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"You’ve been living in certification," McCoy countered He glanced at Zane, but his smile was hesitant and a little sad He lowered his head "It’s good to see you back safe, Grady"

"Thank you, sir"

"Have a seat I’roaned "Please tellhim back on desk duty You remember what happened last time"

McCoy turned his chair so he could rest his elbow on the desk and prop his chin in his hand He didn’t see moment of silence, he breathed in deeply "Gentlemen," he said as he exa to decide what else to say "During the course of Grady’s leave of absence, a few things caht thatI would have preferred to remain in the dark Unfortunately" He trailed off and shook his head

Zane’s good huh narrowed eyes He caught hi to Ty and stopped

Ty leaned back in his chair, slu at his forehead He pulled the Santa hat off He’d gone pale, and his knee was bouncing They both kneas co

McCoy looked up at Ty froaze shifted to Zane

Ty held his tre hi frorimly "Are you now or have you ever been involvedromantically?"

Ty closed his eyes as the rest of the color drained from his face Zane blinked hard over McCoy’s question and had no idea what to say How could they reply when McCoy already knew the answer, but the truth would probably separate the straighter in the seat "Yes," he answered, the sound barely even a recognizable word

McCoy slammed his hand onto his desk "Dammit, Grady! All the times you’ve lied to me over the years, and you pick now to be honest?"

There wasn’t anything Zane could add Not really He wasn’t asha in love with Ty He watched his partner as Ty met McCoy’s eyes He looked ill, but Zane knehy They ell and truly out now For better or worse Ty was handling it better than expected, really

McCoy propped both elbows on the desk and ed his temples Finally he leaned back and shook his head at them both "Noant it ation does not give a good goddaers over his chin and mouth in a nervous habit that rarely manifested "Heterosexual, hoive a danified and discreet, you do whatever you want We will not tell you who or who not to be involved with That having been said, my concern here, and that of my superiors, is how your relationship impacts your job performance and those around you"

"Rooddamned teams you had," Zane said

"And now you’re his superior" McCoy shook his head and covered his aze flickered to Ty "Gentlemen, if I could snuff this out, I would do it in a heartbeat But you made a very public display before Grady left While it’s not against any specific Bureau policies, it’s frowned upon, and it’s been dealt with the sa one of us to North Carolina?" Zane asked with a bitter laugh

"By separating you, yes"

"This is bullshit," Ty said

"This is precedent," McCoy snapped "You’re both good agents, but neither of you have ever been above reproach We can’t afford to have your integrity co Especially now that Garrett is essentially your boss"

Zane grunted "We’re no longer partners, there’s nothing to separate"

McCoy looked at hie back And you can’t have youryour boyfriend working under you"

Ty opened his mouth, and McCoy held up his hand "If you make a joke, I’ll shoot you"

"Yes, sir," Ty n one of you"

Zane stared, appalled by this sudden obstacle thrown in their path A reassigns--different shifts, different depart each other regularly There was no way McCoy could have any idea how serious their relationship was He seelanced over at Ty, as sitting stock still and watching McCoy intently

"We have several options," McCoy told them, obviously uncomfortable "One of you will be transferred to another field office DC or Philly would be relatively close Even Newark Unless you’re willing to end your relationship to stay where you are?"

"No," Ty answered immediately, his voice low and firive up Ty now that he’d just gotten him back

McCoy nodded as if he’d anticipated that reaction "Well," he said slowly "Which one of you will it be? Grady, we could send you to Philadelphia, closer to family Garrett, you’re already fao back there, where there are aze to his hands Yes, he’d expected the different shifts, not this