Fic: Messin' with the Kid-Unauthorized Extras (1/1) Peter/Garrett (Crossing Jordan)

[perpetual_motion]

Title: Messin' with the Kid-Unauthorized Extra
Author: Perpetual Motion
Fandom: Crossing Jordan
Pairing: Peter/Garrett
Rating: PG
Series/Sequel: Written, without permission, as the missing scene to Julian Lee's fab fic, "Messin' with the Kid". Can stand alone, but you should totally go read it.

Dis: Lies.

Author's Notes: Written as a missing scene for Julian Lee's fic "Messin' with the Kid". She's just finding out I did this. Hello, darling. Go read her fic [it's here: julianlee. It's hysterical.



Messin' with the Kid-Unauthorized Extras
By Perpetual Motion


"Peter, wait!" Garrett grabbed Peter's arm before he could make it to the hallway and tried to pull him back into his office. Peter stood firm. "Damnit, Peter, I said wait!"

"No!" Peter's voice was loud. He looked around suddenly and lowered it considerably when he spoke again. "I don't *want* to wait. All I do is *wait*. I *wait* to be taken seriously. I *wait* for people to allow me to have a chance. I *wait* for you to defend me-"

"What do you want me to do? I *can't* defend you without putting this entire office at risk. And you can't just run out of here with your scapel blazing. It'll only cause more trouble. You need to step back, let this run its course, and not cause waves. I already have one pain in the ass ME, I don't need another."

"What about Maguire?"

"She's not staying, trust me."

"Sure you don't want her legs to stay? You seem to like them well enough."

Garrett sighed and gave Peter a pointed look. "Quit changing the subject."

"Why?"

"Because it's damned annoying."

"So's this shit. I'm tired of being the ME's office scapegoat. Yes, I *was* a drug addict. But I'm *not* anymore, and I'm tired of everyone looking at me funny when some old guy's medication goes missing. This is the third time in six months, and if I have to take one more "random" piss test, I *will* slam out of here with my scapel blazing and aim for the asshole who said that recovery wasn't good enough. And then I'll gut the bastard who said that I got to be a suspect for the rest of my life."

Garrett placed his hand on Peter's shoulder. He meant it as a comfort, but Peter jerked his arm away and crossed his arms over his chest. Garrett scowled at his action. "Don't shut me out." His voice came out harsher than intended.

"Why not?"

"Because I trust you."

"You're the only one."

"I thought I was the only one who mattered."

"Maybe you're not."

Something in Garrett twinged painfully. He pulled his hands out of his pockets, grabbed Peter by the shoulders, and yanked him back into his office. His door slammed with an impressive echo. "You want to wallow in self-pity, go right ahead, but don't try to drag me down with you. I'm trying to help you and be here for you and do all that relationship shit that I've never been good at before."

Peter's eyes flared and he tried to back up, but his back hit the wall. "Why would you want to do all that with me? I'm damaged goods. Drug problem, father issues, bad haircut."

Garrett stepped up so he was nose-to-nose with Peter. "Control freak, divorced, can't keep control of this office to save my life."

"I get accused of stealing drugs."

"I get accused of forging paperwork."

Peter sighed and tilted his head back against the wall. "I didn't take those drugs."

"I know." Garrett glanced behind him to make sure the blinds were closed, and he touched his fingertips to Peter's neck. He leaned in and pressed his cheek to Peter's. "If I could protect you and not raise suspicion, I would, but I can't. You know this."

"Yeah." Peter sagged a little, the fight going out of him. "Take me home."

"Sure." Garrett stepped back and let Peter slide past him to the door. "Want me to cook?"

"No."

"Want to order in?"

"No."

"Want to crawl into bed, unplug the phone, turn off our cells, and do nothing?"

Peter paused by the door and turned around. "That relationship thing that you've never done before?"

"Yeah."

"You're doing okay with it now. I'm a little shaky."

"You'll get it." Garrett pressed his hand to the small of Peter's back. "It took me a lot longer than you'd think."

Comments

[julianlee.livejournal.com]

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I am amazed by the way you took one fly-by moment in my fic & used it as a door into this amazing vista. Well written, my friend.

[lostgirlslair.livejournal.com]

I read 'Messin' with the kid' and then I had to come read this as well. Very nicely done, good character voice, and I love the little bit of schmoop!