They'd been herded onto the band's coach after that which was amazing. It was like two huge stylish caravan's joined together. They were in a relatively open living room with a widescreen tv/ kitchen. There were 4 bedrooms on the coach which were supposed to be one for each of the front stage band members they learned but since they shared they actually had one spare.

The singer with honey blonde hair was called Kate Lockheart and gave them the grand tour. Kable had been right about that song being wrong for her, because she was all fire. Kable was afraid of her because she seemed less sane than Ken Castle. She shared her room with her husband Morgan and they were perfect for each other in a way. It was like Morgan's stillness and emptiness could give Kate a place to stand and her fieriness to be contained. On the other hand Morgan smiled the most dazzling smile when he first saw Kate come off stage. It seems they were truly made for each other.

Owen, he was entirely too pleased to know, was dating the drummer Joel. Owen and Simon continued to act like best friends and his jealousy was gnawing away inside him. That left Michelle and Eric, the last two members of the front stage band. They seemed like the last two innocents in an imperfect world. Cooing over Delia, they seemed pleased to show her all the gadgets on the coach. Delia giggled again as Eric played a few notes for her on his guitar. It was amazing to see her so happy.

So him and Delia were going to share the last room and Simon said he'd take the couch. The coach was apparently made like an armoured truck with bulletproof glass so he didn't have to worry about safety and that all the band members had some degree of defensive training. When he asked why the band had such defensive measures Kate cryptically replied that there were worse enemies to be had than the ones Kable was currently facing.

Simon and Owen were catching up nicely. He swallowed hard fighting a scowl as they laughed and chatted away from the other side of the coach. He liked Simon more than he'd ever admit to himself. It was beyond the fact he was prettier and more delicate than most girls. He was incredibly smart, a genius that rivalled Ken Castle yet the self control and humility that even though he probably saved the world from being controlled by Castle, Kable still had a hard time not falling for the I'm just a dumb kid that plays video games, persona.

It wound him up the layers and layers of lies Simon has surrounded himself with to the point it seems pathological. Then it terrified him the point he would willingly trust Simon even though he knew every word from him was bullshit. Here he was surrounded for the first time by people he knew could defeat him one on one in a vehicle that was locked down as tight as Fort Knox and he felt safe rather than threatened even after Simon had left them in the dust.

Simon was also brave. Kable was used to the fact when people looked at him their first response is fear. He'd seen it in his wife's eyes and in his daughters even though he was only trying to protect them seeing him kill was something he wished they would never have to see. When Simon looked at him, he saw respect, awe and something more. He thought that was maybe why he loved Simon's eyes so much.

He watched Simon across the coach, leaning closer to Owen, laughing. There was a flush of excitement across his fair skin and Kable wanted to go across and bite those soft pink lips red to match but he restrained himself. He wondered if Simon would let him. If he'd be allowed to pin him down, drag his teeth and lips over the tender skin of his chest to just under his ribs until Simon was whimpering, then sucking a bruise there that Owen couldn't see but would remind Simon not to be so familiar while Kable was watching.

It was then Simon flicked a glance over at him like he was trying to ignore Kable shouting or something and he realised he probably was. Simon could know what he was feeling and instead of feeling embarrassed he felt vaguely pleased with himself and raised an eyebrow in defiance. Simon just ducked his head to hide his blush and continued talking to Owen.

"He's doing that on purpose you know." Joel suddenly said sitting next to him. He was about 28 years old and was watching Owen and Simon too.

"What?"

"Simon, he's trying to make you jealous enough to do something about it." Joel continued. His eyes were blue. He was noticing that too much lately. Yet none were as light or silver as Simon's.

"...and why would he do that?" Kable asked. "Why doesn't he just say something?"

"Why don't you?" Joel grinned. Kable scowled at him.

After a moment Joel grew serious. "Trust me, Owen and Simon are soul mates only in one respect. They tend to play the martyr card to the extreme. Owen convinced me to leave him behind once. It was the worst I've ever felt." Joel swallowed seemingly unable stop the feeling from back then from swamping him. He quietened down when they received a few looks. "You actually surprised Simon even though he was looking at you. It's the first time I've heard of his particular ability being defeated like that. By just not intending to. Simon may know someone wants to kill him and soon but you can protect him. If you try."

"Of course I'm going to try." Kable said.

"Good." Joel replied challengingly.

***

It was later that night and Delia had gone with Eric and Michelle to their room. Eric teasing Michelle, saying her millions of stuffed animals would be perfect for a child Delia's age. Though from the scream and what Joel told him she'd accidently walked into Kate and Morgan's room which was filled with dangerous weapons and looked very scary to someone seeing them for the first time.

Kable listened surprised as Joel told him stories of how the two girls grew up together at a school in New York. Michelle and Kate had always been inseparable friends despite how different they were and had only fought once when Kate had first found out Michelle was dating her brother, Eric.

They'd met Simon on the online school message board and even though Simon wrote a few songs for them had never been able to join them till now. Kable feigned ignorance as to why as well. Joel told him how Kate was fire and Simon was water, their arguments made newspapers but the one time they managed to hold a truce and write a song together it made them popular worldwide overnight.

He was enraptured with these stories, laughing at the facial expressions Joel was adding to the jokes that he had almost forgotten about Simon. It had been a long time since he'd had such a normal conversation. Not that he could ever wipe the teen's presence completely from his mind.

He was surprised when Simon came to him. He was frowning but trying to look simply curious. Kable realised laughter bubbling up from his chest he'd actually made Simon jealous. Simon pulling him aside and ignoring Joel's told you so grin, asked him, "The party looks like it's going to go on all night. Since Delia's with Mish and Eric, can I...stay in your room tonight." Simon blushed, head to toe. "I won't get any sleep otherwise."

"Sure." Kable condemned himself to whatever was going to happen. He said goodbye to Joel and Owen who had already forgotten their presence. Kable chuckled and when Simon looked at him strangely he just shrugged.

Once in the room, Simon sat down and looked like he was trying to think of something to say. Kable sat next to him removing his own shoes. Despite the room being gorgeous there was barely a sliver to move around the bed. After a moment of silence Simon spoke.

"I really am sorry about running off but if I had been there they would have caught me and sent you to jail or worse killed you.

"We could have all left together." Kable pushed.

"They would have noticed us all leaving. They'd been watching our movements for awhile before they spoke to you and you were exhausted. If I wasn't there I knew they would just let you go. Besides I wasn't even sure you'd look for me if I left, I was giving you a chance to go the opposite way."

Ignoring the last stupid comment Kable took one problem at a time. "They said they could help you."

"They're lying," Simon spat. "There is no way anyone can help me. They just want me for their own purposes."

"Why do you have to be so stubborn!" Kable growled. Simon just looked at him wide eyed, expression hurt and something broke. He gripped the back of Simon's neck, yanking him slightly closer. The cool skin feeling frozen under the heat of his hand. He dug his thumb in with just the edge of pain to make him listen. Simon made a quiet protest.

"I will save you, Simon. So you better get used to the idea." He ground out pulling Simon even closer.

Simon despite his predicament couldn't help the smile flit across his face. "You don't know what you're doing again." He teased. Yet his pulse flitted under Kable's thumb and as Simon licked his suddenly dry lips, it was painfully clear the teen loved the fact he couldn't tell what would happen next.