Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

me, right?” Zane asked.
    Ty's lips compressed into a thin line and he looked away, flushing guiltily. Zane tilted his head to the side, and his smile turned slightly sad. After everything they'd been through, even after what he'd just said, it appeared that the military mind-set was far too ingrained for Ty to be comfortable admitting what he felt for his lover now that the dire situation had passed. Zane wondered if he even felt anything at all.
    "Either way.” Zane sighed tiredly, letting his eyes close. “Let me know."
    "They're not gonna let me stick around,” Ty said softly as he lowered his head.
    Zane stilled for a long moment, then opened his eyes to see Ty at the bedside, head bowed. “'They’ being the Bureau,” he said, not questioning.
    Ty looked back up at him with open desperation, as if he were begging Zane to tell him what to do.
    Pure joy swelled quietly inside Zane. “You don't want to go,” he realized, lifting his hand with difficulty to brush Ty's cheek.
    "Not right now,” Ty whispered in something close to outrage. “What, you thought I'd just leave your sorry ass after all this?” he asked incredulously.
    Zane shook his head slowly, smile reappearing. “Sorry. Little slow. I'll blame the drugs they gave me to counteract the drugs,” he murmured. He didn't have to be scared. All of a sudden it was easy to accept that. “You care about my sorry ass,” he added quietly, turning eyes that spoke volumes on Ty.
    Ty was silent, his knuckles turning white as he clasped his hands together. “I do,” he finally agreed. “And stop forgetting it,” he chided gently.
    Rather than replying right away, Zane turned his head fully to the side so he could rest and watch Ty at the same time. He studied the bed hair and the thinner face, dark with stubble. He realized Ty must have come straight here from being released. But to Zane, he was gorgeous. “Okay,” he agreed, then licked his lips. “So they're sending you off somewhere?” he asked, back to the “they."
    "Lecture circuit,” Ty answered bitterly. “Again.” He looked away and then lowered his head, blushing deeply. “They can't put me on a case until ... they're sure I won't freak out in the dark.” He sighed and closed his eyes, unable to look back up. “They had to leave me a nightlight,” he admitted sheepishly.
    "C'mon and look at me, Ty,” Zane murmured.
    Ty didn't respond, other than to open his eyes. He stared at the thin blanket over Zane's body for what seemed an eternity before slowly raising his eyes to meet Zane's.
    "You're a brave man,” Zane rasped. “I hope that the next time I'm with you and it's dark, you'll let me hold you,” Zane said.
    "You're gonna have to,” Ty responded in a broken laugh, “'cause all the current evidence points to the fact that I'll cry like a little girl."
    "That's okay,” Zane murmured without humor, raising his left arm so he could stroke Ty's cheek gently with shaking fingers. “Still want you."
    Ty glanced over his shoulder nervously and then back at Zane guiltily.
    Zane smiled. His eyes flickered to the empty doorway and back. “Don't worry,” he said softly. “There's no one watching."
    A pained look came over Ty's face before he looked away again.
    Zane nodded, relaxing some against the pillows. “I understand,” he said gently. He didn't have the years of habit to break. He lowered his arm and rested it on the bed again. “When do you leave?"
    "Now,” Ty murmured, unable to look up.
    Zane's breath caught for a long moment until he forced himself to exhale. There wasn't anything else to say, then. And nothing else to be done. One more time, he'd have to watch Ty walk away, and he couldn't do anything more about it than last time. “Quick kiss before you go?” he requested, knowing it would be hard if Ty was truly as on edge as he was acting.
    Ty closed his eyes and shivered. “I do want you,” he whispered. “I want you to find me, as soon as you're free,” he murmured as he looked up.
    Zane nodded and watched the battle warring in Ty's expressive hazel eyes. It hurt more than he would ever have expected. “Take care of yourself,” he said, exhaustion breaking past his bold front.
    Ty reached impulsively and smoothed Zane's hair back from his forehead. He stood, bending over him to press a kiss to his forehead. “We can still cut and run,” he whispered against the warm skin.
    Swallowing hard, Zane shivered as hope shot through him. Hope for