Chapter 9: Give Into Me

He rolled his shoulders, straightening his back, and sighed with each pop. The longer hours at the factory were taking a toll on his back and joints. But he wouldn't complain. The day shifts got him home early enough to eat dinner with his daughter and help her with her homework. He also got to sleep in longer and have breakfast with her. It was almost perfect. Except for still having to sleep on the couch. And that other thing that he didn't allow himself to think of. It was harder in the beginning not to think about that thing. But as the weeks went on, it got easier to just not think. He ignored the sleepless and nightmarish nights. He ignored the way his body yearned. It was pretty silly anyways. He'd been about women his whole life and the first man who flirted with him…

He wasn't thinking. Nope, not thinking.

He finished with the last of the delivery and pulled out his walkie-talkie. "Mark." He said into it and waited for a response. Almost instantly, his boss' voice came over the line. "Done already?"

"Yes, sir."

"Ahead of schedule." There was a pause. "Shipment's still being packed. Take a break. I'll radio you when it's ready."

"Yes, sir. Out." He returned the talkie to his belt and leapt out of the truck.

"Tag."

That voice. In an instant, all his resolve crumbled. He turned, fully intent on wrapping his arms around the brunette and never letting go. But the glare on Eragon's face stopped him. But he couldn't blame it. He expected it.

"That was pretty low." Eragon practically spat, stepping closer. "Telling Gasey I'm a bad guy."

Murtagh glanced around quickly. No one was around. But he couldn't chance getting caught and getting fired. It would just add more fuel to Arya's fire. "What are you doing here?" He asked slowly.

Eragon frowned. "Looking for you."

"Get in here!" He grabbed Eragon's jacket and hauled him up inside the truck.

Eragon stumbled for a moment and quickly righted himself. He spun around and threw up his arms. "Bad, Tag? Bad?"

Murtagh turned again, saying nothing. He had nothing to say. Nothing that would make the situation better.

Eragon sighed. "I thought we were past all that pedophile shit." He sounded hurt and sad.

Murtagh turned back towards him, confusion on his face. "Pedophile?"

Eragon rolled his eyes and waved him off. "The first time we met and you thought I was stalking your daughter."

He smiled slowly and nodded. "I guess I did say that."

"Well…" Eragon stammered. "Yes… you did."

Murtagh sighed deeply and sunk to the floor. He leaned his head back against the cold metal and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." He breathed out. "I'm so… sorry. I never… I didn't…"

"Mean for it to happen?" Eragon snapped as he flopped down beside him. He pulled his knees to his chest and kept his distance.

Murtagh let out a laugh as he banged his head against the metal twice. "This is hard for me to say. I'm not…"

"You're not good with words." Eragon said slowly. "Or emotions. Take your time."

He laughed again, louder this time and with more energy. "How do you know me so well? So fast?"

Eragon smiled but didn't answer.

A sigh escaped Murtagh's lips. He was silent for a few more minutes, lost in thought. "I didn't ever imagine… that I could fall so fast… so hard." He shook his head slowly. "You don't exist… and suddenly you do and… you turn everything upside down. And when you're not around… I'm… dead inside… you just… shook us all up."

"I'm sorry." Eragon breathed out, truly meaning it. He could die that moment, hearing the hurt in the man's voice, knowing that he'd caused harm for him and his daughter. "I should have never set foot in your coffee shop."

Murtagh glanced over, meeting his gaze. "I didn't mean it like that." He said sincerely and then turned his gaze forward again. "I just… never expected I could fall that hard that fast. I guess… I've never been in love before."

Eragon smiled widely and rested his chin on his knees. He could feel his face reddening and was glad Murtagh wasn't looking at him anymore. "Love." He said softly.

Murtagh let out a sigh. "I can't do anything about it. Arya… she sees us as her property."

Eragon took a silent deep breath, trying to calm himself. "People get divorced all the time."

He shook his head. "It's not that easy. Gasey's only 10. If we have a custody battle… Arya's going to win. Gasey won't have any say until she's 13's. I can't leave her with Arya for 3 years. Only seeing her on weekends or whatever visitation I'd be granted."

Eragon frowned. "You're a wonderful father. Why do you assume you'd lose?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "She's got money stashed away. I can't afford to hire a good lawyer. She'll drag me through the mud, lie, and I'll get fucked over. Courts always side with the mother."

Eragon was silent for a second. "But… if there weren't an Arya…"

"I meant what I said." Murtagh said, reaching over to grab Eragon's hand. "I lo…"

"Don't say it!" Eragon said quickly, interrupting him. He scooted closer and leaned his head against Murtagh's shoulder. He sighed and closed his eyes. "So… 3 years?"

"Yes."

"3 years… and you'll leave her."

"Yes."

"And you'll still… love me then?" Eragon asked slowly.

"It's a long time to wait." Murtagh said softly.

"Oh…" Eragon pushed off him.

"No, get back here." Murtagh laughed softly. "I meant… it's a long time for me to expect you to wait."

"Me?"

He shrugged. "I've waited this long to be happy… and gay." He laughed again. "What's a few more miserable years? But you…"

Eragon smiled and laid his head back down. "It's only time. I can wait."

"Eragon…" His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when his talkie beeped.

"Murtagh." Came his boss' voice.

He stood up quickly and turned. He touched his finger to his lips in a 'shushing' manner as he pulled out his talkie. "Yes, sir?"

"Boxing's done. Ready for loading."

"Yes, sir."

"And Tag… keep your friend away from the mechs and off the cameras."

His eyes slowly widened. "Uh… thanks…" He slipped it back in his pocket and turned to Eragon. "Maybe… you should go…" He said slowly. "How'd you get back here anyways?"

Eragon looked away. "I may have… flirted with the girl running the gift shop. She went on break and let me back here."

Murtagh rolled his eyes. "More research for your book, huh?"

He laughed. "You know me so well."

"Yeah, yeah." Murtagh waved him off. "Come on. You're leaving."

"You heard him." Eragon said, jumping up. "I can stay off camera and away from… mechs?"

Murtagh smiled and shook his head. "Mechs. Mechanics. Like the fork lift."

"Oh that's so cool!"

Murtagh stared at him. "And you are how old?"

He smiled. "So where are the cameras?"

"Inside. There aren't any out here."

"Fantastic!" He clapped his hands together. "So… this works how?"

Murtagh rolled his eyes. "Fine. I go in, load up the fork lift, bring it out here, and then load the boxes from it into the truck."

"By yourself?"

He shrugged. "Small factory."

"So… I stay in the truck then." Eragon plopped back down.

-X-X-X-X-X-

Eragon helped Murtagh for the rest of his shift. Packing and unpacking. Loading and unloading. The mundane of the mundane. But it went by pretty fast for the two. Mostly they worked in silence, but when they finished early, they sat and talked until the next shipment was ready.

"Thanks… for helping." Murtagh said softly after the last shipment was loaded on the truck.

Eragon shuffled his feet a bit. "Thanks for letting me."

He smiled. "Thanks for following me."

"Thanks for being you." Eragon said as he turned to look at him.

Murtagh laughed. "If just got really cheesy in here."

"Well…" Eragon stepped closer. "I could help you melt it."

"Melt?" Murtagh repeated, puzzled.

"Uh… cheese… hot… wait, what?"

Murtagh laughed louder.

Eragon blushed and turned away. "This is so not going how I thought it would."

Murtagh grabbed him, spun him around, and pinned him against the side of the truck. "This better."

"A little closer to what I had in mind." He leaned forward and captured Murtagh's bottom lip between his teeth. "Wait." He pulled back and pushed Murtagh away.

"What?"

Eragon's eyes settled on the bright orange reflective safety vest he wore. "That vest. I can't take you seriously in it. It's so not sexy."

Murtagh laughed and fingered the identical vest covering Eragon. "We'll just have to get rid of them, won't we?"

Zippers were pulled and safety vests discarded. Jackets and shirts soon followed and once again, Murtagh had Eragon pinned against the cool metal truck. Eragon suppressed a shiver as his fingers moved over Murtagh's stomach.

Murtagh laughed and pulled Eragon from the wall. "Yeeeeeah this isn't the most romantic place."

Eragon started laughing as well. "After nothing for weeks, I wasn't going to complain."

They both laughed and settled on the floor. Eragon grabbed his jacket and attempted to smooth it across the floor. It was a cool excuse for a blanket but it kept the cool metal floor from touching his skin as he laid down.

"Why are you do much better at this than me?" Murtagh asked as Eragon pulled him down beside him.

"Brrrrrinnnnng."

They pulled apart as the phone went off. "Oh… that's my cell…" Eragon said, glancing down at his jacket pocket.

Murtagh grabbed his hand. "You're not gonna answer it."

"Hell no!" He threw his arm around Murtagh and pulled the man back down on top of him.

Murtagh smiled before capturing his lips again. But the ringing did not stop. "Fuck!"

"Again?" Eragon pulled away. "Damnit, Saph! Let me tell her to fuck off." He fumbled for the pocket and pulled out his phone. He stared at it a moment, frowning.

"What?"

"It's my home number. Who the hell is calling me from my apartment?" He answered it quickly and pressed it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Eragon!"

Eragon sat up quickly, his eye wide. "Gasey?"

"Gasey?"

"Do you know where my dad is?" She sobbed over the phone.

"Here." He thrust the phone at Murtagh.

"Sweetie?" She only cried louder. "Gasey!"

Eragon jumped up and began collecting their discard clothes.

"Gasey! Are you okay?"

She sniffled and chocked out, "No…"

Eragon grabbed the phone back and handed Murtagh his clothes. "Gasey, is anyone there with you?"

"No."

"Lock the door and stay on the line with your dad. I'll get him there as fast as I can." He handed the phone back over and pulled out his keys. "I'll drive."

"Gasey… just… I'll be right there."

-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: One chapter left. It will be finished. The end is in sight.