Reviewer Responses:

SnkNJack: I am happy you liked the previous chapter, I hope you like this one just as much. I loved the "Ping pong match" analogy. Heehee, it made me grin. It isn't getting much easier for Will, that's true. He is still walking on egg shells. It's hard for both him and Jack. I mean, Will hasn't said anything about Vince, but he is still a little upset. ::grin:: I'm so happy you like where everything is going, I think you will be happy with the result.

Lamia Astaroth: I am so happy that you like my fic. I really like yours, and I hope you update tonight!! I look forward to the next chapter. I really hope that Will and Vince break up too, Vince bugs me. Grrrrrrrrrr.

MattKensethFan: I am happy you like my fic; I hope you continue to enjoy it. Thanks for the lovely review! I hope you update your fic soon, I really like it!

Karens Chanel Sling Backs: I love your idea, and I am going to put it into action in the next chapter. ::grins wickedly:: I think it will be perfect! Heehee, I am so happy you enjoyed the sex argument; I thought it would be nice to add. I hope you like this chapter. I love your fic and I hope you update soon, it is really excellent.

Adina-Anne: Oh yes, W/G and J/K romances just aren't my thing at all. They bother me because two of those characters are gay and the other two are straight. I mean, that kind of coupling just wouldn't happen...ICK! I'm happy you like the W/J romance. I never really thought much about that pairing until a few weeks ago and now I really like it. Yay! Heehee. I hope you like this chapter, and I hope you update your fic. It's really good and I want to know what happens.

Rosaleen-Ben: I am happy you like my fic! Yeah, I know, poor Jack, he is getting better though. Well, sort of. It will take awhile. Oh yes, like I said to Adina-Anne, I don't like W/G or J/K romances at all. Thanks for the review, I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 6

I think I'll go home and mull this over
Before I cram it down my throat
At long last it's crashed, the colossal mass
Has broken up into bits in my moat

- The Shins

Will walked into Jack's bedroom and touched Jack gently on the arm. "Maybe we should wait..." he said slowly.

"Maybe," Jack replied quietly. "It might help us both."

"Yeah," Will said uncomfortably. "Do you want me to go?"

"Yes, I think that would be best," Jack replied stiffly. He didn't want Will to go, he didn't want to try later – he just wanted things to be normal again!

"Jack..." Will didn't know what to say. He was confused. He wanted to tell Jack that he loved him and that they should go out and have a good time, not stay in feeling sorry for themselves.

Jack turned around and buried his face in Will's shirt. "I'm so confused."

Will patted Jack's back but quickly stopped when he felt Jack wincing. "I'm sorry, I forgot."

"I wish I could forget," Jack mumbled.

Will lifted Jack's face and smiled at him. "You'll get better."

Jack nodded. "I want a drink."

Will stared at Jack. He rarely ever drank; normally he had sodas or juice. Unless he was at a bar or club, Jack normally didn't drink alcohol. Will wasn't even sure if he drank often with Karen. He'd seen him drink, it was just he had rarely seen him drink out of sorrow. "Well, alright. Do you wanna go out?"

"Yeah, take me out." Jack went into his closet to get some clothes.

Will went over to him. "Why don't we just go to a movie, I don't think we should go to a club." He didn't want Jack drinking out of sorrow or regret; it wouldn't be good for him. It would probably just remind Jack of his awful experience the other night.

"Yeah, alright. Nothing depressing." Jack took some clothes out of the closet and started changing.

Will rested his hand on Jack's back when he saw the bruises that were just starting to fade. "Do they hurt?" He knew Jack wasn't the best when it came to dealing with pain.

"Yeah." Jack pulled his clean shirt on quickly, trying to hide how uncomfortable he was feeling. "Go change, Will. I'll come over when I'm done."

Will nodded, reluctant to move. "Alright..." He left the apartment and went into his own.

Jack finished changing his clothes and sighed. He didn't know what was going on anymore. He wished he could forget everything that had happened and just be perky like normal. It was hard - trying to put aside something so devastating and degrading.

He didn't know how to feel anymore. It was an awful experience, but he didn't know how to react to it anymore. It was like a rain cloud was following him around, he had gotten used to it and was just always wet.

Will was also concerning him. Jack didn't know how to deal with Will anymore. He wasn't sure what was going on. He knew that they were friends still, but he didn't know if they were boyfriends. "Maybe we're friends with benefits?" Jack shrugged. He didn't know what to call it.

Jack grabbed a jacket from his couch and went over to Will's apartment. He opened the door and smiled sadly at Will. He didn't know what to say, it was as though he were in a stranger's house.

Will walked over to Jack and pulled him to his feet. "Come on, let's go out. Something's got to be playing."

Jack nodded and dragged himself to the door. He was feeling tired and sluggish. He saw no reason in going out when he wanted to just stay in by himself. Will's company was something he wanted, but he also wanted to be alone for awhile.

Will frowned at Jack. He wanted to comfort Jack, but he didn't know how. Will lightly touched Jack's face and tipped Jack's chin up so that he was looking Will in the eyes. "I care about you, Jack, I really do. Would you rather stay here and just talk?"

Jack smiled a little. He hadn't wanted to go out and it would be nice to just talk to Will. "Well, I really don't want to go out, but I think it would be nice to go to the park."

Will raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah," Jack told him. "I really wanna talk, but it would also be nice to get out of the apartment."

Will kissed Jack's cheek. "Alright, come on."

-----

Grace and Karen had just arrived at the Palace Hotel and were in the elevator going up to Karen's suite. They had arrived earlier than they had thought because it was only seven in the evening.

"You know, Karen, it would have been alright for Rosario to take the elevator with us," Grace said.

"Oh, honey, Rosario doesn't mind. She's well trained; in fact, she is probably already in the suite making dinner." Karen adjusted her purse on her shoulder and looked at her nails.

"She is carrying four suitcases and a hat box," Grace replied. "I don't know how she is going to get there before us."

The doors to the elevator opened and Rosario was standing outside of them, glaring at Karen.

"Lady, I just..." Rosario and Karen started their bickering, so Grace walked out of the elevator and into Karen's rooms.

Grace gasped in awe; she had forgotten how beautiful and wonderful Karen's suites were. "Oh, Karen, thank you."

Karen walked into the room. "For what, honey?"

"Everything, it was really nice of you, Karen," Grace said seriously.

Karen nodded. "You're welcome, honey."

Grace smiled; Karen had been so un-Karen-like for the last few days, but it had been nice. Of course, Karen had had a lot less alcohol than normal; Grace decided that must have been it.

"Come on, fix me dinner!" Karen barked at her staff. "And shouldn't you clean something?!" she snapped at Rosario.

Rosario mumbled angrily to herself and walked off.

"Well, you're back to normal," Grace commented.

A servant brought a drink over to Karen.

Karen laughed manically. "Oh, honey, it feels so good." She slurped her drink and grinned.

-----

Will and Jack were walking through the park in silence. There were other people around them since it was only the early evening.

Will didn't say anything, because he wanted Jack to start, but after walking for twenty minutes, he decided it would be a better idea if he said something. "Jack, I think that maybe you and I should talk about what happened. You know, so that you can get some of the feelings out. I don't want you to fall into a depression, you already seem lonely."

Jack looked at Will, startled. Will had spoken the feelings Jack was keeping inside. He sighed. "I know, I really wanna talk but I don't know what to say." He turned away from Will and walked towards a park bench. "You'll think it's stupid and I know I'm bugging you," he muttered.

"No, Jack, I won't think it's stupid," Will replied, following Jack to the bench. "I want you to talk to me, I want you to share."

Jack looked at the sky and closed his eyes, he wanted to cry again. "Will, I want to go home," he whispered.

Will looked at Jack, his eyes full of concern. He took Jack's hand. "Alright, let's head back. We'll talk there, alright?"

Jack nodded and squeezed Will's hand tightly. "Thank you," he mumbled, so quietly he wasn't sure if Will had even heard him.

Will smiled and turned around to give Jack a quick peck on the lips. "I love you."

Jack smiled for real and walked back home with Will.

-----

When Will and Jack got back to the apartment, the phone rang and Will answered it after quickly apologizing to Jack. "Hello?"

"Hey! I'm back," Grace greeted him. "I'm staying with Karen tonight. If you see Jack, tell him he is wanted over here, Karen misses her poodle." Grace laughed at the thought of how happy Jack would be to see Karen.

"Alright, I'll tell him in a minute," Will replied. "How are you?"

"I think I'm doing better. Karen and I had fun, actually," Grace informed him.

"What do you mean, 'actually'?" Karen shouted in the background. "I'm always fun, honey!"

Will laughed. "Did you guys get so drunk that you swapped clothes again? Or maybe, you ended up with another sticker from Baltimore on your forehead?" he teased.

"Ha ha, Will," Grace replied sarcastically.

"Listen, sweetie, I really better go. I'll tell Jack," Will said, smiling apologetically at Jack who looked incredibly upset.

"Oh, well, alright," Grace said, dejectedly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Gracie," Will replied and hung the phone up. He crossed over to Jack and put one hand on his waist before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry."

Jack waved off the apology. "It's alright."

"Grace said that Karen said you can go to her house," Will told him.

"I don't want to," Jack replied. "I would rather stay here."

Will hid a smile. "Would you like to do something, Jack? It's too early to go to sleep." Will helped Jack sit on the couch and sat down next to him.

"I don't know, Will, I mean, I really want to talk about things," Jack replied.

Will smiled, that's what he wanted too. He didn't want to push Jack, though. "Alright, you talk, and I'll listen."

Jack nodded. "I feel sort of dirty and unwanted. It's weird, you know? I mean, I know you love me, but I'm not so sure." He looked at Will for conformation that he did in fact love him.

"Jack, of course I love you. You're my best friend and I guess we're boyfriends..." he trailed off; he didn't know how to finish the conversation.

"I want to be your boyfriend still," Jack said shyly.

"I do too," Will told him.

"Good. You love me?" Jack asked like a small child seeking approval from an angry parent.

"Yes, Jack, I really do." Will leaned over and kissed Jack.

Jack smiled and continued talking. "I also feel sad." He paused. "I don't know if that is the best word..."

Will was surprised to see this serious side of Jack, it was a side he had only seen a handful of times, and it always gave him a bit of a shock. "Try to think of a good one," Will urged.

Jack nodded. "Well, I just don't really know how to explain it. I mean, I feel a little but sad and nervous." He shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Do you feel a little lonely?" Will asked, frowning.

"I don't know, Will, I guess. Even though I am with you, I am still a little lonely feeling." Jack looked out the window and sighed.

Will hugged Jack around the shoulders. "I'm here for you, remember that."