-1The next morning they cleaned up the place, locked up and headed back to Vegas and dove in to work on the Panic! CD they had begun to realize that this would take all year if they didn't buckle down. After another week and a half of late nights and early mornings they had the songs recorded. The hard part was done, all they (Patrick) had to do was cut the tracks and put them back together. They said there good buys and headed home. Patrick hadn't talked to Cat as much as he hoped he could have. They played phone tag back and fourth for a few days. It was hard to talk to her for more then a few minuets before being rushed off the phone. Patrick was glad to be heading back home. He had fun but now he was happy to be able to sleep in his own bed…possibly with Cat next to him in stead of Pete.

It was 3 am the flight was an hour and a half to two hours so they should land in Chicago around 8 or 9. Ya time zones are a bitch. They never bothered Patrick much though. If he was felling drained a few energy drinks and some coffee brought him right back into the land of the living. It made Pete laugh, he always thought it was funny that Patrick couldn't handle anything in the morning until he had coffee, but when he went some where with a 10 hour time difference he was fine.

On the plane Patrick opened his laptop and set to work. He was sitting with his legs under him. Some thing he couldn't do before in coach. He never cared how they flew, he wasn't even bothered being in a little puddle jumper. But now he was glad for first class, he welcomed the silence and the rich business men staring at them wondering how they could afford these seats. Patrick put his head phones on and the world faded. All that there was now was music that needed dissecting.

"Hey" Pete said shacking Patrick's leg.

"What" Patrick was a tad annoyed with being interrupted. "I ordered some food if that ok with you"

"I really don't need it but sure"

"your so ridiculous" Pete muttered as a stewardess sat a large breakfast sandwich in front of the both of them.

"I'm not being ridiculous, I deserve a medal for getting these jeans on"

"you need bigger jeans then"

Patrick glared at Pete, sliding his food over to him. He pulled his head phones back over his ears and attempted to go back to work.

"oh come on trick I was kidding"

Patrick made no response he continued to act like he couldn't here Pete. Pete put the food back on Patrick's tray next to his laptop.

"if you spill shit on this I'll kick your ass"

"so it speaks"

"shut up Pete" Patrick snapped taking a gulp of luck warm coffee.

"you know I was kidding"

"no you weren't"

"trick"

"I'm too fat to fit into any of my clothes it's pretty obvious"

"your not fat"

They spoke quietly, mainly because they didn't want to be over herd but also because the other few people were sleeping. And from the view of any one else it would just look like two brothers (or lovers) arguing.

"oh yes I am I must have put on 20 pounds"

"no you didn't"

"and to make things even better Cat gets to see me again even fatter then when I left"

"if she has a problem the fuck her, you look fine. I don't think you look any different"

-silence-

"Patrick I'm not bull shitting you, your not fat"

"Pete I just wanna work on these tracks right now, I'm not hungry so if u don't eat it I'll throw it out"

Pete sighed and turned his gaze off of Patrick and back to the window. He mentally kicked him self for telling Patrick he needed bigger clothes. But he didn't mean it the way it sounded. Patrick was so fucked up. He had always had low self esteem but now well Pete was pretty sure he couldn't come up with 1 good thing about him self. Pete left the food sitting next to Patrick for twenty more minuets until he finally gave in. Patrick was so stubborn some times. Pete took a big bite watching Patrick out of the corner of his eyes. The sandwich was cold, and greasy but other wise good. Pete caught Patrick smiling. 'you son of a bitch' he thought. 'your not mad at me your just playing games' Patrick was starching his left leg out, 'must have fallen asleep' Pete thought.

"asleep" Pete mumbled with a mouth full of food.

"do I look asleep" Patrick said a more then a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

"I meant you leg stupid"

"oh…then ya"

Pete laughed, and Patrick smiled.

"your dumb"

"I'm tired"

"go to sleep I'll wake you up before we land"

"I cant"

Just then the plane jumped in the sky as if to emphasize Patrick's point. Pete nodded. He was use to not sleeping though and even more accustom to nightmares.

"I just wanna get home, take a hot shower and watch some TV"

"sounds like a plan"

"when is Ashley getting back"

"she's not"

"what?! why"

"she is gonna be in New York. Instead of Chicago"

"why"

"I'm not sure its really confusing, some thing dumb I don't know"

"so are you gonna get to see her at all?"

"hell ya, I'm gonna fly out to New York City in a few days, she has a hole week there so I'll get to see her for a while."

"that's good, its been what a month"

"and 3 weeks ya, you can come if you want"

"no, you two need 'special' time" Patrick said using air quotes to make his point.

Pete laughed "ya I do, are your gonna hook up with that girl… what's her name again"

"Cat, and I don't know, she wants to get dinner some where but I'm not sure"

"why"

"I don't know, I'm trying to figure her out"

"you cant no one can figure girls out, you think I fully get Ashley? Nope I just at like I do"

"no not like that,"

"you mean her angle"

"ya I don't know what she's doing with me"

"she know who you are"

"now she does"

Pete nodded

"that has to be why, I mean why else would she want me"

"maybe because you're a nice guy"

Patrick shrugged. It was easier to do then arguing with Pete who could never see any thing bad or wrong with him. Arguing would only make Patrick frustrated and Pete would laugh.

"I wanna meet her"

"ok"

"I'm not joking, before things get serious I want to meet her"

"I said ok"

"if I don't like her then she's gone"

"what"

"you herd me"

"ya I did…you have no power over that"

Pete didn't answer he just looked out the window. Patrick knew better then to push the issue. He was terribly naive and Pete could smell bull shit a mile away. Pete was older then Patrick and wasn't about to let some one step on him or his best friend. It was as Pete said about girls, as long as you can node at the appropriate times your in.

The flight came in at 10, much later then any of them could have ever guessed. By now they were both tired irritated and hungry (well only Patrick on that last one). It felt like it took an hour alone to get there bags. It never fails at an air port, 20 baggage claims and only one is working. Also there was a littler girl (well not little) staring at the two of them.

"I hope she's just checking you out"

"Me? Oh no, I have no ass, you do"

"your prettier…even if I do have a fucking awesome ass"

Luckily the girl said nothing to either of them and they walked out of the terminal and into the parking garage.

"where you at?"

"waaaayyyy down there" Patrick said gesturing to the other side of the building.

"aww man, I'm only a few rows over you want a lift?"

"no I need the exercise" Patrick said patting his stomach. Pete shook his head.

"ok but you should start off slow…like walking to my car"

"Pete-" Patrick tried to finish but he started laughing.

"come on sexy, I don't want you to get raped in a parking garage"

"ok fine… wait do you not want me rapped period or just in a parking garage"

"hum that's a toughie"

"I'm sure" Patrick said rolling his eyes.

"so you'll call me later right" Pete asked as he pulled up in front of Patrick's car.

"of course"

"give me some love?" Pete opened up his arms and pulled Patrick into a big hug. Patrick let out a sigh, he missed this, him and Pete the dynamic duel.

"you know I love you right?" Pete questioned raising an eye brow.

"ya"

"No I mean I really love you Patrick, you're my best friend. Every thing I said to you I meant"

Patrick nodded he felt guilty for acting like such a prick.

"I'm sorry I've been so"

"its ok, you put up with my shit I can deal with yours."

Patrick smiled it was a comforting thing to know some one would have your back no matter what. He waved to Pete as he pulled out and hopped up into his car. He let out a sigh. He felt great. He suddenly knew he would take Cat up on dinner and insist on paying. He flipped on the radio. Prince was half way through Get Off. A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.

"oh ya its going to be a good day"