Crossing Borders By: Jesse Drache
Disclaimers: I don't own Ephram, Colin, Bright or any other characters you might recognize, I'm just borrowing them for my amusement. So don't sue me.
Warning: This is Ephram/Colin slash; if you don't like it, don't read it.
Rating: There will be two versions of this fic, a PG-13 one (which I will post on Fanfiction.net) and a NC-17 one that I will post on my website and will provide links to.
Chapter 6: Possesion
"I've gone everyplace in this town that Ephram has ever sat foot in. No one has seen either of them," Andy said dejectedly, walking behind Mr. Hart into their living room.
"The Abbot's haven't heard from them either. I talked to both Bright and Amy; they don't know anything." The man reaffirmed, worry showing in his tone of voice.
"What do we do now?" Mrs. Hart asked, frantically getting up from her seat and walking towards her husband and grasping his arm.
They stared at each other for an immeasurable amount of time, each attempting to dig up some shred of a memory that might given them insight into the whereabouts of their son.
"Do you mind if I use you telephone for a moment, I need to speak to my neighbor." Andy asked.
"Sure, it's over there near the lamp," Mrs. Hart told him, motioning to the table where the phone was located.
Andy picked up the phone and dialed Nina's phone number.
"Hey, Nina."
"Oh, hi Andy," came her cheerful response.
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Sure."
"Will you please check in on Delia, she's home alone."
"Oh, she's already over here watching a movie with Sam. Edna called me and asked me to pick her up from school. No word from Ephram yet?" Nina asked, concern in her voice.
"No, we haven't found him or Colin yet. I'll just stay out for a few more hours then I'll pick her up."
"You sound tired, don't worry about Delia, I'll take her to school tomorrow. Just concentrate on finding Ephram, then get some sleep."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. Good luck."
"Thanks again. Bye."
"Bye."
Andy hung up the phone, then turned to find Mr. and Mrs. Hart looking at him expectantly.
"What are we going to do?" Mrs. Hart asked him.
"I'm going to go check the bus and airport in case they decided to leave town. Will you please stay here in case they call or show up?" he asked, grabbing his coat as he made his way to the hall.
"You think that they could have gone as far as to take a plane?" Mr. Hart asked disbelievingly.
"Sir, I wouldn't put anything past my son, if he really wanted to leave. Knowing him, he's had his escape plan ready since we moved here."
The Harts exchanged concerned looks.
"You might want to try the new train station too," Mr. Hart offered, defeat in his voice.
"Thanks. I'll keep you posted."
***
The phone rang and Mrs. Hart lunged at it.
"Hello? Colin?" she asked frantically into the phone.
"No, I'm sorry. It's just me, Andy. I'm here at the train station. It appears that a boy matching Ephram's description was here a few hours ago. He apparently bought two tickets to New York."
"What? New York?" Mrs. Hart said into the phone, fear in her voice.
"New York!" Mr. Hart bellowed, getting up from his seat and taking the phone from his hysterical wife. "What do you mean New York? Your son dragged my Colin to New York!"
"I rather doubt that anyone could drag Colin anywhere. I'm going to see if I can get any more information from the man here. I'll meet you at your house to decide what to do in about twenty minutes." Andy said, hanging up before Colin's father had a chance to say anything.
***
Colin awoke alone on the bed to the sound of running water.
He slowly opened his eyes and felt behind him at the space that Ephram's body had previously occupied.
He shifted over to Ephram's side of the bed, wrapping himself in the other boy's scent and burying himself in the warmth left by Ephram's body.
Closing his eyes he let himself drift off in the darkness provided by the curtains on the windows and the comforter on his head.
Smiling softly, he thought of the first time he had seen Ephram.
Colin realized early on that he couldn't remember much of the first couple of weeks after he woke up from the coma, except for the first time he saw Ephram.
He had been sitting in a car, Amy and Bright at his side, gazing out the window at the crowd of students and teachers all looking at him expectantly.
When he stepped out of the car they all cheered and moved towards him, all but Ephram.
Ephram stood back from the crowd, gazing at him intensely, a mixture of jealousy and interest on his face.
Colin had been unable to talk to him, but in the remaining days he discovered his name and was surprised to find that his had been the man who saved his life.
Immediately Colin saw an opportunity to get closer to the alluring boy.
After a few weeks he attempted to befriend him by offering him a spot in their group, but every time he got close to him, Ephram shut himself off and backed away.
One day Colin had enough of Ephram's rejection, he rode his bike to Ephram's house and waited on the porch until Ephram came home, his sister Delia in tow.
He asked to be let in the house and Ephram reluctantly agreed, allowing him to enter and starting Delia on her homework before sitting on the couch next to Colin and staring at him expectantly as Colin sought for the words that never came.
That was the first time that they kissed.
Colin leaned forward and capturing Ephram's mouth a moment before running out of the house leaving a shocked Ephram on the couch.
It was not until he was two blocks from the house that he realized that Ephram had kissed him back.
Stopping and turning around he was surprised to find an out of breath Ephram staring at him, a look of disbelief and excitement on his face.
Colin smiled to himself as he thought of their first few weeks together.
Bright had known from the beginning, or close to the beginning, definitely from the moment that he caught Colin and Ephram making out on Colin's couch one Saturday evening.
Delia knew too, but after Ephram carefully explained the situation to her they managed to buy her silence with a trip to the ice cream parlor and a promise that Bright would remain solely hers.
Things had been so much better before stupid tests and parents had gotten in their way. Before they had had to flee to this city.
Colin grimaced slightly, he was already beginning to loathe New York. The city, although it provided Colin with the anonymity that he so desperately desired, also brought him face to face with the fear that Ephram would realize that there was an entire world full of men that would just as willingly be with him and who would not carry the emotional baggage that Colin always seemed to have in tow.
The smile faded from Colin's face.
Moments later he was thankfully distracted from his self deprecating thoughts by the sound of the shower being shut off and the door opening to reveal a slightly damp Ephram.
"Good morning," the boy said, coming out of the bathroom clad only in a towel and making his way to the bed to greet Colin with a good morning kiss, a commodity which they had never previously been able to share.
The feel of Ephram's tongue managed to chase the bad thoughts away, a characteristic that Colin found both disturbing and alluring.
"Why so sad?" Ephram asked, pouting slightly as he withdrew from Colin and went to rummage in his bag for clothes to wear.
Colin watched as Ephram picked out boxers and pants and pulled them on before dragging out a black turtleneck.
Colin left the bed and came up behind Ephram, pressing himself against the boy suggestively before taking the turtleneck from his hands and rummaging through the bag, finding a T-shirt and handing it to Ephram.
"But…" the boy intoned, motioning to the variety of bruises and bitemarks that adorned his neck.
"Let them see," Colin breathed into his ear, reaching gout and tracing it with his tongue.
Ephram shivered involuntarily at the feeling of Colin's mouth on his ear, then slowly donned the black T-shirt.
"Are you happy? Now will you tell me what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Everything's fine," Colin said, capturing Ephram's mouth before pulling back to examine the proof of his hold on Ephram.