Part three of three, "A Sensible Choice"

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

Here are the final two chapters of “A Sensible Choice”.  As has been stated, this is both AU and Slave-fic.  Please, don’t open this if those topics trouble you.  Rating doesn’t exceed PG-13.

 

5. Coming To Fruition

 

The two spoke very little for the remainder of that day and well into the second.  For once, Nick didn’t try to bridge the silence.  It would be better just to leave it.  The buyers had called to let him know they would arrive by three p.m.  He could wait that long.

 

As the time approached, Nick felt it best to give Greg a warning.  “When the buyers from the cattlemen’s co-op get here, I’d prefer you to stay close to me.”  Greg raised his eyebrows in question.  “I don’t know them from Adam, and it’s possible that they would say or do something that would hurt you.”  Greg looked at him, letting him know who had hurt him the most.  “Just do what I ask, okay Greg?  Just stay close.”  Greg nodded his willingness to obey.  “We’ll talk all this out when they leave, okay?  Just work with me ‘til then.”

 

The sale had been anticlimactic in a way.  Two men, with cameras and grading stamps walked around the herds, talking in an odd sort of shorthand that Nick only vaguely understood.  The result was a promissory note for far more than he had dreamed would be possible.  He’d pulled it off!  His investment had been paid back by more than four times!  If it had been another year he would be spending those profits in his head already. 

 

This year, well, this year was different.  He’d save out enough to buy more steers to rebuild his herd, and some to live on.  The rest would go to righting the wrong that had been done to Greg.  It was all set up.  Nick would wire the money to Greg’s folks.  They would petition the courts to initiate his buyout.  The whole process shouldn’t take very long.  With some delays, and the expected snowfall, Greg could possibly spend as much as a month, maybe even the rest of the winter with Nick.  Then he’d go home.  Free.

 

Once all the paperwork had been filed with the courts, Nick sat Greg down to explain all that had been happening behind the scenes over the last months.  Greg was surprising quiet when Nick spelled out the terms of his upcoming release.  Nick had expected questions, joy, maybe even disbelief.  Silence he hadn’t anticipated.

 

“You understand what I’m telling you, right?  It may be a couple of weeks, or maybe the rest of the winter, but you’ll be a free man soon.”  Still, Greg just stared.  “What is it, Greg?  What’s wrong?”  Nick was getting worried.  Maybe the shock had been too much for Greg to absorb.

 

“I have chores to do,” was the only response Nick got.  He watched, open-mouthed, while Greg pulled on his jacket and stomped into his work boots.  “That’s it?  That’s all you have to say?  I just gave you your freedom back, and all you say is you have chores?” 

 

“Thanks.”  Greg tossed over his shoulder as he went out into the dark.  Nick felt an unreasonable anger building, and fought to keep it down.  He got his own jacket and followed Greg into the night.  They worked side-by-side for the next two hours, only speaking when it was necessary.  Chores completed, they each brought in an armload of firewood to last the night through.  Nick handed his off for Greg to stack, but stayed standing close.  He was going to get him to talk this through, whether Greg wanted to or not.  With Nick so close, when Greg stood they were practically nose-to-nose.  Nick carefully pulled the young man even closer, holding him in a gentle hug.

 

“I’m sorry.  I don’t exactly know why you’re upset, but clearly you are.  I probably didn’t handle any of this the way I should have.  I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you.  All I’ve wanted, since I knew you were coming, was to make sure you didn’t get hurt…and I end up hurting you myself.”  Nick could feel Greg’s stiff resistance fading; feel him lean a little into the embrace.

 

“You didn’t hurt me.”  His words were like a soft sigh against Nick’s neck.  He willed his body not to respond.  “You said you weren’t sending me away.”  Greg’s own arms were now wrapped around Nick.

 

Nick swallowed hard, “I’m not.  I’m letting you go home to your family.  You can finish school, and have a normal life.”  Nick let his hands slide up Greg’s spine.  “It’s my gift to you.  The best gift I could ever give.  I want you to take it, and not look back.”  Nick forced himself to separate from Greg, to look into his eyes.  “Please, Greg.  Obey me this one last time.  Take your freedom and enjoy your life.”  The telephone rang, surprising them apart.

 

“Hello?  Yes, this is he.  I see.  Tomorrow?  Yeah, that’s great.  I’ll have him ready.  Thanks.  Yes, goodbye.”

 

Hanging up the phone, Nick turned to Greg.  “That was the bailiff’s office.  The sitting judge pushed through your paperwork.  You are, as of an hour ago, a free man.  Congratulations, Greg.”  Nick knew his smile was strained.  He’d expected a little time to adjust to losing someone he’d grown far too fond of, but that was not to be.  “Your escort will be here at ten tomorrow morning.  We’d better get your stuff together, but first you should call your folks.”

 

The rest of the evening past in a blur of activity; the call to Greg’s ecstatic parents, packing his things, arranging a flight home, and the never ending list of chores around the ranch.  It was well past midnight when the two finally went to bed. 

 

“This should have been the worst experience of my life,” Greg whispered in the darkness.  “It would have been, with anyone else.  I should be all excited about going home, but I don’t want to leave you here alone.”  He curled closer to Nick, wrapping an arm around him.  “I remember the day you told me you were lonely up here by yourself.  Now you’ll be alone all winter.  I don’t want to leave you.  Why can’t I stay with you ‘til spring?” 

 

“You can’t stay here because you have a life waiting for you.”  Nick’s heart ached, but he was determined that Greg would not know that.  “You have a family, and your senior year in college to finish, and all that surfing you told me about.”  Nick turned onto his side, face to face with Greg.  “In a little while this will all be a distant memory.”

 

Even in the darkness, the outrage was plain on Greg’s face.  “I’ll never forget you!  I’ll never forget what you and your family have done for me.”  Nick’s scowl must have been just as visible to Greg.  “Yes, your family.  They paid the original price, which brought me to you.  They knew you’d be good to me, though I’m sure they didn’t mean for you to be this good,” his suggestion laden voice covering both Nick’s generosity and their enforced celibacy.  “And you know your father was the sitting judge on my buyout.  He didn’t have to push it through so fast.  I owe him for that.”  Greg sighed and snuggled even closer.  “I owe you so much.  I’ll never be able to repay you.  All I’m going to do is leave you here, alone with no one to even help with the work.” 

 

“Stop worrying about me.  I’ll be fine.”  Nick fought to keep his hands to himself.  “I’ve been up here every winter for four years.  This one won’t be any different.”  If they got any closer, Nick knew he wouldn’t be sending Greg home untouched.  He forced himself to roll over, placing his back to Greg.  “It’s late.  Mornings’ coming quick enough.  Let’s get some sleep, and we’ll talk more in the morning.”  Greg’s slender arm snaked around Nick’s waist.  A soft whisper of a kiss was pressed just behind his ear.  “Thank you.  I won’t ever forget…I swear I won’t.” 

 

Nick stood watching long after the car carrying Greg out of his life disappeared from view.  The morning had been difficult for the both of them.  Nick had tried to keep his pain from showing and Greg tried to keep his growing excitement in check.  Neither wanted to cause distress to the other, so neither was voicing how he really felt.

 

Now that he was alone, Nick could feel the press of tears threatening to fall.  He’d let them now…there was no one here to see them.  He could still feel that tender kiss in the dark.  He remembered clearly how he’d struggled not to roll back around and kiss Greg in return.  Kiss him senseless, and show him how very much he’d be missed.  As he stood there, still staring at the empty road the first, wet snowflakes began to fall.

 

“Perfect.”  Nick snorted.  “Gray, wet snow for my cold, gray heart.”  When had he fallen in love?  He was pretty sure it was when he’d first seen the gawky young man standing in his front yard, waiting for his first order.

 

“It was the right thing to do.”  He’d be telling himself that for a while, he was sure.  “You did the right thing.”  Maybe.  Probably.  It hurt like hell, though.

 

6. Going It Alone

 

As it turned out, the snow was light that winter.  The passes stayed open and if Nick had cared to he could have spent any number of days in town.  The urge to socialize never grabbed him though, and except for trips to buy groceries or essentials, Nick never left the ranch.  He started answering the phone when his parents called.  Mostly because he could hear the echo of Greg’s “I owe them” in his head.  They’d meant well.  Nick was pretty sure they’d never try something like this again.  They weren’t exactly back where the relationship was before, but more than just the snow was thawing.

 

It had been hard to adjust to sleeping alone.  It was odd.  He’d always considered the bed too narrow even for one, now it seemed huge without the warmth of Greg sleeping next to him.  Being alone ensured that he worked himself into an exhausted stupor most nights, so at least he slept. 

 

There had been a birthday card from Greg, and several short letters letting Nick know how he was faring.  There had been a thoughtful gift at Christmas, and a silly card on Valentine’s.  Nick cherished each one; they had more value than gold.  He too had mailed notes, cards and small gifts, but he tried to keep the emotion he felt out of them.  It wasn’t fair to Greg to dump the weight of his unrequited love on his shoulders.  He had his own life now.  He should be making friends and finding lovers more suited to him than a lonely rancher in Texas.  Nick hoped the day would come soon when it didn’t sting to imagine Greg with another man. 

 

On a brighter note, there was a growing backlash against the Indentured Servant Law.  The rumblings of discontent were reaching the state house, and from there it was sure to spread to Washington.  The changes were slow, but they were coming.  More gratifying for Nick, his own family was beginning to see how immoral a system slavery was.  The nation had thrust it aside once before, only to take it up again.  Surely they could abolish it again.  Still, none of that made the ache in Nick’s heart any less. 

 

Greg would have graduated at the end of the winter semester.  He hadn’t sent news of it, at least not yet.  Nick wondered if Greg had finally forgotten his time with him.  The melancholy he had struggled with through the long winter continued to deepen. 

 

Now that the ground had thawed, Nick decided it was time to begin the work he’d delayed on the barns.  Digging out the rotted timbers would give him a hard, physical task to keep his mind from traveling across country, and picturing a graduation he hadn’t been invited to.  It was foolish to feel so hurt.  Nick told himself so repeatedly.  It did no good.  He ached with loss and loneliness. 

 

“This is ridiculous!” He was disgusted with himself.  “Get over this!  Move on.”  There had to be a way to do that.  Perhaps holing up by himself for months at a time wasn’t the best way.  Nick decided to go into town.  He could do some shopping; maybe see a movie.  Maybe over the weekend he’d go see his parents; get some of Tilley’s good cooking.  Sooner or later he’d have to start over.  It might as well be now.

 

Two hours later found him sitting in the nearly deserted café in town.  Just as lost, and just as lonely.  Maggie eyed him with concern.  “You sure you should have sent that boy off, Nicky?  You don’t seem too happy about it.”  She filled his cup and nudged the menu at him.  He’d been sitting, staring at it for some time without opening it.

 

“It was the right thing to do.”  He was still telling himself that.  “Slavery’s evil.”  Maggie gave Nick a patient smile.  She’d heard his rants on the evils of slavery for years.  She herself wouldn’t have been so quick to send away such a pretty young thing.  Secretly, she was sure Nick wished he hadn’t either. 

 

“Whatever you say, Nicky.  If you’re not going to pick something for yourself from the menu, I’m gonna get you some biscuits and gravy.  You need to eat, son.  You’re getting pretty thin.”  Maggie looked up from her motherly perusal of Nick to eye who had come into the café.  She did a double take to be sure, and nodded at the new arrival with a smile.  “I’ll make that two orders, and another coffee.”  Nick grunted.  He assumed the other breakfast was for Maggie, and he would just as soon not continue their conversation.

 

“You gonna be okay for a few minutes, Nicky?  I’m gonna sneak out back for a smoke.”  Nick nodded, still not looking up.  Coming into town had been a waste of time.  He just didn’t feel social since Greg left.

 

“Morning.”

 

Nick sighed.  It was inevitable that someone would come into the café.  It was the preferred gathering spot for the whole town, and the only place for travelers to grab a bite to eat for miles.  He really should have stayed home.

 

“This seat taken?” 

 

Nick opened his mouth to point out that the café was empty, with lots of empty seats when the voice registered in his tired brain.  It couldn’t be.  Could it?  Cautiously, he raised his head to look at the newcomer.

 

“Greg?”   Nick worked to swallow the lump in his throat.  “What…” Clearing his throat, he tried again.  “What are you doing here?”  He struggled to rise out of his chair; he couldn’t seem to coordinate his legs and feet.  Greg watched his struggle, laughing.

 

“Need some help there, big guy?”  Nick finally made it to his feet.  He didn’t know what to do with his hands.  He wanted to touch, to pull Greg into his arms, to kiss him.  God, how he wanted to kiss him.  He thrust his hands into his pockets. 

 

“You shouldn’t be here.”  It physically hurt to say those words.  “You should be making a nice life for yourself as far from Texas as you could get.”  As far from Nick as he could get.  The urge to touch became overwhelming.  One hand, seemingly of it’s own volition, rose to gently brush against Greg’s cheek.

 

Greg nuzzled into the touch.  “I need to go to grad school.”  It was an obscure enough comment to momentarily ground Nick.  “Okay…grad school is a good idea.”  He pulled back the rebellious hand.  “How can I help?  Do you need money?”  Of course, how stupid could he be?  Greg needed to borrow money, that’s why he’d come.  Nick felt like an idiot for giving into the temptation to touch.  “I can give you some.”

 

“No.  Well, yeah, I need money, but I have a plan.”  He smiled at Nick.  “I know this guy.  He’s got this really run-down place, needs lots of work.  I figure I could work for this guy for a couple of years, you know?  Save up some money.”  Here Greg looked shy, almost fearful of Nick’s response.  “Then, when I’ve got some cash saved, I could do my grad stuff at the university here.  They have extension classes, and on-line stuff.”  His words started to tumble out, one over the other.  “If that’s okay.  I mean, if you still want me.  Do you?  Want me?”  He was starting to look a little panicked. 

 

“You don’t have to work, G.  I’ll just give you the money, I want to.”  He wanted so much more.  He wanted things he couldn’t begin to give voice to.  “It’s okay, really.”

 

Greg gave a frustrated sigh.  “You’re not getting it.”  He sighed again.  “I want to be here.  I’ve missed you so much.  I finished school, only ‘cause you asked me to.  I want to be here, Nick.  I want to be with you.”  Greg reached out to touch Nick, running trembling fingers over his arm.  “I’m not wrong here, am I?  I didn’t read this all wrong?  You wanted me, I was sure.  Please…” he trailed off.  “God, I’m so stupid.  You were just being nice.  I’m so sorry…” he didn’t get any further.  Nick’s fingers pressed gently over Greg’s mouth.

 

 “I’ve missed you so much.”  With those words, Greg relaxed.  He stepped forward, leaning into Nick’s body.  Nick wrapped his arms around him, holding him close.  “I wanted you to be free.  I wanted you to have your own life, but when you left…” it was so hard to think with Greg’s breath warming his neck.  “When you left nothing mattered anymore.  I only felt alive when one of your letters would come.”  He felt foolish admitting that, and he could feel Greg’s smile.

 

“I still wear your mark.”  Nick pulled back, a little sickened at himself for the flash of lust that statement brought out in him.  “You’ve never even seen it.”  But oh, how he wanted to.  “It’s what I want Nick.  I really want to be with you, here.  I’m not down with the whole slave thing, mind you.”  That brought a welcome smile from Nick.  “I want to belong to you because I want to.  I want you to want to belong to me.”  He peered at Nick, hoping he understood.  “Does that make any sense?”

 

“Like partners?”  Greg nodded, relieved that Nick seemed to understand.  “Are you talking complete partners, G?  Sex and all?”  He needed to be clear.

 

“God, yes.  We’ve been celibate long enough, don’t you think?”  Those beautiful brown eyes twinkled with suppressed mischief.

 

“I can’t sleep with an employee, G.  It wouldn’t be ethical.”  Greg pushed him back.  “You’re kidding, right?”  Nick shook his head.  He looked serious.  “It’s not much different than the situation we were in before, Greg.  It wouldn’t be right.”  Greg was exasperated, but Nick put a hand up to stall his angry retort.

 

“Now, this partner idea.  That has some merit.”  Greg’s confused look made Nick laugh.  It seemed like forever since anything seemed funny enough to make him laugh.  It felt great!  It was great to be alive!  “We could work that out, partners I mean.  Equals.  No advantage taken.  See?”

 

Greg was smiling now as well.  “Yes, I see.  No advantage, no pressure.  But lot’s of sex, right?”  He really wanted there to be sex.  “Please tell me there will be lot’s of sex!”

 

Nick pulled Greg to him again, finally giving into the urge to kiss.  It was like an explosion of pleasure, and Nick never wanted it to end.  When they finally separated for air, Nick murmured into Greg’s ear. 

 

“Lots and lots of sex, G.  All you ever want.”  All he would allow.  As soon as humanly possible. 

 

“About that mark…” 

 

end

Comments

[mangojunkie.livejournal.com]

*sigh* this is sooo great and I think I have never read a p-13 with more sex then this. It is just the sparks are litereally fyling between them so much you can feel it. =) Love it.

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you thought it worked! It was different to write, that's for sure!