Title: Ties That Bind

Author: Tayla

Fandom: Nash Bridges

Pairing: Harvey/Nash

Rating: NC17

Category: Drama, h/c

Status: Completed August 19, 2002

Archive: Yes to WWOMB/Peja. Yes to NashSlash. All others please ask

Feedback: Yes, please. All constructive criticism will be graciously accepted

Email: tayla36@aol.com

Series/Sequel: I don't think so

Disclaimers: 'Nash Bridges' and its characters belong to Carlton Cuse and Don Johnson and I don't know who else. Certainly not me.

Authors Notes: This takes place after the third season episode "Revelations" where Nash finds out that his brother is alive, but is a criminal.

Summary: After Nash finds and then loses his brother, he goes to Harvey for comfort.

Spoilers: "Vanishing Act" "Twenty Five Hours of Christmas" and "Revelations"

Warnings: Slash, M/M sex


Ties That Bind
by Tayla

They hadn't been together for about a year and a half. The last time had been after Harvey had been kidnapped by his dumbass brother in law. Nash had been scared to death that they wouldn't find Harvey. Or would find his dead body.

Bonnie had been there when they found him, and Harvey had hugged her and reassured her, but then he sent her home, saying that he had reports to do and he promised that he would be home as soon as possible.

But he didn't have reports; he was the victim. Just his statement and that didn't take long at all and then he had gone with Nash, to that sleazy motel, but the surroundings hadn't mattered and Harvey's wife hadn't mattered. All that mattered was that Harvey was still alive and Nash had found him, safe and mostly sound. And Nash just had to prove to himself and to Harvey that he was still alive and nothing made Harvey feel more alive than getting fucked through a mattress by Nash.

Nash had always suspected that his affair with Harvey had been one of the reasons for Bonnie leaving. He felt bad about that. He had coerced Harvey into betraying his marriage vow once again that day, and he felt as if it had cost his friend his wife. Nash didn't have a good track record with marriages either. He had managed to never betray his vows with other women, but every once in a while he just needed Harvey. He and Harvey had been lovers for a long time, since before either of them gotten married, but they usually managed to put their wives first.

Until that one time. Until he had almost lost Harvey. He should have let Harvey go home to Bonnie that day. It would have saved his marriage.

But he was selfish. He needed Harvey that day. He had spirited them away, out of the city, away from Bonnie and her brother in law and the SIU. Left it all behind until it was just the two of them in a run down motel room.

He needed him tonight, too.

Bobby.

Bobby was alive.

He had been listed Missing In Action over twenty years ago and Nash had given up hope that he was alive. Then all in one day he had found out that his brother was alive. And a deserter. And an international criminal, a drug lord, for Gods sake.

Bobby had said to let him go, that he couldn't fix it. Even Angel had said it was time to move on.

But Nash didn't know how to do that. He felt numb, frozen even. Ever since he had seen that grainy surveillance photo. Since he went home and found Nick watching old home movies and calling him 'Bobby'. Ever since he had looked into his brother's eyes and seen a man he didn't know.

How could he let go? He had hoped for years that Bobby wasn't dead, no one could ever prove that his brother was dead. He had always held out hope that Bobby would come home one day.

Well Bobby had come home, but he had come home to kill a man. A man that Nash had wound up shooting. The man that supposedly had killed Nash's sister in law and nieces. Family that he never knew he had. And then Bobby was gone again. Nash knew that if he ever did see Bobby again, he would probably have to arrest or kill him.

How does a man deal with that?

He dealt the way he always dealt when things got bad. With humor to hide his real feelings. With stoicism when the humor didn't work. And with Harvey when he was at the end of his rope.

*

So he's standing on Harvey's doorstep at 2AM. The house is dark except for the TV. When he knocks he sees Harvey get up from the sofa and he answers the door, still wearing the clothes he had on at work.

"I guess I didn’t wake you."

Harvey gives him a gentle smile. "I haven't been to bed yet. I had a feeling you would be showing up on my doorstep tonight."

As soon as Harvey closed the door behind Nash he pulled him into hug. Nash resisted for a moment then let himself be supported by his friend. Harvey led him to the couch.

"I wasn't sure I should come here."

Harvey was puzzled. "Why not? You always come to me when the stress gets to be too much. And vice-versa."

"I didn't know if I was still welcome to do that. I mean after what happened with Bonnie."

"Nash, what happened with Bonnie was not your fault."

Nash pulled away from Harvey. He got up and began pacing. "Yes it was, Harv. How can you even stand the sight of me? I wrecked your marriage."

"You haven't figured it out yet have you? Even after all these years you don't get it." At Nash's puzzled frown, Harvey continued. "The women don't matter, man. Not even the ones we marry. What you and I have is real, and it's the only thing that’s real. It doesn't matter if you're married, or I'm married. It doesn't matter if I get old and fat. It doesn't matter if you get old and gray and
lose your marbles like Nick. I have always been here for you and I always will be."

Nash blinked in surprise. He realized that Harvey was right. They had known each other and had been lovers off and on for twenty-five years. The women all came and went. Lisa, Kelly, Whitney, Bonnie. They were all gone. But Harvey was still here.

Harvey got up and crossed to where Nash was standing.

"So, do you want some coffee."

"No, don't think so. To much trouble."

"You want a drink? I've got some scotch."

"No, I don't want a drink."

Harvey got a mischievous grin on his face. "You want some kisses? I've got plenty of those."

Nash grinned right back at him. "Why, yes, I do think I could use some kisses right about now."

Harvey wrapped an arm around Nash's waist and pulled him close. He dropped a kiss on Nash's temple. Then one on the corner of his eye. When Nash closed his eyes in response, Harvey placed a gentle kiss on each eyelid.

Nash was beginning to breathe heavier, and his heart was pounding at the gentle treatment from his lover. He felt Harvey lay a line of kisses down his nose. A hand gently cupped the side of his face, a thumb lightly tracing his bottom lip before Harvey's warm mouth settled onto his. He leaned into the kiss and parted his lips, inviting Harvey inside.

Harvey took the invitation, probing into Nash's mouth, their tongues playing together. When Harvey's hands began kneading his ass, he broke the kiss with a soft moan.

Harvey led him up the stairs to the bedroom. He had remodeled it since Bonnie left. Painted, new carpet, new furniture, and new bed. He hadn't shared this bed with anyone yet. He didn't want to share it with anyone but Nash.

He turned to Nash, took him in his arms again. More soft kisses. Slow, gentle. He began to remove their clothing, Nash standing, quiescent, just letting him.

They lay on the bed, just touching, kissing. Nash was being so pliant, so passive. And that worried Harvey a bit.

"Nash? Are you okay?"

"I feel numb, Harvey."

"Numb?"

"Dead inside. Harvey, make it better" he whispered.

Nash turned onto his stomach, spreading his legs. Harvey's breath caught in his throat. He could count on one hand the number of times he had topped. "Nash?"

"Please Harvey. Make love to me."

Harvey quickly prepared himself and his lover. He gently slipped into Nash.

"Ah, Harvey . . . "

"Yes, Babe." Harvey nuzzled the back of Nash's neck.

"Want to feel alive again."

"Let it go, Nash. Go ahead and fly. I promise I'll catch you."

Nash moaned and pushed back, meeting Harvey's thrusts, surrendering physically to the sensations of his lover's cock pounding into him. He had held himself under such tight emotional control all day. He could feel that control loosening, the bands that had been constricting his heart all afternoon fell away. Here he was safe. Here he could fly apart and trust Harvey to pick up the pieces.

He could feel it, his orgasm building inside, deep inside where Harvey was stroking it, building it higher, and then he exploded, they both did, calling each others names, shuddering as the aftershocks of pleasure raced through them.

And then he could cry.

He curled up in Harvey's arms and wept for all the lost years, for his lost brother. Because Bobby Bridges was dead and gone, replaced by Bobby Chase.

"I loved him, Harvey."

"I know you did. You still do."

"In a way, I wish he really were dead. Because next time I see him, I might have to kill him.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But if it does, I'll be here for you."

Nash smiled. "I know that. That's about the only thing in this life that I'm sure of."

end