Title: Under Pressure

Author: Python

Fandom: Law & Order

Pairing: Briscoe/Green

Email: flairswench@hotmail.com

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

Warnings: Beware of Angst

Under Pressure
by Python

"Why don't you come with me tonight?" Detective Ed Green asked. "We could always use another player."

Detective Lennie Briscoe looked at his young partner. He gave a small smile. "No thanks, Ed."

Ed glanced at the floor. His dark eyes flickered back to Lennie and then back to the floor again. He didn't want his partner to spend another night home alone when he would love to be spending time with him. "You sure?"

"Yeah." Lennie noticed a hint of disappointment in Ed's voice and added lightly, "I quit gambling when I stopped earning millions."

Ed knew what the older man was trying to do. He shook his head, chuckled, and left.

Lennie watched the younger man walk away. He'd been tempted to go along but that was more for his partner's company that any prospects to win some money. Ed seemed to lose all of the time and he was convinced that someone was cheating at those card games.

Stop dwelling on Ed, Lennie told himself. He cleared his throat. "Get back to work," he said quietly, giving himself a stern order.

*

Ed found it increasingly difficult to keep his partner off his mind. He could've sworn that Lennie was tempted to come with him.

"Earth to Ed. Are you in or not?"

The voice and the accompanying laughter brokeinto Ed's private thoughts.

He looked at his cards. "Yes, I'm in." Just stop it, he thought, it's just a stupid infatuation that will pass. You respect him. That's it.

Ed had been attracted to a couple of his previous partners, one woman and one man. Gender never really mattered to him but he couldn't say that.

People weren't that open to new ideas. He couldn't even tell his parents that he was bi-sexual.

Ed lost most of the money he brought. That wasn't unusual. Lennie kept telling him that someone was cheating. Once he almost said, "Why don't you come and find out who?"

*

Everyone at work noticed the increasing tension between the two detectives. Lieutenant Anita Van Buren had talked to both of them to see what the problem was. They both maintained that there was nothing wrong and she was forced to take their words on it.

They were fine as long as they could discuss work and keep themselves busy. That strategy didn't work when they had to sit in a car half the night, waiting to arrest a suspect.

The car had been silent about twenty minutes when Ed spoke up, "I don't think Young's gonna show. The sister as much as admitted to warning him that we're looking for him." He hoped that would jump start the conversation so he could ignore the effect of Lennie's close proximity on him.

"It doesn't hurt to try, Ed. Remember, he's not really that bright."

"That's true," Ed allowed. He looked at his partner.

Lennie had his head back and eyes closed. He didn't want to look at Ed.

After a couple of hours in that small car, his restraint was questionable.

A voice came over the radio, drawing the attention of both detectives. "This is Unit 3. We have a man approaching the building from this end."

Lennie picked up the mic. "Are you sure it's our guy?"

"No, but he matches Young's general description. We couldn't see his face long enough to make a positive identification."

"Copy that. We'll be on the look-out," Lennie responded.

Both men sat in anticipation to see if this was their guy. Green sat forward. "I see him but can't tell yet if it's him."

Lennie leaned forward to get a closer look, inadvertently bringing himself even closer to Ed. He focused on the approaching suspect and doing his best to ignore the delicious heat emanating from Ed's body.

The man stepped under a street lamp and Ed clearly saw him face. "That's not Young."

Lennie saw it to. He saw back, away from the heat. He brought the mic back up to his mouth. "False alarm. It's not him." He put the mic back on the hook next to the radio.

Ed glanced at his partner and shrugged. "At least we know they're not sleeping." He resisted the urge to reach out and touch the other man.

Lennie briefly met Ed's eyes and then looked away. Not again, he told himself, you can't let it happen again. Remember what happened with Mike. Against his better judgment, he'd gotten involved with Mike. He became totally attached to his former partner. Unfortunately, he discovered Mike meant more to him than he had to Mike. The other man had dropped him without
so much as a word of explanation. Besides, Ed was young, strong, and beautiful. What possible interest could he have in you, a small voice asked.

Ed drummed his fingers nervously on his knee. Maybe I should just tell him how I feel? That should relieve some of the tension, he thought.

"I think I'm going to get out for some air," Lennie said.

Ed nodded. If Lennie was gone for a few minutes, the younger detective would have a chance to compose himself. That's what the rational part of his brain said but the rest of his body wasn't willing to listen. He grabbed Lennie's arm and the older man's blue eyes faced him.

"What is it?" Lennie asked, feeling the heat of Ed's touch through his jacket.

"I..." Ed stuttered. He couldn't think of the right words. How do you say something like this in words, he asked himself. You don't was the answer.Lennie froze when Ed's hand came up to his cheek. Suddenly, his partner leaned in and kissed him.

Ed couldn't believe he was doing this, but didn't have much time to dwell on it because Lennie was kissing him back. He kept his one hand touching Lennie's face and ran the other from his partner's knee to thigh.

Lennie pulled away from Ed's mouth and rested his forehead against the other man's. "What are we doing?" he asked breathlessly.

"I don't know but I like it," Ed answered and plunged his tongue into his partner's mouth again.

Lennie moaned as Ed's tongue moved along his jaw and down to his neck. He gripped the back of the seat as he felt Ed's hands playing along his back.

Then Ed pushed Lennie back into the car door. They weren't in the most comfortable position but Ed didn't care. All he wanted to do was taste as much of his partner's skin as he could.

They both heard the radio's incessant chatter. "Unit 1 come in." Ed stopped what he was doing and pulled away. With a curse, he sat up and faced away from Lennie, towards his window.

The feel of the cool glass against the back of his head helped Lennie focus on the job at hand. He took a couple of steadying breaths in an effort to get his breathing under control. Then he sat up and grabbed the mic.

"This is Unit 1."

"Are you guys ok?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"In their infinite wisdom, our superiors have chosen to put an end to this. We can all go home."

"Ok. Thanks," Lennie said and switched the radio off. He glanced over at Ed, who was still staring out at the darkness. "Did you hear that?"

"Uh-huh," Ed answered. He didn't say anything more and heard Lennie start the car. As the lights of the city passed, he stared at his reflection. He licked his lips and still had Lennie's taste in his mouth. He thought he could easily get addicted to the taste of his partner's skin.

Lennie pulled up next to Ed's car. "See ya tomorrow."

"Yeah," Ed responded and reached for the door handle. He turned to Lennie. "I..."

Lennie put a finger on the other man's lips. "I think we both have a lot to think about."

Ed kissed the tip of Lennie's finger and then got out of the car, while he still could.

After that, the two detectives couldn't look one another in the eye. They only spoke to each other in direct relation to a case.

"What's going on Lennie?" Anita asked a couple days later.

"Nothing," the senior detective answered.

"Then why can't you and your partner stand to be in the same room?"

Lennie swallowed and didn't say anything.

"Did you two have a fight?" Anita pressed.

"Not exactly."

"Not exactly?"

"It's hard to explain," Lennie said defensively.

"Well, whatever the problem is, fix it," Anita ordered. "And get back to work."

Fix it, Lennie thought, how am I going to fix it when all I want is my partner's hands and mouth on me? That may have been what he wanted but he knew that he shouldn't get involved with his partner. He didn't want to end up like he did after Mike. He wasn't sure if he could take it again.

Ed stopped short when he saw Lennie sitting at his desk. He sighed and sat across from the older man at his own desk. "What did Van Buren want?"

"Nothing important," Lennie answered.

Ed nodded. "Ok." He tried to focus on the paperwork in front of him but kept looking up at Lennie. Finally he said, "We've got to talk about this."

"I know, but not here."

"No," Ed agreed. "How about my sister, Anna's, place."

"What?"

"She's out of town for the rest of the month. The place would provide privacy and quiet. Plus, I think it's the closet we'll come to neutral ground," Ed stated.

Lennie thought it over. Ed was right. Whatever they discussed should stay private and he didn't want to go to his or Ed's place. "Ok."

*

Ed opened the door to Anna's apartment and motioned for Lennie to precede him. He followed his partner in and closed the door.

"Not bad," Lennie said, taking in his surroundings. "She's got good taste."

Ed nodded and said, "Go ahead and sit down." He waited for Lennie to pick a seat and then he sat on the opposite side of the couch from his partner.

Neither man said anything for a long time. Neither could decide how to best broach the subject but both felt the rising tension in the room.

The hell with it, Ed thought. "Lennie, about the other night, I want you to know that I'd been wanting to do that for a long time."

You to, Lennie thought. "Really?"

Ed had come that far, he figured that he might as well keep going. "Yes. I want to get closer to you." He moved closer to the older man. He lightly caressed Lennie's cheek with the back of his hand.

Lennie closed his eyes. Ed was steadily breaking down his defenses. He forced himself to stand. "We can't do this, Ed."

"Why not?"

"Because it would never work," Lennie stated, keeping eye contact and hoping to convince his partner.

Ed stood up. "Yes, it would." He stepped closer to Lennie so that they were only inches apart. "I want you and you can't tell me that you don't want me back."

"Of course I want you, but I can't keep you," Lennie said quietly. "I'd rather not get involved in something that I'll eventually lose."

Ed never expected to hear those words out of the other man's mouth. He didn't know what to say and noticed that Lennie was almost to the door. The younger detective slammed it shut just as the older man was about it open it.

Lennie turned to Ed in frustration. "Let me go."

"You won't lose me," Ed stated in certainty.

Lennie let out a short, bitter laugh. "That's what you say now, but young men don't stay with old men."

The conviction in Lennie's voice told Ed that his partner had been through this before. "Who hurt you?"

Lennie looked away. Going through this again was not going to help him.

"You can tell me," Ed coaxed.

"All right...It was Mike Logan. He said the same kind of things you are it didn't last. One day, out-of-the-blue, it was over. He said he'd had his laughs and was done with me," Lennie paused and shook his head at the memory. "And the worse part is, he couldn't even tell me to my face. He had his new boyfriend do it."

Ed could see why the other man was hesitant to get into another relationship but he wasn't Mike. "I'm not him and besides, even if it doesn't last, I won't do you like that. I couldn't just drop you."

"Ed, I'm almost twice your age."

"Lennie, I"m thirty-six and you're sixty-one, not seventy-two," Ed responded with a smile.

"I'm still old enough to be your father."

"That doesn't matter to me," Ed stated with conviction. Lennie's age had crossed his mind but it wasn't important.

Lennie wanted to believe what his partner was telling him, but he still had his doubts. Then Ed's mouth was on his and he didn't have the strength to pull away.

Ed pressed his body against the older man's. He felt the resistance drain Lennie's body as his partner's arms went around his waist and pulled him closer. He'd wanted this for so long. He broke the kiss to ask, "Can I have you?"

Lennie was grateful that Ed's hands were on his shoulders. The feelings the younger man lighted inside him were so intense. He didn't know if he could keep standing under their pressure.

Lennie searched Ed's face. The other man's eyes told him that Ed wanted the having and sharing to be equal. "You want me that much?" he whispered in disbelief.

"Yes and I want you to have me that much," Ed responded.

Mike had never made Lennie feel that wanted or needed. Mike had also never believed in sharing himself completely, which Ed, at least, wanted to try. That scared Lennie a little. "Why me?"

"I want you for you. I don't need another reason," Ed answered.

Mike had always been big on giving reasons for things. Lennie wasn't used to someone like Ed.

The younger detective grinned. "So, can I have you?"

Lennie returned the smile. "Yes."

*

Ed woke up the next day and didn't bother looking at the clock. He and Lennie were both off that day and as far as he was concerned, they could stay in bed all day. He stared at his partner. The other man was still asleep on his side and had his back to Ed.

Ed moved next to Lennie. He slid his arm possessively around the older man's waist and went back to sleep.

A few hours later, Lennie opened his eyes and smiled. Ed's arm was securely around his waist and he felt the other man's forehead resting against his shoulder. He rubbed Ed's hand and closed his eyes. Then he felt Ed's hand move up his chest. "Good morning."

Ed answered by kissing Lennie's neck and shoulders. He tasted the other man's skin. He knew he'd get addicted to the taste. When he finally decided to stop, he said, "Morning."

Lennie sat up on the edge of the bed and rubbed the back of his neck.

Soon, Ed's warm hand was on top of his.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ed asked.

"The shower."

"Can I come?"

Lennie grinned at his partner. "If you want to." He got up and turned before Ed could get up. He put a hand on the younger man's chest. "Thanks, Ed."

Ed took Lennie's hand and brought it to his lips. "You're welcome."


The End