Hi guys,,,Thanks so much to those who are replying to my story here. I really do appreciate it. I do read each and every review. When this story is over, I will make a special chapter just to thank you each personally. But until then, know that I do know your thoughts as you put them in the reviews, and look forward to reading them always. NOW....There will be NO explanation of exact whereabouts in this story. I don't know the areas well enough to decide on what might or might NOT be in the middle of nowhere, or even what country. LOL So use your imaginations and you pick a place in there for them to all be. I like the idea of an 'anonymous' mountain myself....so lets call it "Twisted Mountain" lol Also the 'TIME and DAY' issue...lets lay it to rest right here. They are not on the same schedule as the rest of the gang. Sure some events occur during the same times, or even days, but I'm not going to upset the muse and make him stop and get an exact thing together here. So, just figure that the 'storm event' is concurrent but the 'events' within the time frame are not. There will be no.. "same time at" things here. Only 'where' each is so you will be able to better determine who is in the scene before you read the first sentence of the change of scenery. Thank you and parking is NOT validated. NOW....as always, please, ENJOY! Malinda
Rules and Broken Trust Chapter 24
Cabin:
Night had fallen, and the snow was coming down still not as the slow drifting swirl it had started with, but as a hard driving skin lashing full fledged blizzard.
Bosco stood at the window watching it hit the panes. Nearly as thick as sheets of rain, stinging the glass and sticking to the edges. Filling in the bottoms of each of the mullion rectangles had already occurred, now the storm was intent on blanketing them. It was fast losing the picturesque look even as it brought home there would be no leaving the cabin soon. He couldn't see the trees anymore in the dark night, but he could still hear the wind howling through the tops of them. It had been over twenty four hours since Vinny's confession. And since his own near collapse. And nearly as long since this storm started. Already it was feet deep and the porch covered to the door.
Yesterday late afternoon, they'd both stood on said porch watching it pile up. Every once in awhile glancing at each other in silent agreement that there was nothing to be done. Finally they had actually started laughing at the almost insane irony of it all. The decision to leave removed from their hands almost as if a huge joke was being played on them both. It was as cold as he'd ever felt it. Face stinging he'd given up his 'outside' air and moved back into the cabin, Vinny following behind. They'd eaten again, but he'd been sick only minutes after. It had passed off by this morning, but he still was not over the effects of the withdrawal.
Clasping his hands together to stop the shaking in them, he could feel the draw of the drugs still calling to him. He'd begged Vinny early yesterday afternoon after they had woken to give them to him. Fortunately Vinny had refused. But he still glanced over when he was in the kitchen at the door to the 'pantry'. It was unlocked now, and he'd even been in it to retrieve stores needed for cooking last night, for the first time. And since then for other reasons. The drug cabinet, a locker really, sat near the back. He'd stood in front of it for a long time early this morning. And it was not until Vinny hesitantly entered asking him if he was okay, that the spell was broken and he could walk away.
Turning now from the window, and the storm he ran his hand along the extensive collection of music CD's surrounding the stereo. The idea that someone, crazy or not, would set this up just to try to make another person happy... Shaking his head a smirk coming over him, he selected one of the CD's at random and opened the CD changer on the stereo.
Soon rock music was filling the room and he moved to the couch to sit and just well, sit. Staring at the fireplace for a few minutes, the window again, back to the fireplace. His knees were bouncing, and not in time with the music screaming out into the room. He realized he was tense enough to shatter if he didn't find something to do and quickly. Hands beginning to sweat again, Bosco jumped up from the couch pacing back and forth across the room. Running his hands roughly through his hair his skin crawling with the same sensation that had been coming and going since yesterday morning. Throat and mouth dry, he stalked to the sink. Snatching a glass from the cabinet he tried to fill it without dropping it. His hand barely under control enough to turn the tap on. Then he was cursing as no water flowed. The pipes had frozen, even buried underground.
Slamming the glass down, he watched in sudden fascination as it shattered against the porcelain covered iron sink. Staring down at the sparkling shards he was frozen, not still in the regular sense, he was still in the throes of tremors, still jumpy. But instead unable to leave the spot he was standing in.
"Maurice?" Vinny's soft question, scaring the shit out of him, Bosco jumped like he'd been scalded by the nonexistent water. "AAHH CRAP!" Jumping back away, eyes wild, he tried to remember what he'd been doing.
"Whoa!" Vinny backed up hands out before him, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Spotting the broken glass in the sink, having come out of the bedroom where he'd been trying to get to sleep. Unsuccessfully with the loud music blasting. Having turned it off he'd looked around again and spotted him standing at the sink. Vinny had said and repeated his name three times before Bosco heard him. "You okay? What happened?" He didn't move to the sink, or Bosco, simply stood waiting. Concern on his face and in his demeanor.
"Yea," Bosco looked down at the sink, "I was getting some water, but I guess the pipes are frozen. I must have dropped the glass." Confusion on his face as he didn't hear the music now, "Um, I mean I dropped the glass. You turned off the stereo?" Unsure now how long he'd been standing there, he looked more than a bit freaked out.
"Couple of minutes ago," Vinny noticed his hands trembling, his jumpiness, "Maurice, I said your name at least three times right here before you heard me. Where were you?" His tone light, trying to give the impression of simple inquiry.
"I, um, I don't know, must have zoned out a bit," taking a deep breath he looked into the sink, "I'll clean this up. Can you get me a water?" Collecting the shards carefully, he began to drop them into the undersink garbage container.
"Sure," Vinny without a second look, went to the fridge, snagging two waters he carried them to the cabinet setting them down. Taking down two glasses he opened and poured them each a glass. "I'm going back to bed, goodnight." Leaving him alone, Vinny hesitated only a moment as he entered the hallway, hearing Bosco's returning, "Night." Making sure he seemed to still be moving and not frozen in place again, he left him alone. Closing his door carefully he set the glass down on the bedside table and glanced only once at the empty spot where an additional pillow had been.
Soon he was asleep, or rather his eyes were closed as he tried to sleep. Unable to help it, he lay listening for him. Making sure he was ok now. Last night had been bad. Bosco had been sick twice more before food stayed down long enough to stay down for good. The nightmares were worse as his body fought off the effects of the drug abuse. Vinny had tried to get him to take the bed, and he would move into the other bedroom, but Bosco said no. He'd sleep on the couch. He didn't want the other rooms door opened again. So, Vinny offered to take the couch, but he'd again refused. When he'd asked him if it was because of what had gone on in the bedroom he'd given a small grin and denied it, simply saying he fit on the couch better than Vinny did, being smaller. Vinny finally let it go, not wanting to upset him again. But he'd been up most of the night with him ill anyway, so it didn't really matter who slept where.
Only tonight, the constant sounds of him up and down, pacing and turning things on and off told Vinny he still wasn't out of the woods yet. That pun of thought bringing a sharp laugh from him as he lay there in the near dark. He'd left the regular nightlight on in case Bosco needed the bathroom, but so far all he'd done was pace and turn things on and off. He knew when he was pacing because he talked to himself. Not really a conversation, just occasional outbursts of chewing his ownself out for taking the drugs, or trying to talk himself out of asking for them again. It was obvious he didn't remember he could be heard and Vinny didn't tell him. He knew he was having a hard enough time without the additional embarrassment. Vinny knew he'd caused the man enough harm, and vowed to add no additional pain to his suffering.
Downing the glass of water, Bosco carefully with both hands set this glass on the cabinet, not trusting himself not to drop it in the sink. He'd nicked himself a couple of times with the cleanup, but nothing like he'd done with the broken picture frame. As the broken frame came to his mind, he turned and looked at the couch. Glancing once at the hallway, seeing the bedroom door was closed, the soft light peeking under the bottom scattered across the wooden floor like rays of the sun. Broken glass...
Bosco crossed the floor, standing looking down at the couch end a moment, wondering if it was still there. Bending down, reaching his hand under, he found it. Drawing it carefully from under the bottom of the tailored hem of the leather couch he held up the large shard of the glass from the frame. Staring at it seeing the firelight's reflection in it, he was in only another moments time dropping it into the small garbage can to join the other broken pieces from the drinking container.
That's why he'd been lost in space when Vinny had said his name, he was remembering the broken picture, and his reaction to the face. His overwhelming fear then of what Vinny would do about it. And how that fear had turned to confusion when Vinny didn't beat him as he'd expected, or even anticipated. How he had instead forgotten the breakage as he panicked over the cuts on his hands. Insisting on picking out the glass slivers himself, cleaning and bandaging the cuts, even as Bosco tried to tell him he could do it, that it wasn't necessary to bandage his hands as he'd done.
Why that memory, not of his previous anger or mistreatment, surfaced he was confused about. So much had happened to him, to Vinny, between them it left him unable to figure out how he felt anymore. He knew he should still be angry, hell hate him even for what he'd done.
Why was he only able now to remember the things Vinny had done that were kind or even loving? More confusion as he tried to remember the fights, only as he did, it occurred to him, that the only real fight they'd had since arriving here that first night or day he was awake, he'd been the one to start. Not Vinny. Until then, everytime Bosco had challenged him, other than the showering incident, Vinny had backed off. Including the scene with the cast iron frying pan. Swallowing hard, staring into the garbage can at the glass he felt out of control again.
Suddenly he had to know something. Something he'd been afraid to ask before.
Rangers Station:
"We have to get on that mountain!" Swersky and Hampton stood looking at the map in the Rangers station. Dave had just showed them all again where Denver said the cabin was.
"Lt. Swersky," Ranger Stevens had patiently explained to them already, and now he was having to do it again, "we're in the middle of a blizzard. NO ONE is going anywhere until this stops. And even then, where that cabin is located, it could take days to get there with the snow like it will be. Hell there's already 6 feet of it and its only been 12 hours since it started. And probably more already on Twisted Mountain! NO place for a helicopter up there to land. And even when we do get to go, any vehicles we take need to be able to negotiate that mountain road, they don't call it Twisted for nothing you know. Covered with snow and ice, its not going to be easy. We could take snowmobiles a good distance, but we still have to get them within refueling range. You're talking about literally in the middle of NOWHERE! I'm sorry, but until this thing passes, you're just going to have to enjoy this cabin and relax."
Hands on hips, Dave glanced over at Keith, "And you agree?" He was holding himself ridged as he awaited the answer. Eyes cast to the table studying the map, Keith nodded, "Unfortunately, yes," looking up he caught Faith's eye, "I'm sorry, but he's right. We'd just be another rescue looking to happen if we went out in this." Faith turned to the ranger, "How long is this expected to last?" Stevens sipped his hot cider, "Weather system looks like its settled in for the long haul. This is winter folks. Could be two, three days, could be more than a week. Hell some have been known to last two weeks. Hard to tell. Sometimes just when you think its over, here it comes again even harder. Most of those folks up there at this time of year have settled in for a snow in and now they won't be coming down and no one is coming up until the thaw begins. Like I said, I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Rough country up here. But there's plenty of space to get some shut eye, and we do have a TV. Don't get great reception, but it's better than nothing. Hell Officer, as busy as I usually am with rescues of hikers and skiers if I get to see a couple of hockey games a season, I'm happy." He walked off then, heading to the kitchen as the others digested what he'd just told them a second time.
"A WEEK?" Sully dropped his head back on his chair's top rail, "And WE can't leave either! Is that what everyone else is understanding here? OR is that just ME?"
"No, no, I'm pretty sure that's what he said," Ty groaned, "except I heard it could be two weeks! Man when I get my hands on that bastard Starke again for waiting so long to come to us with this!" Hampton spoke up, "Well, I agree, but don't forget, we don't even know for sure if they are at the cabin. Vetresco could have taken him anywhere..." Faith spoke again, "IF he took him anywhere, right? I mean lets face it guys, we could find nothing, ever." She turned and went to the window watching the snow fall. The wind was picking up again, their drive here had nearly been canceled halfway because of roads already being shut down. Only Hamptons FBI credentials had opened them to the small caravan. And now all they could do was sit and wait, again.
She tried her cell phone, and it still showed no signal. The ranger had told them reception here was not good. He'd put a radio call out for Hampton to let any family members know what was going on, but she still wanted to talk to Fred personally, let him know she was ok. It was late night and she was tired, but like the rest too keyed up to sleep.
Staring out the window, she wondered if he was still alive what Bosco was doing, going through.
Cabin:
"How long?" Angry, demanding, Bosco stood next to the bed, shaking Vinny awake.
Nearly asleep now, Vinny startled at Bosco's voice, the hard grip on his shoulder, "What?" His eyes open he stared up at him in confusion, "Maurice, is something wrong?" Sitting up as he saw the look of indignant outrage on his face, Vinny moved against the head rails, watching him carefully, "What?"
"HOW LONG?" Bosco stood hands clenching at his sides, breathing heavily, voice loud in the silence of the cabin, though he wasn't yet shouting, "HOW LONG WAS I IN THAT ROOM VIN? HOW LONG WOULD YOU HAVE LEFT ME THERE IF I DIDN'T GIVE IN?"
Vinny glanced down a moment at the comforter lying across his lap, answering as he looked up, "Ten days. You were in there ten days Maurice." He stopped as he saw the look of horrific shock on his face.
Stunned, his voice reflecting it, "Ten? NO, it was a hell of a lot longer Vinny! How long?" The question demanded again. He was not accepting what Vinny was saying.
"TEN. DAYS, I swear, no more, ten days," Vinny watched him digest whether this was truth or not, "I marked it on the calendar, everyday that you stayed in there, I put it on the calendar. I thought you'd never decide to come out."
Blinking at him confusion and anger renewed, "What? VINNY I didn't STAY anywhere! You wouldn't let me OUT! YOU LOCKED ME IN!!"
"YES, yes Maurice at first I did, you're right," Vinny wiped his hand over his face, struggling with this now, "but only because I was afraid I would hurt you." A harsh laugh, nearly a sob, "Make that hurt you more, kill you even. It was the only way I could protect you from me, from you. I'll never defend it as right, but it was the only way."
"But you kept the door locked!" Bosco was beside himself, angry and hurt, needing to know the truth and not even sure why it mattered so much, "I begged you, I offered you everyday the same thing. EVERYDAY!! Why that day? Huh? Why that day? What made that day any different from any other fucking day?"
Vinny stared at him for several minutes, searching his face, just when he thought Vinny wouldn't answer him, he spoke, "Because Maurice, because I'd unlocked the door five days earlier, and you knew it and you wouldn't come out. I told you I wouldn't bring a light to leave with you. If you wanted one, you had to come out, to to get you to leave the room. But everyday, you said the same thing, that you would give me anything to let you out, as if you didn't hear a thing I said. And everytime I left you alone, and told you it was your choice, not mine if you stayed in. But you never came near the door. I finally realized you wouldn't unless..."
Bosco was reeling, 'the door was open? nooooo, was it? nooo, I would have known...' his thoughts crashing in and nearly drowning him as the shoved aside memories burned him and taunted him. Vinny staring at him in the near black room, him begging to be let out and Vinny giving him a push away, telling him...telling him..."OH GOD, OH GOD NO!"
Vinny came up off the bed then, holding him, keeping him from falling, "Maurice you knew, you knew the door was open. I caved in that day, because I love you, and because I knew you would not leave that room otherwise. It was like you couldn't hear me, or see that it was true. I put the lock on the dresser, so you would see it, but it was like you were blind to the truth. Don't you remember? I left the door wide open the night before, and you closed it." He was sitting now head bowed on the side of the bed, listening to Vinny who was kneeling in front of him, "Maurice, the door was open. You closed it. Do you remember now?"
Head slowly nodding as the memories became clearer, Vinny hadn't made him do anything. He'd done it to himself during the last days in the room. And his wounds hadn't been completely healed, he knew that now, neither had Vinny's though both had recovered a great deal before that last day.
"Why?" He asked his voice rough, "Vin, why did I do that? I wasn't drunk. High, some, but not that high." Vinny shrugged giving a shake to his head, "I can't answer that. I know why I let you, why I finally went along with it. Hell I know why I even told you that day that you weren't getting out, but why you...Maurice I can't answer that for you." Standing he moved back, "Look, you stay here, I'll go sleep in the living room. Besides, I can't stand all the pacing and noise, you're driving me crazy."
"NO," Bosco stood up, "I'll sleep on the couch, I won't make anymore noise." He moved past Vinny at the door, "I promise, I won't make anymore noise." It was as if the last ten minutes never happened, snagging him, Vinny held him by the arm, "Maurice, why don't you want to take the bed? I won't come in here after you. I promised you that and through all the insane, crazy shit I've done, I still kept my promises. Right?" He knew that it had to be, or thought it anyway, the drugs withdrawal making him so edgy and jumpy. The whole scene about the bedroom he didn't still understand, but it was done and couldn't be undone, least he could do was try to get him to get an actual nights sleep.
Raising his eyes to Vinny's, Bosco replied, "Yea, yea you did, good or bad." Looking back at the bed he stopped cold. Sudden realization slamming him in the chest full force, why he didn't want to be in that bed. Why he couldn't sleep on the couch either, was pacing and making noise. It had been three weeks since he'd been out of the room. And it had only been ten days, he knew that now. Not the month he'd led himself to believe. And he knew...
Pulling away from Vinny's soft grip, voice rough, low, "Go to bed Vinny." He was gone, the door to the hallway closed behind him. Sighing Vinny turned and closed the bedroom door, returning to the bed.
Bosco stood staring down into the burned out embers of the fireplace. Full knowledge harshly thrust upon him earlier now settled around him like the falling snow outside. Using the fire poker he stirred the remaining piles of ashes around, moving the metal point slowly, scratching the metal plate underneath lightly as he did so. Head on his forearm, resting against the mantel he rubbed his forehead back and forth as if he could wipe away his choices made. 'My choices. My choice. Mine.'
Aware that the initial choices in everything were not his, yet they were. Aware that he could have made it difficult even impossible for Vinny in the beginning to do what he did once they'd arrived at the cabin. Hell even before.
He was the one who got drunk enough at the ball game that his guard was down, that he made himself vulnerable to attack. Went home with someone he really barely knew. Took pills he had no idea the content of.
Ignoring all the warnings before and after by Sully, and others who thought that Vinny was trouble. Ignoring Ty even. Let himself ignore the warnings he saw. He'd seen Vinny's volatile side at work, but never toward him. Even at his own apartment, while it had shook him, it had also; flattered him. He got drunk again on the way to the restaurant, drinking the Whiskey. Acting like a fool, beer after beer in the restaurant. Pushing the limits, because...
Shoving his head hard against his arm, covering his eyes he jabbed the poker hard into the stand. Holding onto the mantel now. Because...
Because for the first time in longer than he wanted to admit, someone had made him feel needed, wanted. Didn't judge him or put him down. No jokes about his bad policing, no lectures about how to do it better, right, somebody else's way. Someone had accepted him as he was. Paid attention to him, not his bad points. Someone understood him, and cared what happened to him. Sought out his company. Made him feel like he counted again. Offered him trust and friendship based on nothing he'd thought at the time other than just that, who he was, not who they thought he should be.
Choices. He made them, one right after the other right up until and including that bedroom, that locked, unlocked door. He took the drugs, drank the alcohol even after Vinny tried to tell him to stop, that he wanted to be with him sober. But again, his choice. He'd ignored it, and kept on going, telling himself he could handle it, that it was the only way he could...
Only the door wasn't locked, and he wasn't drunk, and he had barely been high.
Why? With everything that Vinny DID do, the drugging, kidnapping, rape. Bringing him here, all the terror and threats. Except that Vinny hadn't after the first night touched him in anger or any other way he'd not allowed until the night he'd done the X and G. And that while coerced had not been violent by any means. Not until the next day when he'd attacked him for 'rubbing it in his face' what he'd done. He knew now what he'd known then, sighing as he pushed off the mantel head down, foot slowly dragging along the floor as he stood staring into the ashes. Had he said no to the G, Vinny would not have made him do anything. He'd not made him do anything since either. He'd accepted everything, but forced no. Not since that first time.
Bosco standing there, knowing Vinny's real past now, in as much as Vinny knew it to be true saw that he knew Vinny as well as Vinny knew him. Only in some ways, while he'd slipped over that edge of insanity for awhile, Vinny was just more honest about it than he was.
He was in love with Bosco. And he knew it. Denver was a painful, harsh memory. But that's all he'd become in these few months, maybe even before he'd decided to bring him here.
Spotting something at the edge of the grate, Bosco bent down to it. Fingers closing over the small corner of the paper. Lifting it as he felt its texture and weight he glanced to where the frames sat on the table. To find them gone. Rubbing the edge clear of soot, he sighed lightly a small smile on his face now. Vinny had burned the pictures of Denver Starke. Since he hadn't seen him do it, he figured it had been done when he was asleep this morning attempting to rid himself of the last sick episode he'd gone through. Standing again, he dropped the small scrap of picture onto the remaining ashes. Wiping his fingers on his pajama bottoms. He was tired of thinking, maybe tired enough to get to sleep now.
Taking in the couch, with its stacked sheets and blanket. Pillow on top the neatly folded bedding, Bosco decided he needed to be honest with himself and with Vinny. Swallowing hard he made another choice. A small devious smile coming over his mouth he headed to the kitchen.
Rangers Station:
"Cards?" Ty shuffled the stack in Sully's face as he was staring at the fireplace. "We already played cards," Sully yawned, rolling his head around he tried to ease the tension in his neck, "when is this going to end?" Ty set down the card deck and picked up a small wooden box, holding it up in front of Sully's face he asked, "Dominos?" Cutting his eyes at him without turning to him, "We already played Dominos." Sully poked around in the fire with the poker, shuffling the logs until the fire blazed. "Did that Stevens guy get another weather update?" Ty had put down the box of Dominos, now he was holding a folded cardboard up in front of his face, "Checkers?" Sully glanced over his shoulder in the opposite direction, "We already played Checkers. You seen Faith? Is she getting some sleep?" Ty sighed, setting down the Checkerboard, picking up a small bag, the sound of glass scraping against glass coming from it he waited until Sully was looking back at the fire, then held it up in front of him, "Marbles?" Sully finally looked at him, "We already discussed that I'M NOT getting on the floor with you to play Marbles. You want more coffee? I'm getting some more coffee." Getting up he went to the kitchen. Ty watched him, calling out softly, "No, that's okay, no more coffee for me, I'll just sit here with my bag of marbles. Thanks anyway Sul." Grinning as Sully stopped a moment to stare at him. It had been 24 hours since they'd arrived and to say they were already bored with the situation and waiting was an understatement. Faith had actually gone to lay down in self defense. A bored Ty was a pesky Ty. Sully finally laughed, "OK, I'll play cards with you. But not Rummy! You cheat, and you don't know the rules to begin with." Ty turned back to the small table and cleared it readying it for a card game, "How about POKER?" Sully called from the kitchen, "NO, you cheat at that too! I lost enough last time thank you!" "HEY! I don't cheat!" Ty grinned as he caught the look Swersky was giving him, lowering his voice to a near whisper, "Unless I play with you Sul." His chuckle made Dave grin.
"They always like this?" Keith was reading a book he'd found on the shelf and was on one end of the couch, Dave on the other. "Yes they are," Dave looked back down at his own book, turning the page. "Good friends and partners huh?" Keith glanced over at Dave. Returning the look, "Like it should be, right Keith?" Nodding as he grinned, "Like it should be, Dave."
The cabin grew quiet again, Sully and Ty the only voices as they 'argued' over the rules and who was cheating as they played 'Go Fish' the only game they could agree you 'couldn't' cheat in. One by one the FBI agents joining them at the table, some watching some joining in the game. Soft arguing began over which 'team' would win as they all bored began to bet on "Go Fish".
Cabin:
In a light sleep, Vinny stirred only slightly as he sensed something landing on the bed next to his pillow. As the comforter was eased back he gave no notice. When the weight of a body stirred the mattress as Bosco slid in he rolled to his back, but didn't actually wake. It wasn't until he felt the ice cold body slide up against him that he finally become aware someone was there.
"Good GOD!! What the hell?" Vinny jerked away to escape the freezing flesh pressing against him. "MAURICE! STOP! GET AWAY FROM ME! How did you get...DID YOU GO OUTSIDE?" As he moved away, Bosco laughing followed him, "NO, um, the fireplace went out and I guess the heater must be broken again, it uh, got really cold in the living room. I need to warm up, you don't mind do you?" Snuggling up against him again, actually trying to get some heat back, he heard Vinny yell again and felt him moving away. "OH HELL NO!! JUST, JUST GO GET IN THE SHOWER OR SOMETHING! My god you're like a block of ice...wait a minute, its not cold in this room. The heaters on, I can feel it." Narrowing his eyes at him, "What did you do? Did you get in that LOCKER? ARE YOU HIGH? YOU DID DIDN'T YOU, AND YOU WENT OUTSIDE! ARE YOU NUTS? IT CAN'T BE 20 DEGREES OUT THERE MAURICE!"
Leaning over he brought the lamp up to high, now in the brighter light he took a good look at him. Moving aside he reached out and held his chin, making him face the light. Searching his face while Bosco just grinned at him. "Are you high?" Vinny was stumped as to what was going on.
"NO!" Bosco moved towards him again, "Just cold." Vinny slid further away, "Oh no, I don't know what you took, or what you did to get so cold, but that shower will warm you up, now go!" Pointing to it he had the look of a trapped man as Bosco shook his head grinning wickedly, "Waters off remember? Pipes frozen. Can't use the shower." Moving to Vinny again, "Guess its just going to be body heat to keep me from getting pneumonia huh?" Reaching out to a stunned Vinny, Bosco touched his face, growing serious, "I'm not asking you to do anything, just let me stay in here, please?" Searching Vinny's face he saw the need, and the desire to agree, and the fear of doing so. "Vinny, its okay. I want to do this. I'm not drunk, and I'm NOT high. But I am about to freeze my ass off here from standing in the door of the freezer for 15 minutes so..."
Vinny's mouth dropped open, then he was laughing, "And you call me Crazy? I think we've both lost it, we've both gone nuts, Maurice." Laughing with him, "Yep, but its okay Vin, we'll just go nuts together until we can get off this mountain. But until then," he was shivering hard, "think I could maybe at least get under a blanket?" Instantly Vinny was wrapping the comforter around them both as he drew him down against him in the bed. "What the hell possessed you to stand in the door of the freezer?" Feeling another violent shiver from Bosco he began to rub his arm vigorously with one hand and his back with the other. Teeth chattering now as he began to feel the heat off of Vinny as well as the trapped heat in the bed and coverings, "Fig, Figured, it, it was the only, only way you'd let me get this cllllose again." He was tucked in tight, but it was all Vinny could do to stay put and not draw away from him, he was starting to shiver himself from the icy sensation of him against him.
"What?" Vinny stared at him hard, "You tried to freeze your parts off just to get in here? With me?" Bosco smirked, "Well the only parts really in danger of actually freezing off were just my feet," as he stuck them tight against Vinny's bare calves. Hanging on tight as Vinny yelled and tried to fight him off.
"AAHHHHH YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Vinny howled with laugher as he tried to get away, "STOP! STOP!!" Shoving him over onto his back he leaned over him, "You want to play dirty, I can play dirty. You know how much you LOVE to be tickled?" Bosco's eyes grew wide, his cold forgotten, "No, no, no Vin, you wouldn't! You know what happens....nooooo hahahahahhahh!" Bosco was gasping for breath in seconds as Vinny sat on him and tickled him hard. "Stop, oh god, stop please, I'm gonna, gonna, Vin if I pee my pants I'm gonna be MAD!!" His voice rough with trying to laugh and breath at the same time, he was begging for mercy. Vinny let go finally, rolling over onto the bed on his side facing him as he lay helpless trying to recover. "Now, that's what you get for those cold feet, and your little tricks. Now, when you can talk again, you're going to tell me why you're doing this."
Rolling over to face him as his breathing returned to normal, Bosco was smiling, "Why I'm doing what?" As Vinny's serious look returned, his own smile faded, reaching up he ran his fingers across the top of Vinny's brow, tracing the lines of his face until he reached his chin. As he did so he felt Vinny shiver under his touch, knowing it wasn't caused by the cold. "Who did you bring here? Me? Or Denver, Vinny?' Searching his eyes for the answer, Bosco waited.
Vinny frowned, his voice caught as he replied, "I stopped seeing Denver three days after I met you Maurice. Sure at first when you were looking away I saw him, but then when you looked at me, all I saw was you. Your dark blue eyes staring at me, laughing, or pissed off, or just wondering what the hell some perp could have been thinking to do whatever it was we were dealing with. Three days, and I saw you. I didn't bring Denver here, I brought you. For all the insane, wrong, fucked up in the head, wish I could change it all reasons. I fell for you. And you paid the price for it. How can you be in here now? How can you possibly stand to look at me? Much less want to be in here with me?"
"I've been thinking about that, out there. And maybe it makes no sense. When we leave it will go back to making no sense, and if anyone looking in saw it, they'd lock me away or something. But I I share some blame in this. By making the choices I did, I helped it to happen. If someone heard me right now, they'd think I'd gone off that cliff with you, and maybe I did. Hell maybe I'm still there, I don't know. But what happened, somehow makes me understand what you went through? Understand how you could end up over that cliff. Help me to forgive you even if I can't really forget. I'm not telling anyone what happened when we get back Vin." Vinny again tried to speak, "Don't do anything you're going to regret Maurice, I already told you, I'd take my punishment. I killed a man, and I hurt you beyond words. You need to think about this..."
Bosco shushed him again, "I already thought enough about it. Its giving me a headache. Besides, you can't bring him back, and I already forgave you, so its done. And I know this isn't going to last between us when we leave. It can't like I said, this is not who I am out there. But here, now? I want to be with you. And I..."
"Maurice," Vinny tried to speak, but was again silenced, only this time it was because Bosco had covered his mouth not with his fingers but with his own mouth. Vinny groaned against him as he sought entry, but pulled back breaking the soft kiss. "Are you sure? That this is what you want? We don't have...I don't want to hurt you, I can't hurt you anymore Maurice." Bosco leaned over him, brought the lamp down to nightlight setting, then settling down over Vinny's chest said softly, "Shut up Vin, you talk to much. Now, warm me up before I die of pnemonia. Oh and I was looking at that Karma Sutra book thing I found on the shelf? I saw some interesting things in there!" Vinny commented laughing, "Anybody ever call you a slut?" Bosco cracked up, "Yea, but I usually take it as a compliment." A moment later the laughter turned to more urgent sounds drifting across the room in the near dark.
TBC...
Rules and Broken Trust Chapter 24
Cabin:
Night had fallen, and the snow was coming down still not as the slow drifting swirl it had started with, but as a hard driving skin lashing full fledged blizzard.
Bosco stood at the window watching it hit the panes. Nearly as thick as sheets of rain, stinging the glass and sticking to the edges. Filling in the bottoms of each of the mullion rectangles had already occurred, now the storm was intent on blanketing them. It was fast losing the picturesque look even as it brought home there would be no leaving the cabin soon. He couldn't see the trees anymore in the dark night, but he could still hear the wind howling through the tops of them. It had been over twenty four hours since Vinny's confession. And since his own near collapse. And nearly as long since this storm started. Already it was feet deep and the porch covered to the door.
Yesterday late afternoon, they'd both stood on said porch watching it pile up. Every once in awhile glancing at each other in silent agreement that there was nothing to be done. Finally they had actually started laughing at the almost insane irony of it all. The decision to leave removed from their hands almost as if a huge joke was being played on them both. It was as cold as he'd ever felt it. Face stinging he'd given up his 'outside' air and moved back into the cabin, Vinny following behind. They'd eaten again, but he'd been sick only minutes after. It had passed off by this morning, but he still was not over the effects of the withdrawal.
Clasping his hands together to stop the shaking in them, he could feel the draw of the drugs still calling to him. He'd begged Vinny early yesterday afternoon after they had woken to give them to him. Fortunately Vinny had refused. But he still glanced over when he was in the kitchen at the door to the 'pantry'. It was unlocked now, and he'd even been in it to retrieve stores needed for cooking last night, for the first time. And since then for other reasons. The drug cabinet, a locker really, sat near the back. He'd stood in front of it for a long time early this morning. And it was not until Vinny hesitantly entered asking him if he was okay, that the spell was broken and he could walk away.
Turning now from the window, and the storm he ran his hand along the extensive collection of music CD's surrounding the stereo. The idea that someone, crazy or not, would set this up just to try to make another person happy... Shaking his head a smirk coming over him, he selected one of the CD's at random and opened the CD changer on the stereo.
Soon rock music was filling the room and he moved to the couch to sit and just well, sit. Staring at the fireplace for a few minutes, the window again, back to the fireplace. His knees were bouncing, and not in time with the music screaming out into the room. He realized he was tense enough to shatter if he didn't find something to do and quickly. Hands beginning to sweat again, Bosco jumped up from the couch pacing back and forth across the room. Running his hands roughly through his hair his skin crawling with the same sensation that had been coming and going since yesterday morning. Throat and mouth dry, he stalked to the sink. Snatching a glass from the cabinet he tried to fill it without dropping it. His hand barely under control enough to turn the tap on. Then he was cursing as no water flowed. The pipes had frozen, even buried underground.
Slamming the glass down, he watched in sudden fascination as it shattered against the porcelain covered iron sink. Staring down at the sparkling shards he was frozen, not still in the regular sense, he was still in the throes of tremors, still jumpy. But instead unable to leave the spot he was standing in.
"Maurice?" Vinny's soft question, scaring the shit out of him, Bosco jumped like he'd been scalded by the nonexistent water. "AAHH CRAP!" Jumping back away, eyes wild, he tried to remember what he'd been doing.
"Whoa!" Vinny backed up hands out before him, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Spotting the broken glass in the sink, having come out of the bedroom where he'd been trying to get to sleep. Unsuccessfully with the loud music blasting. Having turned it off he'd looked around again and spotted him standing at the sink. Vinny had said and repeated his name three times before Bosco heard him. "You okay? What happened?" He didn't move to the sink, or Bosco, simply stood waiting. Concern on his face and in his demeanor.
"Yea," Bosco looked down at the sink, "I was getting some water, but I guess the pipes are frozen. I must have dropped the glass." Confusion on his face as he didn't hear the music now, "Um, I mean I dropped the glass. You turned off the stereo?" Unsure now how long he'd been standing there, he looked more than a bit freaked out.
"Couple of minutes ago," Vinny noticed his hands trembling, his jumpiness, "Maurice, I said your name at least three times right here before you heard me. Where were you?" His tone light, trying to give the impression of simple inquiry.
"I, um, I don't know, must have zoned out a bit," taking a deep breath he looked into the sink, "I'll clean this up. Can you get me a water?" Collecting the shards carefully, he began to drop them into the undersink garbage container.
"Sure," Vinny without a second look, went to the fridge, snagging two waters he carried them to the cabinet setting them down. Taking down two glasses he opened and poured them each a glass. "I'm going back to bed, goodnight." Leaving him alone, Vinny hesitated only a moment as he entered the hallway, hearing Bosco's returning, "Night." Making sure he seemed to still be moving and not frozen in place again, he left him alone. Closing his door carefully he set the glass down on the bedside table and glanced only once at the empty spot where an additional pillow had been.
Soon he was asleep, or rather his eyes were closed as he tried to sleep. Unable to help it, he lay listening for him. Making sure he was ok now. Last night had been bad. Bosco had been sick twice more before food stayed down long enough to stay down for good. The nightmares were worse as his body fought off the effects of the drug abuse. Vinny had tried to get him to take the bed, and he would move into the other bedroom, but Bosco said no. He'd sleep on the couch. He didn't want the other rooms door opened again. So, Vinny offered to take the couch, but he'd again refused. When he'd asked him if it was because of what had gone on in the bedroom he'd given a small grin and denied it, simply saying he fit on the couch better than Vinny did, being smaller. Vinny finally let it go, not wanting to upset him again. But he'd been up most of the night with him ill anyway, so it didn't really matter who slept where.
Only tonight, the constant sounds of him up and down, pacing and turning things on and off told Vinny he still wasn't out of the woods yet. That pun of thought bringing a sharp laugh from him as he lay there in the near dark. He'd left the regular nightlight on in case Bosco needed the bathroom, but so far all he'd done was pace and turn things on and off. He knew when he was pacing because he talked to himself. Not really a conversation, just occasional outbursts of chewing his ownself out for taking the drugs, or trying to talk himself out of asking for them again. It was obvious he didn't remember he could be heard and Vinny didn't tell him. He knew he was having a hard enough time without the additional embarrassment. Vinny knew he'd caused the man enough harm, and vowed to add no additional pain to his suffering.
Downing the glass of water, Bosco carefully with both hands set this glass on the cabinet, not trusting himself not to drop it in the sink. He'd nicked himself a couple of times with the cleanup, but nothing like he'd done with the broken picture frame. As the broken frame came to his mind, he turned and looked at the couch. Glancing once at the hallway, seeing the bedroom door was closed, the soft light peeking under the bottom scattered across the wooden floor like rays of the sun. Broken glass...
Bosco crossed the floor, standing looking down at the couch end a moment, wondering if it was still there. Bending down, reaching his hand under, he found it. Drawing it carefully from under the bottom of the tailored hem of the leather couch he held up the large shard of the glass from the frame. Staring at it seeing the firelight's reflection in it, he was in only another moments time dropping it into the small garbage can to join the other broken pieces from the drinking container.
That's why he'd been lost in space when Vinny had said his name, he was remembering the broken picture, and his reaction to the face. His overwhelming fear then of what Vinny would do about it. And how that fear had turned to confusion when Vinny didn't beat him as he'd expected, or even anticipated. How he had instead forgotten the breakage as he panicked over the cuts on his hands. Insisting on picking out the glass slivers himself, cleaning and bandaging the cuts, even as Bosco tried to tell him he could do it, that it wasn't necessary to bandage his hands as he'd done.
Why that memory, not of his previous anger or mistreatment, surfaced he was confused about. So much had happened to him, to Vinny, between them it left him unable to figure out how he felt anymore. He knew he should still be angry, hell hate him even for what he'd done.
Why was he only able now to remember the things Vinny had done that were kind or even loving? More confusion as he tried to remember the fights, only as he did, it occurred to him, that the only real fight they'd had since arriving here that first night or day he was awake, he'd been the one to start. Not Vinny. Until then, everytime Bosco had challenged him, other than the showering incident, Vinny had backed off. Including the scene with the cast iron frying pan. Swallowing hard, staring into the garbage can at the glass he felt out of control again.
Suddenly he had to know something. Something he'd been afraid to ask before.
Rangers Station:
"We have to get on that mountain!" Swersky and Hampton stood looking at the map in the Rangers station. Dave had just showed them all again where Denver said the cabin was.
"Lt. Swersky," Ranger Stevens had patiently explained to them already, and now he was having to do it again, "we're in the middle of a blizzard. NO ONE is going anywhere until this stops. And even then, where that cabin is located, it could take days to get there with the snow like it will be. Hell there's already 6 feet of it and its only been 12 hours since it started. And probably more already on Twisted Mountain! NO place for a helicopter up there to land. And even when we do get to go, any vehicles we take need to be able to negotiate that mountain road, they don't call it Twisted for nothing you know. Covered with snow and ice, its not going to be easy. We could take snowmobiles a good distance, but we still have to get them within refueling range. You're talking about literally in the middle of NOWHERE! I'm sorry, but until this thing passes, you're just going to have to enjoy this cabin and relax."
Hands on hips, Dave glanced over at Keith, "And you agree?" He was holding himself ridged as he awaited the answer. Eyes cast to the table studying the map, Keith nodded, "Unfortunately, yes," looking up he caught Faith's eye, "I'm sorry, but he's right. We'd just be another rescue looking to happen if we went out in this." Faith turned to the ranger, "How long is this expected to last?" Stevens sipped his hot cider, "Weather system looks like its settled in for the long haul. This is winter folks. Could be two, three days, could be more than a week. Hell some have been known to last two weeks. Hard to tell. Sometimes just when you think its over, here it comes again even harder. Most of those folks up there at this time of year have settled in for a snow in and now they won't be coming down and no one is coming up until the thaw begins. Like I said, I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Rough country up here. But there's plenty of space to get some shut eye, and we do have a TV. Don't get great reception, but it's better than nothing. Hell Officer, as busy as I usually am with rescues of hikers and skiers if I get to see a couple of hockey games a season, I'm happy." He walked off then, heading to the kitchen as the others digested what he'd just told them a second time.
"A WEEK?" Sully dropped his head back on his chair's top rail, "And WE can't leave either! Is that what everyone else is understanding here? OR is that just ME?"
"No, no, I'm pretty sure that's what he said," Ty groaned, "except I heard it could be two weeks! Man when I get my hands on that bastard Starke again for waiting so long to come to us with this!" Hampton spoke up, "Well, I agree, but don't forget, we don't even know for sure if they are at the cabin. Vetresco could have taken him anywhere..." Faith spoke again, "IF he took him anywhere, right? I mean lets face it guys, we could find nothing, ever." She turned and went to the window watching the snow fall. The wind was picking up again, their drive here had nearly been canceled halfway because of roads already being shut down. Only Hamptons FBI credentials had opened them to the small caravan. And now all they could do was sit and wait, again.
She tried her cell phone, and it still showed no signal. The ranger had told them reception here was not good. He'd put a radio call out for Hampton to let any family members know what was going on, but she still wanted to talk to Fred personally, let him know she was ok. It was late night and she was tired, but like the rest too keyed up to sleep.
Staring out the window, she wondered if he was still alive what Bosco was doing, going through.
Cabin:
"How long?" Angry, demanding, Bosco stood next to the bed, shaking Vinny awake.
Nearly asleep now, Vinny startled at Bosco's voice, the hard grip on his shoulder, "What?" His eyes open he stared up at him in confusion, "Maurice, is something wrong?" Sitting up as he saw the look of indignant outrage on his face, Vinny moved against the head rails, watching him carefully, "What?"
"HOW LONG?" Bosco stood hands clenching at his sides, breathing heavily, voice loud in the silence of the cabin, though he wasn't yet shouting, "HOW LONG WAS I IN THAT ROOM VIN? HOW LONG WOULD YOU HAVE LEFT ME THERE IF I DIDN'T GIVE IN?"
Vinny glanced down a moment at the comforter lying across his lap, answering as he looked up, "Ten days. You were in there ten days Maurice." He stopped as he saw the look of horrific shock on his face.
Stunned, his voice reflecting it, "Ten? NO, it was a hell of a lot longer Vinny! How long?" The question demanded again. He was not accepting what Vinny was saying.
"TEN. DAYS, I swear, no more, ten days," Vinny watched him digest whether this was truth or not, "I marked it on the calendar, everyday that you stayed in there, I put it on the calendar. I thought you'd never decide to come out."
Blinking at him confusion and anger renewed, "What? VINNY I didn't STAY anywhere! You wouldn't let me OUT! YOU LOCKED ME IN!!"
"YES, yes Maurice at first I did, you're right," Vinny wiped his hand over his face, struggling with this now, "but only because I was afraid I would hurt you." A harsh laugh, nearly a sob, "Make that hurt you more, kill you even. It was the only way I could protect you from me, from you. I'll never defend it as right, but it was the only way."
"But you kept the door locked!" Bosco was beside himself, angry and hurt, needing to know the truth and not even sure why it mattered so much, "I begged you, I offered you everyday the same thing. EVERYDAY!! Why that day? Huh? Why that day? What made that day any different from any other fucking day?"
Vinny stared at him for several minutes, searching his face, just when he thought Vinny wouldn't answer him, he spoke, "Because Maurice, because I'd unlocked the door five days earlier, and you knew it and you wouldn't come out. I told you I wouldn't bring a light to leave with you. If you wanted one, you had to come out, to to get you to leave the room. But everyday, you said the same thing, that you would give me anything to let you out, as if you didn't hear a thing I said. And everytime I left you alone, and told you it was your choice, not mine if you stayed in. But you never came near the door. I finally realized you wouldn't unless..."
Bosco was reeling, 'the door was open? nooooo, was it? nooo, I would have known...' his thoughts crashing in and nearly drowning him as the shoved aside memories burned him and taunted him. Vinny staring at him in the near black room, him begging to be let out and Vinny giving him a push away, telling him...telling him..."OH GOD, OH GOD NO!"
Vinny came up off the bed then, holding him, keeping him from falling, "Maurice you knew, you knew the door was open. I caved in that day, because I love you, and because I knew you would not leave that room otherwise. It was like you couldn't hear me, or see that it was true. I put the lock on the dresser, so you would see it, but it was like you were blind to the truth. Don't you remember? I left the door wide open the night before, and you closed it." He was sitting now head bowed on the side of the bed, listening to Vinny who was kneeling in front of him, "Maurice, the door was open. You closed it. Do you remember now?"
Head slowly nodding as the memories became clearer, Vinny hadn't made him do anything. He'd done it to himself during the last days in the room. And his wounds hadn't been completely healed, he knew that now, neither had Vinny's though both had recovered a great deal before that last day.
"Why?" He asked his voice rough, "Vin, why did I do that? I wasn't drunk. High, some, but not that high." Vinny shrugged giving a shake to his head, "I can't answer that. I know why I let you, why I finally went along with it. Hell I know why I even told you that day that you weren't getting out, but why you...Maurice I can't answer that for you." Standing he moved back, "Look, you stay here, I'll go sleep in the living room. Besides, I can't stand all the pacing and noise, you're driving me crazy."
"NO," Bosco stood up, "I'll sleep on the couch, I won't make anymore noise." He moved past Vinny at the door, "I promise, I won't make anymore noise." It was as if the last ten minutes never happened, snagging him, Vinny held him by the arm, "Maurice, why don't you want to take the bed? I won't come in here after you. I promised you that and through all the insane, crazy shit I've done, I still kept my promises. Right?" He knew that it had to be, or thought it anyway, the drugs withdrawal making him so edgy and jumpy. The whole scene about the bedroom he didn't still understand, but it was done and couldn't be undone, least he could do was try to get him to get an actual nights sleep.
Raising his eyes to Vinny's, Bosco replied, "Yea, yea you did, good or bad." Looking back at the bed he stopped cold. Sudden realization slamming him in the chest full force, why he didn't want to be in that bed. Why he couldn't sleep on the couch either, was pacing and making noise. It had been three weeks since he'd been out of the room. And it had only been ten days, he knew that now. Not the month he'd led himself to believe. And he knew...
Pulling away from Vinny's soft grip, voice rough, low, "Go to bed Vinny." He was gone, the door to the hallway closed behind him. Sighing Vinny turned and closed the bedroom door, returning to the bed.
Bosco stood staring down into the burned out embers of the fireplace. Full knowledge harshly thrust upon him earlier now settled around him like the falling snow outside. Using the fire poker he stirred the remaining piles of ashes around, moving the metal point slowly, scratching the metal plate underneath lightly as he did so. Head on his forearm, resting against the mantel he rubbed his forehead back and forth as if he could wipe away his choices made. 'My choices. My choice. Mine.'
Aware that the initial choices in everything were not his, yet they were. Aware that he could have made it difficult even impossible for Vinny in the beginning to do what he did once they'd arrived at the cabin. Hell even before.
He was the one who got drunk enough at the ball game that his guard was down, that he made himself vulnerable to attack. Went home with someone he really barely knew. Took pills he had no idea the content of.
Ignoring all the warnings before and after by Sully, and others who thought that Vinny was trouble. Ignoring Ty even. Let himself ignore the warnings he saw. He'd seen Vinny's volatile side at work, but never toward him. Even at his own apartment, while it had shook him, it had also; flattered him. He got drunk again on the way to the restaurant, drinking the Whiskey. Acting like a fool, beer after beer in the restaurant. Pushing the limits, because...
Shoving his head hard against his arm, covering his eyes he jabbed the poker hard into the stand. Holding onto the mantel now. Because...
Because for the first time in longer than he wanted to admit, someone had made him feel needed, wanted. Didn't judge him or put him down. No jokes about his bad policing, no lectures about how to do it better, right, somebody else's way. Someone had accepted him as he was. Paid attention to him, not his bad points. Someone understood him, and cared what happened to him. Sought out his company. Made him feel like he counted again. Offered him trust and friendship based on nothing he'd thought at the time other than just that, who he was, not who they thought he should be.
Choices. He made them, one right after the other right up until and including that bedroom, that locked, unlocked door. He took the drugs, drank the alcohol even after Vinny tried to tell him to stop, that he wanted to be with him sober. But again, his choice. He'd ignored it, and kept on going, telling himself he could handle it, that it was the only way he could...
Only the door wasn't locked, and he wasn't drunk, and he had barely been high.
Why? With everything that Vinny DID do, the drugging, kidnapping, rape. Bringing him here, all the terror and threats. Except that Vinny hadn't after the first night touched him in anger or any other way he'd not allowed until the night he'd done the X and G. And that while coerced had not been violent by any means. Not until the next day when he'd attacked him for 'rubbing it in his face' what he'd done. He knew now what he'd known then, sighing as he pushed off the mantel head down, foot slowly dragging along the floor as he stood staring into the ashes. Had he said no to the G, Vinny would not have made him do anything. He'd not made him do anything since either. He'd accepted everything, but forced no. Not since that first time.
Bosco standing there, knowing Vinny's real past now, in as much as Vinny knew it to be true saw that he knew Vinny as well as Vinny knew him. Only in some ways, while he'd slipped over that edge of insanity for awhile, Vinny was just more honest about it than he was.
He was in love with Bosco. And he knew it. Denver was a painful, harsh memory. But that's all he'd become in these few months, maybe even before he'd decided to bring him here.
Spotting something at the edge of the grate, Bosco bent down to it. Fingers closing over the small corner of the paper. Lifting it as he felt its texture and weight he glanced to where the frames sat on the table. To find them gone. Rubbing the edge clear of soot, he sighed lightly a small smile on his face now. Vinny had burned the pictures of Denver Starke. Since he hadn't seen him do it, he figured it had been done when he was asleep this morning attempting to rid himself of the last sick episode he'd gone through. Standing again, he dropped the small scrap of picture onto the remaining ashes. Wiping his fingers on his pajama bottoms. He was tired of thinking, maybe tired enough to get to sleep now.
Taking in the couch, with its stacked sheets and blanket. Pillow on top the neatly folded bedding, Bosco decided he needed to be honest with himself and with Vinny. Swallowing hard he made another choice. A small devious smile coming over his mouth he headed to the kitchen.
Rangers Station:
"Cards?" Ty shuffled the stack in Sully's face as he was staring at the fireplace. "We already played cards," Sully yawned, rolling his head around he tried to ease the tension in his neck, "when is this going to end?" Ty set down the card deck and picked up a small wooden box, holding it up in front of Sully's face he asked, "Dominos?" Cutting his eyes at him without turning to him, "We already played Dominos." Sully poked around in the fire with the poker, shuffling the logs until the fire blazed. "Did that Stevens guy get another weather update?" Ty had put down the box of Dominos, now he was holding a folded cardboard up in front of his face, "Checkers?" Sully glanced over his shoulder in the opposite direction, "We already played Checkers. You seen Faith? Is she getting some sleep?" Ty sighed, setting down the Checkerboard, picking up a small bag, the sound of glass scraping against glass coming from it he waited until Sully was looking back at the fire, then held it up in front of him, "Marbles?" Sully finally looked at him, "We already discussed that I'M NOT getting on the floor with you to play Marbles. You want more coffee? I'm getting some more coffee." Getting up he went to the kitchen. Ty watched him, calling out softly, "No, that's okay, no more coffee for me, I'll just sit here with my bag of marbles. Thanks anyway Sul." Grinning as Sully stopped a moment to stare at him. It had been 24 hours since they'd arrived and to say they were already bored with the situation and waiting was an understatement. Faith had actually gone to lay down in self defense. A bored Ty was a pesky Ty. Sully finally laughed, "OK, I'll play cards with you. But not Rummy! You cheat, and you don't know the rules to begin with." Ty turned back to the small table and cleared it readying it for a card game, "How about POKER?" Sully called from the kitchen, "NO, you cheat at that too! I lost enough last time thank you!" "HEY! I don't cheat!" Ty grinned as he caught the look Swersky was giving him, lowering his voice to a near whisper, "Unless I play with you Sul." His chuckle made Dave grin.
"They always like this?" Keith was reading a book he'd found on the shelf and was on one end of the couch, Dave on the other. "Yes they are," Dave looked back down at his own book, turning the page. "Good friends and partners huh?" Keith glanced over at Dave. Returning the look, "Like it should be, right Keith?" Nodding as he grinned, "Like it should be, Dave."
The cabin grew quiet again, Sully and Ty the only voices as they 'argued' over the rules and who was cheating as they played 'Go Fish' the only game they could agree you 'couldn't' cheat in. One by one the FBI agents joining them at the table, some watching some joining in the game. Soft arguing began over which 'team' would win as they all bored began to bet on "Go Fish".
Cabin:
In a light sleep, Vinny stirred only slightly as he sensed something landing on the bed next to his pillow. As the comforter was eased back he gave no notice. When the weight of a body stirred the mattress as Bosco slid in he rolled to his back, but didn't actually wake. It wasn't until he felt the ice cold body slide up against him that he finally become aware someone was there.
"Good GOD!! What the hell?" Vinny jerked away to escape the freezing flesh pressing against him. "MAURICE! STOP! GET AWAY FROM ME! How did you get...DID YOU GO OUTSIDE?" As he moved away, Bosco laughing followed him, "NO, um, the fireplace went out and I guess the heater must be broken again, it uh, got really cold in the living room. I need to warm up, you don't mind do you?" Snuggling up against him again, actually trying to get some heat back, he heard Vinny yell again and felt him moving away. "OH HELL NO!! JUST, JUST GO GET IN THE SHOWER OR SOMETHING! My god you're like a block of ice...wait a minute, its not cold in this room. The heaters on, I can feel it." Narrowing his eyes at him, "What did you do? Did you get in that LOCKER? ARE YOU HIGH? YOU DID DIDN'T YOU, AND YOU WENT OUTSIDE! ARE YOU NUTS? IT CAN'T BE 20 DEGREES OUT THERE MAURICE!"
Leaning over he brought the lamp up to high, now in the brighter light he took a good look at him. Moving aside he reached out and held his chin, making him face the light. Searching his face while Bosco just grinned at him. "Are you high?" Vinny was stumped as to what was going on.
"NO!" Bosco moved towards him again, "Just cold." Vinny slid further away, "Oh no, I don't know what you took, or what you did to get so cold, but that shower will warm you up, now go!" Pointing to it he had the look of a trapped man as Bosco shook his head grinning wickedly, "Waters off remember? Pipes frozen. Can't use the shower." Moving to Vinny again, "Guess its just going to be body heat to keep me from getting pneumonia huh?" Reaching out to a stunned Vinny, Bosco touched his face, growing serious, "I'm not asking you to do anything, just let me stay in here, please?" Searching Vinny's face he saw the need, and the desire to agree, and the fear of doing so. "Vinny, its okay. I want to do this. I'm not drunk, and I'm NOT high. But I am about to freeze my ass off here from standing in the door of the freezer for 15 minutes so..."
Vinny's mouth dropped open, then he was laughing, "And you call me Crazy? I think we've both lost it, we've both gone nuts, Maurice." Laughing with him, "Yep, but its okay Vin, we'll just go nuts together until we can get off this mountain. But until then," he was shivering hard, "think I could maybe at least get under a blanket?" Instantly Vinny was wrapping the comforter around them both as he drew him down against him in the bed. "What the hell possessed you to stand in the door of the freezer?" Feeling another violent shiver from Bosco he began to rub his arm vigorously with one hand and his back with the other. Teeth chattering now as he began to feel the heat off of Vinny as well as the trapped heat in the bed and coverings, "Fig, Figured, it, it was the only, only way you'd let me get this cllllose again." He was tucked in tight, but it was all Vinny could do to stay put and not draw away from him, he was starting to shiver himself from the icy sensation of him against him.
"What?" Vinny stared at him hard, "You tried to freeze your parts off just to get in here? With me?" Bosco smirked, "Well the only parts really in danger of actually freezing off were just my feet," as he stuck them tight against Vinny's bare calves. Hanging on tight as Vinny yelled and tried to fight him off.
"AAHHHHH YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Vinny howled with laugher as he tried to get away, "STOP! STOP!!" Shoving him over onto his back he leaned over him, "You want to play dirty, I can play dirty. You know how much you LOVE to be tickled?" Bosco's eyes grew wide, his cold forgotten, "No, no, no Vin, you wouldn't! You know what happens....nooooo hahahahahhahh!" Bosco was gasping for breath in seconds as Vinny sat on him and tickled him hard. "Stop, oh god, stop please, I'm gonna, gonna, Vin if I pee my pants I'm gonna be MAD!!" His voice rough with trying to laugh and breath at the same time, he was begging for mercy. Vinny let go finally, rolling over onto the bed on his side facing him as he lay helpless trying to recover. "Now, that's what you get for those cold feet, and your little tricks. Now, when you can talk again, you're going to tell me why you're doing this."
Rolling over to face him as his breathing returned to normal, Bosco was smiling, "Why I'm doing what?" As Vinny's serious look returned, his own smile faded, reaching up he ran his fingers across the top of Vinny's brow, tracing the lines of his face until he reached his chin. As he did so he felt Vinny shiver under his touch, knowing it wasn't caused by the cold. "Who did you bring here? Me? Or Denver, Vinny?' Searching his eyes for the answer, Bosco waited.
Vinny frowned, his voice caught as he replied, "I stopped seeing Denver three days after I met you Maurice. Sure at first when you were looking away I saw him, but then when you looked at me, all I saw was you. Your dark blue eyes staring at me, laughing, or pissed off, or just wondering what the hell some perp could have been thinking to do whatever it was we were dealing with. Three days, and I saw you. I didn't bring Denver here, I brought you. For all the insane, wrong, fucked up in the head, wish I could change it all reasons. I fell for you. And you paid the price for it. How can you be in here now? How can you possibly stand to look at me? Much less want to be in here with me?"
"I've been thinking about that, out there. And maybe it makes no sense. When we leave it will go back to making no sense, and if anyone looking in saw it, they'd lock me away or something. But I I share some blame in this. By making the choices I did, I helped it to happen. If someone heard me right now, they'd think I'd gone off that cliff with you, and maybe I did. Hell maybe I'm still there, I don't know. But what happened, somehow makes me understand what you went through? Understand how you could end up over that cliff. Help me to forgive you even if I can't really forget. I'm not telling anyone what happened when we get back Vin." Vinny again tried to speak, "Don't do anything you're going to regret Maurice, I already told you, I'd take my punishment. I killed a man, and I hurt you beyond words. You need to think about this..."
Bosco shushed him again, "I already thought enough about it. Its giving me a headache. Besides, you can't bring him back, and I already forgave you, so its done. And I know this isn't going to last between us when we leave. It can't like I said, this is not who I am out there. But here, now? I want to be with you. And I..."
"Maurice," Vinny tried to speak, but was again silenced, only this time it was because Bosco had covered his mouth not with his fingers but with his own mouth. Vinny groaned against him as he sought entry, but pulled back breaking the soft kiss. "Are you sure? That this is what you want? We don't have...I don't want to hurt you, I can't hurt you anymore Maurice." Bosco leaned over him, brought the lamp down to nightlight setting, then settling down over Vinny's chest said softly, "Shut up Vin, you talk to much. Now, warm me up before I die of pnemonia. Oh and I was looking at that Karma Sutra book thing I found on the shelf? I saw some interesting things in there!" Vinny commented laughing, "Anybody ever call you a slut?" Bosco cracked up, "Yea, but I usually take it as a compliment." A moment later the laughter turned to more urgent sounds drifting across the room in the near dark.
TBC...