Title: Alone
Prompt #: 074
Word Count: 234
Rating: PG
Characters: Hanson, Penhall
"Why are you seriously considering this?" Penhall asked Hanson.
"You're the one who was trying to get me to see he was a nice guy after all!"
"Yeah, but I didn't mean you had to sleep with him!"
Hanson laughed at his partner's choice of words. "I don't know Doug… It would be different. And who knows, maybe it would last."
"You and Booker? Sorry Tom, I don't see it happening… He'll always love you, but I don't know if you can return that. Do you?" Penhall was playing devil's advocate.
Hanson thought about it for a minute. "Yeah, I do."
"You don't sound so sure. But, hey, you can give it a chance right? I think Booker will understand if you gave it a try and decided it didn't feel right."
"Yeah, I think so, too. I want to try it with him. I just…"
"What?"
"I just don't wanna be alone anymore."
Penhall sighed. "Okay, man. What about when a woman at the bar has her eye on you, wants to buy you a couple drinks? Or you meet someone at the bowling alley and you two hit it off? There'll always be someone to keep you from getting lonely, Tom."
"Doug-"
"I'm only making a point. If you're ready to commit to Booker, then go ahead; you have my support. Just don't go break his heart for all the wrong reasons."