Michael shuffled his feet as Emmett left him alone with David. "Is something... wrong?" Michael asked.

"Oh... no," David said. "I just happened to know that you were going to be at home and I thought that I would come by and see how you were feeling."

"Oh I'm... OK."

"Back's good?"

"Back's great." Michael smiled. "No pain at all."

David looked up at him. "I guess the rest has done good for you so far then."

"So far," Michael repeated. There was a long awkward silence among both of them.

"Michael" David said turning in his seat to face him. "The real reason I came over... Are you doing anything for dinner?"

Michael was dumbstruck. "Well I..."

"He's free as a bird," Emmett called, eavesdropping from the next room.

Michael laughed in embarrassment. "I'm... free," he smiled

"Well." David paused. "Do you want to join me?"

"He'd love to!" Emmett called.

Michael sighed. "Emmett!" He yelled into the other room. "You have to excuse him," Michael laughed. "He's not housebroken yet." David laughed as Michael smiled at his offer. "I'd love to." There was a pause as Michael absorbed what had just occurred. "I'd love to. I just need to grab my..."

"You're coat," Emmett approached him with a heavier coat and a pair of mittens. "And you can borrow these, it's supposed to get rather nippy."

"Thanks, Em" Michael smiled.

Emmett gleamed. "So where are you two kids going?"

"Well I was thinking..." David said looking at Michael. "Have you ever been to Chateau Boulle?"

Michael's eyes widened. "Me?" he said "Me? No."

"I think you'll love it," David grinned. "It's a small place off of Liberty."

"Sounds great" Michael said. He looked back at Emmett.

"You go and have a good time" Emmett smiled. "You have the time of your life. And don't worry" he went to whisper in Michael's ear. "I won't wait up." He gave Michael a wink.

Michael rolled his eyes. "I'll see you later," he said to Emmett.

Emmett had gone back to watching television. He was depressed. There wasn't even a good old movie on. He wasn't in the mood to pop in a video, so he just sat there, channels flipping slowly. Thankfully, his routine was broken by a knock at the door.

Emmett checked the clock. It was too early to be Michael, he thought. Unless the doctor was a real flop. He stood, walking to the door, peaking through the peep hole, giving a deep sigh before swinging it open.

"Where's Mikey?" Brian said pushing his way into the apartment. "Is he OK?"

"Well yeah" Emmett said. "But he's not here."

"Then where the fuck is he?" Brian said.

Emmett smiled, more than happy to say it. "He's on a date."

"Mikey?" Brian said in disbelief. "My Mikey, out on a date? With a guy?"

"Well he's not out with a heffer." Emmett said. "He's out with a doctor. A really nice, wonderful, gorgeous, smart, successful, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous doctor."

Brian for once felt the uncharacteristic pangs of jealousy eating at him. "So Mikey's on a date" he said. "Now that's sweet. So what'd they do, Babylon? A movie?"

Emmett was just too excited about the whole thing to think. "Dinner." he said "Some French place off Liberty Avenue. Something Boo Lay. Sounds pretty kinky if you ask me."

Brian let out a breathy laugh. "So I guess we call it a night then, huh." he said "No big deal. I'll call Mikey later." Brian paused a moment heading for the door, stepping out of the apartment, heading for the elevator, waiting for the door to Michael's apartment to close before making a U-turn, heading to a payphone, flipping through the phone book. He picked up the phone and dialed.

After the first ring there was an answer. "Chateau Boulle."

"Yes, hi," Brian said. "I'd like to make a reservation for Kinney, party of two."