A/N: This chapter is crap and a filler mostly. Sorry if there are horrid mistakes in it but I just wanted it out of my hands. I've rewritten it four times already and it's still crap.

Warning: Language is rather coarse and quite foul in here. So sensitive viewers beware.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. It was greatly appreciated. Now, on to write something better than this crap for Chapter Ten.

Chapter Nine

The Phone Calls from Hell

Marco had managed to forget about Dylan. Well, almost.

Erik had become a steady boyfriend, the first since Dylan. The relationship was working out beautifully for both.

One afternoon Marco was sitting at his computer, paying bills and balancing the bar's books, when the phone rang.

He picked in up and greeted the caller with some distraction.

Paige's frantic voice quickly brought him out of his distraction, "Paige, calm down. Take a deep breath and then tell me what's wrong."

"I can't fucking believe this shit." Paige screamed so loud, Marco had to move the phone away from his ear. "I can't believe he actually did it."

He moved the receiver back to his ear, "Who did what?"

"Dylan, he…that ass."

"What did Dylan do, Paige? Can we try a full sentence this time?"

"He's engaged."

"Okay…"

"To a woman. He's getting married next month."

Marco felt his heart literally stop beating, "Maybe he's in love." His voice cracked horribly under the strain.

Paige screamed with frustration, "One huge fucking problem. He's gay if you've forgotten."

"Paige, stop yelling at me. I know he's gay. Remember, it's me that he was fucking six years ago and again not too long ago. I can't explain what he's doing and frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Marco said finally.

Paige sucked in a breath, then she got eerily calm, "Well, you should care. It's your fault he's doing this."

Marco looked at the phone in his hand before putting it back to his ear, "Excuse me? How do you figure that one?"

"If I didn't have to tell him you and Erik are an item when he asked, he wouldn't have done this stupid stunt."

"Okay, so YOU told him I was with Erik. YOU were the one who decided he needed to know. Now YOU insist on blaming his idiotic behavior on me? I don't think so hun. He's a big boy and his mistakes are all his own." Marco said coldly.

Paige was expecting outrage, broken hearts, tears, not calmness and lack of interest. She was so sure that Marco would be as appalled at the idea as she'd been. He didn't care, so it would seem.

Marco was immensely happy that Paige had chosen to call in this particular bad news. He'd gotten pretty good at holding his voice steady to feign indifference over the years. The emotions still played across his face most of the time though. He knew a shocker like this was surely showing and he knew he'd never be able to hide it without practice.

"I've got to go Paige. Come down later and we'll do a few mercy shots together."

Paige slammed the phone down angrily. Obviously she wasn't in the forgiving mood.

"Oh well, she'll cool off soon enough." Marco murmured as he turned back to his books.

He'd been at the books again for over an hour when the phone rang again. Breaking his concentration.

Once again, he answered with distraction tracing his tone.

"Your mama slipped and fell in the shower. She's in the hospital."

"Is she okay?"

"No, she's in a coma. Her vitals are strong but she won't wake up."

"Please tell me this is some sick joke."

"No joke, kid. I thought you should know. Maybe come and visit."

"I'll be there in a little while."

"Here comes the doctor. Ciao."

His father hung up before he could respond. Twice that day the phone had rang and twice it had given him bad news.

Marco knew he should go to the hospital but he couldn't face what lies there.

An hour later the phone rang again. With a deep cleansing breath, Marco picked it up. "Hello?" He sounded almost fearful.

Luke was on the other end of the line. "Um…Marco. Bad news, dude."

"What?"

"Mike broke his leg playing rugby today. He's going to be out for at least a week."

Marco nodded and then realized Luke couldn't see him, "We'll be alright. I'll call Paige and Erik to help out."

Luke sighed, "Good because I quit."

"Please tell me you're kidding…" begged Marco.

"Of course I'm kidding. I'd never leave this place. There are too many hot guys that come here looking to score. I figured you'd need some good news with the bad." Luke said.

Marco managed a small laugh, "You know I'd have to kill you, right? And they'd never find the body by the way."

Luke laughed loudly, "So, see you tonight?"

"Yep. I'll be in later."

Marco took a long, hot shower and got dressed. As he was lacing up his boots, the phone rang.

He looked at the offending piece of equipment in disgust. An object that was supposed to make life easier had proven to cause nothing but hell for him that day. It had brought bad news with each and every peal.

Marco picked up the phone gingerly, like he was afraid it would explode.

"Hello?"
"Hey Marco."

"Dylan?"

"Yeah, I just wanted you to know that I'm getting married next month."

Marco tried to sound surprised, "Really? To whom?"

"Her name is Natalie. She's great."

"Does she know you're gay?"

"I'm not gay."

"Could've fooled me but maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe that wasn't you all those years ago. Maybe it wasn't you in my bed moaning my name just a few weeks ago." Marco bit out.

"Marco…"

"No, Dylan. I won't fake happiness for you when you're making a huge mistake."

"What do you care anyway? Aren't you with Erik now?"

"I care because I'm your friend. I don't see what Erik has to do with this situation anyway." Marco said.

"Erik has everything to do with it." Dylan hissed.

"Why?"

"Because he has you." Dylan said in a rush. Clearly he said it before he thought it through because the line got silent.

"So you're telling me that ultimately it all comes down to me." Marco said quietly.

"Doesn't it always?" inquired Dylan with a laugh.

"Not funny, Dyl. Why are you going through with this? You know you're ruining not only your life but Natalie's as well."

Dylan sighed, "I'm marrying Natalie, no matter the reason. I'm getting married in six weeks in Vegas. I want you to be there. I've paid for a plane ticket and hotel room for you already. Please say you'll go." Dylan was borderline pleading.

"So now you want me to witness a marriage I don't support," Marco said in disbelief.

"Then come and try to talk me out of it. Have fun, gamble, I don't care your reasons for coming, just please come." Dylan now was begging.

"Why is this so important to you?" inquired a befuddled Marco.

"You are the closest thing to a best friend for me. I want someone there who knows everything. I know you don't support the marriage but at least you could still support me."

Marco sighed, "Fine, email the details and I'll see you in six weeks."

Dylan smiled, Marco could hear it in his voice, "Great. Plan on being away for five days. That includes a bachelor party."

"Can I go to the bachelorette party instead, at least there will be hot guys at that one?" inquired Marco.

"Who said I won't have a hot guy at mine?"

"You're straight remember, why do you need a hot guy?"

"No pretenses on this one Marco. Anyway, I'm glad you're coming, you won't regret it."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Marco warned before hanging up the phone.

A few days later, Marco and Erik were in bed together. They were chatting about the last few days. It had been rather crazy for the both of them and hadn't had any time together.

"Don't get mad but I'm flying to Vegas in five weeks…alone."

"Why would I be mad?"

"It's to see Dylan get married."

"Oh, who's he marrying?"

"Some girl named Natalie."

"He's marrying a girl?"

Marco heard the laughter in his voice. "Yes."

"Yeah, that's going to last." His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Marco started laughing, "Stop being mean. Maybe he loves her."

"And I'm the queen of England."

"A queen? Yes. Of England? Not so much." Marco retorted.

Erik got an offended look on his face and reached out to tickle Marco lightly on his ribs.

Marco squealed in protest as he added, "You're much cuter that the current queen of England."

Their discussion of Dylan and his impending nuptials had been placed on the back burner for another round of sex.

Things were still on a playful level when Marco's phone rang and then Erik's cell phone started to beep musically.

Marco rested his forehead against Erik's chest for a moment before they each rolled to opposite sides of the bed.

Erik looked at his caller id, "It's Ellie?"

Marco answered his phone, "Hello?"

"Hey, Paige." Letting Erik know he'd have more than enough time to answer Ellie.

"Yes, I'm going to the wedding."

"No, I didn't know you were going as well."

"Only two days? Friday and Saturday."

"I fly in Wednesday morning and out Sunday night."

"I don't know why he did that. Ask him."

"Okay you do that."

"No, I'm not mad at you. I'm just a little busy right now."

"Yes with something more important that your brother, his wedding and your newest crisis."

"I don't think you want to know."

"Fine, a naked Erik in my bed with a come hither smile."

"Don't give me the TMI sound. You asked."

"Night Paige."

Marco hung up the phone and turned to see Erik was just hanging up as well.

"What'd El want?"

"She needs a meeting with me tomorrow."

Marco nodded, "Where were we?"

"You were about to tell me why Paige called and why you're going to Vegas three days before she is."

"I don't recall that but okay. She called to ask if I was going because that's what Dylan said. Then she wanted to know why I was going to fly in on Wednesday and she wasn't until Friday. I told her I didn't know, which is the truth and sent her to her brother for that answer. So now I believe we were about here…" Marco trailed off as he slid over to kiss Erik fiercely.

Erik responded in kind and let the niggling feeling of insecurity be pushed back for the more amorous side of his boyfriend.

After the second round of rather fabulous love making, Marco and Erik were lying together. Neither said a word, almost in fear of spoiling a perfect moment.

The pair fell asleep before either of them broke the forced, yet calming silence.

Morning dawned bright the next day. Marco got up and saw Erik out as he had another early counseling session and then lunch with Ellie.

Marco worked at the bar all day and night to give everyone else a day off. It had been almost a week since Mike had broken his leg. They were all looking forward to getting him back in two days.

Erik's counseling session went smoothly. It wasn't the fighting couple with three kids trying to avoid divorce or the angry siblings whose parents forced them into therapy. Today was a teen girl who hated life. She felt like no one loved her nor understood her. In a way, she was Ellie. She just hadn't progressed to cutting…yet.

Erik listened to her talk for an hour. Tried to give her some advice that didn't sound totally lame to the both of them and then sent her home with a self image exercise.

Ellie was waiting in the lobby of the building when Erik emerged from the counseling center. She looked fantastic. Her brown hair shining thanks to the sun hitting her just right through the window and her face made up expertly to reveal the beautiful girl he'd fallen for immediately three years ago in New York.

She was adorned in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. She looked like a normal college kid home for summer.

Erik embraced Ellie quickly and kissed her on the lips. One of his fellow counselors saw her and ran into the elevator doors. His mouth was agape as he saw her respond enthusiastically to Erik. It was quite a show.

Ellie covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh out loud at his co-worker. Erik wasn't as polite…he couldn't help but laugh.

"Come on, I think you've caused enough damage for one day, Ms. Nash."

Ellie followed him out into the bright June sun and slipped on a pair of sunglasses. "Where to?"

Erik laughed, "Marco told me about this hang out you all used to frequent in high school. We're going back there…"

Ellie's eyes almost popped out of her head, "The Dot? Can't we go anywhere else? I'll even take McDonalds over the Dot."

Erik laughed, "I was kidding but good to know. I've this little café in mind that Marco and I found a few weeks ago. Great coffee and awesome sandwiches."

"Sounds good."

They walked the three blocks to the café while chatting amicably about cases they'd seen. Some were rather amusing, others more serious with no solution in sight.

"I got this one phone call. A guy's wife was screaming into the phone that her husband was going to jump. I was figuring out the window of a tall building, hell even off the roof…I called the cops. They showed up and yes he was going to jump…from the billiards table four feet off the ground."

Ellie almost fell out of her chair. "That's grand. The weirdest phone call I got was a guy who just wanted someone to talk to. He was lonely because his wife committed suicide a few days before. I got him into a therapy group."

Erik listened to Ellie's dilemma of coming back to Toronto for good or to stay in New York. She loved New York but Toronto was home. She had Marco and Erik here now. She could get a job just as easily and continue her education at the U of Toronto.

Erik shrugged, "Sounds like you already made up your mind. I for one, wouldn't mind seeing you on a daily basis again. Especially if you keep Jason running into elevators. He's an ass."

Ellie laughed, "So I'm not crazy for wanting to come home."

"No, I think it's normal. I know Marco would love to have you back here as well."

Ellie nodded, "Okay, now on to your problem. I know you have one, it's written all over your face every time I say Marco…see there it is again. Marco…yep and again."

Erik laughed half heartedly. "I don't know. It's strange. I probably have nothing to worry about but I can't help but think that something isn't right."

"Can we be any more cryptic?"

"Sorry, he's flying out to see Dylan get married in Vegas. Thing is, he's going on Wednesday and Paige isn't going until Friday. What's going on those other 2 days that Marco's got to be present but Dylan's sister doesn't?"

"Dylan's getting married?"

"Yeah, to some girl."

"Yeah, that's going to work"

"That's what I said. Do I have a right to be leery of this?"

Ellie sat back and thought for a second, "I think you might. Given Marco and Dylan's history and the added mix of Vegas, there might be cause for concern. I know Marco wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone intentionally but Dylan is a mysterious force to him. Dylan can make him forget the entire world with just one look. I know this sounds harsh but watch out. However, I don't think Marco would do anything horrible."

Erik sat back and watched as Ellie warred with herself over the information, "I know you love Marco and feel like you're betraying him but thanks for the advice. I may just let him go and see what happens. I know we've been together seriously only for a couple of months, so it's not like I have any real claim to him. I just hope he figures out what and who he wants before it's too late to do anything."

Ellie nodded her understanding. She knew Marco was going anyway but knew it would ease his mind more if Erik were okay with it.

Please Review. When I get ten (10) I'll put up chapter ten, providing I've written it and it is better than this crap.