Date: 16 Jul 00 13:54:51
From: rimshot@planetaccess.com
Subject: Tango and Taz 7

Tango and Taz 7:  Two for the show

	Tango finished rubbing tanning oil onto Taz's shins and feet and
moved on his knees back up to the other's waist.  Taz's body glowed in the
early afternoon sun thanks to his ministrations, and he took a second to
run his eyes across each curve and muscle from Taz's fine cheekbones to his
toes.  It was funny how quickly he'd gotten used to seeing this beautiful
site.  With an inward sigh, he tapped Taz's tight stomach with his hand.
"Roll over so I can get your back."

	Taz silently rolled onto his stomach and laid his head on his
forearms.  He never opened his eyes and hadn't spoken for the twenty
minutes it had Taken Tango to oil the front of his body.  Just feeling
Tango's hands on him was calming, sort of grounding.

	Tango straddled Taz's ass and sat down, pouring oil onto his back.
He worked the oil in with his hands, kneading knotted muscles when he found
them, and just rubbing for the contact everywhere else.  Taz hadn't slept
much since Dorn Hendrick's died in front of him at the hands of their good
friend Brett.  Taz had woken up screaming twice, unable to deal with what
he'd witnessed.

	Tango worked over Taz's lower back, hearing him grunt when he found
a particularly bad place that was worthy of extra attention.  He used his
knuckles to press a little harder and was satisfied with the feel of the
knot loosening.  He would've done this as long as Taz wanted, just to know
that somehow he was helping.  He oiled Taz's ass and the backs of his legs,
then finished off with his ankles and feet.  He knew that Taz was a lot
more relaxed now, and hoped he might catch a nap.  The dark circles under
his eyes made him look like shit.

	"Thanks."  Taz mumbled quietly and reached out to touch Tango's
hand as he lay down.  Tango smiled and grasped the hand, then stretched out
to let the sun soak in.  He'd come up with the idea to go to the mountains
this morning, not wanting to face another day of his new lover and best
friend staring into space again all day.

	Taz dozed and left Tango to his thoughts.  He set the alarm on his
watch for forty five minutes so they would remember to turn over, not
wanting to replay the mess they had after the last trip up here.  Tango
smiled as he remembered the three of them running around bright red and
naked, unable to sit comfortably or wear clothes.

	Brett's easy going smile came to Tango's mind, and he felt a pang
of loneliness for the big goof.  Brett had been arrested for killing Dorn
Hendricks to save Brock Hendricks.  The judge would decide on what charge
Brett would face tomorrow.  They knew Joey had been called, and that Brett
had a lawyer, but they were not allowed to see him, and Joey had given them
a week off and had disappeared.

	The strangest disappearance had been Brock's mother, Rena
Hendricks.  No one, including the cops, had been able to find out where she
was, when she left, and why.  It was as though she hadn't existed.  Brock
had been hospitalized, and the only visitors that the hospital had record
of had been the detective handling the case, and Tango.  For his own
reasons, Taz wouldn't go.  Brock was stable, but unconscious from a major
concussion, presumably from Dorn's boot.

	Tango startled awake to the sound of his watch and turned it off.
He poked Taz to turn over, then rolled onto his stomach and let the sun put
him back into his nap.  He set the alarm again just before dozing off.  He
dreamed of a cloaked figure running down an alley and spraying perfume on
the bricks of the buildings.  The person would look back at him, laugh, and
then spray some more.  He chased the person, trying to find out who it was,
but with out much luck.

	Again he woke to the sound of the watch going off.  Taz picked it
up and turned it off and held it out to Tango.  "Jesus Christ that scared
me."  He said quietly.  He rolled towards Tango and sighed.  "Wanna swim
for a minute?"  he asked around a huge yawn.  He stood up and pulled Tango
to his feet, hanging on to his hand as they walked over to the diving
cliff.  Tango expected Taz to jump, and was prepared to go with since Taz
hadn't let go of his hand, but he was surprised as Taz just stopped and
looked out over the small lake.

	"I still see his eyes."  Taz looked at Tango and back to the lake.
"Even when my eyes are open, I can see them go flat, you know?  Like
someone turning out the lights."  He settled against Tango's side as Tango
put his arm across his back and around his waist.  "Brock's eyes almost did
that.  He said he loved Brett, but no sound came out."  Taz swallowed and
seemed to be on the verge of tears.  "He was gonna kill us, man."  He
looked up into Tango's eyes, and a single tear slipped free and ran down
his cheek.  "Brett had to do it, or we would've been dead."  His voice
faded towards the end, and he buried his face in Tango's chest and began to
sob.  "It was him or us, man.  It was him or us."

	Tango sniffed back his own urge to cry, trying to be strong for
Tanner.  His chest hitched once, betraying his feelings, but he controlled
it.  He led Taz back to the truck and helped him dress in his cargo shorts,
then pulled on his own.  He pulled out a cooler and got them each a coke
and found some shade to sit in.  Taz was silent again for a long time, but
eagerly accepted Tango's open arms, lying so that his head was on Tango's
chest, and Tango's arms were across his.  Tango's upraised knees made good
armrests.

	"I want to stay at the apartment tonight."  Taz said after a long
silence.  "The power's on, and so's the water."

	"It's not very clean yet."  Tango said, running his hand lightly
over Taz's perfect chest.  "What're you gonna do, sleep in sleeping bags?"

	"We have that air mattress that we bought to bring up here.  It's
never even been used yet.  We'll sleep on that."  Taz sipped his coke and
looked up into Tango's eyes.  "Please, Tango.  Just you and me, 'kay?"

	"Yeah."  Tango smiled and touched Taz's lips with his fingertip.
"Like I could say no if I wanted too, right?"  Taz's face lit up in an
exhausted but warm grin, and Tango's heart skipped a beat.  It didn't take
much to realize that if Taz wanted Chinese food, Tango would start digging.

	Brett sat in the interview room at the Sheriff's Detention Center
and listened to his lawyer line out what was going to be presented to the
judge.  He was dressed in a neon green jumpsuit and white T-shirt, and had
been cuffed hand and foot to walk down the hall to the little room.  His
dad was there, and it had humiliated him to have his dad see him like this.

	It was so hard to keep his mind on the words from the attorney.
All he had been able to think about were the images he had in his head of
Brock being put on a stretcher and taken out to the ambulance, or of Brock
and Taz on the floor waiting to be attacked by Dorn Hendricks.  During
kinder moments, in his minds running monologue, he remembered Brock's smile
and beautiful face, but it wasn't as easy to see as the blood streaked look
on Brock's elf like features at his house.

	The attorney smiled confidently and shook his hand, then his dad's,
and offered to give them a few minutes alone before the guard came.  He
told Brett to keep his head up, and that they had a very strong case.  The
lawyer collected his papers and went out with a nod to each of them.

	Brett couldn't think of anything to say.  He felt tears began to
roll down his face, and he put his hands up to try and protect his dad from
the shame of seeing him like this.  "Son," Joey said gently, pulling
Brett's hands away, "You heard the man.  You need to hold your head up."

	"I'm sorry, Dad.  I never meant to humiliate you."  Brett blubbered
and put his head on his dad's shoulder.  "I am so sorry."

	"Listen to me."  Joey said firmly.  "You did what your heart told
you was right.  Don't forget that.  However this ends up, you did the right
thing.  Now you gotta hold up your head and face the consequences, but
don't you ever give up your dignity."  He hugged Brett to him fiercely.  "I
have always been proud of you, and I always will be."

	Later, lying on his cot and staring up at the ceiling, Brett burned
those words into his memory, his dad's unfaltering faith in him.  It still
looked hopeless to him, but he wasn't afraid anymore.  His dad was with
him, even now.  Exhausted, he drifted into a fitful sleep.

	After cleaning the dusty floor for over and hour, Taz sat at the
end of the apartment that would have their bedroom built in it and blew up
a king-sized air mattress.  He was nearly done when he had to stop and take
several deep breaths to get rid of the sparkle flashes he kept seeing.

	"If you pass out, I'll laugh."  Tango called from the kitchen where
he was cooking take and bake pizza from the grocery store.  "Rest for a few
minutes.  We have all night to get that thing filled."

	"It might be that long."  Taz wiped his forehead with the back of
his hand.  "Jesus Christ, the box makes it look easy, don't it?"

	"Yeah, if you buy that little pump thingy."  Tango pulled the pizza
out and set it on the counter to cool for a minute.  They'd talked Tango's
mom into buying them some wine coolers, and he poured two over ice in
glasses they'd bought with the pizza.  "I seem to remember you saying that
the pump was for pussies."

	"So I'm a pussy."  Taz resumed blowing into the mattress.  After
five more minutes, it was finally inflated tight enough to sleep on.  He
dropped it on the floor and stepped back to admire his handy work.  Tango
handed him a glass and clinked their glasses.

	"Nice work.  Only eleven walls to build, and you'll be done."
Tango sipped at the margarita- flavored drink and put his arm around Taz's
waist.  "Wanna help me put the sheets and stuff on it?"  They made the bed,
placing it against the wall where they wanted to put the real bed when the
time came, and took turns in the shower.

	The bathroom was actually really nice, with new fixtures, fresh
paint, and a really cool corner shower that was huge.  Tango glanced into
the mirror while he shaved and watched Taz scrubbing his hair.  He laughed
as Taz spit soap out of his mouth and held his face in the stream of water.
Tango shook his head and washed the remaining shaving cream off his face.

	He tucked his towel around his waist and walked out into the main
room.  Taz stepped out of the shower and combed his hair back before
joining Tango out in the main room.  They stood at the windows near the
kitchen looking into the night.  Taz scooped up Tango's hand and held it to
his chest, neither of them speaking or breaking the comfortable silence.

	Tango led him to the bed and dropped his towel, and then tugged at
Taz's, dropping it as well.  He took Taz's face in his hands and kissed him
tenderly.  They climbed into the make shift bed.  Tango allowed himself to
be taken by Taz, who had an almost urgent need to touch all parts of
Tango's body at once.  A couple of times he had to slow Taz down and make
him rest for a minute, but he knew that the best way to help Taz feel
better was to let him have his way.  Besides, it wasn't like torture.

	Tango stared out the windows long after Taz had finished and fallen
asleep.  He cradled his now spent lover's head against his chest and
stroked his hair, completely lost in thought.  Taz snorted gently and
flopped his arm over Tango's abdomen, causing him to smile.  It took a
while, but Tango realized that at this moment, right here, right now, he
was totally content with his life.  He drifted to sleep with a smile on his
face.

     	The next morning, they drove over to Tango's house and dressed in
slacks, shirts, and ties before going down to the courthouse to be there
for Brett.  Joey and Eileen Donovan stood at the top of the steps leading
to the doors as they walked up.  Mrs. Donovan held out he hand to Taz.

	"I wanted to thank you for trying to help Brett."  She said, giving
Taz's hand a gentle squeeze.

	"I didn't do much.."  Taz said quietly.  "If I'd gone in sooner,
this wouldn't have happened."

	Joey shook his head.  "Boy, you're full of shit.  You went in as
soon as there was trouble, and Brett and us appreciate it.  This ain't your
fault, and I'm not going to hear it again, got it?"  He put his arm around
the smaller young man and steered him and his wife towards the doors.  "I
want you two with us.  You're family."

	Tango swallowed a lump in his throat and offered his arm to Brett's
mom.  They went in through the massive marble entryway and found the doors
to the courtroom.  Several people, including the media, were seated
already.  As they sat down near the table where Brett would sit, a door in
the side wall opened, and Brett was led in, wearing a gray suit and blue
tie, and cuffs on his hands and feet.  The cuffs were removed for him to
sit down with his lawyer.  He leaned back immediately and took Taz's hand,
then his dad's.  His eyes were red, but he looked good to Tango, like there
was still fire in his eyes.

	They stood up as the judge entered and seated himself behind the
bench.  A man of about fifty, Judge Kersey was a tall imposing sight, built
solidly, with silver hair and a deep voice.  He looked over a stack of
papers, then looked directly at Brett.  "Son, I will not belittle what you
have done in anyway, nor will I allow this occurrence to become a landslide
for you."  He looked at one particular sheet for several seconds before
continuing.

	"However, I believe that your actions saved the life of at least
one other man, and possibly the life of a second man.  Having looked at the
facts presented, and having met with the District Attorney and your
counsel, I have reached the decision that this is justifiable homicide, and
that you were in grave danger for your life in the moments proceeding the
death of Dorn Hendricks."

	"This being the case, and with the agreement of the District
Attorney, you are sentenced under agreement of both parties to eighteen
months probation, and will be required to attend weekly counseling sessions
to be arranged by state authorities."  The judge smiled at Brett and looked
over his glasses at him.  "I will assume that this is the last time I will
see you in my court, sir, and I will personally over see the execution of
your sentence."  The gavel cracked and Brett jumped up to hug his parents.

	They waited for Brett outside, every one of them wiping their eyes.
Mrs. Donovan rested her head on Joey's shoulder and looked like she might
collapse, although Tango suspected she was a hell of a lot stronger than
she looked.  He glanced at Taz and saw his eyes widen and tear up.

	Taz took off across the length off the entry hall and jumped into
Brett's arms.  Brett caught him and began sobbing.  "I had your back."  Taz
whispered and wrapped his arms tighter around Brett's neck.

	"I know, little guy.  I know."  They walked over towards Brett's
parents, and he leaned down to hug his mom.  They walked out to the cars,
everyone hand in hand.  "Mom, Dad, I need to go do something, okay?"  Brett
stopped and opened the car door for his mother.

	Joey looked at his son for a moment and nodded.  He pulled open the
door and stopped with one foot in the car.  "We love you, son.  We'll see
you at the house."  Joey put his hand on Brett's neck, then finished
getting in.

	Brett turned to Tango.  "Can we.."

	"Yeah, the hospital is about three blocks that way."  Tango pointed
and smiled.  "Let's go."  Brett hugged him and then got in Tango's truck.
Taz almost bounced into the front passenger seat, and they were on their
way.  They didn't speak, not needing to, on the short drive, and Taz and
Brett piled out and walked in while Tango went to park.  He took his time,
stopping to smoke before going in.

	Brett almost ran through the halls, stopping him self from time to
time.  Taz signed them in at the desk and told Brett what the room number
was, laughing as Brett tore off again.  Brett looked at the numbers beside
each door, nearly colliding with a nurse, then stopped outside the right
one.  His chest constricted, and he was overwhelmed with fear that Brock
may hate him now.  He almost turned to leave, but stopped himself.

	Taz walked up beside him and touched his arm.  "Come on, Big B.
You're here now.  Don't fuck up."  He said quietly.  Brett nodded and
smiled weakly.  He knocked on the door, which was sort of half propped
open, and stuck his head inside.

	Brock's eyes were closed, and his face on the right side was
heavily bruised.  One hand was in a cast.  Brett blinked away tears and
swiped then with his hand.  Slowly he walked over by the bed.  He took
Brock's hand, his own shaking, and gently squeezed it.

	Brock opened his eyes and blinked.  "Hey."  Brett whispered,
touching the side of his face.

	Brock cleared his throat and swallowed hard.  "Bout time."  He
whispered hoarsely and reached up weakly for Brett.  Brett bawled like a
baby as he held the prize, the reason he'd just walked through hell, in his
arms.  After a few minutes they parted and Brett smoothed Brock's honey
brown hair.

	"The nurse said Dorn's dead."  Brock whispered.  His yes looked
pained, but it wasn't directed at Brett.  "They also said my mom took off.
She used to do that when my dad would have a bad one."

	"I guess it's just you and me."  Brett kissed the back of Brock's
hand.  Brock smiled and touched Brett's cheek.

	"I'm not sorry he's gone.  You did the world a favor."  Brock ran
his fingers through Brett's platinum blond hair.  "I was so scared that
they were going to give you the death penalty or something."  His eyes met
Brett's.  "The prosecutor came here yesterday and talked to me about Dorn.
I hope it helped."

	"I'm here, aren't I?"  Brett knelt on the floor, but didn't let go
of Brock's hand.  "I want you to think about something, okay?  I want you
to come and live with me in my new apartment.  I don't want you to ever go
back to that house if you don't want to.  Tell me what you want, and we'll
get it for you.  Let the state push the fucking place into a hole and bury
it."

	"All I want is my computer."  Brock had to lean back in the pillow.
"There's about six hundred dollars that I saved up in a box in the closet,
if Dorn didn't find it.  Will you get me some clothes to wear home?  I
won't wear black anymore."

	Brett nodded.  "I'll do whatever you want."  He stroked Brock's
head until he fell asleep.  As they got ready to leave, he kissed him on
the forehead and left a note with his cell number on it.  "Guys, I'm sorry
about that."  He said to Tango and Taz as they stopped at the elevator.

	"What?"  Taz looked sideways at Brett.

	"I invited him to live with us without asking you guys.  Is it
okay?"  Brett stepped in and turned to face them nervously.  He pushed the
lobby button.

	Tango chuckled and jerked his thumb at Brett.  "Get a load of the
dork in the suit."

	"Really."  Taz shook his head and punched Brett's shoulder.  "Duh."
He pulled a stupid face at Brett.

	"Yeah, we never saw this coming."  Tango smirked.  "Never even
entered our minds."

	"Tango only called here twice a day and visited once a day to keep
an eye on the little twerp for you, but we had no idea you wanted him or
anything."

	"OKAY!"  Brett yelled and pulled them both together in a hug.  "I'm
sorry.  This is all new to me."  Tango blinked at him several times and
pursed his lips.  "What?"  Brett asked as the doors opened on the main
level.

	"I'm trying to remember the last time I knew someone who was
charged with murder.  I'm not sure that I'm an expert.  Taz?"  Tango
sarcastically held his hand up.

	"I don't either."  Taz laughed at Tango's antics.

	"Jesus, will you lay off?"  Brett's face reddened.  "I was just
going to say thanks, okay?"

	Tango stopped dead in his tracks and made his face go blank.  "Oh.
Why didn't you just say so?"

	Taz pinched his ass and made him jump.  "He did, weren't you
listening?"

	"God help me."  Brett mumbled and climbed in the truck.

	For the next two days, they worked almost non-stop on the
apartment.  The walls went up rapidly, and Joey stopped often to help and
to give advice.  The electrician double checked their wiring job and signed
off on it.  After puttying and taping the walls to hide the nails and
seems, it had to sit one full day to dry to be sanded.  Painting had been a
free for all.

	The check from the AVS Company was used to buy furniture that they
didn't have, such as a couch and love seat (the name of which put Taz on
the floor giggling), and a dining room table.  They all pitched in and
bought a TV, VCR, and decent boom box.  Tango's mother bought several
pictures and hung them after they painted, and rugs and towels.  Brett's
mom provided dishes and pots and pans.

	Late in the afternoon, five days after Brett had been released, he
went back to Brock's house, a folded hand written permission slip in his
pocket, and started collecting Brock's things.  Taz had bowed out,
preferring to stay at the hospital with Brock rather than go back.  Brett
understood, as did Tango.

	The door stood open slightly as Tango walked up and knocked on the
doorframe.  "Hello!"  He called, pushing the door open so they could enter.
"There's no one here, Brett.  It's spooky."  Brett pointed towards Brock's
room, and they went down the hall.

	They entire house had seemed encrusted with garbage, and Tango
chose each step carefully.  He followed Brett to the last door and opened
it.  The contrast was amazing.  Brock's room was in perfect order, not a
sock out of place.  Brett sighed in relief that he had not fallen for a
slob.

	They disconnected the computer and carried it out, and Brett found
the few mementos that Brock had wanted.  Surprisingly, the cash was right
where he said it would be, and Brett counted it and jammed it in his
pocket.  With a final glance, he looked once around the living room,
replaying what had happened, then shook his head and pulled the door
closed.

	On the way back to the apartment, Brett pointed at the mall.  "Can
we stop, Tang?  I really want to get Brock some decent threads."

	"That's cool."  Tango signaled and pulled into the parking lot.  It
wasn't crowded, and Brett blazed a trail through the shops.  Tank tops,
board shorts, cargos, t-shirts, hats, shoes, Tango almost staggered under
the weight of the bags that Brett handed him.  Nobody had a wardrobe like
this.  He finally sat down on a bench and waited for hurricane Brett to
slow down.

	"I got four different kinds of underwear. Bikinis, briefs, boxers,
and low rise.  I don't know which ones he likes."  Brett stuffed a small
bag into a larger bag.  "Damn, this is hard work.  He took a sip of the
coke Tango offered.

	"Can you say 'over kill'?"  Tango asked, waving his hand over the
bags.  "I think your done, killer, unless you want to hit the other mall.
These guys are out of shit for you to buy."

	Brett blushed.  "Sorry, I just want to make him happy."

	"I know that, Brett.  But I think you need to be careful not to
smother him, too."  Tango stood up and grabbed half the bags.  "Let's go
home, Tonto, it was a good hunt.  Many buffalo."  They stopped at the
apartment and settled Brock's new stuff and computer, then took Brett's
stuff out of the boxes and settled it in.  Tango was a bit surprised when
Brett put Brock in a separate room, but said nothing.

	They drove down to the hospital together to say hello, and see if
Brock was coming home tomorrow.  Brett took Brock a royal blue Nike T-shirt
and tan cargos, with new white Nike shoes.  He also pulled a little box out
and took a ¼" wide silver chain out of it.  He fastened it around
Brock's neck.  Tango and Taz left them alone for a while.

	The next day, Brett and Taz went with Joey to do a bid on a job,
and Tango supervised the work crews that were finishing up the industrial
site.  His new cell phone, compliments of, and paid for by, Joey, rang.
"Hello?  Oh, hey dude."  Tango listened as Taz described the welcome home
party that he wanted to have at the apartment, just the four of them.
"That's cool, man.  When are you gonna be done?  Okay.  Yeah, see you then.
Chao."  They had established that when they said chao to each other in
public, it meant I love you, and Tango smiled as Taz chuckled.  He turned
off the phone and clipped it to his pocket.

	An hour later Brett pulled up in the yard truck and hopped out.  "I
dropped Taz at the apartment.  Are you almost done?"

	Tango nodded and handed a bag of sprinkler heads to one of his
crew.  "They'll be done in twenty minutes, then we can go get Brock."

	"Dude, you stink.  How about I watch these guys for a few minutes,
and you go home and shower?  I wanted to stop for dinner after we pick him
up."  Brett took the blueprints from Tango and pointed at the 4runner.
"Go, dude."

	Tango heard the massive door to the apartment close solidly as he
got out of the new shower in his and Taz's bathroom.  He put on a good polo
shirt and cargo pants, with new vans to top it off.  He spiked up his hair,
added a splash of Drakkar, and then headed out into the massive living
room.

	Taz stood at the kitchen counter, also wearing long cargo pants for
the first time in six months, talking to his mom on the phone.  Brett sat
at the table with a bottle of water.  "I made reservations at that Italian
place dad took us to for the Christmas party."  He told Tango.  "It's
fairly casual, and I don't feel like wearing a tie again for awhile."

	Tango chuckled at the joke.  "I wouldn't either.  Go change.  I
called an hour ago, and their discharging him at five.  We have twenty
minutes."  He watched Brett disappear into his room, then put his arms
around Taz from behind and kissed his neck.  Taz shivered, and waved his
hand to get Tango to stop.  It was hard to continue the conversation with
distractions like that.

	Tango drove like a mad man to get to the hospital on time, earning
him sidelong looks from his passengers.  There was a spot in the patient
pick up parking, and he swerved into it and shut off the truck.  Taz
grumbled as he got out and lit a cigarette.  "What was that, you little
shit?"

	"I said this is the perfect place to be driving like that, you big
shit!"  Taz blew smoke at Tango through the window.  "Don't you think we
came close enough to dying once this month?"

	"Maybe you'd like a skate board better."  Tango smiled his best
wolfish grin and stuck out his tongue.

	Brett closed the door and trotted into the lobby and over to the
elevators.  He bounced on his feet with nervous energy, and slid sideways
through the doors before they opened all the way.  He knocked on Brock's
door and noticed that the object of his heart was packing two of those
large shopping bag things with belongings.  He smiled shyly as Brett
entered.  "Ready to go home?"  He asked gently.

	"Yes, with you.  Not to my home."  Brock answered quietly and
dropped his medicine in the bag.

	"That's what I meant, Brock.  I don't know what you're feeling
inside, but my home IS our home now. If that's what you want."  Brett
leaned against the bed and looked intently into Brock's eyes.

	"I'm scared."  Brock said simply.  He swallowed and looked up at
Brett, smiling slightly.  "I don't know what to think right now."  Brett
held up one arm, and with instant relief he moved into Brett's embrace.

	"All you need to worry about is healing up, Brock.  Let tomorrow be
tomorrow, 'kay?"  He rubbed his hands over Brock's back.  "You're your own
person now, you decide what to do when you want to."  They heard the nurse
coming with the wheelchair to take Brock out to the truck.  Brett gathered
the bags in one hand and held Brock's with the other as they moved through
the halls.

	Taz saw them through the glass and waved at Tango, who started the
truck and moved it up next to the doors.  Taz opened the rear door on the
passenger side and took the bags from Brett, throwing them into the back.
Brock stood up and thanked the nurse and nervously looked at the three of
them.

	"Hope you like Italian."  Taz said, closing the door after they had
climbed in.  Brock nodded, and Tango pulled away from the curb.  Dinner
started out sort of tense but turned out to be a blast.  The icebreaker had
been Taz slurping an alfredo noodle, causing it to whip up and splatter his
cheek with sauce.  The laughs were a lot easier after that, and they took
their time eating.

	After dinner, Tango parked the 4runner behind the apartment and
helped Taz get the bags.  They darted up the stairs to turn on the lights,
and Brett waited with Brock for a few minutes out by the truck.  Brock felt
warmed by the attention that was being showered on him, even though it made
him uncomfortable.  He stood in front of Brett, leaning back against his
chest, and watched as the full length of windows on the second floor lit
up.

	"Ready?"  Brett took his good hand and led him to the door.  On the
first landing, Brett stopped and looked into Brock's eyes, his expression
very serious.  "No one is allowed to beat anyone up here, Brock, and no one
will run your life but you.  I hope you'll stay with me for awhile."

	"I'll get used to it.  Just be patient, okay?"  Brock said.  Brett
smiled and nodded, then pulled him up the last flight of stairs.  At
Brett's insistence, he closed his eyes, thrilled with the anticipation, and
Brett led him inside, careful not to let him bump into anything.  He heard
Taz whisper and chuckle, and felt Brett's hands over his eyes.

	"Okay, open them."  Brett whispered, then moved his hands away.  It
was incredible.  The walls were clean and white, the wood floor polished,
and the windows had some really cool blue blinds on them.  He laughed and
followed the three of them on a guided tour of every room, ending with his.

	His room was the anti-image of his old room at the house, with a
white comforter on an obviously new full size bed, (his had been a twin)
white dresser and desk, and emerald green carpet.  The walls were blank
except for a large picture of a cat over the head of the bed.  Brett
must've found out he liked cats going through his stuff.

	His computer was hooked up and on, and the desktop picture was
Brett and Brock in each other's arms at Tango's house.  He turned around
and put his forehead against Brett's chest.  "You guys didn't have to do
this for me."

	"You're one of us."  Taz smiled and patted Brock's arm.  He went
out into the living room and sat down with Tango.

	"If you don't like it, we'll fix it.  We can do that kinda fix up
stuff, you know?"  Brett used his finger to lift up Brett's chin.  "I just
want you happy, that's all."

	"I am, I'm just way overwhelmed."  Brock sat on the bed and rubbed
the elbow on the arm that was casted.

	"Let's go sit with Tango and Taz for a few minutes, and then you
can crash.  I bet you're exhausted."  Brett turned off the computer and
held out his hand.

	"Are you sleeping in here?"  Brock asked, alarmed.  "I don't want
to be alone again."

	"I was gonna sleep in my room.  You can, too, if you want to.  I
didn't think it'd be right to make that decision for you."  Brett stopped
before he opened the door and turned around.  "Brock, I won't make you do
anything.  You decide what's right.  If you want to sleep in my bed, you're
always welcome.  If you want to sleep in here, that's cool too."

	"This is going to take some getting used to."  Brock followed him
out to a couch and sat down.  Tango handed him a coke.

	"We had a big bash planned for you, but we'll do it another night.
You look bushed."  Tango sat down next to Taz and took his hand.

	"This is so weird."  Brock chuckled.

	"What?"  Taz asked, and flipped a chip into the air and caught it
with his mouth.

	"For the last three years, I've desperately kept THE SECRET, you
know?  Now my brother's dead, my mom ran off, and I'm sitting in my new
home, holding the hand of my new boyfriend, who save my life, and talking
with his…our roommates that are also gay, and it feels like everything's
normal."  Brock sighed and looked at each of them.  "Did anyone else miss
the irony?"

	Taz looked at Tango, who looked at Brett, who looked at Taz.  They
broke up at the same time, Taz rolling out of his seat.  Brock shook his
head and started laughing as well, but had to cradle his healing ribs.
They started to die down, and Tango leaned back in the seat.  "You make it
sound so abnormal, man."  Brett snorted, and the laughed again.  Brock
wiped tears out of his eyes and feel against Brett.

	"Please!"  He gasped for breath.  "I can't take it."

	"She canna take it sir!  She'll blow up!"  Tango did a fair
impression of Scotty from Star Trek.  Brett doubled over and fell off the
couch, clutching his sides.  Brock kicked his feet and tried to breath.
And Taz had foam erupt from his nose.  God it felt good to laugh again.
They laughed and told jokes for hours.

	At almost midnight, Tango led a yawning Taz to their room and waved
good night.  Brock had long since changed into a pair of neon yellow silk
boxers and a tank top, and sat on the couch listening to Brett brush his
teeth and spit in the sink, causing him to get the giggles again.  With
great will, he stood up and went in his room and pulled the covers back.

	Brett walked over and leaned on the doorframe.  "I haven't had that
much fun in a long time.  I think everyone needed a good laugh."  Brock
smiled and nodded.  "Do you need anything?"

	"No."  Brock kissed Brett passionately, and turned to get in bed.
"Thanks for everything.  I'm glad I found you guys.  I feel more alive than
I have for a long time."  He got in the bed and Brett tucked him in.  "I
really love you, Brett.  You don't know what it means to have the space to
figure things out, and not have any pressure, just unconditional love."

	"You're getting drippy on me."  Brett smirked and kissed him again.
"I'm right across the front room, 'kay?"  Brock nodded and turned to leave,
flipping out the light.  Brock stared at the ceiling, trying to be
comfortable, and feeling loneliness creep into his chest.  He turned on his
side and closed his eyes, but it didn't help.  After fifteen minutes of
torture, he threw the covers back and padded out into the living room.

	Brett's door was open, and he walked in quietly, trying not to wake
him if he was asleep already.  He jumped when he heard the covers rustle,
and in the light from the windows, he saw Brett hold up the covers.  Brock
smiled and pulled off his tank top, pitching it towards the door, and
crawled in to bed.  Brett kissed him, and he settled on his side, feeling
Brett's arm around his waist.  He was asleep in seconds.


	For those of you who hate cliffhangers, this story was for you
guys.  From the mail I got, apparently the last chapter was not well
received.  I will be posting another new story to this directory (Adult
Friends) real soon.  It's called Paper Tiger, and was inspired by my
vacation in Las Vegas this last little while.


Thanks,

Dan
Rimshot@planetaccess.com
ICQ   65086797