Late Night Arrival 4.5
Title: Late Night Arrival
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Airwaves 4.5
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: coclaim100 36 Holidays
Word Count: 1274
Rating: PG
Summary: Robert gets a surprise.
Author's Notes:
Where it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
Previous story:
Taking Care of Business
Robert arrived home at 11:30 pm. He heaved a weary sigh of relief: Valentine's Day was almost over! It was supposed to only be a four hour shoot, but then all hell broke loose. It started with Jennifer and Lisa showering the cast and crew in roses and hearts, the saccharine was overwhelming. Then a broken camera, an endless amount of flubbed lines, and a misplaced script followed. Even Hugh was harder on himself than usual, which Robert had not thought was even possible.
After that long and frustrating day, he was finally walking up the staircase to his own apartment. He hated Valentine's Day and with the stress of filming, it seemed like everyone now hated it as well; no one had had a good day. Robert stopped short of putting his key in the lock, distracted by a plain box on his door step and stiffly bent to pick it up, not bothering to look at the return address. He let himself in, dropping his bag in the entryway and the keys and box on a nearby table. Stretching his arms high over his head, he entered the kitchen, grabbing a beer and making a cheese sandwich. He knew it was late. He didn't get a chance to talk to Alan, figuring that they would catch up this weekend. Alan knew that his schedule was heavy this week. He doubted Alan thought much about this manufactured holiday, and would not mind.
He went into the living room with his unopened beer and plate of sandwich, snagging the box as he walked past. When he finally looked down at the return address, he felt like a heel. Alan had sent him something and Robert had not even made time to call.
Robert leaned forward and placed the food and drink on the coffee table in front of him, then hurried off in search of scissors. Back less than a minute later, he carefully sliced open the box. Robert shook a little, a combination of hunger, tiredness, and excitement at this single gesture. He opened the flaps and peered inside. A smile broke across his face. He couldn't help it. He reached in and pulled out the stuffed animal.
It was a 14-inch stuffed monkey, holding a half un-peeled banana and smiling up at him. It reminded him of Alan, of New Year’s. Tears filled his eyes and he longed for the time they could just be together. This token had brought back all the happy memories and the bitter taste that remained since they were apart. He examined the monkey and noticed it held a small note that was attached with a rubber band to his paw. Carefully he removed it.
Robert,
I wish I could be there today and every day to show you all the ways I care.
But hopefully my friend here will keep you company in my absence.
He carries with him 2 special gifts.
A photo of us,
And a key to my heart.
Thinking of you, every day, not just on holidays,
Alan
The tears spilled over his lids and slipped down his cheeks, making their final decent onto the small furry beast he held in his hands. He looked and found the small picture tucked in his vest.
It was Alan, holding the cheerful animal up to his face. Both were beaming.
Following the chain around its neck he found a key, knowing right away it opened more than Alan’s heart. Robert sat there, speechless. He had not been touched by a gift in a long time.
Wiping his hand across his face, Robert stood up and tucked the photo of Alan with the monkey in his wallet. He went back over to where he had tossed his own keys and picked them up. He removed the key from the small chain and gave it a fond rub with his thumb before adding it to his keyring, nestling it between his NY and LA home keys. He had no idea what the key was for, it just made him feel better knowing that he would be carrying it with him, knowing Alan had once been in possession of it. He tucked the keys back into his pocket, pleased.
Robert checked his watch and quickly did the math: It was nearly 8 am in London. He grabbed his phone and clutched the monkey to his chest, finding Alan’s scent deep in its fur. He sat back down on the couch and flipped open the phone, pressing the speed dial, listening to the foreign ringing, and then the familiar voice.
“Allo?”
“Working on your cockney accent?” Robert greeted the voice.
“Hello you, how are you? It's late, isn’t it? Why are you still up?”
“Long day and it was hell, but I arrived home to someone very special. I feel much better now.”
“Should I be jealous?”
“No. He is charming, but he just can’t compete. Thanks, it was just what I needed.” Robert, smiling for the first time since this morning, laid down on the couch, holding the monkey close.
“Oh great! I thought I might have sent him too late.”
“No, perfect timing as usual, I just...” Robert had to stop, his emotions starting to get the best of him.
“Robert, I saw him in a shop and he reminded me of New Year’s, so I wanted to give him to you. The holiday was a coincidence.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“What’s wrong? Was the day that bad?”
“Yes, and I don’t want to talk about it. So, besides your heart, does my key open anything else?”
“When you change the subject, you really do! It's to my flat, just in case you fly out here for a crazy weekend,” Alan laughed.
Robert smiled and sank further into the sofa, finally relaxing and getting drowsy. "Careful, I just might take you up on that," he threatened with a smile, knowing in his heart he really wanted to. Switching to a new topic before he could dwell too much on how much he wanted to just fly to London, Robert asked, "Who took the picture?"
“The picture was just a lark. I saw the monkey in a shop window and it reminded me of New Year’s, so I went into the shop to see about purchasing him. The clerk was a perky girl who descended upon me and was determined that I do not leave empty handed. She insisted that there be evidence of the purchase, for my “special someone.” I was in a good mood so I let her do it. I did draw the line when she wanted to pick out a wardrobe for him…” Alan stopped and thought he heard restful breathing. He quietly called to Robert, still hearing the slow even breathing of someone who was asleep. Alan smiled and closed his eyes, wishing that he was lying next to Robert, watching him sleep, watching as the stress and worry lines slowly fade, watching as he fell into a deeper sleep. He whispered quietly to Robert, just to plant the idea, not to wake him up, “Sleep well Robert, Happy Valentine's Day. I love you.” He closed his eyes and closed the phone. Sitting back in his chair for a few minutes, still hearing Robert’s voice in his head, Alan felt good. Hearing from Robert always put an extra spring in his step. Perfect way to start the day.
Back in Los Angles, Robert slept peacefully, phone still wedged to his ear, monkey clutched tightly to his chest, and a happy smile on his face. Perfect way to end the day.
Next Now and Forever
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Airwaves 4.5
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: coclaim100 36 Holidays
Word Count: 1274
Rating: PG
Summary: Robert gets a surprise.
Author's Notes:
Where it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
Previous story:
Taking Care of Business
Robert arrived home at 11:30 pm. He heaved a weary sigh of relief: Valentine's Day was almost over! It was supposed to only be a four hour shoot, but then all hell broke loose. It started with Jennifer and Lisa showering the cast and crew in roses and hearts, the saccharine was overwhelming. Then a broken camera, an endless amount of flubbed lines, and a misplaced script followed. Even Hugh was harder on himself than usual, which Robert had not thought was even possible.
After that long and frustrating day, he was finally walking up the staircase to his own apartment. He hated Valentine's Day and with the stress of filming, it seemed like everyone now hated it as well; no one had had a good day. Robert stopped short of putting his key in the lock, distracted by a plain box on his door step and stiffly bent to pick it up, not bothering to look at the return address. He let himself in, dropping his bag in the entryway and the keys and box on a nearby table. Stretching his arms high over his head, he entered the kitchen, grabbing a beer and making a cheese sandwich. He knew it was late. He didn't get a chance to talk to Alan, figuring that they would catch up this weekend. Alan knew that his schedule was heavy this week. He doubted Alan thought much about this manufactured holiday, and would not mind.
He went into the living room with his unopened beer and plate of sandwich, snagging the box as he walked past. When he finally looked down at the return address, he felt like a heel. Alan had sent him something and Robert had not even made time to call.
Robert leaned forward and placed the food and drink on the coffee table in front of him, then hurried off in search of scissors. Back less than a minute later, he carefully sliced open the box. Robert shook a little, a combination of hunger, tiredness, and excitement at this single gesture. He opened the flaps and peered inside. A smile broke across his face. He couldn't help it. He reached in and pulled out the stuffed animal.
It was a 14-inch stuffed monkey, holding a half un-peeled banana and smiling up at him. It reminded him of Alan, of New Year’s. Tears filled his eyes and he longed for the time they could just be together. This token had brought back all the happy memories and the bitter taste that remained since they were apart. He examined the monkey and noticed it held a small note that was attached with a rubber band to his paw. Carefully he removed it.
Robert,
I wish I could be there today and every day to show you all the ways I care.
But hopefully my friend here will keep you company in my absence.
He carries with him 2 special gifts.
A photo of us,
And a key to my heart.
Thinking of you, every day, not just on holidays,
Alan
The tears spilled over his lids and slipped down his cheeks, making their final decent onto the small furry beast he held in his hands. He looked and found the small picture tucked in his vest.
It was Alan, holding the cheerful animal up to his face. Both were beaming.
Following the chain around its neck he found a key, knowing right away it opened more than Alan’s heart. Robert sat there, speechless. He had not been touched by a gift in a long time.
Wiping his hand across his face, Robert stood up and tucked the photo of Alan with the monkey in his wallet. He went back over to where he had tossed his own keys and picked them up. He removed the key from the small chain and gave it a fond rub with his thumb before adding it to his keyring, nestling it between his NY and LA home keys. He had no idea what the key was for, it just made him feel better knowing that he would be carrying it with him, knowing Alan had once been in possession of it. He tucked the keys back into his pocket, pleased.
Robert checked his watch and quickly did the math: It was nearly 8 am in London. He grabbed his phone and clutched the monkey to his chest, finding Alan’s scent deep in its fur. He sat back down on the couch and flipped open the phone, pressing the speed dial, listening to the foreign ringing, and then the familiar voice.
“Allo?”
“Working on your cockney accent?” Robert greeted the voice.
“Hello you, how are you? It's late, isn’t it? Why are you still up?”
“Long day and it was hell, but I arrived home to someone very special. I feel much better now.”
“Should I be jealous?”
“No. He is charming, but he just can’t compete. Thanks, it was just what I needed.” Robert, smiling for the first time since this morning, laid down on the couch, holding the monkey close.
“Oh great! I thought I might have sent him too late.”
“No, perfect timing as usual, I just...” Robert had to stop, his emotions starting to get the best of him.
“Robert, I saw him in a shop and he reminded me of New Year’s, so I wanted to give him to you. The holiday was a coincidence.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“What’s wrong? Was the day that bad?”
“Yes, and I don’t want to talk about it. So, besides your heart, does my key open anything else?”
“When you change the subject, you really do! It's to my flat, just in case you fly out here for a crazy weekend,” Alan laughed.
Robert smiled and sank further into the sofa, finally relaxing and getting drowsy. "Careful, I just might take you up on that," he threatened with a smile, knowing in his heart he really wanted to. Switching to a new topic before he could dwell too much on how much he wanted to just fly to London, Robert asked, "Who took the picture?"
“The picture was just a lark. I saw the monkey in a shop window and it reminded me of New Year’s, so I went into the shop to see about purchasing him. The clerk was a perky girl who descended upon me and was determined that I do not leave empty handed. She insisted that there be evidence of the purchase, for my “special someone.” I was in a good mood so I let her do it. I did draw the line when she wanted to pick out a wardrobe for him…” Alan stopped and thought he heard restful breathing. He quietly called to Robert, still hearing the slow even breathing of someone who was asleep. Alan smiled and closed his eyes, wishing that he was lying next to Robert, watching him sleep, watching as the stress and worry lines slowly fade, watching as he fell into a deeper sleep. He whispered quietly to Robert, just to plant the idea, not to wake him up, “Sleep well Robert, Happy Valentine's Day. I love you.” He closed his eyes and closed the phone. Sitting back in his chair for a few minutes, still hearing Robert’s voice in his head, Alan felt good. Hearing from Robert always put an extra spring in his step. Perfect way to start the day.
Back in Los Angles, Robert slept peacefully, phone still wedged to his ear, monkey clutched tightly to his chest, and a happy smile on his face. Perfect way to end the day.
Next Now and Forever