Jeff sits rubbing Zeus' neck while staring out the window. "Do you really think your gonna have to put him to sleep?." Jeff asks looking over to Mark, Jeff could notice him wiping his eyes quickly with his shirt sleeve.

"Are you okay?." Jeff whispers placing his hand near Mark's thigh.

Mark looks down, and coughs. "I'm fine, will you hold onto Zeus please. We're about to turn a corner."

Jeff moves his hand away and grabs ahold of Zeus' neck gently.

"I can understand what your going through Mark, I remember having a pet cat one time. I can still remember how upset I was when my dad had forced me to bury it after I had found it dead underneath someone's car. I just didn't want too, I didn't want to say good-bye to him."

Mark stops for a stoplight, he glances over towards Jeff. Jeff was petting Zeus.

"Do you ever think of getting another pet, another cat?." Mark asks trying to focus on something, anything other then what he was planning to do.

Jeff looks towards Mark, he had his shades on now covering his eyes. Probably ashamed to show emotion in front of anyone. especially some young kid like me. thinks Jeffrey.

"Not really. Like Matt said earlier, our apartment doesn't allow pets so I never really could." Jeff replies.

"So when did you have this pet, what age were you?." Mark asks while trying to pay attention to the road.

"I guess I was nine, maybe ten years old."

"What was his name?"

"Roger, he was a black and orange tabby cat."

"Sounds cute." Mark whispers.

"He was, he was my first cat. I never really did like cats before him. I was more of a dog person." Jeff stats

"So what made you decide to get a cat."

"He was alone. He didn't have anyone." Jeff plainly replies.

"I see." Whispers Mark.

Jeff watches Zeus, before turning his attention to Mark.

Jeff had hoped that ignoring his feelings for Mark, would make it easier. And it did for awhile, he was just too busy dealing with everything that had happened with his father to day-dream about Mark. But things have slowed down, he pretty much was settling in with the ordeal of the situation. He wasn't worried as much. If they were gonna arrest him, let them. He really didn't care to worry over it any-longer. And watching Mark having to deal with something that for him is very emotionally driven, kind of makes Jeff realize that Mark does have feelings, and problems just like everyone else. It made Jeff seem more close-bonded with Mark then before. Before Mark always seemed so collected with his emotions and today, he's finally starting to see that he's got bad days too, and sometimes when those days arrive, he needs someone to talk too. And if Mark will help him the way he has without even much as a thank you from him, then Jeff could help make him feel a little bit better then he does as of now like he has done for him.

"You know I don't think I've ever said thank you for everything that you've done for me, since we've meet." Jeff whispers pulling his hoodie over his head and off. He showed off his Pearl Jam concert tee.

"So you really like that band huh?." Mark asks, glancing at the shirt momentarily.

"Yeah. Did you hear me Mark. I want to say thank you to you for everything you've done for me." Jeff repeats.

"I heard you. Do you feel like stopping by and getting something to eat. I know of a dog-park around here, it's close by the vets too so it ain't off away from our destination. I know Zeus would love that. I've always told myself that I'd take him but I just never did have the time. Would you mind going?"

Jeff looks to Zeus "Would you want to go to a dog-park Zeus?." Zeus licks Jeff up and down his neck.

Jeff groans "Yuck, doggie drool." Jeff swipes at the drool with his shirt sleeve.

Mark tries to hide a smile "I've got some napkins in the glove compartment." He stats.

Jeff grabs one and continues to wipe the drool off. "Thanks." He replies.

"So I guess that was a yes, wouldn't you agree Jeff?."

"Agree for what?." Jeff asks

Mark shakes his head "On Zeus wanting to go to the dog-park."

"Oh, yeah. For sure." Jeff says.

Mark tries to hide a laugh "You sound like one of those rappers."

Jeff grimaces "Oh hell no." He hollers jokily.

Jeff looks over to Mark, a smile on his face. Mark looks back to Jeff and he also has a smile.

"I'm glad I could help you feel better today Mark. That makes me happy to know that your happy." He whispers

Mark stops in the side parking lot.

He turns the ignition off. He smacks his hands lightly on the dash board, he lets them sit there while turning to Jeff and Zeus.

"I'm glad you decided to come along Jeffrey, I wasn't for sure if you would want too. Because of what happened the last time we were together." Mark explains

Jeff looks down "Look, I'm sorry about my attitude then. I was being a brat, I know. I shouldn't have treated you that way. I like you Mark, I really do."

Mark coughs while staring down at his hands, they were now gripping the steering wheel in a vice grip.

"I like the time we spend together, I couldn't think of any other person I would want to be friends with then you Mark. Your really the only true friend I've had in my entire life. I feel so relaxed around you, like I can be my self no matter what. I can even piss you off and I can be sure that it won't ruin anything that we have. Because you like me too, and not too many people do like me for me. You know?." Jeff continues.

Mark listens intently, his head was cocked to the side and he was staring at Jeff's eyes.

"I can understand that perfectly. I really didn't have too many friends your age either. And the ones I did had, were just using me." Mark admits.

"I bet you were one cool ass teenager huh. I bet no-one would mess with you?. Am I right?." Jeff asks

Mark smiles and laughs "Well, I guess I didn't have to worry too much."

Zeus begins whimpering "What is it boy?" Jeff asks looking at the dog's eyes.

Mark chuckles. there is that laugh again, Jeff could remember hearing him laughing like that before. It sounded so sexy when he did it. Jeff tried to get it out of his head but it was pretty much useless. He loved that laugh.

"I think he needs to go to the bathroom." Mark answers.

"What does Mark stand for?." Jeff asks.

"How about I tell you once we get this dog out so he can do his thing." Mark replies.

Jeff said sure and he grabs Zeus' leash.

"So what about your name again?." Jeff whispers while walking alongside Mark. Zeus leading the way while sniffing the ground. The dog may have been going blind but his nose still worked wonderfully.

"It's Marcus. Marcus Robert Callaway. What's your full name. I don't' think we've ever actually been fully introduced to one another."

"It's Jeffrey, as you know already and then my middle name is Nero. So it's Jeffrey Nero Hardy." Jeff extends his hand "It's nice to meet you Marcus Callaway." Jeff smiles.

"Nice to meet you too." Mark whispers also with a smile. They both shake hands. Jeff looks down at their fingers touching, Jeff just wanted to wrap his with Mark's but he knew that it wouldn't be right. It would probably just freak Mark out and he didn't want that to happen, not when they were having such a nice time as of right now.

Mark stares down at Jeff's lean fingers, They were still holding a firm handshake. "Are you gonna let go now."

Jeff blushes "I'm sorry." Jeff laughs.

"It's alright, I just think people will start to stare." Mark whispers.

"So do you have any family around here Mark?."

Mark pats his leg for Zeus to follow. "No, I don't have any relatives. Not anymore anyways." He whispers.

"Why, what happened to them.?." Jeff asks

"I'd rather not talk about it." He replies silently.

Jeff and Mark walk to a bench, they both take a seat. "Did you make an appointment with the vet?." Jeff asks.

"No, they take walk-ins."

Jeff nods his head "Are you gonna cry if he's put to sleep?."

Mark looks down at Zeus "Probably, do you think that makes me weak?."

Jeff shakes his head "No, I think it makes you human. Everyone should cry. I think something would be wrong with you if you never felt like crying." Jeff explains.

Mark nods his head "I see..."

Jeff kneels down to pet Zeus "I hope you don't have to put him to sleep Mark, he seems to be a really good dog."

"He is, he's a really great dog. I'm hoping I won't have too either."

Jeff looks up towards Mark, his glasses were still on and Jeff just wished that he'd take them off.

"Can I wear your sunglasses for a bit, the sun is killing my eyes." Jeff asks while pretending to squint his eyes. The sun was blaring brightly today, so it wasn't like I was truly lying about that fact.

Mark looks towards Jeff "I guess so, just be careful with them. there my only pair."

Jeff grasps them gently before placing them on. "How do I look?."

"You look cool, real cool." Mark smiles

"Thanks."

Mark chuckles "Your welcome. How about we go get something for Zeus to eat huh?. You hungry?." Mark asks

"Who me or Zeus?." He asks

"You silly."

Jeff laughs " I thought you were talking to Zeus. I could eat something sure. But what would we do with Zeus?."

"There's a restaurant that we can get the food to go at, eat it in the Jeep." Mark explains.

"Okay."

Once they've ordered their food, they sit in the Jeep. Zeus was back in his travel cage for the time being but he didn't mind at all, he had a bowl of fresh mineral water from a bottle that Mark had ordered just for him and a hamburger patty with one top bun so he was very content.

"Maybe they won't have to...you know, with Zeus. I mean he seems to still be able to get around and everything. He was even running in the park earlier, did you see him?." Jeff asks

"I saw him, and maybe your right. I do hope so."

Jeff didn't want to keep bringing up the subject but he wanted to let Mark know that he cared. He was just trying to reassure him.

"I hope that you know that I value your friendship too Jeff, I guess you can say that I see you as more then a friend, I see you as one of my best friends. I hope that doesn't weird you out any. If it does, I wont' say it again."

Jeff smiles "No, I like it. I think of you as my best friend too. More then that actually." Jeff whispers.

Mark looks to Jeff who was fiddling with his shirt-sleeve.

"Are you okay?." Mark asks

"Yes, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something." I was thinking on how cruel the world must be, bringing you into my life when I can't ever truly have you the way I want. You would never feel the same way as I do. Jeff thinks to himself. But what Jeff doesn't know is that Mark is struggling with those same feelings inside of him aswell.

"I think we've spent enough time holding off the inevitable. We better get going huh?." Mark says

Jeff nods but he didn't want it to be over, they were having such a good time. It was a shame it had to end.

Mark was in the examining room with Zeus, Jeff sat in the waiting area even-though Mark had invited him in, but Jeff felt that it was invading his privacy. So Jeff flipped through a magazine while waiting.

After about twenty minutes of waiting, Mark walks out with a grim expression. Jeff didn't like it at all. His heart sunk when seeing Mark walk out the door with that look on his face.

"What's wrong?." Jeff asks even-though he knew what was the problem.

"They suggested I put him down, Could you come in there with me. I mean if you can. If you can't, I can understand that." Mark whispers. His voice for the first time since Jeff's known him sounded De-flated, his usual strong thick voice sounded more like a wounded child's. It was breaking and cracking, Jeff knew he felt like breaking down in tears but was fighting it. He felt so bad for him.

Jeff stands up immediately "Sure, I'll go in there with you." He follows Mark in the room.

Jeff pets Zeus and then moves to the side, for Mark to comfort his beloved pet.

Jeff tried to count the tiles on the floor. By the time Zeus was put down, he had counted at-least 27 black tiles.

Jeff could hear Mark's hitched breathing. He didn't even want to look up for fear of seeing the tears falling from Mark's face. He knew that they were but he didn't want to have to envision it too.

"I'm sorry Mark." Jeff whispers placing a hand on-top of Mark's. It was the only thing that Jeff could think of to do to give Mark comfort.

Unexpectedly Mark grabs ahold of Jeff's shirt, pulling Jeff into Mark's chest. Mark wraps his arms around Jeff's lean body.

Jeff could hear and feel Mark's heartbeat. And he could feel the wet tears forming a staid on the back of his shoulder.

Jeff grasps Mark's shirt aswell. "I'm sorry Mark. I know you really loved Zeus but you have to remember he's in a better place now. And he'll always think of you."

Mark lets go of Jeff's shirt "I'm sorry I acted that way. I do apologize."

"It's okay." Jeff whispers. His head still leaning towards Mark's chest.

Mark gently grabs Jeff's shoulders, pulling him away from his body.

"Why don't we go outside, I don't think I can be in here any-longer." Mark whispers.

Jeff had thought this was a great day up until this point, And he would have continued to think that if it wasn't for what was about to happen next. When they make their way out to the car, Zeus was prepared in a box. Mark had wanted to bury him on his property. So they placed him where the cage had been on the drive up here, Mark had moved the travel cage behind the driver's seat. Mark had the hardest time to fight the tears that wanted to spring up once seeing Zeus' favorite dog toy. Mark had wanted to place it in with the box but it was already taped sealed and he really didn't think he'd beable to deal with it, seeing Zeus' lifeless body yet again.

Mark climbs in the driver seat, Jeff was just about to get in. When he could hear Mark crying again.

He wished that he could help him in some way. He didn't know what else to say or do that he hasn't already done.

Jeff sits there, his folded hands in his lap. He tries to focus out on the road but he couldn't help looking over at Mark who had his head down on the steering wheel. His face was covered with his arm. Jeff goes to grab Mark's arm but he then hesitates. Instead it was Mark who grabs Jeff's arm, pulling him in for yet another unexpected hug. Jeff whispers it's alright repeatedly in Mark's right ear.

After a minute, Mark pushes Jeff back. Jeff could clearly see the tears in Mark's eyes now. When Mark leans towards Jeff again, Jeff had thought that he wanted another hug until Mark's lips slowly brush over Jeff's.

TBC

How is that for a cliff-hanger. I hope that you've liked this chapter, it's been along time coming for this to happen and I hope it was good for all of you.

IsidoraAngst: No he hasn't told anyone about anything that he's been experiencing. He's too ashamed and scared too. He doesn't want to be labeled crazy. I'm thinking I will get someone to help him with the funeral. We'll see. And thank you for reviewing!. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Slashdlite: Thank you for the review!, I hope that this chapter has settled that question weather Jeff still feels for Mark because as you'll read in this chapter, he still does. It's just he's been dealing with alot, his father dying, having to worry over if he's gonna be prosecuted for the accidental murder of his father and his brother's strange behavior. Plus you have the fact that he's trying to push those feelings for Mark aside, because he thinks it's unlikely that Mark would feel the same way, similar to Mark denying his feelings for Jeff because he thinks it's unacceptable do to Jeff's young age. I hope Matthew does get help too, we'll see it happens.

Infecton13: No he hasn't but Jeff does know that something's strange about Matt's behavior but he doesn't actually know what's going on with Matthew. Thank you for the review! :)