A/N: No betas were harmed in the writing of this chapter, so any errors are totally and completely due to the author's incompetence. As always, I own nothing, which is too bad because we'd have Naked!Ryan once a week if I did.

Ryan's First Day

Ryan checked his image in the executive washroom mirror, while Sandy grinned proudly over his shoulder. "Pretty snazzy, Ryan" Sandy said, "Definitely beats a jumpsuit, right?" Ryan grinned back, amazed at the changes in his life over the last year. Sandy reached around and straightened his tie, gave him a hearty hug and a push towards the door.

Standing at the front desk, Ryan smiled politely at the four Newpsies and asked them to follow him. His ears burned as they audibly whispered to each other, admiring the way his muscles rippled beneath the cotton slacks.

Once seated, he passed out menus and tried to escape unscathed, but one of the Newpsies 'accidentally' brushed her hand against his thigh and pinched his butt. Startled, Ryan jumped and crashed into a waiter carrying a tray of Nana Cohen's famous meatloaf, served with old fashion mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy.

Sandy walked into the dining area just in time to watch sizzling hot meatloaf and near-to-boiling gravy cover Ryan from neck to knees. His parenting instincts immediately kicked in and without thinking of the consequences he ran to the boy and began pulling off his jacket and shirt, trying to keep the hot food from burning his skin. As he grabbed for Ryan's belt he realized that the whimpers coming from Ryan weren't due to pain, as he had thought, but from embarrassment.

Ryan held on to his belt buckle for dear life, murmuring to Sandy "Please stop. Please stop." He hoped the older man would come to his senses before he ended up naked in front of the leering Newpsies. Thankfully, he managed to catch Sandy's eye and with a quick jerk of his chin pointed out their audience.

"Sorry for the disturbance, ladies." Sandy apologized as he quickly led Ryan from the room. "Lunch is on us today."

"Damn, we almost got dessert first" The Newpsies tittered and ordered a bottle of Merlot from a passing waiter.

Back in the executive washroom, Ryan slipped off his remaining clothes. Sandy ran a hand towel under the cold water faucet and used it to cover the boy's reddened chest. He noticed that Ryan's upper thighs looked as if they might also have gotten burned and prepared another towel. Ryan grabbed it from his hand and quickly covered himself.

"I think we had better take you to the doctor and have those burns looked at, just in case."

"No, it's ok Sandy. They don't hurt and the red marks are already starting to fade." Ryan lowered the towel on his chest so Sandy could see for himself.

"Well, you definitely know how to make an impression your first day"

"I'm sorry, I don't know how that happened. I knew this wasn't a good idea." Ryan began to apologize.

"Ryan, it's ok, accidents happen. I'm just happy you're not hurt."

"I'm fine. But I'm gonna need some clothes before we leave. I don't think it'd be a good idea for me to walk out to the car dressed in towels."

Sandy laughed and left to find something to cover the boy. He came back 10 minutes later with a pair of sweats and a wife beater, borrowed from the bus boy and a $50 tip from the Newpsies. Ryan accepted the clothes and the money, glaring at Sandy to keep him from commenting on the tip. Sandy just grinned broadly and let him dress in peace, then drove him home.

Once home Ryan took a quick shower and changed into his own clothes. He threw himself on his bed and immersed himself in beating the pirate game on Seth's game boy in an attempt to forget about his rousing debut.