Sorry I said this was done. This is the conclusion, not part three. I thought I had posted this.

Anyway, I just got a job on the 19th, at a smoothie shop. This archive is slower than that shop's slowest day. We authors need to get together and do something about it. Please, contact me.

Maybe we can pimp this archive into a better life.

My email is salsafreak16(at)yahoo(dot)com

---

PART FOUR

---

The Revelation

All last night, Buck had slept poorly.

This wasn't normal. Buck never slept poorly. When he woke up, it was long before Nicolae did, and he was again wrapped in the man's arms. He had decided, sometime late that previous night, not to tell Chloe or anyone else but God about The Something and what it had turned out to be.

Problem was, he mused as he sat in a corner of a comfy couch in Nicolae's living room, that strategy wouldn't solve his dilemma-- might even make it worse. If he tried to ignore it completely, it'd drive him nuts and he'd probably eventually screw up and let it slip to Chloe, or someone who would get the secret out to her. On the other hand, if he gave in it'd hurt Chloe, but it would be over with now and she would have a shot at finding someone else before the world ended. Either way, Buck was sure he was going to Hell. No matter how much he had prayed over the past year for God to take away The Something, it was still there. Maybe God just didn't want him in heaven.

The knob on the door to the suite clicked as it unlocked from the other side. Buck looked up from the carpet to see Nicolae enter juggling a bag of McDonald's in one arm and two Starbucks drinks in the other. He jumped up to help, taking the coffees from Nicolae and setting them on the coffee table. The blonde grinned. "Thank you, Buck."

Buck was starting to realize he really liked how his nickname rolled off Nicolae's tongue. "No prob."

"You looked troubled, my friend," Nicolae started as he took food out of the bag, laying it out on the coffee table.

"Long story," the journalist replied. The wonderful smell of greasy burgers and even greasier fries permeated the air, but Buck had little interest in the Spicy Chicken sandwich he was unwrapping. His mind was too busy trying to get him out of the bind his heart had gotten him into. He didn't realize he'd been spacing out staring at the wrapper until Nicolae asked if something was wrong with the sandwich. Buck hadn't touched it. "Uh, nah, just a lot on my mind."

"So I gathered when I got back. What is it? Perhaps I can help." Nicolae was completely focused on Buck, of course, giving him the impression that what bothered him was of great import to the potentate.

Yeah, help me form a biased decision. No thanks. "It's just..." For once, Buck failed to have an excuse.

"Just what, Buck? I will help you in any way I can. I will give you anything, unto half of my kingdom, so to speak," Nicolae chuckled, pleased with himself for finding such a fitting comparison.

I'm damned anyway. What can it hurt to tell a lie now? "The story, yesterday. The one I was supposed to cover." He got the excuse out, but Nicolae didn't buy it.

"You can tell me anything, my friend."

He had done all his arguing with himself, given himself a dozen reasons he could never tell anyone, but when it came right down to it, love didn't just go away if you ignored it. Even if you are in love with the Antichrist, of all people. Hesitantly, Buck replied, "I, um, for a while now I've... felt something toward you. I couldn't identify it, until yesterday."

Somehow Nicolae knew what was coming, and he smiled. "I was wondering when you would."

"You knew?" Buck asked, so startled he dropped his sandwich back on its wrapper.

With a chuckle, the other man replied, "I saw the signs a long time ago, dear Buck."

After a long silence, the journalist found the nerve to ask, "So... what do you think?"

"This is not about what I think. This is about what you think, and what you want to do."

Of course homosexual love wouldn't disgust the most evil man ever to touch earth. Buck asked, "This doesn't bother you at all?"

Nicolae smiled, amusement dancing in his eyes. Blue eyes, far too alive for someone who would endure the second death, the eternal death that is Hell. "You have been with the narrow-minded too long, if you believe that I would ever persecute you, Buck. I have nothing but the deepest of heartfelt notions toward you."

Dumbstruck, Buck nodded as he stared off into space, musing.

The cab Nicolae had arranged for Buck sat idling in front of the U.N. building. Between the two lay the black leather duffle that was Buck's only luggage.

Nicolae went around to the other side of the cab, paid the cabbie in cash, said something to the woman. She nodded. When the young politician came back around, he hugged Buck. "Goodbye, my friend."

The world around him seemed to freeze, as Buck stiffened. Why go? All I can offer the rest of the Trib Force is grief, and I'll make myself miserable. What's the point? My soul is already in hot water, and God isn't doing anything about it.

Then Nicolae started to let go, and the world snapped back as Buck suddenly said, "I'm staying."

END...?