Oakdale, Illinois, George S. Patton Army Base, 2008

The Robert Taft Building once served as a storage facility for fertilizer, until it was purchased by the government to serve as a military research center tacked onto the extensive training grounds of the existing George S. Patton Army Base.

As a result, the manicured lawn and annual coat of paint did relatively little to distract from the basic ugliness of the warehouse-style structure.

Luke was running late, which in itself wasn't unusual. Only this time his lateness was partly deliberate. It had taken him all morning to convince himself that coming here was a good idea.

Come on, Luke! Noah needs this…

As he drove up to the main security boom-gate, he was surprised when the guard on duty took a quick look at him and waived him right on in. The senator must have informed the gate of Luke's imminent arrival.

He followed the signs for Visitor Parking and immediately spotted Noah's truck, parked up under the shade of a sprawling oak tree. There were only three other vehicles parked in the lot.

Slow day.

As his car beeped locked, Luke felt his pulse unexplainably quicken. He was less than convinced that this was going to work; not to mention more than a little suspicious.

Why would the conservative Senator Marsden, expected to some day become a Republican presidential candidate; fly halfway across the country to help a gay teenager reunited with his father?

Expecially when the lawmaker was known to have a somewhat questionable stance on homosexuality.

As much as Noah explained how Marsden was the Colonel's best friend; how they served together in combat; and how Noah had known the man since birth, Luke remained unconvinced.

Something just didn't smell right.

Still, he couldn't let Noah down. They'd only been dating a few months, but already Luke knew he'd found the love of his life. Hell, even his family had fallen for Noah's charm. There was only one thing holding Noah back from being truly happy within himself; and that was how the colonel's reacted when he first discovered his son was gay.

…

Oakdale, Illinois, WOAK, 2007

Luke searched the counters and table tops for the video tapes his boss, Kim, requested for that evening's news broadcast. The offices of WOAK were busy that day; and he wondered what was keeping Noah and Maddie. They might only be interns. But it was still important to give a good impression, if they wanted to walk away with decent references.

"Hey Luke, think fast!"

Luke blinked just in time to see the orange Noah threw his way. He caught it without a problem and smiled. "You're in a good mood."

Luke could tell right away. This was the Noah Mayer he first met, a geeky film studies student at Oakdale University, eyes sparkling in that special way of his. This was the Noah from before Col. Winston Mayer arrived to announce he'd been transferred to Patton. The Noah from before they kissed; and Noah's girlfriend, Maddie, found out.

"Yeah, feels good for a change."

"Why?" Luke asked, teasing Noah by pretending to throw the orange back but holding onto it instead. "What happened?

"Why did something have to happen?" Noah asked.

"Because I haven't seen you like this..." Luke replied, this time chucking the orange right into Noah's hands, "...in a long time."

Noah looked sheepish; adorable actually as he toyed with the fruit. "Would you think I was a horrible person, if I told you that my dad just left town; and I'm suddenly really, really happy?"

Luke could understand that. He'd watched how the arrival of Noah's dad in Oakdale turned the relaxed, fun-loving guy, whom Luke had secretly fallen for, into a scared little boy, terrified that an unexpected kiss he shared with Luke would result in him losing his only family. It had already caused their friendships with Maddie some considerable damage.

And as far as Luke could tell, Noah had a reason to worry. He didn't get the impression the colonel would be that receptive to the news that his son was gay. It was perfectly understandable why Noah tried so hard to deny the truth, even to himself.

Doesn't hurt any less though…

Luke was so busy musing this over, it took him a while before he realized what Noah was busy telling him. Maddie, temporarily putting aside her own upset at having discovered Noah's deception, stepped in to rescue Noah from his father's persistent questions by pretending they were still a couple. The colonel left town on his trip convinced that when he returned it would be to his perfectly straight son.

Luke spotted the tapes he was looking for; and grabbed them off the table; before heading for the back office to hide his irritation from Noah.

"So your dad thinks you and Maddie are back together again…" It wasn't a question.

Noah followed him. "I didn't mean to lie to him and, I swear, when he comes back I'll straighten everything out."

Luke re-filed the tapes and turned just in time to soften, when he saw the look of relief on Noah's face.

"But when Maddie told me to just let him go, I suddenly felt this weight lift off me. It's like I can breathe again! And I can be... I don't know…"

Luke couldn't help smiling out the corner of his mouth. "…yourself?"

"Yeah," Noah sighed wistfully, sadness starting to float back in. "I wish I could feel like this all the time."

"Well, you can…" Luke reassuringly told him. "…and I'm not trying to pressure you or anything. But… once your dad does come back and… if you do decide to come out to him, this… this feeling… this freedom… just… not hiding… That will be normal."

Luke held his breath. Usually at this point, Noah would head for the door in response to Luke having pushed those buttons deep inside, Noah didn't like touched; issues he didn't want to face.

But to Luke's surprise, Noah closed the physical gap between them, moving to stand even closer. Luke could feel the heat from the guy's body and smell his after shave. He felt his heart rate elevating; his breath shortening…

"I owe you." Noah's gaze on him was firm and focused. So intense, Luke had to look away or he'd grab the boy and kiss him into the next week.

"Ag… no you don't…" Luke stumbled. "Um…" He looked around for an escape. "Look… look I gotta study for this Lit exam that…"

As Luke turned to grab his books, Noah's hand shot out to encircle his wrist. Luke turned his eyes back to meet the deep blue of Noah's and felt himself melting.

Oh Jesus yes! He's gonna kiss me again. Yes! Please, please kiss me!

When Noah made his move, Luke was more than ready. He pulled the brunette's head down to his; desperate to feel those soft lips he'd dreamed about since the first time Noah kissed him like this.

His head felt lighter than air; the world around them dissolved away. So much so they only just heard the gasp from the office door. Otherwise they may not have stopped at all.

Colonel Mayer stood in wide-eyed shock and dismay in the doorway.

Luke jumped wide back from Noah, even though it was already too late.

"Dad!" Noah yelped and Luke cringed at the dread in his voice. "I thought you were out of town?"

His father sagged into the doorway, as though so physically wounded his legs couldn't keep him up. "Oh I wish I was! I'd give anything not to see what I just did!"

The older man shook his graying head. He waited a while before stepping forward toward the devastated Noah.

"Not only am I sickened by your behavior…" he growled. "I'm appalled at your deceit! This is the worstkind of betrayal!"

Luke had to step in. He just had to. He couldn't stand the look of agony on Noah's face one moment longer. "Colonel Mayer…?"

"Shut up you!"

Luke jumped. He had to admit, the colonel knew how to intimidate. Luke could totally imagine this man leading a platoon of soldiers into battle. He couldn't believe this was the only person Noah had in his life to call family. It was no wonder the poor guy was so messed up.

"This is between my son and me!" Winston continued; stamping his authority on the situation.

"Hey guys…" Maddie sang, appearing suddenly at the worst possible moment.

Oh no…

Cheerfully unaware of what had just transpired, she hooked her arm through Noah's to perpetrate the charade that they were dating and innocently asked, "What's going on?"

"Stop it! Stop it with this stupid game!" The colonel was firing venom and Maddie's face fell in shock.

"W…what game?" she asked.

"You're lying to me!" the man was shouting now; anger seeping through every pore. "Allof you!"

They waited while Winston fought to control himself, eyes flitting between them all.

"But it's going to stop! Right now!" He glared directly at his son. "How could you do this?"

Luke's heart broke for Noah.

"I... I'm sorry," Noah stammered, on the verge of tears. "The last thing I ever wanted to do was disappoint you."

"I'm more than disappointed, Noah!" his father maintained through his teeth. "You're a coward! You're a liar! You're a…" he almost spat an insult but it died in the back of his throat. He couldn't even say it. He shook his head. "You're not the boy I raised."

"Yes he is!" Luke insisted. He couldn't let the man crush his own son in this way.

"I told you to shut up!"

There was so much Luke wanted to say. He felt anger boiling up inside and he had this overwhelming urge to throw himself in front of Noah and protect him forever. But he knew he'd just make things worse.

"I'm revolted by what you've become," the man continued. He stood looking at Noah with repulsion and finally turned; storming toward the door.

"Dad, please!" Noah begged, running after the man. "Don't go-"

"You're not my son!" Winston Mayer turned quick and spat the words before Noah could even finish the sentence, "Not anymore!"

The colonel was serious. Luke knew that for sure by the way he stared his son down; right in the eye; not once flinching. And then he was gone.

Maddie, who'd remained silent throughout the tirade, moved forward. "Noah… I… I didn't mean to make things worse for you... I didn't know…"

"No," Noah shook his head, ashamed, unable to look at her. "You didn't. Nothing could have been worse than what he just saw."

What?

Luke's heart sank. Was Noah was going to deny them again?

"Right," Maddie said softly. It was clear she didn't agree with that statement at all. But she reliased they needed to be alone. "I'm gonna go."

Luke nodded his goodbye and silently thanked her for her amazing understanding. She really was a great friend. She'd handled the whole affair with such dignity; even after being so hurt by it all.

Once she was gone, Luke found himself temporarily speechless; a rare event for him.

He didn't think he could handle Noah rejecting him again, so he tried to make light of the situation. It was his nature to resort to humor when he was nervous. "Well… a… I guess you're sorry you ever met me…"

Unexpectedly, Noah again shook his head. "No. I'm not. I'm just sorry you had to hear all those things he said."

"It's not your fault," Luke assured him.

"I should have stood up to him!" Noah exclaimed in irritation. "He's right… I'm a coward!"

Luke sighed sympathetically. "Look… it's your dad. That's hard!"

"You know something?" Noah asked, looking toward his shoes as he considered this. "He's worse than a coward…" He looked up at Luke like he'd just made a revelation. "He's a bigot."

Luke felt terrible. Noah's whole world had just fallen apart; and it was entirely Luke's fault for being impatient. "You told me… you told me you weren't ready to come out. I should have just listened to you… I shouldn't have kissed you…"

"We kissed each other, Luke." Noah's response was quick and Luke's breath hitched. "And I don't regret that. That was the best thing to happen to me in a long time."