"Jack" Series, Part 3: Jack Accepts

6. Weekend

It was breakfast time at the main house, and most of the boys were already there, at the large round table on the back deck, when Tiran came out with Gabe behind him.

"Good morning, my little cabbages," Tiran said genially, surveying the crowd.

Around the table, people exchanged looks. "Someone’s in a fine mood," Dusty observed warily.

"Must have had something tasty last night," Paul agreed. "That little blond you flew in from Miami that time … ?"

"Grayson!" Tiran said scornfully, sinking into one of the chairs. "Don’t you pay any attention to my love life?"

"Grayson was weeks ago," Gabe put in drily, going over to check out the sideboard. "Weeks. He had me last night, so no explanation there. Mmm, fresh strawberries. Master?"

"Sure. From the garden? Hm, looks like a full house this morning… who’s missing?"

"Rusty … and Pat’s waiting out front, boss," Rocky said. "You might wanna let him in."

"Already done." Tiran cocked his head and extended a hand, palm up, towards the door just as Pat walked through it. "Morning, Patty."

Pat looked a little abashed at the laughter that greeted his entrance. "Good morning, sir."

Rocky smiled at Pat, moving over to make room for him, and Pat slid into a chair. Gabe finished filling a plate for Tiran, put it in front of him, and went back to the sideboard for his own.

"Rusty in the doghouse again, Jackie?" Tiran asked, eyeing the strawberries with interest.

Dusty snorted. "He’s in more than out."

Jack nodded, pushing away his empty plate. "He’ll be along later."

Rocky got up to pour coffee for Jack, and then topped up cups all around. "Can I get you something else, sir?" he asked Jack quietly.

Jack shook his head. "So you’re sticking around for a bit, Marxie?"

"Yeah … Actually, I’m looking forward to spending a whole weekend with my own little lambs."

Rocky looked worriedly at Jack. "Seriously, Ti, you do that one more time and Mr. Obernikoch really is going to leave us."

"What?" said Tiran expansively. "Can’t a poor master express a little affection for his subs without being scolded?"

"A poor master is right," Jack muttered under his breath, and Rocky gave him a sidelong grin. "A poor excuse for a … "

"The point is … " Tiran said loudly, over top of Jack. " …. the point is, here I am. All ready to spend some quality time with my … "

"I mean it, Ti!" Rocky cut in warningly.

"My boys," Tiran finished, looking at Rocky innocently.

Rocky laughed, and so did Jack. "I can stomach that," Jack conceded. "Those strawberries look good, Ti."

Tiran tossed one over to him, and Rocky got to his feet, filling a bowl at the sideboard. "So you wanna play a little b-ball later, Tiry?" Rocky asked.

"Later when?" Jack asked sternly. "You’ve got a three hour workout today, and don’t you have some chores at my place too?"

Rocky set the bowl of strawberries in front of Jack and gave him a kittenish look. "I don’t suppose I could lose an hour of the workout if I added two hours of basketball instead? Sir?"

Jack looked at him sardonically. "What do you think, Van?"

"I … think I’d better quit before you add two hours in the fields," Rocky laughed. "So I guess I don’t have time …" he began, turning to Tiran

But Tiran had already moved on. "What about you, Vince?" he was asking Dusty. "Are you around this weekend?"

"I totally can be, sir. All yours."

"Didn’t you have something planned with that producer in the Valley … ?" Tiran asked.

"It’s just a social visit. Not confirmed yet … I can do it any time."

"We should do something today … all of us," Tiran announced widely to the table. "A little bit of togetherness," he added sweetly.

The boys looked at each other with amusement. "Tiran’s feeling paternal," Paul observed acerbically.

"Quick, someone think of something …" Dusty added. "Before he gets out the pipe and slippers and makes us sing show tunes around the piano."

Blackie and Adele had been conferring, on the other side of the table. "Hey, Tiry, what if we take out the yacht this afternoon?" Blackie suggested.

Tiran lifted his eyebrows and the others looked at him with interest. "Why not?" he said. "That’s a good idea."

"Yay," Adele said happily.

Tiran shook his head a little. "I don’t know why you guys always wait for me. I told you, take it out any time," he said liberally.

"Yeah, we need a crew though," Rocky objected.

"So what’s wrong with Rusty? I thought that was the whole point of giving him lessons."

Dusty laughed. "I’m telling you, darling – Rusty’s permanently in the doghouse. He never even gets to his lessons, let alone out on the boat."

"Are you complaining, St. Vincente?" Jack asked irritably. "I don’t have to ground him. No one told me it was a problem."

"No sir, no, it’s not a problem, of course," Dusty soothed. "I’m sorry, Mr. Obernikoch, I didn’t mean to gripe."

"Don’t blame Jack, Dusty," Tiran chided. "Rusty’s the one who can’t get his shit together. Where is he now anyway, Jackie?"

"Polishing my boots." Jack looked at Tiran with a faint smile. "He should be here soon. He’s been at it since eight."

Rocky laughed. "Well, I for one am not complaining. I thought those boots were on my list for today. He’s got eight pairs," he told Dusty, confidentially. "Take forever. And spit-shining! He actually checks if he can see his reflection afterwards. It’s an honour, sir," he added hastily to Jack.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "It is an honour, Van. Easy to see you’ll never be a true sub."

"Sorry, sir," Rocky said, looking down demurely. "I do appreciate it, really."

"So is Rusty allowed out this weekend or not, Jack?" Tiran interrupted, fixed on the point.

"Good," Jack said wryly, to Rocky. "I’ll tell Rusty to leave the rest for you. Yes, Ti, you can have Rusty for your crew today. I’ll postpone the grounding … or do something different."

Rocky gave Jack a rueful smile. "Thank you, sir."

"It’s not like the grounding seems to be working anyway," Tiran bantered.

Jack laughed. "Apparently not," he said, pulling out his mobile. "Must be losing my touch."

Rocky saw what Jack was doing. "Let me go get him, sir …" he began, but Tiran shook his head, then gave Gabe a quick nod. Gabe got up, and Jack put his phone away. "Tell him to leave the rest and get cleaned up and come out here for breakfast," Jack instructed, and Gabe headed off to get Rusty.

"Why doesn’t someone else learn to crew anyway?" Tiran asked. "Why is it only him?"

"I wouldn’t mind taking a few lessons," Rocky volunteered.

Jack gave him an ironic look. "Yeah, you’d make a great sailor, Van … "

Tiran chortled. "We should get him a sailor suit, Jackie …. Can’t you just see him in one of those little striped shirts and a white hat … ?"

There was general laughter around the table at that image of Rocky, and Rocky tried to look dignified. "As long as my bosses are amused," he said tartly.

Pat had been trying to catch Tiran’s eye for a few minutes. When Tiran noticed and gave him a nod, Pat asked quietly, "Can Tommy come with us today, Paul?"

"I guess," Paul said, shrugging. "If it’s okay with Jack."

"And what am I?" Tiran asked indignantly. "Chopped liver? Don’t I get a say?"

Pat’s eyes widened nervously but Tiran laughed. "Relax, Patty. Everyone gets a free pass this weekend."

Jack spoke up suddenly. "If that’s the case, Marx … why not give Pat a break on his rules today? Pain in the ass standing up or kneeling on a boat, and not much fun hanging out in a crowd when you’re not allowed to speak. How about giving him a pass for once?"

Tiran looked surprised at first, but his gaze softened as he watched Pat, who listened to Jack anxiously. "Good idea, Jack," Tiran said gently. "No rules today, Patty, okay?"

Pat turned to Tiran quickly and nodded. "Thank you sir. And – and thank you, Mr. Obernikoch."

Tiran glanced at Jack appreciatively as well. There was a slight lull in the conversation, and then Paul spoke up in the pause.

"Why the hell does Tiran keep talking about the weekend anyway? It’s Tuesday, for fuck’s sake."

Everyone laughed at that, even Jack. Tiran looked slightly surprised, and then sheepish.

"It’s because he doesn’t work for a living," Blackie answered with a wide grin. "He’s not really clear on what a weekend is."

"He wasn’t really clear on that even when he was working," Rocky added sardonically.

"Oh yeah, I was such a slacker then," Tiran retorted. "Like that year I averaged half a mil in returns a day. And what was it you were doing then, Rocky … kids volleyball coach?"

"Recreation arts counsellor!" Rocky answered spiritedly.

"Right, toddler’s t-ball scout, that’s it …" Tiran nodded.

"It was for high school kids … asshole." Rocky picked up his plate for a refill but, turning, found himself facing an unamused Jack. "Oh shit," Rocky said under his breath. "Come on, sir …" he coaxed, to Jack. "He just called me a loser."

"Who’s a loser?" Tiran asked languidly. "I’m sure it was a very noble career, Van."

Rocky was goaded again. He blew Tiran a sarcastic kiss, saying, "I know it’s a strange concept to you, Ti – doing something that’s not about money." Then, turning back toward Jack, he ducked his head guiltily. "I know, I know ..." Without waiting to be told, he put his plate down on the sideboard, dropped to his hands and knees and kissed the floor in Tiran’s general direction. Then, looking back up at Jack he added, "Can I kiss the ground that you walk on too, Mr. Obernikoch?"

Jack was still looking stern. "Say it like you mean it, Van."

"I do mean it …" Rocky told him earnestly. "About you, sir." He dropped a quick kiss on the floor facing Jack.

Jack's expression stayed neutral. "I mean do it like you mean it … for Ti. Again, Van."

Rocky cocked an eyebrow at Jack, as though trying to read his mood. "Yes, sir," he murmured. He moved over toward Tiran, and bent to kiss his foot. "I respect you even when you’re casting aspersions on my former livelihood, darling," he said, keeping his voice serious even as his eyes danced as he looked up at Tiran.

Jack glanced at Tiran with a laughing shrug. "I’m afraid that’s the best you’re gonna get this morning Tiry," he said, half apologetically. "I’m obviously falling down on the job these days."

Tiran had an affectionate hand on the back of Rocky’s neck. "It’s okay, Jackie, I can handle him."

Rocky put his face up, and Tiran leaned down to kiss his mouth briefly. "Go on and get – whatever it was you were looking for, your fourth serving …" Tiran said, nodding at the sideboard.

Rocky got up just as Rusty and Gabe came in, Rusty looking uncharacteristically sheepish. "Morning, Tiran," he said, and added to Jack, "Thank you, sir."

Jack pointed at a chair beside him and Rusty came over, while Gabe joined Rocky at the sideboard with a plate for Rusty. Rocky and Gabe exchanged quick smiles as they met.

"Andrews," Tiran said sternly. "Jack’s agreed to give you a break this weekend --- I mean, today, so you can help us out on the yacht."

Rusty had obviously been filled in by Gabe. He gave Jack a humble look and said, "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."

"Don’t thank me," Jack said mildly. "I’m just accommodating your boss. Since he happens to be mine too," he added under his breath.

"Thank you, sir," Rusty said obediently to Tiran.

"And I’m only doing it because I want to spend a little quality time with my – uh, with all of you guys." Tiran said. "I’m totally devoting myself to domestic pleasures, for once." His phone rang. He pulled it out. "Hey, Luce," he said with interest. "What are you up to today?"

Around the table, eyes rolled and ironic looks were exchanged. "Let’s start a pool," Paul said. "Who’s taking odds he gets a better offer from Lucien?"

Blackie gave Jack a grin. "Hey, sir, could you confiscate his phone?"

At the sideboard, Rocky had refilled his plate but he looked back and sought Jack’s eye before moving away. "A drink, sir?" he asked quietly.

Jack shrugged, and Rocky took it as an affirmative. He went to the bar and poured soda water with ice and a splash of cognac. While Tiran continued his phone call and the rest of the table debated the likelihood of his bailing on them in favour of more interesting plans, Rocky brought the drink over and knelt down beside Jack. "Are we okay, sir?" he asked quietly.

Jack looked down at him with a shrug. "You know you’ll pay later," he said, unperturbed.

"Of course," Rocky answered soothingly. "And – and I do realize I’m not going on the outing this afternoon, if it happens. But I wonder if we should let Tiry know?"

Jack frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

"You already made it clear that I’m not excused from my assignment or my chores, sir," Rocky said, still soothing. "I mean - of course. I’m just not sure Tiran realizes …"

Jack rolled his eyes. "So you’re going to blame me for not going?"

Rocky looked concerned. "No, sir, not at all. I’m sorry. Listen, I can talk to Tiran privately. It’ll be fine."

"Yeah, for you. He’ll just over-ride me again. I already got my wrist slapped once this morning."

"I’m sorry," Rocky said again, and stayed silent for a moment. "What would you like me to do?"

Jack shrugged. "You already have my orders. If Tiran over-rides them, that’s his business."

"Why don’t I go start my workout right now, sir? It’ll be a while before they’re actually ready to leave. I should be able to get part of it in, and maybe I can finish the rest when we get back tonight."

"Tonight?" Jack repeated. "We’re not getting back tonight, if I know Ti. He’ll want to stay over somewhere up the coast or something."

Rocky nodded. "You’re probably right. Well … would you allow me to finish tomorrow, sir? And your chores too, I’m afraid."

"You were the ones who begged me to give you my chores, and now you’re looking to get out of them."

"Please, sir," Rocky said calmly. "You know that’s not true. May I do your boots on the boat?"

Jack looked at him for a minute and laughed slightly. "You’re going to sit on the yacht and polish my boots?"

"If you’ll allow it. If I go."

"Like I said, that’s up to Ti."

"Yes, sir. I’m going to go start now then. We’ll see what Tiran says when he’s ready to go. Is that okay with you?"

Jack looked down at Rocky and cocked an eyebrow speculatively. "Fine," he said. "We’ll see what happens."

"By the way, sir …" Rocky added. "That was really nice, what you did for Patty." He smiled at Jack, then bent forward quickly to touch his forehead to the ground before rising.

As Rocky got to his feet beside Jack, he saw Tiran, now off the phone, looking at them quizzically. "What are you two plotting over there?" Tiran asked.

Rocky smiled, waiting for Jack to answer, and Jack shrugged unconcernedly. "Nothing, Marx. So what’s up – did you make plans with Luce?"

"No." Tiran looked indignant. "I already have plans with you guys."

Around the table there was a mix of groans and cheers as bets were settled. Tiran watched them benignly for a moment, then stood up. He turned his head to catch a quick peck from Rocky, who was leaving, and then spoke briskly to the rest of the table. "All right, that’s it! Time to get the show underway. Rusty – how long do you need to get the yacht ready?"

Rusty looked up brightly. "Maybe an hour, Ti, or a little more."

"OK, so we’re leaving in an hour and a half. Rusty, off you go. You better give him a hand, Blackie. Pat and Adele – go to the kitchen and get some food packed up. And your kids! Dusty, check the bar on the boat! Gabe, call around to the other complex and see if anyone there wants to come. Anything else we need?" He looked around as people began getting to their feet to follow orders. "Meet at the dock in an hour and a half. Command performance for everyone I own!" Tiran called after them. "Jack, Paul, Tommy – hope you’re coming too?"

Paul and Jack looked at each in amusement. "Yeah," Jack drawled. "We’ll be there."