SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull (Nothing Special 8)

“Fox, you bastard! Where are you?” Dale hollered.

The threat in Dale’s voice kicked his ass back into gear as he ran past the two men. “You never saw me,” Fox blurted, right before he dove feetfirst into Diablo’s stall. He’d be safe in there for now. There was no way the foreman was coming within ten feet of the Arabian.

“Hey, handsome.” Bull chuckled, standing in front of Diablo’s gate. “You can come out now. Rid finally convinced Dale to stop waiting for you and drive him back to his dorm. So, I think you got a little while.”

“Fuck me,” Fox muttered, coming from the back of the stall. “He was gonna fuckin’ trample me, wasn’t he?”

Bull snorted. “Of course not… That’d be… a crime, right?”

Fox’s eyes widened. “Yes! It would.”

“In Texas they make exceptions for men who get their lassos cut with pocketknives.” Fox climbed over the half door and into Bull’s arms. “I’m really glad you’re still alive.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Fox grumbled, brushing hay from his jeans. “I’ve been stuck out here an hour. You better be glad I had good company or else I’d be pissed.”

Bull walked with Fox’s hand in his across his property. It was dark outside, and quiet with most of his staff gone home. Garvin’s two sheepdogs, Ike and Saw, ran up to them to see if either of them had any leftover treats on them, but when they noticed they didn’t, they ran off. Bull was about to ask Fox if they were riding tonight when his phone vibrated again.

“Goddamnit,” Fox groaned, pulling the phone out of his back pocket and swiping ignore.

“How long you gonna keep that up?” Bull asked. He couldn’t help wondering how long he’d have this man to himself before his team came looking for him. Bull couldn’t exactly blame Hart. If he was him, he wouldn’t let Fox go either.

“As long as I want,” Fox said, staring straight ahead.

“I don’t like surprises.”

“Me either.”

“You have to go back, you know that.”

Fox cursed. “I’m done with everyone telling me what I have to do. I don’t have to do a motherfuckin’ thing except pay taxes and watch the world series in October, Bull.”

“Why are you avoiding them so hard, huh?” Bull wrapped Fox in his arms because he couldn’t stand beside him and not touch him.

Fox tilted his head back and placed a slow kiss on his chin. “I just don’t want my family at work to think they’ve been replaced or forgotten. Saying goodbye is turning out to be harder than I thought it’d be. I’ll miss those guys, very much.”

Bull exhaled, he understood Fox was battling with an impossible decision.

“But these guys are my brothers, Bull. They’re closer to me than blood ever could be.” Fox chewed on his bottom lip. “And I feel like, if they truly are, then they’ll support me on this. Otherwise, I’ll—”

“Stay with me,” Bull whispered, finally breaking down. He wasn’t sure if he’d officially asked yet, but he wanted to be certain that he did so there’d be no confusion about what he wanted. “Even if you wanna stay on SWAT…” Bull clutched Fox to him. “Stay with me. We can make it work. Atlanta is only an hour away.”

“Dom. I promise you. I’m not leaving you again.” Fox cupped his jaw and brought their mouths together. Bull moaned, squeezing his eyes shut tightly, forcing away all negative thoughts and focusing on the precise words Fox had spoken. Believing in the promise he’d made.

“Fox.” Bull dropped his head, his lips pressed against the rim of Fox’s ear.

“Yeah,” Fox breathed, holding him close.

Bull gulped down his anxiousness when silvery eyes met his and one side of Fox’s sinful mouth curved towards the heavens. “Go on. Say it.”

Bull stared down at the man who had changed his world and confessed what’d been on the tip of his tongue for weeks. “I’m so fuckin in love with you, Mandel Tucker.”

Fox seemed to summon a deep breath, holding it in before he gazed up into the night. The crescent-shaped moon was gone from the sky, leaving a blanket of bright specks above them as Bull dropped a kiss on Fox’s long throat.

“Mmm.” Fox tilted his head, wanting more.

“Say it,” Bull growled, sucking passionately as Fox stretched the silence out. Fox knew he was waiting—needing—to hear him say those special words back to him. Why was he teasing him?

Fox opened his mouth, and Bull saw the moment the playful smile fell from his lips. “Fuck,” Fox warned.

“What?” Bull hurried out. “What’s wrong?” His question was answered as the same high-tech drone that Fox had sent after Newt Thompson lowered until it was hovering a few feet away from their heads.

“Motherfuckers,” he sneered.

“Answer your phone, Fox. It’s just me and Steele. Swear it.” Free’s British accent was coming out of the device as clearly as if he were standing there talking to them. “Your bad guy is still on the loose, and we want to help you catch him like we said we would. We’re with you, man… no matter where you are.”