It's short, I know. I'll be uploading another, much longer chapter later to make up for it. I'm having severe issues with characterization (at least, in my opinion) and even though I know where the story is heading, I don't feel like I'm being very true to them...

So I regard this chapter with another 'meh.' Let me know what you think. Thanks and enjoy!


Travis waited until Beck's footsteps exited the hall, before he sat down on the edge of the bathtub, head in his hands. Already the bathroom mirror was fogging up from the running hot water. He bit back a groan at their current situation. Damn. Who the hell was he kidding? Billy was going to tear him apart. Why did he even agree to this? It was crazy! He could still back out if he wanted to. Sure, the agents would be pissed, but so what? They didn't even know what was going to be waiting for him. They didn't know anything! But of course… there was that little issue of prison… but Beck had always gotten them out of tight jams before. Hell, he'd practically taken out an entire army, single-handed!

Travis sighed and slumped even further down, until his head was between his knees. There were too many reasons to do this. To get back at Billy for everything he'd done. And for Beck. Beck didn't deserve prison. He was a good man who'd just made some mistakes.

And he needed to do it for his mother. His mother who had gotten addicted to heroin because of Billy. His mother who had died because Travis hadn't been there to watch her. His mother who had overdosed because she thought her son had abandoned her for his piece of shit father. Billy deserved hell for that. Forget everything else he'd done. For his mother's death alone, he deserved the worst the universe could throw at him. And Travis wouldn't let her down again.

With a resigned sigh, he undressed and stepped under the stream of hot water, resisting the urge to turn down the temperature. He took his time, partly because this would be one of the last showers he'd be able to take in such a relaxed fashion, for a while at least… and partly because he knew Beck was waiting outside to question him. When he finally finished it was only due to having run out of hot water and he stepped from the shower, his skin red and raw and his stomach growling for attention.

As he toweled his hair dry, he glanced at his reflection and was, not for the first time, relieved that he looked more like his mother than his father. He didn't know what he'd do if he saw his fathers face every time he looked in a mirror. Granted, his mother had not been the best parent. He knew that and he accepted it. No one was perfect. Even before Billy had brought her the heroin, she'd had problems with drinking. And yeah, sometimes she forgot to make dinner, or clean the house but she made sure he got to the bus every morning and took care of him relatively well when he was sick. And she told him almost every night how smart he was and how successful he would be in life, and most importantly, she told him she loved him every day. So he was glad that it was her eyes that looked back at him every morning when he brushed his teeth.

Heavy footsteps landed outside the door. Beck had taken up post. There was no getting out of this now. He took one last look at his mother's eyes and swung the bathroom door open, "Can we not do this now?" but the question died in his throat when he saw Beck holding out a plate loaded with chicken, vegetables, and rice. He took it with a mumbled, embarrassed, "Thanks," and edged past Beck to head to the living room, avoiding his gaze. Beck followed him, silently.

Travis slipped into a chair and took several bites, before discovering that even though he was starving, the tension knotted in his stomach refused to permit the food. Somehow, Beck realized as much and took the plate back and instead poured him a glass of ginger ale. Again, Beck said nothing and Travis gritted his teeth. So this was how Beck wanted to play it, huh? Not say anything, wait until everything exploded out of him? Until all the emotions got the better of him, and erupted out? Well, he could keep his mouth shut too and he pressed his lips together tightly. Several moments passed in silence. Travis found his leg bouncing up and down in nervous tension. He resisted the urge to start whistling. He picked at his fingernails, resolutely ignoring Beck who merely watched him. And then,

"I don't know okay! I mean, it's not like it's the end of the world if I do it, right? There are worse things than helping put him behind bars! And they're right, you know! He won't try and kill me! And I'm not saying it's the best situation, I know it's not! But if it keeps us out of prison, and together, then who cares? Besides, if he gets put in prison, then we wont have to worry about running for the rest of our lives! And that FBI guy was right! You'll be able to open up a restaurant, which is, like, your dream! So what's the big deal? We all get something out of it right?" The words flew forth in a fit of anger born from anxiety and Beck waited patiently until he was done.

"I know why you want to do it." Beck said finally, in a calm, reassuring tone, "I'm just worried that it's going to be too much for you. I know Billy and you've told me what he's done to you. I just don't want you to come back somebody else." Travis felt his face flush with embarrassment and he looked away. Did Beck think that he wouldn't be able to handle it? That Billy would be able to 'turn' him or something? The thought stung like a barb and he looked down at his fidgety hands instead of meeting Beck's eyes.

"I'll be fine." He finally muttered. Beck was silent for a long moment.

"Okay. I don't like it, and I don't agree with it… but okay, I'm behind you on this." Beck said. Travis turned to look at him, surprised. "It's not like I trust those agents to actually do their job." He added with a small grin.

"Really? So you're going to come with me tomorrow?" Travis asked smiling.

"Yeah, I'm going to be with you the whole way." Beck nodded and quite abruptly, leaned over and planted a surprisingly soft kiss on Travis' forehead. When he pulled back, he looked distinctly shocked and tore from the room, leaving a stunned Travis frozen on the sofa, "You better get to sleep. I'm sure it's going to be a long day tomorrow!" Beck shouted from the hallway.

For several moments, Travis sat there, unmoving and unthinking. When he finally stood up, he discovered his legs were shaking.


Oh yeah, so apparently, I fibbed about not having 'romantical' things, lol... but well... obviously the guys wont be together for much of the story. After all, Travis is going in the lions den. R&R!