Seeing Gabe and Jeannot emerging from within the closet with the cot, Watson took hold of the center section. "Do you mind if I assist you?" He asked, all calm British cordiality.
"Sometimes," Gabe said calmly, his voice not betraying the seeds of panick that were beginning to sprout, and took back Jeannot's hand. "I wonder if you really know who you're talking to." He lifted his love's hand to his mouth. "I don't mind," he whispered, kissing it once. "So long as I don't become one of those strangers." With that he took a step forward and embraced Jeannot, hoping he wouldn't pull away. He bowed his head, waiting for a reaction, a rejection, anything. He knew he'd been used before, just as he'd used others. Hell, even Caleb had used him, after Derek died, just to try to forget. But to have come so far, to love someone this much, only to have been a just another stranger in his bed?
He didn't know what he'd do, and as hard as he tried not to think about it, he couldn't stop.
Gabe closed his eyes, relieved, when Jeannot relaxed in his embrace. He opened them again as Jeannot pulled back slightly and was glad to see his love's blue eyes looking into his. "If there's a better man than you, bel," Gabe replied. "I've never met him." He leaned in and kissed Jeannot softly, barely lingering for a second. "Besides," he said, smiling. "I can deal with a little pain, so long as I don't have to deal with it alone."
"Je t'aime, aussi?" Gabe said, hesitantly, and then laughed at himself, softly. "That was wrong, wasn't it?" he asked. "Oh well. I love you, and it's the thought that counts." He realized he was probably babbling and quieted himself, contented just to look at Jeannot for a moment, though his concern at the weariness on his face soon had him speaking again. "Would you like to lie down, bel? Like I said, I can get sheets and blankets and things if you want them."
"Probably in the closet," Gabe replied, glad to see Jeannot smiling, even if he suspected it was faked. "Everything else in the world seems to be there." He leaned in and kissed Jeannot's forehead softly. "I can run down there alone," he said. "I'm at least a little dressed." He paused. "If you don't mind being alone for a minute or two?"
"Of course, bel," Gabe answered, reaching out to caress Jeannot's cheek and giving him a genuine smile he hoped was as comforting as he meant it to be. "I'll be right back," he said, and gave his love a soft kiss before pulling away. "I'll only be a moment." With that he turned and left, not bothering to put on his shirt and only just barely remembering to button up the front of his pants. He gave Jeannot a smile over his shoulder as he opened the door and shut it softly behind him before starting down the stairs.
About halfway down the stairs Gabe paused, looking over his shoulder at the door behind which lay the room where he'd be living for however long they were to be wherever the hell they were. He wondered if he should've left Jeannot there, naked and vulnerable, when it was so clear he wanted Gabe to stay, even though he wouldn't say so. They would have to make the bed eventually, though, and perhaps it had been best of him to tear himself away now, and either way he was already half way to the closet, so he continued down the stairs, going a little faster than before.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Gabe was reached by the sounds of an argument. It was one connected in soft, almost affectionate voices, though.
"If you hadn't wanted me to come, you had only to say so," Watson said.
"Of course I wanted you here - and not for any selfish reason - for your well being -"
"Don't bother with the charade. You don't want me to help, I don't want to help, I fail to see why we are arguing." There was a short, painful silence, and then Watson's voice hissed furiously, "Don't touch me!. . .No, I mean that!"
Gabe was greeted with the sight of a hopeless looking Holmes, his hand just tracing Watson's jawline, frantically suspended in motion, looking caught in the act.
((No, Sigerson wins! [And all signs point to me still having a Sigerson at my beck and call, and that brings joy to my cold and dead heart.]))
Gabe stopped in his dead tracks and considered, for a moment, just turning around and going back up the stairs. It wasn't that he was surprised at what he saw. It was more that he was surprised Holmes had lost it so soon. He'd figured that the Great Detective would have had more willpower. He shook his head, not sure if he disapproved or was proud of Holmes for getting over his Victorianism. "You know what?" he said, finally. "You two go back to whatever you were doing. I need to get bedsheets and then I'll be right out." He shook his head again and started towards the closet.
Comments
He didn't know what he'd do, and as hard as he tried not to think about it, he couldn't stop.
((Siiiigerson? Where are your boys?))
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, Gabe was reached by the sounds of an argument. It was one connected in soft, almost affectionate voices, though.
"If you hadn't wanted me to come, you had only to say so," Watson said.
"Of course I wanted you here - and not for any selfish reason - for your well being -"
"Don't bother with the charade. You don't want me to help, I don't want to help, I fail to see why we are arguing." There was a short, painful silence, and then Watson's voice hissed furiously, "Don't touch me!. . .No, I mean that!"
Gabe was greeted with the sight of a hopeless looking Holmes, his hand just tracing Watson's jawline, frantically suspended in motion, looking caught in the act.
Gabe stopped in his dead tracks and considered, for a moment, just turning around and going back up the stairs. It wasn't that he was surprised at what he saw. It was more that he was surprised Holmes had lost it so soon. He'd figured that the Great Detective would have had more willpower. He shook his head, not sure if he disapproved or was proud of Holmes for getting over his Victorianism. "You know what?" he said, finally. "You two go back to whatever you were doing. I need to get bedsheets and then I'll be right out." He shook his head again and started towards the closet.