Circles Fan Fiction

Douglas and PJ

Book 02: Summer in the Sun

Chapter One: The Color of Rain [Summer 2008]

Music: "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" (The Beatles)

Dear Jason,

Well today is the big 4th of July Block Party. PJ got some barricades from work to block part of the street off with and has three large ice chest, one filled with shark, one filled with soft drinks and the third with Sam Addams, he said it was the only thing to drink on 4th of July.

Everyone seems to be here.

As for Arthur and John, I think they were up to something as they showed up early are setting up the tables with white table cloths on them as we speak, although Arthur should have brought some of his art stuff with him.

Marty is happy organizing the grills so he and PJ can take turns with them. Taye is happy running around greeting everyone and later will be in charge of the music. Marty has even made a special mix CD for the dancing later with your help, but neither one of you will tell me what is on it.

Ken and Micheal have volunteered to organize what games will be played along with Gus and Lucy.

Well this should be a good party at least.

Love, Dad

PJ came out in a pair of Red, White and Blue short pants, his multicolored silk shirt he had gotten while in Japan and a lime green tie that he said he wore just to annoy Taye. When he made his entrance Taye covered his eye yelling something about 'The Colors! The Colors!'. Ken stopped and looked over the top of his sunglasses causing him to catch a football in the side of his head thrown by Micheal, probably on purpose. Feebi was in a Red, White and Blue jump suit and a big straw hat covered in flowers, with Mr. Floppy in tow as normal. Everyone else had dressed casual and confortable.

Jason walked into a table when Becky came out showing off her new bathing suit catching the corner of it in his crotch forcing him on the ground in a ball. Even Becky let our a giggle before coming over to console him.

The morning activities were for the most part low key. Someone had brought a NERF Football and there was also Frisbee. Those not wanting to do any sports just hung out under the shade of the trees.

As PJ sat back and let Marty take over for a few minutes so he could get a drink, Carter Allan headed over, more out of curiosity than anything else.

"So PJ where did you get this shark?" asked Carter looking into the cooler.

"A friend of mine from the New York office." started PJ "Dakota Sivercloud a former NAVY Seal and the team's driver most of the time. He spends a lot of time with water in one way or another so he likes to go out on his little 20' boat shark fishing every now and then in the Florida Keys."

"A 20' boat to go after sharks, is he off his rocker?" Carter asked shaking his head.

"Completely" replied PJ "But comes from being a Navy SEAL, they are all mostly crazy one way or another. That and being half Apache half Hillbilly just finished the job."

Carter just looked at PJ. "So do you always hang out with crazy people."

PJ though for a moment. "Yes pretty much. There is Striker, he is a former Recon Sniper who speaks something like 30 languages and has a thing for antiques. He likes to unwind by getting on the subway dressed in his sniper camouflage suit and seeing how long it takes for someone to say something."

PJ pulled a Sam Addams out of the cooler.

"Then there is Nash my old team's forensics specialist who is deathly afraid of flying and her girlfriend the Apache and Shuttle Pilot. I still don't know how they met."

PJ pops then top of his Sam Addams using the side of the grill.

"Then there is Amitorite, the new girl. She has no idea how to think out of the box because there is no box in her world. She goes though boyfriends like I hear Ken used to."

"Hey, I heard that!" Ken yelled as he caught the NERF football with a jumping one handed catch and then spiked it.

"Yeah, he did go though a lot." Carter said looking over at Ken shaking his head a little.

"Then there was my supervisor Davis, or the Colonel as everyone just called him, was an Army Artillery Colonel who was forced into retirement from the Army after stating that we should just Nuke Milosevic into the stone age to a CNN reporter live."

"That Mad Man Was Your Boss!" Carter said said loudly as Marty looked over with a raised eyebrow, but did not say anything.

"Ye-up." said PJ with a smile. "He was entertaining though, a little sexist too."

Carter looked at PJ with a questioning look. "In what way was he entertaining?"

"Well thought we were never armed heavy enough." PJ took a sip of his Sam Addams. "He thought we should have things like LAW Rockets and stuff. I count that to him being artillery and he liked to blow stuff up."

Carter shook his head. "So they gave the mad man a badge and a gun?"

"Ye-up" PJ said with a smirk and a nod. "He was also one of the most sexist persons I ever met. From what I understand he was upset that I was chosen over one of the female paramedics that was on the list of medics for the team. Something about I was not much to look at."

Marty looked over with a smirk. "Well you are jot, at least that is what Jesús thinks."

As both Marty and PJ laughed Carter shook his head. "Ok I am so done for right now, I am trying to be tolerant, but at times you guys make it so hard."

After Carter walked away PJ looked at Marty. "What did I say? I thought we were getting along...wait is it the gay thing?"

Marty nodded. "He is trying to change his ways, but he is still a little uncomfortable about the subject."

PJ looked at Carter for a moment. "Well his loss, though I will try not to upset him to much."

Lunch was the usual proper 4th of July food, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad and such. There was even tofu dogs and kosher burgers for those with special dietary requirements.

Everyone just mingled as they talked about a just about everything. Arthur pulled out a bunch of colored chalk so he and Feebi could draw on the sidewalk. It was not long before most of the kids, young and old were doing the same while they ate.

After lunch an impromptu softball game broke out with no real teams at all everyone just took turns at bat, even Ms. Nussbaum. This lasted until Gus sent the ball onto someones roof and it got stuck in the rain gutter of Carter Allan's house. They were all disappointment as Arthur and John revealed their plan.

As everyone was looking for a safe way to get the ball down when the Arthur and John each pulled a tub out from under a table filled with water balloons and let loose on Doug who was happily laying back in a lounge chair. As Doug pulled himself out of his chair sputtering as one had landed on his face drenching him completely. As Arthur let more balloons fly John pulled out 4 more tubs of water balloons. The sky was now filled with a multicolored rain of balloons.

Taye took one for Marty with a diving save just so he could perform a death scene from one of his plays he was in recently. PJ's first move was to shut the grills before diving behind a table. Gus let out an evil cackle before claiming on of the tubs and Ken joined her, both taking throws at any target of opportunity.

It only took Feebi a moment before she figured what was going on, calling Charlie and Seth Allan over to her position they started to move quickly and quietly under the tables till they got to the tub Arthur and John were using primarily. With the help of Charlie, Seth and Feebi pulled their tub under the table out out the other side.

"What happened to our ammo?" said Arthur as John looked and shrugged before Feebi, Charlie, Seth and now Joshua who saw what they were doing unloaded a barrage of balloons at the two instigators causing all four of them to burst out in laughter as Arthur and John realized they were outflanked and joined in.

Even Carter Allen joined in as he joined PJ behind his table. PJ looked at Carter with an ear to ear grin as he broke cover only long enough to grab one of the tubs for the two of them. "Now this is the kind of warfare I can get into."

Carter looked at PJ for a moment. "This is fun?"

Tossing a balloon to Carter PJ nodded. "Yes it is...and on three."

"What on three...oh." Looking over at PJ as he counted down to three with his fingers stood up quickly and took his shot at the first target he saw. "I am such a dead man." Carter said looking over at PJ as he returned to his cover. "I just hit my wife, she is going to kill me."

Once the 'Balloon Apocalypses' as it would be called was over everyone went back to mingling as they dried off.

"You know what we need for next year?" PJ said to Ken and Gus as he popped open a Sam Addams.

Ken just looked at PJ for a moment. "What Air support?"

"Well yes air support is always good, but I was thinking something simpler, like NERF Guns and Super Soakers." Said the grinning PJ.

Ken and Gus looked at each other for a moment before he spoke up. "I think you are trying to gain an advantage here."

"Well yes I would gain the most, but how about I let you choose which one I would use." PJ said as he took a long pull from the bottle.

Ken looked at PJ for a moment. "Ok, but I think this is going to backfire on us,"

PJ just let out a snicker as he headed to the grills to get ready for dinner.

It was about 5:00 when PJ broke out the shark putting them on the grills. They were prepared simply, each one was on a ceder plank, some salt, pepper and soon to be melting butter. For Taye and the other vegetarians it was potatoes made the same way. He also grilled up a bunch of fresh pineapple coated in brown sugar.

Marty had made nice salad from stuff he picked up at the farmer's market. Arthur had brought some homemade bread while John brought some wine for the ones who wanted it. Doug made a simple spaghetti dish was marinara made from tomatoes from the same Farmer's Market trip. Even Ms. Nussbaum contributed with Baklava made from the recipe that PJ had gotten her.

Everyone sat down for dinner and someone remarked it looked like the 'First Thanksgiving' to witch Taye let out a gobble to everyone's amusement. Everyone started to tell stories in turn.

Taye started with one about his time on the road with Rag Time where he ended up because of a snafu in Phoenix spent the weekend sharing a room with one of the female cast members. Everyone except Carter got a chuckle out how they spent most of the time sitting on the balcony talking about the different hot looking men poolside.

Ken talked about the trip him and Micheal took to a trip to Maratha's Vineyard for a photo-shoot and then having the publisher buy almost all of them. Ken commented on how there was a few they kept for their personal collection.

Arthur talked about their first trip to the winery that Paulie had given them, including being caught in a rainstorm for most of the trip. John had to let out how good the bed was after pointing out that is where the wine came from.

Ms. Nussbaum talked about her trip to Chicago for the Democratic Convention in 1968 to which PJ chuckled saying that is where his parents met.

Even Carter had a story about how he made the mistake the first year he lived here and tried to drive downtown on the fourth and found himself involved in a parade of sorts. It was not much of a parade, but he had a good condition 68 Plymouth at that time and was directed by a police officer to follow the others and it was the local vintage car club cruising to the pier. He had just gone out for a new set of tires. He came back after dark with enough money to buy a new car or at least enough to put down a good down payment on one after one of the club members made him an offer.

...and then it got to PJ

"So you got any more good ones." Said Taye with a smirk.

"Well I got a few." said PJ

"We know." said Doug. "How about something from your Coast Guard days?"

"Let's see, how about...this one was while I was with the Coast Guard stationed in Alaska. I was on a ground base north of the Arctic circle during the summer of 98. we got this call about a fishing boat stranded along one of the rivers. One of the bush pilots had spotted it and contacted us. He said there in no intimidate danger, but the Coast Guard should send someone else out anyways The commander decided it would be best if we just took a pair of zodiacs as it was only 20 miles up river. So we all piled into the pair of them out and headed up river at 2am. Now it was summer so the sun had just came up."

"Came up at 2am?" Seth Allen asked.

"Well when you are that far north in the summer the nights are always short if it comes at all. Well anyways we get to the stranded little boat. There was this little thing maybe 16' in length sitting in the middle of the river on a sand bar surrounded by a herd of about 50,000 plus caribou who were just taking their sweet time crossing the river. Occasionally one would bump into the boat, but they were not being aggressive towards it, it was just an obstacle in their way. The two guys in the boat though had no idea what to do.

"What did you guys do?" asked Marty

PJ let out a chuckle as everything came back to him. "Well first we took some pictures, but there was not a lot we could do. If we took too drastic of an action it would cause a stampede and the two in the boat would have been crushed. So myself and Billy beached our zodiac and got up behind the herd with an oar each and started to poke the rear caribou in the butt to get them to move faster. After about 20 minuets we had gotten the herd past the boat and on its way and then we dislodged the little fishing boat." PJ let out another chuckle shaking his head. "Well the two fishermen turned out not to be fishermen, but poachers the State Troopers were looking for."

Everyone had a good laugh at the story.

…

It was after that PJ disappeared for about a half hour before coming out in his Air Force uniform complete with polished boots and a bunch of medals.

Seeing this Feebi ran up to him. "Is someone going away again Papa like mommy and daddy?"

Everyone looked at the two as PJ went to one knee.

"No honey." As he thought he remembered when the last time her wore this in front of her...at her parents funeral. "Today is a day we celebrate our country starting, like a birthday party. So all of us who served usually wears our uniforms on this day."

Feebi gave him hug as he picked her up and Taye started up the boombox and 'Love Me Tender' started to play. PJ carried her over and sat her down. "Now you will have to excuse me, but I promised a nice lady the first dance." PJ headed over to Ms. Nussbaum and offered her a hand.

As the two of them headed over to where they had been playing baseball earlier they started dance. It was not bad, he was never the dancer and her age had slowed her down a little. A few moments after they started to dance most of the rest got up to join them.

The music was a mix of songs from some Glen Miller to more modern songs. All of them was either music Marty and Jason figured someone liked to listen too.

Before the CD was done most everyone had started switching partners. The last song was slow waltz that Jason made sure he was with Becky for. The other couples for that song ended up being Feebi and Gus (Feebi mostly just stood on Gus's feet as she danced), Arthur and Ms. Nussbaum and then PJ and Doug thanks to Taye's maneuvering.

Darkness had come by the time they were done and so did the fireworks. Jason tossed in a patriotic CD so everyone could watch the light show to music. PJ sat with Feebi was in his lap and watched as she enjoyed the show. Most every couple sat next to each other either holding hands or snuggling up until the show was over and then everyone drifted home.

Arthur took Feebi and put her to bed, while tired she wanted him to tell her a story. After some thought he told about the time Doug and him chased down the mugger.

On the other hand it took both Taye and Doug to get PJ up the stairs. Once more he had drank to much and had a silly grin on his face as he kept on trying to talk to people, some who were not there.

"See what happens when you drink to much." Doug said, but was sure PJ did not hear it.

Taye let out a giggle like the time he brought him up after the trip to Club Paradise. "Well from what I remember he will feel it in the morning."

Doug looked at Taye with a hard look. "Well you did not help with every time you got one you asked if he wanted one."

Taye looked over with a grin. "So he is a social drinker, is that my fault."

Doug just shook his head. "You should know better than that Taylor."

Taye stood up strait and looked at Doug and then at PJ as he took a half step and started to fall. Taye making sure he did not hit the floor gave him a little push causing him to fall face first onto Doug's bed and let out a light snore.

Doug just looked a Taye.

"Don't blame me." Taye said putting on an innocent face. "I Blame gravity...and he was hard enough work while he was awake."

Doug looked at Taye and then at PJ and shook his head. "Fine just help me get him all the way onto the bed and out of that jacket."

Taye looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Those medals could cause damage to the sheets" said Doug.

Dear Jason,

I think most of us are going to sleep soundly tonight, it was a long day. The food was plentiful and great along with the company. This may become a new favorite tradition, who knows.

I liked that story of PJ's about the poachers and the caribou, it shows that the universe does have a sense of humor. I know everyone else did, and it was oddly educational.

I think PJ had to much to drink again, it took me and Taye to get him up here and then when we got him up here PJ stood up like he was going to say something and then fell face first into my bed of all places. I think Taye may have directed us to my bed. Arthur put Feebi to bed and told her a story before she drifted off herself.

As I look at the sleeping PJ on my bed I am thinking this will be the first night since Paulie went to the hospital that I will not be alone in it and it scares me a little. I know we are not going to do anything, but if something did happen, then what? I will have to ask you about the feelings I am starting to have.

Love, Dad.

Taye was humming a happy tune as he got back to the apartment. Marty looked at him and saw that look his lover got when a plan was working.

"What did you do Taye?" asked Marty as he finished getting undressed.

Taye have a look of innocents. "Me do anything, why would you say that?"

Marty shook his head. "You have that smirk on your face."

Pointing at himself Taye tried to give a serious look. "Would I do something like that?"

"Like what?" Marty said. "Let me in on it or the shorts go back on."

"You wouldn't...yes you would." Taye gave a light shrug and he started to undress. "Fine...I just helped PJ upstairs and into bed, that is all."

"Upstairs and into bed." Marty looked at Taye for a moment and then raised an eyebrow. "You mean his couch, right?"

Taye let out a giggle. "No I was very specific and made sure he made it onto the bed before he passed out."

Marty dropped his head and shook it for a moment. "So you are going to try to hook them up?"

Giving a look of shock. "Never, but if it should happen..."

"You can be so bad sometimes." said Marty.

"I know, but you are right, they looked so good dancing though." said Taye.

"You know if confronted I will not deny it." said Marty as he climbed into bed.

"I would never ask you too." said Taye as he got into bed too.