The night had been tense, highly enjoyable, but tense. It was obvious that Beecher suspected he was planning something so Alvarez had done all he could to distract him. He'd had to stop them from talking. It hadn't taken that much, but now, this morning, he was knackered and he needed to be alert.

He spent breakfast with his skin crawling as he was under scrutiny from two sides, three if he included Beecher.

Robson's stint in the 'Hole' had not done him any favours. He was thinner and looked drawn but that did go in their favour. The Aryan was hiding it well but he did look weakened. Still, the looks Alvarez was receiving boded that he intended a repeat performance and, seeing the kisses blown in his direction, Miguel held to himself the comfort that at this time tomorrow, Robson would be in the morgue.

He concentrated on his food for if he looked up at Toby, across from him, he would see Lopresti who had taken up a station directly behind him by the wall. He had accidentally caught his eye once and that had been enough. How the hell were they going to execute their plan when a certain Hack insisted on keeping such a close watch on him? He'd been able to feel those eyes boring through his clothes all the previous day and he was now making it perfectly clear that he would be coming for him soon. He had to keep out of his grasp, even out of his eyesight, more so today than ever. Unless?

He gazed up under his brows at Lopresti, fork half way to his mouth and immediately had his attention. For the first time, hoping that Toby would keep his attention on Cyril next to him, Alvarez let his own eyes slide slowly over to Robson then back to the Hack's.

He knew he was taking a serious gamble with the stakes way high but going back to his food, his eyes flitted up then down, long enough to catch the sneer on Lopresti's face. The bastard thought his concern amusing. Shit!

"What the fuck you doin'?" O'Riely whispered from behind his toast.

Did that man miss nothing? "Later," he replied even quieter. Then he was under a microscope as Beecher gave him one of those 'we're going to talk about this' stares.

==000==

This was becoming ludicrous. O'Riely had ceased to find any humour in the situation. Everything had been set for this afternoon. He'd spent the whole of yesterday after lunch doing the 'rounds' and knew that at a precise time later today there was to be trouble in Unit B.

All of his talking, all his manipulations of certain factions were setting people in place, incidents in motion so Robson would suddenly find himself alone with no one to watch his back as he was 'abducted'. The fact that it was all to take place earlier than Alvarez expected was beside the point but now there was a snag. Alvarez had just announced another 'bright idea'.

"You're not serious?" but Alvarez just stared at him from across the table, throwing a card onto the pile. "You know? Just cause you've got one 'fool' besotted with your ass don't mean everyone is?"

Alvarez continued to play cards. "That is what you're offering right? Coz I know you got nothin' else." Ryan studied his face while continuing the pretence of the current hand. Alvarez was attempting to keep his visage neutral but it was tightening up. "You're not holding out on me are you? You got somethin' else to offer?" The sigh seemed genuine as Miguel shook his head almost sadly. "What makes you so sure he'll go for it anyway?"

"He will."

'Resent history had done nothing to dint his ego then?' mused Ryan?

"I take it I don't need to remind you what happened the last time you shook your ass?" 'If Alvarez has never thought of wasting me before,' Ryan thought, 'he is now'. "Look, Hermano. A 'cons' one thing but getting involved with a Hack?" he shook his head, "That's trouble 'n' trust me, you don't want that kind of trouble!"

"You speaking from experience?"

"Nah. I ain't that stupid." Change tack quick. He didn't need anyone knowing about Howel. "Why would we need a Hack's help anyway? We're all set."

Alvarez threw down his cards lightly and leaning forwards, fixed him with a sneer while collecting the rest up confusing Cyril. "He can take the fall for it."

"And you don't think he might, like, say something? Sort of, 'they did it 'n' not me?" Ryan was incredulous. All that 'lovin' must be rotting his brain.

"He won't be able to say nothin'. Robson got in one good strike before the end as he fought back." He shrugged.

Ryan considered it. There was a pause as Alvarez dealt another hand.

"Why would the Hack want to fight him?"

They both turned to look at Cyril. "What?" his brother asked.

"What did that man do to the Officer that he' would want to fight with him? You told me not to fight anymore unless it was for a good reason."

Alvarez and O'Riely looked at each other. It was a valid point thought Ryan, but it didn't really matter, as Alvarez wasn't going to be there anyway. He had been wondering how they could keep him occupied while he was 'helping' Beecher.

"Don't worry, Cyril. We'll make it all make sense after. I'll think of something."

His brother still looked curious but he trusted that Ryan would make it all okay and Alvarez seemed to relax slightly.

'What the hell's he got against Lopresti?' Ryan wondered but he'd be able to find out no problem. That's what he did, he always found out things that would come in useful in the future. He'd made it a part of his 'business'.

"Right. Alvarez, after lunch you do your 'thing' and watch the time. You'd better be right about this. The timings all set 'n' if he won't go for your...it, you gotta deal. Understand me?"

Alvarez nodded, looking peeved and they returned to the other game.

==000==

He was running on nothing but nerves. The planning, the manipulation, mainly on Ryan's part, was coming to fruition. In less than an hour he would be able to rid Beecher of his greatest remaining threat and get his revenge.

With all the looks and signals going on in the lunch queue and throughout the meal, he was sure the Hacks would know something was going down. He began to dread that at any moment the order would be issued for 'Lockdown' and they would lose their chance.

Beecher appeared calm but Alvarez just knew that he knew he was up to something. He'd been able to avoid the threatened 'talk', Toby having little time outside of his work assignment. That's one reason he'd chosen this day as Tobias did more hours today than any other and later he would have his drug rehab group.

He also wanted it done and over with. He was putting his ass on the line, again, realising how literal that could be if this went wrong. But he was not going to let that happen. Not again.

It had always amazed him how many places there were even in Em City where people could go unnoticed. It had only taken a certain kind of glance and Lopresti had followed him up into the deserted classroom. Now jammed in the corner in the blind spot by the window, Lopresti was standing far too close. He managed to remain calm-ish as the Hack played with that place on his jaw, the one just under his left ear. He appeared fascinated with it. "Alvarez? What are you setting me up for?"

"¿Qué?" small, timid, just how the man liked it, but Shit!

"Well, you must be up to something. Why else d'you want me to follow you when you've been managing to avoid me for days?" He stroked Miguel's cheek hard then went back to playing with his jawbone, "Or have you realised how much you miss my 'attentions'?"

Miguel had had most of the morning to think this one through. Dropping his eyes, being the submissive once more, much easier now, more natural than when this man first took him. "I need your help," low with a catch to his throat.

"And why should I bother to do anything to help you?" If the Bitch tried to blackmail him, he knew how to handle that.

Alvarez swallowed and glanced at him nervously, knocking his butt against the wall a couple of times then pretended that he wouldn't dare look at him. "I know you want me." Lopresti pinched his jaw painfully, "I mean, that is .. I mean, I know you'll have me soon and there's nothing I can do to stop you."

"Correct."

He took a deep breath at what he was about to say but, at the hand running over his crotch, he let it out shuddering. Lopresti smiled. He still remembered how to please him. "I also know that you like it if...when I'm responsive? You told me so?" almost begging him to say it's true.

"Umm. Yes. But I'll have you anyway. It isn't necessary," and he bit him on that place.

Alvarez closed his eyes. It had to work this time. Please let his plan work this time. Having to do this, he felt cheep and degraded and if it did fail, he'd have his ass again, but sex, even the promise of sex could buy you so much and he wanted to buy an end to his problems. He wanted to be left alone. Alone for Toby. So he was willing to sell himself this one time to do it.

"Please. I need your help," stretching his neck, allowing greater access. "You told me yourself to keep Robson off me. I heard 'em. He's going to do it again and I don't think I could take that. If I'd survive this time. Please? Help me?"

He must be getting somewhere surly as Lopresti was pressing into him, his left hand circling around to his butt. He held onto the man's arms, speaking up into his ear, "Por favor, help me, help me get rid of him and I'll be responsive. I'll do everything you want me to."

"Oh, but you'll do that anyway."

That belt was digging into him painfully just as he recalled but he pushed forwards, "Si, but willingly," he breathed. "Please, Por favor. I don't think I'll be able to fight him off. You have to help me. Please?"

Lopresti stepped back laughing, "You're pathetic. You think I believe any of this shit? You're not that defenceless. You could have fought him off if you'd wanted to. You don't need my help so what's your game?"

Alvarez slumped into the corner, hugging himself and making himself sound as pathetic as Lopresti had said and feeling it too. He had tried to fight and just as with this man ..."I could never fight you off."

"But it was fun when you tried," and Alvarez sank down, curling up on hearing the low chuckling.

The Hack stared down, studying the hunched figure with a grin to his face. He knew damn well Alvarez was trying to play him but it was also true. He'd overpowered the wiry framed con with little effort, he was after all much bigger, ignoring the power of their positions in solitary, he was stronger and so was Robson.

Should he go along with this plan to eliminate the other prisoner? He didn't give a shit about one more dead con and all the blame would go onto this one if it had to come to that. Did Alvarez really need his help? Seeing the wreck he was after the rape he guessed he was desperate to gain anyone's help to prevent it from happening again and who better than a Hack with a vested interest?

He'd have thought that Alvarez would have gotten Beecher to help him. He laughed to himself, thinking there wouldn't be much help there. Yes, he supposed, he could see why he would come to him, the lesser of two evils from Miguel's point of view. At least the little bitch had never needed to go to the Hospital with him.

But was it worth the effort or the risk? What he did give a shit about, when it finally came down to it, was that he still liked that body. The new scar was a shame but it didn't mar his appearance that much but mainly they had unfinished business. His 'affairs' did not end until he decided it was over. Unless of course the con got executed but that was a one off. You couldn't expect much else shagging someone on Death Row. He thought about Shirley quite often. The bitch had nearly lost him his job but this one had escaped from him, from the prison before he had tired of him.

Oswald's had gotten him back and now so would he. He also had to admit that he had liked it when Alvarez had been 'responsive', when that is, he'd learnt how, what was expected of him. He'd been a fast learner but, he wondered, had Beecher finally been able to teach him how to do that decent 'blowjob? Cause he'd been pretty useless at it but there had been other areas where Alvarez had made up for it in compensation.

Miguel studied Lopresti from behind his arms, his breathing shallow as he waited to see if the man would bite. He held no fear that the Hack would alert anyone of Robson's planned demise and he didn't know any details, only that Alvarez wanted him dead but anyone could have guessed that. He didn't think he would lift a finger to stop them, him he emended, he didn't know of the O'Riely's involvement.

Damn it! The Bastard was just grinning down at him, hands on hips. Fuck! Was it going to take more or should he just cut his loses and continue avoiding him for as long as possible? Eventually he would come for him and he had a useful resource, advantage, being a Hack, no one would look too hard at a prisoner being escorted around the place.

No, Alvarez wanted him in that corridor. He had to play this well as, although Lopresti liked him totally submissive, he'd always seemed to get off on some opposition so he doubted he should beg further. To be totally submissive to another but to have to put up a fight. No wonder he came out of solitary so confused and Fucked up. He'd done everything this man before him had appeared to want him to do but it had never been quite right. He'd been told so and 'punished' enough to let him know he would never be able to do anything right.

'Thankyou once more, Toby for showing me a different way'. He let go of his head and changed his attitude, sitting on the floor with legs streched out, ankles and arms crossed, looking off up to the right as if to say, 'well fuck you then'.

Lopresti also folded his arms. He was quite impressed, it sitting there as if it had a right to be angry with him, showing off that place on the jaw, red now, that it knew he liked, resting its head back not paying attention. Also showing to effect the new scar. Lopresti could almost hear the unspoken words, 'see how he cut me? Spoiling me for you? If you don't help me it could well be worse the next time and what then? You still want me then?'

He would have to wrap this up as time was getting on and he needed to be back on the floor, back on view. Making his decision, he crouched down beside 'the body' catching hold of it's jaw. He knew he wouldn't be attacked, the Latino wanted his help for a start, not to mention the psychological advantage he held over it.

As he turned the head, the face looked up hopeful, the lips parting as the tip of the tongue came out to lick them. Lopresti smiled, "You've turned into a good little actor." There was a very slight twitch to the eyes before Miguel began to deny it, "Shut up," sounding unconvinced, "I'll buy your little play," standing up and away, "Get up and tell me how you want me to help you?"

Alvarez sprang up in an attempt to express relief and gratitude. A hand to his stomach pushed him back hard against the wall and Lopresti was pressing up against him, covering him. As hands held his head, Miguel's own automatically went to press palms to the wall at his sides and he bit at his bottom lip.

Some things learnt hard, were not easily forgotten.

When Lopresti finally released the mouth thinking on how he had missed those particular lips, he said, "So, tell me."

==000==

TBC...