Old Series - Old Friends

Old Friends - Chapter One

by Nelson

Couple: Ben/Vic

Warning: Angst, angst and more angst – but no one dies. This was a difficult write for me, which you’ll likely understand after you read it.

Special thanks to Alex for her undying support, and unending nagging that resulted in this story. :-D

May 2004

Ben heard the garage door opening, and immediately snapped his book closed, excited not only to see Vic, but to stop studying. He reached the kitchen about the same time Vic did, and was greeted with a tired smile.

“Hi, Sweetheart,” Vic said, looking over at Ben.

Ben went to him and welcomed him properly with a “hello” and a kiss. “How was your day?” Ben asked.

“Busy,” Vic said. “Nothing new there. How about yours?”

"Same old thing.” Ben took the grocery bag from Vic and peered inside. “What’s for dinner?”

“I didn’t feel like cooking much tonight. I just got spaghetti and Prego. Will that do?”

“Fine with me,” Ben said, laying the bag and contents on the bar. He followed Vic upstairs to change, settling on the edge of the bed, and Maggie sat at his feet watching Vic. Ben admired Vic’s form as he stripped away the stuffy work clothes to exchange them for something more comfortable.

Vic’s voice was muffled by the t-shirt he was pulling over his head, “Guess who I saw today?”

“Who?”

Vic ran his hand through his hair and straightened his t-shirt, tucking it into his jeans. “Do you remember me talking about a guy named Reese Patrick? From my old college days?”

Ben curled a foot under his knee and said, “Nope. I think I’d remember a guy with a girl’s name.”

Vic chuckled and ruffled Ben’s hair as he walked by toward the bathroom. “It’s not a girl’s name,” he said as he went through the bathroom door.

“It is,” Ben argued, and followed Vic to the bathroom. He stopped in the doorway and leaned against it with his arms folded, watching his lover do his business without a care for privacy. Ben reiterated, “It’s a girl’s name, for sure. Ever hear of Reese Witherspoon?”

Vic zipped his jeans, and paused in front of the sink to wash his hands. “Yes, I’ve heard of her,” Vic said, reaching for a towel. “But, it’s like ‘Kelly’ or ‘Chris’, that sort of thing, I guess.” He took Ben’s hand as he came by, and Ben noticed the clammy feel of it where it had just been washed. “Besides, he’s a guy, no matter what his name is.”

“I don’t remember him. What about him?”

“He’s an attorney. We had a lot of classes together. We were never really tight, but we were friendly.”

“I guess that’s why I don’t know who he is,” Ben reckoned.

“Probably. He was at the gym when I went at lunch today and we started talking. He’s gotten himself into a little problem,” Vic explained as they entered the kitchen. “He’s representing himself for this car accident he was in, and he’s in over his head, really. The problem is, he’s not experienced enough to handle it for the most part. Not his area of expertise.”

“Why didn’t he just get an attorney for himself?” Ben asked slipping onto a barstool.

Vic pulled a pot from under the cabinet and walked to the sink to fill it with water. “That’s what I asked him.”

“Well?”

Vic shrugged and shook his head. “He thought he could handle it, even though he’s never handled an injury claim before.”

Ben snorted and said, “Not real bright for an attorney.”

“He asked me to help him out after work once I brought him up to speed on what I do. I didn’t commit to anything because I wanted to talk to you about it first.” Vic cranked the burner up to medium high to get the water boiling.

“Why isn’t his insurance company handling it for him?”

“Well, they are,” Vic explained while he worked, “but only up to his policy limits. He’s been sued for $50,000 more than that. If they lose the case, he’s on the hook for any amount over his limits.”

“Jeez, that’s a lot of money,” Ben said. “How often after work would you need to help him?”

“It’s hard to say. It will probably tie me up several evenings, and I told him I didn’t want to make a decision like that if you weren’t okay with it. I’ll be late a lot, I expect.” Vic leaned against the cabinet and looked at his partner who had the distinct expression of a man thinking about something. “We’ve got depos to prepare for, experts to hire…a lot to do. What do you think?”

Ben frowned and looked at his hands. “How late?”

“Probably eight or nine o’clock most nights. He’s nowhere near ready on this case from what he told me.”

Ben sighed and said, “I don’t know. I guess it’s okay. I mean, he could stand to lose a lot of money.”

“That’s not our fault though. I won’t do it if it’s going to be a problem. I don’t owe him anything,” Vic pointed out.

Ben shrugged and looked up at Vic. “Maybe we can have lunch or something on the days you plan to work over.”

“We’ll have the weekends, too,” Vic said. “I won’t work on the weekends with him.”

“It’s okay, I guess,” Ben said.

“Are you sure?” Vic’s brow furrowed slightly, not sure Ben meant what he was saying.

“Yeah. It’s fine.”

Still not quite convinced, Vic said, “Why don’t we see how it goes? If it’s too much, I’ll quit.”

Liking that plan better, Ben said, “Yeah, that’s good.”

“It might not be as bad as I think it is. I’ll know more after I see what he’s got.”

“Or, it could be worse,” Ben pointed out, leaning on his elbows.

“I don’t even want to think it could be worse,” Vic said with a grin. He heard the water beginning to rumble on the stove, and he pitched a couple of handfuls of Rotini noodles in the pot.

Ben saw Zach at lunch the next day, and he made his way over to the table where he was. “Hey,” Ben said.

Zach swallowed a mouthful of a meatball sub, and said, “Hey, yourself.”

Ben sat down and picked up his own sandwich and turned his nose up at Zach’s. “Gross.”

“Stop yapping about my food,” Zach ordered. “It’s good.”

“Nasty,” Ben said, in spite of the instruction he just received.

Zach gnawed on the straw sticking out of his cup and took a slurp. “What’s going on today?” he asked, then took the last bite of his sandwich.

“Test in Algebra,” Ben said. He reached for the salt and put what Vic would consider to be too much on his sandwich.

“Ick. None for me today, thank God.” He sighed, pushing his tray away. Zach leaned back in his chair, watching Ben eat, and said, “I have spring fever. I don’t want to be here today.”

Ben grinned and said, “Thinking of skipping? You remember how that turned out last time.”

“Very funny,” Zach said, unamused. “I’m not skipping. I’m just saying I don’t feel like being here.”

“Where would you like to be?” Ben asked.

“Anywhere else,” Zach said, with a wistful glance out the café window. He turned away when bustling students blocked his view as they searched for seats in the cafeteria.

“I might as well be here,” Ben said. “Vic’s going to be late tonight.”

“What’s he doing?”

“Helping a friend with a case. Some guy he and Nelson went to college with. He’s going to be late a lot for the next few weeks, he thinks.”

“Ah,” Zach said with a nod and mischievous grin. “Cat’s away, huh?” He raised his eyebrows knowingly.

Ben didn’t take the bait. “Yeah, not that I want him to be.”

“Pathetic,” Zach teased. “You want to come over to our house when he works?”

“What for?” Ben asked. The confusion was clear in his expression.

Zach rolled his eyes and said, “Do you need a reason? Can’t you just come for the company?”

Ben shrugged and said, “I might. I don’t know yet.”

“It’s up to you. The door’s open if you want to come over any.”

A young man accidentally bumped Ben’s back as he passed, just when Ben was getting ready to take a bite of his sandwich. He scowled and looked back to see who had so rudely interrupted him. Zach had his straw between his teeth and almost spewed Coke when he saw Ben’s expression.

“Sorry,” the guy mumbled.

Ben shot him a nasty glare for his clumsiness, and saw Zach looking at him with a crooked grin on his face. “It’s not funny,” Ben said, brushing a piece of lettuce off the front of his shirt.

“Yeah, it was,” Zach said, smiling wider. He passed Ben an extra napkin and watched him work at the small wet spot on the front of his shirt.

“I have to go to the grocery store tonight,” Ben said, getting back to the original topic. “Maybe I’ll come over tomorrow night.”

Zach shook his head. “I hate to go to the grocery store.”

“Me, too, but I need some easy stuff to fix for the nights when he’s late in case I don’t feel like peanut butter and jelly.”

“You should just eat with us. Nelson won’t care.”

“I might come by a few nights, but I don’t want to do it every time he’s late.”

“Whatever you want to do,” Zach said. With a quick look at his watch, Zach stood from the table. “I hate to leave you, buddy, but I’ve got to go.”

“See you later,” Ben said, with a wave goodbye.

Ben had fallen asleep on the sofa watching television, and hadn’t heard Vic come in later that night. Vic looked down at Ben sleeping peacefully on the sofa and smiled to himself. He sat on the edge of the coffee table and ran a hand over Ben’s angelic face, and thought how different it could look under the right, or rather wrong, circumstances.

Ben woke up with the touch and he caught sight of Vic smiling at him. “Hey,” he said with a gravelly voice. “What are you smiling at?”

“You,” Vic said. He leaned over and kissed Ben’s head, and Ben leaned up on his elbow for a better kiss. Vic obliged him. “Did you miss me?”

“Of course, I did,” Ben said, wiping sleep from his eyes. He yawned and squinted at the clock. “What time is it?”

“It’s only 9:00. Do you need to go to bed already?” Vic asked while trying to hide a smile.

“No!” Ben said, suddenly alert. “I’m fine. I just got comfortable, that’s all.”

“It’s not like you to fall asleep this early. Are you feeling okay?” Vic asked with concern tingeing his voice.

“I’m fine,” Ben said. Maggie hopped up onto the sofa alongside him and Ben’s hand went to her head automatically. “Did you get much done tonight? You’re later than you were Tuesday and Wednesday.”

“I know. I was just getting my bearings the first two nights, but we really got started tonight. We got a lot done, though,” Vic said. He scooped Ben’s legs off the sofa, making room for himself, while encouraging Ben to sit up. He made the sound of a tired man who had put in way too many hours in the last three days as he settled down beside Ben. “I’m glad tomorrow is Friday.”

Ben snuggled deep under Vic’s arm and felt the tickle of his fingers against his bicep as Vic stroked him through the sleeve of his t-shirt. “You sound tired,” Ben said.

“I am,” Vic said. Maggie jumped over into Ben’s lap, not happy with the lack of attention, and Vic petted her head with his free hand. “Are you keeping my boyfriend company while I’m working so much, girl?” She closed her eyes and bent her head into Vic’s hand.

“She’s doing a good job of that,” Ben said.

Vic smiled down at her. “Good girl.”

“Are you too tired to go out tomorrow night?”

“Right now, yes. I’ll be fine by tomorrow night. A good night’s sleep will make me as good as new.”

Wanting to do more than sleep, Ben said, “Too bad you’re so tired tonight.” He slipped a hand between Vic’s thighs to see just how tired he was – his Tired-O-Meter. He frowned when the meter read: Level of Tiredness – High. Ben wore a look of pure disappointment when Vic barely smiled in response. He asked with concern, “You really are tired, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry, Pumpkin, I am.” He tilted his head back to rest on the edge of the sofa, and he closed his eyes. “It’s been mentally exhausting, not to mention the extra hours.” After another heavy sigh, Vic raised his head from the back of the sofa and said, “I need to go up and change.”

“You might as well put your pajamas on, now,” Ben said. “It’s almost bedtime.”

Vic straightened up from the sofa and said as he neared the stairs, “Yeah, you’re right. I think that’s what I’ll do.”

Not wanting to miss anything, Maggie jumped off Ben’s lap and trailed Vic up the stairs. Watching the two of them disappear, Ben mumbled under his breath, “That’s okay, Maggie. I don’t mind being by myself.”

The late routine was starting to wear thin with Ben by the end of the second week, and his temper flared when he found out Vic had to work again the following night after planning not to. “You’ve already worked more with him this week than you did last week! And, now you’re working again tomorrow night?” Ben asked from the bed. “It’s already 9:30 and you’re just coming home tonight!”

Vic sat on the side of the bed and ran his hand along Ben’s leg tucked under the sheet, looking at him propped against the headboard. “I know, Sweetheart. I had no idea there was going to be so much to do.”

Ben stared at his lap, saying nothing then folded his arms. Vic reached for one of his arms and pulled until it unfolded from the other. He interlaced his fingers with Ben’s and said, “Don’t be mad. Please?”

“Don’t work, then,” Ben said. Looking back at Vic he added, “Please?”

Ben’s hazel eyes pierced Vic, and he picked up Ben’s hand, kissing the tip of each finger. He gave in to those eyes, and said between the kisses, “I. Love. You.”

Ben wanted to pull his hand away, but enjoyed the softness of Vic’s lips against his fingertips. “Enough not to work tomorrow night? I just want you to come home.”

Vic changed his attention from Ben’s fingertips to his lips. “Of course, I do,” he said after kissing Ben full on the lips. “We just have so much to do...”

“And, that’s more important than spending time with me?” Ben asked quietly, his anger dissolving into hurt.

Vic’s brow knit with concern. “Never, Ben.” Ben locked eyes with Vic, and Vic said, “Don’t you ever think anything is more important than that.”

“So we can go out for dinner tomorrow night?” Ben asked cautiously. “You won’t work?”

“If that’s what you want to do. I’ll tell Reese we have plans, okay?” Ben smiled and leaned up to kiss Vic while CSI came on unnoticed in the background.

“I cannot believe you want to break our date!” Ben snapped into his cell. Zach watched him from across the picnic table in the courtyard of the college where the two liked to study when weather permitted.

“I’m not breaking our date, Ben, I just suggested we change our plans a bit,” Vic said. “If it’s going to upset you that much, we won’t do it. I just thought you wouldn’t mind if we worked after dinner at our house since I wouldn’t be ditching you at home alone again. We’ll still be having dinner together.”

“With HIM. We had plans that didn’t include HIM coming over to our house for dinner, OR working afterward,” Ben said hotly. Zach watched Ben intently with his brows lifted in wonder. “We were supposed to go OUT.”

Vic said, “Benjamin, calm down. I just asked. There’s no need in you losing your temper over this. I thought the whole idea was just that you didn’t want to be left home alone again, more so than me working. I just misunderstood. I’ll come home and we’ll scrap working tonight altogether, and not change our dinner plans.” He paused and waited, hearing nothing but silence on the other end. “All right?”

“Never mind. I don’t want to go out, now.”

“Benjamin, just stop it,” Vic said firmly. “It was simply a suggestion. I won’t work at all tonight. I’ll be home at 5:00 to take you out.”

“Whatever you want,” Ben said with exaggerated cooperation.

“Benjamin!”

“What?!” he answered.

“Keep it up, and we won’t be going anywhere.”

“I don’t care if we don’t,” he said. Zach’s mouth fell open at the sarcasm and venom he heard in Ben’s voice.

Vic thought perhaps a night at home was exactly what the two of them could use. He sensed a strong need for reconnection. Leveraging off Ben’s snippy response, he voiced his thoughts, “I think an evening at home is exactly what we need. I’ll see you when I get there.”

Without a goodbye, Ben snapped his cell phone closed and Zach’s eyes bugged. “Did you just hang up on him?” he asked incredulously. The phone started ringing again in seconds, and Ben didn’t immediately answer it. Zach gave him some good advice and ordered, “Answer it! Do you have a death wish?”

Ben glared at him and finally answered it on the fifth ring. “What?” he said, not bothering to hide the irritation he felt.

Vic spoke slowly and evenly through the phone. “You have every right to be upset with me, but you do NOT talk to me this way nor do you EVER hang up on me,” he said through gritted teeth. Ben sat mutely, holding the phone to his ear. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” Ben snapped.

“What was that?” Vic asked.

Ben knew Vic had heard what he said, but he just didn’t like the delivery. He hissed, “Yes, SIR.”

Vic was shaking his head at the foul attitude he was drawing from his lover. “Benjamin, do I need to come pick you up and take you home early to discuss how you talk to me?”

“NO, sir,” he said, with equal irritation, but a little less harshly.

“We will talk about this when I get home,” he promised.

“Fine,” Ben said, undeterred. “Am I allowed to hang up, now?”

Vic blinked at the comment with his mouth open. He recovered long enough to say, “Oh, we will definitely be talking about this when I get home. You may hang up now, Benjamin, before you get yourself in more trouble.”

Ben hung up the second time without a word, but felt he was entitled since Vic had told him he could.

“What the fuck was that about?” Zach asked, without a thought for the homework he had been doing.

Ben slammed his phone down on the table. “It’s about Vic spending too much time with someone other than me, and then having the nerve to break our date tonight for him.”

“He wanted to go out with that guy?” Zach asked, the uncertainty showing on his face. “Out, out?”

“He wanted to have Reese over for dinner then work afterward.”

“Reese?!” Zach asked with a grin. “That’s a girl’s name.”

“That’s what I said. Vic says it’s both. Anyway,” Ben said getting back to the subject, “we were supposed to go out tonight, but now he’s pissed, and says we aren’t going anywhere. Joy.”

“Are you in trouble?” Zach asked. “You hung up on him.”

Ben slumped against the tabletop, leaning on his forearms. “I don’t know,” he said with a sullen expression. “Probably. I really don’t care.”

Zach shrugged. “I don’t blame you for being mad. I wouldn’t want Nelson being gone as much as Vic has been either, especially with another man.”

“It’s been almost two weeks of this shit now, and I’m damn sick of being home alone. Then, for him to want to be with him tonight, too? After we had plans?” He slapped his hand down onto his paper that almost blew away with a gentle breeze that caught it just right.

“I don’t blame you,” Zach repeated, watching Ben scramble to get the paper out of the wind. “How much longer is he going to be working with this guy?”

Ben started shaking his head. “I don’t know. I’m sick of it, though.”

“Have you met him?”

“No, and I don’t want to. I’m beginning to hate him without even knowing him,” Ben said. “That might be harder to do if I meet him and he’s actually nice.” He started gathering his books up and said, “I can’t concentrate anymore. I might as well go home.” Zach watched Ben sorting through his papers, then shove them in his backpack. “I’ll see you later, Zach.”

“Okay. Good luck with Vic tonight. Sounds like you’re going to need it.”

“I’m not worried about Vic,” Ben said, and sounded like he meant it.

Remembering the angry voice he picked up over the phone, Zach said, “He sounded pretty mad. I could hear him.”

“Well, he’s got the same dirty underwear to get glad in, as my Grandma used to say.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder and reached into his jeans pocket for his car keys.

Zach burst out laughing and held his stomach. “What the hell does that mean?”

With Zach’s laughter being infectious as it often was, Ben managed a smile. He said, “I don’t know. That he can get over it? That’s what I thought it meant.”

“Too much,” Zach said. “See you later.”

“Bye.”

Vic walked in the backdoor and sat the pizza box on the table on his way through to the living room. He could hear voices from the television before he even got in the room. He walked over to the set and turned it off, and didn’t fail to notice Ben averting his attention from him when he faced him. Ben sat with his hands in his lap and purposely turned his head away from Vic, ignoring him and the fact that he just turned off what he was watching. Vic took a moment to try to assess his partner’s mood and emotional temperature.

Finding Ben still in a foul mood by his very expression, he decided they should address dinner before talking, since it seemed it might be a nasty conversation. “Wash your hands. It’s time to eat,” Vic said simply then went back to the kitchen.

Ben glared daggers into Vic’s back as he walked away then grudgingly got up to go wash his hands. Scowling had no impact if the person it was directed at wasn’t looking, so his frown held no satisfaction for him. He pumped soap into his palms then rubbed his hands together harder than was necessary under the water, grumbling to himself the whole time. Between the anti-bacterial soap and his feverish scrubbing, the germs didn’t stand a chance. He finished up and found Vic at the kitchen table, tie loosened, and serving pizza onto paper plates when he came in. “Have a seat,” he said to Ben.

Without a comment, Ben sat at the table and picked up his pizza, too angry to enjoy it, not to mention apprehensive about what Vic had planned. Dinner was tense, with neither man saying anything throughout the entire meal until they finished eating. Vic closed the pizza box, covering the few slices that were left, and put it in the refrigerator. No matter how angry he was, Ben’s nerves were beginning to stand on end, knowing they were about to have a conversation about the appropriateness of hanging up on one’s partner. Vic threw out the paper plates they had used in place of fine China, and wiped off the table before calmly sitting down again to address Ben.

“Are you ready to talk?” he asked directly.

“I don’t have anything to say,” Ben answered, staring at the tabletop. Silence hung in the air until it was broken by Ben’s voice. “I’m going to shower,” Ben said, standing from the table.

Vic growled two short words that further chased away the quiet. “SIT. DOWN,” he said, leaving no room for argument. Ben took a tentative step toward the door in spite of the command then changed his mind when he saw Vic’s eyes flash. Once Ben was back in his seat, Vic continued the conversation. “How long have you been mad at me about helping Reese?” Vic asked.

Ben slapped the top of the table and said, “That is NOT it. I could care less if you help him. You just don’t have to help him on OUR time. We were supposed to have dinner together tonight. US – meaning me and you, withOUT him.”

Shocked at the vehemence in Ben’s response, Vic tried to reconcile how a simple suggestion for dinner with a friend had so upset Ben. “I am sorry, Ben. I just thought you didn’t want to be alone again. I had no idea going out tonight was about ‘us’.”

Ben shook his head at Vic and said, “It was a date for two. Not a threesome.”

“I’m sorry, Benjamin. I didn’t understand how much you wanted to go out with just me.”

“Well, now you do,” Ben replied bitterly.

“Did you not hear me when I apologized for even bringing it up today? I said it earlier, and at least twice tonight. What does it take to get forgiven, Ben?” Vic asked in exasperation.

“I heard you. But, you should have never asked to cancel our plans to do something entirely different and include HIM.”

“First of all, I did not ask to cancel our plans, just change them. Secondly, I cannot take it back,” Vic answered slowly. “Are you never going to let me live it down?” Ben felt a pang of regret, knowing Vic would have forgiven him by this point should the situation be reversed. In fact, he always forgave him. Ben’s cheeks took on a pink hue, and the salt and pepper shakers suddenly became a focal point. Vic asked, “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to quit working with him? Because if you’re this upset, I obviously need to consider it.”

“I just couldn’t believe you wanted to work again tonight,” Ben said with hurt feelings. “I think I’ve been plenty patient.”

Vic covered Ben’s hand with his own and said, “Please look at me.” He waited to see if Ben would do as he asked, and was grateful when he did. “You have been patient and I appreciate it. I said I was sorry. I had no idea tonight was that important to you.”

Ben could see Vic meant it. He said, “It’s okay.”

Vic pulled him from the chair, guiding him closer, and Ben bristled, expecting to end up over Vic’s knees. Instead, he found himself more comfortably resting in his lap and not across it. Vic said, “Thank you, Sweetheart. I am sorry about all the time this is costing us.”

Ben slipped his arms around Vic’s neck and Vic heard his voice, close to his ear. It was barely above a whisper. “I miss you.”

Vic hugged him hard and said, “I miss you, too.” He knew they had other things on the agenda for discussion so he segued into the other topic. “When you’re upset, whether it’s because you miss me or whatever other reason, you need to talk calmly to me.” Ben tensed against him – here we go. Vic said, “We need to talk about you snapping at me, and hanging up on me.”

Ben kept his head buried against Vic’s neck where it was safe, his arms locked firmly around him. “I don’t want to.”

“We’re going to anyway,” Vic said gently, but with a firmness that left no other alternative. “Why didn’t you talk to me without snapping? And, more importantly, why did you feel you had a right to hang up on me?”

Ben squeezed his eyes closed and began to worry. What hadn’t mattered earlier was suddenly a definite concern sitting in Vic’s lap. “I was just mad,” he whispered.

Vic peeled Ben off his neck, not allowing him to hide during their conversation any longer. Ben kept his head tipped down until Vic lifted it by his chin. He didn’t speak again until he had eye contact. “I got the message. You know better than to act like that with me, don’t you?”

“But, it was your fault. Don’t you get punished at all?” Ben asked sullenly.

“Did I say I was going to punish you for it?”

Almost afraid to hear the answer, but without the forethought not to ask, Ben said in surprise, “Aren’t you?” The worry in his face gave way to confusion.

Vic took Ben’s hand in one of his own. “Not this time. Things have been hard on both of us lately, in my opinion, and today was clear evidence of that.” Ben blinked at Vic, not sure he really heard what he thought he did. Vic said, “But I can assure you, if you pull that on me again, you’ll get spanked. No questions asked. I promise you that.”

That comment sounded more like what he expected. Ben looked away and mumbled, “Sorry, Vic. I won’t do it again.”

Vic hugged Ben tightly and said, “I figure we both have some things to be sorry for tonight.”

Ben nodded against Vic and enjoyed the feel of his arms around him. He put his own arms back around Vic’s neck and held him close. “I really have missed you,” Ben said.

“I’ve missed you, too.”

A little guilt wormed its way inside and Ben began to feel ashamed for how he had treated Vic, even though he felt fully justified at the time. He was just trying to help a friend, one that Ben still hadn’t met. After a much-needed kiss, Ben said, “Why don’t you invite Reese over Monday night for dinner since I blew up over tonight? At least I can meet him and see you a bit more, even if you have to work.”

Vic looked at Ben, searching his eyes. “Are you sure?”

Ben nodded, “Yeah, I’m sure.”

“That would be nice, Sweetheart. I’ll ask him.”

Ben settled back against Vic again. “Are you tired tonight?”

Vic raised his eyebrows and sat back to look at Ben. “That depends on what you had in mind.”

Ben smiled seductively. “Something that will be more fun than going out would have been.”

“I can think of a few things,” Vic said, pushing Ben off his lap as he stood. They left the kitchen to go upstairs, and were vaguely aware of the sound of Maggie’s toenails on the tile, following behind them.

Ben took the cucumber from Zach and prepared to peel it for the salad while Zach worked on the lettuce. “There’s a tomato in the fridge when you’re done with that.”

“Okay,” Ben said. He looked at the cucumber, not sure where to start. “How do you want me to cut it? In slices or cubes?”

“Little cubes,” Zach said. “I hate to have to cut up my salad after it’s in a little bowl. It should be ready to put in your mouth before you stick your fork in it.” Zach sat a plastic bowl in front of Ben and sat one on the table for himself. “We have to hurry up. I’ll bet Nelson and Vic will have the burgers done in no time.”

“Yeah,” Ben agreed, looking quizzically at the cucumber. He started peeling it, around and around, trying to keep the peeling in one long, spiral strip. Zach glanced over and started laughing at him. “What?” Ben asked, not getting the joke.

“Who taught you to peel a cucumber, moron?” He took the vegetable from Ben and demonstrated, cutting the peeling away in elongated strips down the sides of the cucumber.

“It would have worked my way, too,” Ben complained.

“My way is easier, not to mention faster.” Zach went back to the lettuce and peered over his shoulder toward the door to be sure Vic and Nelson were still occupied at the grill. “So,” he asked with an “enquiring minds want to know” look on his face, “was Vic irritated with you about yesterday?”

Ben continued working without taking his eyes from the cucumber. “We talked,” he said.

Zach laughed and nodded. “I’ll just bet you did. Are you still sore?”

Ben stopped slicing and raised his chin toward Zach, looking rather pious. “I didn’t get in trouble.”

Zach’s mouth fell open in shock. “You’re lying,” he said shaking his head. “You hung up on him.” Zach pointed out the obvious as evidence of Ben’s deceit.

“I know,” Ben said. “But, I’m not lying. I didn’t get in trouble, other than we didn’t go out last night. But, we had more fun at home, anyway.”

“I can’t believe it,” Zach said, still shaking his head.

“Don’t be so disappointed,” Ben replied. “I thought you were my friend.”

“I AM!” Zach raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not disappointed. I just can’t believe it. Is he sick?”

“He’s fine. I think he’s just distracted and tired a lot lately.”

Disbelieving, Zach said, “I can’t imagine Nelson ever being distracted to the point that hanging up on him wouldn’t draw fire. Great balls of fire…”

“I know.” Ben considered his fortune, or perhaps his misfortune, wondering just why it was he was given a reprieve. “I think he just felt bad about everything.”

“Good thing for you. I don’t think it would have mattered to Nelson, though. Misery loves company,” Zach said with a grin. “Know what I mean?”

“I know what you mean,” Ben laughed. “But, I’m not complaining. Besides, he made sure I knew the outcome would be far different if it ever happens again.”

“I was going to say…” Zach said.

“What were you going to say?” Ben said with a challenge in his eyes.

“Well, it just isn’t like him, is it? To let something like that go? I mean, that’s pretty big…”

“No. It’s not,” Ben said. “Not like him at all.”

Monday morning came around and Vic was preparing dinner, performing his usual magic with a crockpot. “Now, I’m going to teach you how to make roast beef.” Vic clapped his hands together in front of him and looked at Ben expectantly. “You ready?”

“I can’t cook,” Ben said, slipping onto a barstool.

Vic laughed. “I know that. Even people who can’t cook can make this. Just watch how easy it is.” Vic opened the package of meat, peeling the cellophane off. “You have to start with a decent cut of meat. Shoulder is good.”

“Why the shoulder?” Ben asked curiously, frowning at the blood left on the Styrofoam tray where the meat had been.

“Because the rump tastes like ass,” Vic said smiling.

Ben laughed out loud at that and said, “No, why? Really?”

“The truth? I have no idea. Because my mother always says to get the shoulder, and I do as I’m told.” Vic laid the roast in the slow cooker and handed Ben a can of cream of mushroom soup and an opener. “Open that for me, please.”

Ben took the can and worked the hand can opener around the lid while Vic pulled a box of Lipton’s onion soup mix from the cabinet. He took the opened can from Ben and dumped the contents into a small Tupperware bowl then added a pouch of the soup mix. “This is the secret ingredient,” he said, holding up the empty envelope. He used a wire whisk to blend the soup and soup mix together then scraped the whole works over the roast. Vic whistled while he worked and Ben smiled at him.

“You really need a hobby if you enjoy this,” he commented.

“I love it,” Vic said, dumping the potatoes he cubed into the pot. He picked up a bag of baby carrots and said while reaching into the bag, “It used to be more work than this when I had to cut up carrots. I don’t even have to do that anymore.” He dumped a handful of carrots in the pot, dispersing them equally around the meat. He dropped the top on the pot and turned the slow cooker to high. “And, that’s it.”

Ben’s mouth fell open. “That’s all?”

“That’s all,” Vic said. “It will be ready when we come home.”

“What about the gravy?” Ben asked, looking suspiciously at Vic from the corner of his eye. “What good is roast without gravy?”

“It makes its own gravy. I’ll just add a bit of thickening to it when I get home, bring it to a boil and voila! Instant gravy.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Vic kissed him and said, “If you’ll just pick up some rolls and put the green beans on, we’ll be ready to eat when I get home with Reese.”

“I can manage that much,” Ben said.

“Thank you, Sweetheart,” Vic said before one last kiss. “I have to finish getting ready.”

Ben paced nervously in the kitchen waiting for Vic to arrive with Reese, feeling somewhat anxious. The roast smelled good and his stomach growled just a little, making its presence known, and reminding him it was right at dinnertime. Ben distracted himself by sitting the last bit of silverware on the table, and took yet another look at the clock. It was almost that time when he would finally be meeting the man who had so occupied his lover over the last few weeks. He brushed off the front of his polo shirt, checking one more time for wrinkles, and he hoped he looked okay. He was sidetracked by the sound of the garage door then voices followed soon after; they were there.

He tried to stand casually, looking as natural as possible, while he waited for the door to swing open. It finally did and his eyes landed on Vic first, then his face fell when he saw Zeus behind him. He followed Vic into the house and their conversation trailed off as Vic looked up to see Ben, his eyes glued to the dark-haired man behind him. Reese was not a big man, probably about Ben’s height, around 5’ 11”. He was dressed in a sharply tailored charcoal suit, with a royal blue dress shirt. His tie complemented his suit and shirt perfectly, with little flecks of blue paisley to pick up the blue in his shirt. He wore little round glasses, but they did nothing to hide his natural good looks, or lighten the shade of his dark eyes.

Vic smiled at Ben and walked over to greet him. He said, “There’s my favorite person.” Vic met him with a kiss oblivious of the fact that Reese was in the room. “How are you?”

“Good,” Ben said shyly. His eyes darted over Vic’s shoulder to see the god behind him, and Vic noticed his attention drawn to Reese. He turned around to face Reese, with his arm around Ben’s waist, and said, “Reese Patrick, this is my partner, Ben Monroe.”

Reese graced Ben with a winning smile and stuck his hand out. “Hi, Ben. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hi,” Ben said. He plastered a manufactured smile on his face and offered his hand.

The two looked at each other and an uncomfortable quiet filled the room. Reese said, “Soooo, dinner smells good.”

“Vic made it,” Ben said, instantly regretting his words. No need for Mr. Patrick to find any other reason to hang out with Vic.

“No big deal,” Vic said, loosening his tie. He left Ben so he could check on the roast, and looked under the lid of the slow cooker. “Ah, yes,” he said with approval. “Didn’t I tell you how easy this was, Ben?”

“I saw,” Ben said.

“Get me a plate, would you, please?” Vic asked Ben, removing his jacket. He hung it on the back of a kitchen chair and proceeded to roll up his sleeves. He was instantly in front of the stove in Emeril mode, salting, tasting, and generally making sure his meal was fit to eat. “Have a seat, Reese. I’ll have dinner on the table in just a minute.”

“Can I help with anything?” he asked, pulling out a chair closest to him.

“Not a thing,” Vic said, surveying the stovetop. “Ben’s got the green beans ready and…” he leaned over to check the toaster oven, “the bread’s in the oven.” Ben handed Vic a plate and stayed nearby, somehow needing the closeness with the stranger in the room; a stranger who had a connection of sorts with his partner. “Would you like a beer or something else to drink, Reese?” Vic asked over his shoulder. “We have tea, soda…”

“Umm, beer would be good,” he said.

Vic dug two forks into the sides of the roast and turned to Ben, pausing his efforts to remove the roast from the pot. “Would you mind, Sweetheart?”

“Mind what?” Ben asked having been more interested in sizing Reese up than listening to his comments.

Vic smiled and asked, “Weren’t you listening? Reese would like a beer, and I pretty much have my hands full.”

“Oh,” Ben said, blushing. “Sorry.”

Ben looked over at Reese, managing not to glare at him, just before he went to the refrigerator. He put the bottle on the table across from Reese, who happened to be sitting in Ben’s place. “You can sit over here when it’s time to eat, if you want,” Ben said amiably enough, but his suggestion came across as more than that.

Vic turned from the slow cooker and frowned. “He’s fine, Ben. You can sit beside me on the other side,” Vic said.

Reese looked uncertainly between the two and said, “No, that’s okay. I must be in your place?”

Ben glanced toward Vic and answered, “Well…”

“I’m sorry, Ben,” Reese said apologetically, rising from his seat, “I didn’t know.”

Vic turned from the stove and said, “No, Reese, you’re fine. Ben doesn’t mind. It doesn’t matter where we sit.”

Reese looked uncomfortably toward Ben, waiting for confirmation or denial of what Vic had said, and not quite sure whether to stay where he was or move. Ben noticed his uncertainty, and after a moment of letting him sweat said, “That’s okay. I’ll just sit over there, like Vic said.” He moved back over to the counter and stood near Vic again and asked him, “What do you want to drink, Vic?”

“Tea, but wait just a second,” he said while carving the roast. Vic placed the meat on the table then said, taking Ben’s hand, “Come here first and I’ll show you what I was talking about with the gravy.” Ben stood perpendicular to Vic’s side, where he could see the gravy being made, Vic, and Reese, all at the same time. Vic brought the juices to a boil in the slow cooker then added flour to it to make it thick. Ben nodded understanding as Vic continued to give instruction, but his eyes kept finding Reese over Vic’s shoulder. Vic said, “See? Easy.”

“Are you giving cooking lessons, now, Vic?” Reese asked.

He laughed, “No, I just told Benji how easy this recipe is. I was telling him how to make the gravy this morning and I wanted to show him what I was talking about.”

“I don’t like to cook,” Ben said. “Not my thing.”

“Grab the bread, Ben, and I’ll get the green beans,” Vic said.

“What is your thing?” Reese asked.

Ben pulled the rolls out of the toaster oven and tossed them into a basket for the table. “My thing is spending time with Vic. There’s nothing I’d rather do.” He said it sweetly with a smile, but Vic didn’t miss the jab he intended.

A couple of silent looks passed between Ben and Vic, communicating the way people do who know each other well, without the need for words. Vic’s was disapproving and Ben looked back at him, nonplussed with eyebrows raised in innocence. Vic’s lips pursed slightly, adding to his quiet “tone” of displeasure. Ben ignored Vic’s pointed expression and went to fix their drinks.

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Reese said. “It’s good to spend time with your partner.”

Turning from the freezer, Ben said, “Been kind of hard lately.”

Reese nodded and said, “I know. I’m sorry I’ve kept him so occupied lately. It shouldn’t be much longer.”

Ben turned back to the freezer and said, “I certainly hope not.”

Vic glanced uneasily over at Ben, and sat down at the table. “I think Ben’s getting tired of sharing me.”

Ben came to the table with his and Vic’s drinks and said, “I don’t share you. Ever.”

“You know what I mean,” Vic said. “It won’t be much longer.”

That was all it took for Reese and Vic to launch into legal mumbo jumbo losing Ben entirely. He poked at his food, not able to offer anything to the conversation, and feeling utterly left out. Vic noticed how quiet he was and said, “You aren’t saying much tonight.”

“What’s to say? I’m no lawyer.”

Reese laughed and said, “That’s not a bad thing, you know.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” Ben said. “You lawyers are a different breed.”

“Sorry, Sweetheart. We’ll talk about something else,” Vic said. “Enough shoptalk.”

The conversation turned to recent events, but Ben remained quiet throughout dinner, even with subjects he was familiar with. Once they were done, Reese said, “That was very good. Thanks, you guys.”

“No problem,” Vic said. “We’ll just clear the table and we can spread out in here.”

Reese got up to help, and Vic tried to stop him with a hand on his shoulder, and Ben stiffened with the touch he witnessed. Reese said, “No, you guys cooked. I can at least help clean.”

Vic thought about it before relenting. “All right. Why don’t you just help clear the table?”

“Nope, I’m washing,” Reese said. “I don’t know where the dishes go so it doesn’t make sense for me to dry, and after such a good meal, I’m doing more than clearing the table.”

“If you want to…” Vic said reluctantly.

Irritated with the two trying to accommodate each other, Ben said, “Who cares who does what? Let’s just get it done.”

Vic looked at him, surprised at the terse comment, and Reese saved the day. “Ben’s right. I’m washing.”

Game, set, match. Reese started filling the sink and instinctively knew the soap would be under the cabinet. He took up a position in front of the sink, and Vic stood by his side. Ben had just finished scraping the last of the green beans into a storage container and stopped in his tracks on his way to the sink. Reese handed a plate to Vic that was ready to be dried, and their fingers brushed against each other in the pass. The two were still jabbering, and Ben listened to the banter of their voices parleying back and forth about the legal process and other things Ben knew nothing about. He chose to step between them to put the pot in the sink, and Vic stepped aside as if it were the perfectly natural route to take.

“Is that it?” he asked, eyes sweeping the table. Ben didn’t answer him with more than a nod.

Vic’s hand cupped Ben’s ass, and he pulled him closer. “Are we boring you with all this legal talk? We didn’t mean to start talking about it again.”

“Yes,” Ben said bluntly. “I’m going to Zach’s house.”

Vic frowned and looked at the clock, “I don’t think you should go over there. They’re probably having dinner.”

“I’ve got nothing to do here,” Ben said. “And, neither of them cares if I’m there while they eat. We eat together all the time.”

“Ben…” Vic started and was interrupted by Reese.

“Oh, quit being a mother hen, Vic,” he said. “We’re going to be working anyway and we’ve bored Ben enough, don’t you think?”

Ben gave Vic a deadpan look, then raised his eyebrows as if to challenge another argument should Vic raise one. He apparently had one planned. “Would you excuse us for a second, Reese?” Vic asked.

Without waiting for an answer, Vic turned on his heel and started toward the living room, expecting Ben to follow. After a few seconds of deliberation, he did. As soon as they were out of earshot, Vic asked, “What’s the matter with you?”

“Nothing,” Ben said. “I just don’t want to sit around here alone while you and Mr. Wonderful chitty chat at our kitchen table.”

Vic’s hands went to his hips, and he said, “We are NOT ‘chitty chatting’ at the kitchen table. We are talking work. And, I frankly don’t appreciate the accusation.”

“Well, I frankly don’t care for you up under the Greek god, either but that doesn’t seem to matter.”

“I am not ‘up under’ him, Ben. What’s this about?”

Ben folded his arms and looked down, muttering, “Nothing…”

“It’s apparently something,” Vic said, waiting for an answer. “Are you jealous?” Ben stared at the wall across the room, clearly avoiding Vic’s questioning eyes. “If you are, you can stop it. I’ve never given you a reason to be.”

Ben shifted on his feet and said, “So? There’s a first time for everything.”

Vic started shaking his head. “Not for that, there isn’t. Is that the problem?”

“No. I just don’t want to sit around here while you two… work, or whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Benjamin! That’s not fair, and you know good and well nothing but work is happening here.” Ben shrugged, unconvinced.

Reese called Vic’s name from the kitchen and Ben said, “Someone needs you.”

Vic exhaled slowly and glanced back toward the kitchen door. “I do need to get back in there. I’d appreciate it if you’d find something to do here. We’ll talk about this as soon as Reese leaves.”

“Fine,” Ben said and he flopped dramatically on the sofa.

“Please, behave yourself,” Vic said, before he went back to the kitchen. “There’s nothing going on but work and I think you are well aware of that.”

“Whatever.”

“Benjamin!”

“Fine, there’s nothing going on but work,” Ben mimicked. “Happy?”

Vic put his hands on his hips and said, “This conversation isn’t over.” Maggie jumped up on the sofa beside Ben, and Ben gave his attention to her, ignoring Vic’s glare. “I mean it, Benjamin.” Ben continued to ignore Vic, refusing to give him an answer. Vic shook his head and went back to the kitchen when Ben refused to acknowledge or answer him.

Reese looked up as Vic came back in, and asked, “Is everything okay?”

Vic sighed and said, “Yes, it’s fine. But, we need to get this wrapped up. Ben’s not going to put up with me being so busy forever. He’s put up with it long enough.”

“I really appreciate it, Vic. I know it’s been a lot of sacrifice for both of you. I wouldn’t want to put a strain on your relationship. I hope it’s not…”

Vic shook his head and said, “Well, it’s beginning to, so we just need to focus and...” He frowned at the sound of the garage door interrupting his thoughts, and he knew immediately that Ben was leaving. Vic hurried across the kitchen to the window and peered through; Ben was already backing out of the driveway by the time he got there.

Reese said, “Is that Ben? I thought he wasn’t leaving.”

“So did I,” Vic said, watching Ben back out of the driveway.

Ben rang the doorbell at Zach and Nelson’s house and waited to be let in. Nelson opened the door and looked somewhat surprised to be seeing Ben at the door. “Well, hello there.”

“Hi,” Ben said. Ben had trouble meeting Nelson’s eyes and wished Zach had been the one to open the door. “Can…can I come in for a minute?” he stammered.

“Of course you can,” Nelson stepped back to let Ben in the door after a thoughtful sweep over the young man. Sensing there was trouble, he chose his words carefully in order not to spook Ben into leaving. “Where’s Vic?” he asked casually as he walked toward the kitchen.

“At home,” Ben said quietly.

“Have you eaten?” Nelson asked, sitting back down at the table.

“Yes,” Ben said. “Hi, Zach,” he said as he sat down.

“Hey. What are you doing here?” Zach asked around his food. “I thought Vic was going to be home tonight.”

“He’s home. So is Reese,” Ben said. Looking between Zach and Nelson, Ben asked warily, “Has he…has Vic called here?”

Nelson’s suspicions were confirmed when he recognized the hesitation in Ben’s question. He swapped tact for the direct approach and asked, “Why would he, Ben? What’s going on?”

“Jeez, Nelson,” Zach said with a shove to Nelson’s arm. “Don’t be so suspicious.”

Nelson glanced at Zach just long enough to let him know he wasn’t being ignored then turned right back to Ben, and the inquisition. “What’s happening, Ben?”

“Nothing’s happening. That’s the problem.” He picked at his fingernails to give him something other than Nelson to look at.

“Nothing’s happening, how?” Nelson asked.

“I’ll bet it’s that guy,” Zach surmised before Ben could answer.

“Who?” Nelson asked. “Reese?”

Ben nodded but Zach responded. “Yeah,” Zach answered. “The guy with the girl’s name.”

“What’s bothering you about Reese, Benji?” Nelson asked gently.

“Nothing.”

"Vic’s with him all the time,” Zach announced. “How much longer is he going to be working with what’s her name?” he asked Ben, reaching for more potatoes.

“He said a couple of weeks, but it’s been almost three and they aren’t done,” Ben said with a frown.

“Have you talked to Vic about this, and how you feel?” Nelson asked kindly.

“I’d have to see him to do that, don’t you think?” Ben asked looking at Nelson. “He’s never around.”

“Now, Ben, I’m sure you’ve seen him enough that you could at least tell him how you’re feeling,” Nelson said to the exaggerated statement.

“Oh, God, you’re in for it, now,” Zach said to Ben with a grin. “He’s in lecture mode. I can hear it in his tone.” He held his forefingers on either side of his head, to imitate a devil, which at present was similar to his partner, in Zach’s opinion.

“Zachary,” Nelson said to Zach disapprovingly. Zach laughed, knowing his joke struck a nerve, but his giggles died away after Nelson’s expression backed up his tone.

“What?” Zach asked with wide, innocent eyes. “You ARE evil when you get in lecture mode.”

“Zachary, I’m trying to talk to Ben. Stop clowning around.”

“Talk, lecture, discuss…” Zach said dismissively. That sentence fragment was shortened further then Nelson’s eyes narrowed at him. Zach rolled his eyes at the seriousness of his partner’s face and said, “SORry…sheesh.” He helped himself to more potatoes before the water he was sitting in got too hot for comfort.

Nelson went back to his original lecture, with his attention zeroed in on Ben. “You need to tell him. He isn’t a mind reader.”

“I shouldn’t HAVE to tell him anything,” Ben said vehemently. “He KNOWS he’s spending more time with this guy than with me.”

Nelson thought while he chewed his steak. He said, “He needs to know how you feel, Ben. Does he know you’re over here?”

Ben shrugged, “Probably?”

Zach laughed and repeated, “’PRObably’?”

Ben looked back at the table without an answer. Nelson said, “Do you need to call him?”

“No,” Ben said without thinking. “I’m sure he figures I came here.”

“Are you supposed to be here?” Nelson asked. Ben didn’t respond and Nelson took that as a negative. He sighed and said gently, “Ben, you know I have to call him.”

“I don’t care what you do,” Ben grumbled.

His answer was not at all what Nelson expected, which told him the problem was bigger than he thought at first glance. Ben was in need of attention from his partner, but Nelson suspected what he was asking for what not exactly the attention he was going for. “You two really need to talk,” he advised. Ben just shook his head.

Nelson propped his fork on the edge of his plate, still having a piece of steak shish kebobbed on the tines, and went to the phone to call Vic. “Hello?” Vic answered with anxiety in his voice.

“Missing a certain someone?” Nelson asked.

“Yes,” Vic said. Knowing his friend was not a man of few words, especially when perturbed with his partner, Nelson guessed Vic still had company. “Let me talk to him.”

Nelson handed the phone to Ben, who didn’t reach for it immediately. “He wants to talk to you, Benji.”

Ben finally took the outstretched phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?” he asked quietly.

“I thought we decided you weren’t leaving,” Vic said.

“I wanted to,” Ben answered weakly. Zach was watching Ben’s expression, knowing from the short conversation they’d had since he’d been there that he was probably in trouble.

“We’ll talk when you get home,” Vic said. His lack of ranting told Ben that Reese must be nearby, since Vic veiled his comments and didn’t react in his usual manner.

“Is pretty boy still there?” Ben dared to ask. Zach grinned at the smart aleck question until Nelson saw it and shook his head in a disapproving gesture.

“Just as soon as you get home,” Vic reiterated through the phone lines. “Let me talk to Nelson.”

Nelson took the phone Ben offered and went in the dining room for some privacy, and away from Zach’s ears. He could see the sparkle in his eye as he listened to the drama, and didn’t want to add to his curiosity or to Ben’s discomfort.

Well out of the kitchen, Nelson spoke, “I’m assuming you want me to send him home at some point. It would probably be best if I wait until Reese is gone, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Vic said. “We’ll be about another hour tonight.”

“Okay,” Nelson said, looking at his watch. “Why don’t I send him home at 8:00 then? Will that give you time to finish up?”

“Yes,” Vic said. “Thank you.”

Nelson nodded as though Vic could see him, and he said seriously, “You guys need to talk, Vic.”

“I know. That’s fairly clear right now.” You could cut the tension in Vic’s voice with a knife. “Hang on, Nelson,” he said. Nelson could hear Vic speaking with Reese in the background before Vic came back on the line. “Reese just went to the bathroom so I can talk a bit better. I don’t know what’s wrong with Ben. Did he say anything to you?”

Nelson said, “He seems to be upset about all the time you’re working. He wants some attention from you, is what I think.”

“He’s going to get some attention, all right,” Vic said.

“That’s not what I meant.” Nelson leaned his hips on the back edge of the big chair in the living room. “He bristles about Reese. At least, it seems like that to me.”

“I distinctly told him not to leave this house tonight when he wanted to go to your house,” Vic said. He put his hand to his head and massaged his temple. “We need to work this out. I’m going to have to do something,” Vic said. “When he flat-out defies me, he’s sending me a message.”

Nelson agreed. “I can tell he’s upset. It seems like he’s pretty bothered by this.”

“I’m planning to talk to him when he comes home,” Vic said wearily.

“I think that’s a good idea. I’ll send him home in a bit.”

“Thanks, Nelson. Talk to you later.” Nelson hung up and went back to the table and Ben looked up at him uncertainly.

“Wh-what did he say to you?” Ben asked.

“He said you could stay until 8:00,” Nelson announced.

“Cool,” Zach said. “You can hang out with us for a little while.”

Nelson laughed, “I don’t know how cool that is. We’re an old married couple; not much fun.” He looked over at Ben who wore a withered look, and didn’t appear at all excited to be staying or going home. He was worried about his friend’s brat and he leaned over to take Ben’s hand. “It’s going to be fine, Benji. You two just need to talk and clear the air.” Ben nodded but didn’t appear convinced.

Nelson had been busy with the bills since Ben left, and was finally finished. He shut down the computer and straightened the papers on the desk, filing the paid bills and leaving those yet to be paid on the desktop. He switched off the light and went through the house to find Zach.

Nelson walked into the den to the sound of laughter, and he started shaking his head at the images on the television. “What are you watching?” he asked, with an unfavorable opinion of what he saw. A brown-haired young man was on his back, legs bent over his head, with his bare butt hanging out. The man was apparently trying to put something in a private place, as evidenced by the tube of lube he was generously applying to his palm.

After catching his breath, Zach answered, “Jackass the Movie. Oh, God! Look at him, Nelson!”

“What is he doing?” Nelson asked without a trace of a smile on his face.

“He’s…he’s putting…” Zach struggled to speak around the laughter. “It’s a toy car, stuffed in a condom.”

Nelson sat down on the sofa beside Zach and reached for the remote, only to have it wrenched from his hand. Zach exclaimed, “NO, Nelson! I’m watching that!”

“Not anymore you aren’t,” Nelson said, taking the remote.

“But, Nelson!”

“No, Zach,” Nelson said with a click of the remote, plunging the television into silence. Zach sat with his mouth hanging wide. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“But, it was funny! And, I have to see how he gets it out.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Nelson,” Zach said patiently. He consciously subdued the whine in his voice, appealing to Nelson’s common sense as well as his interest in internal medicine. “He’s going to the doctor for it. Consider it a…a sort of documentary.” Zach leaned forward and switched the television back on. “See?” he said, pointing to the television with the remote. “X-rays. Doctor stuff.”

Out of sick fascination, even Nelson couldn’t turn the television back off just yet. He didn’t find it at all humorous to watch the young man torment a radiologist, laughing at his confusion over seeing a small toy car imbedded in the man’s rectum. “That’s just immature and stupid,” Nelson pointed out.

“Stupid or not, it’s funny,” Zach said. He was still rolling in laughter at what he was seeing, and had to comment when the man started griping about the discomfort he was in. “He’s got to be straight.”

“I think I’ve seen enough. I don’t see that much butt in one day at my office,” Nelson said, reaching once again for the remote in Zach’s hand. Zach tucked it under his arm protectively with an impish grin. “Zachary, I’m not playing.”

Zach’s smiling lips turned down into a frown. “I knew you were going to say that,” Zach complained.

“Then why are you still holding the remote?” Nelson said with a piercing look.

Zach rolled his eyes backward, and slapped the remote as hard as he dared into Nelson’s palm, and Nelson popped his leg for his efforts, since the sofa cushions protected his butt. “Don’t be like that,” Nelson warned.

Zach tried to look pitiful, rubbing at his bare thigh Nelson targeted since it was not covered by his shorts. He pointed out the clear, red handprint that showed up quickly and clearly through the dark hair on his legs and said, “Look what you did. I wasn’t trying to be like anything.”

“What you’re ‘being like’ is my brat trying to make a point. You handed me that remote hard enough to sting my palm.”

“I didn’t think you minded having a stinging palm,” Zach groused. Nelson’s brows rose, and Zach hurried ahead, saying, “I’m sorry. I just wanted to watch the rest of my show. It’s almost over.”

“And, I think you could watch something less… disgusting,” he explained. Nelson turned off the television, and laid the remote in his lap, causing Zach to argue a bit, in spite of the sting he still felt on his leg.

“I thought you said I could watch something less disgusting,” Zach said. “Why are you turning it off? Just change the channel if you don’t like Jackass.”

“I wanted to talk to you about Benji for a minute, and I’d rather not have the distraction.” Nelson turned toward Zach and put his arm on the back of the sofa.

“What about him?” Zach asked while trying to hide his impatience.

“Has he talked to you about anything?” Nelson asked.

“We talk all the time.” Zach looked longingly at the remote in Nelson’s lap, and held out his hand for it. Nelson ignored the request, taking Zach’s hand in his own, and drawing a huff with an eye roll from Zach.

He said, “Zach, he came over here tonight without Vic, and two things seemed clear to me: he wasn’t supposed to be here, and he was upset about something. Has he mentioned anything going on with him and Vic?”

Zach leaned his head back against the sofa, and caught Nelson’s arm, using it as a pillow. “Hmmm,” he said as he thought. “I don’t know. He’s fussed about that Reese guy keeping Vic so busy, but I just thought he was generally griping. I don’t think it’s anything serious, you know?”

“Do you think he’d tell you if it were?” Nelson asked.

Zach shrugged a shoulder, and lifted his head to look at Nelson. “I don’t know. He’s not a big talker when it comes to his problems. He’s a brooder.”

“I know.” Nelson grew quiet thinking of the fine example of Zach’s description he had just witnessed at dinner. “I hope he’ll talk to Vic if it’s bothering him as much as I think it is.”

“You worry too much. He’s fine,” Zach said. Fine for the time being. Zach’s curiosity got the better of him and he asked, “Do you think he’s going to get spanked for coming over here?”

“Why are you asking that?” Nelson asked. “You know the answer as well as I do.”

Zach flushed and nodded. “Yeah, I guess…” With Nelson halting Zach’s end of the conversation, Zach looked back at the remote in his lap then raised his eyes to Nelson, in flat-out appeal for the gadget.

“All right,” Nelson said, handing it back. “I get the message.”

“’Bout time,” Zach teased with an elbow to Nelson’s ribs.

Ben pulled into the driveway at about 8:15 after Nelson had sent him on his way promptly at 8:00. He was glad to see Reese’s car was gone from the driveway upon his return, except for the fact that there would be no buffer between him and Vic, and he fully expected to need one. He pulled the car into the garage, turned off the engine and got out of the car. He paused where he was, not anxious to go in, but finally took reluctant steps toward the door. It swung open just as he was nearing it, and Vic filled the gap between the garage and kitchen. Without hesitation, Vic’s forefinger darted toward a spot on the floor beside him like a divining rod to water. “Inside. Right now,” he said.

Short sentences; never a good sign. Ben walked closer to the door, but stopped on the bottom step leading up to the kitchen, waiting for Vic to move ahead of him. He merely turned sideways to let Ben pass, but Ben made no attempt to enter, despite the direct invitation. “You go first,” Ben said in hushed tones.

Vic said, “Inside, Benjamin.”

Ben was determined not to get swatted on his way inside, which he anticipated from just looking at Vic. “I’m coming in,” he said, but his inactivity belied his words. “Just go.”

Vic grabbed his arm, fed up with the routine, and pulled him through the door. The swat he hadn’t intended to begin with, landed with a splat against Ben’s Dockers, stinging all the way through two layers of cotton. “That’s for stalling,” he said. “I’m in no mood to fool around.” Big surprise.

Ben’s hand covered his butt and he walked into the house wordlessly with Vic right behind him, his footsteps heavy and loud. Vic uttered another low-syllable sentence as they walked through the kitchen. “Living room.”

“Why don’t you just tell me to fetch or sit?” Ben asked sarcastically under his breath.

“Benjamin! Now is NOT the time to talk to me like that.”

“When is it time?” Ben asked hotly, spinning around to face Vic. “I have some things to say.”

“I’m sure you do,” Vic said, turning Ben by the shoulders and prompting him through the kitchen door, “and you’re going to have that opportunity.” Ben stomped into the living room with Vic hot on his heels, and he swung around again to face Vic just in front of the sofa. “Have a seat so we can talk,” Vic said.

“I don’t want to sit down,” Ben challenged, keeping his standing position. “I can talk just fine on my feet.”

Vic folded his arms over his chest and his piercing brown eyes zeroed in on Ben. “You think you don’t want to sit down right now? You just keep it up, and you’ll soon find it an even more unpleasant prospect.”

Ben hesitated. Giving Vic the once-over, he decided Vic meant what he said so he took a seat on the sofa, crossing his own arms. Vic sat on the edge of the coffee table so they could be eye to eye, but Ben refused to meet his gaze. Unfazed, Vic plunged ahead. “Why did you leave here after I told you not to?” Vic asked.

“I can go where I want to go!” Ben said, mad enough with the question that he actually looked at Vic.

“I beg your pardon?” Vic asked.

“You heard me,” he said angrily.

“Benjamin! I understand you’re mad. You’d better recognize it and get it under control before your mouth takes you somewhere your butt doesn’t want to go.” He paused for emphasis and then repeated the question. “I’m going to ask you again: why did you leave here after I told you not to? And watch how you answer me.”

Ben worked hard to take the edge out of his voice, but he couldn’t erase the crease from his brow. “I wanted to go to Zach’s, and there was no reason I couldn’t.”

“When I tell you not to, you have a very good reason to do as I tell you,” Vic countered. “I want to know why you did it.”

“I JUST said because I wanted to. I should be able to spend time with my friends just like you can with yours,” Ben said. “There’s NO difference.”

“There IS a difference. I was working. You know that,” Vic brought the naturally high volume of his voice down another notch, hoping Ben’s tone would mirror his own before he got himself into more trouble.

“Fine. It’s okay for you and YOUR friends!” Ben said.

“Reel it in, Benjamin,” Vic warned. “We’re going to talk about this, but I’m not going to put up with you snapping and yelling at me.”

“No!” Ben said never moving his focus from Vic. All his pent up frustration came boiling to the surface in a volcanic rush. “You want me to talk, then I’m going to say what I want, the WAY I want!” The retort shocked Vic, but not to the point he was frozen with inaction.

In seconds, Ben was back on his feet with Vic’s fingers grabbing for his fly and belt. In record time, Ben’s pants were down, and he was back on the sofa, only this time Vic’s lap was under his middle. Having his bare butt open to attack did nothing to calm Ben’s temper. His body was stiff across Vic’s knees and he clutched a pillow in his fists, drawing it to his chest.

Vic asked from above him, “Do you want to talk to me or snarl at me?”

“Snarl!” Ben said. It earned him a several quick smacks to his backside.

“Talk or snarl?” Vic offered again. Ben didn’t answer. Vic interpreted the silence and said, “I guess you mean ‘snarl’.” Vic started swatting him double time, covering both cheeks, determined to break through the emotional barriers Ben insisted on clinging to. Ben’s throat constricted and he struggled not to give Vic the satisfaction of his tears. Vic stopped again and asked, “Benjamin? Talk or snarl?” Ben swallowed hard, breathing rapidly from a combination of temper and restrained tears. His body remained rigid with the effort to hang onto both, and he again refused to answer.

Vic said, “Okay then,” and continued swatting Ben’s behind until his soft crying and relaxed posture told Vic that holding onto his anger wasn’t so important any longer. Vic didn’t even have to ask his question a fourth time; Ben had gotten the message. He blurted, “Talk! Talk!! Just stop…” he cried. He hoped the appeal would end his ordeal, at least the one he was presently enduring, and he got his wish after a few more smacks to his bare behind. He sniffled as Vic righted him after hearing the appropriate answer; and he pulled him into his lap in a hurry, surrounding his body in his strong arms.

He gently wiped the tears from Ben’s face, and held his head to his chest. “Tell me what’s wrong, and why you’re so mad at me, Benji.”

“You didn’t tell me he looks like a god,” Ben said.

“What?!” Vic asked incredulously. Ben listened to Vic’s voice rumble through his chest wall. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Maybe that’s why you want to work so much with him,” Ben said. He tucked his head firmly under Vic’s chin, curling tightly against him, trying to hide from the possibility that his fears were true.

Vic looked at the ceiling before addressing the comment. “What he looks like,” he said with a calming hand to Ben’s back, “has absolutely nothing to do with this. We are working. That’s it.”

“He’s good-looking,” Ben pointed out.

“He’s not old and fat, no,” Vic said and Ben snorted through a stuffy nose. “But, I don’t look at him that way. He’s an old friend, that’s all.”

“You can’t help but look at him that way…unless you’re blind…” Ben said.

“Benjamin.”

“What?” Ben asked.

Vic sat back further against the cushions trying to position himself to see Ben better. “Is that what all this is about, Pumpkin? Are you doubting me?”

Emotional walls wrapped protectively around Ben, and he said, “No, I just wanted to go to Zach’s.”

Vic wouldn’t let him off the hook that easily. “I don’t think so,” Vic said, shaking his head.

“Well, you think wrong,” Ben said.

Despite Ben’s claim, Vic said, “Benjamin, I don’t want my helping Reese to come between us. Or, anything else for that matter.”

Ben neither confirmed nor denied Vic’s suspicions. He said, “I just went to Zach’s because I wanted to. I was bored here. You’ve already spanked me tonight; can I just go to bed?”

Vic was not swayed. “I think there’s more going on here than you’re admitting.”

“I’m fine. He was just better looking than I expected. Maybe I was a little bit jealous, but not much.”

“Listen to me,” Vic said softly. “You have absolutely nothing to be jealous about. And, to prove it, I’ll tell Reese he needs to get someone else to handle the case.”

Ben sat up and ran the back of his hand over one watery eye to clear his vision so he could see his partner without obstruction. “You’d do that for me?” he asked.

Vic’s brow wrinkled in puzzlement that Ben could be surprised by what he had said. “Of course, I would. You should know that, Benji.”

Ben picked uncomfortably at the elastic band of his boxers that were still around his thighs since Vic cuddled him too fast to bother with his pants. “I guess I wasn’t so sure,” he said. “But, I’m glad you’d do that for me.”

“I can’t believe you’d doubt me.”

“I’m sorry, Vic, I just…I missed you,” he admitted. His mouth turned down, and tears threatened to overspill his lids again.

Vic pulled his head to his lips and kissed his temple firmly, with one hand to the side of Ben’s face. “Don’t cry, Sweetie. I love you and there’s no one I’d rather be with.” Ben’s hands slipped around Vic’s neck, and he buried his face against him, crying soft tears of relief.

As Ben began to calm down, Vic said, “You need to talk to me before you let things get this far. Okay?” Ben nodded against Vic’s neck. “I’ll let Reese know tomorrow he needs to get someone else. It will take whoever he hires some time to get up to speed, but we’re more important. I’ll just need a few more days to get things sorted for another person to step in, and that will be it.”

“He’ll just think I’m being ridiculous.” Ben’s voice was muffled by Vic’s shirt that tried to capture it.

“I don’t have to tell him why.” Vic gave Ben’s bare thigh a reassuring pat. “Just a couple more days and all this will be done.”

Ben asked, “Why can’t someone else just take over now?”

“They could, but it would be difficult for them to get up to speed. Just a few more days, I promise. I’ll get things straight quickly as I can and let someone else take it to trial.”

Ben sighed with a hitching breath and said, “Okay…”

“Did you and Ben get things settled?” Nelson asked into the phone when Vic called the next day.

Vic smiled and said, “We did. He was feeling neglected. I told Reese today that he’d have to get someone else to take over the case.”

“Did you tell him why?” Nelson scribbled notes from his last patient visit while he talked.

“Nothing specific. I just said it was too much right now and that I had some personal things going on that were more important.”

“Hmm,” Nelson said, with his attention half on Vic and half on what he was writing. “Was he okay with that?”

“Oh, yeah, he’s fine. In fact, he offered to take Ben and me out to dinner tonight for the work I’ve done so far. I told him we already had plans with you and Zach. He insisted on inviting himself, saying he wanted to see you. I didn’t know what to say except ‘yes’.”

Nelson gave the conversation his full attention when he heard Reese was invited. He laid his pen down, and asked, leaning back into his chair, “Do you think that’s a good idea, Vic?”

“I think it will be okay,” Vic said, slightly confused. “Ben will be with us, all of us. I’m not leaving him home alone. I left him a message just so he wouldn’t be surprised. I hope he checks it before he shows.” Vic thought for a second and asked, “Do you think it’s a problem?”

“I don’t know,” Nelson said. “I thought there might be a bit of jealousy involved and not simply anger at being left alone. I’m not sure…”

“I think he was definitely jealous of me and Reese, but in the context of the time I spent with him. I really don’t think he’d ever believe I’d cheat on him. I think he just let a long sulk escalate over my attention being paid elsewhere,” Vic said. “He knows he doesn’t have to worry about me with another man.”

Nelson shook his head and said, “Maybe so.”

“He’ll be fine,” Vic said confidently. “In fact, he’ll be elated because I dumped the case today.”

Nelson looked at his watch and saw he had spent more time than he meant to on the phone call. Not wanting to end the conversation, but having no choice, he said, “I’m glad to hear it, Vic. I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you guys tonight.”

Ben spotted Vic’s SUV as he pulled into the parking lot at the restaurant, and grimaced when he couldn’t find a parking spot either near the door or Vic’s car. He circled the after-work crowd’s cars and finally found a place to park in the back. He hurried inside, hoping Vic wouldn’t be too cranky with him being late. He obviously wasn’t very irritated, if he was mad at all, because his phone had been eerily quiet. But then again, he hadn’t checked for messages…

He stepped inside and shouldered his way past the multiple groups and couples awaiting a table. A hostess smiled up at him as he approached the podium. “How many?” she asked.

“I’m meeting some people,” he said.

“Oh!” she said. “They said you’d be coming. They’re right down there,” she directed, “in the back corner.”

“Thanks,” Ben said, moving toward the general area the girl had indicated. He was about to step around a plant after hearing Zach’s voice, but stopped abruptly when he heard another voice that was familiar enough to recognize, but not enough to place. He stood hidden by the plant while his brain filtered through its compartments to identify the voice.

Reese said, “Vic’s been great to help me as much as he has. And, Ben for giving him up so generously for several nights over the last few weeks.”

“Where is Ben?” Zach asked Vic.

Vic looked at his watch and said, “Wow. I didn’t realize it was so late. He said he needed to spend some time at the library, but he knew what time we were meeting.” He pulled his cell phone out and flipped it open to call. “Let me track him down.” He heard simultaneous ringing in his ear and behind the plant, just as Ben walked around to the table. “Oh, there you are!” Vic said, ending the call. “I was just about to call the posse to go looking for you.”

“Sorry, I’m late,” he said. He pulled the chair out next to Vic and tried not to notice Reese on Vic’s other side.

“I saved you a seat,” Vic said with a smile, “right next to me, where you belong.”

“How are you doing, Ben?” Nelson asked as Ben sat down.

“Good, thanks.”

“Losers study late in the library on Fridays,” Zach said. He smiled broadly when Ben scowled at him.

“Young men concerned about getting good grades study late in the library on Fridays,” Nelson corrected before sipping his drink. “There are a lot worse ways to spend your time.”

Ben couldn’t agree more, time spent with men who aren’t one’s partner topping the list. Speaking of which…

Reese looked around Vic and said, “Good to see you again, Ben.”

Ben glanced at Reese, and said a simple, “Hi.”

“Reese is buying our dinner tonight. Did you get my message that he was coming?”

“No,” Ben said, cutting his eyes at Vic.

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart,” he said softly so Reese wouldn’t hear. Then he said in a normal tone, “I told him I have to turn over the case to someone else, but he still wanted to buy,” Vic said with a wink meant only for Ben.

“You did?” Ben asked with raised brows.

Vic smiled at his partner’s expression and said, “Surprise, Pumpkin. Looks like you’ll be stuck with me hanging around more again.” He slipped his hand down the inside of Ben’s thigh under the table and gave his leg a gentle squeeze.

Reese said. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated the help, not to mention your sacrifice, Ben. Dinner doesn’t seem anywhere near enough.”

“It’s fine. Thanks,” Ben said, feeling somewhat better with the news. It didn’t make Reese his favorite person by a long shot, but at least he could stomach the free meal. But, the more Reese talked, it became painfully obvious that he, Vic and Nelson had a college connection that left Ben feeling like an outsider. They were the perfect threesome and Zach didn’t seem to mind, asking questions about their college days. Only Ben seemed unable to get involved.

The conversation swirled around Ben, and he looked around at Vic when his hand caressed Ben’s thigh again. “Ben? You’re light years away. Are you all right?”

Ben shook his head, seizing on the opportunity to leave, wanting nothing more than to get his partner to himself again and away from Reese. “Not really. I have a massive headache. I guess from reading so much this afternoon.”

Vic’s face fell into a worried expression. “Do we need to go? We can leave if you don’t feel good,” Vic offered. He stifled the urge to feel Ben’s forehead, while he waited for the answer.

“I think I should. My head really hurts.”

That was all Vic needed. “I don’t want him staying if he feels bad,” he said to the table. “I think we’ll head home to some Tylenol for dessert and bed.”

“I guess nothing will happen in bed other than sleep since Ben has a headache,” Zach joked.

“Zach, that’s hardly appropriate,” Nelson said. Zach was laughing, and Reese equally found Zach’s comment and Nelson’s serious retort funny. Nelson said to Reese, seeing him laugh openly with Zach, “Don’t encourage him.” Nelson could hardly suppress a smile caught between Reese and Zach’s laughter, and he noticed Vic trying to hide one behind his hand. Nelson said, “He’s already watched Jackass the Movie, and that’s quite enough encouragement, if you ask me.”

“Then, we should consider ourselves lucky to have had only one inappropriate comment tonight,” Vic said, laughing easily, no longer trying to hide it. “Thanks for dinner, Reese. We’ll see you guys later,” he said, as he stood and waited for Ben.

Ben followed him out to the car and Vic said, “Are you okay to drive?”

“Yeah,” Ben said, knowing the phony headache would in no way interfere with his driving skills.

Vic looked him over and remembered the solemn dinner with Ben speaking at a rate of two words per hour. “I don’t know. I’d feel better if you ride with me. We’ll get your car tomorrow.”

Vic chose the door to the SUV over the one for argument, and he opened it for Ben to get in. Ben said, “I can drive.”

“Benjamin, get in,” Vic said. Ben exhaled in defeat and slipped into the passenger’s seat buckling up before Vic insisted on it. Vic got in the car and turned the ignition. Once he was on the highway, he reached over and took Ben’s hand. “We’ll get something for that headache and get you into bed. We can watch television upstairs and if you fall asleep, even better for your headache.”

“Okay,” Ben said. He wanted to protest the early bed mandate, but thought better of it. Headache or not, at least Vic would be in bed with him.

Vic smiled and glanced over at him. “You must really have a bad headache not to argue with me about going to bed early.”

“Yeah,” Ben said.

“We’ll take care of that when we get home, Pumpkin. We’ll get you settled in and I’ll rub your shoulders; that should help. We’ll just have some quiet time together; how does that sound?”

Ben said sincerely, “It sounds good. Really good.”

The following week, Ben was on his way home from getting takeout for one when his cell phone rang. He fumbled for the phone while keeping the car centered, and looked at the little screen before he flipped it open to answer. “Hi, Vic,” he said.

“Hi, Sweetheart.”

“What’s up?”

Hearing the road noise in the background, Vic asked, “Are you driving?”

“I’m pulling over,” Ben grumbled before he was told to do so. He pulled into a parking lot along the way and put Vic’s fears to rest. “Okay, I’m parked.”

“Good. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be later tonight than I expected. But, if I play my cards right, we’ll get most of the work done, and I can pass the baton to someone else.” He heard nothing from Ben’s end of the phone. “Ben? Are you okay with that? It will be about 8:30.”

“I’m fine,” he said, masking the ire rising within him.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Okay. I’ll see you later tonight. Probably around 8:30 or so,” Vic said.

“All right. I have to go,” Ben said, cutting him off.

He flipped the cell closed and smacked the steering wheel with his hand. “Damn it!” He changed direction when he pulled from the parking lot and headed toward the movie theatre instead of toward home. He was suddenly in the mood for a doubleheader that should make him later than Vic getting home. Let him see how it felt to sit at home alone and wonder where his partner was for a change.

Ben couldn’t believe his eyes when he came home to an empty house after two movies. It was 10:00 and Vic was nowhere in sight. He went into the dark house and saw the indicator light flashing on the answering machine. He pressed the button and wasn’t surprised to hear Vic’s digitized voice emanating from the speaker. He played the first of three messages.

“Hi, Benji, it’s me. I’m going to be about 9:00 instead of 8:30. You must be in the shower or something. Call on my cell if you need me.”

Message two was Vic sounding weary, “Ben, it’s me again. We ran into a snag that will take about another hour. I’ll be home just as soon as I can.”

Ben gritted his teeth as he pressed “delete”, then played the third message. “I’m getting ready to leave…” Ben deleted it in mid-message and went upstairs, tears stinging.

The point he meant to make fell flat in the empty house. He stripped off his clothes and left them where they fell knowing it would irritate Vic then he slid into bed wearing only his boxers. The tears started coming and Ben didn’t try to stop them, until he heard Vic pull into the driveway. He quickly grabbed a tissue off the nightstand and tried to clean up. He listened for Vic’s feet on the stairs and lay quietly while he waited for Vic to come up to bed. Ben tried his best to feign sleep, not wanting to even talk to Vic.

Vic walked into the darkened bedroom and saw the outline of his lover under the sheet. He was tired in more ways than one. He had missed Ben terribly and Ben’s short phone call just let Vic know his sentiments were returned. He had put in far more hours that night than he should have, but he made it clear to Reese that he would not be helping anymore after the long evening. The files were now in order for another attorney to step in and pick up neatly where Vic left off.

He was quiet as he stripped to his boxers and pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt; he got in bed, and snuggled up to Ben who didn’t move. “I love you, Benji," he whispered in the dark.

Ben lay still and stared out into the darkness, saying nothing, but thinking.

Vic was excited to be going home at a decent hour without Reese’s case hanging over him. The last several weeks had been difficult, and he was physically and mentally drained, not to mention the emotional strain on his relationship with Ben. He intended to start working on that immediately, starting that night. He had a surprise planned for Ben that included dinner out and a quiet evening with just the two of them.

He didn’t bother with the garage, expecting to be leaving as soon as he gathered Ben. He was shocked when he went inside and didn’t find Ben in the living room where he expected.

“Ben?” he called out. “Benjamin?” There was no answer. Confused, he went to the kitchen and opened the door to the garage only to find Ben’s car wasn’t there. He became more concerned when he dialed Ben’s cell phone and got no answer. He saw they had a message on the kitchen machine, and he pressed the button, hoping for a call from Ben.

“Ben,” his own recorded voice spoke, “be ready to go when I get home. I have a surprise for you…” he hit delete, cutting off his own voice.

Disappointed that his romantic evening wasn’t turning out quite like he planned, he decided to change into jeans for dinner, still in hopes he could track Ben down and continue with his plans. He went upstairs and realized on the way up he hadn’t seen Maggie, either. “Maggie?” he called.

Perplexed, Vic decided he would call Zach just as soon as he changed. He thought Ben would be home and had no reason to expect Maggie not to be there. Hurrying to change clothes in case there had been an emergency with Maggie, he opened the closet door. His breath left him and was replaced by a cold fear spreading through his belly. Ben’s things were gone. He looked around the bedroom and noticed item after item that should have been there but wasn’t. He blinked in surprise as his eyes surveyed the room, then he peered back into the closet. Mechanically, he went to the bathroom for other clues only to find it devoid of any signs of Ben, just like the bedroom. His toothbrush was missing from the holder, and his electric razor was gone from the countertop. In its place, a note was there, written in Ben’s tiny script. With a slight tremor in his hand, he reached out for it, picking it up to read an explanation for what he expected, but was afraid to confirm.

“Vic,

I’m sorry to do this by a note, but I couldn’t face you. I don’t see the point of staying anymore. I can be by myself somewhere else and it won’t hurt as bad, I hope.

Don’t call me or try to find me. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing and leave me alone.

Ben”

The reality of the words hit him like a freight train, and his knees weakened. On shaky legs, he went back to their room. The note’s message was reinforced with the half-empty closet he could still see into with the door standing open as he’d left it. He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed, still clutching the note in his hand and his mind reeled as it processed what he had just learned. Ben had left him.

The end.

Nelson's Library