You know how guarded and tough Javier can be. But you also know that deep down inside, he's not so tough.

You get him to open up to you some and realize that's exactly what he needs.

Some strong language and talk of violence.

....................

You've been sitting, alone, at the table in the back for nearly forty five minutes. Your brain and body feels numb.

It's been one hell of a week. You honestly wonder if anything, any of you are doing is doing much good around these parts. Or if you're all you're really doing is just putting a bandage on a wound that'll never completely heal.

A movement catches your eye and you glance over. Javier Pena is sitting up front at the bar, nursing a beer and his ten packs of cigarettes. You grab your own beer and slip up closer to him.

You slip into the seat next to him. Javier doesn't even glance your way. You know he's gotta be too wrapped up in own troubling thoughts.

"Mind I join you?" Javi jumps, obviously startled by your presence. He nods slightly and puffs away on his cigarette, moving to tap the ashes into an ash tray.

"I'm here," you say quietly. "If you wanna blow off some steam."

"I appreciate the offer, Y/N," Javier says, his tone low and gruff. "But I'm not really in the mood for chatting."

"I hear you." You slowly sip your beer, wishing that the alcohol would take effect much quicker than it was.

"Sometime I feel like what we're doing isn't jack shit." Javi taps more of his cigarette ashes into the tray before returning it to his lips.

"I hear you on that as well. All this shit we deal on a daily basis, it can really mess a person up."

"No shit." Javier waves down the bartender and asks for two more beers. When the bartender sets the beers down, Javier slides one over to you.

"Thanks. I can definitely use that."

"I figured. If I need it, you do, too."

"Damn straight." You clink your glasses together before each taking a long gulp.

"I'm, uh, glad I ran into you here this evening." You feel your face get a little warm. But you also know not to read to much into it. You're more than familiar with Javier's record when it comes to the opposite sex.

"Yeah. I am, too, Javi." He turns his head, his dark eyes penetrating into yours. He has such pretty eyes. And that mustache! Holy cow. And don't even get you started on the dimples and lips.

Sometimes you think that Javier Pena is too pretty to be in this line of work. Sometimes you think his face belongs on the cover of a magazine. (Not that you'd ever tell him such a thing.)

"People like Escobar deserve to rot away in prison." You realize that Javier's been talking, but you missed half of it because you were too busy fawning over his looks.

"True statement." Javier gets a hard look on his face. When he gets this look, it makes him look years older than he really is.

"Damn asshole!" Javi abruptly slams his empty beer bottle down and you jump from the loud noise.

You notice Javier's face softens somewhat and he reaches out to gently touch your wrist.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to startle you." You just smile.

"Hey, don't even worry about that."

The corners of Javier's mouth turn up in a semi smile and he chuckles a little.

"I should have figured you wouldn't be that upset by my ridiculous outburst."

"Not at all."

Javier suddenly hops off the chair, tossing some money on the bar.

"Wanna go somewhere else?" You raise your eyebrows at him.

"Where'd you have in mind?"

"It's a secret."

"I'm not going someplace inappropriate, Pena."

"It's nothing even remotely close to inappropriate. Just come with me. Please?" His dark eyes are silently pleading with you. How can you say no when you know that Javier probably really needs a friend right now.

You hop off your own seat and grab up your shit, facing Javier.

"Lead the way."

...................

"Oh my God, Javi," you breathe. "Its absolutely breathtaking."

Javier took you up on a hill, overlooking the city. It's the most beautiful sight you've laid eyes on in weeks.

Javier stands close to you, as you both just admire the city lights in the pitch black night sky.

"Seeing something like this, " you say softly. "It's just...wow. It's kind of hard to believe that such beauty can exist in such a dangerous and brutal place."

"I know." Javi pauses to light up another cigarette. "Especially when I think of all the killings that take place right here in this city."

You automatically reach out for Javier's hand and he holds on. You smile to yourself. But then, you think of what Javier just said, about the killings and it brings tears to your eyes.

You sniffle some, fumbling in your pocket for a tissue. Javi gives your a hand a gentle squeeze and you're glad.

"Sorry," you apologize. "I didn't mean to ruin the moment."

"You didn't." You pull your hand free and just rest your head on Javier's shoulder. He slides his arm around you.

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"For reminding me that not everything in this city is awful and dangerous and scary."

"You're welcome. And thank you for just being there when I needed someone."

"Anytime, Pena."