Disclaimer: Obviously I am the writer of the original Oceans 11, who has cleverly decided to fool you all by writing mediocre fanfics about my own characters. Mwah ha ha!

Chapter Three – Linus wonders why Rusty cares, and Rusty asks himself a similar question.

Linus sat on the balcony and wondered why this sort of thing always happened to him. And the night had been going so well, too. The Malloy's had stopped laughing at him (both to his face and when they thought he couldn't hear) and had started hitting him in the shoulder repeatedly and trying to get him drunk instead. Linus reasoned that this was an improvement, at least by their standards. He'd talked to Livingstone and Basher and Frank even Saul, all of them treating him like an equal. For the first time he had felt part of the group, rather than an intruder.

He heard a hiss as the glass door slid open, but didn't turn around as Rusty joined him. He wished he would just leave. Despite the older man's pretense at just casually standing around, the fact he had felt the need to check on him was humiliating. Slightly comforting and baffling, that he should care, but mostly humiliating.

Linus wasn't sure how successful he was being at hiding how much that call had upset him. He hated it when he stuffed up and gave his dad a reason to lay into him. Rusty Ryan was the last person Linus wanted to think he was some sort of crybaby. Rusty was so elegant, so cool, so smart, so everything Linus knew he would never be.

To Linus's surprise, Rusty said nothing. He just sat there, waiting. Linus risked a glance across. Rusty was leaning back, ever so casual, eating some sort of donut. Linus couldn't help but wonder how it was physically possible for someone to eat so much and look the way he did. He was like some sort of tall, blonde masterpiece.

Wait a minute, what the hell was he thinking? Why was he even thinking about what Rusty looked like? He must be drunker than he thought. There had been something very suspicious about the small unlabelled bottles of something the Malloys' had liberally doused in every round of drinks. Or maybe it was the sitting in silence, waiting for Rusty to talk, driving him crazy.

"I sort of ruined the party, didn't I? Sorry."

"Not at all. It was finishing up anyway. Besides, it's not the others I'm worried about, kid."

There it was again. Not Linus, never just 'Linus' always 'kid' or 'boy' or even 'Bobby's son'. Was it so much to ask to be referred to by his own name? But this was Rusty speaking, his senior and a childhood hero, so Linus swallowed his annoyed reply and bit his lip.

"I'm fine. I don't care what he says anyway."

Rusty didn't look like he believed him. He tried again.

"Really, I don't. I know I'm better than he thinks. "

"Oh yes, you are amazing."

There was something about the way he said it, something a little smooth and amused, that was too much. Linus knew he didn't deserve that tone, and if he had to prove it he damn well would. He stood up, all his pent up frustration directed straight at Rusty.

"You know what? How about you stop fucking patronizing me, how about that? And my name is Linus. Not kid or boy or child or Bobby Caldwell's son! It's Linus!"

"I know…Hey, kid - I mean Linus, sorry - Linus, wait…"

Rusty swore as Linus ignored him, storming down the stairs three at a time towards the car park. Before he even knew what he was doing Rusty felt his legs move and he found himself following. This was ridiculous. Normally he would let him go, let him cool off and sort himself out. That's what he would do with anyone else. That's what he should be doing now. What was it about Linus Caldwell that was so damn captivating? Right from day one, something about his awkward, charming naïveté had messed with Rusty's head.

Rusty practically ran down the stairs, fighting to keep his pace at a slow jog as he reached the bottom. Leave emotion at the door, he repeated in his head. Always leave emotion at the door. Any door will do. He turned into the car park, eyes scanning the flat empty grayness for signs of life.

Linus was standing near edge of the cavernous car park. As Rusty reached him he didn't even look up. All the fight had suddenly gone out of him.

"I didn't mean what I said. I just took it all out on you…"

His voice was so soft Rusty could barely hear it. He was looking up with worried eyes, and his shoulders were slumped. As he stood there, vulnerable, the only thing that came into Rusty's head was that he should kiss him. So he did.

As he pulled away Linus stared in shock.

"Wha - "

Rusty cut him off with another kiss, a longer one this time. Linus tasted like bittersweet, like dark chocolate and Russian vodka. This time when they broke apart Linus was gasping for breath and they were pressed tightly together. Somehow Rusty had managed to push him against the wall without noticing.

"Tell me to stop." He murmured into Linus's ear. "Tell me to stop and I will…"

Linus didn't reply, and for a moment Rusty froze inside. He didn't know why or how, but he wanted Linus. If Linus didn't fell the same way…

Rusty felt Linus stir, and then hesitantly, tentatively wrap his arms around Rusty's waist. The younger man's head rested on his chest.

"Don't stop."

Yes! Rusty was all too happy to oblige… but even as he did he couldn't stop his damned brain from thinking.

Was he taking advantage of Linus? Linus was more then ten years his junior, and the kid had made it painfully obvious he hero worshipped both Danny and Rusty. What's more, Linus was upset and more than a little drunk. Shit. He didn't want to stop, but…

"Hey, Linus. It's late, huh? Why don't I take you to your room?"

"Mmmmm…ok... you wanna stay the night?"

It was so very tempting…but even as Rusty considered it Linus stumbled and fell against him, giggling. He really was very drunk. Or maybe the Virgil and Turk had put something else in the drink… no. Surely not. Even they wouldn't do that.

"I'd like to, but it's Danny's last night. I'll come see you in the morning."

"Yeah…"

Unnoticed by either of them, a man leaning in the doorway watched them make their way up to Linus's room. Danny Ocean had seen more than he wanted to, and he was not happy.