Discovery
Signing his name to the last form and slipping it into its file, Nash Bridges sighed with relief. This most recent case left him with a sour taste in his mouth. Four people were dead, a teenage girl was on her way to prison, and one of his men had been wounded. In flesh and in spirit. Nash knew Harvey still blamed himself, in part, for the murders of the married couple. It had been Harvey's gun that was used to murder Ben and Sarah.
Turning his chair slightly so he could look behind him, Nash leveled his gaze on the man in question. Harvey was slumped in his chair, staring at the computer. Even from his profile, Nash could see the pained expression on his face. He wondered when Harvey had last taken any of the medication the doctor had given him.
Looking up when Evan stopped at his desk, Nash raised his eyebrows in a question. Evan cast a worried look at his partner then gestured vaguely toward the bow. �Got a minute, Nash?�
Wondering what it was all about, Nash shrugged and led the younger man outside for a more private conversation. �What�s on your mind, Evan? I think I made myself perfectly clear about this Cassidy thing.�
�It�s not that, Nash.� Shifting his feet nervously, wanting to sidestep the whole Cassidy issue, Evan leaned against the dock railing. �I�ve got�plans�tonight and was just wondering if you�d take Harvey home for me. Actually, it would be even better if you�d take him home with you.�
Seeing the wary look on Nash�s face, Evan rushed on. �Well, he�s been running on fumes since he got shot. I don�t think he�s had a pain pill since he came back to work, though he�s joked about it. He�s supposed to keep that arm immobilized, but he lives by himself. You know he�s been using it. I�d stay with him for a day or two, but-�
Nash held up a hand when Evan trailed off. �I don�t want to know, bubba. I think it�s safer for both of us.�
�So, you�ll take Harvey home for me?�
Staring down at the water for a moment, Nash wondered if it would be a good idea. He didn�t want to ruin a good thing. If he let his true feelings show�he sighed softly. �Yeah, Evan. I�ll take him home.�
�Thanks, Nashman.� When Nash turned to go back inside, Evan reached out and touched his arm. �Nash�he�s really beating himself up over this. Talk to him, okay?�
�I will,� Nash promised. He walked back inside, headed for his desk. Catching Ronnie as he walked past, Nash glanced over at Harvey. �Ronnie, do me a favor, will you? Bring me a cup of water.�
�Sure thing, boss.�
�Thanks, Ronnie.� Crossing over to Harvey�s desk, Nash stood behind him to see what Harvey was staring at so intently on the computer screen. He shook his head�it was the screen saver.
Ronnie came around the corner with a bottle of water and Nash set it on the desk, nodding his thanks. Searching Harvey�s jacket pockets, Nash smiled when he found the bottle of pills he was looking for. After reading the directions on the label, he popped the lid off and shook two of the little tablets into the palm of his hand. He replaced the lid and dropped the bottle back in its pocket. Harvey remained oblivious.
Nash nudged Harvey�s uninjured shoulder and smiled when Harvey blinked and turned to look up at him. Before he could ask a question, Nash held out the medicine and gestured to the bottle of water. �I think you�re way overdue for your medicine, Harve. Take it; I�m driving you home.�
Smiling wanly, Harvey took the pills and washed them down with a swallow of water. He grimaced at the brief taste then looked up at Nash. �That�s okay, Nash, Evan will take me home.�
�He had other plans, Harvey. He asked me to give you a lift.�
�Oh.� Looking around vaguely, Harvey wondered where Michelle had gone. It wasn�t that he didn�t want to ride with Nash, but he didn�t want to interrupt any plans Nash might have made for the night. He felt like he�d already caused enough problems lately, by getting himself shot in the first place. �Maybe Michelle can give me a ride. Or I can take a taxi, maybe.�
Laughing, Nash shook his head, a little puzzled. �Harvey, I�ll take you home. It�s no problem. Now, get your jacket and let�s go.�
Knowing it was useless to argue, Harvey struggled into his jacket one-handed. He smiled his thanks when Nash gave him a hand. Snatching up his beret, he followed Nash out to the parking lot and dropped into the passenger seat of the �Cuda. He was so tired, and his head throbbed a counterpoint to the pain in his shoulder.
Glancing over at his passenger as he turned the key to fire up the powerful Hemi engine, Nash frowned. �Harvey, you look like shit.�
�I feel like shit.�
�I never should�ve let you come back to work so soon.�
Smiling wryly, Harvey shrugged. �What were you going to do, put a guard on the door to keep me out?�
�Good point.�
The rest of the drive to Harvey�s place was made in silence. Nash was concentrating on traffic, and keeping his mind on the road�not on the man sitting next to him. Harvey had gradually succumbed to the drug he�d taken and drifted off.
Pulling up to the curb, Nash parked the car and nudged Harvey�s leg to wake him up. It took a couple of tries before Harvey opened his eyes and blinked a few times. �We�re here, Harve.�
Getting out of the car and walking around to the other side, Nash missed the blank look on Harvey�s face. He opened the door and waited for Harvey to get out. �C�mon, bubba, you�re home.�
Harvey climbed slowly out of the car and stood on the curb, blinking lazily at the house. Nash took a few steps, then turned back when he realized Harvey hadn�t moved. Laughing, he turned back and reached out his hand. �Here, give me the keys. You can go back to sleep in a minute.�
Automatically, his thoughts sluggish and fuzzy, Harvey heard the word �keys� and reached into his pants pocket. He fished around a second, then pulled out his hand and stared blankly at the keys nestled there.
Reaching out to grab the keys, Nash finally looked into Harvey�s blue eyes. They were glazed and heavy. �Oh, man. You�re completely out of it, aren�t you?�
Shaking his head, Nash returned the keys to Harvey�s pocket and opened the car door. Turning Harvey around and giving him a nudge, he laughed when the dazed man all but melted into the seat. �Great. You�re practically stoned. Looks like I�ll have to take you home with me. Nick warned me about bringing home strays.�
Getting Harvey out of the car when Nash arrived at his own building was the easy part. Keeping him awake and standing in the elevator long enough to get to the top floor, was another thing altogether.
When the lift stopped, Nash slid the door open and nudged Harvey into movement. Keeping one hand on the drugged man�s elbow, Nash led him down the steps into the main room. Nick was in the kitchen, cooking dinner.
�Hey, Nick. What�s for supper?� Shedding his jacket, Nash draped it over a chair and stepped closer to see what was bubbling on the stove.
�Stop snooping, it�s just spaghetti.� Nick slapped at his son�s hand to keep him from dipping his finger in the sauce, and pointed over his shoulder. �What happened to Harvey?�
�He and Evan ran into a pair of screwballs and Harve got shot. He should�ve been taking it easy, but I couldn�t keep him away from the case. Now he�s worn himself out. I thought I�d keep an eye on him for a day or so.�
�You gonna make him sleep on the couch?�
Looking to see where Nick was pointing, Nash chuckled. Harvey had collapsed on the sofa and was curled up, asleep. �No, I�ll put him in my bed.�
It took a little effort, but Nash got him on his feet. Not exactly awake, but standing. He wrangled Harvey out of his jacket and beret. �Come on, Harvey. Just a few more feet and I�ll leave you alone.�
Once he got Harvey into his room, Nash pulled back the covers on the bed and let Harvey crawl into it. Once he was settled, Nash untied Harvey�s shoes and pulled them off along with his socks. He unbuckled Harvey�s belt, unbuttoned the waist and pulled down the zipper. Tugging the pants off, Nash laughed quietly. �This is not exactly how I pictured this moment, somehow.�
One look at the complicated-looking sling convinced Nash to just leave the rest of Harvey�s clothes on. Pulling up the covers, he paused a moment. Brushing aside a soft curl, he shook his head at the sleeping form. �You scared the hell out of me the other day, Harvey. Again. What am I going to have to do to keep you out of trouble?�
Shaking his head, Nash folded the slacks and laid them on his dresser. He returned to sit on the edge of the bed a few moments, just watching Harvey sleep. The shooting could�ve been much worse. Harvey had been extremely lucky. They all had.
Nash wondered if maybe it was time to explain to his friend how he felt. The feelings he�d kept hidden for so long. He knew Harvey was open-minded and wouldn�t abandon their friendship, but hope was something not easily let go. Was it better to hold on to some kind of dream that maybe, some day, he could have what he so desired? Or to confess his feelings and know for certain that Harvey didn�t return them?
With a sigh, still uncertain, Nash ran his hand lightly over the slightly flushed cheek of the sleeping man and left the room, sliding the door shut quietly behind him. He mustered a smile for Nick and joined his father in the kitchen for dinner.
�Asleep?�
Reaching for a napkin, Nash nodded. �Yeah. I don�t know if it�s the pain meds, exhaustion, or a combination of both, but he�s really out of it. He wasn�t this bad when he got drunk the day Bonnie left him.�
Watching Nash eat for a few minutes, Nick put down his fork. �You gonna tell him?�
Looking confused, Nash wiped his mouth with the napkin. �Tell him what?�
Looking into his father�s eyes, Nash realized that Nick knew. He saw understanding, love and concern on his father�s face. Nash was mildly surprised to see such easy acceptance. �You knew?�
�It�s hard to miss, Nash. You don�t show it very often, but then, I don�t see the two of you together all that often. When I do, though, I see the way you look at him.�
�It doesn�t bother you?�
Nick chuckled softly. �Well, let�s just say Stacey paved the way for you. I see how happy she is with her girlfriend, how much good the relationship has done her, and I realize how important love is. It doesn�t matter what form that love takes.�
Feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, Nash leaned over to embrace his father. �Thanks, Dad. You don�t know how much that means to me.�
�You didn�t answer my question. Are you going to tell him how you feel?�
�I don�t know, Nick. I just wish I knew it wouldn�t hurt our friendship if I told him.� With a sigh, Nash poked at his food.
�Harvey�s a hard one to figure, Nash, but I do know he wouldn�t let it change your friendship. He�s got a big heart. Who knows, he might want to share it.�
That received a laugh from Nash. �Yeah, but would he want to share it with another man?�
�Son, this is San Francisco. Your odds are pretty good.�
They shared a laugh at that one, and Nash felt much better after the talk with Nick. After cleaning up the dishes and checking all the doors, Nash said goodnight to his father and stretched out on the couch. Maybe after a good night�s sleep, he�d have enough courage to confess his secret to Harvey.
Three hours later, it became apparent he wasn�t going to get a good night�s sleep.
Waking in the middle of a dream, Nash sat up and rubbed a hand over his face, trying to gather his fuzzy thoughts to figure out what it was that woke him up. He flicked on the lamp and a sound from his own bedroom had him off the couch and hurrying up the steps. He slid open the door, allowing a shaft of light to fall on Harvey�s restless figure. He was clinching his right hand into a fist, and seemed to be trying to move his left arm, still tethered by the sling. Nash could only make out a few of the mumbled words, but they were enough for him to know what it was Harvey was dreaming about.
��gun�Evan, get�my gun�don�t��
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Nash reached out to lay a calming hand on Harvey�s chest and was surprised to feel that Harvey�s shirt was damp. Rubbing his hand in smoothing circles and speaking softly, Nash watched as his friend slowly settled back into peaceful sleep. Reaching up, he felt Harvey�s forehead and wasn�t surprised to find it hot to the touch.
Nash sighed quietly and headed for the kitchen. Searching the cabinets, he found a mixing bowl, filled it with ice water, grabbed a clean dish cloth and returned to the bedroom. Setting the bowl on the nightstand, he dropped the cloth in the water. Now came the hard part.
It took a minute or two, but Nash finally figured out the straps and buckles of the sling Harvey wore, and managed to slip it off. Getting Harvey out of his shirt had Nash flashing back to nights when he had to dress Cassidy for bed when she was a little girl. It was like trying to undress an uncooperative octopus.
By the time he finally got the shirt off, Nash was laughing so hard it was making it twice as difficult. Pulling up the hem of the damp t-shirt underneath, Nash tried to figure out the easiest way to get it off without hurting Harvey. He finally managed to get Harvey�s right arm out of the shirt, slipped it over his head and pulled it off his left arm. Nash carefully lifted the bandages over the gunshot wounds to make sure the fever wasn�t from an obvious infection. Satisfied that everything looked okay, he taped the gauze back in place.
Tossing the t-shirt onto the floor, Nash tried to keep his eyes from drifting to the only clothing remaining. Harvey�s thin silk boxers were also damp from sweat, and clung to his skin, not leaving anything to the imagination. Unable to keep from looking, Nash raised an appreciative eyebrow. �Well, well. There�s more to you than meets the eye, Harv.�
Dragging his thoughts away from that direction, Nash reached for the wash cloth and wrung the excess water from it. He wiped Harvey�s flushed face, then folded the cloth and laid it on his forehead. Once the cloth lost its coolness, he dipped it back in the ice water and started again. Every so often, he�d wipe Harvey�s torso in an attempt to cool him down.
Once he�d managed to bring the fever down, Nash dropped the cloth in the now lukewarm water and went to the kitchen. He returned with some pills and a glass of water. He woke Harvey up enough to swallow the Tylenol, then let him go back to sleep. Satisfied that the fever would burn itself out, Nash pulled up the sheet and slipped quietly from the room. He had just settled himself on the couch, when he heard Harvey�s voice again.
With a resigned sigh, Nash kicked off the blanket and trudged back to his room. Evan had been right. Harvey really was beating himself up over this thing. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Nash repeated his earlier routine. He rubbed Harvey�s chest and spoke soothing words to get him to calm down. Harvey wasn�t so easily settled this time.
His own eyes burning for sleep, Nash got up and walked around to the other side of the bed and crawled in. He�d just do what he had to, to get them both some sleep. Slipping under the covers, he rolled over onto his side, facing Harvey. Draping his arm across Harvey�s chest, he mumbled soft words of comfort, eventually lulling them both to sleep. The physical contact did its job and Harvey slept through the night, with no more nightmares.
______________________________________________________
Opening his eyes, Harvey focused blearily on the object in front of him. He realized it was a small white button. Movement under his cheek had him lifting his head. Nash. He was lying in a bed, head on Nash�s chest, arm draped across his boss�s waist. He smiled softly and laid his head back down, letting his eyes drift closed. Man, what a nice dream.
Waking when felt the movement on his chest, Nash looked into Harvey�s blue eyes, afraid of his reaction. He felt enormous relief when his friend just smiled sleepily and lay back down. Nash wondered what the smile meant. Was it possible? Did Harvey feel the same way?
With a new sense of hope, Nash ran his right hand through Harvey�s curly hair. It was so soft. He longed to explore every inch of the man lying across his chest. He draped his left arm across Harvey�s back and shoulders, pulling him slightly closer. He could�ve sworn that brought a contented sigh from the sleeping man. A loud noise from the kitchen made both men startle.
Opening his eyes with a start at the sudden noise, Harvey instinctively tightened his grip on Nash. Raising his head, he blinked his eyes and looked around, finally settling his gaze on Nash�s face. With sudden clarity, Harvey realized this wasn�t a dream, and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. �Nash!�
Several things made themselves clear, leaving Harvey momentarily stunned. He was practically laying on top of his boss, he wasn�t in his own bed, and was only wearing his Grateful Dead boxers. Holy shit! What happened?
Scrambling back away from his boss, Harvey nearly fell out of the bed. �N-Nash. I-I don�t�what?�I d-didn�t mean��
Reaching out to keep Harvey from hitting the floor, Nash couldn�t help but laugh at the expression on his face. �Relax, Harvey. It�s okay. Harvey, breath before you pass out on me.�
Once a little color returned to Harvey�s face, and he was sure the man wasn�t going to pass out, Nash looked him in the eye. �Harvey, it�s okay. You were really sick last night, and you were having some bad dreams. I just stayed in here so you and I could get some sleep. Okay?�
Trying to slow down his racing heart, Harvey took a deep, shaky breath. He couldn�t remember anything after leaving the SIU the night before. What if he�d said or done something he shouldn�t have? Would Nash be able to work with him? �We�I d-didn�t�did�?�
Seeing the look of absolute panic on Harvey�s face, Nash tried to reassure the poor man. �Harvey, it�s okay. Nothing happened.�
He couldn�t tell if that made Harvey feel better, or disappointed him. Nash figured it couldn�t get any more awkward, so he gathered up his courage and took the plunge. Catching Harvey�s eye, Nash held his gaze and reached out to touch his hand. �Harvey�would you have been happy, or angry if something had happened?�
Looking into Nash�s eyes, Harvey tried to read what he saw there. Was it compassion? Reassurance? Could that be�love? Well, it wasn�t anger or abhorrence, so he decided to take a chance. He swallowed his anxiety and cleared his parched throat. �Happy.�
Nash closed his eyes, and Harvey thought he�d have a heart attack right there on the spot. He�d screwed up. But when Nash opened his eyes again, his face lit up with a huge smile. �Man, I�ve waited so long to hear that, Harvey.�
He leaned over to kiss those soft lips he�d hungered for, and was surprised by the eagerness with which Harvey returned it. Nash reached up to cup Harvey�s face as the kiss deepened. He finally broke off, panting, and smiled at the hunger he saw in the younger man�s face. He�d always known Harvey would be full of passion.
�We have all the time in the world for that, Harvey. Let�s wait until you get a little better, though, bubba. In the mean time, we can get to know each other a little better, okay?�
Sliding back down in the bed, Nash pulled Harvey over so that they resumed the positions they�d been in before they�d been rudely awakened. Brushing his hands through Harvey�s hair, Nash chuckled softly. �You better get some more sleep. I have a feeling we�ll both be needing all the rest we can get.�
His head bouncing a little from Nash�s laughter, Harvey smiled wickedly. �You got that right, Nash, �cause I can go all night long.�
Pulling Harvey closer, Nash smiled. He could live with that.
END
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