Chapter Twenty-Three

Andrew heard the commotion as he came down the hall. The sound of fists hitting flesh was unmistakable. He didn't want to care what was going on inside. He needed to get his eyes on Kyler. His gut clenched until nothing else mattered. Not even making the arrest.

He heard sirens grow closer. He hadn't made the call yet, so whatever was happening in the bathroom had drawn attention. Good. Two birds, one stone.

It was their little group, staring at him from down the hall that made him realized it wasn't two birds. It was one. And Kyler wasn't with the staring group.

The music had died before he'd gotten there, and he'd only just noticed the absence. His lungs seize until his chest hurt. Instinct was all he had left.

"Stay there." His voice sounded as if it came from someone else.

The restroom door hung open at a weird angle as if the hinge had broken. When Andrew entered, the first thing he saw was Kyler's unmoving body wedged under the column of sinks.

An ocean of waves crashed against his chest until he only knew the sound of his voice.

The second thing he saw was Brad and Travis beating the shit out of his suspect. He put his gun in the waistband of his jeans and focused on Kyler. He got as close as he could and pulled Kyler out from under the sink until he lay flat on his back. Kyler had a pulse. Feeling his blood pump underneath his skin brought the sound back into the world.

Andrew wrapped his arms around Kyler and pulled him close. Someone knelt beside him, but Andrew cursed. He didn't even realize he spoke in Spanish until Foley didn't back off. "Don't touch him."

Foley nodded and patted his shoulder. "I think you need to let Olivia take the lead on this one."

"Si, vato. Si. Olivia's in charge."

Foley left the room, probably getting a kit.

Andrew shut his eyes and buried his face in Kyler's neck. His long hair brushed against Andrew's cheek.

He heard Olivia rather than saw her. "I got it from here, fellas. You guys get the hell out of here before state comes. Anyone asks, and you left before shit went down."

Travis and Brad nodded and left the room as soon as Olivia had Geoff in handcuffs.

Andrew met Geoff's gaze. Travis and Brad did a number on the guy, and it looked like Brett may have before he died.

"What did you give him?"

Geoff grinned. "A little GHB, Chief. Just like the rest of them."

"Why?"

"Brett always found him pretty. He and Ethan both. Wanted to have what he couldn't." Geoff sighed when Olivia pulled him to his feet.

Foley came back in, followed by two state cops.

Seeing them, set Geoff off. He fought against the handcuffs and the state cop, who held him. "It was all Brett's idea. He was gonna give me up. Said he wasn't gay and tried to prove it. His idea. I swear." The state police led Geoff out of the bathroom.

Andrew shook his head. They had him on everything. No confession necessary, but it was good to have one anyway.

When it was only Olivia and Foley, Andrew buried his face in Kyler's neck again. His warmth let Andrew know he was okay. He wasn't turning cold with death.

"You okay, boss?"

Andrew didn't answer. He wouldn't know the answer to that until after Kyler woke up.

**

Andrew must have fallen asleep, but he came awake with a start when he heard Kyler cry his name. He remembered pulling a chair up to the small emergency room gurney thing where Kyler lay. He had taken Kyler's hand and held it but didn't remember much after.

Kyler had thrashed around enough that the blanket the emergency room nurse had put over him was bunched up. Andrew wasn't sure how he missed the movements since he had pretty much slumped forward and rested his head directly on it, but that was a testament to how long Kyler went scared out of his mind all by himself. Kyler looked as if he were an untamed animal caught in a trap, and he kept calling Andrew's name.

Andrew stood so Kyler could see his face. He bent down, getting in Kyler's space. "Shh, carino. I'm here. I've got you. You're safe." Kyler calmed when he heard Andrew's voice. His eyes lost their wildness before his breathing evened out, and their gazes met. "You're safe."

Kyler wrapped his arms around Andrew in a hold so tight it was difficult to breathe.

Andrew sat down on the side of the gurney. "Be careful of your tube, carino."

Kyler shook.

"I've got you." Andrew rubbed small circles on his back, soothing away whatever demons attacked his mind.

"What happened?" Kyler pressed his face into the crook of Andrew's neck. It muffled his voice.

"Nieves spiked your drink. Brad and Travis got to you before he could do anything else. Geoff's behind bars. He'll go away for life." Between the rapes he admitted to in front of five cops, his actual taped confession, and the murder they had locked down with solid evidence, Nieves won't ever see the light of day again.

Someone knocked on the door frame, and Kyler stiffened, although he had calmed some of the shaking. Olivia popped her head around the curtain.

"It's just Olivia, carino." Andrew waved her inside.

Olivia came in, keeping a smile on her face. She darted her gaze to Andrew when she said, "I wanted to come and check on things. Also, to tell you when you make a statement, leave out the part about seeing Travis Heath and Brad Flynn. If you saw them, that is. If you didn't, then even better."

Kyler lifted his head to meet her gaze. "They're not in trouble?"

Olivia shook her head. "No. But with Brad having a record, I'd rather not take the chance. So we're leaving them out of things as much as possible." Olivia met Andrew's gaze again. "I took care of everything as far as all that went."

"How did he know I was the one with the soda? Geoff, I mean."

"You were the only one with a soda. I think he took a wild guess and got it right." Olivia shrugged. "Sorta, anyway. His face looks like hamburger, so he might feel differently about his success."

"Why did Geoff do all this?" Kyler asked.

"Looks like Geoff and Brett started the rapes together. Things when sour between them. They had a fight that ended with one of them dead." Olivia shook her head. "That's it in a nutshell. All the other shit Geoff said was emotional, complicated bullshit."

Kyler straightened. "Wait. What happened with Brett?"

Andrew closed his eyes. "Geoff killed him."

Kyler widened his eyes. "That's why you were so stressed."

Andrew nodded. Instead of continuing the discussion, he changed the subject. "Any problems or things I should know?"

"Nope. It's all wrapped up. I'll have the report on your desk tomorrow." Olivia wiped her hands together as if the whole case had been easy and not the emotional rollercoaster it had been for everyone.

Andrew shook his head and smiled. "Come by Kyler's on Saturday. We'll celebrate the ending of the case. Tell Foley."

She nodded and then turned to leave.

"Olivia," Andrew stopped her.

Olivia had the curtain pulled back. "Yeah?"

"Nice work."

She smiled. "See you Saturday, boss."

As soon as she left, Kyler started in. It was as if he hadn't been a scared mess five minutes before. "You need to talk about it. Staying closed up is stupid, Andy. It just makes you stress, and that's horrible for your health."

"Since the case is over, I'd like to focus all my stress and worry on you." Since it had been on Kyler almost from the start, nothing would change.

"I know I don't have experience with all that murder shit, but I'll always listen. I want to be here for you, but you gotta let me." Kyler tried to cross his arms, but the tube got in the way. He probably didn't need it anymore. It was just an IV feeding him fluids, and it was more of a precaution than anything else. Plus, it helped flush out the drug in his system.

Andrew kissed him. "You're right, carino."

"Are you placating me?"

"No." Andrew couldn't help it. He chuckled at the suspicion on Kyler's face. He was sexy when he got all frustrated. "I'm not. I'm taking this seriously. I promise."

"I hope you are because it's hard watching you struggle. I just want to make it better."

That sobered Andrew more than he wanted. "God, I know how that feels. When I first saw you, I thought you were dead. My mind went there for one long second. I couldn't shake it until I felt your pulse." And then he hadn't been able to let Kyler go. He still couldn't.

Kyler hugged him. "How about we agree to lean on each other a little more."

"I'd like that, carino."