Chapter Eleven 23 January 2013 Justin, What the fuck!? Here I was thinking that I could come home, and take you in my arms… but what instead of a nearly naked blond do I see? The fucking circus rejects invading my home! Okay, I know I’m not giving them the benefit of the doubt, but fucking Christ, Justin… where the hell did you pick these people up? Rejects.com? Okay… I don’t want you to think that I feel you did a bad job, or that I don’t trust you to do the right thing, cause I do. I trust you with my life, and more importantly with my heart. But come on, Justin… a man can take only so much craziness. I deal with shit every damn day, all I want to do when I come home is relax, not get fucking yelled at by some red head with an attitude problem, or stripped by some comic book geek, or have my future read… or whatever with Emmett. I want peace and quiet. Don’t you understand? Okay… I guess I will just have to put on a fucking sweet, kind smile and pretend that it doesn’t matter. That I’m okay with this. I am… in a way. As long as you’re happy while I’m away, I guess I can deal with this. But damn, Justin. You are going to KILL ME! I love you, you blond brat. Brian. ~~~***~~~***~~~ January 2013 Brian pulled the car into the garage, and walked out to the house. He had been gone for three weeks, and the moment they had touched land again and debriefed, Brian was in his car on the way home. He hadn’t even bothered to change, just grabbing his belongings and was out the door. He hated these long missions, but knew that they were a necessity on occasion. All he knew is that he wanted to be home with his husband and relax. He had hated that Justin had to deal with the whole tenant thing without him, from choosing the candidates to supervising the move. He had wanted to be there and help his husband out. Justin had told him that he would just love the new ‘roommates’ and Brian could only nod. The new tenants should be up in their own damn rooms as far as Brian was concerned, but knew that he would have to eventually meet them. All Brian wanted to do was take his husband into their room and not leave for three days, to hell with the tenants. Once he opened the door he was greeted by the smells of lasagna, and loud laughter coming from the common area. “Justin,” Brian called out as he entered the room, and stopped dead in his tracks. What Brian saw was not what he had expected. Sitting down in the living room was a loud woman with red hair and a shirt that stated ‘Are you hung?’ The man next to her looked around their age, but it was hard to determine age since the man was wearing a comic book t-shirt and sweat pants. Across from him was someone else who was an obvious queen, with a bright pink boa wrapped around his neck to help accent the see through shirt and pants he wore. Lastly, Brian saw someone sitting near the corner working with a stack of tarot cards, and telling Justin his future. “Justin,” Brian called out louder catching everyone’s attention. “Brian! You’re home!” Justin yelled as he ran over to his husband to wrap his arms around him. “I want you to meet everyone.” “In a minute. Outside, now.” Brian stated as he set his bag down beside the door and with Justin’s hand firmly placed in his own, led the two out into the main hall. Brian turned toward Justin and leaned back against the door. “Do you want to explain to me what the HELL that is about? Who are they?” “They are our new tenants.” Justin explained as he began to run his hand over Brian’s chest. He could feel his husband’s anger start to rise, and he wanted to stop the argument before it started. Justin knew he would have enough to explain since he had never once told his new friends exactly what Brian did for a living… then of course there was the whole fact that he might have told a little white lie about who was renting the rooms in their house. “Brian, just give them a chance. I’m sure you will love them.” “Somehow I doubt that. Don’t they have their own fucking rooms? Isn’t that what this was about?” Brian asked as he ran his hand through his hair. “Is this what I’m going to see every time I come home? I thought we had agreed that it was to be quiet, peaceful…! That is NOT what I had been thinking of.” Justin moved up so that their bodies were flush against one another. “Please. For me?” Brian looked down at his husband and shook his head. “Fine. I’ll reserve my judgment. But I’m telling you, we will have to talk about this later.” When Brian got his wits about him, he released Justin, straightened his shoulders and walked into his own living hell. He smiled as he walked back into the room, and let it drop immediately when he saw ‘comic book guy’ over by his bag. “Rule number one… don’t fucking touch my shit.” Brian stated as he grabbed his bag and went to sit at a small desk in the corner of the room. He gave Justin a small smile as his lover placed a large metal box in front of him. Brian knew he would have to find some other place to do this, since he didn’t think taking apart his gun and cleaning it would be a smart move in front of their new guests. But for now they would just have to suffer. He wasn’t ready yet to bring the gun into his and Justin’s apartment. ~~~***~~~***~~~*** Silence had filled the large room, until with a collective gasp, all eyes were turned on the gun Brian was busily cleaning. He looked at them and tongue in cheek said. “Don’t piss me off gang.” The first one to move over to him was the larger than life red headed woman. “Well honey, I’m Debbie Novotny, Michael and I live in the third floor apartment. I don’t fucking care how tough you are, you better not give my Sunshine a hard time. He’s doing his best to keep up a brave front while you’re gone. You may look tough but believe me if pushed, I can rip you a new asshole.” She reached over and gently cuffed him upside the head. “Now smile and play nice. I have supper almost ready. You look like you could use some meat on your bones.” When Debbie was not shot on the spot, everyone sighed with relief including Justin, who had been standing there frozen in place when Debbie had approached Brian. Brian kept his head down to hide the smile he couldn’t stop. Looks like ‘Sunshine’ had found himself a defender. “Sugar, I couldn’t help but notice that very big and rather fierce gun you have there.” Brian looked up to see the flamboyant one standing by the desk. “I’m Emmett, Emmett Honeycutt of the Hazelhurst Mississippi Honeycutts. Of course that’s neither here nor there now that I live in this wonderful castle. Here I’m just plain old Princess Emmett. You will be careful with that dreadful thing won’t you? I mean you aren’t one of those” he shuddered “manly men who insist on killing Bambi and his friends are you?” “Not unless Bambi and his friends piss me off.” Brian answered. “There is too much paperwork involved.” “Such a relief sweetie. You know black is really your color though maybe just a teeny bit of accessorizing, perhaps a bright red scarf or something.” “Oh you want me to wear a target for the bad guys, make it easier to find me?” Brian said with a laugh. "Well you’d better clear that with the little woman over there, he might have something to say about that” Justin stuck his tongue out at the little woman comment before relaxing enough to set the large table that had been placed in the middle of the floor. Now it was comic book guy’s turn to hassle him. Brian could see him approach from the corner of his eye. “So are you like Captain Astro?” the guy asked. “Do I fucking look like Captain Astro?” Brian asked. “Sort of like he was in issue 221” came the answer. “No I’m not.” Brian was almost finished cleaning his gun. He looked closely at the guy standing in front of him. “Why are you still living with mommy?” he asked. “She needed help making expenses and so did I. Uncle Vic is sick and she helps him out now that he can’t work.” “Does Uncle Vic live here too?” Brian looked around. “No, but not because Ma hasn’t asked him. He’s just too stubborn to move in with us.” “Good for Uncle Vic.” Brian packed away his cleaning supplies and laid the gun in the metal box. He carefully locked it and then stood up. The gun safe was in a small metal safe protected by a combination lock by the door of their apartment. It was cleverly disguised as an occasional table. . Brian removed his jacket and vest, setting them on the back of a chair, and walked over to Justin. Wrapping his arms around the waist of his husband, he lightly kissed him on the cheek. He had missed Justin terribly during his three weeks away, that all he wanted to do was take him into their apartment and not leave for days. Unfortunately Justin believed that Brian had to get along with their new guests, so Brian sucked it up and tried to please his husband. Justin would owe him for this later, however. Brian glanced at the guy in drag sitting with the tarot cards. He still hadn’t heard from him. Mysterious Marilyn glanced up and stared into Brian’s eyes. “You should call someone named Chief South, he’s having an appendicitis attack and he hasn’t gone to the doctors about it. He thinks it will pass but he really should have it looked after.” Mysterious Marilyn looked back at the tarot cards and Brian, shaking his head walked away. He locked up the gun and was about to go back into the common room when Justin handed him the phone. “Call the Chief Brian. Don’t ignore shit Mysterious Marilyn tells you.” Brian looked at Justin, the look said a lot. “You have to be fucking joking” he finally said to Justin. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please Brian.” Justin placed the phone in his hand. “You have got to be kidding me, Justin. Who the hell are these people you have brought here?” “They are all good people, Brian. You just have to get to know them. I know you’ll like them. Now please… call.” Justin kissed Brian on the cheek and left his husband alone to make the call. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Seeing the future, whatever. What has Justin got me into?” Brian asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed and made the call. Sighing heavily and dramatically Brian punched in the numbers for the Chief’s house. “Hey Chief” Brian said. “What’s up?” “Fuck Lieutenant, my gut hurts. You’d think some asshole had a bayonet in there.” The other man gasped. “I was just going to take a couple of pain killers and have a glass of rum. Why did you call?” “Get your ass down to the hospital Chief. That’s an order.” “I don’t have time for hospitals. It’s been like this before, it always goes away.” Mysterious Marilyn drifted past were Brian was standing talking on the phone. “He really only has an hour or so before it bursts.” She said as she started up the stairs. “Chief, I’m sending an ambulance over there right now. Don’t take any pain killers. Just have a shot of whisky.” Brian turned to Justin. “Call an ambulance on the other line and send them to the Chief’s; I’m going to stay on here with him.” Justin gave Brian a quick kiss on his cheek and headed into their apartment. “I’ll get one to him right away.” Brian shook his head, and looked at Justin. ~~~***~~~***~~~*** Brian lay on his back staring up into the night sky. Justin lay tight beside him. They were in their secret garden. It was the end of January and Justin had insisted on trying out Brian’s Arctic gear. They were bundled up in the down filled sleeping bag. Brian passed the joint he was smoking to Justin who inhaled deeply. The two of them sighed. “You know pretty boy, the best idea you had was having this secret garden built.” He took another hit of the joint. “It is still a secret isn’t it? I’m not going to wake up with any of the gang staring at me am I? Cause if I am I need some stronger shit.” Justin giggled, high on the weed and Brian’s sense of humor. “It’s still a secret.” He giggled again. “I’ve discovered something.” He said. “What’s that pretty boy?” Brian combed his fingers through Justin’s blond hair. “I like to fuck Navy Boys in the snow.” He giggled again. “You’re high, no more smoke for you.” “And not just any Navy Boy, I like fucking you in the snow.” Justin giggled. “In our secret garden.” “Want to know a secret?” Brian whispered to Justin taking the opportunity to nibble on Justin’s ear. “I like screwing pretty blond boys in the snow in our secret garden.” With a deft flip he had Justin once again under him. “Excuse me, hello, hello is anybody in there?” the door in their garden wall rattled. “I lost my Captain Astro plane. I think it sailed over this wall.” “Get the fuck out of here.” Brian growled. “Hey is that you Mr. Kinney, can you see my plane, I can’t get this door open.” “Who the fuck plays with toys in the middle of the fucking night?” Brian grumbled. He looked around. Floating on the surface of the hot tub was a model airplane. “Let me in.” Brian got out of the sleeping bag and stomped over to the hot tub. He fished out the plane and then walked through the snow and pitched it over the high stone wall. “Ouch you hit me.” Whined Michael’s voice. “JUSTIN GET MY GUN” Brian roared. The sound of feet beating a hasty retreat filled the night. Brian climbed back into the sleeping bag. “Brian, your dick is cold and your feet are cold and wet.” Justin said with a shiver. “I know where my dick is going and it’s a nice warm dark place. You’ll just have to put up with my feet.” ~~~***~~~***~~~*** Brian once again looked over at his lover and shook his head. He had wanted a nice quiet weekend on the boat… maybe sail on down south for some warmth, but once again his lover had other ideas. When Brian had started packing up the car, he had noticed Debbie also packing up her car, and Emmett’s. It seemed that the lonely weekend away was turning into a ‘family vacation.’ “Tell me again why they are coming along?” Brian asked as he started to load the boxes and bag on the boat. It seemed to him that when the time came to unload all the cars, everyone else had somewhere else to be. “Brian, I think it would be great. A great opportunity for everyone to get to know one another. You have to admit that since you came back a month or so ago, you haven’t really been friendly to our housemates.” Justin told Brian as he began to unload the food into the refrigerator. “You’ve been downright rude to Michael, and have ignored everyone else.” “Yeah, well… I do have other things on my mind then trying to make friends. Hell, I swear that Debbie thinks I’m some mafia hit man or something and she always needs to tell me how to treat you. Since I’m evidently in her mind NOT treating you right.” Brian walked over to Justin and placed his hand under Justin’s chin so he could look him in the eye. “She’s just making that up right?” He asked suddenly worried that maybe there was some truth to the things Debbie had been telling him. “Brian, she’s partly true. I’m not going to lie to you. I do miss you terribly when you’re away, and I do worry about you, but I don’t know a Navy wife who doesn’t. But I’m okay with it. I do as you ask, and keep myself busy. I know you’ll come home to me.” Justin told Brian still hiding the truth behind his words. It wasn’t a complete lie… just not the whole truth. ”Okay. Just if things change, you’ll tell me right?” “I will, I promise.” “I will always come home to you, Justin. No matter what happens or where I am. I will always come home.” Brian promised his husband. He wanted Justin to know how he felt, what he would do for Justin. Justin smiled then turned back to unpacking the boxes, as Brian went back down the gangplank to get more things from the trunk. He had hoped the others would at least try to help. Brian looked up at his and Justin’s boat, and smiled. This had been a good investment. Justin had loved it at first sight, and Brian knew that, like his little cabin, this would be Justin’s home away from home. Like they needed any more of those, but Brian figured one couldn’t have enough. Finally once everything was on board, and they were underway, Brian could actually pretend that it was just him and Justin. They had pulled out of the pier and made a quick beeline straight down the coast to warmer weather. Not that they could find much in late February, but Brian had hoped. After two hours into the trip, Brian handed the wheel to Justin and went out on the aft deck to look out over the ocean. It was different seeing it from their boat than from the aircraft carriers he had been on. Things were more peaceful here. Glancing up to their hideaway this weekend, Brian saw something moving about in his and Justin’s room. The only thing running through his mind was someone was invading his home, and he felt the anger burst through him. Brian stormed up the gangplank and up the ladder well toward his and Justin’s quarters. He opened the door to see Michael standing there looking through their small movie collection in the sitting room. “Just what the fuck are you doing here? What part of do NOT go upstairs did you not understand!?” Brian yelled. He wanted to kill Mikey. He felt violated and knew that the anger was rising within him. All Brian could see was red. “I was just looking for something. I didn’t know what was up here, so I wanted to check it out.” Michael tried to get out, his voice quivering in fear. “I just…” Brian didn’t hear anything else that Michael could possibly say, as he grabbed him by the shirt and lead him out to the small deck up on the upper level. “Hope you can swim,” Brian stated as he threw the other man overboard. Rushing back into his and Justin’s room, Brian searched for his small handgun. He had enough of Michael getting into his things. Justin saw something come flying past his window and land into the water. He heard the cry from the aft deck, and began to slow the boat down to a stop. Justin rushed out to see what was going on and saw Michael breaching the surface, trying to catch his breath. He didn’t know why Michael was out there, but he knew that they had to get him back in the boat. The water was near freezing and the last thing any of them wanted was to have Michael die of hypothermia. “Brian!” Justin yelled as he glanced up to the upper deck. What he saw brought everything clear into Justin’s mind. “Don’t you dare!” “Stay out of it. He wants to get into our stuff, and break my rules…” Brian began as he started loading his gun. Justin rushed up the ladder to stop his husband. He reached Brian before the man could take aim and fire, reaching over and placing his hand on Brian’s arm. “Don’t, Bri. Please. It wouldn’t’ do any good to kill him. You need to let it go.” “Bullshit, Justin. This isn’t the first time I have found him going through OUR things. I’ve had it.” Brian stated as he began to lift the gun to point it at the person floating in the ocean. “I’ll talk to him, okay. I’ll handle it. Please, Bri. Please.” Justin begged. He was really scared that Brian would actually pull the trigger. Everyone else might think that Brian wouldn’t, Justin wasn’t too sure. He would like to think that his husband wouldn’t, but he knew that if it came to the two of them… Brian would do whatever he needed to do to protect what they had. Brian looked over at Justin, and lowered his gun. “Keep him away from me for the rest of this trip. If he comes near me, talks to me… I will shoot on sight. I’m not kidding Justin. He needs to learn what’s ours and to not interfere.” Justin nodded as he watched Brian head into the bedroom. Letting out the breath he had been holding, Justin immediately went back downstairs to rescue Michael. Once Justin had dragged Michael back onto the deck, showered, and changed clothes he went back down stairs to have a talk with all of them. “That monster threw my son into the ocean. I don’t know what you see in him, Sunshine, but I’m not impressed. I should go up there and give him a piece of my mind.” Debbie complained as she began to make her way toward the stairs. Justin stood in her way, not allowing her past. “Deb, Michael, Em, Marilyn. Brian doesn’t like to have our private lives interfered with. We have enough problems without someone trying to get into what we have. It’s mainly psychological, but there are enough people who would like to see us not together anymore… and the Navy, well they separate us all the time when he goes on missions. So when we’re together, it’s us. He doesn’t like anyone interfering. It’s just something that you have to understand. There are places that we don’t like ‘tainted’ by anyone else.” Justin tried to explain. Emmett sat in one of the chairs in the galley looking up at Justin. “He really wouldn’t have fired that gun at Michael would he? I mean, I don’t understand what he does, but he wouldn’t kill someone… right?” Justin took a deep breath trying to figure out what he should tell these people. He had never really explained what Brian did for a living, mainly that he was in the Navy and went away a lot. Maybe it was time to let them know all of the truth. “Brian’s a Navy SEAL… they are trained to kill, and I believe he has before. So yes… if he feels threatened, or if he feels that what we have, or if I’m in danger, I think he would.” Was all Justin said as he let that get digested by everyone. He needed to check on Brian, the others would just have to wait to get more questions answered. His husband needed him now. ~~~***~~~***~~~ Justin found Brian standing by the rail staring into the ocean, his handgun still in his hands. “You wouldn’t really have shot him would you?” he had to ask. He couldn’t actually picture Brian firing the gun at someone they knew, but he had to ask. “Look out there pretty boy, what do you see?” Brian nodded toward the spot where Michael had been thrown in. Justin looked out on the grey water. “I don’t know, big fish I guess.” He said. There were slim grey bodies circling in the water. Just under the surface. “Sharks, Justin, they’re sharks. I wasn’t thinking when I threw him overboard. I forgot this is shark heaven. Remember jaws, well it was filmed near here. I needed my gun to kill one if it came too close. The rest would be attracted to the blood and give us time to drag Michael’s sorry ass back aboard.” “You should tell them.” Justin’s voice was quiet, he rested his head on Brian’s arm. “They’re scared of you.” “Good, let’s keep it that way.” Brian’s voice was gruff. He was embarrassed at his earlier actions but he’d never let the others know that. He suspected Justin knew though. Justin leaned up and kissed Brian’s cheek. “Why don’t you steer the boat for awhile. I’ll go and check out lunch.” “No, it’s your boat. You guide her. I want you to get used to it. Remember to watch the gauges and follow the course I plotted. We don’t want to run up on some rock, we aren’t that far off the coastline.” “Yes sir, Navy Boy sir.” Justin saluted and then stuck his tongue out earning him a swat on the ass and a quick kiss. He headed for the bridge. Brian watched him retreat and then moved reluctantly down to where the others were congregated. He locked his gun up in its gun cupboard on the way past. Brian could hear animated talking as he headed down the stairs. It stopped abruptly when he reached the salon area. All eyes turned toward him. He figured he’d have to say something to them all or they would continue to give Justin a hard time about him. And there was one thing Brian was confident of, and that was Justin’s loyalty to him. He knew that it would only make his husband unhappy to have his new friends hate the man he was married to. “Michael, I hope you learned something from your little swim in the Atlantic.” Brian began. “Look asshole, what fucking right did you have to throw my son into the water?” Debbie began. She stood directly in front of Brian, her hair bristling and her face flushed with anger. “I had every right to throw his ass in the water. He’s lucky that it was all I did. I believe I explained to all of you when it became apparent that this was going to be a ‘family’ outing. That the top deck was off limits for all of you. It is our private quarters and the word private Mr. Novotny in case you are unaware, means stay the fuck out. Justin and I have little enough that is ours alone and I will not tolerate what we have violated by anyone for any reason.” He sighed and looked at all of their faces. “I know you guys are becoming good friends to Justin. That’s great, good even. He needs to have friends to keep him occupied when I’m on a mission. He worries too much and when he’s worried then I worry. Knowing that you’re there for him helps me. It keeps my mind on my job rather than on Justin and believe me for all concerned, my job requires I stay focused.” “Emmett, I have to thank you for the great parties you’ve put together since I’ve known you. They certainly have interesting themes. I gave your business cards to my team. Their wives might throw some business your way.” “Thanks Brian.” Emmett blushed with the compliment. “I try my very best.” “Debbie, you’ve been like a mother to Justin. He never had a mother to look up to. It’s been good for him. Michael, I have to say is like a big brother. You give Justin someone other than me to worry about.” He turned to Mysterious Marilyn. “I know I don’t have to tell you what a godsend you’ve been to my husband. When he knows you’re around he relaxes. For some reason he feels that you will protect him from the powers that be.” “Mysterious Marilyn will always look out for the innocents.” Marilyn agreed. “You’d better go check on him now. He’s too close to those rocks that are coming up in a mile or so.” Brian grinned at her and said. “Thanks for the heads up.” He turned to go find his navigationally challenged husband. At the last minute he turned back. “The gun was to shoot any sharks. I didn’t want you to be shark bait.” It was Brian’s somewhat lame apology and everyone seemed to realize it. ~~~***~~~***~~~ March 2013 Justin slammed his door shut and then kicked the wall. All the frustration and fear that had been building up for the last couple of days seemed to explode from his body at once. He stormed off in the direction of the road, not sure where he was going or why. Brian had been called out in the middle of the night two days ago and he’d never had a chance to say a real goodbye. He’d been too sleepy to realize that his man was leaving and he’d been pissed with the world ever since. Half way down the long drive he came across Mysterious Marilyn who for some reason was sitting on the lawn under a spreading oak tree. The leaves were beginning to bud out and it was really rather beautiful. Though Justin thought it might still be cold and damp on the ground. He stopped walking and stared at his friend unsure whether to talk to her. Marilyn looked up at him and said. “In the future you will be renowned for your wonderful abstracts. The depth of passion and feelings that will emanate from each and every canvas will be the envy of artists throughout the world. And it will all have come from your heart and soul for that’s what you will be painting. You’ll be painting the times when your husband is called away. You’ll be painting the fear you have and the love. You’ll be painting the anguish that he has to endure and that you are unable to save him from. You’ll be painting all that you are and all that you will be for the sake of the man you love.” Marilyn looked directly at Justin. “Perhaps it’s time you began on these canvases. Your world waits for you. Oh and Justin, this time you’ll only need a small canvas.” Justin stood there looking at Marilyn and then he began to look inward at himself and he realized that since the apartment conversion, he hadn’t touched a paintbrush. “Thanks Marilyn” he whispered before he turned and ran back to the house. It was the beginning of what Justin later would refer to as his creative therapy. He’d rarely worked in the abstract before this. But he found that he could project his feelings completely onto the canvas in color and technique. When Brian asked him once much later in life, why the canvases were numbered MI#1 and so on. Justin would smile and look mysterious. But it was really his numbering system for the missions that Brian was called out on – Mission Impossible # 1. The few occasions that Brian arrived home and went directly to his cabin after raising the flag, Justin named those HS#1 etc. For Home Safe. Generally these works showed the calming effect of the relief at knowing Brian was home safe and sound even if it was in his cabin decompressing. He and Mysterious Marilyn had agreed from the beginning that she would only tell him how many or how large the canvases should be. She would never tell him details of Brian’s missions for fear that one day something would be too bad to tell him and then Justin would know and it would be agony waiting for the news and it could jeopardize Brian’s life if he somehow knew about what he was going to face. Some thing too that he would do in each and every painting, was sign these and only these with go deo mo tearmann written in the fairie script of his wedding band. Future art critics and analysts would ponder this signature. Eventually someone translated it. But Justin never answered any questions regarding the words. They were between him and his husband and always would be. But that was later, much later. It was well after 2016 before Justin began to show these paintings that were so much a part of him. It required a time of hardening that only a few years could do. It required great sorrow and great sacrifice on his part. Justin felt at home among the great artists of the world by the spring of 2017 when he had his first show. Because he knew then what they had to have lived to produce the art that they did. He felt he’d earned the right to stand beside each and every one of them by then. Though it was a thought he kept to himself like all of the other secrets that were necessary for him to keep so that Brian could be the man he was meant to be. ~~~***~~~***~~~ March 2013 Brian arrived home from his latest callout after being away four days. He was tired and cranky but looking forward to seeing Justin. This callout, while it wasn’t a walk in the park, wasn’t bad. He actually felt rather good about the rescue he and his team had facilitated in and he wanted to hold his blond boy close. It was all the ‘down time’ he’d need. He’d hated leaving Justin in the middle of the night and he suspected he’d have to pay the price for that despite how good Justin was about the callouts. “Brian” Justin threw himself into Brian’s arms. He pulled Brian’s head down for a long and passion filled kiss. “You shit sneaking away like that, but I forgive you.” “I found your fudge tucked away in my pack again. I think the guys are beginning to expect it.” Brian said when he was allowed to breathe. Justin couldn’t help but laugh, Brian had a super sweet tooth. It was something he hid well. When he had discovered the man’s passion for his fudge he began making it in various flavors and putting packages in his kit with enough to share. He tried to hide it different spots each time just for fun. “Cool, you guys deserve a treat.” Justin kissed him again. “You seem in a good mood for a man who was abandoned in the middle of the night.” Brian began to unbutton Justin’s shirt, while at the same time Justin unbuttoned his shirt. “That’s because I am. I have my man home for a little while. I have friends for when he’s gone and I’m painting again.” “I’m glad you’re painting again pretty boy, I’ve missed the smell of turpentine and oil in your hair.” Brian nuzzled Justin’s neck before picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder. “Now enough of this small talk, we have some serious reunion sex to get to.” ~~~***~~~***~~~ “Oh my gawd, oh my gawd, Justin you’ll never guess.” Emmett gushed. He’d seen Justin out in the garden. “Your friend Komari just called. She wants me to cater a party for her in May, a spring garden party.” “Oh Emmett, your first big break. Is there anything I can do to help?” “I was going to ask you this first. You can say no, but could I ask Vic Grassi, you know Debbie’s brother if he would come and help? He really should move in with Deb, but he doesn’t want to feel like he’s a burden. This way he could be earning a few dollars.” “Of course you can. Let’s talk to Debbie, I saw her come home a few minutes ago.” Justin linked his arms with Emmett and the two of them headed up to Debbie’s. Brian watched from where he was sitting under an apple tree reading. The Admiral had asked his opinion of Emmett; he didn’t want to take a chance on anything going wrong with the first large event his wife hosted on this base. Brian, who had sampled the flamboyant man’s creations on more than one occasion, gave him a good recommendation. He hadn’t said anything to Justin in case it didn’t go through. He loved to see the smile on Justin’s face when he was given the good news. Watching the two of them, Emmett and Justin, was a great reward. ~~~***~~~***~~~ April 2013 Brian sat at his small desk in HQ and looked over the papers in his hand. He had been informed that on the day of the Family day, he would officially be off of probation, with the ‘pinning ceremony’ the next day. He knew that he wanted that to be a surprise to Justin… it was what they had both been waiting for. Brian was officially becoming a SEAL. All the hard months for the both of them had finally paid off. Then of course there was the scuttlebutt about the Commander being transferred to California and SEAL Team One. Brian wasn’t sure what he would do, where he would be placed, but people were telling him that he would get his own Unit Command. Until it was official Brian wasn’t going to tell anyone about that little bit of news for fear that it would jinx it. He knew he could most likely ask Marilyn about it, but the drag queen scared him a little. Before him however, were orders to temporarily transfer to Rota, Spain for six months. He knew that there would be no way in hell he would leave Justin for that long, and he would have to tell his lover about it. He had talked to the Admiral and was informed that since the orders were for 6 months and could go as long as a year, Justin would be allowed to travel with him. Somehow that made Brian’s job a lot easier. The only problem he could see however was what Justin would do without his support system if and when Brian was called out. It was something he would have to talk to Justin about in depth. Picking up the phone he dialed Justin’s cell, wanting to share the news with his lover right away. “Hello, Navy Boy. Are you allowed to make these calls in the middle of the day?” Justin joked on the other end of the line. ”Only if you’re a good boy.” Brian replied. “I am calling for one reason only, really… and it’s not that unfortunately.” Brian tried not to laugh when he heard his husband’s sad sigh. “I hope it will be better news, actually.” “Out with it. What is better than phone sex?” Justin asked. Brian sounded pleased about something, and it brought a smile to Justin’s face. Anything that could get his lover to laugh and joke in the middle of the day was fine by him. He didn’t care what it was. “How about orders to Spain for 6 months to a year?” Brian asked suddenly worried about Justin’s reaction. “Spain? As in Europe Spain? As in… real close to Italy, Spain?” “Yes, that Spain. I have the orders in hand, we would officially leave on May 22, but I figure I’ll head over there a week sooner to get us settled in housing. Sooo? What do you think? Are you going?” “You better believe it, Navy Boy. I had always wanted to go to Europe. You have just made me one happy gay boi, and I love you a thousand times more every day.” ~~~***~~~***~~~ Brian led Justin and the whole damn gang up to the front door of SEAL Team 6’s temporary home. Since they were the one unit who went all around the world, they had no real ‘homebase’, but lucky for Brian, his unit was out of the Norfolk area… at least for now. He had heard talk in recent weeks about switching the units around. That would mean that he would have to pack up the house with Justin and move to wherever they sent him. Brian had tried not to laugh when the topic of base family day had been brought up. Admiral Smith was not too pleased with having his men show where they worked. He had tried to argue that it was a matter of national security that their headquarters not be a part of it. He had not disagreed with the idea of a family day, it was the location. So they had decided to have the SEAL’s day out on the training ground. All four SEAL teams had set up a small section of their training center with picnic tables and barbeque pits. Admiral Smith thought it would a good idea to have a ‘day in the life’ of the SEALs, let the kids and family members go through the obstacle course, and the ‘cityscape’. Brian was trying to picture any one of his ‘family’ going through those. As it was, the teams had spent the past week trying to get everything ‘kid friendly’ as it were. “So what was the Admiral saying about today?” Justin asked as he walked beside Brian toward the field. “I know Komari said something about fun and games. I didn’t think that was what family day was all about.” Brian walked beside Justin not wanting his lover to leave his sight. “Well since with the classified stuff we do, we had to come up with other things. We couldn’t let you guys into our headquarters without a quote security breach unquote, so this was the next best thing. Look, it was either this or cancel the whole thing.” Brian said with a shrug. “And I know one certain blond and his little friend who wouldn’t let that happen.” Justin rolled his lips into his mouth, not wanting Brian to know just how much influence him and Komari had over this whole thing. He knew that Smitty had been all ready to cancel it for the families of the SEALs, but Justin had gotten together with Komari and some other spouses to lay down the law. Justin was going to find out, even if it was a little, what Brian did every day. No matter what. He also felt that he needed to show Brian that he supported him, and the only way to do that is to see what he did day in and day out. That’s why Justin had pushed so hard to have this day. The families needed this day, and so did the SEAL team members. Brian led Justin over to the area where his team was, and began introductions. His unit within the team were intermingled with the other members of the team. He could also see some of the teams start to intermingle as well. To them, units and teams didn’t matter, they were all SEALs and a family. Spotting his two friends from training, he pulled on Justin’s arm lightly and led them over. “South, Peters. Don’t tell me you actually have families?” Brian asked with a raised eyebrow. Chief South shook his head, and laughed. “One of the happily married, sir. Unlike this loser here.” “Hey, I’m happy. Wouldn’t want to let the ladies go to waste, sir. You shouldn’t let the world go without, is my thinking.” Peters joked. “Hi, I didn’t realize you guys were part of the same team Brian was.” Justin stated. He had known the two men were going to be stationed here, but he hadn’t realized they were the same team. Justin felt a little better knowing who was going to be watching Brian’s back out on missions. ”Same team, not exactly same unit,” Brian explained. “Maybe one day same unit, but for now…” Brian told Justin. “Oh… by the way. I don’t know if you gentlemen realize this, but as of today, our probation is over.” Brian turned to Justin, with a smile on his lips, finally letting his husband in on the good news. “We are now officially SEALs.” Justin turned to Brian and quickly planted a light kiss on his husband’s lips. “You didn’t tell me! I’m so proud of you, Brian. I knew you could do it.” “Yeah, and from what the latest scuttlebutt is telling me, you are going to be getting your own unit command soon.” Chief South added. ”Nothing’s been confirmed yet, Chief. The Admiral hasn’t gotten back to me on that. He said it could happen, especially since Commander Kline is transferring over to Team One.” Brian told them, mainly so that his lover would understand the reason why he hadn’t mentioned anything before now. “I want to be sure before I say anything, so keep it quiet.” He told his friends. “Yes, sir. But you know that you have two men here who wouldn’t mind being on your team.” Peters offered. Brian nodded and led Justin off to the rest of the family. “You know why I didn’t tell you, don’t you? The official designator and the promotion.” The last thing Brian wanted was Justin upset with him. Things had been a little strained with all the changes in their lives lately. Justin stopped and faced Brian, placing his hand on Brian’s arm. “The official notice of being a Full-Fledge SEAL? I understand. And the promotion, well we’re not sure if it’s true or not. But you will tell me when it happens, right?” “I promise. You’ll be the second to know.” Brian glanced over at the others in their group. “Do you think we can get Michael into the obstacle course and lose him?” “Don’t be mean. You need to be nicer to them, Brian. If you work at it, I’m sure you could all get along great.” “Oh I don’t have too much of a problem with the others, but Michael has this knack for getting into places he isn’t allowed. Plus have you seen the looks he gives me. It fucking creeps me out.” “As long as he doesn’t touch, I don’t care. You’re hot, sexy, and have this aura about you. Men and women fall at your feet. It’s only natural that he likes what he sees.” Justin explained. Justin too had seen some of the looks and had wanted to smack them off of the other man’s face. But hearing that Brian wasn’t the least bit interested brought a smile to Justin’s face. He could deal with the looks, but the moment Michael tried to take it farther, all bets were off. ~~~***~~~***~~~ Brian stood at attention next to Chief South and Petty Officer Peters waiting for the Captain and Admiral to appear. They had been told to arrive at 0430 and wait in the conference room at attention, in dress uniform. That was four hours ago. Brian was beginning to wonder if anyone would even show up. The door opened promptly at 0830 and the entire SEAL Team 6 who were stationed stateside was there, along with the Admiral, Captain, and about 20 other SEALs from the other teams. Brian knew that this was not going to be fun. The actual placing of the trident on their lapel was simple, but the ceremony wasn’t over yet. Although hazing was banned years ago, everyone knew that what happened behind closed doors was their own business. The real ceremony wouldn’t begin until the brass left. After the Admiral placed the trident on the three, and the Captain gave them their letter of designation, they left the room. “Alright boys, let’s make sure that they stick.” One of the SEALs stated. Each man in the room walked up to the three and ‘tacked on’ the pin, making sure that the tridents wouldn’t be removed. With each hit on Brian’s chest he could feel the pins dig into his flesh, letting him know that the frogs had been forgotten. He could feel the blood fall down his left nipple, covering the left side of his chest in blood. He would most definitely have to change his uniform and shower before going to see Justin that night. Brian knew however, that this was an honor, tradition. Every SEAL went through it, and having those before you ‘tack on’ the trident was a huge honor. It meant you had made it, you were one of them. Brian didn’t move an inch throughout the ceremony. He was now a SEAL He had beaten the odds, and he had made it. When everyone told him he wouldn’t, he had proof. He could walk around with his head held high. He was someone. He was a man, a U.S. Navy SEAL. ‘Take that, Jack and Joannie. Your boy is a man.’ Brian thought as he took each punch, each slap onto his chest. ~~~***~~~***~~~ The Evening after ‘Family Day’ 2013 Brian sat back in the chair that had been placed in the position of ‘honor’ out under the apple trees. Emmett was tending to something on the grill dressed in a fuchsia jumpsuit that was almost see through. Brian thanked his lucky stars the ‘queen’ had chosen not wear that particular outfit the day before. Michael sat cross-legged on the grass away from the grill and talked quietly to Daphne. Lindsay and Mysterious Marilyn were engrossed in a conversation and it looked suspiciously like good old Marilyn was reading Lindsay’s palm. Debbie was walking across the lawn from the house with her brother. He was carrying a cake and she was carrying a plastic bowl of some kind of salad. Everyone looked happy and content, especially Justin, who was sitting off to one side. Not too far from Brian, busily sketching the scenes before him, a contented smile on his face. Brian resisted the urge to go over and kiss him. He loved watching Justin sketch when he would lose himself in his muse. His tongue was barely sticking out between his lips as he concentrated. It would be something for him to write about in his journal. He was officially a SEAL and he officially was having a ‘family’ celebration that was thrown just for him; complete with a cake with his name on it. He’d never had that before, his very own cake with his name on it. He’d envied the other kids in the neighborhood whose mother’s would bake them birthday cakes and carefully print their names in pink or blue frosting on the top of the cake. He’d given up ever expecting one of his own well before he was ten and now at close to thirty, his childhood dream was coming true. Looking at Emmett again Brian remembered the day before when the man had insisted that he could make his way through the obstacle course faster than Michael. And he almost laughed out loud remembering that Michael had taken up the challenge. The end result was three of the ten year old girls had to come and get their dads to rescue the two lame ducks. They had gotten stuck in the ‘mud’ course. It had taken four of the guys to pull the two men free with Debbie having a hissy on the side not wanting Michael to be damaged. He should have left him there, but someone with big blue reproachful eyes had inspired him to see that Michael was rescued. Justin had had fun painting the faces of the children and even some of the wives. Mysterious Marilyn was the one who had made out like a bandit. Brian was sure he’d see a steady stream of familiar faces visiting the psychic. He hoped they paid well. He suspected that Justin was supplementing her rent. It wasn’t firm knowledge, but he had his suspicions. Unconsciously Brian rubbed his chest where he’d been ‘pinned’ with his SEAL pin. It still stung. Remembering Justin’s indignant outcry when he’d seen the small wound brought a smile to his face. His little blond was like a pit bull when it came to defending his mate. ~~~***~~~***~~~ May 2013 “Are you sure we can go here honey?” Emmett looked around the commissary full of Army men and their wives. To Emmett they looked larger than life and twice as intimidating as Rambo. The taller man was all but hiding behind Justin as they moved their basket through the aisles. “Emmett, get a grip, yes we can go here. It’s a lot better than the Navy one and I wanted to get some stuff for the house.” “But you won’t even be here sweetie. You don’t need anything.” Emmett’s eyes were darting back and forth. “Yes we do. I don’t want Harry to worry about buying stuff.” Justin sighed. “He damn near rebuilt the Baja house and I have no idea how I’m going to pay him for that. He refuses to take any money.” “Well if it isn’t the famous artist. What are you doing here?” Both Emmett and Justin turned at the sound of the voice. “Fuck off Ethan.” Justin hissed under his breath. Emmett eyed the short dark haired man with distain. “Honey, khaki really isn’t a good look on you.” he said. He could tell this guy wasn’t a friend of Justin’s. Ethan, ignoring Emmett, grabbed Justin’s hand looking at the carved wedding ring and seeing the bracelet on his wrist. “So the rumors are true. You did get married.” His fingers touched the bracelet and Justin jerked his hand away as if it had been burned. “Keep your fucking hands off that.” “Where did you get it? It looks interesting, I might pick one up for my new boyfriend.” “There are only two in the world and both of them are taken.” “Don’t be like that Justin, you know you miss me. Tell me where you got it.” Ethan put his hand on Justin’s arm. “Honey child,” Emmett said stepping in between the two men. “I don’t know who you are or why you are sucking around us. But if I was you, I’d get you all’s ass out of here now.” “Or what, you’re going to cry?” Ethan sneered. “OH MY GAWD, OH MY GAWD, THIS MAN PUT HIS HAND ON MY PENIS” Emmett screeched at the top of his voice. “PLEASE, PLEASE SOMEONE SAVE ME HE SMELLS FUNNY.” The large store was suddenly silent. Even the music stopped playing while all eyes turned to Emmett who was now in a flood of tears. Ethan stood frozen in spot and Justin had stepped a few feet back so it was just Ethan and Emmett who everyone was watching. Two MP’s appeared from nowhere and grabbed Ethan’s arms. They began to remove him from the store while Justin pretended to comfort Emmett while barely controlling his laughter. When Ethan and the MP’s had disappeared through the doors and the sounds of the store activity had resumed, Emmett stood up tall and said. “Now baby, should we buy the blue towels or the yellow ones for the common room bathroom?” ~~~***~~~***~~~ End of Chapter Eleven