Prisca's_Writing_Area

Title: I'm strong only together with you
Characters: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Rating: PG13
Length: 1033 words
Prompts: together / angst
Finished: February 2017

Note: Crossover

:::

When Zeke opened the door to the apartment, he could hear the TV running. For a split second, he felt relief; he had learned to live with the always-existing danger of Casey's job without thinking too much about it, but it was always good to know that he was back in one piece.

„Hey, babe,“ he called, dropping his backpack on the kitchen counter before entering the living room.

Casey was sitting on the comfortable couch, knees up, with a blanket pulled over him. On the table, he had a bowl of popcorn and a glass of soda in front of him. The YouTube video flickering over the screen was about baby pandas and their mothers.

Oh, cute animals, it was that bad. Zeke cringed inwardly while he bent down and gently kissed Casey on the cheek. He knew well enough that he wouldn't endure more at the moment.

A weak smile sneaked on Casey's lips.
„Hey. I've missed you.“

„Me, too.“
Zeke dropped onto the couch beside him, putting an arm around his shoulder.
„You okay?“

Finally, Casey turned his head to face him; he was pale, with dark rims around his eyes. He hadn't slept much in the last few days.

„I will be,“ he murmured, resting his head on Zeke's shoulder.
„Now, where you are here. Just hold me for a minute.“

…

Half an hour later, in the bathroom, Zeke had convinced Casey that a hot bath and a massage might be a good idea before he had a light meal and then went to bed early.

„This okay,“ he asked while his hands kneaded Casey's stiff, tense muscles.
„Tell me when it hurts too much.“

„You can't hurt me,“ Casey murmured, his eyes closed.

„Do you wanna talk about it,“ Zeke asked, though he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear more. It always was hard to endure, and to think that Casey could only tell him bits of the truth had already caused him more than just one nightmare.

„I will never get used to it when children are involved in the case,“ was all Casey said.

Zeke swallowed. Pictures were crossing his mind. Horrible picture Casey had taken. Because this was his job as a member of a special force from the FBI. Profiler; they only got the cruelest cases where most others had already given up. For about two years, Casey had been working for them as a photographer.

Zeke hadn't been able to understand his decision at first.
„FBI,“ he had asked, feeling flabbergasted.
„You can't be serious.“

„What's wrong with it?“
Casey had huffed, annoyed.
„It's an important job. The BAU has been very successful for years already, and they want a good photographer on their team. I'm brilliant.“

„Jetting around the world from one murder to the other? Hunting psychopaths? That's not you!“

„So, what do you expect me to do? Jetting around the world for a traveling magazine? That I do photo shoots of celebrities?“
He had looked at Zeke with tears, begging for understanding.
„That's not me, Zeke. It would be a waste of my talent. I have the chance to make the world a bit better place. How can I say 'no' to that?“

And Zeke had pulled him into his arms and accepted that Casey had to do what he had to do. For two years, he was a part of the team. The team. Hotch, the team leader. Derek, a smart and funny guy. Rossi, he had taken Casey under his wings at first, like a father. J.J. The only one in the team with an ideal relationship; she even had a baby. Reid, the youngest, besides Casey. He had a brilliant mind, and he had three doctor's degrees. Or were it already four? Penelope Garcia. A computer genius, the good soul of the team. Casey loved her, and of course, she was as geeky as he was.

At first, Zeke felt some jealousy when he noticed that they welcomed Casey heartily as the new member of their selected company. He seemed to spend more time together with them than at home; there were secrets Casey would never share with him. And Zeke had felt left behind, alone, and afraid that he would lose Casey. Today he knew better; Casey's job hadn't come between them, it had brought them even closer together.

„I love everyone on the team,“ Casey had told him one day.
„We are family. Only when we stand together are we able to do this job? We can trust ourselves blindly. We know what the other is thinking even without words.“

He paused and chuckled slightly.
„Well, they are the profiler. I'm just the photographer. But I'm a part of the family and proud of it.

But, Zeke ...“

Slowly, he grabbed Zeke's hand and entwined their fingers.
„Without you, I wouldn't be able to do all this. You make me strong enough for every new case. You don't blame me when I have to leave in the middle of the night head over heels; you help me pack and drive me to the airport. You never complain because of missed anniversaries or canceled weekend trips. You even go to Herrington for my mother's birthday because I'm not around.

But knowing you will be there when I return home is the most important thing to me. It keeps me going, no matter how difficult the circumstances of the case are.

I know it's not always easy for you, and I can't thank you enough for not giving up.“

Zeke had pulled the face; too many emotions to deal with it.
„Shut up, geek boy,“ he had snarled.
"Just shut up."

Casey had smiled.
„I love you!“

…

Finally, Zeke ended the massage.
„Water is getting cold,“ he said.
„Get dressed. A salad with toast is already waiting for you in the kitchen. And then: bed. You need some sleep, at least 10 hours. I will take care of it that no one disturbs you.“