"Taking Charge"

by Street Howitzer

First, there is barely any sound at all--nothing but the steady sound of breathing, and in one case, the quiet thrum of a snore. Then:

"Danny?"

The whisper of skin sliding against bed-sheets; a subdued, sloshing sound; a sleep-doped murmur.

"Hey... hey, Danny?"

Another murmur--this one louder, with an edge of irritation.

"You put that pillow down--"

A soft, feathery bump.

An exasperated sigh. "Rusty?"

Silence.

"Rusty, I-I know you're awake. Would you get Danny--"

"... no."

"But, I just--"

"Let him sleep. He's not a young guy anymore. He needs to recharge."

"I know that, but--"

"Look." Another quiet, sloshing sound--the displacement of water. "If you're really that desperate to go again, then I'd be more than happy to--"

"No, no, it's nothing like that!" A nervous laugh, nearly a giggle. "It's... well, I just think... um."

"You gonna spit out the rest of that thought before you choke on it?"

"It's that. Well, the past couple of nights have been... uh... intense, and I'm not saying I'm not having fun..."

"You're not going to thank me or anything, are you? Tess thanked me once. Nearly ruined the whole night. It makes you feel like a gigolo who's been told he's gonna get an extra-big tip."

"... wait. You, him and Tess--"

"Once upon a time. It's past four in the morning, though, and it's way too late to tell you a story. So if that's why you're having problems sleeping, well, you're out of luck."

"I'm not going to thank you. God, I'm not a--"

"Could you move your leg to the left a little?"

"Oh, sorry." The sibilance of skin shifting against cloth. "Better?"

"Yeah."

"Now, um, what I was saying. I was trying to say that I've really, ah, enjoyed our time together, but--"

"If you say you've fallen in love with me, Linus, I'm going to kick your ass right out of this bed and never let you back in."

"It's a water-bed, though--if you thrash too much, you might break it or something."

"That would be a trick. We haven't broken it so far."

"Okay, this is beside the point. I was--I wasn't trying to say I was in love with you." The last few words are tinged with laughter. "I was only, I want a more, uh, active role. That's all. I've been thinking about it, and I really think that since I've been allowed to take charge sometimes during our jobs... I mean, why not here?"

Silence.

"I mean, I think it's fair to say that you and Danny have been running the show here. I don't mind taking directions, and I don't mind anything we've done... but, um, you both kind of treat me like I don't know what I'm doing. And I'd like the opportunity to prove that I do. That's all I was going to say."

A long silence. Suddenly, a series of gurgles and sloshes; the clunk of a telephone receiver being picked up from the cradle.

"I'm gonna order room service. You want anything?"

"Rusty, come on! I'm serious!"

"No? Nothing? Okay then. Hello?"

"Danny, would you talk to--"

Another feathery, light slap.

"Danny, stop hitting me with--"

And another.

"Yes, that's two orders of the oysters, thanks."

"Rusty!"

"Excuse me--what, did you need something?"

"... don't forget to order more champagne."

-end-