A word from Scoop: Wow two chapters within this short a time! Something must be wrong with me, LOL. Enjoy, write me after, and as always, I'll catch you on the flip.

Scoop
AIM: The Skoop
ICQ: 27497085

"Dinner was amazing Jared."

"My pleasure. It's the least I could do for the man of my dreams."

"Sorry I made you wait so long though."

"Hey, no problem. It wasn't your fault you had to redo a few scenes. I'm just glad you came home when you did. I've been here by myself so long that I was about to go stir crazy, heheheh."

Jared handed Jon another plate to dry. They were standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes together, something they promised each other they would do at least twice a week instead of using the dishwasher so that they spent more time together.

"I just can't believe that your boss fired you for dropping one simple end table"

"I know. But like I said before it wasn't the end table. Other employees have dropped more and he's said very little. I was fired because I was gay. The end table was just his way of getting rid of me without having to face a discrimination suit."

"Yeah, I guess."

"What really burns my ass is that I've been here for four days and I've heard nothing from the résumés that I've sent out."

"Jared you've got to realize just how big this place is. It could be a little while before you hear anything. There are a lot of people after a limited number of jobs."

Jared sighed and handed Jon another plate. "I know, but it's frustrating. I've only got limited funds, and I just bought that Dorango and we have the house payments and - "

"Jared, Jared. Don't worry about that. I can handle the bills."

"No Jon. I can't just let you pay for everything. We're equal partners in this relationship, right?"

"You know we are baby."

"Well in that case I need to be able to handle 50% of everything. It's just something that I need to do, you know?"

Jon finished drying the last plate and put it away. "Yeah I know. I also know how frustrating it is for you. This has been the first movie I've done in a while. Doing nothing all the time was killing me just like it is you. I think it's half the reason why I used to drink."

"Hmmm. Did I ever mention that I'm very proud of you for giving that up?"

Jon laughed. "Only about a million times."

"I am."

"I know, and it means a lot to me. You're part of the reason I gave it up."

"Only part. I'm hurt, heheheh. What was the other part of the reason?"

"Myself."

"I can't think of a better reason." Jared looked and Jon and smiled. When Jon returned it, he smiled a little bit more.

"You think you're good don't you mister Hawk? You think that you're going to win, that I'm going to give up because you're the young, hot Federal Agent. I've got news for you Hawk: I'm the one with the gun pointed at your head. Where's that smile that the ladies seem to like so much? I don't see those pearly whites. Smile for me Hawk, I wanna see that gorgeous smile."

"Fuck you Simmerman!"

"Oh now Mr. Hawk that's not very professional is it? I was expecting so much more from you."

"Heh, sorry I'm such a disappointment"

"Hmmm yes. But don't worry. Soon you won't be disappointing anyone anymore. Good-bye, Mr. Hawk. Jon, doesn't that sound like a line from the Matrix?"

"You know, now that you mention it, it kinda does. But it's only one small line, no one is going to notice."

"I guess."

"Eh well, that's enough of this for tonight. I'm tired and I have to be at work at 5 tomorrow morning."

"Guess I'm going to have a long day again tomorrow."

"Stay in bed, watch TV. Or just sleep."

"I can't sleep after you've left and I don't like being in bed without you."

Jon hated seeing Jared sulking around the house, but since he lost his job, that's mostly what he was doing. He was about to follow Jared up the stairs when he had an idea.

"Tell you what. I'll talk to the producer tomorrow and see if I can't get you a job on set. It won't be anything big, probably just carrying cables or setting up scenes or something, but it will keep you occupied until you get another job and you'll have a bit of money."

"Hmmm, won't people think it weird that both of us are working on the same movie?"

"I don't see why. Lot's of couples are working together on the film."

"Well, I guess that would be cool."

"OK then, I'll see what I can do first thing in the morning."

"Cool, thanks babe. Now lets go to bed."

"Yeah, I'm tired."

Jared looked back at Jon and smiled. "I'm not." Jon looked at him as Jared giggled and ran up the stairs. Jon followed in hot pursuit.

"Hey Ron?"

"Ah good morning Jon. How can I be of service?"

"I was just wondering if there are any positions available on the crew."

"Positions? On the crew? You know someone looking for a job?"

"Welllll.... yeah."

"Heheheheh, would it by any chance be Jared?"

"Wha? How did you know that?"

"Wild guess. Plus you're blushing, and you've got this goofy look on your face, as if you're thinking about someone very special to you."

"Oh."

"In answer to your question, I'm sorry but I've already got a few more people than I need that I'm going to have to get rid of."

Jon was frustrated. He didn't want to have to tell Jared that he couldn't find him a job. Jared had looked so hopeful when he left him this morning. But, he was a professional. He had to maintain the correct frame of mind, so he filed it in the back of his mind for later. "Oh, OK. Well I tried. So what scene are we starting with today? Are we going to redo the one from the rooftop?"

"Now wait a second. Aren't you even going to try and use your star power to get what you want?" Ron had a huge smile on his face that lead Jon to believe that there was something he wasn't saying.

"Actually, I just assumed that you've worked with so many people it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

Ron let out a big belly laugh. "Good answer! It wouldn't make a bit of difference."

"Thought so."

"However I do have something in mind."

Jon smiled. "I thought that too."

"OK Mr. Smartass. What am I thinking."

"Hey, I'm not that good."

"I didn't think so, hehehe. I was just wondering how good an actor Jared is."

"Hmmm, well, I don't know. He said he's taken classes, but I don't know the extent of them."

"Well I have a role that I haven't been able to fill yet. It's not big but it will take about two weeks to get all the scenes filmed."

"What's the role?"

"It's Simmerman's right hand man. He's in a few scenes but he doesn't have a lot of lines. Think Jared would be interested?"

"I dunno. But before I ask him, there's a few things I want to know."

"OK, shoot."

"First, why are you just offering a role to someone when you've never even seen their work before? I have this feeling that you're hoping to draw people in by mentioning the fact that my boyfriend is making his first appearance in a movie and it happens to be one in which I have the starring role. Am I right?"

Ron looked at him hard for a few seconds, then took a deep breath. "Jon, you know as well as I do that this business is a cutthroat business. You make a movie and you want it to sell, so you do whatever you can to sell it."

"So that's a yes?"

"I didn't say that, did I?"

"But it is a yes?"

"Jon I'm offering him a job! That's what you came to ask me, wasn't it?"

Jon bit his bottom lip to keep from saying what he wanted to say and instead moved on with his second question. "Secondly, isn't that character the one that I shoot and he falls off over the edge of a building?"

"Yes."

"I thought so."

"So do you think he'll be interested?"

"I'll have to ask him."

"Better do it soon. There are only a few scenes left to do that don't involve that character."

"Humph, there's no business like show business."

"Nope."

"An actual role in the film?"

"Yeah. It's nothing major, but it is a job right. And who knows, you may be able to use it to start that acting career you've wanted."

Jared's head was swimming. Act in a movie? With Jon? It was a little overwhelming. Hell, it was a lot overwhelming. It was the break he had been looking for. "I'll do it!"

"Don't you want to know what role it is."

"Oh, yeah. What is it?"

"It's the role of Zac Taylor."

"But... doesn't your hawk shoot him and knock him off a rooftop?"

"Um, yeah."

"Oh well, a job's a job right? And it's only a movie. Not like you actually have to shot me, right?"

"There was an accident today on the set of the new Jonathan Brandis movie. A handgun resembling that used by Federal Agents loaded with fake ammunition jammed during filming. As of yet details are not clear but it is believed that part of the gun struck Brandis in the chest. The accident came in the last scene of the movie left to film in which Brandis' character was to shoot a drug dealer, played by his boyfriend Jared, knocking him off the roof of a 30 story building. Brandis was rushed to the nearest hospital with the director and Jared following closely behind in a Dodge Dorango The extent and seriousness of the injuries are not yet known. Channel 5 news will have further updates as they become available..."

I am Scoop, hear me type. Special thanks go out to JRok and Lucas for help and advice.

Peace! and keep it real.

Oh and a quick word out to Eexodus99. A great author (Justin's Dark Angel (Read this story!!)) and a really nice guy.