Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 13:42:27 -0700 From: Daniel Lund Subject: Saxton's Song 1 A very good friend helped me come up with this story line, which I started but never worked on because of Southern Knights. Since I got a brain cramp from SK, I toyed with this one. Tell me what you think. Dan Rimshotsplanet@hotmail.com Saxton's Song 1: Colton Derik stood up from his desk and stretched, a low groan emanating from his throat. He'd been working at his computer non-stop for hours, and it had made him feel cramped and brain faggy. At 25, he was intensely athletic, and the hours that were required to complete the bills for his apartment complex were like caging a tiger. He ran a hand through his short sandy brown hair and turned the machine off. Enough was enough. It was time for some handball or a swim. Handball today, he decided, walking through the right sided of two doors into his personal apartment. The other led into the main offices for Crystal Glen, a 480-unit complex near the mountains of Thornton, Colorado. His father had built the complex in the late eighties and had subsequently left it to Colton when both parents had died in a single engine plane crash on the way home from Veil four years ago. Colton and his brother, Bennett, were the sole surviving family members. Bennett had no sense for business, and had recently earned a degree in geology, now working for a major oil company in the gulf. Colton, or Colt as everyone knew him, graduated with a degree in business, and surprising everyone that knew him, prospered as the proprietor of Crystal Glen. Not that it was tough to take over a good thing, but for his age, he had shocked a lot of people, never asking for help, and always showing good liquidity. He showed only quiet pride in his work, never one to boast. His father would not have approved. Colt kicked his shoes into the closet and tossed his shirt in the corner, revealing an extremely chiseled chest and abs. He was driven in his fitness, working out every night in the complex gym. He'd gone to great lengths to make it worth using, adding machines and free weights and replacing items regularly with the newest and best available. He pulled out a jock and slipped it on to his naked form and followed it with spandex shorts and a lightweight nylon tanktop. After putting on his shoes, he grabbed the bag that contained his weight belt, handball glove (including his brother's, which had seen action once), a towel, and other needed items. He stopped on the way out to feed Bogart, his male Himalayan Siamese cat, and pulled the door shut behind him. It was still blindingly bright at 2 in the afternoon. Colt's eyes rebelled at the light after looking at a computer screen all day. He shielded his eyes and trotted over to the Rec. Center and Gym. The courts were still quiet since no one was home from work yet, and Colt sat down outside one of the window walls and pulled out his glove. Across the hall, the sounds of a video arcade beeped and bonged. He glanced up and noticed a kid playing one of the games. The boy glanced back at him and smiled, and Colt nodded, recognizing the face, as he did with most tenants, but having no clue on the name. "Shouldn't you be at school?" He asked, trying to sound like he was joking. His complex, like many others, housed some families that were barely able to make rent, and some of the kids dropped out of school. "Don't go." The kid answered, unabashed. His game ended and he held his hands up in disgust. "Son of a bitch." Colt chuckled and stood up. "Game wasn't so hot, huh?" "Nah." The kid turned and walked over towards him. "Playin' racquet ball?" Colt shook his head. "Hand ball. More fun when you don't have a victim." He moved towards the door. "Ever play?" "Once. My sister's boyfriend tried to show me. He didn't have a clue." The kid smiled, a warm and genuine expression. Colt chuckled, remembering something similar with his brother. "Wanna teach me?" The boy asked, his face lighting up. For a moment, Colt was torn. He tried not to associate with the tenants beyond being polite, but it was obvious the kid didn't have anything better to do, other than get his brain fried by a video game. Against his own judgment, Colt smiled and pointed at his bag. "Grab a glove." "Cool!" The boy moved quickly and came up with Bennett's glove. "I'm Colt, by the way." He held out his hand to the kid. "Colt Derik." "Saxton Henry." The kid's grip was firm. "Aren't you like the office guy or something?" "Something like that." Colt laughed, pleased at the kid's lack of knowledge, therefore his openness. It was refreshing. They stepped into the court and Colt secured the door, sizing up his 'opponent'. Saxton stood about 5'8" tall, and was one of those kids that didn't seem to have any body fat at all. Every muscle was clearly defined, revealed by a white 'wifebeater' and blue basketball shorts that hung to his knees. His hair was cut short, bleached, and spiked up. He wore silver hoops from his ears. The most distinctive feature was his gray eyes, with just a hint of green, and slightly upswept eyebrows. Colt was reminded of Pan, the god of mischief. "Okay, kiddo, what you want to do is not allow the ball to bounce more than once, and you want to aim for that red line, got it? Watch." Colt held his hand out and dropped the ball, giving it a fairly slow swat at the wall. Saxton dodged and smacked it, causing it to fly up, hit the wall, and bounce pathetically at his own feet. Colt smiled and picked up the ball. "Watch me once, then I want you to try, okay?" He served, dodged, returned it high, let it bounce off the back wall, and then returned it again. Saxton studied every move intently, never taking his eyes off the ball. The next time Colt handed him the ball, he served it more slowly, and was able to return it twice before he crashed into Colt. "Sorry." He said nervously, looking down. "It's okay, man. This can get rough if you're not careful. Ready to try it?" Saxton nodded, and Colt served to him, careful to watch how hard he was hitting the ball. Before long, the kid was getting it, and they began to play sort of handicapped matches, Colt taking it easy on the kid, and Saxton improving immensely. In a little over an hour, both were sweaty messes, and Colt caught the ball, his chest heaving. "You little shit, you lied. You said you never did this before." "I didn't." Saxton put his hands on his hips. "I swear." He grinned and pulled off his glove. "If I find out you lied to me, I'll nail you in the head next time." Colt chuckled and unbolted the door. "I hate to contribute to juvenile delinquents, but if you want to play tomorrow, I'll be here at two." "Done, dude." Saxton shook Colt's hand. "Thanks for showing me, man. I really had fun." "So did I, kid. See you tomorrow." Colt waved and collected his bag, looking forward to a hot shower. Bogart was sprawled on the couch when he opened the door, and he patted the cat's head on his way to the bathroom. The spent a quiet evening, like they usually did, watching TV and sharing dinner. When Colt stripped for bed and got in, Bogart jumped on the bed and imperiously made his way to the other pillows, did his nightly dance it to make a depression, turned around once, and settled in. Colt stroked his head and adjusted the sheets, falling asleep. The afternoon hand ball tournament soon became a habit, and Saxton showed great improvement. He was extremely energetic and aggressive, and Colt found himself almost matched in a week's time. He was proud of his pupil, and took some satisfaction that somebody was teaching the kid something other than Mortal Kombat. Colt sat at his desk looking over applications. The grounds manager, Gus Martinez, had caught two of the hired men stealing tools, and they needed replacements. Several people had applied, but no one clearly stood out. There was a knock at the door, and Jena Wilson, his secretary stuck her head in. "Colt, there's boy out here that says your late for your appointment. He's very insistent." She smiled. "Huh?" Colt looked up, perplexed. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was 2:23pm, and his eyes opened wide. "Damn, it's Saxton. Send him in." He started to pile the papers up and organize them as she disappeared. A moment later, Saxton entered, looking around nervously. "Hey, buddy, sit down." Colt waved at a chair. "I'm sorry I blew you off, Sax. I was buried." "It's cool, man. Don't worry." Saxton sat down and watched Colt straighten his desk. "Hope you don't mind me coming up here." "It's fine, Saxton. You can come up whenever you want." Colt chuckled. "We don't exactly have state secrets up here." "If you're busy, we can play tomorrow." Saxton offered, secretly praying it wouldn't be so. He didn't realize it, but he desperately looked forward to the time he spent with Colt, and he was terrified of missing it. "No." Colt said firmly and looked up. "A deal is a deal. Gus'll have a fit, but this can wait." He set the applications aside. "We're looking for a gardener. Gus doesn't have anyone to help him, and it gives him stress. None of the applicants met his approval." Saxton leaned forward excitedly. "Colt, hire me! I'll bust my ass for you. Give me a job!" He almost shook with anticipation. Colt leaned back in his chair and smiled lopsidedly. "You like doing yard work?" "I'll do anything, dude, please!" Saxton tried hard to not sound desperate and failed miserably. "Really, Colt, I won't let you down." Colt thought for a second and rested his chin on his palm. "This is way against my better judgment, but okay, here's the deal. Six am to two PM everyday, be ON TIME, and if Gus complains once, it's over. Deal?" "Hell yeah!" Saxton jumped up and held his hand out. Colt took it and nearly got his hand torn off shaking. "You are the absolute bomb, man! I promise you won't regret this." "Gus is over at the pool house. Go find him, and I'll call him on the radio and tell him you're coming." Colt reached for his digital radio and gestured to a closet behind Saxton's chair. "In there are some uniform shirts. Find three that fit, and be in a clean uniform shirt everyday. I think Gus'll let you wear short pants if you want to." Saxton dug through the closet and found his size and pulled off his battered t-shirt and pulling on one of the emerald green polo shirts. On the left side of the chest, it was embroidered in gold with 'Crystal Glen Staff'. Saxton beamed when he turned around to show Colt. Colt chuckled and stood up. "Okay, runt, he's waiting for you. Make me proud, okay?" "You got it, boss!" Saxton chirped and dashed out of the office. Colt sighed and sat back down, shaking his head. The next afternoon, he sat on a chair near Jena's desk and looked over her shoulder at the computer monitor. They had been working on the quarterly report, and it was nearly done. They both looked up as Gus walked into the office wiping his arm over his forehead. "Colt, where did you find that kid?" He asked, settling his short round body onto the couch. "You don't like him?" Colt asked, hoping he hadn't made a horrible mistake. "Like him?" Gus said, his hispanic accent blurring the 'R's'. "He's the hardest worker you ever got me. I have to search for things to keep him busy. He finishes so fast, I have to find him something else. The yard around the pool is already done." "This is bad because........why?" Colt smiled and shrugged. "It's not bad. He's worth ten of those dead beats we had last month." Gus wiped his face with a large bandanna. "How much you payin' him?" "I was going to pay him minimum. What do you want to give him?" "If this is what I get for the rest of the pay period, give him eight bucks. I want to keep him." Colt nodded, pleased. It had been so long since he had heard praise from Gus, he'd almost forgotten the man could be happy. "You're his boss, Gus. If that's how you want it, so be it." Gus hoisted himself up and nodded, heading for the door. "Gus, if you get him trained, I want you to keep that trip to see your family in mind. We'll survive a week." Gus smiled. "We'll see. That'd be nice, though." He waved and left. Colt turned back to his secretary. "This is great, Jena. Send it to the accountants and forward the phone to the leasing office. See you tomorrow." He patted he shoulder and stood up to go change for a game of handball. Saxton was waiting, pulling on his glove as Colt walked up. "You made a hell of a showing today, kid. I've never seen Gus so happy." He put his arm around Saxton's shoulders and squeezed them. "Keep it up, buddy." "He's cool to work for. Thanks again for hiring me." Saxton grinned. "It was hard work, but I loved it." "Well, keep something in mind. I pay Gus pretty good for all the hard work I get, and there's no reason why you couldn't be taken care of just as good." Colt took out his own glove and pulled it on. "In a couple of years, I'm going to build some more apartments, and I'll need another manager like Gus. Bust you ass, and it's yours." "Whatever you want, boss." Saxton slipped through the door. "I'm still gonna whoop your ass in here, though." Colt laughed and closed the door. "Whatever. You spent too much time in the sun today. You're delusional." For the next week, Gus continued to give glowing reports, and Colt had to admit the grounds looked great. Saxton was even helping with repairs, plunging toilets and fixing leaks. The kid fit in with the staff like a glove. Colton pulled his car, a '96 Pontiac Firebird Firehawk into it's usual place and stepped out. He'd been into town to get sprinkler heads and pipe glue for Gus, and had met the accountants for lunch to go over the last two quarters. They had recommended an investment plan, and Colt had approved it with only a few changes. He glanced at his watch and hurried, not wanting to miss his afternoon game with Saxton. He took the supplies out of the back of the car and closed it, glancing up to see Gus heading towards him. "I got everything, old man. Even the wrench you wanted." "We got a problem." Gus wrung his hands, a habit that made him look like an old woman. "That little shit mowed the lawns today." "So?" Colt asked, perplexed. "So, he did it without a shirt on, and he's so sunburned he can't walk very good." Gus looked pathetic, worried. "Shit. Didn't you warn him?" Colt handed the box to Gus, who was shaking his head. "I never thought about it. I was working on the AC for building E all day." "Where is he?" "I put him in your office on the couch. He says he's sick." Gus followed Colt towards the offices. "We put the thermostat as low as it would go." "Why didn't he just go home and get in the tub?" Colt snapped. "Call his sister." "I tried to, Colt, but he got real upset. Said she was asleep and had to work graves or something. He wanted to wait for you. I ain't arguing with him." Colt sighed and took the steps three at a time, leaving the over weight older man puffing behind him. He made a beeline for his office and nodded at Jena as he opened the door. Saxton stood in the middle of the room, holding his arms out, and turning his back towards the air vent. Colt stopped dead in his tracks, shocked. Saxton wore only a pair of cut-off jeans, cut very short and split up the sides, and a worn pair of sneakers. Everywhere not covered in hair or clothes was beat red. "Oh my god." Colt mumbled, walking to stand in front of the boy. "What in the hell were you thinking?" "I always take my shirt off outside." Saxton said miserably. "Seemed like a good opportunity to get some sun." "What's your phone number? I gotta call your sister." Colt moved towards his desk. "No!" Saxton's eyes went wide. "Please, Colt, don't call her. She's asleep. She has to work tonight." "Well we have to do something, Sax. You're a fucking lobster!" Colt's voice rose, and he saw that it frightened Saxton. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout. Look, Sax, you need to be in a tub of cold water. Surely she'll understand." "Please, Colt. You don't know her." Saxton pleaded. "She'll go postal, dude." Colt looked into Saxton's eyes and saw real fear there, which surprised him. It also pulled at his heart, causing him to realize that he'd gotten very close to this kid in the last month. He sighed through his nose and shook his head. "Okay, I give. Through there, buddy." He pointed at the door to his apartment. "Where does that go?" Saxton asked, moving towards the door, careful not to touch him self. "My place, you little pain in the ass. You need to get some cold water on that burn." Colt opened the door, which was rarely locked, and guided Saxton into his living room. They made their way through the three-bedroom apartment to the bathroom, and Colt started the water running, adjusting it so it wasn't freezing, just cold. "Get in the tub, and when you start feeling a little better, I'll bring you some ice tea." Colt took a towel and a washcloth from the closet and put it on the sink. "When you get in, close the curtain. I'll get you a pair of baggy shorts for when you get out." Saxton tried to kick off his shoes and nearly fell over. Colt grabbed his waist without thinking, and Saxton yelped. "Sorry." Colton apologized, looking for a way to help. "Sax, lean against the sink." He did so, and Colt took off his shoes. Saxton fumbled with the button on his shorts, fighting off a wave of dizziness. Colt stood up and looked at his face. "Do you need help with your shorts?" He asked, and Saxton nodded. Colt pursed his lips and looked down, uncomfortable with the way things were going. He shoved it out of his mind and undid the button, then silently cursed when he saw that Saxton had no underwear on. He carefully slid them off, ignoring what was now staring him right in the face. "Oh, no." Saxton mumbled and turned to the toilet and threw up. Colt nervously held hip by the only place that wasn't burnt, his hips, steadying Saxton so he wouldn't fall down. When it was over, he helped Saxton into the tub and gently laid his head against the tiles. Saxton sighed, feeling the coolness relieve the burn somewhat. Colt stood up and went into the kitchen and poured a glass of tea and brought it back. Saxton's eyes were closed, and Colt drew the curtain part way to give him some privacy, then turned to leave. "Colt?" Saxton's eyes flew open. "Will you please stay in here?" "Well, sure, I guess." He slowly moved to sit on the toilet seat cover. "I was just going to leave you some privacy, you know?" "We got the same equipment." Saxton smiled weakly. "I'm not embarrassed if you're not." Colt chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. Feel better?" Saxton nodded. "Thanks for helping me out." "Hey, what are friends for." Colt leaned back against the tank. "Can I ask you something personal?" Saxton nodded. Colt carefully framed his question. "Why did you get so upset when I wanted to call you sister? She's going to be worried." Saxton snorted derisively. "I doubt it. She has to work tonight, which is always a special occasion. If I wake her up for less than a broken bone, she'll come unglued." The kid's face was pained as he spoke. "She was pissed off when I had to come and live with her." "What happened to your parents?" Colt asked quietly. Saxton was silent for a long minute, studying Colt's eyes. "They died the day after last Christmas. A drunk hit 'em." "I'm sorry." Colt looked at his shoes. "My parents died in a plane crash. Makes you grow up fast, doesn't it?" Saxton smiled slightly and nodded. "Why don't you go to school? If I'm getting to personal, say so. I don't want to butt in." Saxton shook his head, never looking away. "You've been awesome to me, Colt. You're the only person that's given a damn for a long time." He swallowed hard, and his eyes teared up. "I got caught doing something with a guy from the football team. I tried to stay, but I got in so many fights that they asked me to leave." "Something like what?" Colt asked, watching Saxton's face and the little movie of emotions that played over it. Saxton looked away, fighting the tears now. His chest hitched, and Colt moved to the side of the tub and knelt down. He reached out and touched Saxton's cheek. "Hey, you don't have to tell me anything. Don't get upset, Sax. It's okay." Saxton reached up and grabbed Colt's arm. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I want to tell you. You're the best friend I ever had. I don't want to lose you, but I want to tell you." "Easy, Sax. Calm down." Tears started rolling down the boy's face. Colt wiped them away with his fingertips. "Please don't cry, buddy." Saxton didn't let go of Colt's arm and leaned his head against it. After what seemed like an eternity, the tears slowed down. He sighed and looked into Colt's eyes. "I was giving him a blow job. Please don't hate me." Saxton whispered urgently. "You've been so cool, and I didn't want you to know." "Hey!" Colt soothed as Saxton began to sob. "Saxton, listen to me. You are my friend because of who you are, and because you keep your word. I'm not a gay basher." He cradled the kid's head against his chest. "I'm real proud of how hard you work around here, and I'm proud of how good you're getting at handball. That's why we're friends." Saxton looked up into Colt's eyes and saw how sincere he was. "I knew you weren't like everyone else." He whispered. Colt patted his cheek. "Thanks, Colt." "No problem." Colt smiled. "You're getting pruney. Want to go lay on the couch and rest?" Saxton nodded and shakily got to his feet with Colt's help. Colt carefully toweled him off and went and got a pair of silk boxers for him to wear. They were light enough that they shouldn't interfere with the burn. Saxton sipped at the ice tea and took some aspirin. Colt put a sheet on the couch for Saxton to spread out on, and then sat at one end so they could watch TV. Saxton started out with his head in the middle of the couch on a pillow, but before the news came on hours later, he was sleeping with his head in Colt's lap. Bogart slept behind Saxton's legs, amazing Colt since the cat hated everyone Colt had brought in the house. The stupid hairball seemed quite taken with Saxton. Colt felt asleep on the couch, his hand on Saxton's head. All evening long he'd studied his feelings, ranging from how hard it would be to explain appearances if Saxton's sister had knocked on the door, to the fact that he genuinely liked having Saxton's head in his lap, and the fact that the kid was so trusting of him. The confusion finally wore him out, and he dozed off with his feet up on the coffee table. He woke up with a stiff neck and grimaced as he raised his head. For a second, he was disoriented and looked down, surprised to find Saxton sleeping peacefully on his lap. Saxton had slid over during the night and was almost entirely on Colt now, his arms around Colt's waist and his head on Colt's lap. His face was serene, and his breathing deep and quiet. Colt carefully slid our from under the kid, taking great pains to not wake him up. It took several minutes, and just as he was about to stand up, Bogart stretched and moved into Saxton's lap, favoring Colt with a huge yawn. Colt smiled and patted the cat's head. "Keep an eye on him." He whispered, and headed for the shower. Dressed in lightweight running shorts and a loose tanktop, Colt let himself out of the apartment and took his usual morning jog, ending the trip at a local market that he preferred to the larger grocery stores. He bought bagels and cream cheese, anesthetic sunburn spray, some sodas, and a can of tuna for Bogart, who needed the oil for his coat, not to mention expecting to be spoiled by his human. On the way back, Colt came across Gus coming out of the Yard Garage. "Morning, Gus. I don't think Saxton will be in. He's in pretty rough shape." "Hell, we're way ahead for the week. Tell that little shit to get some rest." Gus chuckled and shook his head. "I wouldn't want to be him today." "Me either." Colt smiled. "If you need help with that AC unit, come and get me." He frequently helped with labor work around the complex, one of the reasons; Gus respected him as much as he did. "It's done. I'm taking the vehicles in today for oil changes, so thanks anyway." Gus waved and headed towards one of the trucks owned by Crystal Glen. "You tell that brat if he pulls that again, I'll kick his ass." "You'll need a number to get in line." Colt returned the wave and trotted up the hill towards his apartment. As he opened the door, at about 9 o'clock, he found Saxton shakily rising off the couch, looking just a little lost, and like he felt terrible. "Where do you think you're going?" Colt asked, putting the bags on the counter. "I gotta get to work. I'm late." Saxton moved unsteadily towards the bathroom, feeling sharp stings and tingles all over his skin. "I spoke to Gus. You're off today." Colt pulled out the sunburn spray and walked over to the boy. "You're going to rest, right here where I can check on you, and Bogart will tear you to hell if you try to do anything but sleep or eat. Hold still." He shook the can and sprayed it on Saxton's back. The cold spray shocked Saxton and he yelped. "Jesus, Colt, you could've warned me!" He groused, arching his back. Seconds after it hit his skin, the pain started to subside. "Sorry, I didn't know it was cold." Colt chuckled, both because it had been funny to see Sax jump, and because of the more genuine response, the not so sugar coated side of Saxton that was starting to come out. Colt didn't like being worshipped, he just wanted to be liked and respected. After Colt finished, Saxton made his way into the bathroom and took care of his morning routine. He emerged with his hair combed flat, another first for Colt to see, and his face washed. He still looked like a nuclear accident walking, but at least there was a little fire in his eyes. Colt showered and dressed for work in slacks and a polo shirt, and stroked the cat and the kid's head as he passed, heading towards the office door. "If you need anything, Sax, I'm right in here, okay?" The kid nodded, petting the cat, and Colt turned to leave. "Help yourself to the fridge, and I got you some sodas. Take some aspirin for the burn, but not on an empty stomach." "Colt?" Saxton called out from the couch. Colt turned back and raised his eyebrows. "Thanks, man. I owe you big time." "You don't owe me shit, Sax. Get rested so we can play handball tomorrow or the next day." Colt smiled and went through the door. "Call you sister and tell her you're okay." He called back. At almost one, Colt sat back from the paperwork on his desk and sighed. He'd been unraveling a screw up on the utility bills, and had finally finished. He stood up and stretched, and then stuck his head out into Jen's office. "I'm going to grab some lunch. Will you stop down at the power and light office, take kind of a long lunch, and ask them to get copies of the electric bill for the last six months? I think they're over charging some of the tenants." She nodded and stood up, slinging her purse over her shoulder. "Thanks, Jena." Colt turned back and headed into his apartment. He found Saxton sleeping sitting up on the couch, obviously showered and having found Colt's hair gel, and in a fresh pair of Colt's silk boxers. He was pleased that Saxton was able to get up and around, but a kernel of concern tugged at his mind about the kid wearing his clothes and sleeping in his apartment. It wouldn't look very good to other people who might misconstrue what was really happening. Saxton looked up groggily. "Hey." He mumbled. "Will you spray me with that stuff again?" "Sure." Colt went and got another sheet and put it on the back of the couch so Saxton could lean back on it. Saxton stood up, a little more steady than he had this morning, and moved towards Colt with his head down. "What's the matter?" Colt asked, realizing that Sax was getting way to close to be sprayed without getting it all over himself. Saxton topped just a few inches from him and just stood there. He heard the kid swallow hard, and he reached out and lifted Saxton's chin so he could see his eyes. They were blood shot, and Saxton looked like he was trying not to get upset. "Sax, what is it?" "I called my sister. She screamed at me for waking her up, and told me if I found someone to watch out for me, I better take advantage of it." Saxton sniffed, looking away from Colt's eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a pain in the ass." Colt was furious, but he stuffed the emotions and held out his arms without a word. Saxton's face dissolved in pain, and he wrapped his arms around Colt's chest. His chest heaved with sobs, and Colt tried to hug him, but without hurting his burn. After several minutes, Saxton moved away, still looking down. "You've been real good to me, Colt." He tried to smile. "I better get out of your hair." "You are going to stand right there and get sprayed with this frozen gunk, and then you're going to lay back down and rest." Colt said firmly, smiling. "When I want you out of my house, I'll tell you, and for your information, you're pretty important to me, too. Got it?" He shook the can and grinned when Saxton looked up. "Now wipe you eyes and take this like a man, runt." Colt grinned wolfishly and sprayed the sunburn stuff onto Saxton's chest and arms. Saxton flinched from the cold shock, but never let his eyes leave Colt's except to turn and get his back done. When Colt finished, they made sandwiches and ate a quiet lunch; each feeding strips of deli turkey to Bogart. Saxton stayed two more days before finally going back to his apartment. His burn was fading into a dark tan, and the pain had peen replaced with itching and peeling. The first night after he'd gone home, Colt couldn't sleep very well, and had to fight the urge to go check the couch. All in all, he'd gotten used to having Saxton there, and now it was like it was empty in the house. Even Bogey made frequent trips to the couch. The next day, Saxton showed up for work twenty minutes late and very cross. Gus didn't say anything to Saxton, but after he got the kid on the lawn mower (wearing a shirt), he called Colt and told him. Colt had thanked him and hung up, and Gus went to work. There had been something else that was nagging him, but he couldn't tell why. Saxton had smelled funny, like Lysol or something. Really strong, too. Gus shook his head and went to find his tools. Saxton was late for their handball game nearly half an hour. When he arrived, he was still in a foul mood, and Colt chose to ignore it. Everyone had bad days. Saxton's game was extremely aggressive, and he seemed to be putting huge amounts of energy into every return. Finally, after the ball nailed Colt in the chest after Sax made a flying shoulder role return, Colt stopped and started pulling his glove off. "What's the matter, Colt? The games not over." Saxton instantly sounded worried, like a little kid. "You seem to have a lot on your mind, buddy, and I have a whole new crop of bruises. I think we ought to try again tomorrow." Colt was angry, but it was against his nature to lash out at people, so he stuffed it. "I can't tell if you're playing football or handball today." Saxton leaned against the wall and slid down, covering his face. Colt hesitated, then walked over and sat cross-legged in front of Saxton. "Sax, what's the matter? You were later for work, you've been like a rattlesnake ready to strike all day, and just now you were turning our game into a full contact sport. What's wrong with you?" "I'm sick of being white trash, and I'm sick of being their fucking slave, and I'm sick of being told how stupid I am!" Saxton shouted, tears of rage pouring down his cheeks. "I hate 'em, Colt. I'm sick of being told I'm a sissy fag, and that I'm a baby because I won't try their drugs! Every fucking day it's the same thing. I'm a piece of shit because I'm afraid to get high, and I'm a piece of shit because I didn't get the dishes done." Saxton shook from the power of emotions he was feeling. "They took my paycheck, Colt. They laughed at me and bought pot with it. They said it was great to have some free money coming in!" Colt was overwhelmed by the outburst. "Oh my god." He said quietly. "Saxton, I had no idea." "They cover up real good. Nobody knows." Saxton sniffed and wiped his eyes. "A friend of theirs had a Meth lab going, and they made me go with them to see it. Sick fuckers." He shook his head, the tears coming again in silent sobs. "I can't take it, Colt. I can't." Colt hesitantly reached out and touched Saxton's cheek, lifting his face up. "Even Atlas couldn't hold up the world, Sax. Come here." He held his arms out, and Saxton looked at him, blinking, and slowly moved into his arms. "You poor dumb little shit. We'll figure something out, I promise." "I can't do it anymore, Colt. I can't take it." Saxton whispered harshly. "I feel like I'm going crazy." They went back to Colt's apartment and ordered pizza. Saxton was spent after such an emotional outpouring, and fell asleep on the couch. Colt sat and stroked his head, taken with what a fine person Saxton was trying to be, and racking his brain for ideas. About eleven, he made Saxton go in and get in bed in the guest room, giving him a pair of boxers to sleep in after he showered, and leaving the door open so Bogart could go in. After about an hour, Colt had decided that he was not going to let this happen anymore, and he called the non-emergency number for the police. At a little after one am, a detective showed up, and after checking to make sure Saxton was a sleep, he took the cop into his office and told him what Saxton had said. "Well, I can tell you this, Mr. Derik. We know these two, and I'd like nothing better than to bust them and their gang of friends." Detective Blaine Goodman said, sipping at the coffee Colt had made for him. "If the kid's right, and I see no reason that he wouldn't be, we can nail them." "What about Saxton? He needs to be taken care of and put back in school, not shuffled around in foster homes." Colt set his coffee down and leaned back. "He's almost seventeen." The detective yawned and covered his mouth with his hand. "The court could easily award him majority status, especially if he has a job and someone to get him back on track. If I get in touch with a couple of associates, we might be able to just leave him with you and run it through the courts." "That'd be great. So when does this happen?" Goodman rubbed his face and sat forward in his chair. "If the boy will give me the names of the buyers and where they live, I'll do it tonight. He'd have to testify, of course." "Do you want me to wake him up?" Colt asked. The door to the apartment creaked, and they both looked up to see Saxton standing there, his face still sleepy, but his eyes burning. "Hey, Sax." Colt stood up as the kid came around the desk, still in his slightly to big boxers, and put his arms around Colt's waist. He looked at the detective for a long minute, blinking. "Their stash is in one of air vents over the bed in Tina's room. The one closest to the outside wall." Saxton said quietly. "There's another one in the sleeper couch in the front room. I'll tell you everybody I know of, but you have to promise to fry those fuckers." Saxton's face was a mask of hatred. "Will you testify in court, son?" Goodman asked and stood up. "It'll be a bitch to sing on your own sister." "She's not my sister. My sister died when she started doing that shit." Saxton looked up at Colt. "But I won't do it unless I can stay with Colt, end of sentence." "You got it, kid. If nothing else, we can say you ran off and disappeared until your birthday." Goodman smiled and shook Saxton's hand. "You're a better man than I am, and stronger, too." Colt patted Saxton's shoulders. "I told him that, but he only hears what he wants to. You know kids." "I heard you." Saxton leaned his head on Colt's shoulder. "I hope so." Colt hugged him. "Bogart won't sleep with a loser." This had the desired response, and Saxton smiled, tightening his arms around Colt. An hour later, they stood on the hill beside Colt's apartment with Gus and watched as Saxton's sister, her boyfriend, and three others that had been in the apartment were taken away in handcuffs. Gus shook his head and hugged Saxton's shoulders. "You're a good man, Saxton. Don't get up early. We'll do flower beds tomorrow afternoon." Gus said, turning to go. "Thanks, Gus." Saxton waved. "See you at ten?" "That's fine. Goodnight boys." Gus ambled off towards his apartment. While they watched, the police brought four more people out of other apartments and put them in cars. Detective Goodman walked up the hill towards them and glanced over his shoulder. "I owe you one, kid. Ten arrests." He stopped near them and looked back towards the flashing lights. "They were setting up a lab, Mr. Derik. With their place being on the top floor and catching the canyon winds, no one would've smelled it." Colt shook his head, dismayed that it had been going on right under his nose. "I had no idea." "I'm sorry, Colt." Saxton said quietly. "I should've told you sooner." Colt put his arm around the kid's shoulders. "I think you've done great, Sax. I can't imagine how you feel right now." "Hollow." Saxton leaned against Colt and pulled the bathrobe he'd borrowed closer. "I feel empty inside." After a moment, Colt patted his butt. "Go get in bed. We still have to work tomorrow." Saxton nodded and shook the detective's hand before he walked away. Colt watched him go and turned back to the cop. "So what happens to them?" He waved towards the cars. "I got his sister for trafficking, endangering a child, intent to sell, possession, and several smaller charges. She won't be out for ten years." Goodman sighed. "You got the shitty end of this stick, Mr. Derik." "Please, call me Colt." Colt smiled slightly. "Saxton'll be okay. He's a survivor." "I'm sure." Goodman looked Colt in the yes. "But you have to teach him to be a member of society. Good luck." He stuck his hand out and shook Colt's. "I'll be in touch." "Thanks." Colt watched him go and turned to go in the house. Saxton was on the couch curled up with Bogey on his lap. "Come on, runt. Bed time." Colt yawned hugely and pulled off his shirt. After brushing his teeth, he looked towards what would now be Saxton's room and saw that it was empty. He went back into the living room. "Hey," he touched Saxton's head; "we need to get some sleep." Saxton slowly sat up and looked up at him, and Colt was surprised by the look of loneliness on his face. "What's the matter, can't sleep?" "I don't want to be alone." Saxton was barely audible, and his eyes begged Colt for attention. Colt sighed and held out his hand. "Come on. I have a king size." Saxton stood up and took his hand, carrying Bogart with the other. "Tomorrow, when you're up to it, we can talk about whatever you want."" They turned back the sheet and Colt tossed his running shorts into the closet. He nearly took off his briefs but stopped short, deciding to wear them to bed tonight. Saxton adjusted his boxers and climbed in, pulling the sheet up, and as Colt slid in, he backed up against Colt's chest. Colt hesitated for a moment, then slid his arm around Saxton, pulling him close. Saxton was out like a light. Colt stared out the window at the willow tree, watching its branches move in the slight breeze. He was troubled about his new houseguest, and he was troubled about the current sleeping arrangement, but the slightest thought or vision of Saxton in his mind dispelled that. Saxton snored quietly, his right arm closed tightly around Colt's, and the left around Bogey. The cat purred a lot longer than usual, seeming to calm Saxton's dreams. Colt drifted off with that image in his mind.