Jason shuffled into the house thoroughly depressed. He loaded the computer that Pete had bought him, because he couldn't do without one in his class work. Next, all of his clothes, even though Pete's reward money had paid for some of them, they were personal enough that he didn't feel wrong in taking them. However, when he came to the new leather jacket, he looked at it and put it back on the rack. After gathering all of his personal items and school stuff and putting it all in the car, he drove to Jake's apartment and carried it inside.
He sat down at the dinette table and composed a note. He then took the car back over to the house and parked it in front of the garage. Dropped the house and car keys into the envelope with the note, slipped it through the mail slot on the front door and then trudged back toward Jake's.
Arlen took Pete directly to a Kinko's and paid for a hundred posters with Jason's photo on it, asking anyone to contact Pete's cell phone with any concrete information on his whereabouts. It offered a reward of five hundred dollars. Arlen got on his phone and recruited several of his buddies to help post the signs all over the campus and surrounding area. Within minutes, Pete started getting calls - none of them substantial. They'd seen Jason, but didn't know where he was now. When Pete got tired of fending calls, Arlen took over. They answered calls as they drove around. At one point, they thought they saw Jason go into the coffee shop on the corner. They parked and went in. Jason wasn't to be seen and no one had seen him. Arlen even opened the restroom door, but saw no one inside. As they left the coffee shop he taped a poster on the window beside the door.
As Jason approached the corner coffee shop he saw a red Mustang coming a block up the street. He ducked into the coffee shop and went into the restroom and locked himself in the toilet stall. He sat on the toilet until his dangling legs started going to sleep. 'Surely,' he thought, 'if they stopped for coffee, they'd had time enough to get it, drink it and leave.'
He left the restroom, bought a cup of coffee, started out the door and stopped... in shock. Taped to the window next to the door was a printed poster photo of him offering a $500 reward to anyone who could give certifiable information on the whereabouts of Jason Warren. He recognized Pete's cell phone number in big numerals on the bottom of the page. It put him into a quandary.
As he hurried out of the shop and across the campus as fast as he could without running, he wondered why Pete would be hunting him like this...making him feel like a common criminal. Why didn't he just call him on his cell? Then he remembered that he'd turned his phone off. He pulled his phone out and turned it back on, never thinking to call Pete.
He kept his head down, not wanting to bring any attention to himself. Between the coffee shop and Jake's apartment, he passed seven posters. No one seemed to notice him... but then most people never did. He sighed with relief when he closed the apartment door.
Dave passed several posters on poles and trees on his way to the bookstore to see how Sue was doing. The first few he ignored, but then Jason's photo caught his eye. He stopped to read it. He pulled out his phone and called Joe. "Joe, you won't believe what is going on here. There are posters all over the campus offering five hundred dollars for Jason's whereabouts."
"You're kidding. Who do you think did it?"
"I don't know. Pete most likely," Dave replied.
"Wonder why he'd do that."
"Desperation? Jason reminds me of a little jackrabbit. He's so skitterish."
"Well, I hope they get their problem straightened out. I like both of those kids, and they really seem to have been made for each other."
"Yeah, like you and me." Dave said.
"You got that right. Love ya, Babe."
Pete suggested they just go back to the house and wait for someone to call with real information. Arlen conceded and they headed in that direction. When they pulled into the driveway they noticed that Jason had parked their car all the way up in front of the garage. Hoping he was inside, Pete managed to get out of the car before Arlen could even get around to help him.
He called aloud for Jason as he unlocked and opened the door. The responding silence slapped him in the face. He stepped on the envelope containing Jason's note and keys. Arlen scooped it up and handed it to him.
It was past 11 a.m. by the time Jason got back to Jake's. He'd missed his first class of the day, and he hadn't eaten anything all morning. Two cups of coffee just wasn't doing it, but Fine's Grocery/Deli back across campus was the nearest grocery, and there was no way he was going to venture out in broad daylight, so...feeling like a fugitive, he starved until dark. He occupied his time with setting up his computer in Jake's office, hanging all his clothes in the guest bedroom and doing yesterday's homework.
Pete tore the envelope open with his teeth, letting the keys fall to the floor. Arlen retrieved them. Pete grasped the note, shook the envelope off it and with a little whimper, read it.
Dear Pete,
I thought that what we had was forever. I hope that your football jock will love you as much as I do, and that he will give you the care that you're needing right now. I'll always love you. That's why I've stepped out of the way, so you can be free to love him without me being an albatross around your neck.
Jason
His nerveless fingers let the note slip away and float to the floor. He let his head fall forward in defeat as he shuffled over to the lounger and collapsed into it. He lay back with his eyes closed. Arlen, filled with trepidation, picked up the note and read it. "God, I am so sorry to have caused this, Pete. But it's obvious that Jason loves you. We just have to find him and make him listen to you."
Pete raised his eyebrows in agreement, but didn't open his pain filled eyes. Arlen collapsed on the sofa and they both dozed off, exhausted from the fruitless search.
As soon as dusk came, Jason put on a jacket and scurried across the campus to Fine's. He kept his head down as he pushed a cart through the aisles, praying no one would recognize him from the posters. He gathered dry cereal, milk and sandwich makings.
Outside a grimy bum was chuckling to himself as he sneakily torn a poster off a light pole.
As Jason went through check out, the cashier looked at him for several seconds as she ran his chosen items across the scanner. Jason cringed and ducked his head, praying that she hadn't figured out where she'd seen him.
"I don't know what you've done, Honey," she said handing him his bag of groceries. "But good luck."
He glanced up at her with a little smile of appreciation for her kindness, muttered, "Thanks," and scurried out the door. He didn't notice the dark figure standing in the shadows holding the poster he'd torn from the light pole, nor did he hear the man chuckle to himself as he fell in behind him.
With his head low, Jason hurried back to Jake's apartment. He pulled out the key and had just started to put it into the keyhole when an arm snaked around his throat. "Gotcha!" a raspy voice laughed in his ear.
Jason dropped the keys and his groceries and kicked backwards, catching the man on his shin. The man slapped Jason on the side of his head and tightened his hold on his throat. When Jason stopped struggling, the man reached down and unhooked the cell phone from the clip on Jason's belt. He dialed the number from the poster.
Arlen and Pete dozed fitfully until the ring of the phone woke them. It had been over three hours since the last call. Pete fumbled for his cell phone in the dark. "Hello?" he answered, as Arlen found the lamp at the end of the sofa and turned it on.
"Are you the one offerin' the money for this little black headed hellcat?" a raspy harsh voice asked.
Pete mentally cringed at the thought of his sweet little guy in the hands of a goon with such a creepy voice, but mentally grinned at the thought of him being described as a hellcat. "Y-y-y-yes. Yes, that's me," he stuttered.
"Well, I've got the little bastard. Meet me outside number 14 at the College Garden Apartments on Harding Street. I grabbed him just as he was unlocking the door. Get here fast. He's already bitten my arm and kicked me in the shins."
Pete heard Jason yell in the background, "Let go of me, you stinking bum."
"Don't hurt him." Pete yelled into the phone. "The reward is off if you do."
"Well, hurry up. I don't know how long I can hold on to this little fucker."
"We're on our way."
Pete repeated the address to Arlen as he struggled to get out of the lounger. Arlen, who already had his jacket on and held the one that Jim had altered for Pete to wear over his cast, put his shoe on the footrest and pushed. Pete shot up and Arlen steadied him on his feet. Ignoring the jacket, Pete yelled, "Come on," as he pushed past the big jock and headed out the door. Arlen pulled the door closed, beat Pete to the car and opened the door to help him in.
While the man was on the phone, Jason had squirmed and turned until he now faced him. His nose was buried in the man's filthy shirt. It smelled of unwashed body, spilt stale beer and cigarette smoke, making Jason want to vomit.
Apparently Jason's diminutive size gave the man false confidence, he was unprepared for his attack. As he closed the phone, Jason simultaneously punched the man in the stomach, and raised his knee, hard, into the man's testicles.
The man grunted and let go to protect his balls. Jason took off running. The man held his balls for a moment, waiting for the pain to subside, watching his reward get away, then scurried after him. Jason ran as fast as his short legs would move. He was fortunate that the man, although long legged, was not in good physical shape. Jason kept his distance and ran for the Tower. Bursting into the lobby, he collapsed against the Guard's desk. "Dave Gate's... please... I'm Jason Warren."
The guard took forever calling up to verify that it was okay to send Jason up to the Eyrie, then pointed at the single door next to the two double doors. "The first elevator."
As the elevator enclosed Jason in its safety, the bum rushed into the lobby. The guard stepped around the desk to intercept him.
"Where... did that... little creep... go?" the grimy man demanded, clinging to the edge of the desk to keep from collapsing as he sucked in air. He looked around full of suspicion, as if the guard was hiding Jason behind a potted palm.
"What are you talking about?" The big guard asked, his voice full of disgust.
"I saw him come in here..... I want my money...... I'm the one that found .... him." he was breathing hard, gasping out the words.
"Looks to me like he got away from you," the guard smirked. "Why're you chasing him, anyway?"
"The reward..... five hundred dollars..... for catching him..... I caught him..... but he got away.... I saw him run in here...... Where did he go?"
"Well, that I can't rightly tell you," the guard said.
"You know where he went," the man growled, "you just want that money for yourself." He slunk out the door, but wasn't defeated yet. He slipped Jason's phone out of his pocket and called the number again. It rang a couple of times before a different voice answered. "I want to speak to the guy offering the reward."
"You're speaking to him." Arlen replied. "Where are you. We're at the apartment and you nor the young man that we're looking for is here."
"He got loose and ran. He's somewhere in this tall building called The Tower. The guard won't tell me where he went."
In the Eyrie Dave and Joe had finally gotten Jason calmed down enough to talk. Jason had slowed his breathing to normal, but still bristled with the indignities of that nasty bum having had his hands on him. Shuddering, he asked if he could wash up. Joe put a comforting arm around his shoulders, led him into the livingroom, pointed out the guest toilet and said, "You are a bit smelly." Jason thoroughly washed his face, neck, arms and hands.
"Can you believe there are posters all over campus offering a reward for catching me?" he asked, re-entering the kitchen. "I guess I should be thankful it didn't say, 'Dead or Alive,' or I'd probably have been shot by some maniac by now."
"Why are you being hunted? What did you do?" Joe asked.
"I didn't do anything." He stared at the cups of hot chocolate that Dave was removing from the microwave.
"So why don't you sit down, drink this and start from the beginning," Dave said as he set three steaming cups on the table.
Jason took a cautious sip of the hot brew as the two men sat on each side of him. "Mmm, this is good." His stomach growled. "I haven't eaten anything all day. I was afraid to leave the apartment until dark."
"You might have been safer shopping in the daylight," Joe commented, watching Jason grimace in response.
"Would you like a snack?" Dave asked.
"Yes, anything, thank you."
Dave got up, sliced some cold roasted chicken and made a sandwich for him. Neither of the men pushed him to talk while his eyes followed Dave's every move. When Dave sat the sandwich in front of him, Jason grabbed it up and took a big bite.
Joe chuckled. "Slow down, Man, no one's going to take it away from you."
Between mouthfuls Jason began telling them about yesterday's events. When he got to where he'd sneaked upstairs and saw Pete lying on the bed sobbing, Joe interrupted him by asking, "Have you stopped to wonder what he was crying about, Jason?"
"Arlen probably had his way with him and then dumped him. I was still so mad that I just wanted to run."
"Which you did," Joe commented dryly. "Go on."
When he got to the point where he saw Jake's name on the book cover in the store window and called him, Joe interrupted. "You talking about the author of 'Those Shifting Sands'? He smirked at Dave who had become an avid fan of Jake's.
"Yes, have you read it?" Jason asked looking from Joe to Dave.
"Damned right," Dave injected ignoring Joe's little dig. "It's probably the most important gay novel ever written. It might yet even change the attitudes of the damned military."
Joe laughed. "Sure it will."
Dave ignored his derisive tone of voice and asked Jason, "So you are friends with Mr. Shipman?"
"Ever since Jim started taking care of Pete. He was Jim's boyfriend you know?"
"So where is he now?"
"He didn't tell me. I guess when he and Jim broke up, Jake left town for a while. He sounded like he was on the edge of a freeway when I talked to him."
"I'd really like to meet him," Dave said.
Jason continued his story, telling about hiding behind the hedge and watching Arlen leave the house with Pete, then later coming out of the restroom in the coffee shop and seeing the poster with Pete's cell number on it. This time Joe interrupted. "So... at that point you knew Pete was searching for you, why didn't you just go talk to him?"
"He was with Arlen. Have you seen that guy? He's huge. Well, not huge, but tall and well-built... and handsome. He's a football quarterback. What kind of competition could a puny little runt like me offer? There's no way I could compete." Anger had entered his voice again. "Besides it pissed me off being hunted like a common criminal."
Joe started to respond, but Dave cut him off by asking, "Have you stopped to consider that there is no competition, that you have Pete's affections hands down?"
Jason looked at Dave like he'd lost his mind. "If you had a choice between me and a big gorgeous football player, who would you choose?"
"Jason, from what little I know of you, I would probably choose you. You may be small, but you're handsome and spunky. You're one of the sweetest guys I've ever met. And if I was as madly in love with you as Pete is, there would be no choice, now would there? And from what I've seen, you are Pete's whole world."
Jason studied the table top, it could have been seconds or minutes. Joe and Dave waited for him to compute his thoughts. Finally, looking up, he said, "Maybe I should call him, huh?"
At that moment the chime from the guard in the lobby sounded. Dave went to the phone and picked it up, listened a moment and quietly said, "He's wearing the ridiculous cast because he saved me from getting hit by a car. Tell him I'll be right down." Turning to Joe and Jason he called out, "There's a disturbance in the lobby. I'll be back in a moment," then stepped into the elevator. Joe and Jason looked at each other.
"It's that bum. I bet he's still trying to get that reward."
Joe smiled and shrugged. "Well, he won't get his hands on you up here."
When Pete and Arlen arrived at the apartment that the bum had directed them to, Arlen picked up the spilled grocery items and stuffed them back into the bag. He discovered the apartment keys lying on the edge of the sidewalk nearly hidden by a plant, unlocked the door, carried the bag into the kitchen and put the milk into the empty fridge. Pete's cell phone rang. Since Arlen had it in his back pocket, he pulled it out and answered it. He listened a moment, then yelled into the phone, "Stay right there. We're just a couple of blocks away." He yelled for Pete who was wandering listlessly though Jake's apartment, taking note of how Jason had already settled in.
In minutes they were pulling under the portico at the Tower. The grimy man with stringy greasy hair and a dirt streaked face stepped out of the shadows. "You's the guys offering the reward?" he asked.
"Yes, where is he?"
The man shrugged. "Like I told ya, the guard won't tell me."
"Well, if we can find him, you'll still get your money. Wait here." Arlen commanded and went inside.
The grimy man smirked at Pete with his cast. "That little turd do that to ya?" he asked motioning with his chin at Pete's arm.
Pete looked at the man with disgust. "No... and don't call him a turd."
"I call 'em like I see 'em." The man shrugged carelessly.
"You want that reward, you'll show a little respect," Pete snapped.
"You damned college kids are all alike," the man snarled, "playing high and mighty with your daddy's money. Wait 'til you get out in the real world, you'll see it ain't so easy."
"It's obvious that it hasn't been easy for you." Pete snarled with distaste and went inside where Arlen was already talking to the guard.
"So what are you hunting him down for?" the guard was asking.
"It's a private matter. I promise we're not going to hurt him. We just need to talk to him."
Pete stepped up and interrupted. "Excuse me, Sir, would you just call Mr. Gates and tell him that Pete is in the lobby."
"And who is Pete?"
"I am." Pete said attempting to keep the exasperation out of his voice.
The guard ignored the tone of voice and asked, "Do you have a last name?"
"Peterson, Sir."
Arlen was looking frustrated that Pete was being so polite to the stubborn guard and that the guard was being more responsive to him. Pete shrugged.
The guard took a minute to process up to Dave the name and what was occurring in the lobby. When he put the phone down he looked at Pete with a new respect in his eyes. "I apologize, Mr. Peterson, Dave will be right down."
Arlen leaned into Pete and whispered, "This is 'The' Dave Gates."
Pete only nodded, noting the guard's name as he spoke to him. "Alton, don't call me Mister. I'm one of Dave's employees just like you are."
"You're kidding."
"No, I work in his bookstore... well, I will again soon as I get this cast off."
Alton reached across the desk offering his hand. "It's really cool to meet a real hero, Pete."
Pete blushed and said, "I'm no hero. I just did what I had to do."
Alton grinned and winked. "Bull shit," he said.
Arlen was looking puzzled. Alton turned to him. "You are aware this man saved Dave's life, aren't you?"
"I had no idea... that it was Dave Gates that he saved." Arlen muttered.
The guard grinned. "Yep, he took the hit for Dave. Modest young bugger, ain't he?"
The elevator opened and Dave strode across the lobby to greet a red faced Pete and gave him a big hug. "Are you all right, Pete?"
Pete just nodded. Dave turned to Arlen. "Hi, I'm Dave Gates. Just Dave to my friends and family. If you're a friend of Pete's, then welcome to the family."
"It's nice to meet you, Sir. I'm Arlen Aldridge. My dad will have a stroke when he learns I met you."
"I knew you reminded me of someone...Carl Aldridge is your dad. Yes, he's mentioned that you're attending school here. When you talk to your dad, give him my regards. And you might tell him you have some very esteemed friends." He nodded at Pete who just blushed again. "Pete you know that Jason is up in the Eyrie, right?"
"Yes Sir, that's why I'm here. I've been trying to catch up with him all day. He just keeps running."
"So you put up a reward and wanted posters. Ingenious," Dave chuckled, "but it sure pissed him off. He's......"
"Excuse me," Arlen interrupted, "speaking of the reward I owe the bounty hunter that ran him to ground." He went outside to deal with the man who had called them.
"As I was saying," Dave continued, "you have Jason running scared. That man, Arlen is paying off out there, scared the bejesus out of our boy."
"Arlen was the ingenious one, but... maybe I can talk to him before he runs again."
"Is it too personal for me to ask what your argument is about?"
"We haven't had an argument... yet. He caught Arlen kissing me, and just packed and left."
"You have something going with Arlen?"
"No, Dave. We're just friends. Arlen is straight as far as I know. He was just curious to what it would be like to kiss me. He caught me off guard and Jason caught us in the act."
"Hmmm," was Dave's only comment as Arlen came back inside. Dave motioned the two young men to the elevator. "Thanks, Alton," he called across the lobby and waved to the guard who was just shaking his head in disbelief at what he'd just overheard.
"You know that is probably Pete coming up with Dave," Joe said.
Jason nodded, looking at the elevator doors with apprehension. When the doors opened to reveal Arlen with Pete and Dave, his anticipation turned to consternation. He stood up, knocking his chair over backwards.
Pete walked toward him holding his good arm out to him. "Jase, we have to talk."
Stiff with anger, Jason snarled. "You've got your new boyfriend, there is nothing to talk about."
"Jase, you've got it all wrong....."
"Wrong? I saw you kissing that big gorilla... and I have it wrong? I saw him coming out of the house early this morning just as if he lives there. He obviously spent the night with you."
Arlen gently pushed Pete to the side and stepped up to the diminutive, seething Jason. He picked up the chair and set it upright and then bodily moved Jason to sit on it. "Why don't you just sit there and shut up until your boyfriend has a chance to explain. Yeah, you saw me kissing him. He didn't have a choice, I forced him. I've apologized to him repeatedly. And I'll apologize to you, too, if you'll let me. I went to get him early this morning to help him look for you. I spent the night in the dorm. You can check with my roommate if you don't believe me. I know Pete totally loves you, and I know you feel the same about him, so why don't you stop acting stupid and make up."
The other three men in the room stood stunned and surprised at the direct, no bullshit approach Arlen used. Jason gulped and nodded his head. He looked from Arlen to Pete and back, then with a look of determination he slid off the chair, placed a hand on Arlen's stomach and forcefully pushed. "You're standing between me and my boyfriend, you big bully."
Arlen stumbled back in surprise, but grinned as Jason stepped up to Pete. "I'm sorry, it's just my nature to run from hurt. Now I've hurt you and I'm sorry, Petey."
Pete wrapped his arm around the little guy. "There is no one in the world for me but you, Jase. And if you don't start believing that, I don't know what I'll do."
"I know that, Pete... but I saw you in his big arms and my mind just shut down. I never stopped to think. I just ran."
Arlen tousled his hair. "Jason, I gotta admit I really liked kissing your boyfriend, but I'd rather have the two of you as my friends. I apologize for all the mayhem I've caused."
Jason combed his fingers through his hair as he looked up at the big jock. "Well, if we're going to be friends. We need to start off on the right foot." He offered Arlen his hand to shake. "Hi, I'm Jason Warren. Pete's boyfriend."
"It's nice to meet you, Jason." Arlen grinned and took his proffered hand. "I'm Arlen Aldridge. Pete's friend, and hopefully yours."
Pete smiled. "I guess none of this would have happened if I'd introduced the two of you on day one." He hugged Jason again. Arlen just smiled along with Joe and Dave.
"Have you guys had dinner?" Joe asked. After an unanimous "No," he suggested they all go to Gio's for dinner on him.
Nothing was said during the meal at Gio's about Pete and Jason's altercation. The two young lovers kept glancing at each other all evening, once in a while catching the others eye. When they did, they'd smile shyly. When they left the restaurant they all strolled back to the Tower and parted ways in the lobby. Arlen offered Pete and Jason a ride home. They waited while Jason hugged Dave and Joe. "I had no one else to turn to... I love you guys."
Jason had to sit in the backseat by himself. He still hadn't completely gotten over the insecurities that seeing Pete and Arlen kissing had instilled in him. He hunkered in the uncomfortable seat and watched the ebullient Arlen talking to Pete. It was something about one of their classes. Jason paid no attention. 'I'm just a backseat person. The big guys always put me in back.' he thought to himself, ignoring the fact that there was no way Pete could get in the back of the Mustang with that awkward cast. And Jason inherently knew that even without the cast, Pete with his long legs would sit in front where there was more leg room while he, being small, would be shunted to the back seat. He sighed, 'It's no big deal, I just live in a big people's world.'
Arlen pulled his car into their driveway, hopped out, opened the passenger door and helped Pete out, who made his way to the porch. Arlen then held the seat forward so Jason could crawl out of the back. He tousled Jason's hair as he straightened up. Jason combed his finger through his hair as he frowned up at the big smiling jock. "Arlen, if we're going to be friends, you're going to have to stop treating me like a pet."
"What do you mean? I thought I was being nice to you."
"That was the fourth time you have tousled my head in the last three hours. I'm not a puppy. I really don't like it. Okay?"
"Hey, man, I was just being friendly."
"I'm nearly as old as you are, Arlen. Despite my size, I'm not a little boy. You want me to respect you, then you've got to respect me."
"Gee, Jason, I'm sorry. I guess I did look on you as just a cute little kid. Forgive me, again?"
"We'll get off on the right foot yet, you big oaf. I think I might even learn to like you." Jason smiled. "You seem okay, despite having kissed my boyfriend."
Arlen looked relieved. He had come to value Pete's friendship and he knew it couldn't come to full fruition unless Jason was his friend, too. "Are you guys going to be okay with each other? I still feel really bad for being responsible for all this."
"Is it true that you really gave that bum $500 for finding me?"
"Yeah, I did. I was desperate. Pete was going out of his mind not knowing where you were, and it was all my fault. I had to do something."
"You are a good guy, Arlen. Pete's lucky to have you for a friend."
"I'm the lucky one. And I want to be friends with you, too, Jason."
Jason wrapped his arms around the big guy. His head barely came up to Arlen's chest. Arlen hugged him around his shoulders with one hand and rubbed his back with the other. He kept his hand away from Jason's hair. "We're friends," Jason declared.
Pete had watched in apprehension from the porch. He couldn't quite hear what his lover and his friend were saying, but he knew everything between them was okay when Jason hugged Arlen. Jason turned to walk up to the house and Arlen turned to get into his car. Pete waved. "Thanks, Arlen, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Jason took Pete's keys and unlocked the door. Once inside, they were shy with each other. They had hardly said a word to each other all evening.
They stood facing, at a loss for words for where to begin knitting up the damage they'd both done to their relationship. Pete reached for Jason's hand and they ended up in a tight embrace.
"We have a lot to talk through, but we're both exhausted. I stayed in that damned lounger last night. I don't sleep well without you near by. Let's go to bed and talk tomorrow."
"I love you, Pete."
"I love you too, Babe. Come on let's get some sleep."
They crawled into bed with Jason on the right side, away from the cast arm. He snuggled against Pete with his head on the corner of his pillow which he'd pulled over the cast that covered his lover's upper torso. When Pete's breathing settled into a soft snore, Jason rolled to his side of the bed and stared at the dark ceiling.
It may have only been a splinter, but none the less, it was a wedge that Arlen had driven into his trust of Pete despite his protest of innocence. Jason knew what he'd seen, and he had seen Pete caress the back of Arlen's head during the kiss. And the image of that caress lay on his memory like a scab. Would it in time dry up and fall away, leaving an unnoticeable scar? It would take trust. Could he find enough faith in Pete's love for him to be able to trust him without question... without doubt? Jason turned on his side to stare at his lover in the dark. He had no choice... his love for Pete simply left him with no choice.