A Talk with Neal

I promised Neal to come and talk with him on the morrow. He looked very concerned for both of us. He really isn't a meathead. I shouldn't call him that. But I can't help myself.

I spent the night on the couch, not daring to venture into the bedroom or even try the door. I knew it was probably locked. I slept without a blanket. I didn't think I deserved one. When I woke, the bedroom door was open and Kel was gone. There was a note on the desk, saying that she'd gone to her old rooms for a couple nights while she sorted things out. It was the worst day of my life. I thought that Marques would break up our marriage, but I'd ended up doing it myself. I felt like shit.

I went to Neal's at about noon. He was sitting on a big couch in front of the fire. Seeing me come in, he patted the place next to him. I sighed. How demeaning.

Once I was comfortable, Neal turned towards me and laced his fingers. "So," he said, "tell me about it."

"Under one condition." I warned.

"What?"

"You will not comment on anything in the story until I finish. Or out of the story, for that matter. You will not make any faces at me, you will remain expressionless and motionless throughout. Then you're free to criticise all you want. You got that?"

Neal considered it for a moment. "I can't move at all? What if I HAVE to move?"

"Why would you HAVE to move?"

"Okay, well, say I had my arm propped up like this, right?" He put his arm over the back of the couch. "And I got a cramp in my arm, right? And I had to move it over like this..." he rested it on his knee, "so I could be more comfortable. Because, need I remind you, Dom, it has been proven that holding an arm in a particularly uncomfortable position could cause permanent damage. Believe me, I know. So, can I move?"

"No."

"Fine! Be that way! Now, spill!"

I raised my eyebrows. "Spill?"

"Tell me the story!"

I began telling it, pouring all my anguish into my words. I had to stop about half way because Neal's eyebrow quirked.

"Why'd you stop? That isn't all, is it?" he asked.

"You raised your eyebrow."

"I did not."

"Yes you did."

"No,"

"Yes."

"Okay, maybe a little. But that had nothing to do with what you're telling me."

"Yes, it did."

"No, it didn't."

"Yes, it did."

"No,"

"Yes."

"My eyebrow was itchy."

"No, it wasn't."

"Who are you to say that my eyebrow wasn't itchy?"

"I'm your cousin and I know you too well."

"Fine. I raised my eyebrow. I promise I won't do it again. Continue."

When I finished, Neal was silent for a few moments. "It sounds to me, Dom, like a classic case of jealousy."

"I'm not jealous!"

"Oh, so that's why you tried to smash a vase over this guy's head?"

I shifted and avoided his eyes.

"I see."

"No, you don't! He's trying to steal my wife!"

"All that glitters is not gold, Dom."

I stared at him. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know. It just seemed like the time for cryptic advice that no one could possibly figure out."

"I don't know what to do, Neal!"

"About my cryptic advice?"

"No. About Kel! How am I going to get her back, Neal?"

"What happened to 'meathead'?"

I ignored him. "How could Kel ever forgive me? I was such a fool."

Neal raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you could start with 'sorry'?"

"That sounds good," I said. "As soon as she comes back, I'm going to ask for forgiveness."

"Why not go now?"

"Because she's in her rooms right now."

"So what?"

"Neal, she's SORTING THINGS OUT!"

"And your point is?"

"Neal, you don't go bothering a woman when she's sorting things out. What she means to say is: don't come to see me because I'm so pissed at you I couldn't bear the sight of your face. Going to see her, it's like signing your own death warrant."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

"Obviously." I rolled my eyes, then added, "Meathead."

Neal frowned. "Close the door when you leave."

To thekeeperofwords: What's with you and Raoul? You always want him to walk in on Kel and Dom, and now, you want him to beat up poor little Marques. For all we know, he could be just a very loving and friendly person, and muscly women turn him off. He could be gay! Maybe he has a crush on Dom! The thing is, we don't know yet. However, I promise you that Raoul will be in the very last scene of this fic. Until then. -*- Shibhon