23

And I have to wonder who we were then.

Everyone else had decided to stay at the club a bit longer. With their minds too heavy and their hearts beating fast, Jack and Dustin decided to call it a night.

Dustin drove Jack home, sitting in his car in front of the building they were silent unsure of what to say, unsure of what to do next.

Jack knew he should step out, say goodnight go upstairs into his bedroom and stare at the closet were all the boxes had been returned. He should have, but didn’t instead he turned towards Dustin.

Dustin had his hands still on the steering wheel, waiting for Jack to leave, but at the same time wishing they could be back in the alley. Wishing Jack was in his arms again.

“I got a dog,” Jack could have smacked himself, but unsure of what else to say he plowed ahead. “I always wanted one…he’s real big, he scared the hell out of Bob and Jeph…Would…would you like to meet him?”

“A dog?”

Jack felt stupid, a cup of coffee would have been a better excuse. Hand poised on the door handle he was ready to leave when Dustin smiled, “I’d love to. What’s its name?”

A new smile found Jack’s face,“Skelly. It takes him some time to warm up to strangers, just don’t be scared of him, Ok?”

As soon as Jack opened the door Skelly was there waggling tail and licking hands. The dog was so excited Jack was home he didn’t notice Dustin until he was sitting on the couch, too late for him to act tough he simply rubbed against Dustin as he was petted.

“He is beautiful,” Dustin said, he had moved down to the floor and Skelly laid belly up enjoying the attention. “I never thought about having a dog, even less in an apartment.”

“Yeah, I know,” Jack commented off handily as he also sat on the floor to pet the dog. “You wouldn’t let me get a dog, you said it was too much responsibility.”

Dustin smiled, he wasn’t too comfortable with Jack acting as though he knew him all too well, but decided to ignore it. It was just someone else talking about old Dustin.

“And they are. It’s almost like having a kid; except there isn’t the fear that you will completely screw them and they will end up serial killers or something.”

Jack smiled, because Dustin had used a similar argument a long time ago, but he decided best to keep that to himself.

“It’s nice to care for something, something that will care back for you.”

Jack offered to make some coffee and moved into the kitchen. After washing his hands Dustin joined him in the kitchen. A cup of coffee in their hands they sat at the kitchen table and stared at each other silently as they sipped.      

Dustin put his almost empty cup down. “You never talk about your mother.” Jack was surprised by Dustin’s comment. “I… in interviews and stuff, you never mention family.”

“I like to keep my life private or as private as I can.”

“What…What was she like.” The look on Jack’s face made Dustin back paddle. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer me.”

Jack waved him off. The question didn’t bother him, but it did surprise him. He expected Dustin to ask about himself, not about Jack. “My mom was something else. She was completely insane.”



Dustin couldn’t help but match the smile on Jack’s face. It was obvious that just thinking about his mom, put him in a better mood, that the memories there were good.

“When my dad left, she didn’t just give up. I remember hearing her cry in the kitchen, I was very young and I pulled on her skirt. My dad had just left, he didn’t say goodbye to me but I watched him leave through my bedroom window.” The light in Jack’s eyes dimmed and Dustin instinctively took Jack’s hand in his. “I pulled on her skirt and she turned to me, tears still trailing down her cheeks. She wiped them off, smiled at me and said, “We don’t need him. Now you can watch cartoons even when football is on TV.” Jack laughed; he could see his mother clearly. “She was a mother hen, but no matter what she always found the bright side.”

“You guys were close?” Dustin moved closer to Jack.

“Yes, very; sometimes embarrassingly so. She adored you.”

Jack looked up into Dustin’s eyes, he was so much closer than he remembered. Jack could close his eyes and lean in just a little for their lips to meet. He looked back down towards the table. His hand still trapped under Dustin’s.

“She wasn’t upset about us?”

“Maybe at first, you were my first ‘official’ boyfriend. Not much though. The only time she asked me if I was sure was when I moved in with you. I told her I loved you that I truly did with every single fiber of my whole being. She called me a sap and told me we better have a clean kitchen and bathroom or she’d have to come over and knock some sense into us.”

Dustin laughed, “She would have too. Dustin she would barge into our home as though it was hers. It drove me insane. She would yell “Get decent I’m coming in” and then she’d be there in our bedroom.”

Dustin rolled his eyes and shook his head, “Did she ever… you know?”

Jack bit his lip, “No, thankfully she never did. She did walk in on us while we were naked in bed, but never in the act.”

“Thank god,” Dustin breathed a sigh of relive, “Just the idea of someone walking in on me having sex creeps me out, even worse a parent.”

Jack smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Dustin squeezed his hand and with his index finger pushed his chin up so he could look into his eyes.

“I never told her how much I loved her. How much I cared for her.”

Dustin pulled Jack near and into a hug. He pulled him so close that soon Jack was off his chair and on Dustin’s. They held each other and now with no one to interrupt, Dustin wasn’t willing to let go.

-

Dustin’s fingers skimmed over Jack’s warm flesh, recalling the curves and dips they knew all too well. It was a first to him, it was like a first because his eyes didn’t remember ever seeing Jack, naked over his bed sheets, writhing and moaning with pleasure. His mind didn’t remember ever touching Jack, feeling his smooth naked thighs against the palms of his hands. He didn’t remember Jack’s calloused fingers running down his back, his voice sore from pleasure groaning and begging for more.

He didn’t remember but it was all too familiar. Because his fingers knew were and how to touch; he knew were to nibble, were to kiss, were to lick. Dustin knew how to work Jack’s body, how to drive him crazy. And never had another man’s touch felt so right to Dustin, never had anyone touched his body in that knowing way.

It’d been so long since Jack had felt that way, since all his buttons had been pushed, when he’d been teased so unmercifully and yet so pleasantly.

Dustin held of his own need, he wanted to watch Jack undo himself. His lips over Jack’s ankle, his tongue tracing the bones there as his hand’s moved higher, towards the knees, just barely there touches that stole breathless moans from Jack. Dustin lifted the leg towards his shoulder, his lips depositing kisses, his tongue playing over the soft flesh. He continued upwards at an agonizing speed.

Jack’s hands clenched at his side. He wanted to pull on Dustin’s hair bring him up towards what needed his attention, but he knew Dustin, the delicious torture would last longer.

Warm lips kissed the most sensitive places of Jack's thighs so close to where Jack wanted that deliciously evil mouth, yet still not there.

Jack's fingers were insistent uncaring of any consequences. Dustin loved the way they pulled on his hair, wanting to pull him closer but unsure if he wanted the torture to end or continue.



Eventually Jack got what he desired almost coming the minute Dustin's mouth took him. His cries so loud that Skelly, on the other side of the door, barked desperate to see what was wrong with his owner.



Their lovemaking turned tender; a slow movement as their bodies joined. No words spoken just keening soft moans, just the sound of kisses and labored breaths. Completion found them in a tangle of arms, sweat covered, eyes closed, so close it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.



Jack chocked back on tears it was too much. They continued to kiss, uncaring of the mess created, they touched and loved as they enjoyed the after glow. Sleep took Dustin, his head resting against Jack's shoulder and only then did Jack let his tears loose. Only then did he whisper I love you as he planted desperate, needy kisses over Dustin's face.



"Don't leave me. I love you."



Sleep claimed Jack as the early sunrays peeked through his window.

**

Jack woke up to the smell of coffee. His eyes struggled against the light as he tried to sit up right. If he had any doubt that the night before wasn't real it was erased by the discomfort he felt, a very welcomed discomfort. He smiled at the memory. A short lived smile because there was no warm body next to him and the cup of coffee offered wasn't by Dustin but instead Bob.

"Morning," Bob smiled.

Jack blushed pulling the covers higher over his body. He took the cup of coffee but instead of drinking it he looked into it.

"He left around the time I got home."

Jack nodded holding off his tears once more. He hated crying as much as he was lately, he wondered if he dropped his manhood somewhere, perhaps he should go check if it was left in Chicago.

"Did he say anything?"

Bob hated how insecure and shamed Jack's voice was, he would have gladly pounded Dustin for leaving him this way. Sneaking out quietly from the house, at least the man had the decency to look ashamed when he was caught.

"Not really, he just sort of nodded my way before opening the door."

Jack was silent his eyes still on the dark liquid.

"It's okay," Jack tried to sound uncaring.

"It isn't, you don't slink away like that. Jack, are you sure he is worth all this?"

Jack finally looked up and there was something in his eyes that made Bob step back. They had a strength a power Bob had never seen in them. Jack's words were strong, they held no doubt or room for argument, "Of course he is."

-

When Dustin opened the apartment door Grant jumped towards him, disappointment immediately taking over when he noticed it wasn't the Gray brother he was waiting for.

"He isn't home yet?" Dustin asked as he removed his coat.

"No and his phone is going straight to message now."

Worry crept into Dustin, "If something happened we would have heard by now." Dustin checked his watch it was five forty five. "At six we'll call dad, maybe Nikey is there."

Grant nodded as he moved to sit back on the couch. He was no longer worried about Nikey still being upset, he feared something horrible had happened this wasn't like Nikey at all.

Dustin took a shower while Grant sat back on the couch staring at the door and jumping at any sound thinking Nikey was finally home. At exactly six am Grant called the Gray residence, he tried to sound calm, but it was almost impossible.

"No, Grant he isn't here. Is everything ok?"

"I... I hope so."

"Do you want me to ask Don, maybe he's heard from him."



"Please."

Don took over the phone, his voice strong but with a clear hint of worry. This reminded him too much of a previous call.

Little after hanging up with Don and deciding they would call the local hospitals if Nikey didn't call or come home in the next hour, keys were heard at the front door.

Grant held his breath as the door opened. There was Nikey, Grant sprinted of the couch and took him into his arms. His affections faltered a bit at the strong alcohol smell Nikey carried, but he still pulled him tight almost checking that he wasn't hurt.

An oomph escaped Nikey, from the sudden hug. His breath leaving him, he tapped on Grant's shoulder, "Your hurting me."

"Where were you? Are you ok?"

Nikey rubbed his head as he moved further into the apartment. He dropped his keys and cell phone on the dinning room table and stood there, his back towards Grant.

"Nik?"

Nikey closed his eyes tightly gathering strength to talk.

"I need a shower Grant."

Grant nodded, "Okay... but we need to talk. I was so worried."

Still with his back towards Grant, Nikey agreed. "We really need to talk."

Dustin came back out to the living room in his sweat pants and old t-shirt, "Did I hear Nikey's voice?"

"Yeah,".

"Is he okay? Did he tell you were he was?"

"He seems fine, but all he said was that he needed a shower. He smelled like alcohol."

"But he's fine?"

"Yeah."

"Don't worry Grant. He probably just drank too much and crashed at a friend’s house.” Dustin waited for Grant to look up at him. He didn’t look too convinced but at least he wasn’t worried sick anymore. “I'm off too bed, because I've barely slept.”

Grant looked back at Dustin, "Where were you last night?"

Dustin nervously bit on his lip, "Just...just out." He then turned and went to his room.

Grant sat back on the couch, also tired from lack of sleep, but he couldn't help thinking both Gray brothers were acting rather suspicious, almost guilty and that didn't only worry him, it scared him. It scared him shitless.

++++

A/N: Dun Dun DUN!! Where was Nikey? What he do? Do you like it? DO you not? Did you read Painting? DId it suck? Did it not? (hehe no pun intended, for those who read it) Review? Please? Read? Thanks. Weird? Me? Yes.