Shadow Men – 68 – Anders and Grant

"Just what the hell were you planning on doing?" Anders growled as Grant helped him make it to the elevator. "Beat him over the head with your cast after you stuck the knife in his side?"

"So…my aim was bad. It would have been better if someone hadn't decided to have a shoot-out at the OK Corral just then."

"Yeah, well shit happens."

"So I see." Grant shifted his grip around Anders' waist to avoid getting even more blood on his clothes from the wound on Anders' shoulder. "You need a doctor."

"Not 'til we get rid of the papers. I'm tired of lugging them around."

"We're just going to leave the bodies there for the cops to find?"

"Yep." The elevator doors slid open and they got in. "You got my knife back so we're good."

Grant stared at him and almost laughed. "Have you taken a look at yourself? You look like a bloody grease-monkey, literally."

"Yeah, well, I guess we'll have to do something about that."

"Like?"

"Go back to the car. I've got some extra clothes in the trunk." Anders pushed the button to take them up.

"What if…?"

"I doubt there will be anyone there. Even if there are a couple more of them they won't expect us to be stupid enough to return to the car."

"Guess they're wrong."

"Yeah, guess so."

* * * *

"You still look like hell, but at least you're not covered with blood," Grant said a few minutes later as they returned to the elevator.

Anders was now in well-worn jeans and a T-shirt with a jean jacket over top. Lacking any bandages, Grant had cut up a second T-shirt with the knife to make a compress, which was held in place on Anders' shoulder with duct tape he'd found in the trunk.

Grant's dark turtleneck hid the blood he'd gotten on him from helping Anders. Anders suspected he felt sticky and undoubtedly was wishing there had been something else in the car trunk for him to change into. But there wasn't so he'd just have to deal with it.

Grant pushed the button when the elevator doors closed and leaned back against the elevator wall with a deep sigh.

"You did good," Anders told him as he joined him against the wall.

"Thanks." Grant turned his head to look at him.

"Very good." Anders looked at Grant, intending to give him his usual pat on the shoulder. Suddenly and impulsively, he kissed him. It wasn't much of a kiss, more a quick brush of his lips over Grant's. Then he pulled back. "Sorry, shouldn't have done that," he muttered.

"Why not?"

"Because…" Anders had no intention of saying more but apparently Grant was bent on getting him to.

"That's not an answer, Anders."

"Because it's not something you want. Or I was taking advantage of the situation. Or because I just needed some human contact for a moment. Take your choice," Anders snapped out. "Satisfied?"

Grant reached past him to push the stop button just before the elevator reached the first floor of the garage. "One, there was no 'situation' as far as I can see. Two, what's wrong with needing honest contact with someone else. Three, maybe I did want it. I'm not saying for sure, but…"

Anders was beyond surprised when Grant leaned forward to plant a firm kiss on his mouth then started the elevator again.

The doors opened seconds later and Grant stepped out. "Now, shall we get this damned thing over with?"

The job, yeah. But the kiss, it was just the beginning if I have anything to say about it.