Jason and You Makes Two

A/N: Hey guys! Here's a new chappy for you. Hope you enjoy it! *hugs* Big thanx to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate it! *hugs again* Just a heads up. I plan to post another chapter of this story tomorrow so be sure to keep an eye out. Bye-bye for now. Off the do the final edit on JAYM2 ch6 and the new Flaming. Finally got that one done. Yay!

Shout out and big thanx to Lisa for proofing this one.

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Chapter 5

"I have to go to work, Jason," Mark insisted firmly when Jason once again slipped his arms around Mark's waist and dropped a coaxing kiss on back of his neck. No matter how hard he tried, Mark couldn't hide the shiver of need that raced up his spine at the feel of those lips.

"Just call them and tell them you can't come in tonight," Jason murmured, his breath teasing the sensitive skin behind Mark's ear as he placed a kiss to the side of Mark's neck. As if to add weight to his argument, Jason quickly followed up with a tantalizing lash of his hot tongue across Mark's weak spot before sucking on it gently.

Mark pulled away from Jason's embrace impatiently, his irritation growing along with the size of his own erection. "I can't mess up my chances for a promotion by calling in for no reason," he shot back as he crossed through the kitchen and into the utility room to grab a clean apron from the small stack on top of the dryer. When he began tying it around his waist a hand shot out to halt his progress.

"This isn't just ANY reason. It's taken me over a week to secure that big contract. You know I've been working on it for months and, now that I have it, I want to celebrate with you. It's like we've barely seen each other lately," Jason pleaded, his eyes giving Mark a guilt trip when the anxious sound of his voice didn't work.

In all honesty, they hadn't seen a lot of each other since Jason's big meeting several days ago. That morning, Jason had left the apartment sure that he'd close the deal by that night. Instead, it had taken days and days of fast talking on Jason's part before the company had agreed to hand the revamping of their website over to him. That had meant long hours and mismatched schedules, and their sex lives had all but disappeared. Jason had finally gotten the deal signed and delivered this morning and had been on cloud nine and ready for a little one on one time ever since.

Still, work was work and Mark didn't think that his job was any less important. "I just can't," he stated firmly, pulling his hand from Jason's loose grip and finishing what he'd started. Once his apron was secure, Mark reached up and traced a gentle finger down Jason's cleanly shaven jaw and gave him a tender smile. "We can celebrate tomorrow before I leave for work. For now, the people on my shift are counting on me to be there. You know that someone else will have to do my job if I don't show up, and they're never able to call someone in on such short notice. It'll be more work for everyone and that's just not fair to them."

Jason narrowed his eyes, his disappointment clear in the way he sighed and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Fine. It's obvious that they mean more to you than I do anyway. Go kiss Chandra's ass some more and maybe she'll give you that raise you've been asking for too. Hell, maybe you can jump the fence for a night and fuck her. That'd be one way to insure that the promotion she's been promising will go through."

"Don't make this about us," Mark shot back, angry that Jason felt the need to go there. "You know that I love you, but I also have responsibilities to the people I work with. Have I ever asked you to neglect your work to hang out with me?" A stubborn expression crossed Jason's face as he set his jaw and refused to answer, so Mark answered for him. "No. You know that I haven't and I never will. I understand that your career's important to you, just like my job's important to me."

"You work goddamn register at McDoogle's for Christ's sake," Jason shouted. "When are you finally going to wake up and smell the coffee? That job's a road to nowhere. You don't even make enough for the bills and groceries that you always insist that you should pay half of. How long has it been since you've had extra cash to spend, because Heaven only knows that you won't take any of mine no matter how many times I offer it to you!"

"You know what, Jason?" Mark replied as calmly as possible, despite the annoying burning in his eyes. "I work just as hard as anybody else and I get sick and tired of you belittling my job because I don't make the huge amounts of money that you do. You're always bugging me to quit or to take a night off. I tell you over and over that I'm not the type of person who's comfortable doing that, and still you push the issue. I'll make an exception this time, though. I won't call in tonight because my shift starts in thirty minutes. Instead, I'll let Chandra know that I need tomorrow off. That'll give her time to find a replacement. Then, we'll spend tomorrow evening together. That's the best I can offer you, so take it or leave it."

Several seconds went by as they stared each other down, both waiting for the other to give in. This time it was Mark who won and Jason let out a harsh curse as he slammed his fist down on the top of the washing machine and turned to walk away. "Fine," he grumbled over his shoulder on his way into the kitchen. "You do that, but I'm really getting sick of this shit."

"Fine," Mark shot back vehemently as he walked to the far side of the utility room and reached for the handle to the back door. "I'm getting sick of this shit too! As a matter of fact, I think we need to talk about that tomorrow while we're at it." With that, he marched out the door, slamming it behind him before heading down to the street and climbing into his battered, yellow Chevette.

Just as he eased into the ripped seat he heard Jason yell from the door, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Even more irritated that Jason had actually followed him out of the apartment to continue their argument, Mark slammed the door of his car with a bang before jamming the key into the ignition and starting the engine. Only when he'd pulled out into the street and was well on his way did he remember that he'd left his lunch and his wallet lying on the kitchen table. 'Tough luck,' he thought to himself as he cranked up the stereo. 'I'd rather starve than to ask Jason to bring them to work for me.'

"You're awfully moody tonight," was Chandra's generous observation as she eased up beside Mark and looked up at him with worry in her dark eyes. Immediately Mark let out a giggle before slapping a hand over his mouth to stifle it. "What?" she asked, her almond-shaped eyes widening in feigned hurt as she flipped one of her pig tails up in the air and let it fall back to her shoulder with a goofy, exaggerated pout. "You don't like my new hair style?"

"You look about eight years old like that," Mark couldn't help but reply with an amused grin.

"Hey, just because my mom's Korean and I have this baby fine skin doesn't mean that you get to crack on me whenever you feel like it," Chandra teased with an impish smile before flipping her other pig tail saucily. "You really don't like it?"

Mark rolled his eyes at her before reaching under the counter for his spray bottle of cleaner and a fresh towel. "What I like or don't like isn't the issue here. I just thought you'd want me to be honest with you," he said as he turned to face her again, leaning casually back against the counter and crossing his arms over his chest. "I mean, if you'd walked up to my counter like that, and I didn't know you, I'd have been trying to sell you a kid's meal."

"Ewww," Chandra squeaked before looking around to make sure none of the paying customers were close enough to hear. For just a moment, her eyes hung on something behind Mark but, when he moved to look behind him and see what it was she grabbed his arm and leaned forward to murmur, "Personally, if I ever have a kid of my own it'll never eat here. I mean, have you seen the fat content on those things? They have no redeeming qualities, whatsoever. In fact, you might say they're a lot like Jason."

A shrug was Mark's only response to her random babbling. He was gay, after all. It wasn't like he was going to be able to have any children, especially with his financial outlook for the future. The Jason comment he let slide completely, already used to that kind of thing after having worked with Chandra for two years since her transfer in. "Don't knock it till you try it, Chandra," Mark said with a half-smile. "It's not that bad once in a while."

"If you say so," was her only reply as she turned to walk toward the back, pulling the bands out of her piggy tails as she went.

"Chandra," Mark called before she got a few steps. "I need the day off tomorrow. Can you call someone in to cover me?"

That stopped her dead in her tracks and she immediately went back into manager mode as she turned around to eye Mark with disapproval. "I can ask around, but this won't look good for you when I try to recommend you for that promotion. Unless it's an emergency or illness, you're supposed to give notice and let us work it into the schedule ahead of time."

"I know," Mark admitted with a sigh and a blush for causing her trouble. "It's just that Jason closed a big deal and wants to celebrate. He wanted me to call in tonight, but I told him I'd do it tomorrow if you can get someone. This is really important to him."

"I'll try," Chandra replied with a huff of irritation before pointing over Mark's shoulder with a frown. "You have a customer, so back to work." Chandra usually wasn't so blunt and it wasn't like her to frown at a customer, so Mark turned around so see what was up and came face to face with a smiling, amused Simon. Immediately, Mark's heart began pounding with excitement.

"So, your boyfriend's name is Jason and he has no redeeming qualities, huh?" Simon asked, humor dancing in his blue eyes.

"Yes it is and he most certainly does," Mark replied shortly, not the least bit happy that Chandra had said something like that knowing that Simon was standing nearby.

"Well, I suppose you're right. He has you, doesn't he? That has to count as at least ONE redeeming quality."

Mark stood there for a moment, not sure whether to run away or scream at the other man for showing up again so soon and saying such things. In the end, he chose neither. He simply put on his best customer service smile and said, "Welcome to McDoogle's. Can I take your order?"

"Sure, but the kid's meal is definitely out," Simon replied with a wry grin.

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