The Night Shift One-Shots

DrewxRick - I Tried!

A/N: Just a shortie to give you all something to devour until I can get the next few longer ones written and divided into chapters. Enjoy!

Rick was making breakfast when Drew came home. Brianna had left for school already, so Rick had been in the house alone for a little while. He'd gotten a text from his husband about ten minutes ago, saying he was leaving the hospital, so Rick had started frying bacon and eggs.

When the familiar rattle of Drew's keys resounded through the house, Rick smiled to himself. Drew had the next few nights off, so Rick had used up some of his yearly holidays to be with him. Rick followed the same routine of sounds as his husband returned. The keys fell into the bowl in the hall, his rucksack hit the floor, his shoes were placed carefully on the rack, his hoodie zipper was undone, then the hoodie hung up, finally, the steady, heavy footfall came through to the kitchen.

A pair of arms wrapped around his middle and a strong frame fell against his back. "Hey, babe. How was your-" he was cut off by a silent sob wracking through his husband's frame. "Drew, baby, what happened?" The gas was turned off, the pan placed down before Rick turned to hold Drew.

"I couldn't – he – I tried!" He sobbed the desperation clear in his tone.

"Babe, slow down, what happened?" Rick pressed, taking Drew by the hand and leading him to the couch, where they both sat, Drew half lay across Rick's lap. Drew took a few deep breaths, then started again.

"There was a guy last night, got beat up because he had a pride badge on. I tried to save him, Rick. I tried!" He dissolved into fresh tears, hands covering his face in devastation. "He was one of us!" He finished.

"Oh, sweetheart." Rick crumpled into sympathy; he couldn't even begin to imagine what it must feel like. He was one of them, a soldier, and he was dead. "D'you wanna talk about it?" It took a moment for Drew to compose himself enough to speak.

"Four tours in Afghanistan, two in Iraq and one reconnaissance sweep over Syria, and he dies because some assholes punched him in the wrong place." He snapped bitterly. "You should have seen the scars this guy had, babe. Seriously, it's a miracle he was still alive in the first place. Six tours. SIX!" He lay still for a moment, his breathing slowly steadying out. "Don't ever wear the badge in Texas, please baby." He begged.

They'd been to pride last year, and they'd both bought badges for themselves.

Drew rummaged in his pocket, then held out his closed hand to Rick. "He was wearing this. The same as yours. Promise me you're never going to wear that when you're out alone." Rick hesitated. "PROMISE ME!" Drew nearly yelled.

"I promise." Rick agreed.

"If that ever – I couldn't even think about what would happen if – What if that had been either of us?" 

"But it wasn't, so let's try to think about the positives, yeah?" 

"I tried!" Drew repeated, falling to hug Rick tightly, sat fully in his lap. Rick hugged him back, kissing the side of his head and running a hand through Drew's hair - which he'd been growing out since he returned from his last tour. 

"I know, baby. I know you did."