*Robbie*

In retrospect, Robbie was glad Jane convinced him to spar. It had been a little hard on his ego getting kicked around so handily, and there were bruises developing under his arms from where she had dug her steely fingers into pressure points, but the workout had distracted him from thoughts of Wyl. Now it was nearly time for his ship to arrive, and instead of being wrought up with hours' worth of anxiety, he only had minutes of anticipation to torture him with.

Inspector Doyle was standing next to him, so he didn't allow himself to fidget, just stared ahead at the docking bay where the ship would be arriving. Five minutes. Three minutes. The inspector wisely didn't try to make conversation. One minute...

Robbie had to do a double take when the ship pulled in. It was hardly recognizable as the same one. A week ago the hull had been jagged, shield plates bent, twisted, and pockmarked with holes. This ship was a little ragged, but everything fit together seamlessly.

The bay repressurized, the doors unlocked, and Robbie walked inside. The ship's door opened, but it wasn't Wyl who got out, or the pilot he remembered from before. This man was taller and a little bulkier, with a hard face and thin lips. He walked over to them. "Marshal, Inspector."

"Your name, sir?" Robbie asked, a feeling of apprehension twisting in his gut.

"Mike Ebner. I'm the operations manager for Miss Jessom's Hazard mines."

"Is Mr. Leyton with you?"

"He's in the ship."

"Go and get him, please."

The man gave him a strange look. "I can answer any questions you have, Marshal Sinclair."

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"I'm afraid you can't." Robbie was polite but cold. "Go and get him. Then Inspector Doyle will continue the review and go over the licensing paperwork with you." Robbie had to hand it to Doyle; he was the perfect straight man, not blinking at this change from the normal routine.

Mr. Ebner obviously didn't like it, but there wasn't much he could do. He walked back into the ship, and a few moments later Wyl walked out with him. Robbie's pulse sped up as soon as he saw him. He nodded his head at Doyle, and the smaller man moved smoothly forward, intercepting Ebner and drawing him back towards the ship while letting Wyl continue walking to Robbie. "Are you ready to fill me in?" Robbie asked for Mr. Ebner's benefit. Wyl nodded, and Robbie drew him back and out of the docking bay. As soon as the door shut, Wyl was in his arms.

"Not too friendly, is he," Robbie said with a grin. It felt so good to hold him again.

"You have no idea," Wyl mumbled against his chest. Robbie stroked one hand through his hair, but stopped when Wyl hissed slightly.

"What's wrong?" Robbie drew him back a little bit and gazed down at his face, then frowned. "Where did you get that bruise?"

"I took a fall on the ship."

Robbie ran his fingertips lightly over the raised lump just behind his temple. "Should we go to the medic?"

"No," Wyl said quickly. "No. I'm fine, really, I get worse all the time working with the machines."

"You're sure." Wyl's rapid nod reassured him somewhat, but Robbie knew something wasn't right. It wasn't the moment to push, however; Wyl looked fragile enough that a stiff breeze would blow him over. "Let's go to my place, then. I'll make you dinner. Do you like alfredo?"

"I've never had it," Wyl confessed.

"You've been living under a rock."

The sudden bitterness in Wyl's expression shocked him. "Yeah, I have."

Moved by a sudden impulse to comfort him, Robbie kissed his forehead and then his mouth, a brief kiss that seared him with desire, then embraced him again. "Then it's definitely time you tasted alfredo. C'mon, let's go home."

Wyl's whole body shuddered for a second, and he buried his face in the crook of Robbie's neck. Robbie didn't know what was wrong, he just knew that Wyl needed to be consoled, and so he stood with him in the hall, blind to the inquisitive glances, lightly stroking his back and shoulders until Wyl relaxed again.

He didn't say anything else, even when Wyl pulled back and wouldn't meet his eyes. Robbie just held onto his hand and walked with him down the hall, back towards his apartment, glad Jane had insisted he take this shift and the next one off. He sensed he'd need the time.