Title: Revelations

Author: Python

Fandom: Law & Order

Pairing: Briscoe/Green

Email: flairswench@hotmail.com

Series: Sequel to Under Pressure. 1st part of the Family Strife trilogy.

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

Warnings: Beware of Angst

Revelations
By Python

Lennie sat down heavily and buried his head in his hands. Don't fall apart, he commanded himself, there's no time for that. He sighed deeply and sat back.

"How is Green?" Anita asked, sitting next to her senior detective.

"He's still in surgery."

"What happened?"

"He wouldn't stay under cover and wait for back-up," Lennie explained in frustration. "There were more thugs in there than we were told." He stopped and shook his head. "Ed took one in the back."

"Then what?"

"That's when our back-up decided to show up," Lennie answered, trying not to be bitter. It wasn't the other officers' fault that Ed got shot. They came as soon as they could.

Anita put a hand on the detective's shoulder. "Why don't you go home and get some sleep. I'll call you when I hear something."

"No way L-T," Lennie responded. There was no way he'd be able to sleep with the uncertainty about Ed in the back of his mind. He'd also gotten used to the feel of Ed lying beside him. They'd been together almost six months and he didn't want to admit how attached he'd become to the younger man.

"I didn't think you'd go, but I thought I'd check," Anita said with a small smile, disappeared as soon as it appeared.

A little while later, Lennie saw an older African-American couple approaching him and Anita. "Which one of you is Lieutenant Van Buren?" the man asked.

Anita stood up. "That's me. How can I help you?"

"I'm Robert Green. This is my wife, Denise," the man said.

Anita shook both their hands. Then she gestured to Lennie, who stood up.

"This is your son's partner, Lennie Briscoe."

"Our son's told us a lot about you," Denise stated quietly.

"Nothing good I hope," Lennie responded lightly. He wondered just what Ed told his parents. He was sure his partner had never told his parents about the true nature of their relationship.

Denise smiled briefly. "Of course not."

Anita gestured for Ed's parents to sit down.

"What's going on with our son?" Robert asked.

"He was injured while trying to apprehend a suspect," Anita answered.

"He's still in surgery."

"Was it bad?"

Anita glanced at Lennie and then back to the other two. "I can't say for sure."

Denise shifted her gaze to her son's partner. "You were there. What happened?"

Lennie hesitated to answer. He wasn't sure how much to divulge.

"Please, Detective," Denise pleaded.

Lennie swallowed. "Ed took one in the back."

Just then the doctor approached them. "I'm Dr. Yeager. You're here about Detective Green."

"How is my son, Doctor?" Denise asked calmly.

"He just got out of surgery. We were able to remove the bullet." Yeager answered. He let the others have a collective sigh of relief before continuing, "However, there's been some nerve damage."

"What kind of damage?" Anita asked.

"The bullet was lodged near Detective Green's spine. It damaged some of the nerve tissue. We won't know the extent until we can run some more tests," Yeager explained.

Nerve damage, Lennie thought. He kept his face neutral, even though he wanted to collapse on the inside. He looked at Denise, who was still calm and cool.

"May we see him?" Ed's mother asked.

"All right ma'am, for a few minutes, but he's still unconscious."

Denise nodded and stood, followed by her husband.

Lennie watched the doctor disappear with Ed's parents. He sank down into the chair again.

"At least he's alive," Anita stated, sitting next to him again.

"Yeah," Lennie responded numbly. A couple hours later, Anita took him home.

"Now, get some sleep. You're no good to anyone if you drop from exhaustion," she said.

Lennie promised Anita that he'd get some rest and went up to his apartment. He let himself in and didn't bother flipping the lights on. Then he threw his jacket onto a chair and went to his bedroom.

The detective quickly stripped and crawled into bed, ignoring his urge to go out and buy a bottle of alcohol, in which he could bury his pain. He lay in the darkness, listening to his own breathing. He was exhausted but couldn't fall asleep.

Lennie shivered and curled onto his side. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Ed's blood pouring down the other man's back. The scene kept replaying in his mind. He racked his brain trying to figure out what he could've done different. Eventually, the fatigue overtook him and he
mercifully fell into a dreamless sleep.

*

Ed woke up the next day with a terrible pain in his back and a numbness in his right arm. He stared at the ceiling, getting a feel for his surroundings. He realized that he was in a hospital but didn't know how he got there. THe last thing he remembered was getting shot at.

That's it, Ed thought, we were there to arrest Collins and they began shooting at us, me and Lennie. Lennie. Where is he? Is he okay?

"Thank God, you're awake."

Ed looked at his mother, who had just taken his hand. "Mom."

"How do you feel?"

"Like I was hit by a truck."

"Do you remember last night at all?"

"Only bits and pieces," Ed answered. "Was anyone else hurt?" Is Lennie all right, was the thing he really wanted to know.

Denise shook her head. "Not that I know of."

Ed sighed in relief.

"Your father is here to. He's getting a cup of coffee," Denise said.

"Ok," Ed replied simply. He didn't always get along with his father.

"We met your partner and lieutenant last night."

"Yeah?" Ed responded. Even in his state, he knew he had to be careful about what he said about Lennie to his parents. They didn't know about his involvement with his partner. He didn't think they'd understand, let alone approve, and he preferred to keep them in the dark.

"They seem like good people," Denise stated.

"They are."

Denise smiled. "I think the lieutenant had to make your partner go home.

The man looked exhausted but didn't want to leave."

That sounds like my Lennie, Ed thought. "I'm not surprised."

"Good to see you awake, boy," Robert said from the doorway.

Ed involuntarily tensed. His father always had that effect on him. He loved his dad but never thought he measured up to the older man's expectations. "Dad," he replied tonelessly.

"Well, how do you feel?"

"Sore," Ed answered simply.

"That's what happens when you get yourself shot," Robert stated.

"I didn't do it on purpose, dad," Ed responded. He was thankful when his mother interrupted this exchange before it could get out of hand.

"The boy's tired. Let's give him a little privacy," Denise said and ushered her husband out. She gave Ed a smile and a wink before following Robert.

The nurse came in and gave Ed a couple of pills. Soon after, he was asleep again. He woke a few hours later.

Ed looked around. He was alone. He sighed. At least his mother was doing a good job of keeping his father away. He knew that wasn't a good thought to have about a member of his own family, but he couldn't help it.

Ed flipped through the channels on tv, but couldn't find anything to watch. He wanted to see Lennie. He knew that would brighten his mood. He glanced over when there was a light knock on the door frame. "Think of the devil and he appears."

Lennie grinned and walked over to the bed. "Hey partner. How are things?"

"Better now that I see you," Ed answered. If anyone else was around, he wouldn't have said that but it was just him and his Lennie.

Lennie chuckled. "Thanks a lot, sunshine."

Ed motioned for the other man to lean in close. "So, how did you sleep last night without me?" he whispered.

"Badly."

"Good."

"Good?"

"I don't need you getting it into your head that you can get along without me," Ed stated with a grin of his own.

"There's no danger of that," Lennie responded. He straightened when he heard voices outside.

Ed heard a particularly loud male voice. "That's my dad."

"I'm guessing you haven't hold them," Lennie said.

"No."

Lennie nodded. He hadn't expected anything different.

A minute later, Yeager came in, followed by Ed's parents. "It's good to see you awake, Detective. I'm Dr. Yeager."

"Nice to be here, Doc," Ed replied lightly.

Yeager admired Ed's upbeat personality. He hoped the young man would be able to keep it. "Last night, we removed a bullet lodged close to your spine. I think there may be some nerve damage. I'm going to have to run some tests to be sure."

Damage? Ed thought. He glanced at Lennie. He shrugged. "Ok, Doc."

Whatever was wrong, he'd deal with it.

*

It took a couple of days, but Yeager determined the extent of the damage.

Ed hadn't been sure of it the first day, but the increasing numbness on his right side led Yeager to the right place. The bullet had damaged the nerves effecting control of his right arm. He could barely move the limb. "That's the end of my career," he said to Lennie, when the two were alone in his room.

"Maybe not. Yeager said that with enough work and therapy, you'd get most of your control back," Lennie replied.

"Seventy-five percent at most. That won't be enough," Ed stated.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, it could've been a lot worse. I'll miss being a cop, but I'll find something else to do."

Lennie wasn't surprised at the lack of bitterness in Ed's voice. Nothing could keep the younger man down. That was one of the things he loved about Ed. "I know you will."

"You gonna stick by me old man?" Ed asked with a grin.

"I've been with you this far, I might as well stick around."

"I love you, Lennie."

"I love you to, Ed."

*

Denise was floored by what she'd just heard. She was standing outside her son's hospital room. She'd planned to go in but stopped when she saw Ed and Lennie talking. They looked intent on their conversation and she didn't want to intrude. She wasn't going to eavesdrop, but what they were saying captured her attention.

At fist, Denise thought the conversation didn't sound right. Why would two men be saying those kinds of things to each other unless they were...She didn't think that could be right, but then heard them say they loved each other.

Denise said a brief prayer of thanks that Robert hadn't heard any of that. He would've exploded right away. She wasn't exactly happy, but would wait and talk with her son.

Ed's mother waited until Lennie left and then went into her son's room.

"Hey, mom. Where'd dad?" Ed asked.

"Getting something to eat. Where's Lennie?"

"He had to get going."

"Oh, you two were talking for a long time," Denise said.

Ed groaned inwardly. He recognized his mother's tone of voice. It always came with bad news. "I guess so."

"What did you talk about?"

"Police stuff." Ed knew that was a weak answer.

Apparently, her son was going to make Denise spell it out. "I heard you."

Ed's face fell. "Oh, how much did you hear?"

"Enough," Denise answered. She didn't like seeing the fear in Ed's eyes and sat in the chair next to his bed.

Ed remained silent and braced himself for one of Denise's lectures.

Denise stared at her son. He looked like a guilty little boy. He wouldn't meet her eyes. "Look at me, Edward."

Oh no, Ed thought, the whole name thing. He looked up into her dark eyes.

Denise saw a quiet defiance and determination in his eyes. For the first time, she began to truly believe that Ed might be in love with his partner.

"Do you really love him?"

Ed was startled by the softness in his mother's voice. "Yes," he answered with total conviction. "Lennie completes me."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Six months," Ed answered.

"And you never told me?"

"I was afraid to."

Denise nodded in understanding. "I can see your point." She paused and then asked, "Are you sure about these feelings?"

"Yes, mom. He's the only one I want."

"Ok. I had to ask," Denise said.

Ed expected more, but his mother was quiet. "Are you mad?"

Denise shook her head. "No, I'm not mad, just surprised. I never pictured my son romantically involved with a white man."

Ed chuckled. "I guess not."

"But he makes you happy right?"

"More than you know," Ed replied.

"Oh, you've got it bad," Denise said with a laugh.

"Thanks for understanding."

"Hold on. I'm not saying that I understand, but I love you and want you to be happy. If Lennie makes you happy, then so be it...I was hoping for some grandchildren some day though," Denise said half-seriously.

"At least I'm not an only child. You'll get some."

Denise laughed again. "You're right, but you're putting more pressure on your brothers and sisters. I guess, I'll have to get to know your partner better. I want to know the man that my son has given his heart to."

"That can be arranged."

"But isn't he a little too old for you," Denise teased. She knew a little thing like age wouldn't phase her son. Since Ed was a little boy, those type of things just didn't matter to him.

"It doesn't matter," Ed stated flatly.

"No, I didn't think it did."

Ed felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He and Denise had always been close and it put a lot of pressure on him to keep his relationship with Lennie a secret from her. He shrugged. "I actually feel better now that you know."

Denise took Ed's hand. "I'll always support you and give you any help I can. I'm glad I know, but we can't tell your father."

"I know."

"He'd probably try to kill Lennie before even trying to listen to you," Denise stated. She loved her husband, but he was very set in his ways and thought homosexual relationships were unnatural. Plus, he had a horrible temper.

Ed nodded. It was good to have her on his side.

Denise squeezed Ed's hand. "Don't worry. You're secret's safe with me."

END