A/N: Based on some reviews, it seems that there had been a bit of confusion.

Holmes has been mistaken for Holden. No relation whatsoever. Also, some people are a bit confused about how Holmes fits into the picture.

I strongly recommend you read my first fan fiction, "Somewhere With You." This is the sequel to it, and I think certain characters and situations will make much more sense if you look at it.

Thanks guys!

CHAPTER 7

There was an undeniable spring in her step now. No doubt about it. As Spencer gently extracted herself from her fiancée's sleeping arms, she felt a bubble of joy inflating in her chest. It was as though her heart was undergoing a rebirth. All of the holes and hollows were being patched up, replaced by unabated happiness.

She gazed at him for a moment, soaking in his beauty. The definition of his pectorals and abdominals was only more pronounced as he breathed in and out mid-slumber…his perfect, pouted lips parted slightly as if awaiting a kiss. A mere corner of the blanket was drooped over his middle right now, covering only a portion of his pelvic area. The curves of his defined hip bones formed a delicate "V" shape that ultimately pointed downwards to his hidden manhood. A shiver of desire traveled down Spencer's spine. She had just made love him only moments before – but she desperately wanted to do it again.

But he looked so peaceful. She could not bear to wake him – even for that. Instead, she pulled a blue sundress from her closet, as well as new undergarments to put on after her shower. The dress was Toby's favorite. It didn't even matter that there was still snow on the ground outside. She would handle it tonight, for him.

She put on her bathrobe and quietly vacated the area, closing the door softly behind her, and headed down the hall to the bathroom. As she began to run the shower, she realized that, pathetically enough, she already missed him. He was only a room away – and yet she pined for his company.

She stepped under the stream, sighing involuntarily at the sensation of the water cleansing her body. It felt like ages since she had had a shower this enjoyable. Everything was more enjoyable, now that he was home.

She had been in there but a moment before she heard the bathroom door open and close. She paused nervously, hoping that Hanna and Holmes wouldn't be foolish enough to come in while she was here.

"Leaving me all by myself?" It was Toby. And something about the rasp of his voice made her insides contract. She heard the lock click behind him distinctively – and seconds later, he was stepping into the shower with her.

"I'm sorry," she began, unable to stifle a smile. "I didn't want to wake you."

"Dreams are never as good as the real thing," he protested. He placed his hands on her hips to guide her closer to him, the streaming water pouring down all around them. Her heart leapt into her throat as she gazed down at him – all of him – the parts that had been covered by the blanket in the bedroom. She was amazed that the sight of his naked body could have such a debilitating effect on her, and fought to control the shaking of her knees.

She leaned upward to kiss him softly, the beads of water intermingling between their lips. The pressure of his groin pressing against her hip was dizzying. How could she want him again with such desperation, so quickly? It was as if today's lovemaking hadn't even happened yet.

He caressed her back lovingly, instantly easing any tension that may have been previously present in her muscles. Then his hands traveled around to delicately explore the curvature of her breasts. She moaned quietly into his mouth. The heat in the shower was no longer merely a source of the hot water – it was also the unbridled passion electrifying the both of them into submission.

In one swift movement he hiked her legs around his hips, backing her into the wall of the shower. His lips traveled down her neck and to her collarbone. She bit her lip expectantly. He knew this was her favorite spot.

"I love you," he murmured into her skin. The stiffness of his arousal pressing against her inner thigh was enough to send her into a frenzy. He had a horrible tendency of keeping her waiting.

"I love you too," she replied huskily, grabbing him by the back of the neck to force his lips onto hers. She hungrily explored his mouth, indulging in the noises he made in response. "I want you," she whispered, grinding herself against him seductively.

He swiftly repositioned her to ease his access. A hot, searing fire rose from her stomach as he began to oblige her.

It seemed like an eternity for Holmes before Spencer and Toby had finally returned to the land of the living. He had been impatiently awaiting the moment when they would finally get out of the house and escape the awkward situation that he had idiotically placed himself in.

They now sat at the bar – Good Time Charley's, to be exact, the precise booth that Spencer and Toby had reunited at – picking at their food and indulging in alcoholic drinks that he and Hanna desperately needed. He was having a very hard time not looking at her – she was wearing form-fitting black pants and a satin pink halter with a plunging neckline. Her boobs were staring at him, and it was all he could do not to stare back.

Cavanaugh was in the middle of an animated story about some experience overseas. Holmes had admittedly not been paying attention so far.

"…and Jergens came running butt-ass naked out of the latrine, screaming about how the mouse tried to violate him."

Spencer and Hanna were laughing so hard that tears were seeping out of their eyes. Hearing the punch line, Holmes suddenly wished he had heard the rest of the story. He feigned laughter to appear engaged, but felt that his attempt fell flat. Once the laughter had diminished, Cavanaugh addressed him.

"Have you heard from Lancaster at all?" he asked, taking a swig of his beer. Holmes shook his head.

"Not in a couple months. He'll be here for the wedding, though. He said he already has his tux."

"Great," Toby said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I appreciate it, man." It must have been hard for him to leave much of his wedding planning in Holmes's hands – but then again, it was the duty of the best man. He owed it to Cavanaugh to pull it off without a hitch.

"Yeah," Holmes began half-heartedly. "No sweat."

He took a hesitant sip of his beer. Toby raised a brow, as if to ask what was wrong. Holmes shook his head discreetly, turning away to look at the dance floor. He could feel Cavanaugh's eyes burning a hole in his skull. Spencer and Hanna were giggling about something – undoubtedly some girly wedding shit – unaware of the silent conversation that was happening before them.

"I love this song," Spencer declared, rising from her chair and pulling Hanna up alongside her. She gently rubbed Toby's shoulder. "Let's go dance!"

"You guys go ahead," Cavanaugh offered with a grin. Spencer returned the gesture, swooping down to plant a short kiss on his lips. And then, she and Hanna disappeared into the crowd of college students.

It was as if he had been holding his breath throughout the entire meal. Suddenly he exhaled, feeling substantially more relaxed without Hanna flaunting herself directly across from him.

"What's going on, dude?" Cavanaugh asked suspiciously. Holmes winced, unsure if he was willing to divulge the disaster that this night had begun with.

"She's making me insane," Holmes stated shortly. He did not elaborate, but instead grabbed a shot glass from the waiter's tray. He didn't know what it was, but he tipped it back anyway. Jägermeister. Nasty. It burned all the way down his esophagus.

Toby was looking behind him at the girls on the dance floor. Spencer waved at him enthusiastically, her hips swaying to the beat.

"I know what you mean," he stated suddenly. He, too, grabbed a shot glass from the carrying tray and downed it in one. His faced twisted into a displeased wince.

"At least you get to be with yours," Holmes protested. "I told Hanna I love her."

Toby stared at him. "And?"

Holmes shook his head shortly, raising the bottle to his lips for another sip. The liquor was bleeding through his veins now, giving him a decent buzz to work with.

Toby furrowed his brow. "Ouch."

"No shit."

"Now what?"

"No idea."

That was the extent of the conversation between them. They didn't need fancy words and elaborate explanations like girls did. In fact, that was probably what Hanna was talking to Spencer about now: they had retreated to the bar stools, nursing some fruity drinks, and seemed deeply immersed in conversation.

"Fuck it," Holmes decided suddenly, downing the rest of his beer and slamming it definitively on the table. "I'm done with it all. I'm going to be gay now."

The extent to which Cavanaugh began hysterically laughing indicated that he, too, was experiencing a degree of inebriation. "Don't look at me, man. I'm quite all right with my current position."

"What position might that be?" Holmes asked cheekily. "Doggy style?"

Toby was still laughing, which surprised Holmes a bit. Normally he would probably get protective over any sort of insinuation about his and Spencer's sex life.

"No, seriously," Toby said between chuckles, "It's great to be back. When we were taking a shower earlier, I was thinking that – "

"Oh, God," Holmes declared in realization. "You guys had sex in the shower today, didn't you?"

"What?" Toby sputtered sheepishly. He made a dismissive raspberry noise with his lips. "Nah. No."

"You dick," Holmes said good-naturedly. "We all use that shower!"

Once again they were taken over by a round of heavy chuckles. Holmes was thoroughly enjoying the moment until his buzz was killed almost entirely.

He couldn't have predicted it in a million years. In fact, up until this moment, he had forgotten about the threat of it entirely.

But lo and behold, there he was, returning to haunt them: Jeff Cody had walked into the bar.

"Fuck," he muttered to himself, willing Toby not to turn around. No sooner had he thought than Toby was wheeling around to follow his eyes. A look of utter rage appeared on his face.

"What the fuck?" he demanded with a growl, rising from his seat with such fervor that he sent his chair clattering to the floor. "Holmes, what the fuck is he doing here?"

"I – I dunno," Holmes stuttered stupidly. He was going to play dumb for as long as possible. At least until the animalistic wrath was gone from Toby's face.

Hanna and Spencer seemed to have noticed him as well, for they had hurriedly returned to the table.

"We need to go," Hanna said, sending a pointed look at Holmes. "Now."

Spencer appeared to be in a state of shock. This did not go unnoticed by Toby, who was rolling up his sleeves in preparation. She grabbed onto his arm and shook her head ever-so-lightly.

"Hey guys."

Too late. Cody had come up to them. Toby pushed Spencer behind him protectively, eying Cody with such a dangerous glint that Holmes was sure Cody was undergoing some sort of telepathic torture.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Holmes demanded, hoping to take control of the situation so as not to rile Cavanaugh. Cody shrugged.

"Just getting a drink. Not looking to bother anybody."

He did a onceover of the group. Toby stood perfectly still, his jaw squared in determination. Spencer hovered behind him. Hanna was looking undeniably guilty off to the side, her eyes unable to meet any of the others.

"You're surprised to see me," he surmised instantly. He glanced back at Hanna, who would not look at him. "Good to know that at least one of you knows how to keep a secret."

Both Toby and Spencer turned their eyes to Hanna, perplexed. She had flushed a deep shade of red and was clearly holding back tears.

"Well…I'll leave you guys to it," Cody offered awkwardly, at long last moving from his spot. Holmes thought briefly that perhaps Hanna was right, to some degree – he was devoid of any malice, and seemed entirely unwilling to engage in any sort of bar room brawl. It would appear that he did, indeed, just come in to get a drink.

Spencer had come out from behind Toby's grasp, her eyes trained on Hanna. She, too, looked close to tears.

"What did he mean, Hanna?"

"I don't know," Hanna sputtered stupidly. "He's crazy, remember? Jail must have really done a number on him if he thinks that – "

"Don't fucking lie to me, Hanna!" Spencer cried, a bizarre sort of panicked shrill in her voice. Hanna jumped in alarm at her volume, likened to a dog with its tail between its legs. Holmes instinctively moved towards her, putting a tentative arm around her shoulders.

"He's the reason I'm dropping the photography class," Hanna began quietly. Holmes wondered if Spencer could even hear her. "He was there."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Spencer demanded.

"I – I didn't – I didn't want to upset you…"

"You're full of shit," Spencer accused. She seemed to be experiencing a certain rage that Holmes had not seen since she confronted Cavanaugh at the house party last fall. "It has nothing to do with looking out for me! How could you be so…so…selfish?"

Hanna's eyes were spilling over now, her breathing becoming ragged and heavy. "Spencer," Holmes began warningly. It was his turn, now, to step in front of Hanna. "She wanted to tell you, but I told her not to – "

"You knew, too?" Cavanaugh demanded, finding his voice. He, too, looked beyond consolation. "How the fuck could you guys keep this from us?"

"He doesn't want any trouble," Holmes said.

"And since when do we look out for him?" Toby bellowed. He had never been so angry at Holmes since they had known one another.

"Toby," Spencer started softly, her tears coming wildly now. "Get me out of here. Please."

Without a word, Toby took hold of Spencer's hand, threw a wad of money on the table for their share, and had whisked her out the door.

It was a moment before Hanna spoke.

"Why did you do that? You said that you convinced me not to tell her…but that was my idea. You wanted me to tell her."

Holmes peered at her heartbroken blue eyes before replying. "It's what best friends do when the other is in need."

She quickly wiped her eyes, embarrassed at the presence of her tears. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to."

They were silent for another moment.

"I don't think they'll be going back to the house tonight," Holmes surmised.

Hanna shook her head in silent agreement. He knew it stung her the same way it did him. Spencer and Toby were angry – no, beyond angry. They felt betrayed. He couldn't blame them…he would have felt the same at the outset if the tables were reversed. He just hoped that he and Hanna could do something – anything – to make it up to them.

"C'mon," Holmes said quietly, wrapping his jacket around her shivering shoulders. "Let's get you home."

TO BE CONTINUED