “Not still, pretty, again. Hard again.”

“Oh Jesus God.”

Dane laughed, evil and frisky.

Life was sooo good.

The End