Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 03:09:05 +0000
From: Sean W <writer_sean@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Bonds of Power part 1

"The Bonds of Power"
By Sean

Disclaimer:   Don't know any of the members of 98 Degrees or their sexual
orientations.  Making no money off this.  If you're not old enough to read
homoerotic fiction, go away and play a game on Yahoo or something.

Ok, before you start reading, let me reassure you that even though none of
the guys are in this part, they will definitely be in the next one.

Liked it?  Loved it?  Hated it?  Let me know.

writer_sean@hotmail.com

One more thing, "/" indicate personal thought.
Chapter 1


"Good morning St. Louis!  Well, it's time for the traffic on this lovely
summer morning.  There's an accident on eastbound highway 40, that's
blocking the two left hand lanes just south of the Clayton Rd. exit.  On
eastbound...*CLICK*"

"Yeah, yeah...shut it already.  God, is it too much to ask that they at
least play some music?"

"Relax babe, it's just the traffic, I'm sure they'll have something on
soon."

Looking over at his passenger, the driver shook his head and smiled.  "Sorry
CJ, didn't get much sleep last night."

"Oh?  Did we have company?"  CJ was looking at him now, grinning from ear to
ear.

"I wish.  I just couldn't sleep."  Pushing the brake in, Kerin brought the
car to a slow stop and waited for the traffic in front of him to start
moving again.

"Well, I wish I could say the same.  After I put Kerr to bed, I died.
Didn't wake up once until the alarm went off this morning."  She sighed
softly and looked out the window.

"What's the matter, CJ?  You look depressed about something.  A minute ago
you were all leers and nasty thoughts."  Kerin was dividing his attention
between the road and her.

"Ah, it's nothing.  Just thinking about Bobby.  He came by last night."

Kerin nodded as he changed lanes, pissing off the camaro behind him, who
showed his anger with a loud blow of his horn and a raised finger out the
window.  "What did he want?"

"Oh, he wanted to see Kerr and to pick up the rest of his things.  Chad was
with him but I told him he had to stay outside.  I don't want that fucker in
the same house as my son.  I don't trust him."  CJ fell silent for a moment
and then turned in her seat.  Looking directly at Kerin, she asked him a
question that threw him for a complete loop.  "Kerin, do you think I'm a
good mom?"

"What?!  Where the hell did that come from?  Shit!"  Swerving to miss a
pothole, Kerin brought the car over another lane and cursed again as they
missed their exit off the highway.  "Well, it looks like we might be a bit
late for work.  Now, what brought this on?"

"Bobby told me last night that he and Chad are going to sue for custody of
Kerr," CJ said quietly.

Looking over at his best friend, Kerin placed his hand on her shoulder and
rubbed softly.  "Don't worry about it babe.  Hell, this is Missouri we're
talking about.  You know, closed minds and paranoid people?  Hell, we still
have an active sodomy law!  I doubt you have anything to worry about.
Besides, if it comes down to it, mention the fact that Bobby cheated on you
with this person."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Did they present you with papers yet?"

"No, I'm wondering if they just did it to see if they could scare me into
giving them joint custody."

Kerin pulled the car off at the next exit and made a left, heading for the
on ramp so they could get back onto the highway and head back the way they
had come.  "Well, I doubt you need to worry.  Besides, you've got your
sister-in-law who is a lawyer, just have her do the legal crap and raise
your son.  All righty then, it looks like we might just make it."  Shifting
the car into a lower gear, Kerin opened up the engine on the vette and tore
down the highway.

"You know one of these days, you're going to get a huge-ass speeding ticket
with the way you drive."  CJ was gathering up her purse and lunch as she
climbed out of the car.  Grinning over the roof at him, she laughed at his
befuddled look.

"What?  I drive fine!  I swear!  That sign said 90!"  Laughing with her,
Kerin took CJ's arm in his and walked into the building and headed for their
offices.

**********

Kerin came back from getting his breakfast to find a card sitting on his
keyboard and CJ nowhere in sight.  Sighing, he picked up the card and opened
it.  /What is she up to now?/

"Well...hello there Mr. Timmons," Kerin said to himself as he pulled the
card out.  It was emblazoned with an image of 98 Degrees on the cover.
Laughing softly, he opened the card and grabbed a smaller envelope as it
fell.  "What the hell...?"

Turning his attention back to the card, he read the note from CJ written
inside.


Hey babe,
Hope you enjoy these; they sure as hell cost me enough damn money.  Just
consider yourself lucky because, well you know, these aren't my guys after
all.

Happy "Early" Birthday Sweetie.

CJ

/She didn't.../  "Oh my God, she did!"

"Did what?"  Kerin jumped at the voice behind him and turned to see the
curious look of his supervisor.

"CJ got me tickets to the 98 Degrees concert this Friday!"  Kerin was almost
jumping with excitement.

Kelly laughed at him and shook her head.  "Here, you need to get these
accuracy reports finished before you leave tonight, please."  Laughing at
the glare Kerin gave her; she walked away only to stop and tell him over her
shoulder that he'd better get to work.

"Okay, okay, I'm going."  Kerin sat down and brought his computer online,
grinning as multiple images of Jeff Timmons greeted him on his screen.
<I>It's great to have friends who are graphic artists</I>  Pulling up his
email account, he quickly typed out a note to CJ.


Hey you,

Just got your card.  Thank you!!  Lunch is on me.  Houlihans?  Let me know.

Love ya
Ker

Looking at the email, he laughed softly as he hit the send button and turned
to survey his work for the day.  Pulling the files over to him he called out
to his assistant sitting in front of his desk.  "Hey, Linda?  I'm going to
be busy all day.  Field anything before you give it to me?"

Hearing Linda's affirmative he went to work knowing that by the time lunch
rolled around his head was going to be killing him.

***********

Kerin jumped when he heard the loud thump on his desk.  Turning to see what
it was, he smiled as CJ grinned at him.  She was standing at the edge of his
desk, on hand on her hip and the other holding her purse.  "Well?  Are we
going to lunch or not?"

Laughing at her Kerin locked his desk and stood up.  "Yep, if I see one more
column of numbers, I'm going to kill someone.  Let's go."

"Good, I'm starving.  I think I'll order one of everything.  I mean, after
all, you're paying."

"Bitch.  You better watch it there babe, you don't want to gain back all
that weight you lost after having Kerr."  Kerin jumped out of the way as she
swung her purse at him.  "Hey!  Watch it!  You could hurt someone with that
damn thing."

"Ah, you only want to make sure that you don't have any bruises when we go
to the concert.  Ya know, just to make sure that Jeff notices you and falls
head over heels in love with you."

"Oh please.  He wouldn't even bat an eyelash at me.  He's married remember?"

"Well, you can dream can't you?  Who knows, you might even be able to touch
him."  This statement brought Kerin to a complete halt.

"Touch him?  How close are we to the stage?"

CJ turned and gave him this exasperated look.  "Don't even tell me you
didn't look at them."

"Well, I was going to buy Kelly walked up and gave me those damn reports.  I
had to put them away before she got bitchy about the whole thing.  So, where
are we sitting?"  Kerin smacked her lightly on the arm as they walked out
the door.

"Well, let's just say that you could grope him quite easily if you wanted
to.  I sure as hell paid enough money for the..."

Looking over, Kerin saw what made CJ stop short.  Her ex-husband and his boy
toy were standing at the bottom of the stairs outside their office building.
  "Oh shit.  I don't fucking believe this.  Why the hell are they here?"

"I have no idea." CJ said softly, continuing down the steps.  "Bobby."

"Hey CJ.  Hey Kerin, how's it going?  You remember Chad."  Bobby was
standing there looking at him.  Bobby wasn't bad looking but the one thing
that had always confused Kerin was the fact that he was the complete and
total opposite of the man that CJ was attracted to.  She went for the "tall,
dark, and mysterious type."  Bobby was about 5'8" with blonde hair and blue
eyes.  Too bad the blonde was three shades lighter than it was naturally.

Chad was standing next to him, glaring at CJ.  Now he screamed queen.  Tall,
thin, both ears pierced four times apiece and wearing a set of pride rings
around his neck.  Kerin didn't have any problem with queens, hell some of
his closest friends were drag queens for that fact and you couldn't get be
any more of a queen than that.

"Unfortunately I do.  What the fuck do you want Bobby?  In case you didn't
notice CJ and I are at work."

"Doesn't look like it to me," Chad said, leaning over and putting his arm
around Bobby's shoulder.

"Shut the fuck up Chad.  When I want to hear from you, I'll let you know."
Kerin wasn't in the mood for this right now.

"Kerin, let me deal with this," CJ said softly, putting her hand on his arm.
  "Why don't you go over and smoke a cigarette and I'll be right there."

"Fine, but I'm warning you two," he said, turning and pointing at the two
men.  "If either of you upset her I'll upset you.  Got it?"  Without waiting
for an answer, Kerin walked away, pulling out his cigarettes.  He stopped
when he heard the muttered "Fucking fag."

"Oh shit," he heard CJ say as he turned around slowly to look at Chad.

"Excuse me?  Wait a minute.  Did you just call me a fag?"  Shaking his head
and giving a small laugh, Kerin walked over and stood in front of Chad.
"Tell me something.  Where do you get off calling me a fag when I can count
the men I've slept with while you have to keep a running list on the
computer of your latest conquests?"

"Shut up Kerin."  The warning was quiet and cold coming from Bobby.

"Keep out of this Bobby.  This is between me and your fuck."  Kerin didn't
even bother turning to look at the other man as he answered.  "I kicked your
ass once before Chad, want me to do it again?"

"You got lucky Kerin, that's all.  Bring it on."  Chad stepped back and
opened his arms in an inviting gesture.  "Come on faggot.  Scared?"

"Nope," was the only reply Kerin gave before pulling his arm back and
punching Chad square in the face.  He winced as he felt his hand protest the
impact of his fist connecting with Chad's nose.  Stepping back, he saw Bobby
rush over and put his arms around a wailing Chad.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Keep away from CJ unless you have business with her besides trying to start
trouble Bobby.  Next time it'll be you."  Kerin turned and walked away from
the two men, pulling a laughing CJ behind him.  He stopped when he heard
Bobby call after them.

"CJ I came by to let you know that you've won.  Chad and I are moving out of
state.  I got a promotion.  We're moving to L.A.  I have papers here signing
over my parental rights to Kerr.  Happy now?"

This statement brought CJ and Kerin both to an abrupt halt.  Turning
together to stare at him, CJ answered first.  "You're signing over your
rights?"

Sighing Bobby walked over and handed CJ a large envelope.  "Yeah, I am.
Here are all the papers you'll need.  You just need to sign them and give
them to Sharon.  She'll know what to do with them."

"But, what about last night?  That line of bullshit you fed me about suing
for custody?"  CJ was rather quiet; Kerin could tell she was getting angry.

"I don't know why I did that.  I'm sorry.  I never meant to upset you."

Lifting her chin, CJ glared at him.  Putting the envelope into her purse she
turned to walk away and stopped.  "Fine, get away from me and forget that
you were ever married or that you ever had a son."
Without another word, CJ turned and walked into the restaurant leaving Kerin
to catch up.

*********

Once they were seated they toasted themselves and CJ's little victory.
"Wow, I can't believe he actually did it."

Sighing, CJ put her drink down and grinned.  "I know.  But, at least now I'm
free of that fucker.  And, what about you?  Oh my God, Chad, I can't believe
that you actually punched him!"

"Well, let's just say that I have some old animosity for him and some things
that he's done."

"You never told me about any of that."

"I know, but that is for another day.  Now, tell me where those seats are
at?"

TBC