Just Say "No"

Just Say “No”

by Nelson

Warnings: A long one. I’m just tired thinking about it. I’ve been working on this story forever it seems like! Zach is pretty upset through most of this story, which is unlike him typically. I don’t do “angsty” very well, but there’s still a bit of fun in here. No other warnings I can think of though…

"But, I want to go with you!" Zach complained to Nelson from the sofa. He sat on the edge, leaning forward earnestly toward Nelson. Zach grabbed Nelson’s hand that was lying on the arm of the big chair he was sitting in. He gave it a squeeze and added, “Pleeease??”

Nelson used the opportunity of having Zach’s hand in his to lift it to his lips, and he kissed the back. Zach’s arguing was starting to wear thin and he tried patiently once again to explain to him, his voice staying calm. "Zachary, we've been over this enough and you’re just getting more worked up. You have far too much going on at school to go with me this week. You need to calm down and drop it."

Zach continued to wage war, hoping for victory. "I'll keep up, Nelson! I swear! I can take the exam another time. Don't make me stay," he pleaded.

“Zachary Adam, I‘ve had to tell you ‘no’ one time too many about this. I’m not changing my mind.”

“Why can’t Daniel go speak at your stupid meeting?” Zach persisted. “Why do you have to go?”

“Daniel wasn’t invited; I was,” Nelson said. “Now, I know you don’t like it, but it can’t be helped. I'm not going to discuss this any more, Zach. You aren't going with me and that's final," Nelson said sternly, rising from his seat and heading to the office.

"But, Nelson!" Zach snapped, jumping up from the sofa and stomping behind Nelson.

Nelson stopped and turned sharply toward his angry lover, halting his argument and his furious approach. He straightened up, pushing the sleeves of his sweater back off his wrists as he spoke. "Do you need some time in the corner, Zachary?" Zach read the look on Nelson's face and felt the cold in his feet from the extremely thin ice he was standing on. He glared at Nelson without comment then spun on his heel to go back to the sofa. He flopped down, arms crossed and pout firmly in place on his lips. Nelson calmly watched Zach’s little mini-tantrum and asked again, "Do you?"

"NO, sir," he answered tersely through clenched teeth.

"Then you’d better try answering me again without the lip," Nelson said in his best warning tone.

Zach recognized he was dangerously close to staring at a corner or worse, and he attempted a more appropriate response. "No, sir," Zach tried again, more quietly and with less bitterness.

Satisfied, Nelson turned back around and continued on his way to the office to do some work, hoping the distance would keep Zach out of trouble.

Nelson leaned over the sink to look out the kitchen window and saw the sun brilliantly gracing the day. He looked over at the indoor-outdoor thermometer parked in the kitchen window and saw it was already 65 degrees. Not too hot and not too cold. He heard Zach’s feet on the floor overhead and knew to expect him downstairs at any minute. He poured both of them a cup of coffee and was stirring the contents when Zach appeared in the doorway. From the look on his face, he wasn’t in a better mood from the night before. Nelson wondered if Zach’s cold shoulder would drop the 65 degree temperature outside.

“Good morning, Sweet Pea,” Nelson greeted Zach in his usual easy manner. He pretended not to notice the nasty look he was getting on this beautiful Sunday morning. “Come on,” Nelson said holding out a cup of coffee in Zach’s favorite Star Wars Episode II mug. “Come sit with me in the swing.”

“I don’t want to. I’m not dressed,” Zach pointed out with his arms spread to help Nelson see his red cotton robe a bit better. It slipped open wide down the front when Zach’s arms swung out, since he hadn’t bothered to tie the belt that hung limply at his sides.

Nelson continued to prod his young lover, trying to get him out of his foul mood and into the swing. “You’re not exactly naked. You have your pajamas and a robe on. Tie it up and come on,” he urged, offering the coffee again. “Let’s go.”

Despite the glare Zach cast Nelson’s way, he reluctantly snapped the ends of the tie around each other and pulled it tight around his waist. With his pajamas covered to the knees, he took the mug and followed his partner to the back porch. “It isn’t proper to sit outside dressed this way. You should know that,” Zach admonished.

Nelson took Zach’s free hand and steered them to the swing, pulling Zach down beside him carefully so as not to slosh their coffee. He said, “It’s never stopped us before, and you’ve never complained about it either.”

“Well, I am now.” Nelson put his arm across the back of the swing and Zach scooted over to the far side away from him as soon as he felt the arm above his shoulders.

Nelson took the hint and moved his arm, cupping his mug between his hands. Clearly Zach’s attitude was going to continue so Nelson asked, looking into the light brown liquid between his palms, “Do you want to tell me how long you plan to stay mad at me?” Zach shrugged his shoulders from his side of the swing. Nelson saw the raising and lowering of Zach’s shoulders out of the corner of his eye and he looked over at him. “Hey,” Nelson said and reached a hand toward Zach, touching his shoulder.

Zach mumbled into his coffee, wrenching his shoulder away from the touch, “What?” He folded his feet under him, pointing his sock-covered toes toward Nelson, creating a bit more of a barrier between them in case Nelson decided to slide over next to him.

Nelson exhaled audibly and said after a thoughtful pause, “It’s time to stop, Zachary. I don’t appreciate being treated this way simply because you don’t agree with me.”

Zach swung his head around sharply to face his lover. “And, I don’t appreciate being left here alone while you go off doing your own thing!” Zach exploded with indignant anger. “So, we’re even.”

“All right, that’s enough,” Nelson said firmly. “You know I have to go to this meeting. It’s hardly ‘doing my own thing’ and you know it.”

Zach flushed at the reprimand and dropped his eyes. He understood Nelson had to go, whether he wanted to admit it or not. What he couldn’t grasp was why he couldn’t go with him. “I just want to go with you. I don’t want us to fight.”

Nelson tugged at Zach’s arm trying to pull him close without spilling their coffee, prompting Zach to move his legs and get next to him. “I know you want to go, and I wish you could. It’s just not a good time right now; but we aren’t going over that again. Okay?” Zach nodded and allowed himself to be held against Nelson. Despite his anger, he couldn’t help snuggling down under Nelson’s arm as he draped it again over Zach’s shoulders, holding him tight. "Would you like to stay with Vic while I'm gone?"

"No," Zach replied simply, burying himself in the warmth of the crook between Nelson’s shoulder and arm.

"Come on,” Nelson said, gently squeezing Zach against him. “You and Benji can keep each other company. You don't want to hang around here by yourself, do you?"

Zach’s resolve not to fight crumbled like stale bread and he chafed at the comment. He sat bolt upright in the swing, his movement interrupting the gentle sway Nelson was causing with his toe. He looked directly at Nelson and accused gruffly, "You don't trust me here alone! Just say it!"

"You know better than that, Zachary," Nelson said calmly as his lover continued to push. Nelson pulled at his arm again to put him back under his wing but Zach refused to succumb this time.

Zach tugged his arm out of Nelson’s grasp and asked, "Why else would you want me to stay with Vic, then?"

Nelson looked steadily at his partner and asked, "Why did I say I was suggesting it?"

"I know what you SAID," Zach spat.

Nelson sighed, in no mood to continue the conversation while Zach was in tantrum-mode. "Zachary, I'm not going to put up with your attitude today. I let it go last night, but I’ve had enough. If you don't want to stay with Vic, you don't have to. It was simply a suggestion. If I didn't trust you alone, it wouldn't have been a suggestion," Nelson pointed out. Refusing to engage in battle, he sipped his coffee trying to forget the exchange ever took place.

Incensed at Nelson’s calm demeanor, Zach said, "Fine, WHATever." Zach glared daggers at Nelson as he spoke.

Nelson lowered his mug slowly and locked stern eyes with his partner. "Did you hear what I just said? No more foul attitude, and I mean it. I won’t say it again. You argue with me about this one more time, I’ll wear you out.” Zach’s mouth turned down and his brow furrowed over his downcast eyes. “I’ve heard more than enough of it, and I don’t deserve it. This is something I have to do and you understand that.”

Zach's face suddenly crumpled and his eyes started to water as much from frustration as disappointing his partner. He slouched against Nelson, mashing himself as close as possible to his side. He said, "I don’t want to fight with you. I just don't want you to go without me...I don’t want to be left here alone…"

Nelson kissed Zach’s head firmly and picked up the citrus scent of yesterday’s shampoo. "I'll miss you, too, Sweet Pea. I know you’re disappointed, and I am, too. I’m sorry you can’t go, but I'll call every day, okay? It's only three days. It will fly by, I promise."

Zach nodded against him, squeezing his eyes together to hold the tears at bay. It was going to be a long three days.

Around 5:00 AM the next morning, Nelson woke Zach enough to tell him goodbye, kissing his soft lips gently. Zach, never one to get up early, surprised Nelson by sitting straight up in the bed and demanding to know why he hadn't been awakened earlier. “Why did you let me sleep?!” he asked, gripping the sleeve of Nelson’s cotton shirt.

The sun was still trying to wake up, barely peeking above the horizon. Nelson said, "Zach, it's too early for you to get up. I'm heading out; I'll call you when I get there, Sweetie. Good luck on your test today." Nelson delivered another kiss, this time to a coherent partner.

"I don’t care about the test! I'll miss you!" Zach said, as his eyes began to water. He was torn between feeling alone, mad and rejected.

Nelson’s heart melted for his partner. He knew Zach was making more of an issue of his leaving than was necessary, simply because he was told he couldn’t go. Nelson equated it to the same craving for chocolate a dieter was plagued with as soon as the first day of a new diet began. It was the appeal of the forbidden. Still, Zach’s emotions were real, and his reactions intense and gaining strength the more he dwelled on the fact he was not allowed to go. Nelson sat down on the edge of the bed and ran his hand over Zach’s face, cupping it gently. He couldn’t help but notice the blueness of his partner’s eyes magnify as they filled with tears. "Please don't cry about this, Zach. I would take you if I thought it was for the best, but I don't want your grades to suffer just because I want you with me," Nelson said, pushing Zach's hair back off his forehead for another kiss. "I’ll call you and you can call me if you need anything. You know Vic is nearby, too."

“I don’t WANT Vic!” he said and pounded his fists against his thighs through the covers.

“Zachary Adam. Calm down, right now,” Nelson warned, trying to head off the runaway train with his tone.

It was undeterred. “Why?? How do you expect me to be calm when you’re going without me over some stupid test?!” he exclaimed.

“It isn’t stupid, Zach. It’s important.” Zach’s eyes looked imploringly into Nelson’s and an angry tear slipped down his face. Nelson wiped it away and said, “Now, I don’t want to leave with you mad or upset.”

“Good. Then you won’t be going,” Zach said petulantly, pulling Nelson to him by the front of his shirt.

Nelson’s hands covered Zach’s, clutched on either side of the buttons running up the middle of his chest. He tried not to think of the wrinkles forming in Zach’s fists. Nelson pulled Zach to him and embraced him firmly with Zach’s hands still tangled in the front of his shirt. “I’m sorry, Zach. I have to go. You’ll be fine, I promise.”

“I will not. I’m coming to meet you, right after my test,” Zach announced with his head lying against Nelson’s shoulder. He waited quietly to see what Nelson would say, and he didn’t have to wait long.

Nelson’s hands slid to Zach’s shoulders and pulled him away so he could see him. “You aren’t going to do that, Zachary. I mean it.”

“I am so, and you can hardly stop me if you aren’t here,” Zach announced courageously. “You’ll just have to deal with it.”

Nelson pulled Zach’s hands away from him and said firmly, “I’ll deal with it all right. You’d better not do it.” Zach looked away from him. He placed two fingers under Zach’s chin to leverage his head upward. “Zach?”

Gazing into Nelson’s eyes, seeing them hard with determination, he said, “All right, I won’t. But I don’t see why I can’t.”

Nelson knew the threat and argument was a last ditch effort for them to be together over the next few days so he didn’t take the time to engage further in the battle Zach was trying to wage. Nelson hugged him again and said, “I need to leave. I love you. I’ll call every day.” With that Nelson gave him one last deep kiss then left the bedroom, his own heart heavy at having to leave his partner so upset. Zach fell back against the pillows and cried, feeling deserted, angry and sorry for himself.

Zach went through the day at school, trying to concentrate, but he became more and more dejected as the day went on. He sat through the crappy test that had been the reason for Nelson leaving him, and briefly considered throwing his grade out of spite. He wisely decided against it, knowing full well the low grade would be the least of his worries once Nelson found out - which he undoubtedly would.

He paused on his way to the car when he heard his name being called, and he turned to investigate. “Zach! Zach! Wait up.” He saw Ben heading over to him, approaching at a steady jog. "Hey,” Ben said breathlessly when he caught up with Zach.

“Hey,” Zach replied.

“Where were you at lunch?”

“I wasn’t hungry,” Zach said.

“Oh.” Ben looked at the ground wondering if he made the right decision to talk to Zach in his present mood. He pressed on against his better judgment and asked, “How was the test?"

"I think I did all right on it; not that I care."

"So, do you have big plans since the warden is gone?" Ben tried to joke, with a crooked grin.

"I think I’m going out tonight. I'm NOT sitting at home alone with nothing to do." Anger continued to win out over sadness during the day and he decided a few drinks would be just the thing to improve his mood.

“Where are you going?”

“Out,” Zach said noncommittally.

Understanding dawned and Ben looked at his friend warily. “Oh, man. If Nelson finds out you went out drinking, you'll get it,” Ben warned. “Why don’t you just come over to our house and stay out of trouble? We can watch a movie or something."

"Nelson won't find out. He's not HERE, remember?" Zach said sarcastically.

"You're still hot because he left you this week? Is that why you're going out tonight?"

Zach responded with a grimace, "How would you like it?"

"He isn't going to be gone that long. Won't he be back on Wednesday?"

"Yes."

Ben did the math in his head. "Three days. That's not so bad. Why can't you let it go?"

“I wanted to go with him, that’s why. Not to mention his reason for not letting me go was STUPID.”

“But,” Ben started, “he said you couldn’t. It’s not that big of a deal. Quit sniveling over it.”

Zach shook his head and turned toward his car, clearly finished with the conversation. “You don’t understand,” he said with his back to Ben with a dismissive wave.

“What? What did I say?” Ben asked to Zach’s back. “Come on, Zach. Zach!”

Zach continued to walk away, nearing his car and ignoring his friend.

Zach curled up on the sofa and turned on the television for some noise. The quiet in the house was deafening and a constant reminder that he was left alone. Somewhere in the middle of sitcom reruns, he drifted off to sleep. He was awakened from his catnap by the insistent ringing of the doorbell. Zach got up from the sofa to answer it and found Vic filling the doorway.

"How are you, Zach?" Vic asked, stepping through the open door.

"Fine, I guess," Zach answered, not in the mood for conversation.

Vic looked Zach over, assessing for himself whether or not he was fine. He said, "I just dropped by to see if you would like to come over for dinner."

Zach bristled almost visibly. "Nelson told you to check up on me, didn't he? Did he ask you to invite me?" Zach asked brusquely.

"No, he didn't, Zach, on both counts. I merely thought you would like some company with Nelson gone," Vic said, straightening up with his hands on his hips, his wrists holding back the sides of his black leather jacket. His ramrod straight posture brought him to his full height, and he glared disapprovingly at Zach’s attitude and tone.

Zach's head dropped at the change in Vic's demeanor, and he was embarrassed for jumping to conclusions. "I'm sorry, Vic," Zach said, in response to the reprimand.

It was obvious to Vic that Zach was upset, probably from being left alone. He reached out and ran his fingers through Zach’s hair. "That’s all right. What’s the matter, Sweetheart?”

“Nothing,” Zach lied. “I’m just a little tired I guess. I fell asleep on the sofa.”

Vic’s eyes narrowed and he looked Zach over again, nodding slowly. “Maybe you should hit the sack early tonight.”

“Yeah,” Zach said and looked away.

“So, would you like to come over or not?" Vic offered again.

"No, I'm just going to hang out here," Zach said, still entertaining the idea of going out later. If Vic had any clue of his plans, he would likely flex his muscles and make sure he didn’t go out.

"Let me know if you change your mind,” Vic said. “We'll eat at 6:30."

"Thanks, Vic, but I'll be fine."

Vic wasn’t so sure. He took in the look on Zach's face and put his arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Okay, Sweetheart. Remember, we're just ten minutes away if you need anything, or just want some company. You’re more than welcome."

The embrace helped and he hugged Vic back tightly. He missed Nelson already and it was only a day. Sleeping in the king-sized bed alone would be hard. It had been a long time since Zach had had to sleep alone. Vic pulled away then kissed his head. "Hang in there, Sweetheart. I'll see you," Vic said, exiting the house and heading toward his car. He threw up his hand as he got in the car and Zach waved back.

Zach didn’t leave to go out until just after 9:00 since he had to wait for Nelson’s check-in call. Not surprising to Nelson, Zach had answered him with a less-than-happy greeting. With the check-in out of the way, Zach grabbed his jacket and left for a local bar.

Zach slid onto a barstool and ordered a Jack and Coke from the bartender, who had little to do with the light work-night crowd. “Thanks,” he said to the bartender when his drink was placed before him.

“So, how old was he when he died?” the man next to him asked.

“What?” Zach asked, blinking to awareness. He looked around to see a handsome young man with sandy brown hair gazing at him.

“Your dog,” he said with his face breaking out into a smile. “Obviously, your dog or someone else close to you died.”

“Neither. I’m just not in a good mood, that’s all.”

The man raised his eyebrows at him and said, “Really? I couldn’t tell.” Zach shrugged, offering no explanation or excuses to the stranger. The stranger persisted with conversation even with the lack of interest in it Zach was showing. “How about a game of pool? It might take your mind off things.”

Zach glanced at the pool table beside the bar and back at the man. A good game of pool might do just that – take his mind off his troubles. He said, “Sure, why not?”

The man stuck out a hand and said, “Name’s David.”

“Zach. Nice to meet you.” Zach got up and followed David to the pool table to pass the time.

The friendly game occupied Zach and he looked down at his watch after several games. Seeing it was after 11:00, he realized two hours and a few drinks later that he just wanted to go home. “Thanks for the company, David, but I’m going home.”

“Alone?” David asked. “Want some company there, too?” He reached out and put his hand over Zach’s and smiled at him. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you.”

Zach backed away and wiped at his hand to try to remove David’s touch. He said, “No, I have a partner, thanks anyway.”

David grinned and said, “If you have a partner, what are you doing here with me?”

Zach swallowed hard and said, “He’s…he’s out of town. I need to get back.”

“How convenient,” David said. “You don’t have to lie to me. If you aren’t interested, just say so.”

Zach looked at him in surprise. “I’m NOT lying. He IS out of town. But since you insist, I’m NOT interested even if I didn’t have a partner. My interest was only in a game of pool.”

David’s eyes traveled up and down Zach and settled on his eyes. “Whatever. I know you enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed yours. Let me take you home.”

“I did, but not like that. Not like that at all. I’m not interested, I said.”

“You’re sure? You’re not convincing me.” David took a step closer and Zach backed up further, snatching his coat.

“Watch me leave without you. See if that convinces you.” Zach darted for the door quickly.

He hurried out of the bar toward his car putting distance between him and David, as well as the uncomfortable situation that ensued from what he thought was an innocent game of pool.

He was feeling a buzz from the alcohol on an empty stomach, and fumbled with his keys either from the drinks or his nerves, he wasn’t sure which. After dropping them on the ground, he finally got his them under control and into the ignition. His foot pressed heavily against the accelerator, bringing the car to a higher speed since he was anxious to get home. He wanted to crawl into bed allowing sleep to erase the lousy day and the near miss with David. There wasn’t much traffic on the road, and Zach paid little attention to his speed while his thoughts were elsewhere. He took a curve a little too fast and the sound of his squealing tires snapped him to attention, but not in time to keep his car on the road. He dodged for the brakes and the car spun out of control and into a guardrail. The night was deadly silent when the car stopped with the engine dead.

“Aw, shit!” he cursed. His hands started to tremble from the adrenaline rush and at the thought of what just happened. He did a quick assessment of himself and realized he wasn’t hurt. With a shaking hand, he opened the door and stepped out to check the damage to the car. Another vehicle passed while he was standing on the side of the road, but the driver didn’t see fit to stop. It looked like his car was drivable with only minor damage to the front bumper, but the car was quiet just the same. He cursed again out loud to no one in particular and got back behind the wheel. He turned the key and slapped the steering wheel with his palm when the engine didn’t so much as acknowledge his attempt to turn it over. He looked to the passenger seat to get his phone and threw his head back with his eyes heavenward when he remembered seeing it lying on the kitchen counter last. No phone, no car, no way to get home. “What a great night this has turned out to be,” he muttered.

The night was suddenly filled with the glow of flashing red-and-blue lights and he looked up in the rearview mirror to see a police officer approaching. Apparently, the Good Samaritan who didn’t see fit to stop for him, did at least call for help. Zach just wished it hadn’t been the police.

“Great! Just great!” he fussed and laid his head back against the headrest, nervously awaiting the officer’s approach. Knowing the officer would ask for them, he started to dig for his registration and driver’s license and allowed a brief thought as to what Nelson would make of the situation. He looked up when the officer tapped his knuckles against the window. Zach reached for the door handle and went to get out of the car.

“Good evening, Officer,” Zach said sweetly and tried to still his shaking hands when he exited the vehicle, supporting himself on weak knees. His hands fiddled with the license and registration he held and Zach swallowed hard, waiting to see what the officer had to say.

“Want to tell me what happened here?” the officer asked without dispensing any greetings. Zach sighed and handed over his license and registration before being asked for them.

“I’m not sure,” Zach admitted honestly. “It just happened so fast.”

“You just lost control in the curve? Or, did something else happen?”

“I really don’t know. I mean, I was driving home and the next thing I knew I was stopped against the guardrail. I guess I did lose control.”

The officer looked him over. “Are you hurt? Do I need to call an ambulance,” he paused to look down at the driver’s license in his hand, “Mr. Bartholomew?”

“No, no, I’m fine. Really. Just a little shaken up from the accident. I’d just like to go home,” he added hopefully. “But, it won’t start.” He looked back at his quiet car, pressed against the guardrail.

The officer’s flashlight grazed Zach’s eyes and the officer squinted, checking what he saw. “Have you been drinking?”

Zach’s stomach plummeted. Oh, God. “Um, not more than I should have,” Zach tried.

The officer kept the flashlight in Zach’s eyes and took far too long thinking about things as far as Zach was concerned. “I’ll be right back,” the officer commented then went to his car.

Zach dropped his head and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to make the figment of the officer and his car disappear. Both were still there when he opened his eyes, and soon the officer returned to him. Zach held his breath as he waited, worried beyond measure that he might get a DUI on top of everything else.

The officer handed him his license and registration when he neared Zach and said, “I’m going to have to give you a ticket, son. Failure to maintain control of your vehicle. My guess is you were speeding, but I can’t prove that.”

As much as Zach hated getting a ticket, he welcomed the minor infraction over what it could have been. “Yes, sir. Sorry about this.” He signed the ticket the officer held out to him on a clipboard and passed it back.

The officer asked as he handed Zach his copy, “You said it wouldn’t start?”

“No, sir, it won’t.”

“Do you need to call someone?”

Zach groaned to himself as he realized he did, in fact, need to call someone but the only someone he wanted was out of town. That left Vic. “I do, I guess. I don’t have my phone…”

“Come on. I’ll take you back to the station and you can make that call and wait for your ride.”

Zach climbed in the backseat and couldn’t help saying, “I feel like a criminal back here.”

The officer gave a hearty laugh and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t cuff you for ‘failure to maintain control’.”

In no time, Zach found himself at the local precinct with tears stinging the backs of his eyes. Zach sat at the officer's desk taking the phone that was offered to him and dialing Vic’s number from memory. The squelch of radios and police chatter was going on all around him, leaving him feeling like a guest star on a cheesy police drama. He should be so lucky. The phone started ringing in his ear and he waited to hear Vic’s voice.

Vic rolled over, instantly awake from the shrill of the ringing phone at midnight. His hands fumbled for the phone as he glanced at the clock and he was immediately worried. Phone calls extremely late or early usually meant bad news. Maggie’s head popped up from the foot of the bed at the sound of the ringing phone and she blinked hazy eyes in the dark.

"Hello?" he answered. He was aware of his heart thudding from the start of the phone and the anticipation of bad news. Ben was stirring next to him and leaned up on his elbow. He, too, was concerned at the ringing phone so late. His hair was already dancing all over his head after having been asleep for only a few hours.

Vic heard Zach’s voice reaching to him through the phone lines. "Vic? It's Zach. Can you come pick me up?"

Vic immediately sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Zachary? Where are you? What's happened?" he asked having heard the crack in Zach's voice.

Ben was tugging at the back of Vic’s t-shirt having heard it was his friend on the other line, “What’s wrong? Is he all right?” he was asking. Vic held up a stifling hand so he could find out the answers himself.

Zach pressed his fingers to his eyes trying desperately not to cry in front of the police officer. "...I'm...uh...at the police station ...um, downtown..."

Vic’s brain tried to grasp what he just heard. He worked to remain calm and not upset Zach any more. "It's all right, Zach. I'll be there in 15 minutes. You can tell me what this is about when I pick you up."

He hung up the phone and moved with efficiency to get some jeans and a clean t-shirt, running a hand through his hair to straighten it.

"Vic? Vic! What's going on?" Ben asked concerned from his side of the bed. He sat up in the bed, pressed against the headboard. Ben watched Vic slip off his shorts and slip his long muscular legs into his jeans.

"I'm not sure. Zach called for a ride from the police station. Do you have any idea how he might have gotten there?" he asked as he pulled the teeth of his zipper together.

"No," Ben answered then remembered Zach’s plans for the evening. He added hesitantly, "Well, I know he was going out tonight, but that's all."

Vic sat down on the side of the bed with his shoes dangling between the tips of his fingers. He paused and nailed Ben with an accusing look over his shoulder. "And, you didn't think I should know about that with Nelson out of town?"

Ben looked away from the unhappy glare he was getting. "Uh, I guess I didn't think about it?" Ben answered. “I mean, he can go out if he wants to.”

"Nice try,” Vic said, shaking out his socks and pulling them on. “We'll talk about that later," Vic said, obviously in a hurry to get to the station and pick up Zach.

“Can I come?” Ben asked throwing the covers off as he asked the question.

“Absolutely not. Stay in the bed and I’ll be back shortly.”

Fully dressed in record time, Vic kissed Ben and told him to go back to sleep. Like that was going to happen. Ben lay back against the pillows, resigned to have to wait for the scoop.

*****

Vic arrived at the station shortly and found Zach waiting for him on a bench in the squad room. "Zach! Zachary, are you all right?" Zach looked up at the sound of his name and the tears threatening began to fall silently when he saw Vic striding across the room. “Are you okay?” Vic asked again, and Zach nodded his head, unable to speak, with the tears choking him. Vic pulled him to his feet and put his arms around the crying brat. "Are you allowed to leave?" he asked gently. Zach nodded against him. "You're sure?" Another nod. “Come on, then.” He wrapped a supporting arm around Zach’s shoulders and led him out of the police station.

Vic hustled him into the car and slipped behind the wheel. He looked over at Zach leaning heavily against the inside door. “Buckle up, Zach.” Zach mutely did as he was told and Vic watched while he buckled his seatbelt. Zach was vaguely aware of the sound of the engine turning over and the car pulling away. "Tell me what happened tonight, Zach," Vic said from the driver's seat.

"I don't want to talk about it," Zach said. “I just want to go home and go to bed.”

"I just had to pick you up at the police station at midnight. Not talking about it is not an option, young man," Vic said sternly.

Zach recognized the tone. It was the same tone Nelson used to let him know he had no other choice except compliance. Zach swore they had training in "the tone" and "the look" as he had seen both demonstrated expertly by Vic and Nelson.

Feeling he had no choice but to answer, he cried harder and said, "I wrecked my caaaarr."

"You what?!" Vic said, a little louder than Zach cared for. Vic had a booming voice and it didn’t have to go up much to sound like yelling.

Zach retorted with equal intensity through his tears, “Don’t yell at me! Nelson never yells.”

Vic stepped back mentally and shifted gears to adjust to Zach and his needs. He said, “I’m sorry, Zach. I don’t mean to yell at you. I just tend to get loud when I get upset.” Zach knew it was true, but he still didn’t like it. He kept to his side of the vehicle and didn’t respond. More gently, Vic asked, "Are you hurt?" He reached out a hand and gripped Zach’s knee.

Zach curled up against the window and put his hand over his eyes continuing to cry. “No, just my neck is a little sore, that’s all.”

Vic was suddenly relieved at the bit of good news. Satisfied that Zach was fine, he asked, "What were you doing out so late to begin with?"

Shit, shit! Nelson was going to kill him. He knew Vic would make sure he knew all the gory details, the damn tattletale. Going out so late to a bar would have been enough to get him in trouble if Nelson found out. Add the wreck and ticket – well, it was going to be bad.

“Zach? Answer me.”

“I…I went out…that’s all,” he stammered between the sniffles.

Vic took in the vague explanation and filled in the blanks. “You mean you went out drinking, don’t you?”

Zach’s tears increased and he wondered how Vic and Nelson always managed to know everything. He nodded miserably against the window.

Vic’s voice went up a notch in spite of himself and he said, “You drove after you spent the evening drinking?! Is that why you wrecked?”

“NO! I mean, yes, I was drinking, but I don’t know if that’s why I wrecked.”

“And, you don’t know it’s not why either, do you?” Vic asked pointedly.

“I didn’t get a ticket for it,” Zach said in his defense.

Vic didn’t say anything, leaving silence hanging heavily in the SUV, and he waited while the lack of talking did its job to get Zach’s attention. When Vic spoke again, he did so slowly and firmly. “I don’t care whether the policeman thought you needed a ticket for DUI or not. You know better than to drink and drive. Period.” Zach huddled as far away from Vic as he could get and wished the shitty day away. Vic asked, “So, you had more planned tonight than staying home like you told me, right?”

“God, Vic!” Zach exclaimed sitting up slightly and shifting in his seat. “I couldn’t tell you! You would have made sure I stayed home or you would have told Nelson!”

“You’re exactly right. And in retrospect, don’t you wish I had?”

Zach expelled a tearful sigh, but couldn’t answer. He sat up fully when they passed the turn to his house. “Where are we going?” Zach asked.

"You're staying with us until Nelson gets home," Vic announced. He held up a hand when Zach began to protest, "NOT a word, Zachary. You WILL be staying with us, end of discussion. If Nelson doesn’t agree, that’s fine. But, you’re staying where I can keep an eye on you unless he says otherwise."

In minutes, they pulled into Vic’s driveway and he put the vehicle in park. They slipped out of the SUV and Vic led him up to the guest room, then worked on pulling back the covers on the bed. Ben appeared in the doorway having heard the two moving about and he watched his lover ready the bed for Zach to get in. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

Vic looked around from getting the covers pulled back and saw his partner standing there disheveled. “Go back to bed, Sweetheart.”

Ben’s eyes were glued to Zach and he said, “Zach? Are you okay?” Zach wiped at his eyes and looked away before he took a seat on the edge of bed where Vic had pulled the covers away.

Vic put a hand to the side of Zach’s head and pulled him against his waist, stroking his head softly; Zach was vaguely aware of the rough fabric of Vic’s jeans against his cheek, a sharp contrast to the gentle touch to the side of his head. Vic said, “Benjamin, go back to bed, please. Go on.”

“But, Vic, what’s wrong?” he asked still eyeing his friend.

“Go,” Vic said with a finger pointed toward their bedroom. Ben hesitated and looked back at Zach, making no move to go back down the hallway. "Stay here," Vic instructed Zach then headed toward the door after a final calming caress to his guest’s head. He took Ben’s upper arm when he reached him and whispered to him as they moved toward their room. “I told you to go back to bed, Benji,” he said gently, knowing Ben was worried about Zach.

"What happened?" Ben asked when they entered their room. “Is he okay?”

"He’ll be fine. He’s just upset,” Vic responded, leading Ben back to their bed. “Why are you still awake, Pumpkin? You should be asleep. I don’t need both of you dragging around tomorrow."

"I couldn't sleep. What happened?" Ben inquired again as he crawled back beneath the covers.

"I'll tell you in a minute," he answered, pulling an extra set of Ben’s nightwear from a drawer. "Let me get Zach settled."

“He’s staying here?” Ben asked. “How long?”

“He’s going to be staying with us until Nelson gets home. He’s fine; try not to worry about it.” Ben watched as Vic went into their bathroom and found an extra toothbrush then headed back to the guest room. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he went out the door.

Zach raised his head from his prone position on the bed when he heard Vic come in. "Here you go, Zach,” he said, holding out a pair of Ben’s elastic-waist cotton pants and a t-shirt, and then he offered him a toothbrush. “Don't worry about this tonight. Brush your teeth and get some sleep. We'll discuss it tomorrow."

The last thing Zach wanted to do was discuss the horrible night. Zach sat up and took the PJs and toothbrush from Vic’s hands, risking a look at Vic’s face. He didn’t see any signs of anger but he still felt like crap. He quietly got up and headed to the bathroom, keeping his eyes diverted from Vic as he passed. Vic waited outside the bathroom, pacing involuntarily, while he waited on Zach to brush his teeth and change into the pajamas he brought him. His footsteps stopped when the bathroom door opened and Zach emerged, dressed for what was left of the night. Vic held back the covers, waiting for Zach to approach, and helped him into bed. Once he had Zach wrapped up under the covers, he took the bundle of clothes Zach had discarded in a pile on the floor, and folded the jeans and polo shirt neatly.

Vic sat beside him on the bed and picked up Zach’s hand that was draped across his chest. His breathing was still hitching from crying for the last hour or so, and Vic rubbed the back of his hand. "I know, it was a bad night.” Zach nodded and rubbed his eyes with his other hand. “It’s going to be fine, Zach. I promise. Let me know if you need anything," Vic said to him. He leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Try to settle down and sleep, Sweetheart.”

"Okay," Zach answered, knowing sleep would be elusive.

Vic leaned over and snapped off the lamp, pitching the room into darkness. He got up and headed for the door, pausing before he left. He said, "Goodnight, Zachary,” then repeated his promise, “Everything is going to be fine."

Zach wasn’t so sure. "Goodnight, Vic," Zach said although he couldn’t think of a damn thing good about it. Vic pulled the door together and left to go back to his own room.

*****

Vic called Zach to wake up around 7:00 so he could get ready for his classes. "It’s time to take your shower and come down for breakfast," Vic said, holding some clothes of Ben's. Vic talked with total clarity, showing no signs of disrupted sleep from the prior night’s activities as he walked about the room, making sure Zach had everything he needed. "You can wear these today and we'll go by your house this afternoon and get your things." He draped the clothes on the end of the bed for Zach, straightening them so they wouldn’t wrinkle while Zach was taking his shower. “I hope they’re okay. Ben picked them out for you.” He twisted the wand connected to the mini-blinds allowing the morning light to pour in. “I think the clothes will fit you fine,” he said, turning from the window. The speech stopped when his feet did, directly next to Zach at the side of the bed with his hands resting on his hips. “Zach? You awake?”

Zach rolled over lazily and turned red, sleep-deprived eyes to Vic. Vic hitched his pants and took a seat on the edge of the bed, and pushed Zach’s hair back from his face. “Didn’t sleep well, I take it?” Zach shook his head. “You have to get up, Sweetheart. I don’t want you to miss school today, okay? Do you think you can make it?” Zach nodded, still not having spoken. “You can get to bed early tonight and catch up. Now, get up and take a shower. That should help you feel better,” Vic said, patting Zach’s leg through the comforter before leaving for the kitchen.

Minutes later, Ben looked up from the table to see Zach enter the kitchen freshly showered and donning his jeans and polo shirt. The jeans were a little long for him, and crumpled a bit around his tennis shoes, but not so long that he looked odd wearing them. Zach silently slid out a chair and sat down, glaring at the table. Although the shower helped somewhat, his eyes still showed the lack of sleep from the restless night, and it felt like his lids were at least double their normal thickness.

"Um, morning, Zach," Ben said uncomfortably from across the table. He knew Zach was in big trouble from what Vic told him about the night before, and was probably not in the mood for conversation. Zach mumbled a response that confirmed Ben’s suspicions, clearly still miserable.

Vic looked at the tired eyes and prompted Zach to eat his breakfast, offering him muffins and fruit. “Eat some breakfast, Sweetheart.” Zach looked at the food then took it disinterestedly while Vic continued to talk. "I’ll call the garage this morning to check your car out, see why it’s not starting. You and Ben can go over to your place to pick up your things this afternoon," Vic said. Zach's eyes were focused on the fruit lying on his plate during Vic’s speech. "Look at me, Zachary," Vic said and paused, waiting for eye contact. Once he had Zach’s attention, he continued, "You won't be driving until Nelson comes home, whether they get your car fixed or not. Is that understood?"

Zach nodded and looked back at his plate. His fork was pushing the fruit around on his plate, never lifting a piece to his lips.

"Give me your keys," Vic said, stretching out a hand. Zach looked up at that and laid his fork down. He dug the keys out of his pocket, and handed them over to Vic who placed them well within his own control beside his plate. "You can ride with Benji back and forth to school. If I catch you driving, I'll spank you. Don't think I won't."

He knew only too well that Vic would spank him and really hadn’t needed the added threat to believe he would. Zach looked pitifully at Vic and muttered, "Yes, sir."

Ben squirmed as though he were the one in trouble, used to being on the receiving end of Vic's lectures and promises of punishment. He picked at his muffin nervously and couldn’t help watching Zach during Vic’s speech. The color rose in Zach’s cheeks, dying them crimson, when Vic threatened to spank him. He felt sorry for Zach but was plenty grateful not to be in his shoes.

Having said all he needed to say on the topic, Vic turned the conversation to generalities and away from the current subject matter. As soon as breakfast was finished, Vic herded the boys out for school earlier than usual, knowing they needed time to go back to Zach's and get his books. Vic allowed Zach to have the house key off the key ring, but put the car keys safely back in his pocket.

*****

The first thing on Vic’s agenda was to call Nelson when he got to the office. The phone rang and rang to the point where Vic expected to be leaving a message, when Nelson finally answered. "Nelson Jameson," came the reply.

"Morning, Nelson," Vic said. “Am I catching you at a bad time?”

“Hey, Vic. No, you’re not catching me at a bad time exactly. I just had a mouthful of toothpaste, then I couldn’t get my hands on the phone. What’s up?”

Vic took a beat before launching into the long story, ever mindful of how he would feel on the other end if he were the recipient of similar news. He said, “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but there’s something you need to know.”

"Is Zach okay?" Nelson asked anxiously. Something in his gut warned him the call was about Zach and that it wasn’t good news. He absently ran his hand over his tie, and touched the knot lying below his chin that still needed to be hitched neckward.

"Do you have a minute?"

Nelson was instantly concerned, and his weak knees demanded that he sit down. He lowered himself onto the edge of the king-sized bed in his hotel room and had to find the breath to ask, “What’s wrong, Vic? Is Zach all right?”

“Don’t worry, Nelson,” Vic said. “He’s fine, he’s just been…well, a bit busy since you left.”

Nelson could almost feel the fear melt from his muscles as the adrenaline pumping through his body began to level off. Nelson listened intently as Vic proceeded to give him the Cliff’s Notes version of the latest installment of “The Many Adventures of Zach Bartholomew”.

"Oh, my God,” Nelson said after Vic finished his story. “You’re sure he’s all right? He wasn’t hurt in the accident?”

“He’s fine, don’t worry. He wasn’t injured,” Vic said.

With the confirmation that his lover was unharmed, Nelson’s thoughts turned to another issue, working backward from the most serious to the least important. With his well-being accounted for, Nelson moved to the next question at hand. “WHY was he out drinking in the first place?" he shot into the phone.

"I think he was just missing you. Or, mad at you, I’m not sure which. Maybe both."

"That is NO excuse!" Nelson snapped running his fingertips across his furrowed brow.

Vic heard the anger in Nelson's voice and knew he too would feel the same way if it had been Ben. "I told him he had to stay with us until you get home, unless you’d rather he didn’t. Hopefully, I can ward off any more trouble until then. I also forbade him to drive, not that it matters. His car won’t start right now, but Zach said it didn’t look like much damage. I went to the garage I use this morning and dropped off the keys on my way to work. They’re going to go check it out. I figured you wouldn't want him driving if they get it running, or driving Ben’s car if they don’t."

Nelson said, "You've got that right.” Nelson sat quietly on the end of the bed, trying to collect his thoughts and compartmentalize the information Vic just gave him. Mentally filing through the events of the prior evening involving his lover, Nelson said softly, “He’s lucky he wasn’t hurt or worse.”

"Very lucky," Vic agreed.

Sobering with the thought of what could have happened with Zach driving drunk, Nelson said, "Thanks for taking him in. I can’t even begin to tell you what it means to me.” Knowing his partner, he added, “I’m sure he’s upset."

"He is. He didn’t look like he slept at all last night, poor thing. I’m going to get him in bed early tonight. Hopefully, he’ll sleep better.”

Nelson couldn’t help being angry with himself for not being there for his partner and his first instinct was to go straight home. He said, “I don’t know how to thank you. I need to check and see if I can come home and…”

“Whoa, whoa, Nelson. Do you really think that’s necessary? You’ll be home tomorrow night and he’ll be with us until then.”

Nelson thought about it and said, “I know, but I just feel like I should be there. I think I’ll check to see if they have a flight this afternoon after my meeting.”

“Well, you do what you think you need to. In the meantime, at least staying with us, he’ll have some company. You know I don't mind. I'll have him home by the time you get in tomorrow evening if you don’t come home before."

Later that night, dinner was about as somber as breakfast, with Zach saying uncharacteristically little. Nelson had called early, apparently anxious to speak to his errant lover. He didn’t take the time to hound Zach about his misdeeds because he didn’t want to further upset him, merely let him know Vic had filled him in on the details. He wasn’t able to get an earlier flight so he would be coming home the next day as planned. Talking about what Zach had done would only get him worked up and that was the last thing Nelson wanted. Other than letting Zach know he knew, he chatted as though nothing had happened.

But, it was obvious Zach wasn’t in the mood to chit chat with Nelson or anyone else. He sat sullenly at the dinner table, brooding around the edges, while Vic and Ben tried to have normal conversation and include Zach whenever possible. Vic said, “So, your car is fine except for the front bumper. It was just a loose battery cable keeping it from starting. It runs fine. It just doesn’t look very pretty.” Zach nodded his head and focused on his plate.

Ben appeared more interested in the car than Zach and asked while tearing a roll apart, “Where’d they take it? Is it still at the garage?”

“It’s at Nelson and Zach’s house. I gave them the address when they called me. They reattached the battery cable on the side of the road and drove it to their house.” He turned to Zach and said, “Saved a tow bill for you, Zach.”

“Great,” Zach muttered without enthusiasm, thinking a tow bill was the least of his worries.

“Can you pass the potatoes, Zach?” Ben said from across him at the table. Zach looked at the bowl of mashed potatoes in front of him, and then back at Ben.

“They’re right there,” Zach said. “You can reach them.”

“I KNOW where they are,” Ben said, with a hand held toward Zach and the potatoes. “Can you hand them to me? They’re closer to you.”

“Why can’t you reach them?”

Vic interrupted, “Zachary.”

“Jerk,” Ben said.

Vic quickly turned his attention to his partner and said, “Benjamin! Cut it out, both of you.”

Zach looked to Vic making sure his attention was elsewhere then picked up the potatoes, and held them just out of reach of Ben. Vic glanced around in time to catch him and said, “Zach, do you and I need to leave the table?” Zach saw the seriousness in Vic’s brown eyes so he stretched the potatoes just barely closer to Ben so he could reach them. Ben glared daggers at him as he took the bowl from Zach’s hands.

Just when Vic thought the stand-off was resolved, Ben grumbled while slapping a spoonful of potatoes on his plate, “Just because you’re in big trouble…”

Vic paused with his fork a mere inches from his lips to address his partner. “Benjamin!” Vic said. “That’s enough!”

Ben’s attention was quickly drawn to Vic and he said, “Well, he IS.” Then, shooting another look across the table, Ben said to Zach, “You’re going to GET it when Nelson comes home.”

Zach slammed a fist down on the table and the liquid in their glasses shimmered with the shock to the tabletop. “Shut UP!” Zach said.

Vic stepped in immediately. “That’s enough, I said!” Vic said, glaring first at one brat then the other. Settling his eyes on his own brat, he said, “Keep it up and you’re going to get it, yourself.”

Ben looked at his partner and tried to explain himself. “But, he’s been a grouch all day. It’s not my fault he’s in trouble,” Ben said with a scowl.

“Quit it,” Vic said with another boring glare into each brat. “Eat.” The boys returned sullenly to their meals and made it through dinner with no more outbursts.

After they were all done, Vic said, rising from his seat, “You two get to do the dishes. I cooked.” He leaned down and kissed Ben fully on the lips.

“We ‘get to do the dishes’? What contest did we lose?” Ben asked as Vic straightened up from the kiss.

“Don’t complain, Benji. At least you have help tonight. If you’d learn to cook, you wouldn’t get dish duty all the time.”

“You help me most of the time,” Ben said with a grin.

“I know. I shouldn’t, since you never help with the cooking, but I just don’t like to see you do them by yourself.”

“I might not be able to cook, but I keep you company while you do it,” Ben pointed out, standing to wrap his arms around his lover. “And, I ALWAYS help you cook upstairs in the bedroom,” he said with a mischievous grin.

Vic returned the embrace and locked Ben tightly against him. “Yes, you do. And, you do it well,” Vic said before covering Ben’s mouth again. Zach watched the two of them and bristled at being alone, his own lover hundreds of miles away. Vic reluctantly pulled his lips away. “Okay,” Vic said, releasing Ben with a pat to his backside. “Get the dishes done. I’m going to run the vacuum upstairs and gather the trash.” He gave Ben one more peck before disappearing to go upstairs.

Ben sported a lingering smile from the brief exchange with his lover, and turned to Zach, still sitting at the table. Zach’s scowl met him from across the way, and Ben’s smile began to waver. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you your face would freeze like that?” Ben said, noticing the sour look.

“Fuck you,” Zach said.

Ben began to wear a nasty expression of his own. “GET a GRIP, Zach. It’s not my fault you’re in trouble. Quit taking it out on me.”

Zach continued to glare at Ben. “You just had to rub it in, didn’t you?”

Ben looked confused, and his brow creased. “What are you talking about?”

Zach mimicked him with his voice dripping sarcasm, “’I help you cook upstairs.’ Please!”

Ben’s thoughts cleared, and he realized what had made Zach so mad. “Well, I DO. And, I can’t help it that Nelson isn’t here. Grow up.”

“You only said that to Vic to get at me because I didn’t pass the potatoes like you wanted me to,” Zach grumbled angrily. Speaking of the offending vegetable, Zach got up and started to scrape sides of the bowl containing the leftover potatoes so they could go into a storage bowl.

“I DID not!” Ben said.

“Yes, you DID!” Zach punctuated the last word by slinging a spoonful of mashed potatoes across the table, striking Ben squarely in the face where he stood. Ben’s mouth dropped open in shocked surprise with globs of potatoes sliding slowly down his face.

Zach said, “There you go! You wanted more potatoes! How’s that?!”

Ben recovered from the shock quickly and rounded the table, grabbing a handful of potatoes along the way. Zach jumped up to move, knocking his chair over in the process, and it clattered to the floor noisily. Zach tried to get away, but he wasn’t fast enough to move before Ben ground the potatoes into his face.

A bitter food fight ensued, and every available scrap on the table became fair game for weaponry. Ben lost his footing in a puddle of roast beef gravy that found its way to the floor, and he felt his balance giving way as he began to fall in what seemed to be slow motion. He grabbed at the front of Zach’s shirt on the way down to stop his fall but instead, he brought Zach down with him. The two were shouting at each other and scuffling as they rolled on the floor. Maggie pranced around them, barking excitedly, not sure if it was a game or something she should be concerned about. Her favorite person seemed to be distressed and that upset her.

“Get OFF me!” Zach exclaimed, trying to push Ben off. Ben had a fistful of leftover green beans and rubbed them in Zach’s hair. “Ahhh! Quit it!” Zach yelled, feeling along the floor and landing his hand in a puddle of the gravy that brought them down. He slapped his gravy-covered hand across Ben’s face and smeared it all over his skin. Zach hooked his leg around Ben’s and managed to flip him over, and Zach found himself on top of Ben. Maggie nipped at Zach’s pant leg, tugging at it, having decided that Ben needed her help after all.

“Asshole!” Ben yelled as the slimy gravy was spread around. He grabbed at Zach’s hands to stop him but it wasn’t working. He pushed Zach away and rolled on top of him, pinning him face-down on the kitchen floor.

While the food fight continued, Vic came down the stairs carrying the trash. He was about halfway down when he heard the angry voices in the kitchen and Maggie barking wildly. He took the stairs two at a time leaving the trash bags to sit abandoned on the steps. He rushed to the kitchen so he could diffuse the situation before it got worse, and he heard the voices rising ever higher the closer he got. The gladiators, thoroughly caught up in their little scuffle, didn't even notice when Vic came in. He entered the room in time to see Ben on top of Zach, and the results of the two having shoved food into each other’s hair and face. He grabbed Ben by the back of the collar and briskly pulled him to his feet, while he continued to struggle toward Zach.

"STOP it, RIGHT now!" he growled, into Ben's face. Zach rolled over on his back, supporting himself on his elbows, when Ben was pulled off him. "Get up, Zach," Vic instructed the angry face on the floor and offered his hand.

The stern sound of Vic's voice, coupled with the pitch, got Zach moving in a hurry and he reached out a gravy-covered hand to Vic. Seeing the food all over Zach’s palm, Vic took his wrist instead and helped him off of the floor. Zach brushed nervously at his butt to dislodge food or other dirt from the seat of his jeans, then rubbed his palms against the front of his pants to clean them. Maggie was still running around barking and Vic turned his attention to her. “Shhh. Maggie. It’s okay, girl.” He calmed her by patting her head then landed his eyes back on the food-fighting duo as he rose from petting the dog.

“SIT down!” Vic instructed with his hands on his hips. “Wait a minute,” he said, changing his mind. “Turn around.” The two guilty brats glanced at each other, not sure why they needed to turn around, but they complied, albeit a bit slowly. Vic checked their behinds for food, and saw their jeans were covered in the back as were the rest of their bodies. Ben’s stomach lurched when he looked over his shoulder to see Vic going toward the drawer where they kept the paddle. He exhaled with relief when Vic opened the towel drawer instead. He threw two tea towels to them and gave new instructions. “Put those in the chairs before you sit down.”

He watched as two now-subdued brats fumbled with the kitchen chairs and sat down, obediently placing the protective towels in the seats first. Four guilty eyes dropped immediately after Vic took up a position over them. "One of you had better start talking quickly and tell me what that was all about, and why this kitchen looks like a disaster zone."

Zach and Ben took the time to look around the room at the food everywhere. Vic had made extra since they had another mouth at the table, leaving them plenty of leftovers. There was no longer anything left for the Tupperware bowls, as all the food was now either smeared on the floor, the table or Zach and Ben. Neither young man wanted to say anything. They fidgeted nervously in their seats, avoiding Vic's glare and his request for an explanation. Vic had no patience for their fighting or their lack of cooperation, and swiftly hauled Ben up by the arm delivering three sound swats to his food-covered backside then dropping him back in his chair. To be fair, he did the same for Zach. Zach gasped and tried to reach back to cover his bottom, but Vic was quick and accurate. He sat Zach’s stinging butt back down.

Vic looked at his hand, now covered in what should have been leftovers, and snatched a paper towel from the counter to wipe it off. He spoke while he cleaned off his hand, "Now, start talking or both of you will find yourself across my lap in about five seconds." When neither of them answered him, he pulled out a chair for himself well away from the table and food in the floor. He said firmly, “All right then. Who’s going to be first?” He held a hand out toward the boys expectantly waiting for one of the brats to come to him. When they continued to sit there staring at him, he said, “I don’t care which one of you gets it first. One of you come here.”

“HE was being a jerk!” Ben answered, suddenly willing to talk if it meant he wouldn’t get spanked in the kitchen. “He threw potatoes at me because he didn’t like it that we were hugging.”

“He only did that because he knew how I felt about Nelson being gone!” Zach shot back.

“I did NOT, stupid! I just wanted to hug my partner!” then under his breath he muttered, “Asshole.”

It wasn’t said low enough to escape Vic’s keen ears. “Benjamin! That will be enough!” He was immediately on his feet again, both hands rooted to his hips. “You’re in plenty of trouble right now. Would you like to add a soaped mouth to your problems?”

Ben’s mouth dropped open in surprise and his eyes grew wide. “Why am *I* in trouble? HE started it,” Ben accused, pointing a finger at Zach.

“And, I’m ending it,” Vic said with finality. “It sounds to me like the two of you let your tempers get the best of you, so if there’s no more to the story, you two have 20 minutes to clean this mess up,” he said. “Is there anything you’d like to add?”

Ben looked up at his lover again and said, “Only that it was Zach’s fault. I didn’t do anything.”

Zach punched Ben in the forearm, and said, “Then how did food get all over me?”

“That’s enough! Hands to yourself, Zachary!” Vic said, and Zach folded his arms across his chest and looked angrily toward the floor. Vic said, “I saw both of you rolling on the floor when I came in, throwing food everywhere and on each other. Other than shifting blame between you, is there anything else I need to know?”

“Not if you aren’t going to listen that it was his fault,” Ben said sullenly.

“I don’t care who started it,” Vic said.

“Obviously,” Benjamin muttered.

“Benjamin!” Vic said sharply, causing Ben to clamp his mouth shut. “It doesn’t sound like you two have anything to add. That being the case, get busy cleaning, then both of you get in the shower then get those clothes ready for the wash.” He took in the food-smeared brats sitting miserably at the table. “You’re covered,” he said summing up what he saw. “Twenty minutes,” he repeated then stood back leaning against the counter. He looked at his watch when neither brat moved. “Nineteen minutes.” Vic was obviously not going anywhere, since he wasn’t at all inclined to leave the two alone again. With Vic standing guard, the two got up and began to clean in earnest.

Maggie investigated the food on the floor, now that all the shouting seemed to be over, and Vic called to her. “No, no, Maggie. No people food for you. Let’s go out. Want to go out?” She tipped her head at him and eagerly followed him to the door; he opened it to let her out while the boys got all the food up.

Ben grumbled to Zach as he wiped at the floor, “This is YOUR fault.”

“QUIET, Benjamin,” Vic said returning from the back door in time to hear Ben’s complaint. “You have far too much to do in a short time to be chatting.” Ben shot a look at Zach and returned to his cleaning.

The boys had to work quickly to get the mess cleaned within the prescribed twenty minutes but they got it done. Surveying the room and finding it cleaned to his satisfaction, Vic said, “Both of you get upstairs and into the shower. You have ten minutes. Move.” The two looked nervously toward Vic then at each other. The mashed potato mousse had begun to dry and Ben noticed it stuck in Zach’s hair. “MOVE!” Vic bellowed when they stood there. They both jumped into action, and Ben turned slightly when he passed Vic to keep his butt out of range. Zach scurried by quickly, following Ben out of the kitchen.

They heard Vic moving behind them, his heavy footsteps following them up the stairs. That wasn’t a good sign, Ben thought. He was relieved when Vic turned down the hallway, continuing to trail Zach. Zach risked a look over his shoulder, and saw Vic towering behind him. “Go on,” he prompted when Zach hesitated. Vic followed him into the guestroom and closed the door behind him. “You wait in here when you’re done. Get your pajamas on after you finish showering.”

“But, it’s early,” Zach complained.

“You heard me. Pajamas. And, get those filthy clothes together for the wash, and put them in a pile in the bathroom. Do you understand?”

Zach looked at the floor trying to avoid Vic’s hard eyes and stern tone. “Yes, sir,” Zach said.

“I’ll be right back,” Vic said. That’s what Zach was afraid of. Vic left the room and Zach stood looking at the closed door. He was mad at himself for making the week from hell that much worse. He stomped to the bathroom and tried to focus on his shower instead of what was likely going to await him afterward.

Vic entered his own room just in time to hear the master bath shower burst to life. He stepped around the bathroom door and saw Ben’s food-filled clothes already lying in a heap on the linoleum. He said to the closed shower curtain over the sound of running water, “Benjamin, when you get done with your shower, I want you in your pajamas and in a corner.”

Ben stuck his partially-wet head out around the curtain and his face bore a shocked look of surprise. “But, Vic!” he protested. “He started it! HE threw food first!”

“And, you didn’t have to return the favor,” Vic said, gathering the clothes from the floor. “You were just as involved as Zach was.”

“That’s not fair! He should be in trouble, not ME,” Ben complained from around the curtain.

“Don’t worry. He’s in trouble, too.”

Benji pushed the water streaming down his forehead off his face and through his hair as he looked at Vic from the shower. He wasn’t at all sure that having Zach in trouble “too” was good enough. “He SHOULD be in trouble. Not ME,” Ben complained. “I was just defending myself, Vic!”

Vic looked quickly at his watch and said, “Your arguing is eating into your 10 minutes. Get busy.” Ben pouted at Vic and paused before going back behind the curtain to rush through his shower. He cleaned up with short, angry strokes of the washcloth, blaming Zach for his current predicament the whole time.

Vic went out into the hallway and saw the vacuum still sitting there. So much for getting some cleaning done. He used the ten minutes to start the washer, put the vacuum away and finish with the trash that had been abandoned on the stairs. He came back upstairs and poked his head into his bedroom after the prescribed ten minutes and found Ben in the corner as he had been told. He noticed Ben stiffen when the door opened, apparently thinking Vic was there to deal with him. “I’ll be back in a minute,” Vic said to Ben who turned sad eyes toward Vic over his shoulder.

“I shouldn’t be in trouble, Vic,” Ben reminded his partner. “This isn’t fair.”

Not interested in changing his mind after the brawl he witnessed, Vic said, “Turn around,” as he made a swirling circle in the air with his first finger.

Benji reluctantly turned back to the wall but not before he uttered, “Not fair.”

Vic waited until Ben was facing the wall again before closing the door and approaching the guestroom. He tapped on the door before opening it to let Zach know he was coming in. The bed appeared beyond the door as he swung it open and Zach sat on the edge, his fingernails caught between his teeth for a trim. His chestnut locks were still damp against his head and there were no signs of food lodged in them any longer. Zach looked up at the open door and saw Vic standing there. He paused biting at his nails, and watched as Vic closed the door and walked over to the bed, taking a seat to Zach’s left.

“Zach, I don’t think I need to tell you how unacceptable your and Ben’s behavior was tonight, do I?”

Zach looked down at the pattern on his pajama bottoms after moving his hand away from his mouth to smooth the folds of his pants. He said softly, “He hugged you on purpose to get at me.”

Vic frowned and looked at Zach. “Look at me, Zach.” Zach took his time raising his eyes to Vic’s and Vic slipped his hand over Zach’s knee. “He did do it on purpose, but I don’t think he did it to get at you. I really don’t.”

“He did, too,” Zach contradicted.

“I think you know better than that, and even if you believed it, you know better than to throw food at people,” Vic said. Zach tried to maintain eye contact when it was the last thing he wanted to do at the time. Vic’s hand was heavy against his knee as he spoke, “Now, I understand you’re upset because Nelson is not home and because of last night, but that’s no excuse for throwing food in my house…or anywhere else for that matter. The two of you made more mess out of what was left on the table than I could have thought possible.” Zach was starting to really worry, and he captured his bottom lip between his teeth, trying to keep it from trembling. “I don’t allow that kind of behavior in my house; I don’t think I need to tell you that.”

No, Zach didn’t need to be told. He knew Vic well enough to know he wouldn’t appreciate his and Ben’s behavior. Zach released his lip and his voice cracked when he spoke. He offered the only excuse that came to mind. “I was upset.”

It wasn’t enough. Vic said, “I know you were, Sweetheart, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were acting inappropriately, does it?”

“I guess not,” Zach conceded.

“No, it doesn’t. You know me well enough to know what I think of that sort of behavior. I’m going to have to spank you, Zach,” Vic pronounced, lifting Zach to his feet. Tears gathered quickly in Zach’s eyes and he looked to Vic for a change of heart. Vic was sympathetic, knowing Zach missed Nelson terribly, but he knew if he didn’t deal with what happened, things could only get worse before Nelson came home. He pulled Zach across his lap and felt Zach grab for his ankle.

“I miss Nelson…I just want Nelson…” Zach said more to himself than to Vic, breaking down in full sobs.

Vic ran a hand down his back and said, “I know you do, Sweetie. He’ll be back soon.” Undeterred, he added, “But, that isn’t the issue right now.” Vic put his fingers in the waistband of Zach’s pajama bottoms and slipped them down quickly to get it over with. Zach’s tears increased when he found himself bottom-up over Vic’s lap with his pants at his knees. His underwear was next and Zach tensed involuntarily, knowing what was coming. Zach wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or not that Vic didn’t do the lengthy, pre-lecture thing like Nelson. While it was miserable to endure, it DID buy time before a spanking started, and Vic was getting down to business post haste.

Vic’s big hand slapped down rapidly against Zach’s freshly-showered behind, and he launched into a speech while he spanked. “You DON’T throw food, young man. Not tonight, not tomorrow, not EVER; not in my house.” Vic’s hand continued to punctuate his words, falling in a staccato-like pattern against Zach’s cheeks. It hurt, but Zach was crying hard more from being away from his partner than from the spanking. Vic continued to punish Zach’s backside, understanding that the spanking itself would be cathartic, and would help Zach over his pain from missing Nelson and the trouble awaiting him.

Ben's ears pricked in the corner when he heard the distinct sounds in the guestroom next door. He listened intently, trying to get a feel for what he was in for based on how long Zach was spanked. He could hear Zach's cries carrying down the hallway with the sounds of flesh against flesh. Well, at least he wasn't getting the paddle, Ben thought, somewhat relieved. The sounds made his stomach knot with dread.

It was over soon enough and Ben shifted nervously in the corner knowing Vic would be coming shortly. Ben imagined him holding Zach to comfort him, as he would soon be doing for Ben. Ben tried diverting his thoughts away from what would happen between Vic coming into the room and the time he would be held in his arms.

It took a long time for Zach's cries to die down, but die down they did, which meant it wouldn't be much longer before Vic came to their room. No sooner did the thought cross his mind than he heard Vic's feet on the carpet in the hallway. He stood stock still waiting to hear him enter the bedroom, his ears keyed into the sounds beyond the bedroom door. He heard the door open then click closed behind Vic, and then the sound of Vic’s feet approaching their bed.

Vic’s voice called to him from the side of the bed, "Come here, Ben."

Ben turned from the solace of the corner and shuffled over to where Vic waited. Vic took Ben's hand when he was close enough and pulled him into his lap. Ben's mouth was turned down into a frown and he tried valiantly not to cry.

"How many times have we had to have this discussion about controlling your temper?" Vic asked. Ben’s fingers toyed with a button on Vic’s dress shirt while his mind worked on a fitting excuse to get out of what he knew was coming. They had discussed this many times, but he didn't want to confirm it for Vic. "Answer me, Benji."

"Lots of times," he relented. “But, this was Zach’s fault.” He raised his eyes to Vic’s hopefully.

"Funny, he said the same thing about you. You won’t be surprised to know I think you were both responsible.” He paused after his announced assessment and saw Ben’s eyes gathering moisture. “Zach might have started it, but you were fully engaged when I came in. This time your temper made you lash out at your best friend. Either of you could have been hurt, fighting on the floor like that. Is that appropriate behavior?"

"No, sir," Ben answered, about to twist the button from his shirt. “But, Zach…”

“Benjamin,” Vic said, his tone pausing the impending argument. “Are you going to honestly tell me you don’t see where you did anything wrong tonight?” Benji thought silently to himself. He didn’t want to admit it, but he knew Vic wouldn’t appreciate his part in the food fight. Admitting it meant he agreed with Vic, and that meant a spanking. Vic responded to the silence, “I realize Zach started it, but what should you have done?”

Ben shrugged his shoulders a bit, watching his fingers work against Vic’s button. Vic raised his face so he could see him, and lifted his eyebrows in a questioning expression. Ben answered the question and said, “I guess you think I should have left the kitchen and found you.”

“Don’t you think that would have been the better option?”

Ben’s chin began to quiver and he squeaked, “Now, I do.”

Vic nodded at him, satisfied that Ben understood why he was getting spanked. Vic said, “I’m not going to paddle you this time because I know you were mainly reacting to Zach, but you still need a reminder about your temper. Not to mention a message regarding the appropriate whereabouts for food.” Vic patted the bottom on his lap, "Get up, Ben."

With the utmost efficiency, Ben’s cotton PJs were tugged down, and the striped fabric puddled around his knees along with his boxers. Vic pulled him down across his lap and pushed him up to get the target into position. Ben's fingers rested on the carpet below his nose and he felt the tips of his toes kiss the carpet when Vic pushed him forward. "If we have to do this again and again and again, we will until you get the message. You HAVE to learn to control your temper, young man," Vic said and he started spanking Ben’s butt.

*****

Vic held his crying brat against him and pulled him away once his tears were under control. “Let me go check on Zach. I'll come back for you in a minute." Ben groaned against Vic and wrapped his arms around him more tightly. Vic sighed knowing both brats needed comforting, and that was going to be difficult. "Just for a minute, Pumpkin. I want to be sure Zach's all right, okay?"

Ben reluctantly let go of Vic and watched him leave the room. He flung himself across the bed, feeling sorry for himself and still more than a little mad at Zach for getting him in trouble yet again.

Zach had heard everything in the adjoining master bedroom while he waited in the corner, and was sure Ben had heard the same when he had his close encounter with Vic. From what he overheard, Ben got the same punishment he had. He heard the volume of Ben’s tears increase when the barrier of the door was removed and Vic walked through it. The sounds diminished again when Vic closed the door behind him.

He felt gentle hands land heavily on his shoulders, and then Vic’s voice at his back. "Come on out of the corner, Babe." He turned into Vic and returned the tight hug Vic offered with his arms wrapped firmly around Zach. "You all right, Sweetie?" Zach nodded and sniffed against Vic's strong shoulder. "Let’s wash your face then we’ll go downstairs and get you settled," Vic said. He pulled Zach away and watched him rub his eyes with the heels of his hands and nod agreement. They walked together to the guest bathroom and Vic wet a washcloth for Zach. Zach used it to scrub his face and tossed it into the sink. Vic wordlessly picked it up and folded it neatly across the ledge of the basin then pulled Zach to him for another hug.

He kept his arm around Zach and led him down to the den, depositing him gently on the sofa. Zach’s face fell again when he sat down, the cushions reminding him of his tender backside, as if he needed it. Vic said, "I'm going back up and get Ben, okay?" Zach nodded his response, wiping at his nose and Vic handed him a tissue before he left him to get Benji.

Minutes later a subdued Ben came downstairs with Vic holding his hand firmly. Sometimes the firm grip was needed to lead Ben to certain punishment and sometimes to offer support and assurance. This time it was the latter, as he followed Vic downstairs to sit with his friend.

The brats chanced only glimpses between them, neither wanting to look into the red eyes of the other. Vic led Ben over to the sofa and pulled him down beside him, sitting between the chastened boys. Ben snuggled close to Vic needing the reassurance his presence offered. Zach was pressed into the corner of the sofa as far away as he could get from his hosts. Vic switched on the Tuesday night sitcoms and glanced over at Zach when he leaned up to put the remote on the coffee table. He reached over then tugged Zach closer, not allowing him to alienate himself. Zach gave in easily, leaning against him, and Vic dropped an arm around each of the shoulders huddled next to him. The sitcoms didn’t raise even a chuckle from anyone on the sofa, but the three continued to stare at the television set regardless. No one said anything or moved, with the exception of Vic to put the dirty clothes in the dryer then again to fold them when the dryer buzzed.

Around 9:00, Vic decided it was bedtime. He patted a thigh on either side of him as he spoke, “Time for bed, boys.”

Ben moaned his complaint, not wanting to go to bed so early. “But, Viiiic. It’s early...”

"No, Benjamin. You've both had a hard night, and I think early bed will do you good," Vic said, stifling the complaints. “You aren’t interested in the television anyway. And, Zach, you hardly slept last night on top of it all.”

Neither young man wanted to ruffle his feathers more than they already had, so they followed him without further complaint, but they managed to drag their feet as much as possible. Vic shuffled them toward the stairs and gave them instructions. “Go on up, brush your teeth, and get in bed. I’ll be up in a minute and I expect to find you both in bed when I get there.” He patted each bottom when they didn’t move, gently encouraging them up the stairs. “Go on, now. Bed.”

Ben looked over his shoulder and saw Vic turn to leave before he spoke quietly to Zach. “Nice going, asshole.”

“Shut up, Ben,” Zach said wearily. “I’m not exactly happy with the way things turned out either, you know.” He put a hand to his backside as he spoke.

Ben looked over and saw Zach touch his throbbing rear end and said, “Don’t look for sympathy from me.” They stopped at the top of the stairs, and Ben turned to Zach with his hands on his hips, a pose he learned from Vic whenever he was unhappy about something. “I got in trouble because of you, you big jerk.”

“Yeah? Well, you’ll get in more if you start another fight with me. And, personally, I’m in enough trouble with Nelson to cause any more with your partner, so back off.”

“Good for you,” Ben said without much conviction. He knew Zach was in big trouble, and didn’t envy him in the least.

Zach glared at Ben and said, “I’m glad you’re happy for me. You’re not the one facing more of the same tomorrow.” Ben looked down and scuffed his bare toe in the carpet, then looked up sheepishly at Zach. Zach said, “Look, I’m sorry for tonight, okay? I just lost my temper.”

Ben’s eyes found the carpet interesting once again and he muttered, “Well, Vic doesn’t like people to lose their tempers around here.”

“I noticed,” Zach said with another rub to his butt. “Don’t be mad at me. I really am sorry.”

Ben looked back at Zach and held the look long enough to see if Zach meant what he said. His eyes said he did. “Don’t worry about it.” Ben glanced back to the stairs and said, “We’d better go to bed or he’s gonna be ‘aggravated’ again.”

Zach nodded and said as he turned toward his room sullenly, “Yeah. Goodnight.”

Ben watched him go and said to his back, “’Night, Zach.”

Vic gave them time to get settled before climbing the stairs to make sure they were in bed. He peeked into his own room first and saw his partner under the covers, his posture a familiar one. Ben was curled up on his side, facing the wall, which was how he slept until Vic came to bed on the occasions when they didn’t go together. He always snuggled close when Vic joined him, throwing one arm across Vic’s chest and slipping a claiming leg between Vic’s.

"I'm going to check on Zach, Pumpkin," Vic said sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing Ben's shoulder.

"Come to bed?" Ben said, even though he knew it was early.

"I will. I'll be back as soon as I check on Zach," he said as he leaned down and kissed his partner. Ben threw his arms around Vic’s neck keeping him close and off-balance. “Benji, Sweetheart, I have to go check on Zach.” He grudgingly pulled Ben’s hands from around his neck, but gave him another kiss before he had to leave. “I’ll be back.”

Slipping from the edge of the bed, Vic headed into Zach's room and heard the sniffles before he got fully inside. He came in to find Zach obediently in the bed, but crying softly, wiping his eyes and sniffling. Vic's heart was broken for his guest brat. Zach rolled away quickly from him when he heard Vic enter his room, trying to hide the tears.

"Come here, Zach," Vic said, sitting on the bed and pulling Zach to him.

Zach gave in and wrapped his arms around Vic, "I miss Nelson..." he cried. "I just want Nelson... I miss him… It’s been a horrible week and I didn’t mean to cause trouble tonight…I just…I just…"

"I know, Sweetie. I know," Vic consoled him, holding him tight and letting him cry. "He'll be back tomorrow. The day will fly by. I promise.”

"But, it’s been the worst week of my life and now, he's mad at me..." the tears fell harder. “I want him to come home, but…but, now…”

Vic understood and tried his best to comfort him. "He’ll be anxious to see you no matter how he feels about this week. He might be disappointed and I’m sure he’ll punish you, but he loves you."

Zach pulled away and turned surprised, wet eyes on Vic. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Zach didn’t want Nelson mad OR disappointed in him. The punishment part wasn't anything to look forward to either.

Vic pulled Zach’s head to his lips and delivered a firm kiss to his forehead. "He loves you, Zach. What you did won’t change how he feels about you. What did he say when you talked tonight?" Vic asked, hoping Nelson said something that would support what he just told Zach.

"I'm going to get spanked when he gets home," Zach said, very aware of his backside, still tender from Vic’s attention earlier.

"That's what he told you?"

"He might as well have. He said we would deal with this when he gets home, then he wouldn't talk about it any more. Except to say I wasn't to drive and to do like you say while I'm here."

"Good advice, don't you think?" Vic said, smiling at the torn brat, and Zach looked down even though he was in full agreement. He tipped Zach’s head up to look at him and wiped the tears from his face. "Zach, do you trust Nelson?" Vic asked softly. Zach nodded, rubbing his eyes. Vic was once again amazed as he often was at just how young these men could look when they were upset. "Nelson will know what to do when he gets home. You just need to concentrate on staying out of any further trouble, okay?" Zach nodded again. "Why don't you lie back and try to get some sleep, Sweetheart."

"Stay? Please?" Zach asked, as Vic tucked the covers around him. Vic paused and looked at the blue eyes imploring him to stay and he knew couldn't leave Zach so upset. He motioned for Zach to slip over and he lay down beside him.

“Roll onto your belly and I’ll rub your back for you,” Vic said, and Zach twisted against the sheets to lay facedown. Vic stretched out on his side and ran a hand over Zach’s back, trying to relax and comfort him, until his slow, steady breathing told him he had drifted off to sleep. It didn't take long. The stress of the week had taken its toll, which was part of the reason for the tears, Vic was certain. Making sure Zach was cocooned in the covers, he slipped away to cuddle his own brat, leaving Zach sleeping peacefully.

Zach was equally miserable the next day, anxiously anticipating Nelson's return. He wanted nothing more than to be in his lover's arms but knew there was much to discuss before he could relax and be held that night. Every time he thought about it during the day, he felt nervous waves ripple through his insides.

Benji dropped him off at his house after school but Zach continued to sit in the car even after Ben put the transmission into park. Zach’s eyes were studying the dashboard and they were beginning to sting. Ben looked uncomfortably around the car, trying not to look at his friend who was obviously upset. He didn't say anything to Zach, waiting to see what he would do. Zach continued to sit there, one stubborn tear escaping down his cheek, and he hastily wiped it away.

Zach glanced out the passenger window and grimaced at the sight of his crumpled Solara parked beside them in the driveway. Zach finally confessed to his friend, "I don't want him to hate me. He's going to be so mad."

Ben fully understood how Zach must feel. He said, "He won't hate you, you know that.”

"I've never done anything this big," Zach said, the root of his fear fully exposed.

“What's the worst he will do to you? Spank you? It's not like you've never been spanked before."

"It’s not that!” Zach said. “I don’t want to see the look on his face. He’s just…he’s going to be…God!”

Ben struggled to answer and wasn’t sure what to say, completely understanding the look Zach dreaded seeing. It was a mixed bag of hurt and disappointment rolled into one. “But, he loves you, Zach,” was all he could come up with.

“What if it was you?” Zach asked, finally looking at Ben. “What do you think Vic would do?"

Ben's stomach lurched at the thought and he wasn't even in trouble. "Um, I don’t know. Maybe use the belt?” He paused not wanting to spell out just how bad it could be. “I don't really know. I’m not a Top."

"You do know. And, I know, too. I'm not nearly as worried about that part as about disappointing him,” he said, looking away. “He can’t even trust me when he’s out of town. What if he thinks I’m too much trouble for him?"

Ben looked squarely at his friend and asked, “What truck did you just fall off of?” Zach cast a pained look in Ben’s direction, meeting his eyes. Ben said wisely, “That's just ridiculous. You've had two days for your imagination to get the best of you."

Zach didn't answer at first as he thought about what Ben said. He HAD spent the last two days pondering what would happen when Nelson came home and how he would feel about what he had done. Finally, he said, “But, he wouldn’t even talk about it last night; not at all. He must have been really upset about it.”

Ben considered the possibility for a moment and shrugged. “Maybe not. Maybe he just didn’t want to upset YOU. Maybe that’s why he didn’t want to talk about it last night.”

Zach uttered an unconvinced, “Maybe.” The boys went silent again, with their thoughts to themselves. Ben’s thoughts were focused on trying to figure out how long it would take Zach to get out of the car.

"What time does he get home?" Ben asked breaking the awkward silence.

"Around six." Zach wiped once more at his eyes and reached for the door handle. "I guess I'd better go."

Ben wasn’t sure what parting words were appropriate to offer, so he said lamely, "Don't worry. It will be over by the time you go to bed tonight.” Zach looked at him and gave him a worried grimace. Then a brilliant thought came to Ben and he added, “Oh! Try to think about afterward. That’s what I always do when I’m in for it.” Zach’s face showed he was obviously unconvinced. “What? It helps me,” Ben said with a shrug. In spite of his reassurances, he would hate to think he had to face Vic after drinking, driving and wrecking his car.

Zach glanced back over at his friend and gave him a simple nod then silently slipped from the vehicle. He appreciated Ben’s feeble attempts to help, but nothing was working. Zach heard Ben’s car backing out of the driveway as he walked into the house. It didn’t take him long to unpack the few things he had gathered to stay at Vic’s house, tossing dirty clothes in the hamper and putting his toiletries away. He went downstairs and tried to watch TV, but was distracted by the hands of the clock moving ever closer to six. Even over the television, he was sure he could hear the ticking of the clock like the Tell-Tale beating heart in Poe’s dead man’s chest. The phone rang around 5:00; it was Nelson.

“Hi, Zach. I just wanted to let you know I’m in baggage claim now. I should be home in about 45 minutes or so. If they ever send our bags up, that is.” Then to himself he muttered, “They’re so slow…”

Zach’s stomach did somersaults realizing Nelson was close to coming home, and he answered into the phone, “Okay.”

“It shouldn’t be much longer,” Nelson said, trying more to convince himself than Zach.

“Okay.”

Nelson could tell by the lack of banter from his partner that he was still as upset as he had been the night before. “Zach?”

“What?”

“It’s going to be fine,” Nelson said gently.

Zach answered the same as before with an “Okay.”

There wasn’t much Nelson could say to make things any better; he knew the only cure would be to deal with the issue because he was sure Zach was eaten alive with guilt. “I missed you. I’ll see you soon, Sweet Pea.” Zach nodded at the phone, and hearing nothing, Nelson asked, “Zach? Are you there?”

“Yeah,” he said quietly.

“I’ll see you in a bit, okay? Everything’s going to be fine,” he repeated.

“Okay,” Zach said once again, then hung up the phone before Nelson could say “goodbye”. Nelson looked at the dead phone for answers after Zach hung up, and silently hoped for the baggage to come quickly. He looked at his watch and tried not to pace while he waited.

“It’s about time,” he complained to himself when the buzzer sounded announcing the arrival of the luggage. His bag finally rolled up through the opening and dropped onto the conveyer belt, taking its sweet time to come around to him. He grabbed at it and hurried to his car so he could get home.

The clacking of his shoes against the sidewalk coupled with the grinding wheels of his suitcase gave away the hurry he was in. He finally made it to his forsaken car, remanded for the last few days in long-term parking. He punched the trunk release button on his keyring then tossed his bag in inside. He was making progress until he reached the exit and found himself stalled in the line to get through the parking gate. He kicked himself for checking his watch yet again as though looking at it would stop the hands. The line moved car-length by car-length as other patrons took their turn at the window to pay for parking. Nelson made it through and eventually found himself on the main highway leading him toward home. His emotions were bittersweet knowing what he had to deal with when he got home, and realizing the only thing he wanted to do was kick back and relax with his partner in his arms, nothing more.

He turned down their road and he immediately made a mental note of the dark house when he pulled into the driveway. As the garage door rolled lazily up and he pulled in, he saw confirmation of his fear: Zach’s car was gone.

*****

Zach came out of the movie theater in the mall and risked a look at the clock behind the concession counter – 8:05. Nelson would be home for sure. He went out into the mall and pulled his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. Sure enough, the message indicator flashed an envelope at him to notify him he had received a message while the ringer was turned off. Actually, he received six of them. The counter clicked up to seven while he looked at the screen and he dropped the phone back in his pocket as though hiding it would make the messages go away. He couldn't bring himself listen to them since there was no doubt in his mind who left them, and little question as to what was said. Knowing Nelson the way he did, he could likely quote him.

He wandered casually through the mall, mixing with the other oblivious shoppers, and found himself in front of the candy store. The storefront displayed an assortment of jellie bellies, cotton candy, fudge and other sugary fares, all of which had at some point in time been sampled by him and Ben. He went in the store and selected a mixture of jellie bellies - one of his own favorite comfort foods. He hadn't eaten dinner but didn't think he could keep real food down anyway. He found a seat in the middle of the mall in front of the candy store and munched on the candy, not sure where to go from there.

He didn't know how long he had wandered the mall, but it felt like hours. The crowds were beginning to thin so Zach assumed it was getting close to the 10:00 closing. He was now even more afraid to go home knowing he had made things far worse by leaving. He felt sick to his stomach, with the jellie bellies churning in his gut. With no plan for making it better and in no hurry to call Nelson, he called Ben from his cell, desperately hoping Vic wouldn't answer. He had his finger strategically positioned over the “off” button, poised to disconnect should Vic’s voice greet him.

"Hello?"

Zach relaxed somewhat when he heard his friend's voice on the other end. "Ben?"

Ben was on his feet, pacing with the phone in his hand. Vic came into the living room from the office when he heard the phone ring to see if it was Zach calling. He heard Ben when he came in. "Zach! Where the hell are you? Nelson is on his head!"

"What did he say?" Zach asked, somewhat afraid of the answer.

"He's worried sick. You've got to go home, Zach. Just go home."

"I can't!" Zach said, voice cracking.

"You HAVE to. Nelson is out looking for you. You’ve got him scared to death. He wants you home."

Vic was standing beside Ben, listening intently to his end of the conversation. It didn’t sound like Ben was successfully convincing Zach to do the right thing. Vic held out his hand for the phone and Ben shook his head, refusing to relinquish it, holding it so tight his knuckles were white. Vic's eyebrows arched at the unspoken "no" to his silent request for the phone. Ben read the "what did you say to me" in Vic’s expression, and handed it over while Zach was in mid-conversation. Vic continued to glare at him as he took the phone with another message of "we'll discuss this when I hang up" written on his face.

"Zachary, it's Vic," he interrupted into the receiver. Zach fought the urge to hang up but he didn't miss the brief feeling of relief at hearing Vic's voice. It alone made Zach just a little hopeful everything would be all right. "Where are you, Sweetheart?"

Zach held the phone and flicked at the straw in his Styrofoam cup nervously. "I'm not telling," Zach finally said, obstinately.

"Zachary, tell me where you are."

"You'll tell Nelson."

"Yes, I will,” Vic said without missing a beat.

Zach said, “If I wanted him to know where I was, I would have called him and not Ben.”

“Zachary. Stop it. Tell me where you are.” Zach sat quietly, holding the phone, but still not offering his whereabouts. Vic said, “If you want, I'll come and get you then we'll go to Nelson together."

Zach pondered the suggestion while Vic waited patiently for a response. "He hates me," Zach said finally.

"You know better than that." Vic listened to the silence reaching to him from Zach’s end and said, "Zachary, tell me where you are so I can help you," Vic patiently asked for the fourth time. “Come on, Zach. It’s time to stop.”

“What did he say?” Zach asked again, wanting Vic’s take on it.

Vic remained calm trying to not only to keep Zach on the phone but also to find out where he was. He answered, “He’s worried about you, Zach. He just wants you home with him.”

“He said that?”

“Of course he did. What did you think he’d say?”

“He must be really mad,” Zach said, sidestepping the question.

“He’s upset, Zach. He wants his partner home. Tell me where you are, please.” Without bothering to consult his brain, Zach’s mutinous mouth gave away his location quietly and mechanically. A slight sense of relief followed the admission immediately. "Where at the mall?" Vic asked.

"In the middle, near the candy store," he answered.

Vic didn't need any further directions knowing full well what candy store Zach was referencing. It was a favorite haunt of both Ben and Zach’s whenever they went to the mall. "You stay put and I'll come get you. Do NOT leave where you're sitting. Do you understand?" Vic said just stern enough to hopefully keep Zach where he was.

He was relieved when Zach answered with a compliant, "Yes, sir."

“I’ll be there in no time, all right?”

“Okay.”

Vic ended the call then hurried toward the door so he could go to the mall. Ben was hot on his trail and Vic stopped while he opened the hall closet to get his coat. "Oh, no you don’t. You're staying here," Vic said with a determined look intended to staunch any arguments while he pulled on his jacket. They came anyway.

"WHY?! He's MY friend. I want to go with you,” Ben said. He was trying to push past Vic to get his own coat as though Vic never said anything.

Vic knew Zach wouldn't want an audience, so he held a hand up to Benji and blocked his way to the closet. "And I said 'no'. I need to focus on Zach and I'm sure he doesn't want you watching. He's upset."

"But Vic!" Ben exclaimed, still trying to get around his lover.

“You’re not going, Ben, and that’s final.” Vic walked toward the door, and Ben abandoned the idea of a jacket to follow Vic.

Vic stopped at the front door, and Ben ran into his back with the momentum he had built up to reach his partner. Vic turned to him and put a hand to the side of Ben’s face. Looking into his eyes, he said, "Hey. Would you like to tell me what 'no' means, or do I need to remind you?"

Ben's face immediately took on a pout accompanied by creased eyebrows. He wanted to go with Vic but not bad enough to work himself into needing a reminder of the definition of “no”. "It means 'no'," he said with crossed arms, resigned to the fact he would remain at home.

"Very good," Vic said just before he turned Ben and gave him a sound swat. "And that's for not handing me the phone when I asked for it."

“Ow!” Benji rubbed the handprint off his bottom and said, "Sorry."

"Lock the door behind me," Vic said snatching a kiss before he left.

Vic’s cell phone was against his ear before he ever got to his car. Nelson answered immediately and Vic told him his partner was at the mall.

"Thank, God,” Nelson said with relief. “I'll go right over there."

“Nelson, wait. I offered to go pick him up.”

“You did what?” Nelson asked incredulously.

“I did it hoping he would tell me where he was, which he did.”

Nelson was not only shocked, but also felt a tinge of hurt. He said, “He’d rather have you pick him up than me?”

“Nelson, it’s not that at all and you know it,” Vic said as he drove toward the mall. “He’s just upset, that’s all. Where are you anyway?”

“I’m over by Wal-Mart.”

“Look, it will take you 15 minutes to get there. I’ll be there in five. You’re closer to home than you are to the mall. Why don’t you go home and let me bring him to you?”

"I need to go to him, especially if he's upset! He's MY partner," Nelson argued. His protective instincts were in overdrive, and he had a desperate urge to go directly to Zach.

Vic spoke calmly to his friend. "Nelson, just think a minute. I know how you must feel, but I can be there quicker. I’m halfway there already. Do you really want him waiting just so it will be you picking him up instead of me?”

Nelson relaxed somewhat and reluctantly admitted to himself the reasoning in his friend’s counsel. But still…he said, “I don’t like it, Vic.”

“I know you don’t. I wouldn’t like it either, but you should be thinking about what’s best for Zach, not what makes you feel better,” Vic said frankly. His words were met with silence as Nelson contemplated his friend’s advice. Vic spoke again, “I’ll bring him straight to you. Go home, Nelson.”

Still not liking it, but seeing his point, Nelson said with reservation, “All right, Vic. You bring him to me.”

“I will, don’t worry,” Vic said, knowing all too well how worried he would be should the situation be reversed.

Nelson asked, “What did he say when you talked to him?”

“He's talking nonsense about you hating him."

"He knows better than that," Nelson said angrily.

"I know. I didn’t think I’d ever get him to tell me where he was. Speaking of which, I’m pulling in now. I'll have him home in no time. Trust me, buddy."

Nelson laid the cell phone on the seat beside him, extremely relieved to know Zach’s whereabouts. He trusted Vic's judgment but it was all he could do not to go the mall; the desire to go to Zach was taking priority over clear thinking. Nelson reluctantly went home, glad that Zach was no longer AWOL but desperate to see him walk through the door. He had searched everywhere, including the mall, but had apparently missed Zach. It was a big place to cover. He tried to relax but found himself pacing the floor at home, waiting for Vic to show up with his partner.

Vic found Zach exactly where he said he would be. Zach turned bloodshot eyes up to Vic when he realized a body was occupying the space in front of him. He saw Vic standing in front of him and with a hand held out to him to provide a rescue for the second time that week. Vic pulled him into an embrace after Zach’s hand found his and he assured Zach, "It's going to be fine, Sweetie. Nelson is waiting to see you. He's been worried sick."

The tears started to fall in the comfort of the embrace and Zach struggled to keep them from falling. Vic pulled him away and ran a hand down the back of his head. “Come on, Sweetheart. It’s time to go home.” Zach realized when Vic said “home” that there really was no place quite like it and that’s where he wanted to be.

Vic hurried Zach to his SUV before he broke down fully from the worry and stress, and Zach realized Vic meant for him to ride in the SUV. "But, my car..." Zach said when Vic flicked the keyfob. A digital double “bleep” let them know the doors were unlocked.

"You and Nelson can deal with that later. I’m just going to make sure I get you home." Zach looked at him uncertainly, and Vic opened the door for him. “Get in, Zach.” Getting back into the front seat of Vic’s SUV brought back memories of his earlier salvation from the police station and the horrible night that had culminated into the current one.

Vic made sure Zach was buckled up then settled himself in the driver's seat. He maneuvered the vehicle through the parking lot and headed toward Nelson's home. In Zach's opinion, the house came into view far too quickly and he squirmed in his seat as Vic pulled the SUV into the driveway. Zach made no move to get out but continued to sit there, eyes glued to the front porch. Vic came around the car and opened the door then freed Zach from the seatbelt constraint. Vic noticed Zach's eyes widen when he saw Nelson step out onto the porch. He turned worried eyes to Vic and Vic followed his gaze, seeing Nelson patiently waiting for Zach.

Vic looked back at Zach, and squeezed his knee, "Zachary, it's going to be fine. Come on."

"I don't want to."

"Come on," Vic said again, taking his hand. “You’ve both waited long enough.”

Regardless of the vocal protests, Zach went willingly with Vic. They climbed the porch steps and Nelson managed not to rush to Zach, but waited for Vic to release him. He stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around his lover who immediately melted into tears. Nelson held him tighter.

"I missed you, Sweet Pea," he said softly, intentionally not mentioning Zach’s infractions including the runaway incident. He showered kisses all over Zach’s tear-stained face and pulled him back into a hug. He looked at Vic around his lover's shoulder and mouthed a "thank you". Vic left the two alone and went back to his car. Glancing out the driver’s side window as he backed out of the drive, Vic saw Nelson leading Zach into the house.

Nelson kept a firm grip around Zach, entering the living room and finding the big chair that had always represented a place of comfort and closeness for them. Zach hesitated and pulled back slightly when Nelson urged him into his lap. “Come on, Zach,” Nelson said, drawing him close. Zach’s tears continued to fall and Nelson cradled him in his arms. His hand ran down the back of Zach’s head and trailed his spine, caressing him in an effort to calm him down.

“I love you so much, Zach. It was a hard three days for us, wasn’t it?” Nelson asked gently. Zach’s only response was his tears. “Calm down for me.” He felt Zach shudder from the tears under his touch and he kissed the top of his head.

“I didn’t mean to,” Zach finally said.

“You didn’t mean to what?” Nelson asked.

“You know,” was Zach’s teary response.

Nelson guessed, “Drink and drive?”

Instead of directly answering the question, Zach said, “I didn’t want to be alone.”

Nelson exhaled heavily and he said, “Sweet Pea, didn’t I tell you to stay with Vic and Ben if you didn’t want to be alone?”

“But, I didn’t want to stay with them. I wanted to be with you.”

“And, that wasn’t a possibility, was it?” Nelson asked gently, his hand steadily caressing Zach’s back.

“But, it was,” Zach said, getting himself under control.

“Not if I said, ‘no’, which I did, didn’t I?” Zach batted wet eyelashes and stared ahead without responding. He felt a soft pat to his back and Nelson repeated the question. “Didn’t I?” He heard Zach begin to cry softly again without answering. “Shhh. Don’t cry, Zach, just talk to me. That’s all we’re doing right now is talking.”

“I ca..caaan’t.”

“You know you can always talk to me. Always.” Zach could hear his words spoken softly near his ear. "What were you thinking, running off like that? You scared the life out of me." Zach's eyes looked across the room as his head lay against Nelson's shoulder.

"I was scared, too."

"Of what? Of me?"

“No.” Zach paused before answering further, trying to swallow the tears. "I didn't want you to hate me."

"Zach, what kind of talk is that? I love you. You will never do anything to change that fact and you should know that by now." Zach shifted slightly in Nelson’s lap and said nothing. Nelson asked, “You know that, don’t you?”

Zach paused then shook his head no. “Zachary.” Nelson squeezed him tight and said, “Why in the world would you ever doubt me? I love you no matter what. And, you’d just better get used to it, because I’m going to keep on loving you for a long, long time.”

“I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me, either,” Zach said with a trembling voice.

Nelson briefly collected his thoughts before he answered. “I’m not disappointed in YOU. I’m disappointed you drank and drove because it’s dangerous and I love you too much to have you risking your life like that. And, I’m disappointed you couldn’t talk to me. I thought you trusted me more than that.”

“I DO trust you!” Zach exclaimed rising away from Nelson’s chest to look at him.

“Then why wouldn’t you come to me? Why would you run?” Zach tucked his chin and kept his eyes down.

He watched the familiar way Zach scrubbed the tears from his eyes. “I knew you’d be mad at me.”

“I was plenty mad when I heard about it, Zach. I won’t lie to you about that. But, it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

“Are you mad now?” Zach asked tentatively.

“No, I’m not mad right this minute. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to punish you, but you’ve been punished before. That’s no reason to run.” Nelson realized Zach had surely been anticipating this moment, and simply needed it to be over so life could get back to normal. Continuing to rehash it wasn’t helping Zach to move on. "Speaking of which, I think we should get this over with, Zach,” Nelson said quietly. “I don't see the need to drag it out any longer. You've already had to wait two days and it’s made you miserable."

Zach nodded and he felt himself being pushed off Nelson’s lap. Nelson took his hand and led him upstairs to their bedroom, and wrapped him in another hug. Ending the embrace, he said, “Let’s get this over with.” He pushed Zach away after another kiss to his head. "Pull down your pants and bend over the bed, Zachary," Nelson said, brushing gently at Zach's tears. Zach's stomach clenched and his hands found each other, twisting nervously, unable just yet to do as he was told. "Go ahead," Nelson urged.

Zach turned from him slowly and approached the bed, knowing this position meant he would be getting the belt. He was clearly dragging his feet, not at all in a hurry to feel the dreaded leather against him. Nelson said from behind him, "Hurry up, Zach. Let's get this done."

Zach tried hard to pick up the pace, but just didn’t have it in him. But, before he knew it, he was standing beside the bed with his hands at his waist, and he heard Nelson unbuckling his belt behind him. His fingers went still when he heard the tinkling of the belt buckle.

Nelson noticed Zach standing still and he instructed again, "Pull your pants down and bend over the bed." Zach heard the whoosh of the belt as it whispered against the fabric of Nelson’s dress pants when he pulled it through the belt loops. Nelson said, “Zach? Hurry up, please. Let’s not put this off any longer.” Zach looked quickly over his shoulder before his fingers came back to life and fumbled nervously with his fly. He returned his attention to the job at hand and away from the sight of Nelson folding the belt in half. He pushed his jeans and underwear down, stopping just below his ass, before he leaned down and positioned himself over the bed as instructed, with his weight resting on his forearms. The fact that Zach had not once asked not to be spanked spoke volumes. Nelson ached for his brat, but he knew he had to deal with this and do it effectively.

Once Zach was settled, Nelson pushed his pants and underwear down further, stopping around his knees, creating a target out of his thighs as well as his butt. Nelson didn’t bother asking Zach why he was being spanked, knowing that was all he had thought about for the last several days. He summed it up himself and said, "This spanking is for going out drinking Monday night while I was gone, then driving. You knew I wouldn't have let you do that and I don't think I have to tell you how dangerous drinking and driving can be."

"No, sir," Zach squeaked.

Zach’s body was rigid waiting for the first stripe and his eyes squeezed shut as he gripped at the comforter. He heard the swoosh of the doubled-over belt when it cut through the air, and it took a second for the line of fire to burst to life as it wrapped across his ass. He sucked in air with the lash. Nelson snapped the belt again immediately, giving Zach hardly any time to come to terms with the first lash. With the third lick, the tears were flowing freely, more from the emotional pain than from the strapping. The physical pain caught up quickly, and Zach straightened up with the sixth lick with a stomp of his foot to try to ease the sting.

“Bend back over, Zachary,” Nelson said from behind him. “We aren’t nearly done yet.”

Without argument, Zach slowly bent back over into position. Nelson continued the strapping, covering both his butt and thighs, before he deemed Zach punished sufficiently. He didn't hesitate when he was finished, but quickly pulled Zach to him, throwing the belt to the bed to free his hands so he could hold his partner. He stroked Zach tenderly and supported his lover’s body in his arms. It took Zach longer than usual to calm down, but Nelson patiently waited, content to hold him as long as necessary.

When he had finally calmed down from the worst of his sobs, Nelson helped him step out of his jeans and underwear, knowing Zach wouldn’t be at all interested in pulling them up over his stinging behind. Zach raised his arms overhead when Nelson peeled his shirt up to take it off and replace it with a long t-shirt of his own. He helped Zach into a robe, covering him where the t-shirt fell short.

Taking Zach by the hand, the two went downstairs to get more comfortable and Nelson pulled Zach into his lap in the big armchair, where their late evening at home had begun. With Nelson’s strong hands painting circles on Zach’s back, Zach thought back over the last few days and the horrible grand finale. Even having been punished, he felt awful for the things he had done simply because Nelson had other commitments. He said at a volume just a notch above a whisper, “I’m sorry. I really am sorry for…for all of it. Especially about worrying you tonight.”

Nelson said, "I’m still not clear on why you would run from me. Unless you were so upset you weren’t thinking straight."

With the strapping over, Zach could more fully concentrate on the subject at hand, although somewhat distracted by the stinging stripes on his backside. He answered, "I didn’t want to face you after everything."

"You've never been afraid of me before and you have no reason to be now. You know I would never hurt you."

Zach’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and he pointed out, "I'm hurting now."

"That’s not what I mean,” Nelson said shaking his head. “There's a difference between hurting you and spanking you.”

Zach wondered what planet Nelson was from and said, “I don’t know about that, Nelson.”

“What I mean is, I have never, nor would I ever, harm you. A spanking only hurts for a little while and you know you had to be punished for Monday. And, you knew when you went out late drinking, much less driving afterward, you’d be punished for it if I ever found out…"

“I know! I was afraid you’d think I wasn’t worth the trouble if I’d do something like that with you gone. And, if you decided I was worth it, you’d still be really upset with me." Zach’s fingernails found his mouth and lodged themselves between his teeth.

Nelson slid his right hand over the back of Zach’s hand and slipped his fingers between Zach’s. He gently pulled Zach’s fingers from his mouth to stop the nervous reaction to the conversation, and embraced Zach in a hug, still clinging to his hand. "Now, Zachary,” Nelson said gently, “you’re always worth it to me.” He rewarded Zach with a soft kiss to his head. “What did you think I would do when I found out? Put you on the rack? Have you drawn and quartered?" Nelson joked mildly, trying to relieve some of Zach's tension. He knew the spanking had done a world of good for Zach’s conscience, but he would still need Nelson’s assurance that everything would be fine.

"Not the rack because we don’t have one, unless you have one hidden somewhere in the basement. And, I don’t think you’d have me drawn and quartered even for a drinking and driving." Nelson couldn’t see Zach’s face since his head was tucked beneath his chin, but he would bet money he heard a hint of a smile when Zach spoke.

“Not on the first offense, anyway,” Nelson joked in response. Turning serious again, he asked, “What did you think I would do? Really."

"Spank me, I guess," he said, and felt his face flush with the admission. He sat curled against Nelson, his head against his chest, and was soothed as always by the sound of Nelson’s deep voice rumbling in his chest cavity.

"Is that what happened?" Nelson asked.

"You know it did, Nelson."

"Then why did you run away from me?"

"I didn't want you to be mad at me." Zach’s fingers on the hand not captured in Nelson’s, found a loose piece of yarn at the turned up cuff of Nelson’s sweater, and he twirled it absently.

Nelson watched Zach’s fingers work at the yarn and said, "Zach, there are many times your behavior has made me mad, but it doesn't mean I don't love you."

"But, you're disappointed in me. I know you are whether you admit it or not."

"I was disappointed in what you did, yes, but I'll never be disappointed in YOU. There’s a huge difference. I told you that and I meant it. Understood?"

"Yes...I mean no,” Zach said correcting himself. “I don't see the difference, really."

Nelson smiled, "Zachary, the way I feel about what you do has no effect on how I feel about you. You made a mistake, plain and simple, and we dealt with that."

"Oh," Zach said, contemplating his lover’s words. He turned them over in his mind, searching them to see if they held any validity. He asked, "So, you aren't disappointed in me?"

"Zach, what happens after I punish you?"

“My butt hurts most of the time,” Zach said candidly. “’Punish’ equals ‘spank’, right?”

Nelson smiled and said, “That’s not what I meant. What are we doing now?”

Zach wasn't quite sure how to answer or where this was going, so he hazarded a guess. "We’re sitting in the big chair. Like we usually do."

Nelson asked, "Why do we do that afterwards?"

“I do it because I want to be close to you. I might as well, because you’d make me sit here anyway.” Then he added, "You do it because you're sorry you spanked me, I think.”

Nelson couldn't help but laugh softly at the response, relieved to hear another tinge of his lover’s sense of humor. "I don't think so, Sweet Pea.”

Zach’s lips parted in a smile for the first time in three days. “You should be. Meanie.”

“I don't enjoy spanking you. There are many times I've been sorry I HAD to do it, but never sorry that I DID do it. You know by now that it’s over when it’s over,” Nelson said and hesitated before continuing with his point. "Why in the world would you have expected this situation to be any different?"

Zach’s fingers continued to twirl the yarn between his fingers nervously. "I don't know. Because it was so bad?"

"Yes, it was,” Nelson agreed. “That's why you got the belt."

Zach expelled a sigh that came from his toes and Nelson felt him relax against him. "You don't hate me," Zach said as a statement, not a question.

"Of course I don't.” He validated his words by tipping Zach’s head up and kissing the full red lips of the man he loved so much. Still looking at him, he added, “You made a bad decision to drive after you had been drinking, which wouldn't have happened had you stayed home. I think it was a momentary lapse in judgment and I don't expect it will happen again."

"That's for sure," Zach heartily agreed and tucked his head back under Nelson’s chin. Zach took a deep breath and picked up the faint hint of Nelson’s cologne that was still on his skin from the morning. "Are you mad at me because I ran away?"

"I'm not happy about that, no, but we aren't going to deal with it tonight. We'll discuss the rest of your punishment tomorrow."

There was more? He frowned against Nelson and his mind started ticking off possible scenarios and consequences that might apply to running from one’s lover in a discipline relationship. He couldn't fathom any more attention to his rear end after what he just got. “Nelson?”

“What?”

“You aren’t going to spank me again, are you? For running away?”

"No, I’m not, but we’ll talk about the rest tomorrow. I think you've been through enough today. Enough this week, in fact," Nelson finished. Zach couldn’t agree more. “Why don’t we go to bed?” Nelson pushed Zach off his lap as he asked the question, not waiting for a response.

The couple walked upstairs together and Nelson tucked Zach under the covers before he got ready for bed himself. He snapped off the bedside lamp after sliding into bed beside his partner. Zach felt Nelson slip under the sheets, and he promptly curled up tightly against his body. Nelson’s arm went automatically around him, holding him securely against his chest. “I love you, Sweet Pea. I missed you while I was gone.”

“I love you, too. I wish you never went away.”

“I wish it could have been different, too.” Zach felt Nelson’s lips against his head and he tipped his head back to find Nelson’s mouth.

Feeling more secure than he had in three days, he thought of one more black mark left from his adventures. “I need to tell you one more thing about this week,” Zach said softly.

“What’s that?” Nelson held Zach closely and Zach struggled to admit the last tidbit about the horrible week. “Zach? What is it?”

“A guy…this guy in the bar…” Zach stammered with his head resting on Nelson’s shoulder. His fingers found the crew neck of Nelson’s t-shirt in the dark and rubbed across the hair poking out of the top.

Nelson’s breath caught as he waited to hear the admission. He asked in the pause, “What about a guy, Zach?”

“He tried to pick me up,” Zach finally managed to get out. His fingers stopped working and he quickly added in the silence after he spoke, “But, I left right after, though. I didn’t do anything with him. I swear.”

Nelson relaxed and heard the distress in Zach’s voice. “Oh, Zach,” he said with a sigh of relief. “You scared me for a minute.”

“Well, he scared ME.” Zach pushed away from Nelson’s strong chest and supported his weight with an elbow so he could peer at his lover in the dark. Nelson enjoyed the weight of Zach’s left arm still lying against his chest. His presence had been painfully missing over the last few days. Zach said, “He was pushy, and I didn’t know what to say. But, I swear I wasn’t leading him on. He just wanted to play pool and I didn’t see any harm in it, then when I wanted to leave…he…he wanted to…”

“Shhh. It’s okay,” Nelson picked up the hand resting on his chest and put the palm against his lips. “I appreciate you telling me about it.”

“I’m sorry, Nelson. About him, about all of it.”

“Stop it, now. I know what a good thing I have. I’d be surprised if other men didn’t want the same thing, but I trust you, Zach, 100 percent.”

“Well, I DID leave right away. That’s why I was speeding, I guess. I just wanted to get home.”

Nelson situated himself so he could look at the outline of Zach’s face in the shadows of the night, folding the arm not trapped under Zach’s body beneath his head. “You were speeding?” Nelson asked with the other piece of news he hadn’t heard before.

“Oh, well, um,” Zach stammered. “Did I say speeding? What I meant to say was…um…I meant, well…”

Nelson couldn’t restrain the laughter from hearing his partner stutter his way through the mastermind planning of a good excuse. Zach’s hand that had been tenderly toying with Nelson’s chest hair became a fisted weapon, and he used it to deliver a punch to Nelson’s exposed bicep. He swung a left hook that connected without causing any permanent damage but firm enough to get Nelson’s attention. “Hey! Quit laughing at me. I’m trying to be serious here.”

Nelson said, “Uh, huh. Sorry I laughed. Go ahead. Finish. I want to hear this.”

Zach huffed at Nelson’s mockery and finally got the right answer posed in his head. He said, “I was MAYBE going a little fast to get away from the guy. I just wanted to be home. I don’t think you could classify it as speeding. I didn’t get a ticket for it.”

“That doesn’t mean a thing. People speed every day and don’t get a ticket.”

“Well…well…they don’t…um…” Zach sputtered again, looking for the appropriate response and was cut off by Nelson.

Nelson mimicked his partner’s feeble attempt at an answer and said, “Uh…well…uh…uh…” He started laughing again and he saw Zach draw back, no doubt to give him another punch of disapproval. Nelson managed to get his palm from under his head and in front of Zach’s fist before it fell. “Come on Zach. You can come up with something.”

Zach was silently listening to his partner get a kick out of his predicament and waited until Nelson stopped laughing to speak again. “Are you finished? You aren’t funny, Nelson.”

“God, I missed you,” Nelson said. He put his hand to the back of Zach’s head to pull him forward. “Quit fussing and kiss me, will you?”

Zach smiled in spite of himself and let Nelson draw him close for another kiss. Nelson said, “I’d better not catch you speeding. Got it?”

“I got it.” Nelson kissed him again as firmly and tasted the toothpaste that still lingered in Zach’s mouth. He held Zach until he relaxed into sleep. He slept better than he had for two nights.

*****

The next morning, Zach came down for breakfast and gingerly sat down at the table, his eyes averting Nelson's. He hadn’t forgotten the promise to discuss the rest of his punishment, and he wasn’t looking forward to the conversation. Nelson kept the dialogue light while they ate, never mentioning anything unpleasant. He waited until they were finished and Zach got up to put his dishes in the sink.

"Ben's going to pick you up for school again today," Nelson said.

Zach whipped around to look at him, surprised. Vic had taken his keys but he thought that was over now that Nelson was home. Nelson got up and went to the sink beside Zach, placing his own dishes inside. He caught the surprised look on Zach's face after he commented on the carpooling arrangements. He added, "No driving for a month. You can ride back and forth to school with Benji, and we'll make other arrangements for any other trips you need to make."

"A whole month?" Zach whined questioningly.

"A whole month," Nelson said, kissing the slightly pouting lips. “And, you can hand over the spare set of keys you used to go to the mall, by the way. Come back to the table so we can talk. We still need to deal with the fact you ran away last night."

"Oh, that," Zach said as though he had forgotten. Zach went back to the table as requested, and Nelson noticed him wince slightly when he sat down again. Zach glanced at the clock on the stove and realized Nelson had time for a mini-lecture. Knowing his lover, he’d take the time and do just that.

"We've talked about why you did it, but not why it was wrong. Now, try telling me why you shouldn't run away from me."

Yep, Zach thought. Mini-lecture. "Because you get really chappy when I do?" Zach said.

Nelson tried not to smile at the response. The wit showed Zach was getting back to his old self. "This is serious, Zach. Try again."

Regardless of Nelson’s interpretation, Zach hadn't been joking, but he tried another answer. "Because I worried you."

"You worried me a lot. I need to know where you are and what you're up to. Can you think of any other reason not to run from me? A more important reason?"

Zach thought hard to correctly answer question two of Twenty Questions. He couldn't come up with anything and really thought the first answer he offered was the best and correct one. "Not really."

"Trust. Your running showed you didn't trust me and couldn't talk to me. I'm your partner. Is that any way for partners to treat each other?"

He knew the answer to question three without a doubt and was able to answer without hesitation. "No, sir,” he said. Seventeen to go. “I didn't think about it like that. I just didn't want to face you because I thought you were really mad and disappointed in me."

"I was more upset when you ran away and didn't talk to me about how you were feeling."

"I'm sorry, Nelson. I'm so sorry for everything.” Zach added with mild aggravation, sick of the topic and the horrible week, “If you had just taken me with you..."

"Oh, no you don't. I told you I couldn't take you with me and that should have been the end of it. Instead, you went out drinking to get back at me, which resulted in a wrecked car and the incident last night. If you had left this alone and behaved yourself, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Zach thought he saw a light at the end of the tunnel and hoped it wasn’t the proverbial train. "So, really, running away was related to going out Monday night. You already spanked me for that, so it’s over, right?" Zach asked, moving toward the light, trying to avoid further punishment.

"Not, quite, Zachary."

Not fair, Zach's mind responded, but he didn't say it. Zach knew there was more to come, but wasn't about to ask what it was, as if he needed to.

Nelson folded his fingers together and rested his hands on the table. “You’re grounded for a month. You will come to the office after school every day during this month. You can work on your homework in my office then you’ll have lines to write afterward.”

“How many?” Zach asked.

“I’m not giving you a number. You’ll write what I tell you from the time you finish your homework, until we go home. It won’t be the same thing every day. We’ll continue that daily until I think you’ve gotten the message.”

“We?” Zach asked pitifully. “What are you going to write?”

“We: you write, I’ll decide what you write,” Nelson explained. “While you’re grounded, you won’t go anywhere except school, my office and home. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Zach said to the table. It was going to be one long, boring month.

“You don’t run from me, Zach. Ever.”

“Yes, sir.”

“This weekend, you can work on a ten page paper about the dangers of drinking and driving. It had better be in 10 point font and no bigger.”

Zach’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Ten pages?!”

“Would you like to make it 15? I’m sure there’s enough data out there to write that many pages.”

Zach answered despondently, “Ten is plenty, thanks.” Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a horn blowing in the driveway and Zach looked toward the kitchen door.

“Okay, we’re done and that’s Ben. You need to go. I expect to see you no later than 3:30 in my office today. Are we clear?”

Zach got up from his seat as he nodded. “I’m clear,” Zach said. He approached the door to the kitchen to find his bookbag and leave for school when Nelson stopped him. His thoughts were totally caught up in the newly prescribed punishment that was just outlined for him, and he didn’t notice Nelson behind him until he felt a tug on the back of his sleeve.

“Hey,” Nelson said.

“What?” Zach said, looking over his shoulder at his partner.

“I forgot to tell you one more thing.” Zach groaned and prepared himself for more, not able to stop a skyward roll of his eyes. “Part of your punishment is you have to kiss me goodbye. Everyday. Forever,” he said, smiling at Zach.

Zach relaxed and grinned back shyly. “That’s cruel and unusual punishment, Nelson. That’s against the law.”

“They’ll just have to put me in jail then. Maybe I’ll get a cell next to yours if I’m lucky,” he said.

Zach’s mouth fell open to complement the indignant scowl he wore. “I did NOT get arrested. For your information…”

Nelson cut him off by covering Zach’s lips with his own. He said after the kiss, “Have a good day, Sweet Pea. I love you and I’ll see you this afternoon.”

Ben honked the horn again and Zach realized he didn’t have time to address the jail comment to his satisfaction. He decided to shelve it for later and hoped he didn’t forget. “I love you, too,” Zach said, then hurried to the door.

Ben saw Zach pop out of the front door, bookbag in tow, his lips moving while he talked to himself. “Arrested my ass,” Zach grumbled on the way to the car. “We’ll talk about arrested…”

He reached the car and took the handle in his hand, and swung the door open. A look of concern crossed Benji's face when his friend carefully slipped into the front seat, being conscious of his sore behind.

“Morning, Zach,” Ben said, watching his friend’s face to interpret his mood.

Zach said, “Good morning, I guess.”

"That bad, huh?" Benji asked cautiously, as he backed the car out of the drive.

"I just got handed the most all-inclusive punishment ever. You name it, I got it." Zach thought for a second and said, snapping his fingers, “OH! Except the corner. I didn’t have to stand in the damn corner.”

“What did he do to you? You look okay,” Ben judged. Remembering Zach’s face when he sat in the car, he said, “I mean, pretty much.”

Zach was in no mood to divulge the details about the night before, so he gave an amended version of events. “Last night wasn’t pretty. But, to make it worse,” he ticked off his punishment on his fingers, “I can’t drive for a month, I’m grounded for a month, I have to write lines every day until Nelson decides it’s enough, AND I have to write an essay.”

"Whoa. That’s a lot,” Ben said and added. “But, you really stepped in it this week with what you did, you know.”

“You think?” Zach commented sarcastically. “A little support here would be nice.”

“Sorry,” Ben said, realizing his insensitivity. “Is everything okay with Nelson?"

Understanding that things were fine even in light of the stiff punishment, Zach said, "Yeah." He smiled and looked over at Ben then repeated confidently, “Yeah, it is.”

Ben took his eyes off the road long enough to get a glimpse of the smile on his friend’s face, something he had missed the last few days. He grinned broadly at Zach and said, “Told you so.”

Zach nodded and took notice of the beautiful day before he said playfully, “Yes, you did. Now, I have a know-it-all for a friend and a partner.” He laughed out loud when Ben kept one hand on the wheel and gave Zach the finger with the other.

Saturday afternoon, Nelson stuck his head in the office to check on Zach. “How’s the paper coming?”

Zach looked up from their home computer and said, “Fine. I have tons of material; I just have to put it all together.”

“Are you learning anything?” Nelson asked, crossing the distance to his lover. He slipped his hands onto Zach’s shoulder and squeezed them gently.

“Yeah,” Zach answered honestly. “It’s pretty bad,” he said referring to his notes on drinking and driving.

“I know it is,” Nelson agreed. “That’s why it’s so important not to do it.”

“I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I thought I was okay to drive.”

“You won’t do it again, I’m sure.”

“You’ve got that right,” Zach said.

Nelson bent down and kissed the top of Zach’s head. “Good. Why don’t you quit for the day? You can relax for a while. I have to go to the grocery store.”

Zach turned in his chair and slung his arm over the back. He looked up at Nelson and asked hopefully, “Can I come?”

The question told Nelson just how bad Zach didn’t want to stay at home because he loathed grocery shopping. He asked, “Do we need to go over the definition of ‘grounded’?”

“The definition according to Nelson Jameson? No. I’ve heard it before,” Zach said ruefully, turning back to the computer. His fingers started maneuvering the mouse to shut down the computer.

Nelson smiled and said, “Then you shouldn’t have asked to come along.”

“It’s just the grocery store…”

“And the last time I checked, the grocery store wasn’t school, my office or home.” Zach turned to him and looked pitifully into his eyes, trying for a slight reprieve. “Don’t look at me like that, Zachary. I could have taken the television and internet, too.”

“I know,” Zach responded. “Thanks, I guess?”

Nelson laughed softly. “I’ll get us some movies for later while I’m out.” He bent down and kissed Zach before tousling his hair. “Be good while I’m gone.” Zach sighed and watched his lover leave the room.

*******

Nelson came in the kitchen bearing several grocery bags, and was surprised to find his lover at the stove. "What is THIS? Cooking on a Saturday? That wasn’t part of your punishment."

“Very funny,” Zach said, smiling over his shoulder. “You ever think about doing stand-up?”

Nelson walked up behind Zach and kissed his neck, "Hello, handsome. How's my favorite brat?"

"Good. How was the grocery store?"

"About as exciting as ever. What's for dinner?" Nelson asked peeking under the lid of a steaming pot. Zach playfully swatted his lover's hand away from the pot. Nelson yanked his hand back away from the pot and settled it against Zach’s butt instead, cupping a cheek. "This is such a surprise," Nelson commented on the cooking dinner. "Have you done something I should know about?" Nelson asked smiling at his partner. “I wasn’t gone that long, but knowing you…”

"Nooooo. I can do something nice once in a while, can't I?" Zach asked innocently.

"Of course you can," Nelson said, landing a kiss against Zach’s neck.

Zach looked at Nelson and said, “Actually, I wanted to make up for this week.”

Nelson used his grip on Zach’s behind to pull him over and into an embrace. “Would you forget about that? I’m not thinking about it anymore,” Nelson assured him. “But, if you insist on making up for it,” he said, using both hands to press Zach’s hips into his, “I can think of better ways to make up that don’t involve food…unless we want it to…”

A grin broke out on Zach’s face and he kissed Nelson deeply. “I’m game,” he said, coming up for air. He switched off the burners and tossed the spoon he still held into the pot on the stove. He said, “We can eat later.” He grabbed Nelson’s shirt and tugged him toward the door.

"Wait a second. I've got to finish unloading the car…" Nelson said, pausing in his tracks.

“You can unload it later,” Zach said, giving the shirt yank firm enough to pull it out from under Nelson’s waistband in the front. “Nothing will spoil in there quicker than the mood if you go now.”

Nelson smiled at Zach and kissed him again. “Yes, sir,” he said, and followed him upstairs.

The End

Nelson's Library