AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Happy Olympics. Some thoughts on the opening ceremonies: First, I confess that I did not watch the whole thing. I have no patience for singing and dancing and fireworks and flying through the air ad nauseum. My favorite part is when the nations march into the stadium. I love that. And damn, did the Ireland and Poland delegations have some cutie boys in there! I expected the same of Germany and the Czech Republic, but either I didn't get a good enough look, or they didn't have their hotties up front. And speaking of hotties, did you see the man carrying the flag of Lebanon? HOTT. (Lebanon at the Winter Olympics?)
And I do hereby cordially invite Vladimir Putin, President of all the Russias, to go and fuck himself. I was most pleased to note that I could count the world leaders in attendance on one hand. Special thanks and admiration to Bundespräsident Gauck for getting that ball rolling.
We know what happened to Edward that terrible day in his park. Here we get to see what the others in his life were doing that fateful morning.
I am nearly synced up with Errors! Who doesn't love a good Edward/Jasper lemon? Nobody, that's who. Soon now. Very soon.
Big hugs to my girls, Maureen, Rebecca, Kate and Miss Pauline.
The FF witch hunt appears to be over. I will continue to post here and move to AO3 as and when I have to. When/if I am forced to complete the relocation you can find me at - archiveofourown ~dot~ org. Then just do a search for Jtrue.
Anyone who has not read the incredible Equal & Opposite, or is not now reading the brilliance that is Errors & Omissions, or Enticements & Obstructions, all by OhJasperMyJasper, should go do so right now. Here is how you find them since the FF witch hunt removed Liz from this site - ohjaspermyjasper ~dot~ blogspot ~dot~ com.
WARNING:
This story is intended for an adult audience! There is crude speech, hate speech and adult sexual subject matter of a homosexual nature. If you are under 18 stop reading now!
AU/AH/OC
All character names from Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. The similarities end there.
Chapter 43: A Bad Feeling
Seth woke with a start and a gasp. He laid on his back in the big bed he shared with his husband and had an almost overwhelming sense of dread. He turned to look for his husband and found Garrett beside him, just stirring and reaching for him.
"What is it?" Garrett asked sleepily as he rolled toward Seth and ran a soothing hand over his husband's smooth chest.
"I don't know," Seth whispered.
"Was it a bad dream? It's okay. I'm here," Garrett pulled Seth to him.
"Was it?" Seth wondered himself as he moved into Garrett's arms. Seth snuggled into Garrett's chest, safe and secure and loved in Garrett's warm arms, in their bed, in their master bedroom, in their secure penthouse.
Garrett closed his eyes and smiled as Seth hitched a leg over his. He loved feeling the big python that lurked in their bed, pressed against his thigh. It made his own hardness flex against Seth's leg.
Seth listened to the sound of his husband breathing. That usually made him feel very content, but it wasn't working this morning. He wasn't a morning person, but he was wide awake now, early on a Saturday morning no less. Was it a bad dream that woke him? If it was, he didn't remember a bit of it, and that would be unusual. When he had bad dreams, he remembered them vividly. No, this was something else and it bothered Seth that he couldn't put his finger on what that something was.
Seth ran his fingers lightly over Garrett's nipple and chest. This was another thing that usually contented him, but this wasn't working either. He knew in his bones that something wasn't right and he had to try to find out what it was. Slowly and carefully, Seth extricated himself from Garrett's arms and legs, and slipped out of the bed. Garrett gave a slight murmur and reached for his departing husband, but did not fully wake. It was really no more unusual than Seth getting up to take a piss.
But Seth wasn't getting up to take a piss. He snatched up his cell from his nightstand and walked out of the bedroom pushing his fingers through his hair in a vain attempt to tame it. Seth waited until he was as far as the living room to touch the picture of Emmett's face and put his phone to his ear.
"Hey, Sweetie, what's up?" Emmett answered cheerfully.
"Emmy, are you okay? You sound okay," Seth asked and observed.
"Sure I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" Emmett grew concerned. He knew how to read his best friend.
"No reason. Is Nasir okay?" Seth walked into his kitchen and stood at the sink, looking out the window.
"As far as I know. His flight lands in about an hour. Why? What's going on?" Emmett pressed.
"Nothing," Seth was evasive. "Where are you? What are you doing?"
"The grocery store just delivered and Jasper and I are standing around in our underwear making brunch," Emmett answered.
"That's right, Jasper is with you. Is he okay?" Seth asked.
"Jasper is fine and you are scaring me," Emmett stated. "Talk to me, Seth."
"I have to get off the phone now. I'll call you later, okay?" Seth promised. "I love you. Kisses. Bye," he ended the call. Seth leaned on the kitchen sink as he touched the picture of his sister and listened to it ring several times. The instant Leah's voicemail picked up, Seth ended the call and touched redial. It rang several times again, but this time was met with success.
"Seth," Leah's very groggy voice answered, "this better be good."
"Are you okay? Where are you?" Seth fired his questions.
"At Roberto's," Leah made no attempt to hide her irritation.
"Is he okay?" Seth was quick.
"He's asleep. So am I. He got in like two hours ago," Leah answered. Seth knew she was rubbing her face.
"Why was he so late? I mean, is that normal? That seems not normal," Seth grilled.
"What's wrong with you?" Leah countered.
"Nothing's wrong with me," Seth stated.
"Someone got killed last night, if you must know," Leah revealed.
"Who got killed?" Seth demanded.
"I don't know. He doesn't discuss details and even if he did, I wouldn't tell you," Leah grew more annoyed. "Sometimes he comes home late and he needs to hold me, and I need to rub his shoulders and help him de-stress. Sometimes it's especially bad and he gets home especially late, like last night. Then we get two hours of sleep, and you call."
"Okay, sorry," Seth apologized. "Hold him and love him."
"May I?" Leah was snarky.
"I love you both. Go back to sleep. Kisses. Bye," Seth ended the call and set his phone down on the kitchen counter.
Could that be it? Could it be the death of some random stranger? Seth knew it wasn't a police officer. Leah would have said if that were the case. Random strangers died every day. That couldn't be it. This, whatever this was, felt closer to home. Emmett was safe. Nasir was somewhere over the North Atlantic. Leah and Roberto were safe. He knew Jasper was safe. His next natural thought turned to Edward. Edward would surely be on his beloved mountain by now, no doubt leading a hike to nowhere through the deep, dark, awful woods. 'Heavily forested' Edward said his mountain was. Super creepy was more like it. But what could possibly go wrong up there? Someone turned an ankle? Was there really a bear?
Seth's thoughts turned to Justin and his family. Melinda was pregnant. He had to know.
"Seth, is that you?!" Justin answered his cell.
"Hi, Justin," Seth greeted.
"This must be important. I know how much my brother-in-law loves to get up early," Justin jested.
"It's nothing," Seth was casual. "Everything okay over there? You okay? Stephie okay? Malynn okay?"
"We're all fine. How are you?" Justin enquired.
"Fine," Seth declined to elaborate.
"And my brother?" Justin turned the tables.
"He's fine. He's still sleeping," Seth answered.
"Garrett's sleeping, but you're up?" Justin noted the irregularity.
"I know," Seth conceded with a small, mirthless chuckle.
"Why don't you go wake him up, if you know what I mean," Justin's smile was clear in his voice.
"I'll crawl back in with him," Seth assured. "He's naked and I love when my Thompson men are naked."
"With any luck I'll get some naked time myself. Mel was feeling a little frisky this morning and just when she stuck her hand in my sleep pants, who do you suppose came bouncing into our bedroom?" Justin relayed his morning.
"They have amazing timing, don't they?" Seth smiled for the first time since he woke up.
"Mine sure does," Justin agreed. "Anyway, Mel is making her breakfast and she's going to try to distract her with her favorite movie. When my wife wants some dick, she aims to have it and I aim to provide."
"She's already pregnant," Seth snickered.
"I guess I don't need to worry about coming inside her then, do I?" Justin observed.
"Is that even safe? You want to pound your baby in the head?" Seth jested.
"Ha!" Justin laughed heartily. "My baby isn't big enough yet to worry about that and that wouldn't happen anyway. If that's even where she wants me this morning. There are other places a man can put his cock. I thought you would know all about that. Go ask my brother to demonstrate for you."
"I may just do that. After I wake him up with my lips," Seth was lewd.
"There you go. All is well in the Thompson households and it's about to get even better for all of us," Justin concluded.
"Okay. Be good. I love you all. Kisses. Bye," Seth ended the call and set his cell down again.
This was getting him no place. He could call all over town and learn nothing. He did learn though that his most loved of loved ones were safe. Except for Nasir. He didn't really know anything about him or his flight and he couldn't call him. Seth picked up his cell and padded on through the house to his office. And Edward. He didn't know anything about Edward either. He would almost certainly never reach Edward on the mountain. He never did. And, again, what could go wrong up there anyway? It was, of course, one giant stratovolcano that was technically classified as active. But if Rainier had blown itself up, surely they would have heard and felt it. Seth shook his head as he dismissed that horrific thought and turned on his computer, determined to scour the news.
Seth left his cell on his desk and walked out of the office. He padded his bare feet all the way back to the other end of the penthouse. Garrett was still sound asleep in the king bed and Seth felt a twinge of guilt over leaving him there to wake up alone. Seth moved to Garrett's side of the bed and reached to run his fingers through his husband's rich hair. "I love you," he whispered to the sleeping man. Seth then walked into the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and grabbed his brush to tame his usual wild morning hair. It was at times like this when he envied his husband his ability to get up, push his fingers through his hair once and look great, or Nasir, who always looked a little bedheady, and hot that way.
Seth headed from the bathroom to a chest of drawers. The lower drawers were his and he pulled on a pair of lycra shorts. It took him a moment, as it always did, to stuff his manhood into the shorts, but the effect was well worth it in the end. He certainly couldn't wear them out of the house.
Seth paused in the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee as he headed back to his office and computer. He thought about Maggie and Rosalie and the boys. He thought about Dane and Tony. He thought about Leo and Zack, living and working and going to school in California. Seth was determined not to make any more calls chasing a wild goose, until he reviewed local and national news sites.
The car was older than the man was. He braked the white 1984 Chevy Impala to a stop behind the short line of cars at the historic Nisqually entrance to the Mount Rainier National Park. This was the only car the man had ever owned. His father had gotten it for him when he was just a teenager. The only quality time he ever had with his father was when they worked on it together. The Impala was the only thing he had to remember his old man. Now, it was all he had in the world. And the precious objects that were arrayed all over the backseat. Now he thought about it, it wouldn't do for anyone to see that. There were only three cars ahead of him in line when he first pulled up and he was next when he reached back to flip the blanket in the back to cover the seat.
"Good morning," the friendly volunteer at the gate greeted.
"Morning," the man wasn't particularly friendly.
"The entrance fee is fifteen dollars, or thirty for an annual pass," she smiled.
"Don't you waive the fees for military?" he asked as he pulled his military ID out of his wallet and handed it over.
"Yes we do," she confirmed. "You can get a free annual pass."
"Can't you just let me in?" he grumbled.
The volunteer regarded the scruffy man for a moment. He was handsome in his way, but seemed to have sad eyes. "Well, I'm not supposed to do that," she handed his ID back to him, "but go ahead. You can get your pass next time," she decided to give him a break and touched the button to raise the gate arm.
"Thanks," he stuck his ID back into his wallet and drove into the park.
Edward sat in the rows of chairs in the briefing room with his fellow Interpretive Rangers. Like many of them, his uniform hat was perched on one knee. His day had started like any other with a drive into the park before sun up and Jasper on his mind. The first thing he did when he arrived at the park every morning was swing by Roger's office to wave hello, sometimes shoot the shit for a moment, but to always get his ass into this room on time. It was a drab room, but had a magnificent mountain view.
"Morning," Bill greeted as he took the podium. Every day started with a briefing from their immediate supervisor. The Lead Interpretive Ranger was a fair skinned, strawberry blonde man in his early thirties. He was beefy and corn fed, and had Iowa written all over him.
"Just a few things to cover. We'll start with campgrounds," Bill began. "The road to Ipsut Creek remains closed. As you all know, it is a five mile hike to the campground and does require a Wilderness Permit. Devil's Dream and Pyramid Creek both got snow last night. Toilets are open. Glacier Basin continues to have steady bear activity. Use of the concrete barrels for food storage is mandatory. Remind your campers, please. Also, the barrels only work if the lids are replaced properly. I don't want to tell Roger that we've had another incident like last week, and neither do any of you," he warned. Edward chuckled with the rest of his peers.
"Moving on to our trails," Bill continued. "Rampart Ridge has some snow along the top of the ridge, but we do expect it to melt today. Shriner Creek is extremely difficult to navigate after the first two miles because of mud. Ipsut Creek to Carbon Glacier is still covered by avalanche debris. As a reminder, it is sixty feet across and twelve feet deep with hollow areas beneath. It is very dangerous and closed. The Dick Creek bridge is still out, but there is a tree, fifty feet long and two and a half feet wide, that has fallen across the creek, just below the bridge. Obviously we don't recommend this, but the trail is not closed. Intrepid hikers may cross it if they wish. There are a few trees down on the trail from Box Canyon to Reflection Lakes. Beyond the lakes to the falls, a mudslide has completely wiped out the section below Martha's Falls. It is impassable and closed. Any questions?" he paused. "Okay, get out there. Check the roster for your assignments. Keep our hikers and campers safe," Bill directed. He walked to the door and hung his clipboard on the nail beside it.
Edward lined up with the other Rangers to get a look at what was listed beside his name for the day. Then, like the rest of them, pulled one of the many waiting radios out of its charging stand and clipped it to his belt. All the Rangers wore their short sleeved, khaki, open collared uniform shirt with green pants. Their shirts, and the green windbreaker jackets they wore over them, bore the patches of the NPS along with their name tag and badge. They all had their official four dent campaign style uniform hat with them. Depending on their assignment for the day, they might swing by their locker to swap it out for one of the approved baseball style caps, or the wide brimmed, breezer work hat that they had also been issued. Edward opted for neither and put his campaign hat on his head as he walked out of the building through one of the sets of double doors.
"Have a good day, Edward," Chuck gave a wave as he and Mike headed out together.
"You guys too," Edward waved back. He paused on the path outside the Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center that was also the park headquarters building. It was a beautiful sunny day on his mountain. Edward took a deep breath of the fresh, crisp, clean air and headed for his NPS Chevy Tahoe. He had been assigned to conduct and lead hikes on the Nisqually Vista Trail today, and this pleased him. The trailhead was in the lower parking lot here in Paradise, which meant he could get to work quickly. It was a fairly easy and not very long trail, that he could and would do several times today.
The group that had anticipated the Ranger led hike were assembled by the large sign for the trail in the lower parking lot, exactly where they were meant to be. Edward parked the Tahoe nearby and got out to greet them.
"Good morning!" Edward engaged them warmly. Not unusual for the Nisqually Vista Trail, his group of twenty two people ranged in age from 8 to 60. They all greeted the Ranger with smiles. The younger kids were in front and watched him with rapt attention.
"Welcome to Paradise and the Mount Rainier National Park. My name is Edward Cullen," he gestured to his nametag as he introduced himself, "and I am one of the rangers that work here in the park. I'll be leading our hike today. We'll walk up here among the clouds this morning," he gestured. "We'll talk about how the weather shapes the landscape, plants and animals of these high mountain meadows. And we'll also get some really great views of Mount Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier. Everybody got your cameras?"
A general affirmative murmur went through the hikers and many held them up.
"Okay. Everybody have on good hiking boots?" Edward checked off his list. Like all his fellow Interpretive Rangers, Edward wore hiking boots rather than the polished brown shoes those in the visitor centers or gates wore.
"I have on sneakers!" the 8 year old girl in the group with her Hello Kitty sneakers was suddenly alarmed that she was not dressed properly.
"And you know what? For this trail that's just fine," Edward put her at ease. "Everyone ready? Follow me!" he set off down the trail and his group followed him.
None of them noticed, beyond the small parking lot on the two lane alpine road, the NPS law enforcement Ford Crown Victoria heading down toward Longmire. It was a white car with the wide green stripe along the side, lights on the roof and the NPS emblem on the front doors like many other vehicles in the park, including Edward's Tahoe. It wasn't remarkable at all. It's lights were not on. There was no reason they should have noticed it.
Seth was still brushing his hair when he walked into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee. He had found nothing unusual in the news. Nasir's flight was due in on time. There were no police dispatches on record to James Visser's building. There were no fires or other 911 events in Kent, at least not in Maggie and Rosalie's neighborhood. Bashar al Assad's regime was still killing his own people in Syria. Seth could find nothing to account for the terrible feeling of dread he just could not shake. He continued to brush his hair with one hand the entire time he prepared his coffee to his preference, stirred it, and took a sip. Seth simply switched hands to brush and carry his coffee back to his office.
"That might be the first and last time pork will ever be served in this house," Emmett observed as he and Jasper washed the pans together. They stood at the big sink in the spacious kitchen in the New York penthouse. Emmett washed and Jasper dried. They still wore the boxers they had worn to bed.
"Those sausages were really good," Jasper endorsed as he hung the last pan up on the rack above the island.
"Yeah, I liked them too," Emmett agreed.
"Thanks for brunch," Jasper picked up his coffee mug and took a gulp.
"Thanks for keeping me company," Emmett put a hand on Jasper's shoulder.
"Hey, you mind if I take a shower before I get myself ready to head out?" Jasper asked.
"Not at all. We can shower together," Emmett suggested. "C'mon," he headed out of the kitchen.
"You want to shower together?" Jasper followed.
"Sure. Why not?" Emmett gave a shrug. "I wouldn't hesitate to take a shower with Seth or Garrett, and I've been far less intimate with them than I have with you."
"That's actually a pretty good argument against, Em," Jasper pointed out as they came to the big, curving stairway and descended.
"We slept together last night and nothing happened," Emmett pointed out. "I think we can take a shower. It's not like we're horny teenagers."
"No, we're horny men!" Jasper stated.
"Okay, yeah, I can't argue with that," Emmett led the way into the master bath. "But we're both very much in love and would never cheat on our guys no matter what. Besides, you see the size of this shower?" he leaned in to turn on the water. "It's no different than a locker room anyway."
"Okay," Jasper was agreeable. "Let's take a shower," he slid his boxers down and stepped out of them.
"Hey, wanna hear what I learned how to say?" Emmett asked as he dropped his boxers as well and kicked them away.
"What?" Jasper asked as he followed Emmett into the big glass enclosure.
"El Hasi teezi," Emmett spoke.
"That's obviously Arabic. Translation?" Jasper asked as they both got themselves wet.
"Lick my asshole," Emmett repeated in English.
"Ha!" Jasper laughed. "You think you'll need to ask?"
"Well, no," Emmett conceded. "And my husband does a mind blowing rim job, in case I never mentioned that."
"Does he now? Okay to use any shampoo?" Jasper asked.
"Of course. Use anything you want," Emmett gestured.
"Would it surprise you to learn that Edward is damn good at that too?" Jasper asked as he poured shampoo into his palm.
"All good tops are," Emmett gave his altruism with spread hands and a dimpled grin.
The first indication that something was amiss was the fact that it was the Park Superintendent himself who called on the radio. Roger was very much a hands on manager, but for him to radio a specific ranger was not the norm, even one who was a good friend.
Edward plucked his radio from his belt, held it to his face and depressed the send button. "What's up, boss?" he was deliberately casual. The last thing Edward would want to do is alarm the park visitors in his care.
"Edward, where are you?" Roger demanded.
"Nisqually Vista Trail," Edward relayed what Roger should have known.
That Roger didn't indicated that his supervisor, the Lead Interpretive Ranger, and the park Deputy Superintendent, were both unavailable. This was not terribly unusual, but the fact that Roger didn't wait for one of the two layers of management between them to become available, or even take a brief moment to check the daily assignments, combined with the tone of Roger's voice, told him something was wrong.
"We're about a quarter mile in, just started the loop," Edward was specific.
"Okay. We have a code three three seven in the park," Roger informed. "I need you to head back immediately with your whole group, as quickly as possible."
"On our way," Edward signalled his obedience.
"How many in your group?" Roger demanded.
"Twenty two," Edward didn't hesitate. He had counted before they even set off.
"Edward, I am closing the park," Roger stated. "Everyone in your group needs to get back to the trailhead and right now. No one is to go off on their own. All trails are closed. The road down the mountain is closed. I'm sending a shuttle to pick up your group and bring them to the visitor center. Now get moving," he commanded.
"You got it. See you in a few," Edward obeyed and clipped the radio back on his belt. His hikers had gathered around him and listened carefully to the entire exchange.
"What's a code three three seven?" a fourteen year old boy spoke for the group.
"It's just a code for park closure that requires us to bring all visitors back to the visitor center," Edward told his lie with a casual, calm and friendly demeanor. "Okay, we all need to turn around and go back the way we came. Would you like to lead?" he asked the teen.
The boy nodded vigorously in response.
"What's your name?" Edward asked.
"Tomas," he answered.
"I'm Edward and it's nice to meet you, Tomas," Edward offered his hand. "I'm officially promoting you to the rank of Junior Ranger," he said as they shook. "Everyone, our Junior Ranger Tomas is going to lead us back to the trailhead. I'll be in the back of the group. Now, we don't need to run, but you heard my boss. We need to get back as soon as possible, so let's not dally, alright?"
"Aren't you going to tell us what's going on?" a middle aged man visiting the park with his wife and kids asked.
"You heard my conversation and know what I know," Edward lied again. "I'm sure everything will be explained at the Visitor Center," he assured. "But right now we need to go. Lead on, Tomas!" Edward put a hand on the boy's shoulder to restrain him a moment. He leaned down to speak quietly to the teen. "Look back every once in awhile to make sure we're all keeping up, okay?"
Tomas nodded and dashed to the other end of the group. "C'mon, everybody!"
Everyone turned and followed the teen back down the trail. Edward was glad he had an enthusiastic teen he could conscript to lead them. Edward could no longer lead. He needed now to herd. Edward took careful note of their surroundings as they made their way back to the trailhead and parking lot. He couldn't begin to guess at the nature of the emergency. A code 337 meant that visitors and park personnel alike faced present and immediate danger. Edward knew the code of course, but had never once heard it used.
A shuttle bus was waiting right at the trailhead when they reached the Paradise lower parking lot. Edward was surprised to see one of his law enforcement ranger colleagues waiting by the open door of the shuttle.
"We'll just get in our car and go," the middle aged man decided.
"No, sir," the law enforcement ranger dictated. "The road is closed. Official vehicles only. We are going to the Visitor Center. This is for your safety."
"Closed for what?" the man demanded. "This is ridiculous. It's wrongful imprisonment!"
Edward's purview was flaura and fauna, their environment and natural resources, the preservation and education thereof. His colleague with the gun on his hip had a very different mandate. Public safety and the maintenance of order. In a crisis situation. the law enforcement ranger was very much in charge. Edward had already established a relationship, such as it was, with his hikers and had to try to help.
"I apologize, Sir, but this is park procedure," Edward tried to soothe. "We need to give you all the information you need about the park closure. I assure you that we will not keep you here any longer than is necessary for your, and all the other park visitors', safety."
"It's okay, honey," the argumentative man's wife tugged on his sleeve. "Let's just go to the Visitor Center. The kids wanted to go to the gift shop anyway."
"Fine," the man grumbled and stalked up into the shuttle.
"That's all my people, Doug," Edward told his colleague what he needed to know. "I'll follow in my truck."
"Run to the truck, Cullen," Doug commanded, one foot on the bottom step of the little bus. "Be fast. Be right behind us."
"Right behind you," Edward agreed and dashed to his Tahoe while Doug jumped into the shuttle and took the wheel. The volunteer woman in her sixties who normally drove the shuttle, was nowhere to be seen.
Edward opened the door to his truck and heard the roar of the engine of the shuttle bus as Doug floored it, heading up the mountain road. A noise that was made all the more noticeable by the way it faded and was swallowed up by the forest, and was replaced by silence. Edward noted the peace and tranquility of even this small parking lot on the mountain without another human around. But something was terribly wrong in this park. He got in his Tahoe and drove out of the parking lot in the wake of the shuttle bus.
When Edward arrived at the Visitor Center, the shuttle was yet being emptied. The tourists were being herded directly into the center by other rangers whose bodies radiated tension.
"I got this, Cullen," one of Edward's female peers told him. "Go talk to Roger."
Edward followed his former hikers into the building, intent on doing exactly that.
Seth watched Nasir's flight carefully and noted with some relief when it landed safely at JFK. Now there was just his being allowed into the country. Seth furrowed his brow as he thought about that and gave a shrug. He was sure that was not going to be a problem. Whatever this was, it was something else.
The flat screen television mounted on the wall behind Seth was on at a low volume. King5, on channel 5, was just background noise. Joyce Taylor, a very elegant black woman very much in the style of First Lady Michelle Obama, and Mark Wright, a steel haired, professional looking white man kept the Emerald City informed and entertained weekday mornings with all things newsworthy, and many other things that were not. While Garrett often checked in with them, Seth almost never rose early enough to do so, and if he did, it was to do his yoga while Emmett worked out. Joyce and Mark were off on this fine fall weekend morning. The Emmy Award winning Meg Coyle anchored the Weekend Morning News and went on in the background about an overnight several alarm fire in an industrial area of the city.
Which got Seth thinking. Emmett's little brother, who was a husband and father, was also a fireman. If there were some kind of accident or worse, Emmett would surely have heard and clearly that hadn't happened. Seth checked local Minneapolis news online for any reported injuries to firemen in the city.
"We have a breaking news story just developing," Meg spoke. "We have a report of a shooting in the Mount Rainier National Park."
Seth whirled around in his chair, suddenly all eyes and ears, riveted to his television.
"King Five's own Teresa Yuan is enroute to the park to cover this story for us," Meg assured. "We'll follow this story closely and bring you more details as they develop. Stay tuned to King Five."
This was it. Seth knew it in his bones. He snatched up his cell and touched the image of Edward. "Please don't let this involve Edward," Seth whispered as he listened to the line ring. And even as he did, he knew if this did not somehow involve the one person in that park he loved, he wouldn't have the feeling he had. Seth squeezed his eyes shut as Edward's voicemail answered. "Cullen, I need you to call me right now. Right now, okay? I don't need to know what's going on if you're real busy, but I do need to know that you're okay. Okay? Call me. Text me. I love you. We all love you," Seth ended the call and stared at the phone. Phone service was spotty at best in that park and he had no way of knowing if Edward's phone even rang, or if he would even know that he had a voicemail.
There was one small thing he could do. Seth opened a drawer and pulled out his Eagle feather. When a Lakota Brave held his Eagle feather, or had it about his person, the Grandfather Spirit took immediate notice. At least, that was what he had been taught. Seth affixed it to his hair so that it hung down on the right side of his head. He was determined to wear it until he knew that Edward was safe.
It was twenty minutes before Seth's cell rang, during which he watched channel 5 intently.
"Hello?!" Seth didn't want to sound as frantic as he did. "Cullen?"
"It's me," Leah advised.
"Oh. Why aren't you sleeping?" Seth asked.
"Roberto's in the shower," Leah advised.
"Then why aren't you in the shower with him?" Seth queried.
"Because if I get in the shower with him, he will end up inside me, and he's in a hurry," Leah explained.
"If he doesn't put it inside you, how are you two supposed to make me babies? Do I need to explain how this works?" Seth teased.
"Would you mind terribly if we got married first? Would that be a terrible imposition?" Leah complained.
"Oh, I suppose," Seth gave a dramatic sigh.
"Okay, shut up now and let me tell you why I called you," Leah was irritable with so little sleep.
"I do wish you would get to the point," Seth gave her a hard time anyway.
"Shut up! Listen. Roberto's up and in the shower, because he just got a call. I told you there was a domestic incident last night where someone got killed. The vehicle of the guy who shot two people last night, matches the description of the car of the guy who shot a ranger in the Mount Rainier Park," Leah dropped her bomb.
"What?!" Seth's eyes nearly crossed. "Shot a ranger?!"
"I thought it would be on the news by now," Leah stated.
"That there was a shooting is on the news, not that it was a ranger who got shot! Fuck!" Seth put his free hand on top of his head. "What ranger?!"
"I don't know that. Roberto's going down to the park," Leah informed innocently.
"What?!" Seth was even more beside himself and rose to his feet. "We don't need two loved ones in danger! Are you out of your mind?!"
"Seth, take it easy," Leah tried to calm her brother. "He's going to advise and assist. It's not even his jurisdiction. Do you know how many cops are on their way into that park right now?"
"An army of them I hope. General Terry and his entire column!" Seth made reference to the one army group ever large enough to intimidate his people as he sat back down.
"That's exactly right," Leah confirmed.
"All the more reason Roberto should get back in bed with you. They don't need his help," Seth reasoned. "He's a city cop. What does he know about traipsing through the woods anyway? His time is better spent naked with you."
"I can't disagree with that, but he's a cop. I have to let him be who he is," Leah reasoned. "And do you think if I thought for one second that he was going to go up on that mountain to stumble through the woods while a gunman waits to pick him off, that I would let him step one foot out this door?"
"I sure as fuck hope not," Seth stated.
"Count on it. Roberto wants to go and help. This guy killed his wife last night. Roberto was really upset," Leah revealed.
"Oh, my God," Seth was all the more concerned. "A guy who will kill his wife, will kill anyone," he spoke his realization aloud.
"Yeah. Okay, I gotta go. Al's on his way. I want to get them coffee ready for the road. And I just wanted to let you know that you were right. I love you," Leah expressed and ended the call.
Seth set his cell down and looked at it for a long moment. "Gar!" he shouted as he stood up again.
"It's gonna look like I kept a boy for the night if anyone sees you," Emmett found that very amusing as Jasper pulled his sweater on over his head. He and Emmett got dressed in the master bedroom. Jasper had not bothered to bring a change of clothes. He had only worn them for a few hours last night and was going directly home now. There had been no need. Emmett put on a tight, white, ribbed tank top that displayed his muscles prominently, and a pair of loose, fleece shorts that sat low on his hips. Only the curvature of his round ass held them up.
"I'll try to slink out quietly so no one sees me," Jasper joined the jest. "Don't want the neighbors to see you cheated on your husband the day he flew home."
"Well, if they do see you, they'll know I have good taste," Emmett smiled. He turned as his cell rang. "It's Nasi!" Emmett recognized the ring. He snatched it up from the dresser where he left it. "Hi, Babe!"
"Habibi, I am in my Town Car and coming home to you," Nasir informed.
"Oh, Nasi," Emmett closed his eyes as he let go this last nagging worry. "No trouble at immigration then?"
"I handed over my passport and my Green Card, and the man asked where I went, and why," Nasir relayed. "I told him and said he could turn to the page with my Italian Visa for proof. He then stamped my passport and let me go."
"Nasi," Emmett sat down on the bench at the foot of the bed. "I am so relieved. I tried not to let it to show, but I was so worried about that."
"I know you were, my habibi," Nasir spoke softly. "All is well. I am coming home to you where I belong."
"Yeah, hurry. I need you," Emmett urged.
"The traffic is not so bad on saturday morning. Perhaps half an hour and I will be in your arms," Nasir pledged.
"Jasper is still here. You want him to lube me up for you?" Emmett teased them both.
"Nice," Jasper laughed.
"Such a service he is willing to provide for me!" Nasir pretended to be impressed. "If it is not too much of an imposition."
Emmett laughed as well. "Yeah, would ya mind?" he relayed to Jasper.
"Okay," Jasper pulled up his sleeves. "Get those shorts off, Em."
"How was the flight this morning?" Emmett asked his husband.
"Very pleasant, but too long. They are always too long when I am coming to you," Nasir expressed. "And on this flight none of the flight attendants flirted with me."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Emmett was not.
"When my flight was cancelled last night the steward in First offered to keep me company for the night," Nasir informed.
"Did he now? Talk about service. Wait, was this a he?" Emmett asked.
"Yes. So this morning I pulled my cock out of him, took a shower, and flew home to you," Nasir teased.
"Oh, great," Emmett nodded. "Jasper is gonna lube me up with his dick by the way."
"Ah. Do not let him wear a condom so that I may use his cum as extra lube," Nasir gave as good as he got.
"Jesus," Emmett leaned on his knees. "I opened this door," he rubbed his forehead with his free hand.
"I love you, my zawji. There are no other men," Nasir stated.
"I know. Me too, Babe," Emmett expressed.
And then the call waiting tone sounded in Emmett's his ear. Emmett moved the phone to see that it was Seth calling again and his brow furrowed with concern.
"Nasi, Seth is calling me. He called earlier and something's up with him, but I don't know what. I should take this," Emmett informed.
"Talk to Sethy," Nasir agreed easily. "I am on my way and will see you very soon. I love you."
"I love you too," Emmett touched the screen to answer the incoming call. "Hey, Sweetie, what's going on?"
"Emmy, I need you to turn on the television," Seth tried to sound calm, but Emmett knew him too well.
"Why? What am I looking for?" Emmett was quick.
"It's on CNN now," Seth was cryptic.
"What's on CNN?" Emmett looked at Jasper. The growing concern on Emmett's face caused Jasper's smile to fade.
"Is Jasper still with you?" Seth asked.
Emmett's concern grew exponentially with that question. His eyes returned to Jasper as he answered. "Yeah, he's still with me," Emmett answered in a wary tone. "Seth, what is going on?"
"There's been a shooting in Edward's park," Seth explained.
"A shooting!" Emmett was shocked.
"A ranger has been shot," Seth elaborated.
"A ranger!" Emmett looked at Jasper.
"Em, what the fuck?!" Jasper grabbed Emmett's arm as his own panic grew. He immediately pulled out his cell and touched Edward's face to call him.
"I'm trying to get all the information I can. At this point all we know is that a ranger was shot. We don't know what ranger," Seth relayed. "Law enforcement is swarming into the park. Roberto's on his way too."
"Fuck," Emmett looked to Jasper.
"I can't reach him!" Jasper did not hesitate to hit redial when Edward's voicemail picked up.
"Jasper can't reach Edward," Emmett relayed.
"I know. I can't either," Seth agreed.
"Edward, Seth just called to tell us a ranger has been shot in Mount Rainier National Park. I know it must be a madhouse out there, but please call and tell me you're all right. I don't know what to do. I love you so much! This can't have been you, it just can't! Please, just call me, even for a few seconds. I need to know you're okay," at a loss for what else to say and not wanting to ramble, Jasper ended the call and stared at his phone.
"Jas is really upset," Emmett confided.
"Of course he is. I'm glad he's there with you. I know Nasir's on his way, but take care of him, okay, Emmy?" Seth requested.
"You know I will," Emmett assured. "He just left Edward a message."
"I did too, but I haven't heard from him," Seth stated.
"You knew something was wrong," Emmett well remembered their earlier off-putting conversation.
"But I didn't know what," Seth agreed.
"Let's get upstairs," Emmett took Jasper's hand. "We're going to turn on CNN right now. If you learn anything, call us right away."
"Absolutely," Seth promised. "Rosalie is calling Yvonne to see if she knows anything."
"Oh, good idea," Emmett agreed.
"Let me know if Jasper hears from him. He'll be the first person Edward calls, if he can," Seth was sure.
"Right. Will do. Thanks, Sweetie. Bye," Emmett ended the call as he and Jasper took the stairs two at a time together. There was a TV mounted on the wall in the kitchen and they would be perfectly comfortable there.
The 911 call started the ball rolling. The second call, to the Duty Sergeant of Pierce County Sheriff's Department Mountain Detachment, from the Park Superintendent, turned that rolling ball into a full scale invasion of police forces. Every helicopter the Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Unit had, took to the air from their base in Tacoma, each with a pilot and a heavily armed Tactical Officer aboard. The Chief of Operations dispatched SWAT and all K-9 units before departing for the Park with the Sheriff himself.
Roger's second call, to his boss, the Regional Director in California, got the FBI involved. His third call, of course, was to his wife to let her know what was going on, and to keep their children away from any TV station that might interrupt with breaking news. The fourth call was by far the most difficult. The ranger who had been shot, and no longer responded to radio calls, was a husband and father, and his wife was also a ranger who was not on duty today. Roger called Michelle to let her know that Aaron was injured, but they were working as hard as they could to get to him.
The Sheriff established his command at the fire station in Ashford only a few miles short of the Nisqually entrance to the Park. And ten minutes later lost it to the FBI.
5400 feet up the mountain, one of the helicopters landed just outside the Visitor Center in Paradise. Heavily armed SWAT team members in full tactical gear jumped out and ran to the center. The chopper remained on station, rather than immediately taking off again. It was to join the search, but for day hikers in the area that needed to be warned of the danger, and awaited a passenger with specialized knowledge of the park.
"Are we glad to see you," the law enforcement ranger who stood outside the main doors of the Visitor Center greeted SWAT.
"Where's the Park Superintendent?" the leader of the SWAT detachment demanded.
"I'll get him," the ranger turned. He pulled open the door behind him and stuck his head inside the building. The head of the Park stood nearby where he had just addressed the visitors sequestered within for their safety.
"The captain of the team would like a word, Roger," the ranger who hung in the door advised. Roger advanced with Edward at his side. Roger wore his open collared uniform shirt and pants with name tag and badge like any other ranger. Edward had left his hat in Roger's office and wore Roger's cold weather NPS issue parka. He carried a box with multiple poster tubes sticking out of it. The ranger at the door held it open for Roger and Edward to emerge.
"Roger Donovan," he offered his hand to the obvious leader of the SWAT men.
"Sergeant Phil Brown," the leader shook Roger's hand. "This the guy goin' up?" he cocked a thumb at Edward.
"Yes," Roger confirmed.
"Not like that he's not. You're not goin' up without a vest," Phil dictated as one of his men produced the vest Edward was to wear. They held his box and parka as Edward doned the protective gear as quickly as possible.
"Okay, Superintendent Donovan, here's the deal," Phil began as two members of his team jogged at Edward's sides to escort him to the waiting helicopter. "All civilians and all of your staff are to remain inside," he gestured to the ranger who had been outside the doors when they arrived, "and away from the windows. My team and I will protect this building and everyone in it. Here's a radio that we can use to talk to each other if need be," he handed one to Roger. "We good?"
"Very. And thank you," Roger nodded. "Let's get inside, Kev," he put a hand on the shoulder of the ranger who was outside with him and pulled open the door. He let Kevin go inside ahead of him as the helicopter took to the air with Edward in it. Roger was proud of all of his staff, but particularly the bravery of his law enforcement rangers and two of his interpretive rangers, Edward and Mike. Edward was leading the search to find and warn day hikers on the Paradise trails, and Mike, who was at this moment coordinating with the rest of SWAT down in Longmire, and had offered to lead SWAT on their manhunt.
Emmett and Jasper sat with another mug of coffee at Emmett and Nasir's breakfast room table. They watched CNN intently, desperate for new news, but listened to the same thing over and over again.
"This is killing me, Em," Jasper was a wreck and looked it.
"I know, Sugar. We're all worried," Emmett commiserated.
"I can't get him back and lose him again, Em. I can't. I can't do it," Jasper made a fist.
"How many rangers must work in that park?" Emmett tried to imagine. "It's huge."
"Many of them are volunteers. There aren't so many rangers," Jasper knew. He had never been to the mountain, but Edward had discussed the people he worked with on more than one occasion.
"But, still...," Emmett reasoned. "There's mountain rangers, climbing rangers, hiking rangers, police car rangers," Emmett didn't get it quite right. He stopped his litany when Seth's face appeared on his cell as it rang.
Emmett snatched it up as Jasper held his breath. "Hey, Seth."
"Emmy, I just talked to Rosalie. She just heard from Yvonne. It's not Edward," Seth relayed.
"Edward's safe," Emmett grabbed Jasper's hand.
"Jesus," Jasper slumped in his chair with his relief.
"In fact, Roger told Yvonne that Edward went up in one of the helicopters," Seth added.
"Edward's in a helicopter?" Emmett asked.
"What? Why?" Jasper didn't like the sound of that.
"Edward is helping the sheriff's department find hikers in the area so he can warn them," Seth explained.
"Edward is guiding the search for hikers, to warn them," Emmett relayed.
"But, if these hikers need to be warned, then they, and Edward, are too fucking close to the gunman!" Jasper put two and two together.
"I heard that. Put me on speaker," Seth bid.
"Okay, you're on," Emmett did so and held the phone between him and Jasper.
"Hi, Jasper," Seth greeted warmly.
"Hi, Seth. Thank you so much for letting us know he's okay," Jasper expressed. "For the moment."
"Jasper, Edward is in one of many helicopters in that park," Seth outlined. "All the others are looking for the madman. Edward's is going the other way. Okay?"
"Not really, no," Jasper stressed. "I want him where they have gathered all the people they have so far managed to get to safety. CNN is reporting that some people are holed up in the Visitor Center in Paradise. Why can't he be in there?"
"Well, because he wouldn't be our Edward if he didn't have such a big heart and want to help people," Seth rightly concluded.
"He's my Edward, damn it!" Jasper made fists. "And I need him to stay that way for a long, long time. For always!"
"We're worried about him too, Sugar," Emmett put his free hand on one of Jasper's.
And then they heard the front door close. With the noise of CNN in the background and being on the phone, they never heard it open.
"Sweetie, I'm gonna take you back off speaker and hand you to Jasper. Nasi just got home," Emmett did so and handed his phone to Jasper as he rose and headed for the dining room.
"Habibi!" Nasir was elated to see his husband. Nasir was wearing his dress shirt, suit jacket and snug jeans, and met Emmett in the wide archway between the dining room and entry hall. He heard the television and knew to head that direction.
"Nasi!" Emmett beamed and reached for the love of his life.
"I love what you have on," Nasir ran his hands over Emmett's solid, tank top clad pecs. "But you are wearing much too much."
"Nasi," Emmett began, but was cut off as Nasir's mouth covered his own. Emmett held Nasir's ribs as his husband's tongue thrust into his mouth. Nasir held Emmett's head as he backed him up against the long, formal dining room table.
"Mmph," Emmett grunted into Nasir's mouth as he came back against the table. Nasir stuck his tongue as far down Emmett's throat as he could as he pulled Emmett's tank top up under his armpits and pushed him down on the table. This forceful onslaught had just the effect on Emmett's cock that Nasir knew it would. He put one hand to the back of Emmett's head to keep their mouths joined and stuck the other down the front of Emmett's loose shorts.
"Hmm!" Emmett moaned as his husband's hand took hold of his rapidly expanding bone. He took hold of Nasir's wrist. Emmett was more than strong enough to stop Nasir, but was loathe to do so. He was desperate for his husband's touch and kiss, but this was unfortunately, not yet the time.
Nasir ravaged Emmett's mouth and relished every moan and whimper he forced from the stronger, willing man. He moved his hand to cup Emmett's swollen balls. Once, in this house, on the stairs in fact, Emmett had managed to stuff both of his bull nuts into Nasir's mouth at the same time. Nasir was suddenly consumed with the need to do that again. After which he planned to suck Emmett's cock, right here on the dining room table, until he screamed.
"Oh, Nasi," Emmett voiced weakly when Nasir broke their kiss. Nasir's aggressive kiss make his knees limp, and his dick rock hard. He leaned back on the table on his elbows.
"I want you to stuff my mouth with your balls again," Nasir pulled Emmett's shorts down and Emmett's big dick slapped up onto his abdomen. "I want to swallow them!"
"Nasi, we have to stop," Emmett protested. Nasir paid his husband no mind as he knelt down and stuck his face between Emmett's legs.
"Nasi, stop," Emmett tried again as his husband's tongue lapped at the loose skin of his scrotum. "Ugh," he closed his eyes.
"Welcome home, Nasir," Jasper bid.
Nasir's eyes flew open and he turned his head toward the sound of the familiar voice. Jasper leaned against the doorjamb in the small archway to the butler's pantry from the dining room.
"Oh! Jasper!" Nasir rose quickly to his feet. He pulled Emmett's shorts up, though it was now impossible to cover the big, hard dick. Emmett sat up and skinned his tank top back down.
"Sorry to interrupt," Jasper offered.
"Do not be sorry," Nasir stepped back from Emmett and walked to Jasper. Emmett stuck his tent pole into his shorts as his husband gave Jasper a hug.
"It is always good to see you," Nasir rubbed Jasper's back. "It is I who must apologize. I clearly did not realize you were still here."
"Nasi," Emmett stepped up beside his husband and put a hand on his arm. "Something happened in Edward's park."
"Oh?" Nasir could not imagine what Emmett might mean.
"Come sit down with us. It's all over the news," Emmett gestured.
"What is?" Nasir followed Jasper and Emmett through into the breakfast room.
Garrett reclined comfortably on the enormous sofa in the media room. He had put on a tee shirt and lounge pants when he got up, but Seth insisted that he take the shirt off. It was more comforting for Seth to snuggle into Garrett's side, under Garrett's arm, and with his head and hand on Garrett's bare chest. Seth was still shirtless himself. They alternated between King 5 and CNN, while Seth monitored other news outlets on his laptop.
Seth's phone rang almost continuously as news spread of the crisis on the mountain. Dane called, Seth's Editor in Chief called, Simon called, Troy called, Justin called Garrett and never connected the event with Seth's call early that morning, and even Rusty of Rainbow Beginnings and Carla the caterer called looking for more information. While Carla didn't say so, Seth had no doubt that several on her staff urged the call. The only two people they might have heard from, but did not, were the old couple with whom they shared the top floor of this building. Seth was not surprised. He knew Sylvia would never connect the Mount Rainier National Park with the man she had seen here many times, who occasionally arrived wearing a ranger uniform and driving a Chevy Tahoe that bore both the NPS symbol, and the words PARK RANGER prominently displayed on each side. Seth called Leah, but she had not heard from Roberto and knew at this point less than they did, due to Yvonne's link to her husband.
"We are going back now to the latest from the Mount Rainier National Park where Teresa Yuan is on location," Meg Coyle remained on the air well after her show should have been over. She was not about to let the opportunity of immortalizing herself over her coverage of this event slip through her fingers. "Teresa?"
"Thank you, Meg," Teresa said as the broadcast switched to a view of her standing on the side of the wooded road with the historic, arched Nisqually entrance in the background behind her. "As we reported earlier, the Mount Rainier National Park has been closed since the gunman shot a park ranger. News of that ranger's condition has not yet been released. Seattle Police is also on the scene. We spoke a short time ago with Detective Al Heinz."
"Oh, look," Seth sat up as Al, hands in the pockets of his trademark London Fog trench coat, appeared on the screen with her microphone thrust in his face. His handsome, raven haired younger partner stood over his right shoulder.
"The vehicle of the shooter is registered to Nathan Clayton Miller, who is Wanted in connected with a double homicide that took place in the Seattle neighborhood of West Woodland, last night," Al informed the reporter, the camera and the world. "Now, we won't be able to positively identify the gunman until he has been apprehended."
"Meg," the screen switched back to live feed of the reporter, "we have just been informed that one of the helicopters involved in the search has been shot down. One of the Pierce County Sheriff Department's search helicopters, has just been shot down," she reported with all the drama she could muster.
"What?!" Seth was beside himself.
"Oh, dear," Garrett was calm, but equally concerned.
"Which one?!" Seth shouted at the giant screen.
"The gunman is using a high powered sniper rifle and has shot down one of the helicopters," Teresa read from her card.
"Fuck!" Seth made fists.
"That is disconcerting," Garrett agreed as he rubbed Seth's bare back.
"We should smoke a pipe. That's what we should do. Should we smoke a pipe?" Seth turned to his husband. "We should smoke a pipe," he nodded as he argued with himself. Seth slid off the sofa and began to pace in front of Garrett. "Nothing is more sacred or more powerful than the pipe. The smoke becomes one with all that is," he gestured. "You have to go last, Honey, 'cause your words are most important. Do I have everything we need?" Seth paused, tapping his chin, and then started up again. "I'm sure I have everything we need. I have sage. I have sweetgrass. Oh, tobacco! I have tobacco."
Garrett slid to the edge of the sofa deep sofa and reached for Seth. He took Seth's hands in his and pulled him to stand between his legs. "Sweetness. I think it's beautiful that you want to do this. Please prepare the pipe for us."
"Yes, yes I will," Seth nodded. He was filled with new vigor and determination. He had to prepare the pipe ceremony. Had his Chief not just said so? Seth let go of Garrett's hands and dashed for his office.
"CNN has just learned that one of the helicopters involved in the search in the Mount Rainier National Park has either been shot down or forced to make an emergency landing," Anderson Cooper informed. "Details are unclear at the moment."
"Involved in the search for who, the gunman or the hikers?!" Jasper was desperate for information. He sat at the breakfast room table with Emmett and Nasir.
All three shared a look of deep concern.
"Involved in the search for who?!" Jasper repeated with mounting frustration. "I can't stay here," he held up his hands. "I have to get to the news desk. I love you guys, but I have to go," Jasper rose from the table.
"Where are you going, Sugar?" Emmett asked as he and Nasir stood and followed.
"To work essentially," Jasper answered. "To the news desk. I need more information and I can't think of anyplace more likely to have it."
"You want us to come with?" Emmett offered.
"No," Jasper stopped by the front door. "Em, you flew to New York to be with Nasir. Spend some time with him."
"Let us call for a car for you at least," Nasir put his hand on Jasper's shoulder.
"I can't wait for a car," Jasper shook his head. "I'll grab a cab here on Park. I'm glad I was with you guys this morning. I love you," he reached for Emmett.
"Sugar, we're here if you need anything," Emmett wrapped his arms around Jasper in a tight hug. "And call us if you find out something the public doesn't know."
"I will," Jasper promised. Nasir opened the front door and walked out to touch the call button for Jasper. He took his turn in the elevator foyer.
"Jasper, inshallah everything will be alright," Nasir gave Jasper a hug and kiss.
"I hope so," Jasper closed his eyes. Jasper looked and sounded more unsure and afraid than Emmett had ever seen him. It was worse even than when he was afraid of James for a very different reason all those years ago. The elevator doors parted and Nasir let Jasper go.
"Okay. Bye, you guys," Jasper stepped into the elevator and quickly touched the button for the lobby. Emmett's protective instinct very much made him want to go with Jasper. He had to remind himself that Jasper was not in physical danger. He couldn't protect Jasper from this.
"It's hard for me to let him go," Emmett confessed as the elevator took Jasper down to the ground floor.
"I know, Habibi," Nasir took Emmett's hand and led him back inside. "He needs to feel like he is doing something and we would only be in his way at his work."
"Yeah," Emmett had to agree.
Garrett put on a sweatshirt to keep warm and grabbed a spare blanket from the linen closet. He walked to the living room French doors and out onto the terrace where he shook out the blanket and placed it on the tiles.
"Oh, Sweetness, will any blanket do?" Garrett asked as Seth joined him, arms full of supplies.
"Yeah, that doesn't matter," Seth dismissed as he knelt on the blanket and arrayed his bowl, bag, lighter and bundles of dried herbs. "A full council would be better, but it only really matters that you're here. Stand right here, Honey," he pointed. Garrett moved to do so and Seth rose to his feet as well.
"Okay, cross your arms," Seth made an X over his still bare chest, fingertips on his shoulders. Garrett remembered the position well from the first time Seth led them in a traditional ceremony where he married Nasir and Emmett.
"We walk around in a circle to the left. Follow me," Seth prompted.
"Would you like to put something more on? Are you cold?" Garrett was concerned for his little husband's comfort.
"I'm not a Shirt Wearer," Seth amused himself with a joke only he understood. "I can only be a Shirt Wearer if you or the Council appoint me."
"I hereby exercise my executive authority and grant you permission to wear what you like, as you like," Garrett declared.
"A Shirt Wearer is a War Chief, so called because of the special shirt he is presented with when appointed," Seth explained. "It's a little chilly, but I'm okay. Mitakuye oyas'in."
Garrett knew to repeat the Lakota words and did his best to do so as he stood beside Seth where they started.
"Great, Honey. Now sit down here with me," Seth sat down Indian style and patted the blanket beside him on his right.
"Right here beside you?" Garrett sat down on the blanket as Seth did. He put a hand on Seth's knee. "You did say it was entirely permissible for a Holy Man's husband to touch him."
"Anytime, anywhere," Seth smiled. Garrett rubbed Seth's bare knee with his thumb while Seth lit his bundle of sage on fire. Once it caught well, he blew it out and dropped the smouldering bunch in the china bowl. Seth picked up the bowl with his left hand and used his right to draw the smoke about his head and shoulders.
"The sage heals and drives away any bad spirits," Seth moved to kneel before Garrett and again using his right hand, waved the smoke over Garrett. He then sat back down in place and snuffed out the bundle. Seth set it aside and lit the braided sweetgrass on fire. Again, once there was a good flame, Seth blew it out and dropped the bundle into the bowl. He repeated the same smudging on himself first, and then Garrett. When he was finished, Seth set the bowl before Garrett and removed the stem and bowl of the pipe from the old, beaded, buffalo skin bag.
"Itancan," Seth deferred and handed the two pieces to his husband. Garrett knew to assemble them over the smoking bowl and handed the joined pipe to his Holy Man. Seth took a moment to stuff the bowl of the pipe with tobacco and then stood up. He held the pipe with the bowl in his right hand and the stem in his left as he pointed the stem toward the East.
"The East is red. The East is where the Morning Star rises, the Star of Knowledge. Red is for the rising Sun which brings us a new day and another chance to learn. We thank Grandfather Spirit for each day that we are allowed to live on Mother Earth under Father Sky, and for the great and wonderful love in our lives. We pray for knowledge, for from knowledge comes peace," Seth finished and then turned to face and point the stem of the pipe South.
"The South is yellow. Yellow is for spring and the warm South wind. We give thanks for our strength, growth and healing that comes from the South wind. We use this as a time of planting, so that seeds may grow into new life," Seth recited the words his grandfather taught him. He then turned West.
"The West is black. West is where the sun sets. West is where the Spirit Helpers live. Black stands for the Spirit World. We will one day all go to the Spirit World where we will all know one another and our deeds. We seek our spiritual wisdom in the West and pray for help from our Spirit Guides," Seth turned last to the North.
"The North is white. The White Giant covers Mother Earth with the white blanket of snow in winter. Ptecincala Ska Wakan Winan, White Buffalo Calf Woman, came to us from the North. We pray for endurance and health from the North," Seth knelt beside Garrett. He turned the pipe around and touched the bowl to the blanket. "Green is for the Earth Mother. We are all part of Mother Earth, every rock, every tree, every four legged thing, every two legged thing, every winged thing, everything that crawls, every plant. We are all related. Mother Earth, we seek ever to protect you."
"Do I say something now?" Garrett tried to remember.
"You don't have to," Seth smiled at his husband. That Garrett took this as seriously as he did, touched Seth deeply. He turned the pipe around again and pointed it up at an angle. "Father Sky, in union with Mother Earth, are our true parents," Seth continued. "Father Sky gives us energy for our lives and heats our homes. We are thankful for Father Sky," Seth then pointed the pipe straight up and covered the loaded bowl with his thumb to prevent the tobacco falling out. "Grandfather Spirit, creator of all things, we thank you for the four directions, and for Mother Earth and Father Sky. We offer this pipe to you and ask that you watch over our loved one, Edward. Keep him safe from harm and send Spirit Helpers to guide him. Bring him home safely to all his loved ones," he finished and sat down beside Garrett again.
"Amen," Garrett's Episcopal upbringing had left it's mark. "Oh, sorry. Is it okay to say that?"
"Grandfather Spirit knows what you mean, Honey," Seth smiled and held out the bowl of the pipe to Garrett to light for him. Garrett held the lighter to the bowl while Seth puffed long enough to pull smoke, which he blew out slowly and used his right hand to draw the smoke about his head.
"Mitakuye oyas'in," Seth spoke with his eyes closed. "Itancan," he continued to call Garrett the Lakota word for Chief and handed the pipe to him.
"Bring Edward home to us safely," Garrett took a good puff, blew the smoke and waved it toward himself. "Mitakuye oyas'in," he repeated perfectly.
"There," Seth took the pipe back from Garrett. He tapped out the pipe bowl into the china bowl and let everything go out. "Thank you," Seth spoke quietly as he pulled apart the stem and bowl of the pipe.
"For what?" Garrett put his hand on Seth's knee.
"For indulging me," Seth placed the bowl and stem back into their buffalo hide bag.
"Seth, look at me," Garrett turned to face Seth and took his hand. "Your culture is rich and beautiful, and you have taught me so much. I love my Two Spirit Holy Man husband and everything about him."
"Thanks, Honey. I love you too," Seth leaned closer to Garrett and Garrett leaned down to him as they shared a loving kiss.