Andrea, Morgan, and any others you don't recognize are mine.
Rated R : Strong and descriptive but not explicit sexual content, including m/m contact; language; violence.
This story includes slash, which involves sexual situations between two men. If you're uncomfortable with the idea, don't read this.
Author's notes for chapter 1: For those who read the preview of this on my website, there is a significant change in the second Jen/Alex scene. Also the fic has been edited to remove a couple of song lyrics in the last scene. Anyone wishing to see the original (and better) version of that little sequence can find it on my website.
An NC-17 version of the Wes/Eric scenes is available, email me or see my website.
I'd like to thank Rach and Shirley for feedback on this chapter, and on other scenes in this story. And remember, reviews are always welcome!
He was instantly recognizable as the headlights picked him out of the shadows, leaning against the hood of his old car, watching as Wes pulled into the restaurant parking lot. His body seemed to tighten slightly with a heightened alertness, a subtle tension, adding an undercurrent of coiled power to graceful and deceptively relaxed lines. Only his head really moved, turning as Wes parked, turned off the ignition, and opened his door. Then he pushed away from his car, and they met halfway.
Wes just smiled for a moment, enjoying the sight of dark, Asian eyes staring back, a slight smile returned for his, the square, hard face that had become such an important part of his life softened now by the dim lighting. Finally, he was the first to speak.
"Welcome back, Eric."
"Good to see you, too."
"Hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Nah. You're right on time."
"Well... let's go in. You must be hungry."
"Yeah, I'm hungry." Those eyes raked over him from head to toe, almost like a physical caress.
"Me, too..." He stepped forward, his hand coming up, reaching to pull Eric close -- but the other man stepped back, fingers closing around Wes's wrist, keeping him away.
"Not here. Never know who's watching."
"I guess you're right. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry." Eric's hand touched his arm for just a moment, the gesture seemingly casual to any observer, but carrying both reassurance and warmth.
They found a booth not far from the door, with no one else nearby. The waitress took up a few minutes, giving them menus and a smile, asking what they wanted to drink. As she walked away Wes leaned forward, planting his elbows on the stained tabletop.
"How was your trip?"
Eric shrugged. "Long. Boring."
"Did you learn much?"
"Making sure Bio-Lab got its money's worth?" Eric had been gone on a trip to the East Coast, taking a comprehensive course in criminal psychology, part of the regular training both he and Wes were expected to take as commanders of the Silver Guardians.
"Just asking. You're so paranoid." Wes returned Eric's quick smile.
"Yeah, paranoid's my middle name."
"You know something? I don't even know what your middle name is."
"Don't have one. My folks were too cheap to give me one."
"You're a funny guy."
"I try." There was a pause as the waitress returned with their drinks. "How's everything been at work? Managed to live without me for three weeks?" His brows lifted with a more personal meaning.
"Just barely," Wes said with a smile. "I've kept you up to date." They had spoken on the phone almost every night. About business, mostly, you never knew who might be listening, too, according to Eric. Paranoid wasn't too far from the truth about him. On the other hand, he had spent his life hiding what he was. Something Wes was just starting to find out about. "Nothing much else new," he went on.
"How's your father?"
"He's fine." Wes's father was Alan Collins, the owner and CEO of Bio-Lab, and the man who signed both their paychecks. "Said he wants to see you when you get in tomorrow. Nothing urgent, just wants to know how it went."
"How are you?" Eric asked, his eyes running over Wes again, this time with less heat and more concern. "I hated to take off and leave you more work when you're still recovering."
"I'm great. Been working out again for two weeks now. Didn't realize how out of shape I'd gotten."
"You look okay to me." Just a spark in Eric's eyes this time.
"Thanks. Anyway, I'm completely recovered. Ready for anything." He grinned, raising his own eyebrows.
Eric only grinned back, as the waitress stopped at their table to take their order. It had been two months now since Wes had been so badly injured in a fight with a gang of thieves in a Bio-Lab warehouse. He had almost died. But all the pain, the fear, the time in the hospital, even the hours they had both spent locked inside a room in danger of their lives, had been worth it. Without that ordeal he might never have realized the truth about himself and his feelings for Eric, at least not in time. Without it, they might not be sitting here together now.
Eric's voice dropped as the waitress moved away. "How late can you stay?" he asked softly.
"I told Dad we'd probably hang out for a while. And we might have a couple of beers or whatever. And I might just crash at your place."
Another spark as Eric's eyes met his. "All night?"
"If you don't mind."
"No." A slow smile. "I don't mind at all."
The mec-waiter set her plate down before her and then served Alex. He ignored it, but she murmured, "Thank you," before it glided noiselessly away.
"You always thank them," he said, a faint smile tugging the corner of his mouth up. "They're only machines."
"Manners never hurt. And who knows, maybe they have some kind of feelings." The golden image of Frax glinted briefly in her mind. But no, Frax had been human, not really a robot. She was being silly.
Alex smiled again before picking up his fork and beginning to eat. Jen started in also, letting her gaze and her attention wander to the window of the restaurant he had brought her to. A magnificent view, from one of the tallest buildings in Silver City, overlooking the densest part of downtown; with the buildings of Time Force visible among the hills in the distance. Quickly she blinked away the memory of another view, Silver Hills in the twilight, from the clock tower...
"Jen?"
He was looking at her, his eyes bright and watchful, with that hint of -- of something in their depths, as if he was waiting... the look she had grown used to getting from him. Waiting, expectant, wanting something she wasn't sure how to give. "Yes?" she asked.
"Just wondering what you were thinking about. You seemed a million miles away."
She smiled. "Not quite that far. So -- I didn't see you all day. Anything interesting happen?"
"I was consulting with the morpher development team most of the day."
"The new morphers. How are they coming?" She looked at him with real interest. The team of Rangers she was a part of had proved to be so successful that Time Force was preparing a second set of morphers, to be used by a new team.
"They're ready now, all the functions are operational." He picked up his water glass, staring into it thoughtfully. "You know they'll be more powerful than our morphers. Just like..."
"Just like Eric's was."
His eyes flashed to hers and away. "Yes. They're the next generation of morphers. We're already obsolete."
"Not us. Just our morphers." She smiled.
The new morphers were of the same design as the Quantum morpher Eric Myers had stolen from them when she, Trip, Katie, and Lucas had spent their year trapped in the past. When they had returned, the two red morphers had stayed in 2001 with Wes and Eric, while Alex had been given a replacement black morpher, and an entire new set of Quantum morphers had now been built. Eric's had been intended to be only the first; they had been starting development of the rest of the colors when Ransik's escape had disrupted things. Now Quantum red had been replaced by white, and all five were almost ready for use.
"What about the security system?" Jen continued.
"That's what's holding them up. All the Quantum morphers are using the same voice lock system as the red one. After the way Eric got control of his so easily, the team decided it's not the best method. They're trying to decide on something else."
"Why not a DNA lock, like ours?"
"Too difficult to break. If a Ranger dies, someone else might need to use it quickly." His face hardened slightly.
They had realized that possibility the hard way too, when Alex had almost died in action and Jen and her team had had to find someone else to use his morpher. He had been revived, thanks to modern medical science, and they had found Wes by pure luck; but if Trip hadn't been able to tinker with the red morpher's controls and make it accept Wes's similar DNA, they might not have succeeded against Ransik. Almost certainly wouldn't have. And not every team would have a genius like Trip available.
"True. Well, they'll come up with something."
"I'm sure they will."
"When do you think they'll decide on a team?"
"A few weeks maybe. Probably before the security system is finalized."
She picked at her food again for a moment, sure he was thinking the same thing she was. "Think Andrea will be on it?" she asked finally.
There was a faint shrug from Alex, his face tightening slightly. "Don't know."
"What she did happened years ago, and she's been a great officer ever since." She watched his face for any further sign of emotion, and found none.
Another shrug. "I'm glad it's not my decision." Then the intent look was back as he leaned forward a little. "You're coming back to my place after dinner, aren't you?"
"Well, sure." She saw his eyelids drop quickly, hiding something, but forgot it a moment later as he smiled and changed the subject.
Wes followed Eric's car, taking care not to get too far behind. Not that he needed guidance; he knew the way by heart, although he'd only been there a few times. Just a few quick visits before everything had changed between them. And after... only four times in the two weeks before Eric's trip, only four too-brief times, so that his father wouldn't become suspicious. Four times in Eric's small bedroom, in his bed, with Wes still healing from his injuries and unable to do much that didn't involve lying flat on his back... but it had been the best hours of his life. So far.
Despite the length of time they had been friends, it was early in their romantic relationship. It had been difficult being separated for three weeks, at a time when they still couldn't keep their hands off each other. But now -- eagerness, impatience, nervous anticipation, all of it intensifying, the closer they got...
Eric's car slowed and pulled over, stopping in front of a small house set back in the trees in a respectable but less desirable area of Silver Hills. Wes parked behind him as Eric got out and locked his car, and stood waiting at the foot of the walkway leading to his door.
They walked together in silence through the shadows cast by a full moon overhead, up the steps to the porch, Wes standing back as Eric unlocked the door, then following him through. There was a rattle of keys as Eric closed and locked the door and then turned around, his eyes glittering momentarily in the light from a streetlamp shining through the front windows. They stared at each other in the semi-darkness. Wes took a step closer.
And then he was suddenly moving forward, hearing a grunt of surprise as he pushed Eric against the door, pressing their bodies together; they fit so well, face to face, chest to chest, hip to hip, thigh to thigh; seeking every inch of contact he could. A flush of desire flooded him; the solidity of Eric's body, the way his breathing suddenly caught and deepened, the smell of his skin as Wes leaned his head to kiss him gently on the side of the neck, and then not so gently, sucking and biting just hard enough to provoke a low moan.
His hands found Eric's as they came up, pushing them back, pinning him to the door. Wes lifted his head, their lips brushing together, then moving apart, eyes locking for a moment, seeing an answering passion even as he began to feel the hard pressure of both their bodies reacting and pressed against it... They kissed, softly at first, then almost violently, teeth bumping, his tongue plunging in, Eric's sliding over it and then thrusting back.
He leaned back a little and let go, fumbling with Eric's shirt for a moment before giving it up and starting to work on his belt buckle. It took entirely too long to get it undone... and then to unzip him... Wes slid down to his knees, tugging at jeans and underwear.
"Bedroom..." Eric's voice said hoarsely above him.
"Can't wait..."
She could tell something was on his mind. She always knew. They might no longer be engaged, but the connection that had brought them together in the first place still existed, and she would be the first to admit it. Alex had never been able to hide his deepest feelings from her.
"Sit down. Relax." Alex's voice. She turned and smiled at him, taking a seat on the sofa as he crossed the living room of his apartment in one of the Time Force housing complexes, two glasses in hand. He put them down and sat next to her.
"Champagne. What's the occasion?" she asked.
"Well, that kind of depends on you."
"What do you mean?"
"Jen..." He turned to look into her eyes, the seriousness of his expression setting off vague alarms at the back of her mind. "It's been over a year now."
She blinked, trying not to show a reaction. Over a year, yes. Since she had returned from 2001, after Ransik had been captured. Over a year since she had said goodbye to Wes. And since she had given Alex his ring back. There had been anger back then, a time when he wouldn't even look at her, something that had hurt more than she cared to admit. But they had become friendly again, at first, and then more than friendly.
"I know," she said carefully. "Why are you bringing it up?"
"We've been dating again for six months now. It's gone well, hasn't it?"
Jen shrugged slightly, puzzled. "Sure, it's gone well. I wouldn't be sitting here otherwise." She smiled, trying to lighten his mood.
He failed to react, taking a deep breath and peering at her intently. "I love you, Jen."
"Alex..." She felt her brows contract, and hesitated uncertainly before going on. "You know I love you too. What's this all about?"
"Jen, I want..." He stopped talking, face turning away for a moment as he put a hand into his pocket, pulling out a small box. She knew instantly what would be in it, even before he opened it, revealing a simple, tasteful gold ring holding a single diamond, sparkling brilliantly as it caught the light. Not the same ring as before, but similar. "Will you marry me?" he continued abruptly.
"Alex..." She stared at the ring, reaching out a hesitant hand to touch the box as a complex of thoughts rapidly chased themselves through her mind. While she had begun to expect them to get engaged again, and to marry, and to be happy together, somehow it seemed so soon. But it wasn't, not really... what was she waiting for, anyway? She loved Alex, of course she wanted to marry him. "Yes, yes, I'll marry you," she said, raising her eyes to his, seeing them widen slightly, and fill with happiness and -- what she suspected was relief.
If he had noticed her hesitation, he gave no sign. His arms went around her, his lips met hers for a long kiss, then he just hugged her, pressing his face into her hair, his breath warm on her skin, starting to brush his lips over her neck as his hands moved to caress her back. Jen held him tightly. Her glance fell on the ring, the bright glimmer as it caught the light. A glimmer of promise, the brightness of their future together...
There was only a moment, when Alex raised his head, smiling at her as he let go and reached for their drinks, when she saw another face, almost identical to his, the hair dark blond instead of Alex's black, eyes blue with a hint of green, eyes that shone with humor, with life, with love. A face that still haunted her dreams and fantasies. She had loved him once. But she would never see him again. Her life had to go on. Tonight she was taking a big step in that direction. She did love Alex, and they had so much in common; he would make her happy, she would make him happy, it was all for the best. Wasn't it?
"Wes, what the hell are you doing?"
"Singing. To you. Can't you tell?"
"No, I can't. You call that singing?"
"Yeah. Been practising in the shower for years."
"I see I need to give you something better to do with your mouth."
Wes waved airily. "Been there, done that."
Eric laughed. They were in bed, as he had said, and naked, only a sheet pulled over them, the heat between their bodies providing plenty of warmth. Wes rolled on his side, and trailed light fingers over Eric's smooth, broad chest, and down over his stomach, just low enough to tease. "Our first whole night together," he said.
"Yeah. Nice."
"What time do you have to get up?"
"About eight, I guess. You?"
"I'll have to go home first to change clothes..." Wes frowned. "I hate this."
"What?"
"Sneaking around like this. Never touching each other in public. Lying to Dad. Pretending all the time."
"It's just a fact of life for us, Wes. Neither of us is in a position to come out."
"I'll have to tell Dad, sooner or later. Don't want him finding out from someone else."
Eric sighed. "Great. And he'll also find out I'm the guy his kid's jumping in bed with. He'll never look at me the same again."
Wes frowned. "He's not like that. He wouldn't treat you any differently."
"Maybe. But no matter how liberal or open-minded he is, it's different when it's family. When it's your son." Eric shifted a little to look in his face. "I like your father. Don't want him to -- to think bad about me."
"Shit. I guess I'm a real complication in your life."
"Yeah." Eric looked at him solemnly for a moment, before he smiled and raised a hand to stroke Wes's cheek lightly. "But I can live with that kind of complication."
Wes smiled back. "Attitudes are changing, you know. Even if people found out, maybe it wouldn't be so bad."
"Are you kidding?" There was a trace of disgust in Eric's expression now. "Just take the Guardians. A pretty macho bunch of guys. Wanna bet what they'd do if they find out their commanders are a couple of faggots?"
Wes grimaced. "I can't believe the guys we work with would say something that disgusting about us."
"I like most of them, too. They're good guys. Maybe they wouldn't say it out loud, but that's exactly what they'd be thinking; some of them, anyway."
"Most of them could handle it. Things have changed, there's gays on TV shows now, there's a lot more acceptance."
"Is that why you tried so hard to be straight for so long? And -- look at the way kids nowadays say 'gay' as an insult, look how many people still say we're sinful, or disgusting, or sick. Maybe it's not as obvious, but a lot of people hate us, Wes. Just as much as ever."
"I think you're wrong."
"You're an optimist. Get real. Be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt because of me."
"I still say you're exaggerating. And it wouldn't be because of you. You didn't make me gay."
"But I confronted you with it. Made you see it."
"It would have happened sooner or later, I guess. But I'm glad it happened with you. Even if you are paranoid."
"I'm glad too." Eric leaned forward, eyes closing as he kissed Wes, a hand on his shoulder pulling them close.
"Either way, I'll have to tell Dad," Wes murmured. "I can't hide it from him forever."
Eric frowned slightly. "Well -- don't rush into anything. Think about it first."
"Okay." Wes kissed him again. "But I'm not going to think about it right now..."
TBC...