Title: Can't We Just Let It Ring

Author: Python

Fandom: Law & Order

Pairing: Briscoe/Logan

Series/Sequel: N/A

Disclaimer: These guys aren't mine. I'm not making any money off this.any feedback is appreciated

Can't We Just Let It Ring
by Python

Detective Lennie Briscoe got up and stretched, hoping to work some of the kinks out of his back. He glanced at his partner, who also happened to be his lover. He noticed the other man watching him. "It's getting late."

Detective Mike Logan looked at his watch. "So it is." He put the cap on his pen and dropped it on his desk. He stood up and grabbed his jacket. Then he hurried after his partner, who was all ready heading out of the squad room.

Lennie went outside with Mike closely behind him. He stopped when the younger detective pulled his arm. Before Mike could say anything, he asked, "Did Claire tell you what this dinner is about?"

Mike nodded. "I finally got it out of her. She invited me to dinner to make McCoy jealous."

Lennie grinned. "Actually, that doesn't surprise me. Those two are always trying to come up with new ways to drive each other insane."

Mike chuckled. "She said she knows that I wouldn't try to take advantage of her because of you."

"McCoy might know that to. He's not exactly stupid."

Mike shook his head. "He doesn't know. I don't think the thought has ever crossed his mind. Claire may have figured us out but he hasn't."

"Good. I don't know if I want to deal with him if he knew."

"I know what you mean," Mike answered. "Claire's hoping to make him jealous and realize that he's been taking her for granted."

"In her opinion anyway."

"Yeah."

"Where are you meeting her?" Lennie asked.

"She's coming to pick me up in a few minutes. Before she leaves the office, she plans to drop enough hints so that even Jack McCoy will get the message that she's going out with someone other than him. She wants to give him enough time to get there before us," Mike explained.

"Do you think he's that jealous?"

"We both know he is," Mike replied.

They both saw a cab pull up. Claire stepped out and stood with the door open. Mike looked at her and nodded. He quickly gave Lennie's arm an affectionate squeeze. "I'll see you later tonight."

*

Lennie got home and took off his jacket. He hung it over the back of a chair and stretched again. He hated it when his back was so sore.

The detective decided to soak in a tub of hot water. He went into the bathroom and turned the water on, while starting to undress. After a few minutes, the tub was full. He sighed gratefully when he slowly eased into the warm water.

After a full day of work, Lennie was content to sit in silence. He relished the quiet and the feel of the water against his skin. He leaned against the back of the tub and closed his eyes.

Lennie let his mind wander. He chuckled when he thought of Mike on a "date" with Claire, trying to make it good enough to convince Jack. Although, with Jack's temper, he thought that it probably wouldn't take much convincing. Soon, he was dozing off and dreams played at the edges of his mind.

*

Mike quietly let himself into the apartment. He didn't see Lennie, only the other man's jacket on the chair. He hung his leather coat in the closet and went in search of his lover.

Mike saw the soft light from under the bathroom door. He knocked lightly and went in. He found Lennie sleeping lightly.

The younger detective smiled and took his shirt off. Then he walked over there and leaned down to run his hand through the top of the water. A second later, he gave Lennie a soft but insistent kiss, while rubbing the other man's dry upper chest with his wet fingers.

Lennie opened his eyes to see Mike leaning above him. He returned the smile and asked, "How did it go?"

Mike crouched next to the tub. "Jack was there waiting to see us. He watched us the whole time, trying to pretend that he wasn't."

Lennie laughed. "Did he say anything?"

"No. He just sat there. I could tell that he was trying his best to control his temper."

"Then what happened?"

"Claire and I left. We took a cab and I dropped her off at her apartment on my way here," Mike answered. He ran his hand through the water again. "And then I find you here half-asleep."

Lennie responded by pulling Mike close for another kiss. He felt the other man's hand on his thigh and then on his stomach and chest.

The loud ringing of the phone from the next room broke the moment. Lennie gently pushed Mike away. "Go see who it is."

"Can't we just let it ring?"

"It might be important," Lennie said.

"So?" Mike sighed. "All right."

"I'll be right out," Lennie called after the other man.

*

Mike deliberately made his way very slowly to the phone. He hoped it would quit ringing by the time he got there but it he was sorely disappointed. He cursed under his breath before picking it up. "Hello."

"Mike."

"Claire?"

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything," Claire stated.

If that were true, then you would've hung up after five rings, Mike thought. He was too nice to say that and replied, "It's ok Claire. What is it?"

"I need you to come over to my place."

"What?" Mike asked. He'd agreed to have dinner. He didn't mind messing with Jack's head a little but that's all. He didn't want to get drawn further into a fight between Claire and Jack. Lennie had warned him. He wished he would've listened.

"Please, Mike."

"Why?"

"Jack's coming over and I want you to be here," Claire answered.

"I don't know about this."

"It'll only be for a few minutes. I promise I won't keep you long."

Mike pictured Lennie with only a towel around his waist and water dripping off his body. The younger detective bit his lip. He was going to say no.

"Come on Mike. I'll owe you big. Just help me out this one last time," Claire pleaded.

You're a big sucker, Mike told himself as he answered, "All right. I'll be there soon."

"Thank you so much."

"Uh-huh," Mike said and hung up. He found Lennie in the bedroom. The older detective's back was to him and, just as he pictured, had only a towel around his waist.

Lennie heard Mike come in. He didn't turn. "Who was it?"

Mike noticed that Lennie hadn't completely dried his back. The younger detective focused on the small drops of water. He walked up to Lennie and rubbed his hands over the water. "It was Claire."

"What did she want?" Lennie asked. When Mike's arms encircled his waist and the other man didn't answer, he prompted, "Come on. Spill it."

"She wants me to come over."

"What?"

"She wants me there when McCoy gets there."

"And you said yes?" Lennie asked in irritation. He pulled away from Mike and turned to stare at the other man.

"I didn't want to," Mike said weakly. He didn't like it when Lennie was upset with him.

"You didn't huh'?"

"No, but you know how Claire is. I couldn't bring myself to refuse. She promised me I wouldn't be there long," Mike said. He paused and smiled as he added, "If you were involved with Jack McCoy, you'd need all the help you could get to." He hoped to win a grin from Lennie with that comment.

"God forbid," Lennie responded. He sighed and couldn't stay upset with Mike. "Go ahead. Do what you've got to do."

Mike let out a long breath in relief. He stepped up to Lennie again and grabbed the top of the towel. "We can do something about this when I get back."

Lennie slapped Mike's hand away. "Go before I change my mind,' he ordered. After Mike left, he put on a pair of gray sweatpants and watched some tv. He couldn't find anything else after the news and decided to go to bed. If Mike really wanted to play, he didn't mind waking up to what the other man would be doing to him.

*

Lennie woke up to his phone ringing. He looked at the clock and noted that he'd been asleep for about an hour and a half. He also noticed that Mike wasn't home yet.

Lennie reached for the phone. "Hello."

"Detective Briscoe."

"Mr. McCoy."

"I apologize for calling so late," Jack said, sounding anything but sorry.

"No problem. What is it?"

"Well..." Jack faltered. He grunted and plowed ahead. "I'm at Claire Kincaid's place. I found your partner here with her."

"So?"

"They told me that Claire couldn't possibly be cheating on me with Logan because he's with you," Jack stated in disbelief.

"They told you that?" Lennie asked.

"Yes."

"It's true," Lennie stated simply. He was too tired to try and avoid the issue, especially if Mike had told the lawyer already.

"What?"

Lennie would have loved to have seen Jack's expression at that moment. He took great pleasure in saying, "Are you deaf Counselor? I said yes. My partner and I are lovers." Then he hung up the phone, laughed, and went back to sleep.

*

Mike came in a little while later. He found Lennie asleep on his side, facing the center of the bed. The younger detective quickly stripped and got into bed. He lay next to his lover and draped his arm across the older man's waist.

Mike kissed Lennie's lips softly and then pulled away. He was too tired to start anything. After everything he went through with Claire and Jack, all he wanted was a quiet night with his lover.

*

Lennie opened his eyes the next morning to find himself face to face with Mike. The younger detective was still asleep and he immediately noticed Mike's black eye. Oh, that Irish temper, he thought.

Lennie gently touched Mike's cheek. Then he was going to get up but the other man's arm tightened around his waist. He looked at the arm and then into Mike's face again. "You've got quite a shiner."

Mike opened his eyes and winced slightly. "I never knew Jack could hit that hard."

"I thought you were supposed to be out of there before anything like that could happen."

"Apparently, Claire didn't tell Jack that," Mike replied. "As soon as she opened the door, he stormed in and punched me."

"Did you at least hit him back?"

"Yes. We'll have matching eyes for a couple days. That's when Claire told him everything but he didn't believe her."

"And he called here," Lennie said.

"I know what you said to him. I wish you could've seen his face," Mike stated with a grin.

"What happened after that?"

"They disappeared into the bedroom. Past that, I don't want to know."

Lennie smiled but it quickly faded. "Do you think Jack will cause us any trouble?"

Mike shook his head. "Nah. I think he was surprised but other than that..." His voice trailed off. He moved his hand from Lennie's lower back to butt.

Lennie agreed with Mike's last statement. Jack was a lot of things but homophobic wasn't one of them. He felt Mike's hand. He brought his own up to Mike's face again. He traced the younger man's lips with his fingertips.

Mike lightly kissed Lennie's fingers as they ran over his lips. He pulled the older man closer. "I believe I still owe you from last night."

Lennie kissed Mike deeply and then said, "You owe me big, with interest."

"It'll be my pleasure to pay you back," Mike replied with a grin before the other man kissed him again.

Just like the night before, the phone ringing interrupted them. "Let it ring," Lennie said.

"It might be important," Mike teased, using Lennie's words from the night before.

"I'm willing to take the risk."

"Why didn't you say that last night?" Mike asked, gesturing towards his eye.

"You're the one that couldn't say no to Claire. I told you not to get involved," Lennie retorted.

Mike let the other man push him onto his back. "You're right," he said as Lennie got on top of him.

"I know," Lennie responded. He cut off any more discussion by covering Mike's mouth with his. The time for talking was over.

end