Chapter 2

William makes his way to the dispatch library. Its his lunch break and he wishes for peace and quiet. He pushes his glasses up as he walks.

He pauses upon entering the library deeming it quiet enough and makes his way to his usual spot. Away from people and prying eyes. He hears voices as he gets closer recognizing them instantly.

Grell Sutcliff and the Undertaker. He scowls. Grell was supposed to be working not flirting. However as he got closer he had to pause once more.

He heard Grell sigh and what sounded like a book hitting the shelf.

"But, I'm not so sure I should tell him…"

"My dear, he has a right to know," Undertaker replied putting records on the shelves. "Not only as your supervisor, but as your friend."

"I know," Grell sighed again. "But...I don't know how he'll take it though..."

Udertaker cupped the side of his face and pressed his forehead against the red head's. "William is your friend Grell. He will understand when you tell him.

Grell looked up at him. "You think so?"

Undertaker nodded and kissed his forehead. "I know so dear."

Grell hugged him and buried his face into his chest and Undertaker wrapped his arms around him and rubbed his back.

Grell hugged him burrying his face into his chest and Undertaker wrapped his arms around him. "It's alright."

William stepped back knocking over a stack of books causing both shinigami to look towards his direction. He ducked around the corner and quickly made his way to his office.

William sat down at his desk and stared at the paper work. He looked at the stack to his left. Grell's red pen staring at him.

Grell and the Undertaker...since when? How? Why?

He put his head in his hands and took deep breaths frowning. Why did this upset him so much. It's just Sutcliff. Loud, obnoxious, overly touchy. Beautiful, sweet Grell Sutcliff.

William shook his head and pushed Grell's paper work to the far corner of his desk and started to look over his own.

Grell took a deep breath as she stood in front of William's door. He had traded his work clothes for casual. A loose fitting white long sleeve shirt, a pair of red jeans and some flats his hair tied up in a pony tail.

You can do this Grell. Just knock on the door and tell him.

Grell took another deep breath and knocked on the door a few times and took a step back waiting for him to answer.

The door opened and William blinked looking Grell over. "This...is new..." he said.

Grell blushed. "I thought I'd try causal for once...may I come in? I was hoping we could talk."

William nodded. "Sure..." He stepped out the way and motioned for him to come inside.

Grell stepped inside and looked around. His apartment just as clean and neat as his office.

"Just uh have a seat on the couch I guess," he said.

Grell nodded and sat down folding his hands in his lap. "There's uh something I need to tell you."

William leaned against the wall and nodded. "Alright."

"Right...uh well you see...I'm um..."

"In a relationship with the Undertaker I heard."

Grell blinked. "What are you talking about? I'm not in a relationship with Undertaker...why would you think that?"

"I heard you two talking earlier..." William admitted.

"Oh...so that was you.." Grell nodded. "Well I mean, I do like the Undertaker, but he and I are not together Will...I um...I have the Thorns and I was asking him on advice on how to tell you..."

William frowned. "You have the thorns?"

Grell nodded. "Yeah...I went to the doctors two weeks ago and they confirmed it..."

William stared before moving to sit next to him. "How?"

Grell shrugged. "They said it had been dormant in my system for a few years now..."

William nodded. "..." He pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry Grell."

Grell hugged him back laying his head on his shoulder and closed his eyes. "It's not the end of the work William..."

William hugged him tighter. Don't leave me Grell...not now...