Title: Catwalks and More than like [Unnatural History]
Title: Catwalks and More than like
Word Count: 3,594
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Henry/Jasper
Series: The Big Man and the Villager, part one can be found Here
Summary: Jasper gets injure on one of their cases and it affects everything.
Warning: We have two underage minors engaged in an incest D/s relationship with one another and they’re both guys. It’s times like this I’m glad I don’t believe in hell.
Author's Notes: Sorry this part took so long but here it is I hope you all like it. And Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Previous Part
He wouldn’t move. He simply wasn’t going to let go, pain or no pain, and that was that. It sounded so easy in his head, why couldn’t it be that easy when applied to reality. Henry was even doing his best to help by not moving either, but his grip was starting to get looser anyway. “Okay Henry I know we agreed that when we’re on one of our cases I don’t give orders but right now I’m ordering you to grip harder and don’t even think about letting go.”
“On it Jasper.”
“Good,” Jasper just looked at Henry, focusing on Henry’s eyes and not seeing the fifty foot drop to the warehouse floor below. He felt Henry’s hands tighten around his wrist while he tightened his own grip around one of Henry’s. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to Henry, and where the hell was Maggie with help.
“We can do this Jasper, I once held onto a vine over a canyon,”
Jasper half listened to Henry’s story as he glanced over to the stairs and doors below, wishing for Maggie to show up with the rope or another person or something. They needed to get Henry up before he fell. And if he ever got his hands on the painting he was going to burn it himself, and those thieves. He wanted to push them off the cat walk; he could even picture it-
“Maggie will find something Jasper, We well be fine.”
He was pulled from thoughts by Henry’s voice and he refocused on his cousin/boyfriend. He could feel Henry’s grip on his wrist, his fingers felt a little numb but he could live with that, his hand could be fixed later, Henry not so much. They just needed to not let go. And he needed to not think about his leg. Not think about now much it hurt as the rope coiled it…just focus on holding Henry.
“Henry, Jasper I found more rope.”
“Maggie” Jasper yelled in unison with Henry after he heard Maggie’s voice calling from the doorway at the far end of catwalk. “What took you so long?”
“Sorry but I had to go all the ways to the mail shed to find anything!”
“Take longer next time,” Jasper started complained now that hope was it sight and his fear had started to subside.
“Jasper, don’t tick off the nice lady with the rope.”
Jasper stopped his rant and looked back down at Henry and frowning at his words as he heard Maggie doing something above them, “Fine.”
“You’re hanging from a catwalk so I forgive you…this time Jasper.”
“Gee tha- rope,” Jasper interrupted himself as he saw the rope drop down next to him and Henry, “Henry can you grab it?”
“Yes. Maggie, make sure Jasper does not fall.”
Jasper smiled at Henry as he watched his boyfriend look over at the rope and then Jasper felt his heart stop for the split second that Henry was holding on to neither his wrist or the rope.
He was so relived that Henry was climbing up the rope a moment later he didn’t even realize he had stopped breathing until he felt himself being pulled up. That’s then his right leg turned to pain. “Ahhh!”
***
“I can’t believe you three. You could have been killed and Jasper’s leg is broken,” Bryan told the three teens as he looked from one to the next.
Bryan had ordered that none of them was to leave his sight until he said otherwise. Which was why the four were packed into one of the trauma rooms of Washington Hospital Center’s Emergency rooms as Jaspers was getting his leg examined. “I know that you’re used to doing what you think you must regardless of the rules Henry, but I had thought I had made it clear that ended once you came here. It seems I was wrong, no talking,” Bryan cut off Henry and Maggie who both started to try and say something. “And you Maggie, you’re brilliant, easily in the top of your class you should know better and once I can reach him I’m sure your father will agrees. And Jasper…you could have died.” The older man ended as he reached forward and pulled Jasper into a hug.
“Leg, leg,” Jasper said as he started to return the hug but pulled back as the movement jostled his leg.
“Right sorry, but don’t think you’re getting off easy just because of your leg. Now I’m going to try and reach Colonel Winnock again. None of you will even try and leave this room. Am I clear?”
“Yes dad.”
“Perfectly clear Uncle Bryan.”
“Yes Mr. Bartlett.”
The three teens watched as Bryan left the room pulling out his cell phone before they turned to each other and started talking.
“We have to find them, fast,” Henry said quickly.
“Your right that painting is-“
“This is no longer about the paining! They hurt Jasper,” Henry said darkly as he cut Maggie off.
“Henry, I’m going to be fine” Jasper said trying to calm Henry down.
“Uncle Bryan was right you could have died Jasper. I am going to break their legs,” Henry said as he reached over and grabbed Jasper in a full body hug.
“And I thought he was scary before. Henry I know you don’t mean that. We know you care about Jasper but hurting them-“Maggie said as she watched the other two.
“Maggie’s right. You don’t hurt people like that…other then the lady with the blow dart but she had that coming, and really you saved her right after,” Jasper told Henry as he hug him back.
“They hurt you, I owe them for that,” Henry said simply as he held onto Jasper.
“Okay, we’ll talk more about that later,”
“Right now we need to make sure we have the same story. The last thing we need is for anyone to know that you both almost died,” Maggie added as she glanced out the doorway. “If my dad thought all three of us could have…well he’ll never let me near you two again.”
“What, no! That is not good,” Henry said as he turned to Maggie. “Okay so the guy hit Jasper and he started falling off. We just leave out the part where I was falling too.”
“Okay we can do that, but we need to find that painting too. It’s one of a kind,” Jasper added.
“It’s going to have to wait a few days, your dad isn’t going to let you to out of his sight and I know my dad isn’t either,” Maggie said.
“Just enough time to make sure Jasper’s okay then.”
“Incoming,” Jasper said as soon as he spotted his father turning around the corner, with Maggie’s father in tow. “This isn’t going to be fun.”
“Good the three of you are capable of listening, some of the time it at least,” Bryan remarked as he eyed the three of them. “Colonel,” he added as he stepped out of the way and let the other man into the trauma room.
“Margaret, say good bye to your friend,” Colonel Winnock told his daughter as he scanned the room before turning back to Bryan. “Dean, I will be in touch later this evening, after we’ve both dealt with our charges.”
“Of course.”
“Bye guys, see you at school,” Maggie said with a sad smile before she turned to follow her father from the room.
“Good luck,” Jasper told his friend as Henry waved as he watched the Winnocks leave.
“Now Jasper, the doctor will be back shortly until then we’re going to go over some new rules,” Bryan said as he shifted his eyes from Jasper to Henry. “Both of you.”
***
“Look dad it’s just a crack it’s not even a full break.”
“You’ll still be in a cast for a month and a half. You will not placate me Jasper, the rules stay,” Bryan told Jasper again as the three entered their home after a drive that consisted mostly of Jasper trying to get some of their new rules removed or mitigated, with no luck.
“Dad, I can’t check in with you every hour, and you can’t take my car away. Not now that Henry knows how to drive it too,” Jasper complained again.
“Jasper,” Bryan said exasperated as he turned to look at this son again.
“Fine,” Jasper conceded for the moment. “I need to use the bathroom anyways.” He added before he started making his way down the hall on his crutches.
“Henry, stay a moment please,” Bryan asked as Henry started to follow Jasper.
“Uncle Bryan?” Henry asked as he kept his eyes on Jasper.
“You’ve been quite all evening. Ever since Maggie brought the first aid staff and I to both you and Jasper. Now this could be shock or some other regular teenage response. But I don’t think it so,” Bryan told his nephew as he looked at the teen.
“What do you think it is?” Henry asked, finally turning to Bryan.
“Well Henry, I may not have travelled like my sister but I do know a fair amount about many of the cultures that you’ve been raised around. And I know that many of them believe that protecting those you care about and love means you retaliate against those that harmed them,” Bryan said as he watched Henry.
“Yes, often honor, pride, and safely of the wontok require it Uncle Bryan,” Henry answered back keep eye contact with his uncle.
“And in New Guinea that may even be true but Henry we are in DC. The police are looking for the thieves and the District Attorneys office have informed me they will be seeking to add assault charges at the very least to any other crimes they will be charge with when they are located, located by the police and not my nephew. Am I clear Henry?” Bryan finished returning Henry’s eye contact.
“I understand you perfectly,” Henry answered as he broke eye contact and looked at the hall toward the restroom and Jasper.
“Good. Now Jasper will be staying down here on the couch for at least a few days so if you could grab his pillow and blankets. I’ll get something for use to eat, Jasper’s pills shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach,” Bryan asked before he turned to head to the kitchen.
Henry waited a few moments, still watching the bathroom door before he started making his way up the stairs whispering under his breath, “I understand but do not agree, no one hurts my family.”
***
“You still awake down there?” Jasper asked as he turned to look down at the living room floor where Henry had set up his bedding.
“If you drink much more water you will have to get up to use the bathroom again,” Henry answered as he turned to look up at the couch.
“No I don’t need any more water, I need you to help me move this stuff to the floor,” Jasper told Henry while he shifted to a sitting position.
“What?” Henry asked sitting up.
“I’m joining you on the floor now help me move these blankets.”
“Jasper the couch-“
“Isn’t big enough for both of us so it’s got to be the floor,” Jasper said directly.
“What is wrong with us both saying there we are?”
“Henry, how can I put in this a way you’ll understand,” Jasper thought for a moment as he lowered himself to the floor with Henry’s help. “Okay, Henry you almost died today. And I like you,” he added as he as grabbed Henry by the front of his orange PJs and pulled him closer until they were almost nose to nose. “I may even more than like you and I felt your grip loosening Henry. When I wake up in the middle of the night after dreaming the “what if” you will be right next to me so grab the couch cushion and put it under my cast and then lay down because we’re sleeping together, got it.”
“On it Jasper,” Henry answered with a smile as he reached over Jasper for the cushion to place under Jasper’s hurt leg. After it was set he lay down next to Jasper just listing to the other teen breathe for a moment before he spoke, “I may more than like you too.”
***
The sun was slowly filling the house with light as Bryan reached the bottom of the stairs. He made his way down the hall and toward the kitchen, and it was there he paused. He could turn to his left and start the coffee or he could keep going straight. If he went straight he would be heading to the living room and he would be checking up on Jasper and Henry.
His son and nephew were both teens, teens didn’t need adults always checking up on them…but then most teen didn’t break their legs while almost dying and the three where still hiding something about the day’s events they didn’t want to share.
Bryan walked forward and quietly entered the living room part of the house. His first thought had been panic when he saw the empty couch. But the panic gave way almost at once to something else when he spotted where Jasper had moved.
Jasper was sleeping next to Henry. No that wasn’t right, they weren’t sleeping next to each other so much as….sleeping with each other. One of Jasper’s hands was curled around Henry’s head, a head that was using Jasper’s chest as a pillow, joined by Henry’s visible hand that was half wrapped around Jasper’s trunk. And given the large number of couch cushions set up like a fort around Jasper’s legs the separation of their lower bodies was enforced.
Bryan took a deep breath, glad that they were both fully dressed in their PJs just like they had been the night before at least. He quietly crept back out of the room before he started the coffee in the kitchen. He was so focused on finding a ways he could accidently make noise he didn’t notice that Henry had opened his eyes and watched his reflection in the windows when he had left the living room.
***
“Come on Dad do we really-" Jasper started complaining again the moment both his crutches were out of his father’s car.
“Yes, between every class and as soon as your scheduled hours are over. This goes for both of you. Am I clear?” Bryan stated again as he too got out of his car and looked over at the teens.
“We understand Uncle Bryan.”
“Yeah, yeah, ruin my day. Henry can you grab my, thanks,” Jasper muttered as he started heading toward the school while Henry followed behind carrying both their bags.
“It seems Uncle Bryan was not the only parent worried after yesterday,” Henry said just before they reached the doors leading into the school.
They both watched as a military Hummer pulled up along the curb letting Maggie and someone else in uniform disembark. Maggie stomped her way through her fellow students, obviously displeased with the solider shadowing her. She almost marched right past them.
“Maggie!” Jasper called out once Maggie had gone a couple steps past them.
“What!” Maggie called right back as she spun around abruptly forcing the solider to dart to the side to keep out of her way.
“He has good balance,” Henry remarked as he watched the solider return to the spot right behind Maggie without looking the least bothered by her sudden change of course.
“Don’t talk about Miller, pretend he’s not there. I do, it’s the only way I can keep myself from trying something that will really piss off my father,” Maggie muttered as she cast a dark glace at the man. “I just hope I can do it later in the museum.”
“He’s staying?” Henry asked Maggie.
“Because if he is…I wouldn’t mind,” Jasper said as he looked the uniformed man over.
“Jasper,” Maggie cried out as she punched Jasper in the shoulder. “You do not get to enjoy my punishment. I get another one as soon as schools out, he or someone else will be joining me in the museum while I do my hours before escorting me home.”
“At least it’s not your dad, Henry and I have to report in to him between every class and the moment our hours are up we have to be in the main office until Dad can take us home, whenever that will be,” Jasper complained as he started heading toward the entryway.
“Really? That would so suck…sorry,” She added giving Jasper and Henry a smile. “I’ll take Miller over that any day.”
“He seems to have stopped following you,” Henry informed Maggie as he noticed the soldier had stopped at the doors to the school.
“Yeah, military personal aren’t suppose to be on school ground, a school bylaw. My father wasn’t pleased when Dean Bartlet told him about it last night. He had planned on having me followed all day,” Maggie said making it clear what she thought about it.
“Of course the rules help you. Your dad doesn’t know them inside and out. And I swear he made some just to use against me.”
“Uncle Bryan would not do that. He just has some rules that happen to work very well at stopping just what we want to do,” Henry spoke up as he. “Now Jasper I am going to get our books and I will meet you both in class.”
“Thanks. Just what I want, a reason not to be late to class,” Jasper said glumly as he and Maggie head toward the class room as Henry headed to their lockers smiling at Jasper’s comment.
“Henry’s just being helpful. If he can’t, you know, to the guys that broke your leg he needs to do something,” Maggie said as she walked next to Jasper. “He didn’t say anything else about that “you know” did he?”
“You know?” Jasper asked. “You mean the violent that could land him in jail? No, not around me and since he’s barely left my sight since it happened…” Jasper said as he glanced around. “Is it odd that I miss him already?”
“Oh-god you to are just so…I need to find a guy and fast,” Maggie just complained back at Jasper she stepped to the side to let Jasper into the classroom.
“We aren’t that bad…are we?” Jasper asked realizing just how bad the two of them had been over the last couple weeks since they’d confirmed their relationship to Maggie.
“Yes, you have been,” Maggie told him just as Henry rejoined the two with a few books.
“I grabbed the ones for the next class since stopping by the office and our lockers may take more time then we will have,” Henry said as he dropped the math book on Jasper’s desk.
“Great I can’t even carry my normal load how am I going to carry extra.”
“You do not have to worry about it, I can carry the extra,” Henry answered Jasper.
“Well if it isn’t the lucky guy,” Hunter said as he came up behind the trio. “Must be a blast to have someone cater to your every whim,” he said as he smiled jealously at Jasper.
“I think he’d rather not have his leg broken Hunter,” Maggie said as she rolled her eyes at her fellow student.
“Maybe, I’d have to think about, but too bad it won’t last, Henry,” Hunter added as he slapped Henry on the shoulder. “He’s got to get better sometime, right?”
“Right,” Henry answered back as he frowned down at the books he was holding for Jasper, “He does have to get better…”
“Okay class take you seats,” the teacher cut in ending the conversation between the four of them.
***
He had nothing to do. He had over an hour left in the DOUM’s mail shed but all the files he’d been given to scan were done. Henry hadn’t realized just how much he was distracted when Jasper and Maggie were around.
Henry glanced around the room looking for something to do for the remainder of his time; Uncle Bryan had made it clear that he wasn’t to leave the room until the end of his hours. His eyes just drifted around the room until it landed on the computer, a computer with internet access.
Opening up a browser Henry hesitated for a moment. There was a reason he normally did this kind of research at the library…but today was different. Neither Maggie nor Jasper would be popping by without warning. And the only one that might show up was Dr. Garko and that wasn’t likely since he’s just stopped by a half hour ago. Henry typed in the web site.
Extra Alternative Youths popped up in a rainbow of colors almost at once. One of the sites he’s seen when he had first learned about Jasper’s interest Henry had returned later to read through the message boards, finding that others had often asked the same questions he had. But he had never posted before, never had a question that he felt hadn’t already been asked or should be asked of complete strangers, but maybe them being strangers was part of the point Henry considered as he typed in his question. He read it over twice making sure it made sense and asked what he wanted, made sure it was right, and then hit post.
The end
Next Part
Word Count: 3,594
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Henry/Jasper
Series: The Big Man and the Villager, part one can be found Here
Summary: Jasper gets injure on one of their cases and it affects everything.
Warning: We have two underage minors engaged in an incest D/s relationship with one another and they’re both guys. It’s times like this I’m glad I don’t believe in hell.
Author's Notes: Sorry this part took so long but here it is I hope you all like it. And Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Previous Part
He wouldn’t move. He simply wasn’t going to let go, pain or no pain, and that was that. It sounded so easy in his head, why couldn’t it be that easy when applied to reality. Henry was even doing his best to help by not moving either, but his grip was starting to get looser anyway. “Okay Henry I know we agreed that when we’re on one of our cases I don’t give orders but right now I’m ordering you to grip harder and don’t even think about letting go.”
“On it Jasper.”
“Good,” Jasper just looked at Henry, focusing on Henry’s eyes and not seeing the fifty foot drop to the warehouse floor below. He felt Henry’s hands tighten around his wrist while he tightened his own grip around one of Henry’s. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to Henry, and where the hell was Maggie with help.
“We can do this Jasper, I once held onto a vine over a canyon,”
Jasper half listened to Henry’s story as he glanced over to the stairs and doors below, wishing for Maggie to show up with the rope or another person or something. They needed to get Henry up before he fell. And if he ever got his hands on the painting he was going to burn it himself, and those thieves. He wanted to push them off the cat walk; he could even picture it-
“Maggie will find something Jasper, We well be fine.”
He was pulled from thoughts by Henry’s voice and he refocused on his cousin/boyfriend. He could feel Henry’s grip on his wrist, his fingers felt a little numb but he could live with that, his hand could be fixed later, Henry not so much. They just needed to not let go. And he needed to not think about his leg. Not think about now much it hurt as the rope coiled it…just focus on holding Henry.
“Henry, Jasper I found more rope.”
“Maggie” Jasper yelled in unison with Henry after he heard Maggie’s voice calling from the doorway at the far end of catwalk. “What took you so long?”
“Sorry but I had to go all the ways to the mail shed to find anything!”
“Take longer next time,” Jasper started complained now that hope was it sight and his fear had started to subside.
“Jasper, don’t tick off the nice lady with the rope.”
Jasper stopped his rant and looked back down at Henry and frowning at his words as he heard Maggie doing something above them, “Fine.”
“You’re hanging from a catwalk so I forgive you…this time Jasper.”
“Gee tha- rope,” Jasper interrupted himself as he saw the rope drop down next to him and Henry, “Henry can you grab it?”
“Yes. Maggie, make sure Jasper does not fall.”
Jasper smiled at Henry as he watched his boyfriend look over at the rope and then Jasper felt his heart stop for the split second that Henry was holding on to neither his wrist or the rope.
He was so relived that Henry was climbing up the rope a moment later he didn’t even realize he had stopped breathing until he felt himself being pulled up. That’s then his right leg turned to pain. “Ahhh!”
***
“I can’t believe you three. You could have been killed and Jasper’s leg is broken,” Bryan told the three teens as he looked from one to the next.
Bryan had ordered that none of them was to leave his sight until he said otherwise. Which was why the four were packed into one of the trauma rooms of Washington Hospital Center’s Emergency rooms as Jaspers was getting his leg examined. “I know that you’re used to doing what you think you must regardless of the rules Henry, but I had thought I had made it clear that ended once you came here. It seems I was wrong, no talking,” Bryan cut off Henry and Maggie who both started to try and say something. “And you Maggie, you’re brilliant, easily in the top of your class you should know better and once I can reach him I’m sure your father will agrees. And Jasper…you could have died.” The older man ended as he reached forward and pulled Jasper into a hug.
“Leg, leg,” Jasper said as he started to return the hug but pulled back as the movement jostled his leg.
“Right sorry, but don’t think you’re getting off easy just because of your leg. Now I’m going to try and reach Colonel Winnock again. None of you will even try and leave this room. Am I clear?”
“Yes dad.”
“Perfectly clear Uncle Bryan.”
“Yes Mr. Bartlett.”
The three teens watched as Bryan left the room pulling out his cell phone before they turned to each other and started talking.
“We have to find them, fast,” Henry said quickly.
“Your right that painting is-“
“This is no longer about the paining! They hurt Jasper,” Henry said darkly as he cut Maggie off.
“Henry, I’m going to be fine” Jasper said trying to calm Henry down.
“Uncle Bryan was right you could have died Jasper. I am going to break their legs,” Henry said as he reached over and grabbed Jasper in a full body hug.
“And I thought he was scary before. Henry I know you don’t mean that. We know you care about Jasper but hurting them-“Maggie said as she watched the other two.
“Maggie’s right. You don’t hurt people like that…other then the lady with the blow dart but she had that coming, and really you saved her right after,” Jasper told Henry as he hug him back.
“They hurt you, I owe them for that,” Henry said simply as he held onto Jasper.
“Okay, we’ll talk more about that later,”
“Right now we need to make sure we have the same story. The last thing we need is for anyone to know that you both almost died,” Maggie added as she glanced out the doorway. “If my dad thought all three of us could have…well he’ll never let me near you two again.”
“What, no! That is not good,” Henry said as he turned to Maggie. “Okay so the guy hit Jasper and he started falling off. We just leave out the part where I was falling too.”
“Okay we can do that, but we need to find that painting too. It’s one of a kind,” Jasper added.
“It’s going to have to wait a few days, your dad isn’t going to let you to out of his sight and I know my dad isn’t either,” Maggie said.
“Just enough time to make sure Jasper’s okay then.”
“Incoming,” Jasper said as soon as he spotted his father turning around the corner, with Maggie’s father in tow. “This isn’t going to be fun.”
“Good the three of you are capable of listening, some of the time it at least,” Bryan remarked as he eyed the three of them. “Colonel,” he added as he stepped out of the way and let the other man into the trauma room.
“Margaret, say good bye to your friend,” Colonel Winnock told his daughter as he scanned the room before turning back to Bryan. “Dean, I will be in touch later this evening, after we’ve both dealt with our charges.”
“Of course.”
“Bye guys, see you at school,” Maggie said with a sad smile before she turned to follow her father from the room.
“Good luck,” Jasper told his friend as Henry waved as he watched the Winnocks leave.
“Now Jasper, the doctor will be back shortly until then we’re going to go over some new rules,” Bryan said as he shifted his eyes from Jasper to Henry. “Both of you.”
***
“Look dad it’s just a crack it’s not even a full break.”
“You’ll still be in a cast for a month and a half. You will not placate me Jasper, the rules stay,” Bryan told Jasper again as the three entered their home after a drive that consisted mostly of Jasper trying to get some of their new rules removed or mitigated, with no luck.
“Dad, I can’t check in with you every hour, and you can’t take my car away. Not now that Henry knows how to drive it too,” Jasper complained again.
“Jasper,” Bryan said exasperated as he turned to look at this son again.
“Fine,” Jasper conceded for the moment. “I need to use the bathroom anyways.” He added before he started making his way down the hall on his crutches.
“Henry, stay a moment please,” Bryan asked as Henry started to follow Jasper.
“Uncle Bryan?” Henry asked as he kept his eyes on Jasper.
“You’ve been quite all evening. Ever since Maggie brought the first aid staff and I to both you and Jasper. Now this could be shock or some other regular teenage response. But I don’t think it so,” Bryan told his nephew as he looked at the teen.
“What do you think it is?” Henry asked, finally turning to Bryan.
“Well Henry, I may not have travelled like my sister but I do know a fair amount about many of the cultures that you’ve been raised around. And I know that many of them believe that protecting those you care about and love means you retaliate against those that harmed them,” Bryan said as he watched Henry.
“Yes, often honor, pride, and safely of the wontok require it Uncle Bryan,” Henry answered back keep eye contact with his uncle.
“And in New Guinea that may even be true but Henry we are in DC. The police are looking for the thieves and the District Attorneys office have informed me they will be seeking to add assault charges at the very least to any other crimes they will be charge with when they are located, located by the police and not my nephew. Am I clear Henry?” Bryan finished returning Henry’s eye contact.
“I understand you perfectly,” Henry answered as he broke eye contact and looked at the hall toward the restroom and Jasper.
“Good. Now Jasper will be staying down here on the couch for at least a few days so if you could grab his pillow and blankets. I’ll get something for use to eat, Jasper’s pills shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach,” Bryan asked before he turned to head to the kitchen.
Henry waited a few moments, still watching the bathroom door before he started making his way up the stairs whispering under his breath, “I understand but do not agree, no one hurts my family.”
***
“You still awake down there?” Jasper asked as he turned to look down at the living room floor where Henry had set up his bedding.
“If you drink much more water you will have to get up to use the bathroom again,” Henry answered as he turned to look up at the couch.
“No I don’t need any more water, I need you to help me move this stuff to the floor,” Jasper told Henry while he shifted to a sitting position.
“What?” Henry asked sitting up.
“I’m joining you on the floor now help me move these blankets.”
“Jasper the couch-“
“Isn’t big enough for both of us so it’s got to be the floor,” Jasper said directly.
“What is wrong with us both saying there we are?”
“Henry, how can I put in this a way you’ll understand,” Jasper thought for a moment as he lowered himself to the floor with Henry’s help. “Okay, Henry you almost died today. And I like you,” he added as he as grabbed Henry by the front of his orange PJs and pulled him closer until they were almost nose to nose. “I may even more than like you and I felt your grip loosening Henry. When I wake up in the middle of the night after dreaming the “what if” you will be right next to me so grab the couch cushion and put it under my cast and then lay down because we’re sleeping together, got it.”
“On it Jasper,” Henry answered with a smile as he reached over Jasper for the cushion to place under Jasper’s hurt leg. After it was set he lay down next to Jasper just listing to the other teen breathe for a moment before he spoke, “I may more than like you too.”
***
The sun was slowly filling the house with light as Bryan reached the bottom of the stairs. He made his way down the hall and toward the kitchen, and it was there he paused. He could turn to his left and start the coffee or he could keep going straight. If he went straight he would be heading to the living room and he would be checking up on Jasper and Henry.
His son and nephew were both teens, teens didn’t need adults always checking up on them…but then most teen didn’t break their legs while almost dying and the three where still hiding something about the day’s events they didn’t want to share.
Bryan walked forward and quietly entered the living room part of the house. His first thought had been panic when he saw the empty couch. But the panic gave way almost at once to something else when he spotted where Jasper had moved.
Jasper was sleeping next to Henry. No that wasn’t right, they weren’t sleeping next to each other so much as….sleeping with each other. One of Jasper’s hands was curled around Henry’s head, a head that was using Jasper’s chest as a pillow, joined by Henry’s visible hand that was half wrapped around Jasper’s trunk. And given the large number of couch cushions set up like a fort around Jasper’s legs the separation of their lower bodies was enforced.
Bryan took a deep breath, glad that they were both fully dressed in their PJs just like they had been the night before at least. He quietly crept back out of the room before he started the coffee in the kitchen. He was so focused on finding a ways he could accidently make noise he didn’t notice that Henry had opened his eyes and watched his reflection in the windows when he had left the living room.
***
“Come on Dad do we really-" Jasper started complaining again the moment both his crutches were out of his father’s car.
“Yes, between every class and as soon as your scheduled hours are over. This goes for both of you. Am I clear?” Bryan stated again as he too got out of his car and looked over at the teens.
“We understand Uncle Bryan.”
“Yeah, yeah, ruin my day. Henry can you grab my, thanks,” Jasper muttered as he started heading toward the school while Henry followed behind carrying both their bags.
“It seems Uncle Bryan was not the only parent worried after yesterday,” Henry said just before they reached the doors leading into the school.
They both watched as a military Hummer pulled up along the curb letting Maggie and someone else in uniform disembark. Maggie stomped her way through her fellow students, obviously displeased with the solider shadowing her. She almost marched right past them.
“Maggie!” Jasper called out once Maggie had gone a couple steps past them.
“What!” Maggie called right back as she spun around abruptly forcing the solider to dart to the side to keep out of her way.
“He has good balance,” Henry remarked as he watched the solider return to the spot right behind Maggie without looking the least bothered by her sudden change of course.
“Don’t talk about Miller, pretend he’s not there. I do, it’s the only way I can keep myself from trying something that will really piss off my father,” Maggie muttered as she cast a dark glace at the man. “I just hope I can do it later in the museum.”
“He’s staying?” Henry asked Maggie.
“Because if he is…I wouldn’t mind,” Jasper said as he looked the uniformed man over.
“Jasper,” Maggie cried out as she punched Jasper in the shoulder. “You do not get to enjoy my punishment. I get another one as soon as schools out, he or someone else will be joining me in the museum while I do my hours before escorting me home.”
“At least it’s not your dad, Henry and I have to report in to him between every class and the moment our hours are up we have to be in the main office until Dad can take us home, whenever that will be,” Jasper complained as he started heading toward the entryway.
“Really? That would so suck…sorry,” She added giving Jasper and Henry a smile. “I’ll take Miller over that any day.”
“He seems to have stopped following you,” Henry informed Maggie as he noticed the soldier had stopped at the doors to the school.
“Yeah, military personal aren’t suppose to be on school ground, a school bylaw. My father wasn’t pleased when Dean Bartlet told him about it last night. He had planned on having me followed all day,” Maggie said making it clear what she thought about it.
“Of course the rules help you. Your dad doesn’t know them inside and out. And I swear he made some just to use against me.”
“Uncle Bryan would not do that. He just has some rules that happen to work very well at stopping just what we want to do,” Henry spoke up as he. “Now Jasper I am going to get our books and I will meet you both in class.”
“Thanks. Just what I want, a reason not to be late to class,” Jasper said glumly as he and Maggie head toward the class room as Henry headed to their lockers smiling at Jasper’s comment.
“Henry’s just being helpful. If he can’t, you know, to the guys that broke your leg he needs to do something,” Maggie said as she walked next to Jasper. “He didn’t say anything else about that “you know” did he?”
“You know?” Jasper asked. “You mean the violent that could land him in jail? No, not around me and since he’s barely left my sight since it happened…” Jasper said as he glanced around. “Is it odd that I miss him already?”
“Oh-god you to are just so…I need to find a guy and fast,” Maggie just complained back at Jasper she stepped to the side to let Jasper into the classroom.
“We aren’t that bad…are we?” Jasper asked realizing just how bad the two of them had been over the last couple weeks since they’d confirmed their relationship to Maggie.
“Yes, you have been,” Maggie told him just as Henry rejoined the two with a few books.
“I grabbed the ones for the next class since stopping by the office and our lockers may take more time then we will have,” Henry said as he dropped the math book on Jasper’s desk.
“Great I can’t even carry my normal load how am I going to carry extra.”
“You do not have to worry about it, I can carry the extra,” Henry answered Jasper.
“Well if it isn’t the lucky guy,” Hunter said as he came up behind the trio. “Must be a blast to have someone cater to your every whim,” he said as he smiled jealously at Jasper.
“I think he’d rather not have his leg broken Hunter,” Maggie said as she rolled her eyes at her fellow student.
“Maybe, I’d have to think about, but too bad it won’t last, Henry,” Hunter added as he slapped Henry on the shoulder. “He’s got to get better sometime, right?”
“Right,” Henry answered back as he frowned down at the books he was holding for Jasper, “He does have to get better…”
“Okay class take you seats,” the teacher cut in ending the conversation between the four of them.
***
He had nothing to do. He had over an hour left in the DOUM’s mail shed but all the files he’d been given to scan were done. Henry hadn’t realized just how much he was distracted when Jasper and Maggie were around.
Henry glanced around the room looking for something to do for the remainder of his time; Uncle Bryan had made it clear that he wasn’t to leave the room until the end of his hours. His eyes just drifted around the room until it landed on the computer, a computer with internet access.
Opening up a browser Henry hesitated for a moment. There was a reason he normally did this kind of research at the library…but today was different. Neither Maggie nor Jasper would be popping by without warning. And the only one that might show up was Dr. Garko and that wasn’t likely since he’s just stopped by a half hour ago. Henry typed in the web site.
Extra Alternative Youths popped up in a rainbow of colors almost at once. One of the sites he’s seen when he had first learned about Jasper’s interest Henry had returned later to read through the message boards, finding that others had often asked the same questions he had. But he had never posted before, never had a question that he felt hadn’t already been asked or should be asked of complete strangers, but maybe them being strangers was part of the point Henry considered as he typed in his question. He read it over twice making sure it made sense and asked what he wanted, made sure it was right, and then hit post.
The end
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