Mistakes Are Contagious, You Don't Want to Catch Mine

Tony had known Galvez would take care of anyone who interfered with his route out of Starkwood. But it was still a little concerning to watch the chopper pilot's brains spray all over the windshield. Galvez kept shooting, and Larry yelled for Tony to get out so he could lay down cover fire. Given that Tony was unarmed right now, that was probably the best call. Tony reminded himself what he had to do, and despite everything he had done over the past six years, it wasn't sitting right with him. However, if Larry figured out that he and Galvez were working together, all hell would break loose. It would fuck up everything. It would stop him from achieving his only remaining tangible goal — since protecting David was unfortunately out of the question now. At the same time… Tony's mind was fixed on what Larry had said when they had gotten into the chopper, that he would put in a good word for Tony even though Tony didn't think he needed to bother.

As Larry started firing, Tony snapped out of his mental debate and ran to take cover behind the Dumpster. He wished he had his gun, or at least the body armour from Starkwood. It would make this so much easier. He could kill Larry, so Galvez could stop wasting perfectly good ammunition and they could get on with the plan. He would give Galvez the money and tell him to fuck off, then he would call Cara. Tony had thought about this day for a very long time. He had seen it as his only chance to get in the same room as Alan Wilson. Yes, he would have liked to have David with him, but he was on his own now, and he would be damned if he let the chance slip by. 

The return fire now sounded quieter, like Galvez was moving away. Tony figured he was going back to the truck he had arrived in. He wondered how much of Starkwood's arsenal Galvez had managed to raid on the way out. Still, Larry hadn't moved, trying to figure out what Galvez was doing, so Tony remained in his cover. He recognised that Larry had his hand out almost protectively. Tony reminded himself to act surprised and worried — but, really, he didn't need to fake it. He was about to kill a perfectly innocent agent and hand a bioweapon to a man who had no issue with using it on American soil. If Tony had had this opportunity at the start of the day, he probably wouldn't be this hesitant. But now… after Larry had shown an awful lot of understanding, he felt guilty. However, the guilt wasn't just about this: it was about every choice he had made since waking up in David's compound. He almost couldn't comprehend it. Guilt was not an unfamiliar emotion for Tony. But he had convinced himself guilt was beneath him when he started working for David, trying to fill the aching hole of grief with anger rather than lamenting every single second he had spent without Michelle during their divorce. Tony realised that the guilt and grief had resurfaced when David died. Those feelings were why every thought about the plan seemed to set off alarm bells in his head now. It was like the plan was an intrusive thought. Something unfamiliar. Something that shouldn't be there.

There was a much louder bang, and before he knew it, Larry had fallen to the ground with a large thud. Without even thinking, Tony bent down to see where he'd been hit. He didn't see any blood. Larry was breathing slowly and with difficulty. It was hard to see in the dark, but Larry's hand feebly came to a spot on his abdomen. There was a small hole in Larry's shirt, making Tony realise he was still wearing his Kevlar. It had winded him, and he might have hit his head on the concrete a little, but he was otherwise fine. Larry's eyes were wide with concern. Tony watched him utter his name, lifting his other shaking hand to point behind him. He turned to see Galvez holding a shotgun that was now aimed at Larry's head. He knew what he was supposed to do: move out of the way so Galvez could kill him, and then they could leave. 

But he just couldn't.

This morning, Tony had fired without thinking to save Jack, even though it had risked hitting David. Tony felt incredibly guilty and was sure he would replay that moment for the rest of his life, wondering whether David would still be here if he had aimed an inch or so over. A lot of people had died today because of him. He had killed nameless hostiles. He had killed innocent people but not on a direct level. But he hadn't looked to see the fear in their eyes. He hadn't seen them struggle. So, as Larry used what little energy he had left just to warn Tony, somebody he shouldn't give a shit about at all, he decided he couldn't kill him, not like this. He had thought having Galvez do it would ease his guilt and not make him feel entirely culpable, but it wasn't enough. So, Tony didn't budge to allow Galvez to get a clear shot on Larry. Instead, Tony simply raised his hand to make Galvez stand down. He gulped, knowing he was giving himself away. Larry now knew, undoubtedly, that Galvez worked for him. But that realisation didn't make Tony want to silence him more. No, it made him want to explain. It made him want to come clean.

Galvez squinted at Tony, clearly questioning his authority. He hadn't lowered his gun completely, either. Galvez was a small cog in a big machine. Killing him wouldn't mess with the plan. But killing him might be what Tony needed to convince Larry that he wasn't on the wrong side of the law because he wasn't. Granted, he certainly wasn't on the right side, either. Tony didn't have a side. Everything he'd done over the last five years had been for himself or for David. David, too, didn't have an ethos, an ideology, other than take what you can get. The justification for David's actions had been that the world was cruel and harsh and that even people who did the right thing and served the government with undying loyalty would still get screwed over in the end. David had helped Tony realise he deserved better, but he had ultimately gone too far. He had done bad things, repulsive things, with crashing two commercial airliners being the frosting on the cake of his destruction. Yes, it had been a way to feel something, anything, when nothing made him happy, no matter how much David had tried, but it hadn't been right.

He needed Larry to understand what he was doing and why he was doing it. Jack was too blinded by his own loyalty that he still hadn't shaken off despite having been fucked over by the government as much as he had. Tony didn't need to see his disapproval, his disappointment in him. Now, Tony recognised that Larry wasn't exactly any more flexible with his morals. He believed in rules. He believed in doing the right thing. But right now, he was the only one who could hear him out and had enough authority to be able to help him. He didn't want to hurt anybody else. He didn't want to make this any worse. This was his chance to turn things around. If David were here, he would probably accuse Tony of chickening out. He would point out that if Tony were truly committed to avenging Michelle, he would have been on his way to the motel with the canister by now. But David wasn't here, and Tony didn't want to delay this further. If he was really going to fix this, he had to do it now and fast.

Tony grabbed Larry's SIG-Sauer from his holster, praying he still had a bullet left, and shot Galvez in the forehead, blood splattering behind him as he collapsed. Larry made a noise of relief. Killing Galvez was what Larry would have expected of Tony, but he had certainly taken his time to get there. The FBI would be tracking their location. If Tony was going to explain this to him, he couldn't do it here. He needed to get to the motel so he could think. Yes, Larry's absence would certainly be cause for investigation. But Tony could take the SIM card from his phone, disable his comm, and otherwise take care of that. Nothing he hadn't done before. He had committed to this now. He wasn't going to kill Larry. He couldn't. It was like he had been splashed in the face with cold, hard morality. He wasn't this person. Even though today had made him sink lower than ever before, he was still conscious enough to recognise that. There was a way out of this. He had to have faith that there was a way to get what he wanted without taking any more innocent lives.

He looked back down at Larry, who truly looked confused now — and not just because he had hit his head.

"I'm sorry, Larry," Tony said before swinging to hit Larry's temple with the butt of his pistol.

When Larry came to, he first noticed tenderness on the right side of his head, somewhere between his eye and his temple. It throbbed so much it made him need to try a few times to open his eyes. His ears were ringing. There was a similar sensation on the back of his head. But his head wasn't the only body part that hurt. A spot just below his solar plexus was very sore. He'd been hit in the vest. He remembered that. Except, he wasn't outside on the concrete anymore. No, wherever he was, it was warm and musky, like it hadn't been ventilated in a good few decades. His surroundings were dimly lit and nauseatingly yellow. As he took a breath, something creaked, and he registered he was lying on a mattress. He went to try to feel the bump on his head and immediately realised his hands were cuffed. He was curled up on his side, almost in a fetal position. What the hell had happened? He got shot, then what? He hadn't just lost consciousness from fatigue or weakness. Based on the way his head hurt… he'd been knocked out.

A figure moved in his blurred vision. He tried to wake up more to figure out who or what it was. They were wearing all black, pacing and talking to themself. Larry was quite sure the person was Tony. Then, more memories came back. The person who had shot at him had also shot at Tony. Larry had tried to warn Tony, but then… nothing had happened. There'd been no yelling, no resistance. Tony had apologised, and then Larry had blacked out. Larry cleared his throat, attempting to say his name, his voice garbled from being unconscious. Tony stopped in his tracks, looking at him with surprise and concern. Somehow, Larry could tell it wasn't just because Tony was concerned about whatever was going on but because he'd been hurt — which was oddly nice of Tony, given his belief that Tony was the one who'd knocked him out in the first place.

"You're awake," Tony said. "How's your head?"

Larry muttered something under his breath while trying to sit up, and again was surprised to find Tony helping him, even giving him a pillow. Now he could see he was in what looked like a cheap motel room, the kind often used by criminals trying to hide out. A half-unzipped duffel bag on the floor revealed some kind of metal container.

The canister. The canister they'd nearly lost their lives over.

Tony must have noticed him looking because he bit his lip and had an awkward expression. It wasn't what Larry would expect to see if Tony was simply relieved at having taken the canister from the wrong hands. No, Tony almost looked guilty, which made all those little uncertainties from before being knocked out seem even more worrying.

"The guy who stole the canister… he was one of yours, wasn't he?" Larry concluded.

He nodded. "Yeah. He was."

"But you killed him."

"I did."

"Why?"

Tony sighed. "Because I… I don't want to go through with this, but I don't have a choice."

Larry furrowed his brow. "Go through with what? What's going on?"

"Let's just say...  I've held back on what today was really about for me."

He huffed. The amount of double-crossing he'd had to endure and keep up with today was ridiculous, so to hear Tony say that he had yet another thing to reveal really pissed him off. He also didn't like that he could spot his phone, badge, and gun on the opposite side of the room, completely out of reach. Still… if Tony wanted to kill him, he would have by now — not propped his pillow up. Larry knew this could only be about one thing, a recurring theme of today eating away at every ounce of his faith and trust in the government and the law.

"Is this conspiracy even deeper than we thought? I've already arrested my own people today. If there's another element, then tell me."

Tony sighed, leaning against the wall. He looked exhausted. He also looked conflicted, like he still wasn't sure what he was doing, including telling him this. "You… you wouldn't understand. It's not just about the conspiracy-"

"Then help me understand, Tony," Larry gritted through his teeth. "You didn't kill me for a reason, which has to mean that you're in a bind and need my help."

"Don't make me regret that," Tony quipped, but Larry didn't think he was serious. It seemed even if he was undecided on his actions, he wasn't going to kill him. "The man… the real man behind the Sentox conspiracy and everything today still hasn't been caught."

Larry again looked at him with confusion. "Charles Logan?"

Tony shook his head. "The man behind him. Logan was a puppet."

"And you know who he is?"

He nodded. "His name is Alan Wilson. I know him because he's the one who killed my wife. He put the order out. Not one of his lackeys. Him." 

Despite it being well-established that the only reason Tony had flipped was avenging Michelle, Larry was still aware of how much it pained Tony to even refer to her. He hadn't even said her name. He couldn't even say her name. He could barely call her his wife. And, well, Larry wouldn't lie and claim he would never think of getting revenge if he was in Tony's position. But Tony had a level of irrationality and volatility that Larry just couldn't understand. However, that mental picture he'd painted of Tony was only derived from his actions today and what he'd read in his file, not the man in front of him right now, who looked so damn lost and hopeless.

"This is about revenge? This is still about you trying to get back at the people who killed your wife?"

Tony shook his head. "It's more than that. She died for nothing. She fought for this country with more dedication and loyalty than anyone I've ever known." Larry couldn't deny the pride in Tony's voice when he spoke about her, even as he was on the verge of tears. "This is about getting justice."

"Why didn't you say anything about this guy before?"

"Because he's untouchable," Tony answered. "I didn't even tell Bill or Chloe about this. David knew, but now…" He trailed off and cleared his throat. "So the only way I can even get near him is to get his attention."

Larry went to speak, but Tony went on, clearly on guard.

"You don't get it. I'm not talking about arresting him. The FBI would never have enough evidence to hold him. You have no idea how deep I've had to dig, how many people I've had to question, how many servers I've had to hack to confirm that he's behind all of this."

"So what's the plan, then?" Larry asked warily, already feeling like he wouldn't like this.

"He's pissed right now because everything at Starkwood fell apart. Almost all of his bioweapon is gone and will take months to manufacture again." Tony walked over to the bag and pulled out the canister. "This is all that's left."

Larry's eyes widened. "What?- You're going to give him the canister so he can redevelop it?"

Tony dropped his head in shame, and if Larry didn't like that idea, he knew what was coming would be even worse.

"If that were the case, I would have to give it to my intermediary — who's probably wondering where I am right now — and then she would give it to him. That's not what I want. I need to be in the same room as him so I can look him in the eyes when I kill him."

Larry wanted to raise a valid point about how killing Wilson would mean never even having the slightest chance of solving the conspiracy, but he kept his mouth shut. He wasn't about to try to argue with him on that. Not when he still didn't know the heart of his plan.

"I have to use the bioweapon. I have to try to make him think I'm a believer in his bullshit cause."

"Use? As in…"

Tony wouldn't even look at him. "I-I had a plan with my intermediary to plant the bomb on a train and set up somebody else to take the fall. After everything that's already happened today, one more attack would be what Wilson and his associates need to go to Taylor and demand that she fund private military companies like Starkwood to provide the nation's defence."

He'd already seen so much destruction today, barely justifiable by Tony's cover. He wouldn't be able to get away with this. No amount of explanation would make anyone sympathetic to his cause. More than that, it was clear to Larry that even Tony didn't want to go through with this. He had to help him. He had to make him realise that this was too far. But as Larry tried to do that, Tony was quick to speak again.

"I don't have a choice. Impressing Wilson is the only way I can get close to him." He sounded so desperate, like he truly believed it was his only option, but was also begging Larry to give him an out or at least understand. Larry knew what to do to make him change his mind. He had to use his one weakness against him. He had to make Tony realise this was crossing a very different line. There was no plausible deniability here. If he did this… God only knew what kind of chaos would result. More than that, it wouldn't even guarantee getting to Wilson. It was insane. Too many things could go wrong. Larry had to convince him there was still another play here.

"Michelle would not want you to kill innocent people in her name," Larry said calmly, aware of how on-edge Tony was right now. 

Tony grabbed the pistol beside him and strode across the room, pointing it at his forehead. "Shut up," he hissed, and at this proximity, Larry could see his eyes were bright. "You don't say her name. You don't know her."

"No, Tony. This isn't what she'd want," he rebutted bravely. "I've seen her file. I know she was a damn good agent, and if you do this, you will destroy everything she ever worked for."

"He destroyed my life, Larry," Tony's voice broke. "We had left CTU. We were trying to start a family. And he took that away from me. My wife. My son."

As soon as Tony said that, Larry felt his gut sink. No children had been listed in Tony's file. He remembered that. Which meant…

"She was pregnant?" Larry asked very quietly, and Tony gave a small nod.

Larry still knew he had to tell Tony that this wasn't okay and that he wasn't about to let him go through with it, even though he knew that if anything happened to his daughters, he doubted he'd be able to maintain all of his objectivity, either. He believed there was another way for Tony to get his closure without hurting more innocent people, some kind of sting operation that risked as few lives as possible.

"Look, I… I understand that there's nothing I can say to make you quit this," Larry confessed. "You're stubborn. But you telling me all of this means that you don't want to go through with this, so let's find a way to pull this off. One way or another, we can get you in a room with Wilson. But I won't let that bioweapon fall into the wrong hands. Not after you just helped us destroy it."

Tony rubbed a hand over his face, and Larry could only hope it was because he was racking his brain trying to think of a way out.

"I'm the agent in charge of the FBI," he pointed out, but Tony still seemed very deep in thought. "You have to be able to utilise that somehow if it means sparing an innocent. I… I don't know, Tony. I know you've made some mistakes over the last few years, but you've done a lot of good today, too. Maybe, just maybe, you won't have to go to prison. We can make a deal, and I can vouch for you when I speak to Taylor. But if you proceed with this plan and go rogue, I can't guarantee that anymore." He let out a breath. "Nothing has made sense today. You've turned my life upside down and opened my eyes to a conspiracy I can't unsee. So let me help you. Please. Let's bring the FBI in on this and figure this out."

"You do that, Wilson will get away for good. He has people everywhere. He'll see a sting coming from a mile away."

Larry could tell he wasn't doing this to be stubborn. He really did mean it. He was afraid. And he could understand why Tony was hesitant to try anything that risked spooking Wilson. But damn it, he made an oath to uphold the law, so he had to stop this. More than that, he wanted to get to the bottom of this conspiracy. He wanted to do this properly, but he'd learned today that sometimes, sometimes, that meant bending the rules a little. And, despite his inner control freak, that also meant giving the reins to the people with more intel here, including Almeida and likely Bauer, too. However, he would demand frequent communication and transparency every step of the way this time. They were all working for the same goal.

"It's clear that you know Wilson better than anyone, and we can use that."

Tony lifted a shoulder. "But you won't let me kill him, will you? You might bend the rules to help us find Wilson, but you won't sanction his murder."

He sighed. He was right. He wouldn't. The father and husband in him could understand, but that didn't override the agent in him.

"What if… what if we take all the evidence you have?-"

"It's not concrete."

"Let me finish," Larry said sternly. "All the evidence you have, even if it's circumstantial and requires too much context, and the FBI finds something to charge him with, even if it's petty. Then we can arrest him, get all the warrants we need, and take him to court."

He gave him an offended look. "Court? He won't make it to court. I am not going to watch him get away with this, Larry. You want this conspiracy to stop? Then Wilson has to die."

"You know from your own experience that sometimes people like him, even the big fish, the most paranoid, the most cautious… they're still human. They always slip up somewhere."

Tony did seem to be thinking about this, for which Larry was grateful. At this moment, Larry realised he didn't want to see Tony fall even further from grace. He believed in him. He believed that the version of him that Bauer had so much faith in still existed. He believed he could save him.

"I have to call my intermediary soon, or she's going to know something's up," Tony said, and Larry thought for a moment that he hadn't gotten through to him. "So, let's call the FBI now. I'm not waiting any longer."

Larry let out all the air in his lungs, immensely relieved. "Thank you."

He nodded, and Larry could see Tony seemed happy with his decision, too. But Larry just hoped that he could keep his word because he didn't want to think about how Tony might react if he couldn't.

Larry was silent as he allowed Tony to explain everything to Jack and Renee over the phone. It was clear that Jack was not just upset but also disappointed in Tony. While Larry could tell Tony had been expecting this kind of reaction, he could still see the shame in his body language, even as he maintained the strength of his voice. In a way, Larry couldn't blame Tony for not telling Jack about this. There was too much tension, too much history between them. Despite Jack also having lost his wife and done questionable things to avenge her, he was full of hypocrisy, criticising Tony for not admitting his intentions earlier or even thinking about committing such atrocities to get to Alan Wilson. Larry wanted to say something to defend Tony but kept his mouth shut in favour of not pissing Jack off any further. They didn't have time to argue. They had to coordinate this if they even had a chance of one, getting Alan Wilson in their sights and two, successfully detaining him. Tony was their only chance at the former, but the FBI could investigate and find something for the latter. Still, Larry recognised how difficult it was for Tony to relinquish control of something so personal to him.

"Tony, when is your informant expecting to hear from you?" Jack asked.

"ASAP," he answered. "She's probably already worried. We need a plan."

"You already have one," Larry said, glancing at Tony. "You just need to look like you're following through with what you've just told us. The FBI can follow you from afar and ensure that weapon either isn't detonated or is detonated away from any civilians."

Tony still looked concerned. "What if Wilson doesn't go for that? What if he just sees it as a failure and moves on? I have to be able to prove myself to him."

There was a pause as the four of them tried to think. If Wilson really was as Tony described, then if he didn't see bloodshed, destruction, something that proved Tony's extremity and dedication, he wouldn't go for it. Of course, none of them actually wanted that to happen, nor could the FBI permit the loss of innocent lives. But if Wilson had his people infiltrating government databases, faking an attack would be risky, too.

"What if you used me?" Jack finally said, with less anger than before.

Tony furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

"The pathogen can survive in living tissue," he clarified. "If we go ahead with the subway attack as planned, and the FBI stops it, then you could offer to bring me to Wilson so his people can extract it. He'd want to see me to believe that, wouldn't he?" 

Larry watched Tony contemplate this for a moment.

"It could work," Tony said.

"But we still need something to detain Wilson and warrant further investigation," Renee reminded them. "We can't arrest him for nothing."

"Then we'll work in tandem," Larry concluded. "Half of us will follow Tony closely. We'll bug you. Your informant trusts you that much, right?"

Tony nodded.

"The other half will dig into Alan Wilson's records."

"We could reboot the CTU servers," Jack offered. "There might be information there that the FBI doesn't have."

"Alright, do that, then," Larry agreed. "We just need to find something. I don't care if it's petty or unrelated to the conspiracy, so long as we can charge him with something, we'll have jurisdiction to investigate."

They all seemed satisfied with this, so they ended their conversation. Larry decided to grab his phone, badge, and gun now that he was up and no longer restrained.

Tony went to a drawer, pulled out a small listening device and a transceiver, and passed the latter to him. "I'll keep this with me at all times. You can track me and listen to every word I'm saying. I get…" He sighed. "I get you probably still don't trust me completely."

As he said that, Larry realised, to his surprise, that that wasn't quite true. He did believe that Tony had nothing else to hide. He had been so vulnerable and raw when explaining his moral dilemma. Tony was risking everything by allowing the FBI to be involved with this. It was too late for him to go rogue. He could only do so by suddenly ditching the transceiver or messing with it to show a false location. But, really, if Tony didn't want to be followed, he would have made an excuse about his informant being paranoid and likely to find the bug.

Larry reflected on what they were trying to do here, becoming aware of how crazy it all was. Twenty-four hours ago, trusting Tony like this would have made him question his sanity. However, now, his mind had been opened to consider new approaches. If it meant getting to the true leader of the conspiracy… then they had to do whatever was necessary, even if it went against everything he had ever been taught and trained to do.

"I trust you enough to know you're telling me the truth." He met Tony's eyes and found Tony surprised by that too. Surprised, but grateful. Larry didn't feel any kind of apprehension in his gut. He didn't think he was walking into a trap. He was convinced this play was all they had left, more importantly, that it could succeed.

"Thank you," Tony replied with a softness that Larry had heard hints of before. It was very uncharacteristic of Tony, but, Larry realised that softness was probably genuine to who he truly was, the Tony that Jack had known all those years ago. Tony then passed him a set of car keys. "There's a blue Jeep out the back."

"What about you?"

He shook his head. "Cara likes to use her own cars for these things."

Larry made it to the door, still finding himself oddly taken aback by Tony's generosity — if not killing him could even be considered that. He stopped to turn and look at Tony, confirming that he hadn't done a one-eighty with his personality again and wasn't going to shoot him.

"Good luck, and be careful," Larry wished earnestly, not just for the sake of the conspiracy and justice but also… for Tony. "I hope we can pull this off."

There was a glimmer of hope in Tony's expression. "I hope so, too."

The earlier aspects of Tony's plan had all gone off without a hitch, from faking the bomb threat to supposedly kidnapping Bauer. The FBI had been one step behind Tony the whole time, and his informant hadn't suspected a thing. But on the FBI's end, they were at a loss for leads. Wilson's military service records were full of medals of valour. His businesses were shell companies within shell companies, and Larry couldn't find a sign of anything dubious. And, obviously, his personal criminal record was clean, too. If they didn't find something soon… Wilson would slip right by them, Tony would be crushed, and Larry would be wholly responsible. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let Wilson elude investigation. Larry understood why Tony had so much rage and distrust about this, beyond Wilson ordering his wife's murder, so Tony placing so much faith in him right now, meant he couldn't let Tony down. Surprisingly, this was less out of fear of what Tony might do and more out of genuine sympathy. Otherwise, Tony might never be able to redeem himself, and something about the thought of that just made Larry's heart break. He had seen Tony's vulnerability now. He had changed his opinion of him. There was a duality. No, Larry wouldn't forget about the choices Tony had made, but he also understood his cause much more now. They had to arrest Wilson. They just had to.

Larry's phone buzzed. It was Renee.

"We're less than ten minutes out. Have you guys found anything?" she asked worriedly.

"We're trying, but-" 

Suddenly, he heard a frantic knock at his office door and looked up to see Janis standing there.

"I've got something," Janis said, and Larry told Renee to hold on as he walked towards Janis' station, feeling his heart leap in his chest.

"What is it?"

"Tax fraud," she answered proudly. "Alan Wilson didn't pay his taxes in '92. He owes money to the IRS. You can arrest him."

Such a simple crime, but one that had led to the demise of many criminals. That didn't mean there wasn't a chance of him lawyering out of his charges. However, tax crimes attributed to his business rather than his personal finance warranted more probable cause.

"How much?" Larry tried to look at the details on her screen. "How much does he owe?"

"Right, uh…" Janis' enthusiasm suddenly waned, and he cocked a brow. "He's generally pretty smart with his distribution methods, so it's only… five thousand dollars and twelve cents."

He blinked at her a few times. "Five grand?!" She flinched. "We're about to arrest one of the most powerful men in this country because he owes five grand? He probably spends that on his business lunches, Janis!"

"Hey, you wanted evidence to detain Wilson?" Janis pointed at the computer. "There's your evidence."

"What's going on?" Renee asked through his phone. "Have you got something?"

"Yes," Larry confirmed. "Tax fraud. Not significant, but tax fraud nonetheless."

"Alright. God, Almeida better be right about this…" She didn't sound convinced, but Larry believed in him now more than ever. "We're almost there. I'm going to go over everything with my team again."

He nodded. "Copy that. Be careful, and good luck."

As he hung up, he noticed Janis still looking at him funnily.

"What?"

"Are we really going all this way for something that Almeida gave us? I mean, I know he's been right before, but… I'm just a little surprised at how much you're willing to help him."

It was much further than he'd usually go for an informant. He wouldn't deny that. But his gut was telling him that this would all be worth it.

"I trust Tony," Larry said simply. "I might not agree with everything he's done, but I trust him."

He then looked at his watch. Renee and the FBI would be very close now. He had to put his comm on and focus. Larry ordered Janis to pull up satellite coverage of the area. He saw many armoured vans and bodyguards. Tony had been right; it was go big or go home. The chopper landed, and he heard Renee give orders to engage, stressing that Wilson could not be harmed under any circumstances. It was hard to tell what was going on, but there was a lot of gunfire. The fight seemed to go on forever, and despite the focus on getting Wilson, all Larry could think about was Tony. He could practically feel the building tension and sense of urgency within him.

They waited and waited until, finally, Renee spoke. "Wilson's in custody. So are a few of his men."

"The rest?"

"Dead, they were shooting at us."

Despite the handful of Bauer-esque things Renee had done today, Larry knew she wouldn't have made the wrong call or gone too far. She knew what was at stake, but she wasn't hasty.

"Any casualties on our side?"

"None. A few injuries but nothing serious."

"What about Bauer and Almeida?" Larry then said, realising his heart was racing.

"Almeida's fine, I've put him in a separate car back to the FBI." Smart thinking on her part, although he doubted Tony would do anything to Wilson after agreeing to arrest him through the proper channels. "Bauer…" Something solemn arose in her voice. "Bauer's collapsed. He's deteriorating from the bioweapon. Doctor Macer and her team are on their way."

Larry pressed his lips together. He could tell she was more upset than she let on. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," she said quietly before clearing her throat. "Do you want me there when you update President Taylor?"

"I think I'll be fine. Just make sure Wilson and Almeida are placed in holding securely and that everybody understands they're not to be near each other."

"Will do. See you when I get back."

"See you then."

He sighed as he hung up. The president was mostly aware of what had happened, especially the aspects involving faking a bomb attack and ensuring the person whom the blame had been pinned on wasn't actually charged with anything. She was still somewhat sceptical of Tony, and understandably so. Her first impression of Almeida was based solely on what she had seen him do today. David Palmer would have known Tony as an agent first, and, well, he pardoned him once, so who was to say he wouldn't have again — if he were alive, of course. But even though Larry had known Tony for about as long as Taylor, he could still recognise the agent in him. He could see that his loyalties had once, like his own, lied with serving the government. He could understand why, after being close to someone like David Emerson and experiencing so much grief, he would have had every belief questioned. Larry had to explain to Taylor that despite some bad choices, Tony's heart was still pure, and he still wanted to do the right thing.

Larry returned to his office and dialled Ethan Kanin's number to set up a conference call. He debriefed them on what had transpired. Taylor commended the FBI for their work over the last twenty-four hours, especially his leadership. While he appreciated the recognition, he also knew they wouldn't have had nearly the depth they had in their investigation without Jack, Tony, Bill, and Chloe. A deeply ingrained stubborn part of him wanted to emphasise the need for the FBI to maintain control over the operation. But after having that part of him proved wrong multiple times today, he willingly admitted his gratitude to Taylor for their roles. She still seemed conflicted about it as well. But neither could deny the truth. She was also saddened to hear that Bauer's condition had worsened.

As the call started to wrap up, it suddenly hit Larry that he was supposed to be putting Tony in custody. That didn't sound right to him. Yes, the evidence he had was now under the FBI's care, so, technically, Tony wasn't really needed for the succeeding investigation into Wilson. But Tony had so much insight about Wilson, more than what was written on a few pieces of paper. He understood this case. Twenty-four hours ago, he would have agreed for Tony to end up in the electric chair or prison for the rest of his life. But now… he had seen Tony's redemption before his eyes, and there were still many more amends for Tony to make. He could do that by aiding with the investigation and working for the FBI, doing what he used to do before he turned. That, to him, was the most logical and productive way for Tony to atone for his sins, not sitting and rotting in a prison cell. He recognised he was taking an unusually sympathetic stance, but wasn't doubting himself.

"Madam President, just one more thing."

"Yes, Agent Moss?"

He steeled his nerves. "Regarding Tony Almeida. I'd… I'd like your signature on a deal we're offering him."

"Go on."

"He was a critical informant for the information we obtained today. We never would have been able to stop the attack on the White House or detain Alan Wilson without his knowledge. This, combined with the fact that he used to be a federal agent, means he is strongly capable of aiding us with the subsequent investigation."

"He can still do that from custody, Agent Moss," Ethan Kanin pointed out.

Kanin was correct. But there was something about the thought of Tony alone in a jail cell that just made his chest hurt. It wasn't right. He deserved better. He should have the chance to make up for what he did on a direct level instead of wallowing in guilt for the rest of his life.

Larry let out a breath. "Madam President, you would agree that his history as an agent and even his actions over the past few years make him extremely vulnerable in prison. As for solitary confinement…" He pressed his lips together. "I don't believe that kind of impact on his mental health would be beneficial for the investigation." Or for him, Larry thought. "You may recall he has spent time in prison before, and it's noted on his file that both his time in general population and solitary were detrimental to his well-being." He remembered reading this when he'd first looked into Tony's file. It had stuck out to him as just one marker of suffering long before losing his wife. He'd recognised even then that Tony's actions pertained to more than just an aching hole of loss. "For this reason, I'd like your approval to offer Almeida protective security under house arrest rather than prison. He would be contracted to do work for the FBI, initially with a probationary period on his clearance level, and this ease of access would make working with him more efficient."

Taylor pondered this for a moment, and Kanin was still somewhat doubtful, but it wasn't his decision, ultimately.

"If you truly believe he's useful and not a flight risk, we can arrange for him to be under house arrest but have him supervised and tracked for a probationary period," Taylor finally agreed. "Obviously, we may have to revisit what kind of work he is permitted to do for us once the investigation into Alan Wilson is over, but I do recognise the work he has done today."

Larry felt his shoulders relax. "Thank you for giving him a chance."

"Just be aware that if you're wrong about this, Agent Moss, and, God forbid, we have any further attacks or incidents by Almeida's hand, I will personally hold you responsible."

He nodded. "Understood, Madam President."

Larry entered the holding room to find Tony sitting at the table, hands cuffed and clasped in front of him. The harsh lighting of the room cast almost sinister shadows on Tony's face. But as Larry neared and took a seat across from him, he realised he just looked quite tired, and understandably so.

"How are you doing?"

Tony shrugged. "It just… it just doesn't feel real that we have him."

"I can imagine." Larry offered a kind smile before clearing his throat, remembering what he was actually here for. He placed the manilla folder on the desk. "I've spoken to President Taylor, and we're willing to cut you a deal."

His eyebrows rose slightly. He seemed very sceptical, and Larry supposed he couldn't blame him. A deal could mean anything from a lifetime prison sentence rather than execution to getting off scot-free.

"We're going to put you under house arrest on the condition that you help us with the investigation into Wilson."

Now, Tony really looked surprised. If Larry wasn't mistaken, he also seemed immensely relieved at not being imprisoned. That being said, his guard was still up; he wasn't being totally transparent, but Larry could see enough to know. It made him glad he had recalled that part of Tony's file in time to use it to persuade Taylor. That fact notwithstanding, Larry still had faith that it had been the right thing, even though it had gone against his usual instincts.

"What's the catch?"

"Well, there'll be probation on your clearance level, and you'll have to wear an ankle monitor for nine months, but once these things pass…" He shrugged. "It'll be just like any other work release contract."

Tony furrowed his brow slightly and started to read through the paperwork very carefully. He had probably seen enough of these to be able to know what to look for. But there was no hidden trick here, and Tony would soon realise that. It hurt a little to think about how much self-loathing Tony must have if he couldn't even believe that someone might give him a chance at redemption. Still, Tony read thoroughly. Tony didn't trust easily, but it seemed he trusted him, at least.

"I can give you some time if you want to consult legal counsel-"

"It's fine, I've seen this kind of deal before," Tony replied shortly, shaking his head. But then his voice became calmer. "I… I don't- why are you giving me the chance? I'm a huge liability."

The corners of his lips upturned a little. "I don't think the way for you to make up for your mistakes is to go to prison. And the fact is, we need you for this case. It's better this way for everyone."

Finally, Tony was able to look up and meet his eyes. "There's really no catch? You won't just throw out the deal if I make one screw-up or the FBI doesn't need me anymore?"

He shook his head. "The only way this deal isn't happening is if you tell me right now you're not interested in helping with the investigation. Taylor agreed to this on the condition that we supervise you and don't give you top-level clearance for now. But she has enough faith in you to allow me to do this. As for your other concern, we'll probably keep you around as an FBI consultant after this investigation is over, which you know could take years. You're in safe hands."

There was silence again before Tony finally gave a small nod. "I'll take it then."

Larry didn't realise how much he hoped for Tony's cooperation until he said that and felt his body relax. "That's great. I'm glad we could work something out for you."

"So, what's next?"

"It'll take a couple of days to process everything, but we'll put you under protective security," Larry explained. "You'll also have a few fake IDs, but you won't be under an alias here."

Tony cocked a brow. "Kind of ironic, isn't it?"

Larry gave him a funny look. "What do you mean?"

He snorted. "I'm a former Fed who became a terrorist. I don't think I'm getting a warm welcome from the FBI."

Larry pursed his lips a little. He had a point. And the last thing he wanted was for the FBI to make Tony feel as bad as prison would have. He promised himself he wouldn't let anybody at the FBI treat Tony like he was beneath them. Most of the agents had seen the work Tony had done today, even if it hadn't gotten off to a good start. But there were always people who wanted to blame their problems on somebody else, usually a junior agent or a perfect scapegoat like Tony. He believed in his agents, but he wouldn't be naive. After all, he had arrested Sean. More than that, he didn't want to disappoint Tony. He didn't want to give him one more reason to hate the government and the people in it. He wanted to give him a reason to restore his faith.

"I'll make sure nobody gives you trouble," Larry said with enough confidence for Tony to realise he meant it. "Seriously, if anybody does, tell me. I won't stand for it. We're on the same side here."

That last sentence seemed to particularly affect Tony. He had had to learn how to work against the law and now he was back working for it. That had to be a jarring experience, to go against one's principles like that not once but twice. However, Larry believed that Tony had never fully abandoned his principles. He had to believe that was the reason he wasn't lying dead in a morgue right now. He had to believe that was why Tony had given up his information and trusted that the FBI would do the right thing with it. He had to believe that good part, that true part of him was still in there somewhere.

Tony signed the papers and Larry went to leave, but Tony stopped him by calling out his name.

He turned his head to look at him.

"Thank you," he said with genuine appreciation.

"You're welcome."

Within a few days, Tony was set up with a starter pack, not unlike one given to people in Witness Protection. It was a comfortable two-bedroom house situated in a quiet neighbourhood not too far from the FBI. He was given a government-issue Chevy Blazer, bugged to track his movements, and a weekly stipend to get him on his feet. The first day he came into work, it was admittedly jarring to see him in a shirt and slacks. That alone made him look more like Tony, the federal agent Larry had read about, not Tony, the terrorist. He still appeared a little standoffish, but Larry didn't think it was due to arrogance or a need to make a point of himself. No, he could see it in his eyes: it was downright insecurity. Larry knew he had been through a lot these past few days. The day they arrested Wilson alone would be a lot to process, from some of the awful things Tony had allowed to happen for his cover to the death of Emerson, someone Larry knew had been very close to Tony. Add to that a life-changing offer to try to work in law enforcement again and all the tedious aspects of moving into a new house and starting over... Larry couldn't blame Tony for not being incredibly eager to start his first day of work. But, hopefully, he would adjust.

The magnitude and priority of the Wilson investigation helped snap Tony into focus. It didn't take him too long to feel more comfortable going over his evidence and how it linked to Wilson. Larry sat there with Renee, Janis, and a handful of other agents, and, based on a cursory scan of the room, people seemed interested in what Tony was saying, not making snide remarks or gossiping. They appreciated the time and effort put into obtaining every last detail, and Larry hoped that things could only get better from there. Still, Larry found himself giving the occasional reassuring smile, trying to convey that he was doing a good job and that this was precisely why he hadn't wanted him to go to prison.

Still, there was one thing that appeared to preoccupy Tony. In the bullpen, Larry noticed that Tony's eyes would keep flitting towards the hallway where the holding rooms were. It was almost like he kept anxiously expecting to see someone walk out. Only when Larry happened to look at the security cameras did he realise there was one very significant person in holding: Alan Wilson. Of course, Larry knew Alan Wilson was still in holding. But he hadn't registered that Tony was likely aware of this too, until now. No wonder he wasn't able to focus: the person he had wanted to murder with his bare hands — probably still wanted to murder, deep down — was just a few doors down. Tony probably had to exercise a lot of self-control, dutifully keeping his eyes on his computer screen. But, surprisingly, Larry was less alarmed by their proximity than he thought he would be.

Larry walked over to Tony's station, who looked up with a slight start, apparently engrossed in whatever he was reading.

"How are you doing?"

Tony made a so-so motion. "Not bad. This is definitely, uh, bringing back certain memories."

Larry laughed through his nose before lowering his voice. "By the way, uh, we're still trying to figure out what to do with Wilson. I don't like that he's here any more than you do."

He lifted a shoulder. "I mean, there's nowhere else for him to go, right? Probably better that he's here knowing the kind of people who work for him." Maybe Tony wasn't as bothered by it as Larry had worried, which wasn't a bad thing.

"You're right. I just… I know it's probably hard for you to know he's nearby."

"I'm not going to kill him, Larry," Tony said with a slight sharpness, somewhat offended. But his voice then softened a little. "I… I want to do this the right way." He seemed to be assuring himself, too.

Larry nodded, looking down at the floor. "I know you do."

Janis called him to her desk, so he politely excused himself. Tony didn't say anything, but from his glance, he had a mostly neutral expression. Renee was at Janis' desk, too, and they showed him another aspect of Sean's work for Dubaku. He answered their questions and went to make himself a coffee as Janis got back to work. Renee followed him, looking around slightly warily, like she didn't want anyone to hear what she was about to say.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Almeida today," she commented.

"Well, he's my responsibility, and it's his first day," Larry reminded her.

Renee gave him a knowing look. "You're protective of him."

"I'm not-"

"I know that look," Renee countered, cutting him off. "I'm telling you this because I noticed, so somebody else probably did, too. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but…"

"Renee, I've only known him for a couple of days."

There was silence, and when he looked up, she was buying none of it.

"I'm not judging you. Almeida might be… complicated, but it's clear that whatever happened between you two when he confessed the rest of his plan… I don't know, you… you formed a connection. Am I wrong?"

"No," he confessed quietly.

"And it's not like you don't know he's into men," Renee added. "Him and Bauer. Him and Emerson…" she trailed off. She did have a point, but it wasn't about that. It wasn't the time or the place for Tony; he was adjusting to enough as it was. "Just don't do what you always do and let the chance slip past you. It astonishes me that the man who once took a bullet for me is incapable of asking someone out."

He shook his head. She liked to remind him of that every time they had a conversation remotely regarding relationships. "He's been through a lot. I'm not going to just ask him out, Renee. I don't… I don't know him enough to even know if I like him like that."

"I'm not saying now," Renee clarified. "But when there is a chance, if you feel that connection's still there, don't make up some bullshit excuse: do it. You deserve to have that. And by the sounds of it… so does he."

It had been six months now, and all of their efforts were about to be tested. Wilson's trial started today. Even managing to detain Wilson for this long was a miracle. However, they knew they were up against powerful lawyers who could obliterate them and let Wilson walk. Larry had faith, though. He had to believe there was a chance. He had to believe that what they had found would expose the conspiracy in a way that could not be refuted. Despite everything Larry had learned, he still had faith in the system. The other reason he was nervous was that he had to testify. He had done so plenty of times. It wasn't inherently terrifying. But the stakes were high here, not just because of the nature of the case but because this, this, was where he could finally make good on his promise to Tony. Today was his last chance to make sure Wilson got punished judicially. He didn't want to let Tony down. Tony had come a long way, and Larry couldn't bear to see that progress erased.

He had thought a lot about Tony these past months.

At first, it had been out of wanting to keep a careful eye, not due to a lack of trust but genuine concern. He had been responsible for him — still was, really. But now, with Tony's security clearance slightly raised, he was viewed as less of a liability. Taylor wasn't as worried about him. Tony would still be wearing the ankle bracelet for a few more months, but there was less restriction on his movement. He could more or less go about his life, but there were still people who watched him. This was also, in part, for his safety. Tony had stabbed a lot of people in the back by working with the FBI. While they were sure that someone who wanted revenge would have shown themselves by now, Larry was admittedly still quite protective.

Larry watched as Tony stepped out of the car, escorted by two plainclothes FBI agents. He had gotten used to seeing Tony in a suit, seeing him as an agent and not just a consultant. He fit into the FBI. He was able to lead and speak to the other agents who, to his immense relief, hadn't given Tony any trouble. They respected Tony, and Larry would like to think it wasn't just because he had made it very clear that he wouldn't allow anybody to disrespect Tony, but because he genuinely had found his place on this side of the law again. Tony had opened up over time, and Larry had started to learn more about the man that Jack had once known. Jack had come out of his coma a couple of months ago, the stem cell treatment from his daughter having worked successfully, but was still recovering in the hospital. But Larry soon stopped thinking about Jack as he noticed Tony had cleaned up a little more than usual. He could see that his hair had grown out now. He wasn't the thug with the goatee, buzzcut and leather jacket. He was an agent, just like him or anybody else at the FBI and it made Larry's heart swell with pride to realise how much he had evolved, how much having a purpose had started to heal him.

Admittedly, he wasn't just looking at Tony with fondness. That connection Renee had pointed out, well… it had only gotten stronger. He believed Tony came out of his shell more just by being around him, and he cherished that. He believed he had an impact on his life, and that was something he couldn't ignore. There was a reason he had gone into this line of work: to help people and uphold the law. It brought him so much fulfilment. He realised how much he cared about Tony and his journey of learning to be the good guy again. Larry still recognised his significance in Tony's life, knowing he had been the turning point for his morality. Tony had looked into his eyes and decided not to kill him, decided not to pass the point of no return, decided to try to do things the right way one last time. And now it had brought them here, a courtroom where their only defence would be the mountains of evidence, paper trails and photographs, anything and everything that connected Alan Wilson to people who had terrorised this country.

Wilson's lawyers might have money, but the FBI had the law on their side. That had to count for something. It had to. Larry had even researched the judge with DOJ to see if he had taken any bribes in the past. He hadn't. That didn't mean it hadn't happened at all; he just might be good at not getting caught. It also didn't make him immune from corruption. A lot of people caved on their principles for the right price. Larry had come to learn that throughout this investigation. Many of the people culpable in this hadn't been inherently evil. They had just wanted or perhaps needed something, money, protection, drugs, or decided to be a little selfish once, just once, and gotten hooked on it, likely not knowing what they were walking into. However, for every person who arguably hadn't intended for anything bad to happen, there were five more who would gladly watch this country burn, deluded by their sick ideals. It had been hard to sleep those first few weeks, seeing all these faces of people just like him, so far gone from what they had been taught and using it to their advantage. He had understood so much about Tony and why he had made those decisions just from that. It had made Larry truly believe that it wasn't just about avenging his wife but avenging the years of sacrifice he had put in only for these conspiracy members to sweep the rug from under his feet.

Larry took a seat at the prosecutor's bench. Tony was in the front row of the gallery, right behind him. Renee was in charge of the FBI while he was in court. There were a few FBI agents with them for security since they were both high targets, but most were at the Bureau. However, there were several representatives from other federal agencies, most involved, some not. He knew some of them would be looking at Tony with scepticism, and if Larry caught any of them, he would glare at them. They were on the same side here. Otherwise, the trial wasn't open to the public. Why would it? Nobody even knew who Alan Wilson was. That was what today was about: proving there was a unifying link between every atrocity this country had faced and been ill-prepared for in the last six years. Larry turned his head at the sound of jingling chains to see Alan Wilson being led to the defence's bench. He had that same smug psychopathic smile, the kind that made Larry want to punch him. He wanted to punch Alan Wilson for a lot of reasons. Larry glanced at Tony, noticing the way he watched Wilson take a seat. It wasn't a look of rage. It wasn't the kind of look where Larry feared Tony might snap. No, he was calm. He was solemn.

He was scared.

He was scared that Alan Wilson would walk out of here a free man and all of his work would be for nothing.

And the only person more scared of that than Tony, was Larry.

"All rise," the bailiff said as the judge entered.

They had prepared as much as they could. He and Tony had spent countless hours strategising with the lawyers. Every detail had been planned from the order of presenting evidence and testimony to coolly and calmly responding when Wilson's lawyers inevitably tried to destroy them on cross-examination. Now it just had to play out.

As expected, it was not an easy fight. Wilson's lawyers were prepared for almost everything the FBI threw at them. If Larry had a dollar for every time Wilson's lead attorney pointed out the minuscule possibility that somebody other than his client was involved, he would be rich enough to hire a whole firm of lawyers that would obliterate Wilson's with sheer numbers. With every passing minute, Larry felt tension and doubt grow. It could go either way. The prosecution was still confident, but Larry started questioning whether they genuinely believed they had enough to turn this around or were just showing false bravado because a good lawyer never allowed their clients to feel they couldn't trust them.

When the day came for Larry to testify, he was terrified. All he could think about was Tony, how important this was, how crushed he would be if this failed. Larry's palms were sweaty, and he had to remind himself to breathe and keep his cool. The prosecution walked through the testimony just as they had planned together. Larry had known to expect some objections but not to the point where he could barely finish a sentence before the defence interrupted him over and over again. He struggled to stay calm, too. How was he supposed to implore how critical and thorough this evidence was if he couldn't even talk about it? But the worst part, beyond his frustration, beyond his general concerns, was that the more he was cut off, the more he could see Tony slowly start to realise that their chances of putting Wilson away were slipping. Larry hoped the judge might intervene and tell the defence to back off, but he didn't. If the judge wasn't even going to let this happen fairly, then Tony had every right to lose hope. The evidence might be there, but the defence continued insisting that it wasn't concrete, making them lose credibility.

Although it wasn't noticeable, from the glances Larry kept giving Tony, Larry knew Tony was verging closer to losing his composure. The prosecution went on to explain how the Sentox conspiracy framed Jack Bauer for Palmer's assassination. He showed graphic images of the explosion, then talked about Michelle's record as an agent, emphasising how needless her death had been. Even though Tony had prepared, it was clear that just by looking at the photos, his mind was back there. He was shaking. He couldn't look away from it, but he was shaking, and Larry's expression softened. The final straw was when the prosecution, once again, decided to refute their arguments.

"My client is a businessman who has done nothing but fund the defence of this country," his attorney implored. "He is a patriot. This is a farce, Your Honour."

At this point, Tony got up, shoved past the few people in the pew and stormed outside. Larry delivered the rest of his testimony, trying but slowly failing to maintain his assertiveness as he started to fear the worst about Tony. When he was dismissed from the stand and the court went to recess, he didn't hesitate to follow Tony's path, desperate to find him. He didn't seem to be in the hallway or the men's room, so he ended up outside. Tony had been escorted to court in the morning, so he didn't exactly have car keys to go anywhere. Just as he contemplated calling one of the agents and asking him to help look, he heard a loud thud from behind. He turned to see Tony leaning against the side of the courthouse near the garbage bins. He walked over and saw that Tony's knuckles were bloody, like he had punched something. Tony looked up with a scowl, but his eyes were full of tears.

"I told you," Tony whispered harshly, pointing at him. "I told you this is why I wanted the FBI to stay out of this. If you'd let me kill him, we wouldn't be here."

Larry hushed him and frantically looked around them, checking nobody was in earshot. Tony hadn't said the phrase very loudly, but Larry was paranoid. The more he had learned about Wilson and the depth of the conspiracy, the crazier he had become. He understood Tony's trust issues with the government now more than ever. However, he was also aware of the strict conditions of Tony's deal with Taylor and didn't want to risk her going back on her promise.

"He's going to be found not guilty," Tony concluded, his voice breaking. "He murdered my wife and child, and he's going to walk."

They were but inches from each other, and without even thinking, Larry pulled him in for a hug, just to show his support, just to show he was there. Larry assured himself they knew each other well enough that it wasn't strange. The man had just seen such awful reminders of his wife's death; he needed support. Tony didn't seem to resist. Quite the contrary, he hugged him back like he needed to be grounded, and Larry was glad to be there for him that way. Every breath Tony took shuddered, and Larry felt dampness form on his shirt. Larry tried to put himself in his shoes and couldn't bear the thought of someone who had caused so much destruction in his life getting away with everything. If Wilson walked today, it was over. Appealing would be virtually impossible if Wilson fled the country. All of those months of their lives would be worthless. Tony would have no purpose left, no motivation, because why bother when Wilson had the means to escape punishment? He would feel like he had let Michelle down once again. But somehow, he didn't think the man crying in his arms would return to a life of crime. He couldn't quite see him as a dedicated agent, either. But he could see he would be miserable and disappointed in himself.

All Larry wanted to do at this moment was prove to Tony that that just wasn't true, that he had worked so hard to do the right thing and that this wasn't fair, but most importantly, that it wasn't his fault.

He placed a hand on Tony's shoulder, making him look up. Their eyes met, and Larry saw a vulnerability he had never seen before. Tony wasn't trying to hide anything. He was showing all his fear right here, right now, and Larry felt honoured by that. He had to tell him not to be afraid. He had a dire urge to convey that he was there for him. Every thought he had ever had about Tony, thoughts that someone should not have for their coworker, especially their subordinate, came to mind in flashes. All the little glances. The eye contact. The conversations. The way his heart leapt in his chest when he saw Tony smile or laugh. He cared about him. He cared about him so much.

So, he simply leaned down so their lips could meet. He did it slowly enough that Tony could resist if he wanted, but he didn't. At first, it was chaste. Tony's lips grazed his, and he soon pulled away with a jolt that made Larry think he had made a grave mistake. But as he went to apologise profusely, he was cut off by Tony crushing his mouth to his. Larry made a muffled noise, but as Tony started to suck at his bottom lip, he kissed him back, walking them so Tony was against the wall, aware that someone could find them. The kiss felt like everything they both needed, a way to get a second of release, a way to assure each other. Tony had a hand on the back of his neck, keeping their bodies in contact while Larry held Tony's waist. Although neither of them seemed to want to end it, they mutually decided to, knowing they had to be back in court soon.

"I can't let him get away with what he did," Tony said, his voice full of despair, looking him in the eyes.

"He won't," Larry said firmly but deathly quietly. "One way or another, he will get what he deserves. I promise you."

Tony gave him a slightly funny look but didn't seem to read into it too much. Even Larry didn't really know the implications of what he said, but he meant it. He hadn't done all this work, only for Wilson to get away with everything. He wouldn't let him. But it did frighten Larry to think about how far he might go to get justice.

Alan Wilson was found not guilty. They expected it, but it still stung to hear the judge declare that all of their work hadn't been good enough and that Wilson was free to go. He had gotten away with it. He was responsible for thousands of innocent deaths and poisoning everybody he was associated with, and he had gotten away with it. Tony was stoic. Larry wouldn't have blamed him for losing it right there, but he didn't. He stared blankly ahead and went back to the car without saying a word to anyone. Larry wanted to follow him, but he left before he could try. Larry was furious. It wasn't just because nothing made him more upset than seeing injustice, especially after slaving away at this case for so long, but because he felt like he had let Tony down. He had told Tony to trust the system, and the system had failed. He had tried to be optimistic, but, really, all he had done was give Tony false hope. 

So Larry knew he had to be the one to make things right.

In the two days that followed, while he congratulated his agents on their work and told them not to give up despite the major setback, he wasn't expecting anything to change. There was nothing they could do — not legally, at least. He kept an extra eye on Tony, purely out of concern for his well-being, but he didn't speak to him. Tony wouldn't even look him in the eye, and he hoped that was out of awkwardness, not out of misgivings. Still, Tony even showing up to work had to mean something. He was ostensibly still here to do his job, even though the motivation of working to get Wilson what he deserved was no longer there. Larry felt the need to talk to him about everything, but he just couldn't get him alone. Either Tony would avoid him, or someone would interrupt him. He feared Tony was a ticking time bomb of self-destruction. He feared that the kiss might have just made things worse and that he had now lost Tony in more than one way. He felt desperate to fix this.

And, for once in his life, he was done taking a noble stance and staying above the law. If Wilson was going to play dirty, then so was he.

Larry's fingers trembled as he dialled the number, triple-checking that the phone was untraceable and mentally rehearsing what he would say to minimise the length of the call. He had never done this before. He had fired agents for doing this, for God's sake. This went against everything he had ever been taught and everything he believed was righteous. But all these past months had shown him was that the scum of the Earth could play the right cards and escape punishment. They had done everything they could, and they had lost. They had had clear-cut evidence, but Wilson's lawyers had bullshitted their way out of everything. Larry might logically disagree with what he was about to do. But his heart, something he didn't usually listen to when it came to work, knew he had no choice.

"I need a favour," Larry uttered, still looking into the hallway from his office, afraid someone could hear. "I know the FBI is looking into one of your murders, but I can make that go away if you do something for me in return."

"How the hell did you get this number?" Mandy asked tersely.

"One of your clients gave it to the FBI. If you take care of someone for me, I'll make sure the FBI doesn't keep it on file."

There was silence. God, was he actually about to trust her? She was one of the most ruthless and elusive assassins on the FBI's watchlist. Yet here he was, calling her and telling her he could ensure she stayed under the radar.

"I have my ways of accessing the FBI database. I'll know if you're lying to me," she pointed out.

He sighed. So much for bluffing. "That's fine by me."

"Who's the target?"

"Alan Wilson," he answered. "I can give you some locations he frequents, but he may be trying to leave the country, so I need you to do this as quickly and as cleanly as possible."

She chuckled. "No wonder you called me. I do like a challenge. I'll text this phone proof to let you know I've done it. But as insurance, before you do anything, I want you to erase this number from the database first."

He chewed the inside of his cheek. If this was how she rolled, he had to go along with it. So, he shakily worked to corrupt the file, making it impossible to recover — for anybody except Janis or Chloe O'Brian, perhaps. Within a few minutes, Mandy confirmed her satisfaction. She hung up, and it took a moment to sink in. He had ordered a man's assassination. A vile, repulsive man who should have been fried on the electric chair for treason but had gotten away with everything. Surprisingly, his latent anger meant he didn't feel all that bad about it. But he was still scared shitless that this wouldn't go away quietly. There would be an investigation into Wilson's murder. Then again, the FBI would be in charge of the investigation. If push came to shove… he would cover for Mandy. Covering lies with more lies felt even more obscene. But he had done it now. There was no going back from this. He just prayed it would go smoothly. Otherwise, there would be consequences for everyone remotely involved, and they couldn't have that.

Those next few days seemed to take forever. Larry kept eyeing his phone, waiting for whatever proof the assassin would send, waiting for the moment he could breathe a sigh of relief — at least, relief that Wilson was dead, not that the investigation would just go away. He thought many, many times about calling her to cancel. He hadn't said his name, but if she had used vocal recognition software for insurance, she probably knew who he was. He didn't sleep. If he wasn't anxiously anticipating the confirmation of Wilson's death, he was spiralling about Tony. He couldn't keep any food down, either. He had never been this nervous in his life.

"Larry?" Renee asked, standing at his office door with her laptop.

He blinked a few times before he looked up.

"Yeah?"

"I was looking into Hardy's assassination again." 

He gulped.

"We definitely recorded the number that Torres used to contact the assassin, right?"

"Yeah, we did. Why?"

She came closer, turning her laptop so he could see. "Something's up with the file. See?"

He had to be smart about this and not draw too much attention to it or himself. He didn't want to gaslight Renee. But he also knew that even if he tried to tell her he would take care of it, she would keep digging. That was just how incisive she was. That was why she was one of the best agents he had. But that also really wasn't what he needed right now. As he continued to think, he was vaguely aware of Renee exploring the file.

"Oh, I think that's an extra artefact. I knew there was more to this file."

Renee started to move towards the hallway, and he called out, "Renee, wait–"

"Someone just corrupted the file. I can get Janis to recover and trace who deleted it." She must have noticed the tension in his face because she furrowed her brow. "What's your problem? Let me just get Janis to–"

Larry lunged to grab her bicep, nearly making her drop her laptop. "You don't need to do that."

She tried to pull away from him. "Larry, let go–"

"I can tell you who corrupted the file. You don't need to bring Janis or anybody else into this." He met her eyes sternly, and she now seemed very wary of him.

"Why?"

His cheek twitched. There was no way around this. Better she find out from him than someone else. "I did."

"Why would you do that? That was our only link to–"

"I know," Larry gritted through his teeth. "Keep your voice down. Just…" He huffed. "Just shut the door, and let me tell you."

She looked down at where he was still holding her arm. "You want to let go of me first?" she asked drily, and he obliged before she thankfully did as he had asked.

"What the hell is going on?"

"What I'm about to tell you stays in this room, do you understand?"

Renee nodded very slowly, tenderly rubbing her arm.

"I corrupted the file containing her contact information in exchange for a favour."

"What kind of favour?"

He debated playing the Don't question my orders, I'm your superior card, but he just couldn't. "I ordered her to kill Alan Wilson."

Renee's mouth fell agape. It took her a few moments to try to respond, but she looked like she had seen a ghost. "You… you what?"

"We had no chance at appeal, and with everything we've found, we had to stop him from doing anything again. This was the only way."

She shook her head in disbelief. "Do you really mean that, or was it for Tony? Are you covering for him?"

"No. Tony doesn't even know about this."

Her eyebrows rose. "Then… then why do this?"

"Because he needed to face justice, and he needed to be stopped, Renee. Believe me, this is not something I want to make a habit of, but I couldn't live with myself knowing that we tried so hard to get him to face justice and failed."

She looked like she was struggling to decide whether to sympathise or report his ass to DOJ. He couldn't blame her, and, really, if she agreed with him flat-out, he would be questioning her integrity, too.

"You didn't exactly follow the law when you were in the field with Bauer six months ago," he pointed out, and the mention of his name made her expression drop a little. He was reaching here. It was a low blow, and he knew it. But he didn't want this to be a bigger deal than it already was. "And I dropped whatever charges were filed against you because I accepted that that day was crazy and required us to do crazy things. So, please… just let this go."

There was a long silence. But the fact that Renee hadn't tried to run again was a good sign.

"Fine. I… I won't say anything." She pressed her lips together. "You really do care about him, don't you? Almeida, I mean."

Larry slumped his shoulders. "Yes," he admitted softly. "I do. But like I said… it's not just about him. This is about justice."

Renee narrowed her eyes at him like she couldn't quite believe him. His argument wasn't exactly the most convincing. Not even to himself.

"I should get back to work," she said after a beat, and he nodded, going to open the door for her.

"Thank you," Larry told her gratefully before she could leave.

Renee met his eyes. "Just don't make me regret it."

It amazed Larry that he was more nervous now, standing on Tony's doorstep than he had been calling the assassin. He hadn't told Tony he was coming. But he knew Tony was home, based on both assumption and the location of Tony's ankle monitor — checking it had felt strangely invasive. Larry gripped the handle on the carton of beers. He felt like his chest was going to explode. He had felt like this since ordering the hit. It had only been three days since the call and almost a week since the verdict was handed down. Now that Tony wasn't working and likely didn't have much to do outside of work, Larry figured there was no better time to talk about what had happened outside the courthouse. He supposed the fact that Tony hadn't iced him out was a good sign, even if he was still somewhat aloof. Larry realised it was also presumptuous to assume that the kiss was the biggest thing on Tony's mind when he was probably much more upset about Wilson's not-guilty verdict. God, he was an idiot. Was this really the right time? What was he doing?

"Larry?"

The door had opened. Tony was there. Larry offered a small smile.

"Hey," Larry greeted. "Are… are you free to talk?"

Tony squinted at him slightly. "About?"

"The trial," Larry answered, and Tony's expression immediately changed. "I… I know a lot happened that day, so I wanted to check in. And I haven't really had the chance to do that this week. Since you keep… Well, it seems like you've been avoiding me."

He sighed. "You're not wrong: I have been avoiding you. But we should talk about it. Come in."

Larry did so, wiping his feet as he noticed the faint smell of disinfectant, like Tony had just been cleaning. It almost felt strange to think about Tony doing such mundane tasks. Larry also realised he had never seen the inside of Tony's house. It was furnished only to a level of necessity. There weren't any personal touches. No photos. Nothing that would really indicate this was his place. Larry wondered whether that was because Tony didn't have many personal effects left or because he simply chose not to display them. Neither reason sounded particularly pleasant.

"Oh, I brought these as a… housewarming gift, I guess."

Tony showed slight discomfort as he looked at the beers. "I, uh, I don't drink anymore. Feel free to keep them and take them back with you. If you want one, though, I won't stop you," he refused relatively firmly. 

Not a great start. But that wouldn't stop Larry from doing what he needed to steady his nerves. He wouldn't be able to articulate himself if he was apologising or rambling every two seconds. He couldn't word vomit. He needed to listen to Tony. There was a lot to unpack here. So, he took up Tony's offer and opened a beer, drinking a decent amount as Tony silently watched him from the opposite-facing armchair.

"I'm sorry about the trial," Larry finally said, meeting his eyes.

He laughed through his nose. "You've said that about a million times since the verdict. It's fine, Larry. It's not your fault."

That was… a better reaction than expected. Perhaps Larry had underestimated Tony's ability to move past this. Perhaps Tony had never had as much faith in the system as he had let on. In which case, did that mean Tony had only gone through with the trial because of him, like some kind of favour? God, why did he keep making this about himself? He was here to talk to Tony and make sure he was okay.

"I-I know. I just… I just feel like I let you down," Larry confessed, pressing his lips together. "I made you try to trust the system, and the system failed. And I'm sorry. He doesn't deserve to get away with everything."

"I always knew this was a possibility, Larry," Tony reassured him. "I… yes, I was hoping that six months of hard work would get us somewhere, even if it was a slap on the wrist, but I never stopped telling myself that he might walk, and that was okay. My hopes were never that high. I knew it might not happen the way we wanted it to. I told myself that wasn't the priority. What was most important to me was trying to be the good guy again. I… I had come to accept that. Even if…" He bit his lip. "Even if it was still hard to see it all go down."

The image of Tony furious and on the verge of a breakdown came back to his mind. It made his chest hurt. It made him think of Tony alone in this house, trying to cope with the disappointment on his own. It also made Larry feel stupid for not trying to have this conversation earlier. Yes, Tony had needed space, but sometimes too much space was a bad thing. Larry knew that this was the way to segue into talking about the kiss, but he couldn't find the words. Tony didn't look upset or seem to be dancing around it either. But there was no way Tony could answer his burning question without him just coming out and saying it.

"I'm sorry if… I'm sorry if I pushed things with you with the kiss. I just… I wanted…" He shook his head, braving himself to try to make eye contact again. "I wanted you to know that I was there for you."

To his immense relief, Tony didn't seem to flinch or react to the mention of that instance. In fact, his expression softened. 

"I did kiss you back," Tony pointed out. "You realise I wouldn't have done that if I didn't want it in the first place."

"That you did," Larry conceded. "I just- I feel like I was taking advantage of your vulnerability, and I'm sorry."

Tony shook his head. "You didn't. I… I did need that. You made me feel grounded for that moment, and I'm grateful. It's not like I don't know you. I've spent… practically every day of the last six months with you." He lifted a shoulder. "I don't regret it, Larry. But if you were just doing it for my sake–"

"No," Larry refuted, cutting him off. "It…. It wasn't just out of pity. It was because…" He sighed, wiping his palms on his thighs. "I like you. A lot."

There was silence, and Larry promptly took another swig of beer.

"I like you, too," Tony finally responded, making Larry's heart skip a beat. "You help me remember who I used to be. I feel like myself around you. You don't force me to be anything or try to get a rise out of me. The way… the way…" He made a so-so face. "The way Jack and David both did. With Jack, I always felt pressured to be this stand-up agent. I felt like I was in his shadow. And David… well, David was there for me at a pretty bad time in my life, but he didn't help me get through anything. He just told me to feel angry instead of miserable and that I was justified in whatever I felt the need to do. Which…" He laughed through his nose. "Clearly, didn't help me feel better at all. It just made me feel worse. But you… you actually listen to me and let me try to understand what I want. When I'm angry at the system and angry about Wilson, you don't suddenly stop trusting me and treat me like a criminal. But when I'm trying to do the right thing, you don't jump the gun and try to act like I haven't done these terrible things. You don't shove it under the rug. You… you honour me for who I am."

Larry's eyes crinkled at the way Tony was talking about him. It was everything he had hoped for and more. He had just wanted to be there for Tony and make him feel like he had someone who supported him unconditionally. But to hear Tony say this with so much respect and gratitude made Larry's chest swell with pride. He recalled Renee's words, that he had had a connection with Tony the day they met and that he shouldn't let his chance slip by. And he wasn't. Here he was, telling Tony he had feelings for him and learning that those feelings were reciprocated. Larry stared into his eyes for what felt like forever before they slowly inched towards each other so their lips could meet.

Unlike the day of the trial, this kiss felt much slower and more intentional. It wasn't a question. Both of them knew that they wanted this. Tony had one hand, notably still bruised from when he'd punched the wall, cupping his face, while Larry's hand was on the nape of his neck, just resting there. Once he realised that this wasn't going to stop anytime soon, Larry shrugged his work jacket off, discarding it on the couch cushion behind him. Tony slipped his tongue deeper into his mouth, and Larry moaned slightly, but Tony soon retracted. Larry immediately pulled back, concerned to find Tony wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Sorry." He screwed up his face but chuckled slightly. "Almost seven years sober means I really can't stand the taste of beer anymore."

Larry laughed a little nervously, noting that Tony seemed very proud of his sobriety and made a stern promise to himself to keep that in mind. "My bad. I'll go get some water."

Tony nodded, and, if Larry wasn't mistaken, he was also blushing a little, which he certainly didn't mind. "The glasses are on the shelf above the sink. There's a packet of mints in the drawer, too, if you want."

He certainly did if it meant continuing what they were doing. But his face fell when he returned to the living room to find Tony standing with an unreadable but certainly not pleased expression. He held up a phone, not just any phone but the burner phone he had kept in his jacket since ordering the hit. His personal cell was still in his pocket. The screen displayed an image of none other than Alan Wilson's body. It looked like he had shot himself.

Emphasis on looked like.

"What the hell is this?" Tony asked with an eerie calmness. Larry opened his mouth, but no words came out. He wouldn't lie, but the truth wasn't easy, either. "Wilson's dead? Wilson's dead, and you didn't tell me?"

His face flushed with anxiety. He wanted to say something. In all honesty, he had never really planned for how Tony might react. He had naively assumed that Tony would be relieved to hear Wilson was dead and had met his appropriate fate. But Tony wasn't stupid, nor was he the kind to take something at face value and move on. There was no way he believed it was suicide, even though, based on what he could see, hopefully, the police and the FBI would.

"You put a hit out on him," he concluded, his voice rough. "Didn't you?"

Larry gulped. "Yes."

"You son of a bitch," Tony gritted, and before Larry knew it, he'd been shoved against the wall. "Who did you send?" He was holding him by the collar, and Tony appeared conflicted and upset but still capable of keeping his voice down. There were still plainclothes agents that watched his house, after all.

"The less you know, the better," Larry replied.

But Tony wouldn't have it. "No, Larry. You took that choice, my choice, away from me. At least tell me you did it properly. Don't you realise that I'm the first person they're going to look at if they suspect foul play?" he pointed out with worry.

"No, she said she'd make it look like a suicide. She's a professional."

"Name, Larry. What's her name?"

He huffed. "We don't know officially, but the only consistent alias she's used is Mandy. The FBI has investigated her in the past…" He trailed off as he noticed Tony reacted with recognition. "You know her."

Tony rolled his eyes. "She once kidnapped me and tried to use me as leverage against my wife. It happened the day we got back together. Not important. How much did you pay her? Did you use an offshore account?"

"I didn't pay her, and even if I had, Tony, I wouldn't have put it on my AMEX. I might be new at this, but I'm not an idiot." He took a breath, feeling very crowded and hyperaware of Tony's body pressed against his, the grip on his collar not loosening. "I destroyed a file containing a contact number we had for her. We had considered using this to perform a sting operation to catch her, but it didn't happen because the CIP device took priority."

"Christ," Tony muttered. "I can't believe you've done this." Larry really paid attention to Tony's face now, and he realised that he didn't actually seem to be angry that he had killed Wilson. He seemed… disappointed in him. "I… I've corrupted you. You're not like this. I poison everything I touch."

Now, Larry really was just confused.

"For God's sake, Tony, I was trying to help give you peace because the bastard got away with it. I thought this was what you wanted."

He shook his head. "I wanted to find peace on my own. I've spent six months trying not to be this guy anymore. I wanted to find a way to be content with the verdict either way because that's what she would've wanted. She wouldn't have wanted me to go on an insane revenge spree. That's why I let the FBI handle things in the first place. I was trying to honour her."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Tony. I did. I did this for you so you wouldn't have to. This was my choice."

"A choice you took away from me."

"I made that choice so you wouldn't have to agonise over it."

He half-expected Tony to get even more upset, even punch his lights out, but he was calm, his face softening as the anger left his expression. Although Tony might have gotten rough when he had pushed Larry, he really wasn't hurting him in any way. 

"Why?" Tony asked softly. "Why did you do this? You… you risked your career, your safety, everything for me."

"Because, I… I care about you, Tony," Larry answered. "A lot."

Their eyes met finally, and Larry realised that deep down, Tony was grateful but didn't believe he deserved to have someone make that kind of sacrifice for him. Tony was so taken aback by the thought of someone else caring about him, which broke Larry's heart. It made him want to do more to prove this wasn't a one-off. Because Tony was right. He had risked everything without really thinking. It was incredibly uncharacteristic for him, but he didn't care. He didn't regret it. Of course, there was the benefit that Wilson could no longer perpetuate his conspiracy, even if his accomplices still prevailed. But Larry knew in his heart that he had done the right thing. Larry had felt that resolve when making the call, and he still felt it now, even as Tony had busted him.

Still, he knew this wasn't something Tony would just move on from.

After what felt like aeons of staring at each other, Tony finally stepped away, releasing him. "Just… just go," Tony said quietly. "I… I need time to think, and you're going to have to deal with this soon."

Larry sighed but conceded. If he needed space, he wouldn't crowd him or keep pushing him. Larry pointedly remembered to take the remaining beers with him. Tony didn't need that kind of temptation right now. All Larry could hope was that once Tony processed what he had done, he would find some semblance of peace. That was all Larry had wanted to give him: a way to move on. But most of all, he just hoped Tony would realise he deserved to have someone in his corner, and that that person could be him, if he let him.

The investigation of Wilson's death was, understandably, approached with scepticism. What reason did a man who had been cleared of all charges have to take his life? Even if he feared the consequences of appeal, he could have easily fled the country without a trace. The general consensus was that it was highly doubtful Wilson's death had been self-inflicted, which worried Larry immensely. Visiting the crime scene made him sweat bullets. But he tried his best to remember that his authority determined the scope of the investigation. Renee kept giving him very pointed looks. Tony was given the same looks by his fellow agents. However, Larry immediately put a halt to that by asserting that Tony had an alibi: he had been with Larry. Tony's ankle bracelet corroborated that. Nobody would dare suspect the head of the FBI of lying — well, Larry could only hope. Truth be told, that fateful day had instilled a lot of distrust and fear in many government agents, especially those who had been involved with Wilson's trial. Moreover, Larry hoped that if — more likely, when — the evolved nature of his and Tony's relationship came to light, it wouldn't cause more suspicion to fall on them.

Larry didn't sleep for those next few weeks, guilt slowly consuming him. It wasn't about regretting what he had done or having second thoughts about going this far for Tony; it was simply the feeling of doing something that went against his morals. The old Larry would have fought tooth and nail until a judge punished Alan Wilson judicially. This newer version of him that had emerged from meeting Tony was more cynical. Not cynical: realistic. He knew Wilson would evade justice, so he had brought it upon himself to do what nobody else could. He also knew it had been to protect Tony. Tony had been upset about having that choice taken from him. But while Larry understood that Tony, of all people, had deserved to kill Wilson, Larry also believed Tony didn't deserve to throw his life away again. Larry had had the means to make Wilson go away quietly, so he had used that. He hated to think of himself in those terms: an FBI agent capable of covering up a murder. But there was no denying it. He had used his authority for personal gain, and he didn't regret it at all.

He was also aware that Renee was doing a lot to support him during this time. She was playing along, just as he had begged of her, but in a way that didn't arouse suspicion since she was usually the kind of agent to question everything, doubt whether things were as they seemed. He was so grateful to her for it. Her future as an agent was bright. Larry didn't doubt that she would probably end up with his job one day. The first chance she had, she asked him why he was with Tony in the first place. He told her what had happened, both on the day of the trial and when he had gone to Tony's house. She agreed he needed to keep details of his relationship on the down-low. Things always got messy when agents were involved with each other, and Tony was someone who probably understood that better than him. He hadn't had to tell Tony to be secretive or act differently; he had just done it. However, he could tell Tony was uneasy about all of this. It appeared to be a mix of latent anger, grief and worry. They had barely spoken to each other since that night, almost afraid that being seen together would cause people to doubt their theory.

Larry had been staring at his screen and spiralling for so long that he didn't notice Tony at his office door until he knocked a little louder.

"I've got that file you wanted," Tony said.

Larry nodded, smiling a little. "Thanks."

As Tony handed the documents to him, he stilled, his eyes slightly crinkled at the photo on Larry's desk. He hadn't talked much about his daughters to Tony. It wasn't that Tony had been dismissive or that Larry had avoided the issue. It was just hard to talk about his home life when his job required staying level-headed and focused at all times. More than that, he had been afraid to approach the topic with Tony, unsure if he was even at the point of being able to talk about other people's kids without breaking down. Maybe he was walking on eggshells to an unnecessary degree. But it was hard to forget how heartbroken Tony had looked when he had confirmed that Michelle had been pregnant at the time of her death. Still, Larry recognised right now that Tony's expression here was one of longing. He could also see Tony was trying to say something but couldn't find the right words.

"It's an old photo," Larry finally said. "They'll be eleven in August." He picked up the photo. It never failed to make him crack a smile.

"What are their names?" Tony asked softly.

He pointed at one and then the other. "That's Haley, and that's Amelia. They look pretty similar. Doesn't help that we used to dress them identically." He chuckled. "But you can tell them apart by personality. Haley's more like her mom. She's not always the loudest one in the room, but I've heard wiser words from her than most adults. Then Amelia's more like me. She's brave, braver than I ever was at her age. She stands up for what she believes in. They get a bit from each of us, but I've been informed that the stubbornness and short temper are all me, apparently."

Tony laughed through his nose, but then Larry heard a faint sniffle, making him look up with worry. Tony's eyes were bright with tears. Shit. He should have looked to see if this was getting too much for him.

"Sorry," Larry said, reaching out to cover Tony's hand with his. "Next time, if you want me to stop, if it's too much–"

But Tony simply shook his head. "They're your daughters, Larry. I like hearing you talk about them, even if there's not much I can say." His voice was thin but genuine. "They're important to you."

Larry wanted to say more and acknowledge Tony's kindness, knowing how hard it was for him. But before he could, a frantic and excited voice broke the silence between them. 

"Wilson didn't kill himself."

Larry turned to see Janis standing at his door, and he felt his heart stop. Tony pulled his hand away, which, admittedly, wasn't a nice feeling. But he wasn't about to chastise Tony when nobody knew about their relationship. Hell, he and Tony could barely define their relationship. 

"What?" Larry asked.

"There was another person who entered his house," Janis clarified. "We found prints."

"Belonging to whom?" Tony asked.

"DNA analysis is still running, but I know they don't match Wilson or anyone on his security team."

Larry mustered an encouraging smile. "Great work. Send it here as soon it's done."

"Will do." She was practically beaming that they had a lead, and Larry had never been this shit-scared in his life.

As if on cue, Renee came in a few seconds after Janis left. She shut the door and started speaking before he or Tony could.

"What the hell have you done?" Renee hissed. "All of this is going to come out, and people are going to start looking for that file, Larry."

He didn't know what to do. Call the assassin to blast her and risk drawing attention to himself. Don't call the assassin and risk this all coming out. Neither option appeared ideal.

"We don't know yet that it's the assassin," Tony pointed out. "She's no amateur."

Although Tony's theory was optimistic, it was still rooted in truth. They couldn't afford to freak out. The next ten minutes were spent arguing in whispered hushes about liability and blame. Larry insisted on taking the fall if worse came to worse, but that was easier said than done. There were huge ramifications here, and he wasn't ready for them. Larry could also see that Tony was very concerned for him. He had gone to so much trouble to keep Tony on the right side of the law and out of jail, but now their roles were reversed. 

When his computer emitted a beep, the three of them didn't move. Renee was the only one who managed to come around and click on the file Janis had sent.

She slumped her shoulders. "It's not the assassin. Looks like a member of the prion cabal."

"So it's a frame job?" Larry deduced.

"Must be," Tony agreed, now scrutinising the file. "Yeah, she would be a good fit for that. She was paranoid as hell, from what I had read. She refused to keep anything on her that could track her location."

"Making her the perfect person to take the fall since she likely wouldn't have an alibi," Renee added. "You were right, Tony. The assassin probably knew a suicide would look too perfect, so she made it look like murder disguised as one. She was ten steps ahead."

Larry ran through the information in his head again, just in case something was unaccounted for. "What about motive? Wouldn't it have made more sense for her to go after Wilson before the trial? What could they say about her now?"

"Wilson still tried to deflect when he was on the stand. The evidence might not have been damning, but he still implied that everybody else was more complicit in the conspiracy than he was," Tony recalled. "She probably feared that he might give up more information, like her name, and decided not to take the chance."

He hummed in understanding. That sounded plausible.

"I think we're okay then," Renee concluded with an audible sigh.

All of them were clearly relieved to see that their secret was safe. But they had also spent too much time behind a locked door to supposedly just discuss the case. Larry told Renee to go to Janis and start bringing up the evidence they had on the supposed culprit of Wilson's murder. Tony followed suit since he had the most insight into the cabal, and someone was bound to ask him a question. But Tony paused in his stead and looked back just as his hand came to the door.

"I… I need to say sorry for the other day."

Larry tilted his head. "For?"

"For making a big deal out of everything and detracting from the fact that you did something for me, and I appreciate it. I'm not… I'm not happy with how much you risked, but I want you to know I'm grateful," Tony said earnestly. "It means a lot that you would go that far for me."

The corners of his lips upturned. "You're welcome, Tony. It… it was no trouble."

"I'm also sorry for ruining the other night," he added, biting his lip.

"Well, we got cockblocked by Wilson's assassination. That's hardly your fault."

Tony snickered, but then his expression softened. "Do you want to… actually try going on a date? Dinner after work or something like that?"

Larry felt warmth flood his chest. "I'd love to."

It was so nice to be able to talk to Tony without Wilson's investigation looming over their heads. Everything went away quietly. They arrested Wilson's fellow cabal member for his murder, and that was that. There was zero trace of the assassin at the scene. They were back to monitoring national security and tying up more of the conspiracy's loose ends, now with less of a stringent deadline. And since Tony could relax a bit, he was warming up to Larry more, to the idea of them together. Still, Tony had his emotional shield up, so Larry wouldn't force anything. They could take their time.

They had been on a few dates now. The first couple had ended with a polite kiss at the door after one drove the other home. But throughout dinner tonight, Tony had given Larry a particular look, making him suspect he wanted to do a little more. On the ride home, Larry had warily slid his hand up Tony's thigh. Tony hadn't resisted, but as their eyes met, Larry almost lost control of the road.

They arrived at Larry's house. If they were younger, maybe they wouldn't have made it out of the car, but they both complained about their backs enough to know to just be adults and do it in the house. Larry chuckled as Tony stole another kiss, his hand slipping to his waist. He unlocked the door and fumbled for the light. When the door closed behind them, the kiss was more than a little peck, which he was eager to return. Tony cupped his face, slipping his tongue into his mouth, and Larry walked them to the couch. He fell onto his back, and Tony laid on top of him. Larry grabbed at Tony's ass while Tony started sucking at his neck, making Larry tip his head back with a sigh.

Tony's hand came to his belt buckle tentatively, and Larry did similarly. He was almost giddy at the thought of being this close to Tony. Larry had fallen for him hard. He knew that. But he had never felt such a deep connection with anyone before. The only person who came close was his ex-wife. But, they had had a different issue in regards to compatibility: both of them were gay and just hadn't known at the time. Co-parenting their daughters kept them close, and Julia was important to him in any case. However, they could certainly agree that they each deserved someone they were actually attracted to.

His musing was interrupted by Tony suddenly pulling away. He was biting his lip.

"Hey," Larry said softly, stroking his face. "What's wrong?"

Tony shook his head, moving to sit further back. Larry took the hint, adjusting so they were sitting across from each other.

"Talk to me," Larry beckoned. "As soon as you looked me in the eyes, you got skittish."

There was a pregnant silence until Tony, who could not meet his gaze, finally said, "I almost killed you."

Larry furrowed his brow.

"The day we met, I almost killed you. I should have. But I didn't."

Again, Larry was confused. "I… I know that, Tony. But you changed your mind about your original plan, and look how far you've come."

"Why do you think I changed my mind?"

Larry lifted a shoulder. What was he getting at? He had that flatness in his voice, that shame like when he confessed everything to him in that motel room the day they met. But, in regards to Tony's question, in all honesty, he had never thought about it. Tony had obviously had a change of heart, but Larry didn't know what had made him tick. It was difficult to think about when he couldn't remember much about the time between being hit in the vest and waking up in the motel.

"I… I don't know, Tony," Larry admitted. "But it sounds like it has to do with me."

He tipped his head in acknowledgement. "I… When I first met you, I thought you were one of those typical bureaucratic assholes too caught up in doing things by the book to actually be in the moment and help stop whatever crisis was happening. I thought, Here we go again. But over those few hours, especially at Starkwood, I realised…" Tony sighed, and there was something very fond in his eyes. "I realised you weren't one of those guys. So when I saw you laying on the ground after you were hit… even though it would have been so easy to kill you and move on with my plan, I didn't. And it's not because I just thought you deserved better or because I realised I didn't hate you as a person." Larry watched him struggle to keep speaking, so he rested a hand on his knee. "It was because I saw her in you. I realised I didn't hate you because you reminded me of my wife. You respect the law and the rules but were still willing to see things from my point of view. You didn't just dismiss me. And ever since then, all you've done is fight for me and bring out the good in me that I thought died a long time ago. You've made me a better man."

Larry took a moment to digest that, aware of the almost reverent way he spoke. It felt good to know what a profound impact he had had on Tony. It also felt good to see Tony open up to him. He liked hearing him talk about his feelings and his past. It helped him to understand him better. It made him feel closer. It wasn't so Larry could step in and act like a therapist or some saviour. He just liked getting to know Tony, the good, the bad, and the ugly. That included details about his wife. From what he had read, she had been an incredible agent and person. Tony had been lucky to have those years with her, even if they weren't as long as they should have been. Larry recognised that Michelle would always have a place in Tony's heart. So why did Tony look so ashamed right now?

"Tony…" Larry finally said. "I… I appreciate that, but I don't understand why you're upset or what this has to do with tonight?"

His cheek twitched. "Because now you know how pathetic I am and that the only reason I saved you was because I felt my guilt come back. Because I felt like I was looking at her, not you. Don't you get it? It's not about you. It's about her. It's always going to be about her because I'm never going to be able to move past that and be happy with anybody else. I don't want you to have to live in her shadow. I don't want you to feel like a replacement. You deserve someone who makes you feel whole. Not someone with baggage like this."

"Everyone has something in their past, Tony," Larry countered. "Nobody, especially in this line of work, has a perfect history or a simple life. I have two daughters. That makes dating difficult in its own way for me, too. I can't just bring someone home without considering whether I trust them to be around my girls. And I still see my ex regularly. Sure, we don't have feelings for each other like that, but she's still a part of my life. Okay, no, it's not the same thing as losing someone, and I know your relationship with Michelle is irreplaceable–"

"I… I just feel like I'm using you for some chance at self-redemption. I'm pathetic. Instead of being productive and going to a therapist or doing something, I'm just dumping all of this on you."

"I don't think you're pathetic, Tony," Larry said with conviction. "I think you've been through a lot, more than anybody should have to go through. I think you're processing your grief, not just about Michelle, but about Emerson, too, and even Bauer; he might be alive, but the dynamic has changed between you two permanently. Grief is complicated. Okay, yes, a therapist actually isn't a bad idea, and I know the FBI has some with the necessary security clearance. But you're not doing anything wrong, and certainly not to me. You've done so many good things, and I'm grateful for them. You saved my life and gave me a chance to try to help you. And I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry the system failed us."

Tony still wouldn't look at him, but his scowl of self-loathing faded.

"You think I'm upset that you're dating me because I remind you of your wife? People tend to date similar people. There's nothing wrong with that. I see a bit of my ex-wife in you. Both of you are incredibly loyal and protective of the people you care about, and I love that so much. Do you think I'm trying to make you into some kind of replacement for Julia?"

"But you didn't lose her, Larry. She's still in your life," Tony rebutted.

Larry slumped his shoulders. He hated trying to talk to him when he was like this. It just made him feel like a failure. He interrogated criminals for a living, yet he couldn't get the guy he was seeing to talk about his feelings.

"I just- I don't feel like I deserve anyone anymore, not after everything I did and not after what I almost did to you. There are still hundreds of people dead because of me and hundreds, if not thousands, in mourning. I took my pain and inflicted it on innocent people. Normal people don't just do that, Larry. I'm damaged goods. So I suggest we end things before you get too invested because you deserve better. You shouldn't have to do all this work to justify being with me."

"I want to be there for you like this, Tony," Larry said, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I want you to be happy. I want you to be able to forgive yourself and move past the mistakes you made. And most of all, I want to be there at every step of the way, helping you, because that's what you do when you care about someone." There was a word he almost said instead of care. But it felt inappropriate when they were still technically only dating. He didn't want to scare Tony off, even though Larry had felt this way about him long before their first kiss.

The way Tony reacted to hearing such kind words broke Larry's heart. He looked so taken aback. But, to Larry's relief and delight, Tony couldn't find some kind of counter-argument. He couldn't say something horrible about himself to try to dismiss him. When Tony finally had the courage to look at him again, Larry smiled gently through the tears he was no longer fighting. His hand was still on his knee, and Tony covered it with his own, squeezing it. Larry wrapped his other arm around Tony's shoulder, drawing him in, and together they laid back down.

"I'm sorry for ruining tonight."

Larry tutted. "You haven't ruined anything, Tony. You mean so much to me." Larry tilted his head. "I'm not letting you push me away. We can take things at whatever pace you want to. There's no rush. I just… I like being with you."

Tony snuggled closer, his head resting on Larry's chest. "I like being with you, too," Tony admitted quietly, and Larry kissed the top of his head, wiping his tears away.

After a few hours, they mutually decided to go to bed, too tired to continue what they had started. Larry also found a spare toothbrush for Tony to borrow. Despite neither having stayed the night at the other's place before, they found their bodies naturally drawn to each other when they got into Larry's bed, both on the verge of falling asleep. However, Tony's ankle monitor soon proved frustrating. It was hard to shuffle around without the hard plastic whacking Larry's shin.

"Wait," Tony said, getting back up. "Promise me you won't get mad?"

Larry gave him a confused and concerned look. He didn't think it was anything bad, but it did make him worry a little. He nodded warily and watched as Tony slipped out of the ankle bracelet.

"I, uh, know how these things work," he admitted sheepishly.

Larry laughed a little nervously. "Then why did I hear you complain about sleeping with it on all these months?"

Tony shrugged. "I kept it on. I didn't want you to think I wasn't trustworthy."

His expression softened. "I appreciate that. But, for the record, I do trust you. I've trusted you since I woke up in that motel room."

That also seemed to mean a lot to Tony, and when he got back into bed, they ended up very close to each other, Tony's arm draped over his waist. Tony thanked Larry quietly, making him smile softly. It was comforting to feel the warmth of Tony's body against his. Larry could tell that Tony needed this, and he held him tightly, pleased to see how quickly he fell asleep. 

They woke up in the same position, and for a moment, Larry just watched Tony rest peacefully. He thought about all the things that plagued Tony's thoughts when he was alone at night, so he was grateful to have been there after such a vulnerable moment. When Tony's eyes opened, they looked at each other silently before their lips met softly. Birds were chirping outside, and the sun was peeking through the blinds. It was a perfect morning in every way. Larry cupped his face, kissing him back a little more intently, and before he knew it, Tony was on top of him.

"Morning," Tony murmured against him, slipping his lips to his neck.

"Morning," Larry echoed, his hands sliding up Tony's back.

At first, Larry thought they would just stay like this. However, to Larry's surprise but not displeasure, Tony started kissing his way down his chest and stomach. He had a couple of scars from gunshot and stab wounds, and Tony took the time to press his lips to each of them before he moved below his waist. Larry suddenly became aware that this was where last night could have gone and had a sudden moment of panic. He didn't want Tony to feel pressured or obligated in any way. He wanted this to be at the right time for both of them.

Larry uttered his name. "You don't have to do this to make up for last night." He tilted Tony's chin up with his hand so he could look at him.

"I'm not," Tony said, his voice slightly thick from sleep. "I… I want this if you want this. I don't want to push you away anymore."

There was a pause, and Larry became aware that Tony's hands were teasingly resting on his hips. He nodded, tipping his head back as Tony pulled his boxers down and slowly started to stroke him. Larry sucked in a breath; this was putting an end to what had been an embarrassingly long dry spell for him. Tony had just the right amount of pressure but moved slowly enough to draw out each motion. Larry hummed approvingly, arching his back. God, Tony was barely touching him, and he was already reacting like this. Tony continued to work him over with his hands until he was completely hard before adding his mouth into the mix.

"Shit," Larry hissed, making Tony respond with a low chuckle.

His hand came to lace through Tony's hair. He had grown out his buzzcut since his arrest. It was almost long enough that Larry could tug it, which Tony responded to with an approving groan. His other hand started clenching the sheet to brace himself as Tony covered him with long laps of his tongue. There was something very deliberate about his motions that really did it. It seemed to last forever in the best way. Larry felt his eyes close.

"Look at me," Tony suddenly said, and Larry looked up to see Tony's sultry gaze. His lips were slightly puffy and parted. The eye contact seemed to be the most arousing thing of all as he watched Tony slowly take him in his mouth, his hand curled around his base. Larry panted his name, unable to look away but also aware that this was intense enough to make him come on the spot. He had to try not to buck his hips as Tony took him deeper, building up a rhythm. Larry stroked his hair, telling him not to stop, and Tony clearly had no intention of it. Larry became aware that this intimacy made him feel so connected to Tony. He understood this was the first time Tony had been with someone since Emerson's death, and it made Larry happy to think that this hopefully wouldn't be the last for them. He looked forward to growing his relationship with Tony in this way.

Eventually, Larry came in short spurts into Tony's mouth. Tony took the time to clean him up, swallowing every drop. As soon as he pulled away, Larry noticed the sly, satisfied smirk on his face and pulled him up so they could kiss deeply. They fell onto their sides, making out with less resistance now, bodies pressing together. Tony was half-hard, and Larry was keen to return the favour.

"You want to finish this off in the shower?" Larry asked. "I just washed these sheets," he admitted, making Tony snort before agreeing.

As Larry got up to run the hot water, he jolted a little when Tony's hand came to his shoulder. It was very simple and sweet, and Larry covered his hand with his own. When they got in the shower, Larry started touching Tony as he leaned against the wall. It appeared Tony had been quite affected by what he had done because Larry didn't even need to get on his knees, coming just from his touch over Larry's stomach with a long sigh.

"Sorry," Tony mumbled, and Larry just shook his head, cupping his face and pecking his lips.

"We've got plenty more opportunities to do that," Larry reminded him.

That seemed to be a new realisation for Tony, that they could keep doing this, that they had more time to explore each other and be with each other. Neither of them was going anywhere. What they had was here to stay. Larry wanted to capture that look on Tony's face of genuine happiness and contentment in his heart forever. As Larry realised he was the reason for it, his smile only broadened.

Larry couldn't remember the last time he laughed this hard at something, but what could he say? Being with Tony just made him feel lighter. They were walking back to where he had parked his car, talking like it didn't matter who heard them. It was unusual for a government agent to feel at ease in public, but somehow, when they were together, it wasn't so hard to do. At this point, they spent most nights together. The only exception was when Larry had his daughters stay over; they weren't quite ready for Tony to be there on those nights. Larry had no objections but knew Tony needed more time to prepare emotionally. Otherwise, they lived near each other and worked similar enough hours at the FBI — although Larry was usually the first to be called in when crises happened, as they often did — that carpooling or staying the night just worked well for them. Larry felt himself grow closer and closer to Tony every day. And, to his pride, he knew Tony was more honest with him than anybody else. He had given Tony a place to feel safe, and for that, he was glad.

He was so caught up in his bliss that he didn't notice the screeching of tyres until Tony yelled urgently and shoved him to the ground. Larry heard gunshots, two of them, and immediately sprang to action. He whipped his head around to see a car driving off. It was too dark to tell the colour and too far away to read the plate. Tony was lying on top of him. Larry felt something warm on his face and shirt. Blood. Not his. Larry frantically tried to move out from under Tony to see where he had been hit. Tony winced in a way that broke his heart. The first bullet had missed, just grazing his shoulder, but the second had hit him around the collarbone. He was already bleeding a lot. He couldn't tell if it had hit an artery.

Larry babbled Tony's name, trying to get him to stay awake, taking his jacket off and using it to apply pressure to the wound, making Tony grimace. He used his other hand to grab his cell phone and call the FBI. They couldn't be sure this was a random hit, which meant they had to act under the assumption that this shooter had targeted them. Whether it had been intended for Tony or him didn't matter. They needed protection.

"Tony's been shot. It's bad. We're at the corner of Riggs and 13th. Get FBI Medical here now," he demanded, surprised at how level-headed he sounded when his heart was about to burst from his chest.

Renee cursed under her breath, immediately relaying the orders before asking him follow-up questions. "What the hell happened?"

"I-I don't know. It was a drive-by."

"Do you think it was intentional?"

Larry lifted a shoulder, keeping his eyes on Tony. "I have no idea. It seems too unprofessional to be a hit, but I don't want to risk it. I want security detail outside his room, and I want someone checking traffic cams."

"I'll get Janis on it. The ambulance is on its way," Renee updated. "Less than ten minutes."

"Good." His voice broke as he saw blood pool beneath Tony's arm. Larry hung up the phone so he could use his free hand to push a hair back from Tony's forehead before grabbing his belt to make a tourniquet. "Help is on the way. Just keep your eyes open, please."

Tony murmured something incoherent and nodded slightly, trying his hardest to heed his request. Those following minutes felt like forever, tears brimming his eyes. Despite knowing there might be questions about why he and Tony had been together on a weeknight in the first place, he couldn't care less about keeping up appearances right now. Tony was losing too much blood, and they still had to get back to the FBI and into surgery. He could hear the sound of sirens become louder, stark in contrast to the silent and isolated side street they had been walking down. It had been Larry's idea of a shortcut. He wished they had just stayed somewhere well-lit. He also hated himself for how distracted he had been. He hadn't even heard the car or registered that there was a threat until Tony had pushed him out of the way. It should be him on the ground right now, not Tony. However, Larry had to wonder how well Tony would cope if their roles were reversed. He had been on this end too many times.

"Agent Moss!" a familiar voice called out as sirens blared at full blast. It was Agent Park and a slew of paramedics. They were quick to get Tony onto a stretcher and put an oxygen mask over his face. Tony's eyes were shut now, his chest rising and falling in shudders. Larry hopped into the back of the ambulance, explaining what had happened. He didn't stop looking at Tony while they worked on him, cutting away his shirt and exposing the bullet wound. Larry had seen dozens of gunshot wounds, even a fellow agent's head blown off right before his eyes, but this was the first instance to make him nauseous, not even in his Quantico days.

When they got back to the FBI, he made a note to thank Renee for how efficiently she was running things because Tony was rushed into the operating room without delay. It also meant that he didn't feel pressured to step up or act like the head of the agency, instead finding himself helplessly washing the blood off his shaking hands, on the verge of a breakdown. Every time Larry washed them, he would blink, and the blood would reappear. He wasn't sure how much time passed or what made him stop, but at some point, he finally decided to leave, his hands red and raw from scrubbing. Renee seemed to have been expecting him because he found her standing and leaning against the wall outside the restrooms.

"Larry, he'll be fine," Renee said sympathetically. "He was taken to surgery straight away. The doctors are doing everything they can."

"He pushed me out of the way," he whispered, sniffling. "It was supposed to be me."

Renee closed the gap between them and pulled him in for a hug. "It's okay."

Not long ago, their positions had been reversed. Jack had needed emergency surgery about a month after his discharge from the hospital. She cared about him, possibly as much as he cared about Tony. However, there was the issue of distance. Jack was living in New York with his daughter and was in no position to return to government work. But Renee was just at the beginning of her career at the Bureau. To be in such a senior position at a young age was a big deal. Jack respected that, even if he had grudges against the government. Larry was happy for them, just like Renee was happy for him and Tony.

Their embrace was interrupted by Renee's phone ringing. She pulled back to answer and motioned for him to follow. Janis had tracked down the owner of the car. When they made it to her desk, there was a screenshot from the traffic camera footage of the alley and a mugshot.

"Your shooter is a man named Jason Noble. Other than a couple of DUIs and one charge of possession with intention to distribute, he's clean," she explained.

"So, nothing to do with our cases? No ties to Larry or Tony?" Renee asked.

Janis shook her head, looking at him with a soft expression. "I think it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time. That side street had a few gang tags, too."

While that was a relief to know, it didn't stop Larry from feeling anger build within him, the same anger that had arisen when Wilson's verdict had been handed down. This man had hurt Tony for no reason other than selfishness and stupidity. Larry felt his fist clench. He could follow the camera footage and see where Noble was likely to be. Or, Larry could get Noble's address and lie in wait for him. Unlike last time, when he had been concerned with killing Wilson covertly, he couldn't care less about shooting Noble's brains out in the middle of the street. Larry wanted to make him pay.

He was so caught up in his anger that it took him a few times to respond to Renee, who was saying his name. She must have noticed the squaring of his jaw because she glanced at her office and then back at him as if to say not here. He praised Janis for her speedy work before joining Renee in her office, shutting the door behind him.

"I know that look," Renee said sternly. "You're not seriously thinking of going after Noble. You're insane if you are."

"He could have killed either one of us, Renee–"

She cut him off before he could weakly attempt to justify his intentions. "Yes, Larry, I know, but that doesn't mean going after some random mugger who doesn't even know who you are." She shook her head and let out a breath. "This isn't you. I know how scared you must be right now, but this isn't you."

"I can't lose him," Larry pleaded desperately. "I can't. I…" And then it hit him all at once. He wasn't just reacting like this because he cared about Tony. No, the way this fear was consuming him, mind, body, and soul, the way all he could think about was Tony's eyes barely staying open, the way he was borderline obsessive over finding out who had done this, the way all sense of morality and rationality had gone out the window as soon as he had registered Tony was hurt... "Oh my God, I love him," he confessed, and everything about saying that felt right. He had never felt this way about anyone, not since Julia, and even then.

Renee's voice was soft. "I know you do. And you're going to be able to tell him that soon."

Larry stared at the floor like a dog with its tail between its legs. She was right. He wasn't going to do something so reckless. Tony was a fighter. He was, most likely, going to be okay.

"Come on," Renee beckoned. "Let's go to Medical and see how Tony's doing."

He nodded and obliged, taking a moment to wipe the tears from under his eyes. They walked in lockstep, and within a few minutes, Doctor Hill came out. She looked tired from operating but not worried or trying to mask her expression with false bravado, making Larry's shoulders relax.

"How is he, Doctor?" Larry asked, trying to act like he was simply concerned for him as a coworker and nothing more, despite what he had just told Renee.

"Tony's going to be fine," she said with assurance. "We repaired the artery. We'll keep him here for a day or so, then he'll have to have his arm in a sling for about six weeks."

"Good, good." Larry felt the anger in his body dissipate. Tony was okay. "Thank you, Doctor."

The doctor smiled, then took him into recovery, where Tony lay asleep. Once he was sure he was alone, he moved his chair closer to the hospital bed, reaching out with his hand to gently hold Tony's, minding the IV.

"Hey…" Larry whispered. "I'm here. I'm so glad you're okay."

He found himself looking at the gentle motion of Tony's body as he breathed in and out. There was no urgent shudder, no discomfort on his face. His skin was pale but not bloody. He was okay.

"I love you," he admitted, now using both of his hands to hold Tony's. "I love you so much, and I should have told you that a long time ago, but I'm telling you now. I was so scared I could have lost you tonight. But we're here. We're both here."

Tony woke up about an hour later with a few slow blinks, trying to move in the bed but quickly finding himself in pain from pulling on the stitches. Larry stroked his cheek, getting his attention.

"You're in FBI Medical. You were shot."

He tipped his head in acknowledgement. "Sounds about right," he mumbled.

There was silence, and Larry knew what he should do. But it was one thing to confess his love for Tony while he was asleep, and another, much bigger deal to confess it now that he was awake. His nerves be damned, he had nearly lost Tony tonight. Nothing else mattered. Life was short and precious, and he needed to act on that.

"I love you, Tony," Larry said, meeting Tony's eyes. The words felt better to say every time.

Tony was surprised but not shocked. He didn't look disappointed, but he wasn't quite smiling either. "You don't…" He inhaled. "You don't have to say that just because I got hurt–"

"It's not because you got hurt," Larry was quick to say. "I… I've wanted to say that to you for a long time. Too long. You… You're everything to me. You're everything to me, and I need you to know that."

His voice had shaken a little, but he had still gotten the message across because he watched tears come to Tony's eyes. He found Larry's hand and squeezed it.

"I love you, too," Tony said, the corners of his lip upturned. "I… I really do."

Larry smiled, feeling warmth flood his chest. He loved him back. He wanted nothing more than to grab his face and kiss him, but they were in public, and the doctor could come in at any moment. Tony tried to move again but mistakenly put pressure on the side where he had been shot and hissed.

"You're going to have your arm in a sling for a little while."

"Had to be my left hand..." Tony muttered.

"Well, we'll have to be creative, but we'll figure it out," Larry said half-jokingly. "Even though I'm not quite the chef you are."

Tony snorted. "I think I'll be alright. So long as you don't burn your house down the way Michelle nearly did."

He had said it so effortlessly, without resistance. He had even said her name. And that made Larry realise how much of an impact he had had on Tony; he could talk about the past without it affecting him so viscerally.

Tony must have been worried by his silence, even though Larry was giving him a bittersweet smile. "Sorry, I–"

"No, don't be," Larry said. "I like seeing you talk about her. Your face lights up in a way that's just… really sweet."

His eyes crinkled. "You sure it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable?"

Larry shook his head. "Not at all."

"You're so good to me," Tony said earnestly after a beat. "I don't know where I'd be without you."

"Well, the good thing is…" Larry smiled. "We don't have to think about that because I'm right here with you."

Tony hummed in assent before yawning a little. Even if he wasn't quite groggy from surgery, it was past midnight. He should let him get some sleep.

"Go get some rest," Tony suggested, his eyes already shut again.

"I will," Larry said, rising from the chair but not without pressing a kiss to Tony's forehead. "Sleep well. I'll smuggle you breakfast in the morning."

Tony chuckled. "Love you," he said, like it was an entirely natural phrase for him.

"Love you, too," Larry whispered.

It had been about two months since Tony was shot, and it had made both of them appreciate their time together even more. It wasn't just about the horrible reminder that life was short, especially in this line of work; it was also about them confessing their love for each other. Nobody at the FBI besides Renee and, by extension, Jack, knew about their relationship yet — although he suspected Janis likely did but wouldn't say anything until confirmed. They had both considered taking the next step and being a little more official about their relationship. They kept meaning to get around to discussing it, but they just hadn't had the chance. Today, Jack had come past the FBI to give Renee something, and they had been noticeably close. Tony had been a little quiet since then, now slightly nervous as he sat on the couch while Larry put away the last dish.

"Can we talk?" Tony asked as Larry came to join him. "I have something I want to ask you."

"Sure."

Larry watched Tony go into his work bag and retrieve a few documents. He said nothing, handing them to Larry so he could see for himself. Larry was very familiar with the papers. They were for disclosing a workplace relationship at the FBI. He had looked at these documents many times but been too afraid to print them out. Obviously, today had made Tony decide to take action.

"I'm tired of hiding," Tony said, and Larry was both relieved and surprised to hear that he had been thinking the same thing as him. "We're past the point where people question my intentions. Nobody should give us trouble for being together or you being my superior because everything we've done has been transparent." He made a so-so motion with his head. "Almost everything."

That had been Larry's biggest fear: someone using their relationship to justify questioning how Larry had given Tony a second chance or why the two of them had been together on the day of Wilson's murder. But the investigation was well and truly over now. Some people might have suspicions, but suddenly disclosing their relationship wouldn't be grounds to act on that. It wasn't like he had given Tony any major promotions or special treatment, either. Tony had gone through his probation fair and square. He still didn't have the clearance he used to, and his ankle monitor had only been taken off last week. Renee could easily vouch for them, too — not that he wanted to put her in a difficult position again after silencing her about Wilson. But Tony was right. It was time.

Larry nodded slowly. "I agree. You're right. I don't want to have to hide anymore, either. We're adults in a serious relationship, and we shouldn't have to go behind people's backs."

Tony sighed with relief. "Good."

They worked through the forms quickly, all the time Larry had spent thinking about it paying off. He could see Tony was very happy about this, which made him feel even better. Larry could talk to Tony freely and look out for him without worrying about someone noticing how often they checked in on each other. He wouldn't have to worry about being hypervigilant when directors from other agencies came in for meetings. For God's sake, he could hold his hand or kiss him on the cheek while they ate lunch or went for a walk without fearing that someone might see them. They could have their freedom.

"Alright, I can submit that tomorrow morning," Larry said, satisfied. "But, you know, Tony, there's one thing we need to do if we want to make ourselves official," he went on in a mock-serious tone.

Tony squinted slightly at him. "What?"

Only when Larry moved to push Tony against the pillows and cover his body with his own did Tony understand what he was getting at. Larry started to suck at Tony's neck, who tipped his head back and let out a laugh.

"Oh, I see," Tony deadpanned. "That's very important, you're right."

He didn't suck hard enough to leave a mark. Tony showing up to work with a hickey after trying to diligently disclose their relationship was probably not the best idea.

Tony shuffled so he was lying on the couch properly, cupping Larry's face and drawing him up so he could kiss him. Larry undid the first few buttons of Tony's shirt, and Tony went to do the same to him. He dropped his head to kiss the scar on Tony's neck and the more recent one on his collarbone. It still made his chest hurt to look at it, and Tony knew that because he thumbed at his cheek and ran a hand through his hair. Larry then pressed his lips to the less noticeable injection site scar over Tony's chest.

"I'm so glad you're here with me," Larry uttered.

"Me, too," Tony whispered, tilting Larry's chin up so their eyes could meet. "Want to move to bed?"

Larry stood up, holding a hand out so Tony could follow, leading him into his bedroom, their bedroom, really. Their hands greedily started to undo buttons and belt buckles, each item of clothing being discarded to the floor as they went. He felt Tony's fingers graze his scars with the same delicate affection he had given. Even though Tony had seen those scars many times, he never failed to do that when they were intimate or even just lying in bed. It was a little ritual that meant a lot to both of them, a reminder that despite what they had both gone through, they were still here, and they had each other.

After both of them stripped down, Tony sat on the bed and lied back, reaching to turn the bedside lamp on. Larry hovered over him, looking into his eyes while Tony's hands slid up his back. His pupils were a little dilated.

Tony reached out to start touching him, and Larry just watched him, his eyes flickering between Tony's hands and his eyes. He let out all the air in his lungs and bucked into Tony's hand when he deftly started fondling his balls. But he didn't just want to touch Tony or go down on him tonight. And it was clear by the way Tony had spread his legs slightly and was pressing Larry's body against his that he didn't, either.

"On your stomach," Larry whispered throatily. Tony liked being told what to do, and they'd been together long enough for Larry to feel okay ordering him like this. 

Tony's expression darkened before he did so, resting his head on his folded arms. Just seeing him like this, ready for him, made him harder. Larry grabbed the lube from his bedside table. He and Tony had been tested not long ago, so the condoms could stay in the drawer. Larry bent down to kiss his neck, then traced patterns along the burn scars down Tony's spine. He stroked himself more intentionally, pouring some lube into his fingers, then kneeling on the bed.

He pushed one finger into Tony slowly, moving it back and forth to gauge how tense Tony was. Tony sighed and took deep breaths, trying to relax. Larry then added a second finger, spreading him wide and making Tony moan softly. His other hand curved around Tony's hip, just resting there. Even though this position meant he couldn't look into Tony's eyes, it was a lot of trust on Tony's part to be this vulnerable for him. Larry liked that. The whole foundation of their relationship was built on trust. Most good relationships were. But on the day they met, Tony had trusted Larry with the truth about his plan to get Wilson, and Larry had trusted Tony to let the FBI follow him.

"Ready?" Larry asked.

"Yeah."

Larry stood between his legs, dropping a kiss to Tony's shoulder before applying lube to his cock. He moved into Tony gradually, listening to the way Tony responded. He moved right to the hilt and just stilled, giving Tony a chance to adjust before he told him to start moving. Tony let out a long moan as Larry slowly built up a rhythm, thrusting into him with intention but not forcefully. Larry leaned down, wanting to feel closer to Tony as he trapped his body beneath his. Tony's hand came up to the back of Larry's head, pulling it close so he could kiss his neck, not without losing his steady pace. He must have hit a good spot for Tony because he let out a muffled noise, pressing his face into the sheets.

"I want to hear you," Larry muttered lowly, kissing beneath his ear. "I like hearing what I do to you." 

Tony whined in response, purposefully lifting his head to heed Larry's request. Larry kept kissing and talking dirty to him, his palms planted on the bed. He felt like he could do this forever, be inside of Tony, touch him, feel him, taste him. This connection was unlike anything he had ever had.

"Come inside me," Tony rasped, and Larry started pumping his hips, driving into him and hitting his prostate. When he tumbled over the edge, he cursed under his breath, feeling himself come in short spurts inside of Tony. For a moment, Larry slumped against Tony, lips pressed against his neck. There was silence, save for the sounds of their breaths slowly evening out. Tony fumbled for the tissue box on the bedside table, passing a couple to Larry almost hastily. He was willing to bet Tony was not far off coming, either, so he had better take care of that. Larry pulled out of him and wiped the semen on the inside of his thighs with tissues.

Tony rolled onto his back when he was done, starting to touch himself. But Larry wasn't going to leave him hanging. He was taking care of him tonight to thank him for giving them the push to make their relationship official. Larry wrapped his lips around the tip of Tony's cock and started to suck, jerking him off with the other hand. Tony's hand immediately started pulling his hair, and he clearly took his praise before as an order because he had no restraint as he panted his name between breaths. Larry hummed in encouragement, and that did it for Tony, who finished with a long exhale. He slowly cleaned him up before letting his body fall against the bed, face-down, half his body covering Tony's.

"If I'd known you were going to do that, I would have asked to be official a long time ago," Tony said, fingers still laced through Larry's hair.

Larry snorted, rolling his head to the side to look at Tony. "Thanks again for bringing it up. I'm glad we did this tonight."

"Me, too." Tony smiled, meeting his gaze.

They managed to wash up and get into bed at a very lazy pace. Larry found himself with one hand over Tony's waist, their legs intertwined, and all he could think about was the fact that he'd never felt this comfortable with anyone. He felt safe. He felt loved.

He felt at home. And judging by the way Tony slept so peacefully in his arms, Larry knew he did, too.

He wanted to say it. He did. But he was so scared, and they were both in a good mood, so Larry didn't want to spoil that. At the same time, it had been plaguing his mind for weeks. Larry wanted them to move forward, and this was their biggest obstacle. Although Tony always asked about Larry's daughters and took the time to listen, he had yet to meet them. They had now been together for almost a year. They loved each other. They were part of each other's lives. Their relationship was not hidden from their friends and family. But Larry wanted Tony to be part of his family, too. Julia had been the one to bring it up the other day. She was now engaged to her long-time girlfriend, Sasha. She knew Tony was important to him and had made it clear that if he trusted Tony, she did, too.

Larry was aware it was a big ask for anyone, let alone Tony, whose chance to be a parent had been so cruelly taken from him. But Larry also had to believe that this would help Tony. It wouldn't replace what he and Michelle had had or make the grief of losing his son disappear. But perhaps it would help him to find peace despite his loss. He had seen Tony make room in his heart for him, so he had faith that Tony could do the same for his daughters. It wasn't that he expected Tony to raise them; he just wanted these two major parts of his life to connect.

They were lying on the couch, having just finished eating dinner and cleaning up. Larry didn't want to bring this up before bed when they were too tired, nor did he want to bring it up at work. He had to do it now. Larry waited for the episode they were watching to finish before reaching for the remote to mute the TV. Tony seemed to know he wanted to talk about something because he slowly sat up and looked at him expectantly. Larry had been tense throughout the evening, so Tony probably figured this was inevitable.

"What is it, Larry?" Tony asked.

He didn't want to beat around the bush. He just needed to tell him.

"Tony, I want you to meet my daughters," Larry answered levelly, meeting his eyes.

Tony's shoulders hunched, not with offence or anger, just plain apprehension.

"I… I know this is a big step." He didn't want to ramble, but the silence made it unbearable. "I don't want to force you. I don't–"

"Larry," Tony cut him off, still very calm, which made Larry realise he had probably been thinking about this for a while, "I don't want you to walk on eggshells around me. I know this is important to you, and I want to do this. I just– It's a lot," he admitted.

Larry sighed. "I understand. That's why I want to talk about it. I want to find a way to ease into it."

"You don't have to make accommodations–"

"I just mean picking the setting that's going to be the best way for you to get to know them without it being overwhelming," Larry clarified, not about to let Tony slip into a spiral of self-loathing where he felt undeserving of having someone do something nice for him. "I'm thinking either the weekly family dinner at Julia's or the weekends where I have them once a month. Usually, we go to the park, we bake something, watch a movie, little things. Then, we can work towards bigger things like Haley's softball games or Amelia's recitals. I want this to happen the way you want it to."

Tony digested those options for a moment. While Tony was comfortable being tastefully affectionate at work, Larry knew being around many unfamiliar people might be more overwhelming than just meeting the girls in a quiet setting. At the same time, more people created a buffer so Tony wouldn't have so much concentrated time with them. This is why they needed to talk about it. Larry wasn't going to make assumptions about Tony's preferences.

"You know the dinner is on Sundays. It's not usually very long because the girls have school early the next day. I come over about an hour before the food is ready. I help them with their homework while Julia cooks. Sasha's there, too. We eat, we clean up, they watch TV or read a book, and then I kiss them good night. It would only be a few hours. That might not be as overwhelming for you, right? We'd still have most of the night to spend time together and talk about things."

He nodded slowly. "That sounds nice," he said quietly. "I think… I think I could do that."

Larry didn't want to put pressure or expectations on Tony, but he couldn't deny how happy it made him to see he was willing to do it.

"It doesn't have to be this week since it's already Thursday. If you want to take a bit of time, talk to your therapist about it more, I won't say anything to Julia or the girls until we know that you want to."

That seemed to give Tony some relief as well, the reminder that this didn't have to happen quickly. Larry pulled him into his arms, thanking him again for being open to the idea.

"Thank you for being patient with me. I… I have a lot to work through, a lot I'm still trying to work through, and I appreciate how much you care."

Larry squeezed him tighter. "Of course, Tony."

It took a few weeks for Tony to finally say he was ready. He went to therapy more often than usual. They had conversations about big and small things alike. Larry assured Tony that he was welcome in his family's life. He reminded Tony that he deserved to be part of a family, even after everything he had done and the mistakes he had made. Larry affirmed to Tony that he was a good man who deserved good things after so much suffering.

The night before, Tony baked a chocolate cake after Larry not-so-subtly informed him that one, the girls loved chocolate, and two, he loved that cake, too, whenever Tony made it. But understandably, Tony was nervous on the day. The drive wasn't very long, but Larry kept looking over at him the whole way there. Tony was past the point of pushing Larry away every time he tried to validate his vulnerability, so his anxiety was plain to see. When he parked the car, he pecked Tony on the lips.

"You can do this," Larry said emphatically. "They're going to love you."
 
The night went about as expected. He knew that no matter how much they talked about it beforehand, for Tony to be in an environment that so highly reminded him of what he could have had with Michelle was a lot. It wasn't just about the kids being there; Tony was effortlessly good at talking to them, more than he gave himself credit for. After all, Tony regularly saw his nieces and nephews before losing everything. He hadn't lost that touch, that way to connect with kids. The girls loved him, too. No, it was all the little things that slowly ate away at Tony throughout the night, like the pictures everywhere and the way the conversation at dinner naturally gravitated towards things like school and all the other things that people with kids talked about. Julia and Sasha certainly weren't rubbing it in by any means; they knew about Tony's past and were very respectful of it. They included him and made him feel welcome. On the surface, it was what Larry had hoped for. But on the car ride home, Tony was silent. His smile faded, and Larry fiercely held his hand on the console the whole way home. Larry held his hand the way he wanted to when the verdict was handed down at Wilson's trial.

All was revealed when they came home, and Tony sat on the couch, head in his hands. When Larry sat next to him, he heard quiet crying.

"Thank you," Larry said, kissing his head. "That meant so much to me to see you with them."

"I-I'm sorry." Tony made a hiccupy noise. "I'm sorry I can't be what you want. I'm sorry that my grief is stopping you from being happy, and it's stopping us from moving forward."

"You did so good. It was great, Tony. They loved you. I'm proud of you."

Tony recoiled slightly. "Christ, Larry, they're your kids. You're acting like I'm overcoming a fear of heights. I should be able to be part of your family without reacting like this. They were so good to me, and instead of being grateful, I'm sitting there thinking about what I don't have."

Larry sighed, rubbing between his shoulder blades. "Look, it was the first visit, but over time… it'll get easier, Tony. I'm sure it will." He started to doubt whether Tony really had been ready. He questioned whether he had pushed Tony and whether Tony had done it all to please him, which would make him feel terrible. "I… look, I'm sorry if I pushed you–"

He shook his head, looking up at him. "You didn't. I wanted to do this, Larry. It's okay." He spoke hoarsely but still with conviction to assuage Larry. "I… it just got to the point where all I could think about was her." His voice broke, and Larry wrapped an arm around his shoulder. It also reminded Larry of something Renee had mentioned recently about her and Jack going to LA to visit Kim. He didn't want to overlap or impede, but it did raise a question.

"I was thinking…" Larry said after a while. "Emerson… Emerson took you straight from LA to DC, didn't he?"

Tony lifted a shoulder. "He kept me somewhere in Bakersfield for about a week before we flew over, but basically, yeah."

"And you've never been back?"

He shook his head. Judging by the slight squint he had, he was already figuring out what Larry was getting at.

"What if… maybe not now, but at some point, we take a trip and visit Michelle's grave?" Tony still reacted to her name. He always did. It was subtle when he was in a good mood, but much less when he wasn't. "Or… if you want to go on your own or with Jack, if you think he might understand more–"

He was cut off by Tony grabbing his hand. "N-No, I want it to be you. I think… I think that's something I need to do. You're right."

Larry's expression softened with relief. It made him realise how far they'd come in their relationship because Tony had gotten so much better at not resisting or rejecting advice like this.

"I want to be able to heal," Tony said, his voice a little firmer. "I want to be able to think about her without breaking down. I want to be able to spend time with your daughters without sitting there thinking about what I could have had. I… You've helped me so much already, and I'm so grateful, but this is the next step."

Larry nodded, wiping a few of Tony's tears away. "Just say the word, and we'll go. Anything you want, anything you need, I'm there. Okay?"

The corners of Tony's lips upturned. "Okay."

Since the anniversary of Michelle's death fell on a Tuesday, they decided to take half a week off to go to LA. They had established that the trip would be difficult, so sightseeing or general vacationing wasn't on Tony's agenda. Tony became quiet in the lead-up, and Larry did his best to be patient and pay more attention to his needs than usual. He wondered whether Tony had been spiralling as much as he had or if he had tried to procrastinate thinking about what they were about to do.

They had booked a quiet flight at some ungodly hour, quiet enough that Larry could hold Tony's hand when he eventually dozed off, resting his head against his shoulder. But Larry started to see the signs that Tony was a ticking time bomb when they walked out of LAX. The familiar sights and sounds already seemed to be a lot for him. When they started driving to the hotel, Larry's eyes kept flitting to Tony, who stared blankly ahead. Larry wanted to say something but hated the idea of making small talk at a time like this. It wasn't the right thing to do.

Although Larry didn't hear anything, something in his gut made him look at Tony, taking his eyes off the road longer than he should. Tony had frozen, and all the colour had drained from his face. Larry's eyes widened with concern. He pulled over as quickly as possible to look at Tony properly. Tony's eyes were now wet with tears. He wasn't focusing on anything. Every breath was sharp and shallow. It was a panic attack. They must have driven past something that triggered a memory for Tony.

"Oh, God…" Tony whispered, trying but failing to catch his breath again.

"I'm here." Larry placed a hand on his shoulder. "Tony, I'm here, okay? Just breathe." 

Tony gave a slight nod and closed his eyes. Larry started thumbing at his cheek, encouraging him to breathe slower. Tony grabbed his other hand and squeezed it hard enough to make it numb. It was hard to watch the tears stream down his face, the occasional sob leave his throat. He hated to see him suffer. He hated more that he was suffering and couldn't do anything about it. It made him very concerned to realise that if Tony was reacting like this when they were merely driving through LA, he clearly wasn't ready to see Michelle's grave. He felt once again like he had forced Tony into something he didn't want to do. He knew he tried to push too hard with Tony sometimes. It was that desire in him to be better and help others be better that drove his spirit. But sometimes, it came across as unwanted pressure on others. They had argued about it before, but Tony usually came around because he understood his intentions. Now, Larry worried that he had really gone too far. God, why did he have to do this? Why did he have to try to fix people?

"You're okay. You're okay," Larry whispered once Tony started to calm down and catch his breath. "Just like that."

It took a long time before Tony could finally breathe consistently and open his eyes to look at Larry.

"Hey," Larry said softly, feeling Tony relax his grip and finally look at him directly.

Tony took a moment to peer around him with a slight squint. "Where are we?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"We're parked," Larry explained. "I think you were having a panic attack, Tony.  We must have driven past something that upset you."

"The church," he whispered.

Larry tilted his head.

"St. Martin's. It was a few blocks back," Tony clarified. "It's where we were married." Larry's expression softened. "And… where we were buried."

He could tell Tony was trying to say more, but it was such a struggle, and Larry almost wanted him not to, in fear he might break down again.

"I… I watched it. I watched the service from a room at the top of the church. They buried us together."

His heart pulled at that. He could see how much it hurt for Tony to say that. Larry suspected he had never said it aloud, possibly not even in therapy.

"You… you watched your own funeral?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh, God, Tony, that… that's terrible. I'm so sorry."

"It was David's idea," he went on, fighting back another sob.

While Larry understood and appreciated that David Emerson had been there for Tony at such a dark time in his life, he still held a lot of anger towards him for how he had treated Tony. He had taken advantage of Tony's vulnerability and driven him to use his grief destructively. It wasn't that Larry believed Tony was a saint incapable of being angry and going against the law. That was a part of Tony, and he respected that. But Larry knew it had been a power trip for Emerson. He had been well aware of just how much Tony had needed him and used that to his advantage in his mercenary business. He had seen Tony as an opportunity first and a partner second. After bringing it up in therapy and discussing it with Larry, Tony had come to realise that Emerson had used him, even if Emerson had genuinely been there for him, too. Larry also understood that Tony might not even be here today if it weren't for Emerson, so he didn't totally resent him. But he knew that Emerson had hurt Tony in his own way, and for that, he did hold a grudge.

"He drove me without telling me where we were going. As soon as I figured it out, I tried to run, but he forced me to stay and watch." He took a shuddering breath. "He told me I had to say goodbye to the man I once knew because he was gone. I-It wasn't about Michelle. It was about him trying to manipulate me into thinking that the good in me was meant to die with her because I was incapable of doing the right thing on my own. And I know that's not true now. I know he was wrong, and he was using me. It was just his way of making me agree to go with him to DC."

Larry ran a hand through Tony's hair, pressing his lips together as Tony sniffled. "I'm so sorry, Tony," he said. "Look, I… I shouldn't have pressured you into this if you weren't ready–"

Tony took his hand and shook his head. "No, it's okay. I… I want to do this. And I need you to do it with me. I want to see her." There was so much conviction in Tony's voice, and Larry could tell how much strength that took.

"Okay," Larry agreed softly, "Then we'll do that tomorrow like we said. For now, do you want to pick up some food or order in at the hotel?"

"We can order in," Tony answered. "I… I just want to get off the road."

Larry nodded. "Alright. I'll keep driving."

He kept stealing glances at Tony, hyperaware of every single building they drove past, wondering whether Tony had been to any of them. He had only been to LA a handful of times, usually for interagency conferences. But LA had been Tony's home for many years. It was familiar to him. Too familiar. It was a reminder of the life he had left behind, the life that was taken from him. It wasn't just the places but the people, too. Everybody here seemed infectiously cheery, and Larry found himself clutching Tony's hand on the console. It was overwhelming, even for him, to be somewhere so wrongfully bright and happy when the reason they were here was anything but.

By the time they got to the hotel and ate their belated lunch, it was the middle of the afternoon. Larry confirmed the location of Michelle's grave with the cemetery. They also walked to a nearby florist to buy some flowers for tomorrow. Tony became even more aloof, so they spent the rest of the day resting. Larry held him tightly when they went to bed, praying he would sleep peacefully. They both tossed and turned for a while, but Tony ended up curled against him, and Larry watched him sleep until his own eyes shut, too. He realised he was just as scared as Tony probably was, albeit for different reasons. Larry had to be there for Tony when the grief surfaced and hit him like a truck. He didn't know what to expect. Whether Tony would break down then and there or later. Whether he might try to hide how he feels or reach for old vices, trying to smother his emotions. He had faith that Tony was stronger than he believed. But that didn't change how big of a deal this was for him.

All Larry could hope was that this would help Tony move forward, not backward.

Larry had only slept for a few hours when he woke to the sound of rustling sheets. He found Tony moving around, his eyes squeezed shut like he was in pain. He murmured something that sounded like Michelle's name, and Larry clicked that he was having a nightmare.

"Hey… hey…" Larry shook his shoulder a little. "Wake up. It's okay. It's just a dream."

Tony didn't respond to him, and the more Larry tried to stop him from thrashing around, the more Tony seemed to do so. Larry said Tony's name more firmly and worriedly until his eyes finally opened and he started gasping for air. Larry gave him some space, but Tony got out of bed quickly and dashed for the ensuite. Larry heard him retch and followed behind, turning the light on to find Tony bent over the toilet. He was shaking, tears falling into the bowl with his bile and gripping onto the sides fiercely. He took shuddering breaths, and Larry leaned on the doorjamb, watching him with concern. When he managed to catch his breath, Larry said his name softly.

"I saw it," Tony rasped. "All of it. All over again."

There was only one thing he could be referring to. "The car bomb?"

He sniffled, nodding slightly.

"I'm sorry."

"I haven't– I haven't had a nightmare like this in years, I don't… I thought I wouldn't have to deal with this anymore." Tony's voice started to race. "I… There was so much blood, Larry. She wasn't moving. I couldn't feel her pulse, I–" Larry got on his knees beside Tony and pulled him in for a hug as he burst into tears. "I couldn't save her." His voice broke, and Larry hushed him.

It took Tony about as long to calm down as it did for the panic attack to pass yesterday. Again, it made Larry start to doubt himself. This was too much for Tony. He was doing more harm than good. Maybe they shouldn't have done it around the anniversary. Maybe that was making it worse. Maybe they should have just chosen a hotel closer to the cemetery or taken a chopper and avoided driving around LA. There had been too many triggers at once, and now Tony was experiencing nightmares he had moved past. What had he done? But there was no undoing it now. The only thing he could do to not make it worse was remind Tony that they didn't have to see Michelle's grave tomorrow. Larry could go and leave flowers on Tony's behalf if he wanted. There was no reason they couldn't come back to LA another time.

He stopped spiralling when Tony moved out of his grip and mumbled something about not going back to bed yet. He said he wanted to watch TV for a while, and Larry didn't mind if that was what he needed to doze off peacefully. Still, Larry was on edge. He didn't want to go back to sleep now that he had seen Tony so upset. Larry took Tony's hand as he turned the TV on. Tony was sitting up while Larry was lying down, still facing him. 

Unfortunately, as much as Larry tried to stay awake, he found himself asleep again soon enough. When he woke again, Tony had moved. The TV was off. At first, Larry assumed he was in the bathroom, but the lights were off. As he craned his neck, he found Tony perched on the edge of the bed, staring intently at something.

"Tony?" Larry asked, his voice thick from sleep. As he sat up and moved forward, he noticed that Tony's eyes were fixed on the hotel minibar. As if Larry didn't feel bad enough already, Tony even thinking about this made him hate himself. God, he was pushing Tony to consider relapsing. Larry felt an intense desire to rethink every conversation from the past few weeks, just to pinpoint a moment that concluded Tony hadn't been ready but had gone along with this so he wouldn't let him down. Larry wanted to blame himself so Tony wouldn't think he was weak. But Larry wasn't going to sit there and beat himself up — not now, at least. What was important was being there for Tony. He wouldn't let him do this. He would never forgive himself if he did.

Larry kissed the top of his head, snaking his arms around him. "No," he whispered. "You're so much stronger than this."

"It hurts," Tony explained simply. But it was clear from the tone of his voice that he didn't want to sit here and be tempted, either. 

There was no lock on the cabinet. While he trusted Tony and had faith in him, he just didn't like the idea of alcohol being so accessible. Larry tilted Tony's head towards him. "Do you want me to find a way to not let you think about it?"

Tony thought about this for a moment before nodding. Larry reached into his luggage to retrieve an old combination lock. He bent down to loop it through the handles of the liquor cabinet, and, to his delight, it managed to fit. When Larry turned around, Tony gave the lock a funny look.

"This has been at the bottom of my suitcase for years. I don't know the combination. And neither do you," Larry explained. "So, until the hotel maid gets the bolt-cutters after we go back to DC, you don't have to worry about it being so close."

It was just a cheap lock that anybody could buy at a luggage store or the airport, but he would like to think Tony wouldn't sit there and try to break it. Judging by the slight smile on Tony's face, he seemed to agree with that logic. Larry encouraged him to go back to bed, and Tony did so. They turned to face each other, and Larry just stroked his cheek. Tony moved so he could press his body against Larry's. Larry murmured for him to get some sleep and stayed up until Tony's eyes fluttered shut. He could only pray that he wouldn't stir this time. With the lock acting as some form of insurance that Tony wasn't going to be able to access any alcohol, Larry was able to relax, too. But he couldn't help but acknowledge that if Tony had been tempted to drink by a nightmare, it was going to be a much bigger fight when he was hit with grief upon seeing Michelle's grave.

It just meant that Larry had to be there for him. Now more than ever.

All of his ruminating meant Larry was still up before Tony, who had thankfully managed to get some solid sleep. Larry eventually watched Tony blink his eyes open slowly, their lips meeting chastely. There was silence as they just looked at each other. Words were unnecessary. Tony was going to lean on him today, and Larry was ready for that. He would not judge. He would simply be the partner he needed, in whatever way that meant. They got up and got dressed, making some toast and coffee in the kitchenette, although Tony didn't eat much. After washing up, they found themselves at the door. Tony went to grab the handle, but Larry gently placed a hand on his forearm.

Tony turned towards him, and Larry cupped his face to kiss him. Tony leaned into his touch, and Larry held him for a moment. Tony's breaths were very intentional, actively trying to keep himself calm.

"Ready?" Larry asked.

Tony nodded after a beat, leading them both out the door.

"It's going to be okay," Larry said for the umpteenth time. He wasn't sure if he was reassuring Tony or himself.

Tony let out a breath and tipped his head in acknowledgement. They were walking down the gentle slope towards Michelle's grave. Larry was slightly in front of Tony, scanning the names around him, hoping he could find Michelle's grave before Tony so he wouldn't be startled by it. Tony kept looking ahead, clutching the bouquet tightly. Finally, something caught Larry's eye, and he found not just Michelle's grave but… Tony's, too. The dirt surrounding his grave was unkempt. Apparently, nobody had bothered to clean up after they had exhumed Tony's grave to confirm the body in there wasn't his. Larry hated that he hadn't had the foresight to realise that Tony would have to see this, too. It wasn't exactly pleasant.

Larry gently took Tony's arm and guided him towards where he was standing. Tony's hand started to shake, and he tilted his head slightly, like he had to read the name on her headstone a few times to register it. When Tony knelt to lay the flowers next to another pair that looked like it had been there for at least a week, he was unsteady, and Larry feared his knees might give out. But he held strong, managing to stand back up without help. Every second felt like forever. Larry wished he knew what to do. He felt useless standing there, but he didn't want to impose, didn't want to assume anything about this. It was Tony's grief. It was personal to him. At the same time, Larry felt a burning need to remind Tony that he was here for him, too worried after his panic attack yesterday to let him do this alone.

Tony made a choked noise, and soon enough, Larry had his arms around him. Tony's head was buried against Larry's chest as he started to cry, and it took everything in him not to react to that, even though this was breaking his heart. He had to be strong for him. Tony's fingers gripped his shirt, and every breath he made shuddered in his chest. One of Larry's hands moved to Tony's head while the other rubbed circles on his back. The way he wept made Larry realise that he had never processed his grief, not properly. He had spent years trying to rebuild himself, first with a desire for vengeance and now with a desire to be a better man, but never acknowledged the broken parts of him to begin with. It was more than just losing Michelle that had destroyed him. It was losing their son, too. It was losing the chance at having regular lives after so many years in a job that had nearly taken theirs, day in and day out.

"I'm so sorry," Larry whispered, and Tony just cried harder. 

He also acknowledged that this was a very vulnerable position for Tony to be in so publicly. Sure, there weren't many people around, and this wasn't exactly a place to judge outward expressions of emotion. However, Tony being so transparent and not shying away from how much he needed Larry right now made Larry realise how much of an impact he had on Tony. He was here for him like he had promised him. He was here for him in a way he had never had to before. They might have spent many nights talking about grief and memories, but Tony had never been hit so hard. This was the most direct interaction he had had with his loss. Tony had stayed away from LA, away from anyone who knew Michelle, anyone who knew him from before Emerson. But just in the last twenty-four hours or so, he had had to cope with a lot. Larry was so proud of him for his strength.

It took a while before Tony found it in himself to pull away, his eyes bloodshot as he looked up at Larry.

"I want to talk to her," Tony said quietly.

Larry nodded, wiping a few of Tony's tears away. "Take all the time you need."

Larry wanted to give Tony privacy but didn't want to completely abandon him because, one, that didn't feel like the right thing to do, and two, he didn't like the idea of getting lost in here. He eyed a nearby elm tree. It was quite large and provided a lot of shade. The sun was quite warm on Larry's back, and he had been standing in it for a while, so he told Tony where he would be, again stressing that there was no time limit.

At first, Larry just looked at Tony from afar, now kneeling again in front of the grave. He felt somewhat rude just standing and staring at him. But no matter how much his heart ached and his mind fretted about Tony's fragility, he respected Tony's privacy, so he turned away slightly. He could see Tony in the corner of his eye, but this felt better than gawking at him.

Larry straightened as he heard some commotion, noticeable in the otherwise silent cemetery. A man was yelling, not Tony, but it sounded like it was coming from where he was. As Larry whipped his head around, his eyes widened as he saw someone had approached Tony and shoved him.

"Hey!" Larry yelled, charging over to where they were. He hadn't managed to shake the heightened protectiveness he had over Tony from the night he was shot. It was also why he had felt so apprehensive having his back turned towards him, knowing a split second was all it took.

As soon as Larry got there, the man backed off, his face pale. He hadn't been that loud, but the man looked like he had seen a ghost. Tony was sitting and panting but didn't look visibly hurt. There was another bouquet haphazardly placed near Tony's.

"What the hell is going on here?" Larry asked firmly but at a more level volume.

The man didn't speak and now seemed almost apologetic. Tony hadn't bothered to get up or try to defend himself anymore. He was still obviously upset but not too concerned.

"I… I came to see my sister."

Larry squinted. "Sister?"

Tony was the one to explain, "Larry, this is Michelle's brother, Danny." His voice was quite hoarse, but he had clearly tried to harden it to be audible. 

He blinked at him a few times. That made sense. Why he had attacked Tony, though, didn't. Then again… Tony didn't speak very much about his family, let alone Michelle's. Larry hadn't pressed the issue. He had wondered whether Tony had told them he was alive at some point, but now realised he probably hadn't.

"I-I'm sorry for attacking you. I thought you were someone vandalising her grave like they vandalised…" Danny's mouth fell agape. "Yours. I-I don't understand. How are you here? You… I thought you were dead, Tony."

Tony sighed. "It's a long story."

Now, Larry felt bad for Danny. He might not know him, but he could understand why this would be so shocking and difficult to see. It was somewhat reminiscent of Jack's reaction to finding out Tony was alive.

"W-Wait," Danny said suddenly. "If you're… if you're alive, then Michelle…" He looked very lost and troubled. "Is Michelle?–"

Tony shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. She's gone, Danny."

He slumped his shoulders.

"I can explain everything," Tony offered, looking up at him. "But maybe we can do that somewhere that's not here."

"Everything? Or are you going to give me some bullshit national security excuse?" Danny asked stiffly.

Tony rolled his eyes a little and glanced at Larry. Larry shrugged. There were some things that, pun not intended, he and Tony would take to their graves. But he trusted Tony to give enough relevant details that wouldn't matter if they got out.

"I'll tell you the truth. About what happened to us, how I'm alive, and why I couldn't tell you or anyone else."

It wasn't exactly an answer to that question. But it seemed enough for Danny because, after a moment of contemplation, he conceded. "Alright. You can come back to my place." Danny looked at Larry directly. "Both of you, I guess. You could follow my car or…" Larry felt around in his pockets for a small notepad and pen. "Here." He held it out. "You can write your address down."

Danny did so, and they proceeded to walk out of the cemetery, Danny taking the lead. He kept glancing back at him and Tony, still sceptical. Larry hoped Tony had at least had enough time to talk to Michelle and work through some of his feelings before being interrupted like that. When they got in the car, Larry put the address in the GPS and took off. Although they ended up following Danny's car, the GPS was still helpful since these streets weren't very familiar to Larry.

When they parked at the curb in front of the house, Tony moved to get out, but Larry stopped him by placing his hand over his.

"Listen, Tony. I… I won't be offended if you don't want to tell Danny about us. It's not going to be an easy conversation regardless."

To his surprise and pride, Tony shook his head. "I'm not ashamed of you, Larry. I might be ashamed of the things I've done, but not you."

"Okay," Larry replied softly, trying not to grin, even though he was thrilled. "Let's go then."

Based on observation, Danny lived alone. He didn't know much about him. Tony had only mentioned that Michelle's brother existed a handful of times, but never in detail. There were a few family photos around the living room where they were led to sit. Some were of Danny with another woman. Some, Larry guessed, were of Danny's kids. They looked like they were in their final years of school. The most noticeable photo was of Danny and Michelle. It looked like it had been taken at Tony and Michelle's wedding.

"Before you start, I assume you're, uh, a friend of Tony's or something?" Danny looked at him again.

"I'll explain who Larry is and why he's here after I explain everything else," Tony answered on his behalf, then cleared his throat. "The first thing you need to know is that a lot of things happened outside of my control. There aren't a lot of people who know I'm alive. It's not just because I wasn't in a convenient position to say anything, but because I knew it would put you in danger," he explained. "They told you I was killed at CTU, didn't they?"

Danny nodded. "Yeah."

"That…" Tony laughed through his nose. "That wasn't wrong. But a mercenary was paid off to revive me. He took me to DC, and I worked for him for about five years. I did some things I'm not proud of and that I know Michelle wouldn't be proud of. So you can judge me all you want for that."

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why… why did you work for him if he was a criminal?"

Tony shrugged, not particularly bothered by the question the way he used to be, from what Larry could tell. "I was angry. I was alone and had nowhere else to go. And I needed to find out who ordered her assassination."

"Who did it?" Danny asked. "Can you at least tell me that?"

Larry found Tony looking at him again, and he nodded.

"His name was Alan Wilson."

"Was, as in… he's dead?"

"Yeah," Tony confirmed. "The FBI arrested him for his involvement in several conspiracies, but he was found not guilty. He was assassinated after his trial."

His eyebrows rose. "That takes care of that, then," he muttered. "Wait. If the FBI was already investigating him, why didn't you work with them?"

Larry spoke before Tony tried to justify his actions with his distrust of the government. Tony had already been honest enough, so he deserved to have someone explain it in a more positive light.

"The FBI had no idea about Wilson," Larry explained. "Tony was the one who brought in the evidence. I'm the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI headquarters in DC."

Danny seemed quite impressed by that. 

"Nobody knew Tony was alive until about a year ago," Larry went on. "When the FBI found out, they had to exhume his grave. So what you saw wasn't vandalism, it was…"

"Oh," Danny said quietly. "That makes sense. So since then, you've been working together to take this Wilson guy down."

He nodded. 

"Larry's been there for me in a lot of ways," Tony explained with a subtle reverence, his hand moving to interlace with his. "He's helped me heal and work towards doing the right thing again. He's my partner."

Danny's expression softened. He was clearly surprised by what Tony said, but seemed very understanding. Tony had told Larry he wasn't ashamed of him, but to actually hear him tell someone about them without hesitation was very moving. Larry squeezed Tony's hand. 

There was a pause before Danny spoke again. "I… I'm sorry for confronting you or assuming you were hiding on purpose. I can't even imagine how hard it's been for you, but it's good to see you, Tony. Really," Danny said genuinely. "But… even though I know you said you didn't tell me to protect me, I… I don't know if I can keep this a secret. My parents would be so happy to know you're alive. You were a part of our family."

Larry could tell that meant more to Tony than he let on.

"I want to," Tony admitted. "I… I've thought about that for a long time. I haven't even told my own family. But now, there's no reason to believe you would be in danger; the people behind the conspiracy who tried to kill us aren't a problem anymore." Tony bit his lip. "I was scared to admit that I made some pretty big mistakes. I did things that, if you knew the full extent, you wouldn't look at me the same. I was convinced that the version of me you knew was dead, but I know now that that's not true. I might have my mistakes, but I'm still the person I was. Seeing you accept me despite my actions has made me reconsider."

Danny smiled a little.

"Are your parents well?" Tony asked.

To his relief, Danny nodded. "They moved back to New York. But, yeah, they're fine. I mean… losing Michelle gutted them. They've never been the same. Hell, I haven't, either. I… I still think about the fact that one of the last times I spoke to her, she told me she was pregnant." His voice broke, and he sniffled. "It's not fair. Everything you went through. It's not fair, and, honest to God, I don't blame you for whatever you did to avenge her. I might not know the details, but I know you loved my sister more than anybody else. You had every right to do what you had to."

"I know I went too far with some things, but… thank you. I appreciate that. And I'm glad to know your parents are alright."

"Maybe one day you can visit them. I should probably talk to them first; you don't want to give them a heart attack." He laughed a little. "But it would mean a lot to them if you did that, Tony."

"I'll have to think about it," Tony said, not dismissively but with genuine consideration.

They talked a little longer, mainly about Danny and his kids. Both were at the age where they were thinking about college. Tony and Danny were able to muse about some memories, and it was nice to see both of them able to talk about Michelle, albeit very bittersweetly. They wrapped up their visit, and Danny thanked them once again for their honesty.

When Tony went to the bathroom, Larry was left alone with Danny.

"Look, uh, Larry," Danny said after a beat, and for a moment, Larry was fearful. "I want to thank you for being there for Tony. I… I can see that you're good to him, and I'm glad he was able to find someone after my sister died." 

He extended his arm, and Larry shook his hand.

"I love him." His eyes crinkled. "He's everything to me, but I want you to know that I don't intend to replace what he had with Michelle. I respect his past, and I know Michelle will always be a part of Tony."

"I know you don't. I can tell." Danny smiled. "I think my sister would have liked you a lot, actually. She would have respected you. You seem like the kind of agent she was."

Tony had said that before, but to hear it from someone who barely knew him meant a lot. Larry returned Danny's smile, and Tony came back to the living room. They then walked out and back to the car. The unexpected visit seemed to have lifted Tony's spirits a little. But Larry recognised that the day had still been emotionally taxing. He had been brave and faced a lot of aspects of his past. But now he needed comfort, familiarity.

When they got back to the hotel, Tony sat on the edge of the bed, burying his face in his hands. He was tired. Larry hadn't forgotten how broken down he had been at Michelle's grave before Danny had shown up.

Larry sat cross-legged in front of him, placing a hand on his knee. "You took some big steps today. I'm proud of you."

Tony dipped his head a little. "Thank you," he murmured. "I… I really did need to do this. So thank you for giving me the courage to go through with it."

"You're welcome. But the courage was all you," Larry pointed out.

He ran his hands down his face so their eyes could meet. "You mean that?"

"Of course I do."

"You're a good man, Tony," Larry said. "And wherever Michelle is, if she could see you, she would be so proud of you." He didn't say things like this often, bringing up Michelle so directly because he knew it always tended to upset Tony. But today felt like the right day to do that. Tony deserved to hear this. Tony deserved to have someone tell him his wife would still love and respect him despite his mistakes. Larry wished he could say it more often. "I mean that. I really do."

He sniffled. "Yeah, I think she would."

Larry's heart leapt in his chest. It was a big deal for Tony to admit that.

"I never thought I'd be able to say that." He laughed a little in disbelief. "But I believe it, you know? I… After everything that's happened today, I finally feel like I can think about her without feeling so ashamed. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot, and it hurts, but… I feel better."

"That's good," Larry said softly. "That's really good."

The corners of Tony's lips upturned slightly. "I don't know where I'd be without you, Larry."

"Well, the good thing is… we don't have to think about that, do we? Because you're stuck with me, you know that, right?"

Tony snickered. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Larry stared at the email on his screen. 

Your promotion application has been approved.

He still couldn't quite believe he had gone through with this and that the higher-ups had let him. But he knew it was the right thing to do, even if it was a little daunting. It was time to start thinking about the future, not just with Tony but also with his kids. He already had regrets about moments in his daughters' lives that he had had no choice but to miss. While he and Julia had never really fought about it — she had been more understanding than most spouses of FBI agents — he also knew he didn't want it to keep happening. He wanted to be there as a father and as a partner. Tony worked regular hours in his consulting position, and this promotion now made Larry's hours more stable. He had served his country and made sacrifices for many years, but now he deserved to enjoy his life. He had considered applying for this position in the past. The regular hours, supervisor-style role, and stability had been appealing. But he had loved his job. More than that, he had wanted to pass the torch to someone as dedicated as him. Fortunately, he had realised the perfect replacement had been right under him the whole time.

"You wanted to see me, Larry?" Renee asked, knocking on the door.

He nodded. "Yeah, you can shut the door and take a seat."

She did as he said, and Larry noticed that she appeared a little nervous. That was fair, he supposed. He had called her to his office without really giving any context, which was unusual.

"I have something to ask you."

"Shoot."

"How… how would you like to have my job?"

She blinked at him a few times. "What?"

"I applied for a promotion to the supervisory panel that oversees the FBI. I realised I wanted to take a step back now that…" He sighed. "Now that I'm thinking more seriously about the future. I want to be there for the girls, and for Tony."

"Does Tony know about this?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. I wanted to surprise him only when I knew it was official."

"I see. I… Are you really offering me your old job?"

"You're one of the most capable agents I've ever trained. There is no one more suitable for this role than you. But I still want to give you the chance to say no. I know it's a big ask."

She bit her lip. Renee and Jack had recently moved in together. Considering that they had met the same day he and Tony had and were thinking about the future and commitments with equal regard, it was a good sign. Jack understood and valued Renee's career. He wasn't resentful of her decision to work for the government. In fact, the way she worked now, more dedicated and incisive than ever because of all the exposed corruption, meant Jack couldn't be prouder of her.

"I'll, uh, I'll talk about it with Jack. I… I don't know what to say. I didn't expect this, but… it would be my honour to run the FBI."

"You don't have to rush it," Larry assured. "But the fact that you're already willing… means a lot."

He could see she was trying not to make it obvious how much she was smiling, which only made him feel happier. This was the right choice. It was a big change, but all of them would benefit from it. He couldn't wait to surprise Tony with the news.

"I'm sure Tony's going to be thrilled to have your hours align better. You both deserve that."

The corners of his lips upturned. The thought was pretty exciting. They could effectively guarantee consistency for the two of them, save for an occasional conference or work trip. Larry and Tony would also not be obligated to do fieldwork. They could spend time with their families and friends without risking the call that the country was in crisis and needed them. 

These prospects were particularly exciting to think about now that Tony's family was in their lives as well. They had gone to inform Tony's family that he was alive, not long after their trip to New York to see Michelle's parents. While Tony's parents, brother and sister had been understandably overwhelmed by the news, they had been happy to know he was okay. Larry had been nervous on that trip, not just because he had been worried about Tony but also because introductions to potential in-laws were always intimidating. Thankfully, Tony's parents had welcomed him with open arms, and the fact that he had children made them more than happy to be Amelia and Haley's fourth set of grandparents. The most recent family visit had been to Larry's parents in New Jersey. Given that Tony had overcome the hurdle of telling people he was alive and making amends with his past, that visit had been the smoothest. It almost awed Larry how many steps Tony had taken these last few months. It really cemented that they were in it for the long run.

And this was why he was about to spend his lunch break looking for a certain other surprise for Tony.

He didn't like lying to Tony, but he told him he had a dental appointment so he could go to the jewellery store alone. He had done a lot of research. He knew what he wanted. Still, he couldn't contain his happiness as he held the pair of two-tone rings in his hands and pictured how he would slide one onto Tony's finger. It was crazy to think about proposing. At the same time, he and Tony were nothing but open and vulnerable with each other. They loved each other. They lived together. They were part of each other's families. Larry wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with him. Of course, he had thought about his daughters and how they might feel. But, given that their mother had already remarried and that they liked Tony a lot, when he had asked them, they hadn't hesitated to tell him how excited they were about having another parent in their life. Larry believed some of the excitement came from knowing they'd get to be flower girls for two weddings now, but he knew from what he had seen that they loved Tony. Julia, too, had been more than happy to hear about his plans.

"Larry?"

When he turned, Jack was standing behind him, holding a bag with the jewellery store's logo on it, not dissimilar to the one Larry held. However, the size of his bag and the section of the store he was standing in made it very clear that he had purchased rings. Larry knew when Jack deduced this because a smile crept across his face, and he laughed through his nose.

"I won't tell Tony, I promise."

"Thanks." Larry still couldn't get rid of his own giddy smile. He pointed at Jack's bag. "Something for Renee or your daughter?"

Jack nodded. "Renee's birthday is coming up soon."

Larry hummed in assent.

"I'm happy for you both. I never thought I'd see Tony be himself again after losing Michelle." Jack paused. "Well, I didn't even think I'd see him again after losing Michelle." He laughed a little nervously. "But you're good for each other. He's happy. He's… he's healed with you. I see it in the way he looks at you."

It wasn't often that Jack spoke about Tony, and certainly not like this. Like Tony, Jack didn't bring up his past, although Larry was willing to believe he had gotten better at it the way Tony had. So, to hear him say something like this made Larry believe he truly meant it.

"That means a lot, Jack. I appreciate that," he said warmly. "I'm happy for you and Renee, too."

He tipped his head in acknowledgement. "Well, I don't know how soon you plan to propose, but whenever it happens, I wish you all the best." 

"Thanks. Although I'm sure before we know it, I'll be wishing you the same," Larry said noncommittally. But it was clear by the look on Jack's face that that wasn't far from the truth.

Larry wiped his palms on his thighs. He kept chugging water to soothe his perpetually dry mouth and obsessively checking that the ring was indeed in the box. The fact that he wasn't just proposing but also announcing his career change tonight didn't help his nerves. When Larry had proposed to Julia all those years ago, it had been more relieving than terrifying. Proposing to Julia had been a way of suppressing his closeted self, and he was sure that her acceptance of it had been for the same reasons. But both of them lived authentically now with the people they loved.

Larry's ears perked up at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. He had left work early to prepare dinner, setting the table a little nicer than usual — even lighting a couple of candles. God, he was actually going to do this.

When Tony walked in, he was surprised, to say the least, but not displeased. That was what Larry hoped, anyway.

"What's… what's all this?" Panic struck his expression. "I haven't been remembering the wrong anniversary date, have I?"

Larry chuckled, walking over to him and pecking his lips. "Don't worry. It was meant to be a surprise, Tony."

He smiled, kissing him back. "Good."

Tony put his things down and sat at the table as Larry plated the chicken and poured two glasses of a non-alcoholic Riesling they had discovered a little while ago. He asked Tony about his day, and Tony asked him about his. Larry nervously toyed with the wine glass. He was hyperaware of the ring box in his pocket and reminded himself to breathe. 

"You have something to tell me, don't you?" Tony saw right through him. He always did. The candlelight was soft on his face, showing a mixture of playful scepticism and concern. "You have that look."

Larry bit his lip. He might as well say the first part.

"I applied for a promotion, and… I got it."

His eyes widened. "Larry, that's great." However, he still had the confusion from before. "I… You're the head of the FBI, and you love your job. I don't- What did you apply for?"

"The supervisory board. So I'll be overseeing the FBI's actions but not directly involved."

It took Tony a minute to figure it out, and Larry felt his shoulders tense when he saw a less positive reaction than he had envisioned.

"You're… you're quitting," Tony concluded.

Larry shook his head. "I'm stepping back. I'm not quitting."

"I don't- Where did this come from? You're so happy with your career. Most people don't move to the board until retirement, Larry."

"I want to be there for you and for the girls. I'm tired of cancelling plans because you finish at a reasonable hour, and I don't. I'm tired of praying that I won't get sent out into the field to lead a tactical team and risk being hurt or, God forbid, worse. I love my job, and I love what I've achieved. But I love you, my family, more. I'm doing this for us."

While Tony seemed affected by those words, he could also see a familiar expression creep onto his face: guilt. It made Larry's gut sink. Tony had come so far from his self-loathing. He had worked through so much. He didn't want Tony to see his career change as a compromise or a downfall. It had been his choice. His choice for their future.

"Tony, I… I don't want to hear you say that I'm doing this out of pity or that I'm going to resent you for it. I thought long and hard about it for many years. The thing is, Tony… as much as I love my work, it was also an escape. I love being a father, but I was so scared of meeting a guy and letting him into my life. I just didn't think it would happen for me. But then I met you and…" He sighed, feeling tears form in his eyes. "You changed everything. I've never felt this way with anyone before. I've never felt comfortable and free. Which is why I want to do this now because I want a future with you." He realised he was slipping into his planned proposal speech. A part of him wanted to stop himself and attempt to salvage this, but he couldn't. "A future where… where we can grow old together."

Tony looked into his lap. "I… This is too much, Larry. We should have talked about this."

"If you're worried about money, I actually get a pay rise, Tony. It's fine–"

"No, Larry, it's not. I can't- I…" He slumped his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I… you tried to tell me something good, and now I've fucked it up again. God, why do I always do this?"

"Tony, it's okay," Larry said, glad he had turned it around before spiralling. "I… I know I should have run it past you–"

Tony lifted a shoulder. "It's not about that. I trust you. You made a good decision. And… if this is what you want, then believe me, I'm happy. I… Having a normal life is something I've fought for for so long and never had the chance to have. And I… I want to have it with you, I just…"

"Just what?"

There was a pause. "Some part of me just still feels like I don't deserve this. Any of it. I… I know I've moved past a lot of this, but some days, I still think about how many people are dead because of me. I think about who I let myself become. I… I know I'm better than that guy now, but he's still inside me, you know? And it scares me."

Larry knew there was one of two things he could do here. They could go down their usual route of talking in-depth and reflecting on how far Tony had come, reminding him that he loved him and wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't that that wasn't productive or effective. He didn't mind doing that with Tony. It usually helped him. It wasn't like Larry had doubts sometimes, too. Larry knew in his heart that Tony was a good partner, a good father, and a good agent. But maybe that was just it. Maybe Larry needed to go all out and show Tony what kind of man he really was. To hell with it.

"Close your eyes," Larry said softly. "For me. Please."

Tony seemed a little confused by his non-answer but did so anyway. Larry took a breath, stood up, walked over and knelt, grabbing the box and opening it so the rings were in Tony's direction.

"Open them."

The way Tony reacted would be ranked with the birth of his daughters as a moment he would never forget. It was exactly what he had wanted, only better because it was real.

"I love you. You are everything to me, Tony. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Because you know what you deserve?" He sniffled. "You deserve a second chance. You deserve every bit of love that comes your way. You deserve a family. You deserve… the world, Tony. And I want to give it to you. If… if you'll have me?"

Tony didn't even hesitate, which made Larry's heart swell. "Yes." His voice broke, but he was grinning from ear to ear. "I… I love you so much, Larry."

His shaking hands took out one of the rings so he could slide it onto Tony's finger. Larry then let Tony do the same to him, and as soon as it reached his knuckle, he felt Tony's hands cup his face and pull him up so their lips could meet. Only then did it hit Larry that Tony had actually said yes. He kissed him back eagerly, conveying how overjoyed he was. Both of them were teary now, but he had never seen Tony smile so much.

And Larry knew now that he was going to be able to spend the rest of his life breaking that record over and over again.

Six Months Later 

Tony looked down as the sun reflected off his engagement ring. It was a strange feeling, having the comfort of a piece of jewellery hugging his ring finger. It was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. He got so used to it from being with Michelle. Then, he never thought he would have that sensation again. But now, he was pretty happy to keep this on for the rest of his life. The ring was just one of many things that reminded him of what he had now. There were other examples, too, like the Father's Day card addressed to him and Larry sitting on their mantel, the various recitals and softball games in their calendar, and the photos in his house, their house, of them all together. He never thought he would have this after Michelle died. When he had been with David, the idea of a family, of simple things like ballparks and barbecues, had seemed so impossible. As time had passed, he had felt not only like those things wouldn't happen for him but that they shouldn't happen for him because he didn't deserve them. But he was so glad to have been proven wrong. It didn't change the ache of his heart. Not a day passed when he didn't think about Michelle or even David, but it didn't stop him from being happy in the present.

"Have you and Larry picked a venue yet?" Julia asked, her smile brighter than the sun ever could be, even on a day like today in the middle of summer.

He turned to face her, having been watching Larry and Sasha play with the girls and Sosa, the dog they'd adopted a few months ago, a former K-9 unit German shepherd named after one of Tony's favourite Cubs players.

"Not yet, but I think we'll have to pick somewhere outdoors if the girls want Sosa to be the ring bearer."

"They're still bringing that up?"

Tony snickered. "They're half Larry, remember? Once they have an idea, they're set on it."

Julia laughed. Tony remembered how easy Julia was to talk to from the first time they met. When Tony thought back to that night, how much it had taken for him to stay strong despite being hit with his grief harder than before, Julia had been one of the reasons he had managed to keep smiling. She had been kind and non-judgemental, even as she had learned more about his past. The way she saw it, the past was in the past for a reason. It didn't affect her opinion or concern her about his presence in Haley and Amelia's lives. And she was right; although he hadn't always made the right choices, he was still capable of being a good role model and a good parent.

If Michelle could see him, he would like to believe she would agree. Being able to think about her without that weight threatening to pull him down into that dark place was a testament to how far he had come. Tony truly believed he had taken accountability for his actions and managed to move past them. He stayed in touch with Michelle's brother and parents almost as much as he did with his own. Since Larry had come into his life, Tony had learned that family didn't always have to be conventional. He could keep his loved ones close, whether they knew him from long before or only recently. Tony felt deserving of every single connection in his life, including Jack. They had had long, difficult conversations about their past but also more pleasant ones about their future. Jack was happy for him, and he was happy for Jack. They had forgiven each other for their mistakes, and now, things were almost as content as they had been before Jack had lost Teri. Renee had given Jack a lightness that Tony thought he would never see again.

"You know, I always knew you were special to Larry. Right from the start," Julia mused.

"What do you mean?"

Her expression softened. "When Larry told me that he had met someone and wanted him to meet the girls, that was when I knew. He might have had a couple of boyfriends here and there, but he had never come to me and asked me so sincerely. None of them ever got to that point."

Tony hadn't known that, making him feel a clutch of affection for Larry.

"You make him and the girls so happy," she said warmly. "I'm grateful to have you in our lives, Tony."

He returned her smile. "I'm grateful, too."

Before he knew it, Sosa had run over to where he and Julia were sitting on the porch, holding a tennis ball. It seemed Sosa wanted them to join in on the fun. Larry wasn't far behind, grinning from ear to ear.

"The girls want a water balloon fight," Larry proposed. "Amelia insisted that you go on her team because Hales already has the upper hand with her pitching ability."

"I'll go with Haley, then," Julia said.

Tony looked at Julia and then met Larry's eyes with a smirk. "Game on."

It was times like these in particular, where he could be blissfully, effortlessly happy and enjoy the present moment, that he felt the most peace and wished he could tell his past self that things would be okay, even if they didn't turn out as planned. Tony remembered believing after losing Michelle that the man she had known, the man he once was, was long gone and never coming back.

But what moments like these proved was that that man had never left.