Title: July 4, 2003

Author: Python

Fandom: Law & Order

Pairing: Briscoe/McCoy

Summary: Lennie and Jack's Fourth of July

Disclaimer: These guys don't belong to me. This is just for fun. Please don't sue me.

July 4, 2003
by Python

Lennie Briscoe stretched and glanced at his watch. His shift was almost over and there hadn't been a new murder all that day. He and Ed worked on some cases from the previous few days and it was nice not to have to look at any new dead bodies.

Ed Green's thoughts mirrored his partner's. "We've got ten minutes. You think we can make it?"

"I hope so."

"Got any plans?"

Lennie sighed. As usual, he was tired. All he wanted was a quiet evening with Jack. But he knew it wasn't going to be quiet. The Fourth of July never was. The young couple that lived right above him and Jack always had a party and fireworks would be going off everywhere, but he would admit that he still loved fireworks. "Not really. You?"

Ed grinned. "Party at my brother's."

"Sounds like fun."

Suddenly, there was shouting as two uniforms dragged in two middle aged men that were screaming at each other. "Just shut up, Carl, before I shove a firework up your ass," one of the men yelled.

"Try it, John, and Carol will be a widow," the other shouted back.

The uniforms shoved the two into the holding cell. "Behave yourself, you two," one of them barked.

Carl sat at one corner of the cell, while John sat in the other. The two glared at each other, but there actually wasn't much menace in their eyes.

"This is all your fault, Carl," John said.

"No it isn't. If you had let me do the barbecuing, none of this would have happened."

"Last year, you burned everything."

"No, I didn't."

The two continued to argue over the state of last year's barbecue and trading verbal insults. Lennie held in a laugh and stopped one of the uniforms. "What's going on, Casey?"

Casey stopped and pointed back to the cell. "Those two are neighbors. We caught them fighting on the front lawn. Their wives turned the garden hoses on them, but they still didn't stop."

"They don't look too much worse for wear."

"They were doing more rolling on the grass and cursing than actual fighting."

"Then, why did you bring them in?" Ed asked.

"Their wives told us to. Apparently, those two get in a fight every year and the women are tired of putting up with it."

Lennie's eyebrow rose. "So, the ladies want them to stew for a few hours."

Casey nodded. "And cool off and hopefully next year, they'll remember this."

"I wouldn't count on it," Lennie replied.

"Probably not," Casey agreed and went on to finish his business.

Lennie listened to Carl and John some more and then shook his head.

"Those two have probably known each other for years."

"Yeah," Ed agreed. "And they know that neither of them means what he says and this argument will be forgotten next week."

"Until next Fourth of July."

Lieutenant Anita Van Buren stopped off by Lennie and Ed's desk. "It's time to get out of here, guys."

Ed and Lennie both stood up. "What have you and the family got planned tonight, Lieu?" Lennie asked.

"Dinner at Don's mother's," Anita answered, rolling her eyes.

Ed chuckled. "Don't get along with her, huh?"

"I can manage for a few hours and then we're going to watch fireworks."

Anita gave both detectives a smile. "See ya tomorrow, guys and Happy Fourth of July."

"Night, Lieu," Lennie said. He grabbed his suit jacket off the back of his chair and he and Ed walked out of the building together. Their cars were in different directions.

Ed grinned. "Happy Fourth of July, Lennie."

"Same to ya, Ed. Try not to have too much fun tonight."

Ed laughed. "I'll try not to."

It took Lennie a little while longer to get home because of all of the people out on the street. He climbed the stairs to his and Jack's third floor apartment. He already heard the music and footsteps from the party a floor above him. He let himself in. The lamp by the couch was on, but he didn't see Jack. "Hello."

Jack McCoy came in from the bedroom, wearing just a grin and a towel around his waist. His silver hair was damp and hung in wet spikes. "Hey."

Lennie unconsciously licked his lips. Jack didn't have to even try to be sexy for him. He just was.

Jack walked up to Lennie and pecked him on the cheek. "How was your day?"

"Some uniforms brought in a couple guys who were fighting over who's the better barbecuer."

Jack stared at Lennie. "Really?"

Lennie chuckled and nodded. "Yup."

"Sometimes the holidays bring out some weird things in people."

Lennie smelled Jack's shampoo and ran a hand through Jack's hair. A louder thud came from upstairs. "Janet and Rick's party is already going strong."

"They start earlier and earlier each year. It was already going on when I got home. During some songs, the music actually makes the walls shake."

Lennie pulled away. "I'd rather have soft jazz than the crap they play nowadays," he said and went into their bedroom. He locked his gun and cuffs away and put his keys and badge on the nightstand.

Jack wasn't too big a fan of the music coming from upstairs either. "I'd prefer something with lyrics instead of just screeching," he agreed and followed. After Lennie hung his jacket up, he stepped in front of his lover and placed his hands on Lennie's chest. He leaned in and traced Lennie's lips with his tongue before kissing him.

Lennie forgot how tired he was. He growled into Jack's mouth and grabbed the top of Jack's towel. He pulled it off and let it drop to the floor.

Then, he pulled Jack closer.

Jack squirmed against his lover's clothed body. "It's not fair for me to be the only one without any clothes on." He loosened Lennie's tie and took it off. He started on the buttons of Lennie's shirt, letting his fingertips brush across warm skin with each one.

Lennie let Jack undress him. Then, Jack pushed him down onto the bed and straddled him. Jack gave him a passionate kiss that took his breath away.

Jack waited for Lennie's blue eyes to open. When they did, he held Lennie's gaze. "I love you."

A smile curved Lennie's lips. "I love you, too." He reached one hand up to thread in Jack's hair again and pulled Jack down for another kiss. He felt Jack's growing need and shifted so that Jack was sure to feel his.

"Now, you started this. Don't leave me hanging."

Jack grinned. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Afterwards, they lay together in each other's arms. The music from upstairs was still loud but they could still hear the fireworks booming outside. They saw the brightly colored fireworks through their window.

Green, gold, red, blue, and white exploded in the night sky.

Jack absently ran his fingers through the hair on Lennie's chest. "Happy Fourth of July, Lennie."

Lennie took his gaze from the fireworks and looked at his lover. "Happy Fourth of July, Jack."


The End