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Chapter Six

Dylan played in his exhibition, barely managing to forget Marco long enough not to get creamed on the ice.

Marco went to work. With a severe hope of getting a distraction large enough to remove that afternoon from his mind permanently.

Things were starting to get busy around 11 when Marco noticed his father enter the bar. He found this very odd since it was later than the normal visit. His father like to keep an eye on things, mainly to make sure the business was doing well for his son but never during the swing of things. He didn't like being surrounded by all the gay men.

"Papa, is something wrong?" inquired Marco, yelling over the music.

Mr. Del Rossi just shook his head, "No, I didn't think you'd be this busy on a Monday. I wanted to see how you were doing. Your mama is worried sick, you forgot to stop and see her this weekend."

Marco looked down, ashamed he'd forgotten, "I know. I'm sorry but I had this private party and inventory this weekend. I'll come see here tomorrow. How's she doing?"

Mr. Del Rossi shrugged, "She's fine. She's not getting sick anymore."

Marco nodded, "That's good. I really need to get back behind the bar, we're short staffed tonight. I didn't think it was going to be this busy either. Stay, have a drink…on the house. You look like you could use one." Marco suggested gently.

Marco led his father to a seat near the end of the bar and sat him down at the second to last one.

He poured his father three fingers of Scotch and then went to help other patrons.

About twenty minutes later, Marco turned and saw his father talking to someone. In fact, it appeared they were arguing. Upon further inspection, Marco realized his father was arguing with Dylan. 'Oh shit!' was the only thought that traveled through Marco's brain.

Dylan entered the bar and managed to snag the only seat open, the one at the end. The same seat he'd been occupying for the last few days. He glanced at the man sitting next to him. While a little older, Dylan still clearly recognized Mr. Del Rossi instantly.

Mr. Del Rossi looked at his new neighbor and laughed in disbelief, "Get out. Marco doesn't need or want you here."

Dylan nodded, "Okay but why don't we let Marco decide."

"No, you ruined his life once and I won't stand by and watch it happen again. He's finally happy again. My son has finally returned just in time to help his mama and I won't let you take that from her. Now leave before he sees you." Mr. Del Rossi demanded.

Dylan chose his words carefully, "While I don't know what's going on with Mrs. Del Rossi, I'm glad Marco can help. As for seeing me, he knows I'm here. I've seen him a few times and he doesn't appear any worse off, now does he?"

Mr. Del Rossi turned his attention to his son, who was currently laughing with a customer. Mr. Del Rossi turned back to Dylan and continued to glare, "No, but then again you haven't left yet. I know you're leaving…so does he…I hope."

Dylan nodded, "I fly out in the morning and he's well aware of it."

This is when Marco walked up, "Papa, Dylan, everything okay here?"

"I was just asking Dylan to leave. He doesn't need to get in the way." Mr. Del Rossi said.

Marco looked at his father with incredulity, "Have you gone mad? Dylan can stay if he wants, it's a public bar."

Mr. Del Rossi retorted, "I don't want you hurt again. It took long enough the first time to get over him. I don't want to have to watch you do it again. Besides, aren't you with Erik?"

Marco stared at his father, "Erik and I are just friends."

Mr. Del Rossi snorted, "Yeah, who's over at your apartment at all hours."

Marco started to stammer out excuses but was lacking in them. He was still trying to deny a relationship while justifying why Erik's in his apartment all the time.

Dylan watched Marco flounder for a few minutes before trying to take his leave. He didn't know Marco would get so flustered over just a name.

"Well, Marco. I'm going to head out."

Marco turned to face Dylan as Paige walked up behind him. "Ah, just the person I need. Will you please help man the bar for a few minutes? I need to speak to my father and Dylan. I'll even pay you double your hourly wage."

Paige smiled brightly as she swung behind the bar, "Sold!"

Marco pulled first his father into the back room and told Dylan to stay put until he returned. Then he added a please just for good measure, since he didn't feel all that nice at the moment.

"Papa, go home. I don't need you interfering in my life anymore. I can make my own decisions about who I want to see and who I don't. I know Dylan's here and he's leaving. I'm okay with that. There's nothing between us but a history anymore. Rest easy that my heart is protected from him. Go home and take care of Mama, she needs you now."

Mr. Del Rossi debated what he was going to say, "Fine, but be fair to Erik."

Marco gave up the protests and nodded. "Love you, Pa. Kiss Ma for me and I promise to come see her tomorrow."

Mr. Del Rossi hugged his son, "Good boy."

Marco walked his father outside and put him in a cab and then came back to grab Dylan.

"Come with me."

"Oh, a quickie in the back room. How naughty."

"You wish."

"Yeah but who can blame me for trying."

Once the door was shut and Marco was leaning against it firmly. He lit into Dylan.

"What in the hell are you doing here? We said goodbye at my place."

Dylan sighed, "I had to see you again. I was so distracted tonight I got my ass handed to me."

At Marco's confused look, Dylan lifted his shirt.

There was an angry looking bruise starting to form over most of his chest and rib cage. He turned so Marco could see the one forming over the left side of his back, accompanying a huge gash.

"Damn, they really did a number on you, didn't they?"

Dylan dropped his shirt and turned to look at Marco. He saw the look of tenderness revealed in the brown eyes, "I'm fine. I've had worse."

Marco shook his head and got angry again, or maybe it was fear. It didn't matter, the emotion was there, "You can't just go out on the ice if your head isn't there. You could get seriously hurt or even killed."

Dylan half-laughed, "Yeah, like you'd even care. I seem to recall the reason my head wasn't on the ice wasn't my doing."

"You aren't seriously blaming me for this afternoon. I think you were there and more than willing. You kissed me." Marco bit out angrily.

"How would you really even know? All you ever sleep with is a flavor of the week." Dylan spat back.

"Better than fucking some girl because it's what I'm supposed to be doing and then some guy because I couldn't get off. Only to forget his name as he zips up his pants." Marco hissed.

Dylan visibly flinched, he wasn't too far from the truth. "Now tell me how you really feel?"

"I was trying to be nice considering recent events, however it appears you aren't going to let me. So you know what, fuck off."

"Can I ask you one question though? Who's Erik and what's wrong with your mom?"

"Technically that was three questions. Erik's the flavor of the week, I guess by your definition and Mama's none of your concern." Marco said bitterly.

"I just figured with your father drinking in a gay bar, there must be a really good reason"

"Yeah, there is one."

"One that you aren't going to share."

"I only share my problems with friends and boyfriends. By our conversation, you've labeled yourself a flavor of the week so you have no right to know."

Dylan staggered back as if Marco had physically hit him. "That was harsh."

Marco sighed and moved away from the door, "I have a bar to run. Get out."

Dylan looked at him with hurt in his eyes, "We can't leave it like this."

"I tried to leave it this afternoon. You wouldn't let me by showing up here tonight."

Dylan just shook his head, "You know what, I think, no wait, I know I regret walking in here Friday. Have a good life."

Marco watched Dylan as he walked out of the back room and possibly out of his life forever. He wasn't sure how he felt about it.

Marco emerged from the back room a few minutes later in complete control of his emotions. He dismissed Paige and set about serving until closing time. He waved off all the requests for a song, making the excuse his throat was bothering him.

Dylan stormed out of the back room and the bar. He didn't know where to go and he didn't want to go back to the hotel. He didn't think he could endure the questions about his mood.

He ended up at Paige's apartment, even though he knew she wasn't there. Spinner opened the door and looked at him.

"Paige isn't here."

"I know but I needed somewhere to go. Can I come in?"

Spin shrugged, "Sure dude. Come on in."

Dylan walked in and sat down. Spin sat across from him in a chair. "So, what happened to have you knocking on my door when you know your sister isn't here at midnight?"

Dylan laughed humorlessly, "I had a fight with Marco."

Spinner shook his head, "Some things never change. It's been six years and yet every time you two would argue, you'd run to Paige to fix it."

Dylan rolled his eyes, "I don't want Paige to fix it. I just needed somewhere to go where I won't have to answer questions."

Spinner laughed loudly, "You came to the wrong place then. You know as soon as Paige sees you sitting her, with me, she's going to start the Spanish Inquisition."

Dylan shrugged, "Yeah, I'll figure out that then. Oh shit, looks like my time's up." Dylan looked down at the table as Paige opened the front door.

"Well, didn't think you'd show up here. I guess I should've known better."

Dylan looked up, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Marco's as cold as ice when he returns from talking to you. You take off like your ass is on fire. It's obvious that you had a fight. You leave in a few hours, do you really want end it like this? You have no idea if you'll ever see him again."

"Paige, you don't know what happened. It's almost unforgivable on both our parts."

"So, dear brother, explain to me what happened." Paige said sitting down. She wasn't going to budge until he answered.

"It was fine when I left him this afternoon. We said goodbye and it had an air of finality to it. I guess it was the ending we needed all those years ago…"

Yeah, I'm going to be mean and leave it there. You'll see what happens in the next chapter. Well, only if you review!