Bobby's Song
By mardel
Mushiness abounds
Several weeks past after Darien presented Bobby with his song.
They spent even more time together, settling in to a routine almost.
They spent two nights a week at Bobby's and two at Darien's. Bobby
refused to just move in with his lover. He knew the chance of the agency
finding out was greater that way. As it was they were risking being
discovered.
He was so happy he was afraid to let anyone know. Even Darien.
He expressed his feelings when they were alone. But he didn't make
long winded exclamations of love. He felt overcome almost by the
emotions he experienced with Darien. He hoped things would calm
down after the first blush of their union… as it were.
But he was driving on an errand to get a part for Golda one afternoon.
When he happened by a radio station that he'd never listened to before.
It was kind of new age/jazz/easy listening all together.
After picking up the auto part, he started back. The song on the radio
that started next caught his attention.
Please forgive me
If I act a little strange
For I know not what I do.
Feels like lightning running through my veins
Every time I look at you
Every time I look at you
"Oh man, that was it, that was just how he'd been feeling about Fawkes!"
Help me out here
All my words are falling short
And there's so much I want to say
Want to tell you just how good it feels
When you look at me that way
When you look at me that way
"Yeah, when those dark brown eyes locked on him, Bobby was lost."
Throw a stone and watch the ripples flow
Moving out across the bay
Like a stone I fall into your eyes
Deep into some mystery
Deep into that mystery
I got half a mind to scream out loud
I got half a mind to die
So I won't ever have to lose you girl
Won't ever have to say goodbye
I won't ever have to lie
Won't ever have to say goodbye
Yeah na na na na
Yeah na na na na
Please forgive me
If I act a little strange
For I know not what I do
It's like my head is filled with lightning girl
Every time I look at you
Every time I look at you
Every time I look at you
Every time I look at you
"I got to get a copy of that CD." Bobby grabbed his cell phone and dial
information for the number of the radio station.
"Yeah, that song you just played can you please tell me who it's by?"
"I'm sorry Sir, you need to speak with the disk jockey. I'll connect you."
"Okay, fine." Bobby wasn't paying close attention to his driving. He was
all hyped up to find that song.
"Yeah this is Radio station KAJJ what can I do ya for?" The disk jockey answered
the phone.
"That song you just played, who was it by?"
"Oh, that was a nice one wasn't it? Let me see… ah it was by David Gray."
"Thank you, my friend you have no idea how important this is." Bobby thanked
the man. "Oh what was it called?"
" That was his hit, Please Forgive Me. Hey, no problem that's what we're here
for. Peace man."
"Yeah, thanks." Bobby hung up and switched lanes he needed to stop by a
music store to find this CD.
He parked Golda a block down from the music store and rushed up the sidewalk.
"Can I help you?" The girl behind the counter, with pink hair, several piercing
and a very bored look on her face asked.
"Yeah, I'm looking for a CD by David Gray."
"Yeah, sure he's over here." She came out from behind the counter and showed
Bobby the area he needed to look. Bobby pulled a CD with a the artist's name
right side up and the title of the album upside down. He flipped it over.
Reading the listed songs he didn't see the one he was looking for
"Crap!" Bobby put the CD back and checked for any other titles.
"Not the one you wanted, bummer." The girl said.
"No, you don't have anything else by this guy?" Bobby asked.
"No do you know the name of the song or the album it's from? Maybe I can
order it for you." She moved to the desk and fired up the computer.
"It's called Please Forgive Me."
"Yeah, okay this says it's on his 1999 album called White Ladder. It's still
available, I can order if for you if you want, it take about two weeks usually."
"No, I'll check around maybe some one else has it in stock." Bobby shook
his head.
"I shouldn't tell you this man, but there is a place over on Seventh that carries
new age stuff. I'll bet they have it." She lowered her voice to tell him this and
leaned down over the counter. Even thought there was no one else in the
store.
"Yeah, thanks you've been very helpful." Bobby smiled at her. She might look
like a punk but she didn't act like one.
"It's called New Light music near the corner with Jefferson." She added.
Bobby climbed back into Golda and sped over five blocks to Jefferson and
Seventh. He found this store slightly more busy, so he just headed for the
section he hoped was correct. He found David Gray after a few minutes of
looking, but again no While Ladder CD.
"Finding everything okay man?" A young man dressed in baggy cargo pants and
with only two holes in his ears asked.
"You don't have any other David Gray music do ya?"
"No, sorry what we have it out. What album are you looking for?"
"It's called White Ladder."
"That's an older one, I could special order if for you. It would be here in ten
days or so." He offered.
"Jake phone for you." The other sale person yelled over at the guy helping
Bobby.
"Hang on a second."
"It's Nikki from Castle Music wants to know if there is a guy here looking for
David Gray?"
"Yeah, there is." Bobby's salesman walked over to the front counter.
"Yo Nikki, are you physic? How did you know this guy… Oh you sent him over
here. Right Okay I'll tell him. Peace."
"Nikki said that she tracked down a copy of White Ladder for you. But it's all the
way out in Brookpark. They will do an express mail for you for an extra ten
bucks."
"Really she called around for me?" Bobby was surprised this kind of service was
uncommon these days.
"Yeah, here is the number of the store." Jake handed him a slip of paper.
"Thanks,"
"No problem sorry we didn't have what you were looking for." Jake nodded.
Bobby headed back out to Golda, he just sat there behind the wheel thinking
for a minute. He needed to get back, the boss had only allowed him to go get
the part because otherwise it would take a week for it to be sent. But Brookpark
was a good hour drive across town. But they were due to start a new case the
next day and he probably wouldn't have time to go and get the CD.
He couldn't believe that girl, wait her name was Nikki. The guy in the music store
had said Nikki was on the line. He couldn't believe she'd called around for him.
He should do something nice for her. But first he had to decide what to do about
getting the CD. He called the number.
"Hi, I understand you have a CD called White Ladder by David Gray?"
"Yes, Sir Nikki had me put it on hold for you." A young woman answered.
"She did that's great. Ah I'm going to try and get over there to pick it up,
how long will you hold it?"
"A week usually but I can hold it longer if you need me to." She told him.
"No a week's good. Thanks."
"Yes, Sir what name should I put it under?"
"OH yeah right… Robert Hobbes. Thanks for your help."
"You're welcome Mr. Hobbes. It will be here for you."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"You've been acting strange the past few days what are you up to?" Darien
asked two days later as they were sharing a drive to work. They hadn't spent the
night together, so Bobby insisted that he pick Darien up for work.
"Strange me? I ain't the one that has super powers, my friend."
Bobby goaded his partner.
"Super powers?…. Hey I guess I do sort of. But you have been acting strange is
there something wrong?"
"No nothing is wrong, everything is just A okay with me." Bobby tried to sound
normal so he wouldn't give himself away.
"Alright if you say so, but I'm going to keep a close watch on you today."
"Take a picture it will last longer."
"Ha, ha, ha you know that's not a bad idea I don't have a picture of you or us."
Darien thought about that for a minute. He wondered if Bobby would let him
do that, take some pictures.
"Why would you want a picture of me? You see me every day." Bobby scoffed.
He didn't consider himself very photogenic anyway. Now Fawkes he was perfect
photo material, great jaw line. That hair, those eyes. Bobby had to shake his
head to focus on his driving.
"Cause I would. For those night you won't stay with me." Darien reminded him.
"I told you we can't do that, do you want to risk the Fish finding out?"
"He probably already knows. He probably thinks it's a good way to keep me
around if I'm involved with my nutcase of a partner."
"I have papers to prove it too." Bobby laughed.
Great now that Darien had expressed a desire for a photo Bobby was going to
have to see about arranging to have one taken. A nice one, nothing racy.
Then once he'd presented it to Darien he could demand one of his own.
Only he wanted to be the photographer.
Bobby managed to slip off at lunch and make the trip to Brookpark for the
CD. The lady there was very nice. He wished he could play it a few times
on the drive back but Golda didn't have a CD player.
Next he had to arrange for the photo. That was going to be tricky. Darien
wanted him to come over, but he'd checked with a professional photo place
and the fastest they could schedule him in was that evening at six forty five.
He needed to bring or wear the clothes he wanted shot in. The photo wouldn't
be ready until the next day.
He'd been considering what he should wear. Leather was good, he looked nice in
his black leather jacket. But then it was kind of cliché, men leather maybe not.
He finally decided on his jean jacket with a black tee shirt under it. Now he
just had to find an excuse to drop Darien off run to the mall where the photo
shop was and then get back with out raising suspicion.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Can't you post pone this dentist thing?" Darien asked.
"I told you my filling fell out when I was eating lunch. Do you want me
to show you the hole?"
"No, I believe you but does it hurt?"
"No, not really but the dentist is leaving for his vacation tomorrow. He'll
be gone two weeks. I've been going to this guy for a couple of years and
I trust him. Well as much as I trust any Doctor."
"Okay, I guess I can live until you get back. Want me to make you some
soup or something?" Darien joked.
"I won't be long, fillings aren't like root canals. They don't take forever."
Bobby dropped Darien off at his apartment and rushed by his place for
his jean jacket and other stuff. He changed in the van and then hurried
into the studio.
"Hi, Robert Hobbes, I have an appointment for six forty five." Bobby approached
a harried looking lady behind the check out counter.
"Yes, Sir I'm afraid we are a little behind tonight. But we will be right with you."
"Great thanks." Bobby prayed this didn't take long.
He noticed a mother an two kids on the other side of the partition, the kids
were getting their photo taken but the oldest one didn't like sitting still.
This might take longer than he'd planned.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Right Mr. Hobbes now you just want a picture made for you lady friend am I
correct?" The photographer asked. Bobby nodded. The man was very neat, tidy
almost to neat and tidy. Bobby hoped he was good at his profession he didn't
want to have nothing to show for all the time he'd put into this. All the lies he
covered up things with.
"Yeah, something like that." Bobby nodded.
"Fine, then how about we try a few poses."
Bobby stood in his usual confident stance. Then he crossed his arms.
Several flashes later. "Yes those are good, but do you mind me saying that
if this is for your sweetheart she probably would appreciate seeing more of
your build. If you would take your jacket off, and do those same poses again."
Bobby did as he man suggested, Darien did claim to like his build. Not that he
was out of shape but ….
The black tee shirt he'd worn was new and fit a little snugly. Darien had told him
he should wear things that fit. Interesting comment coming from the king of
lose baggy clothing.
The photographer focused in on him again. "Yes, that's better, no since in hiding
things." He'd noticed Bobby's build. He liked Bobby's build. But Bobby wasn't
giving off any vibes in that direction. In San Diego it wasn't unusual for gay men
to have photos taken in all typed of get ups.
"Alright that's good, maybe one more pose. Why don't you lean on the tree
there for a more rustic pose."
Bobby rolled his eyes, glanced at his watch and moved to the fake tree.
He leaned on it with his left arm and looked at the camera.
"Very nice, I'm sure she'll like these. You're done, we'll have them ready for
you my noon tomorrow."
Bobby thanked the man grabbed up his jacket and hurried to the van.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bobby quickly changed back to the clothes he'd been wearing and stowed the
others in the back of Golda. He was late, it was past eight by the time he
reached Darien's apartment.
"Hey, sorry it took so long. But look good as new." Bobby opened his mouth
for Darien's inspection.
"That's okay, I saved you some pizza." Darien kissed his partner in stead.
Bobby welcomed the kiss, but fained a little soreness on his left side.
"Easy on the kissing for a little while yet there, my mouth feels kind of sore from
the novacane."
"Oh, sorry forgot about that." Darien wrapped his arms around Bobby instead
and hugged him close. Bobby responded, embracing Darien tightly his face
pressed into the hollow of his lover's throat. Sometimes being shorter was a
advantage. He sighed.
"You are going to stay tonight right?" Darien asked while still holding Bobby.
"Yeah, sure that was the idea." Bobby rubbed his hands over Darien's back.
He was never going to get enough of this contact. He'd gone without for
so many years now he just couldn't seem to get enough.
"Then come sit with me, the movie just started." Darien loosened his hold on
Bobby but kept hold of his shoulder and guided him to the couch.
They watched the movie, sitting side by side. Darien didn't seem to want to
do more than just be close to Bobby. He did fall asleep before the movie ended.
Bobby was use to next to no sleep so he was still awake when the credits rolled.
Darien's was leaning into him, his head kind of snuggled into Bobby's shoulder.
He was slouched down more than usual, Bobby kind of liked it. Just having his
friend sleeping on him. He placed a kiss on Darien's hair the only part of his
thief partner he could reach with out waking him.
"I have a surprise for you, and I think you are going to like it." Bobby whispered.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bobby had everything planned, he just needed to stop by the mall and get the
photos. He had to choose one for them to make into a eight by ten but they
had told him that would only take a few minutes.
"Mr. Hobbes I think you will be very pleased with your choices."
The sales lady told him when he arrived at the studio. She showed him the
proofs they had printed up as wallet size photos. The photographer had been
right the best ones were of him in only his tee shirt and jeans. It fit just snug
enough to show off his build. The one with his arms crossed, even kind of
showed off the cords of muscle in his forearms. Not that he'd been going for
that but it was the best picture. He had them make that one into the larger
one to give to Darien. He also got a simple frame for it. Just a dark wood one.
Now to set the stage for his little presentation. He was nervous. Darien was
due to meet him at his place at seven. They had set a real date for tonight.
Bobby had the music ready the picture. He even had cooked that Thai chicken
dish Darien liked. He wore his dress slacks and a light blue polo shirt that was
also new.
"Hey, I'm here and I'm only five minutes late." Darien knocked then entered
Bobby's apartment. It was unlocked just for him.
"Hi, want a beer?" Bobby waved to him from the stove. He was stirring things
to make sure the didn't stick.
"No not yet. You are up to something aren't you?" Darien had suspected all
along that Bobby was hiding something from him now he had an idea what it
was. A special dinner.
"I can't keep anything from you can I?" Bobby shrugged.
Darien pulled off his jacket and hung it on the hall tree. Then he joined Bobby
in the kitchen. "What ya cookin'?" He thought he'd smelled the delusions scent
of Thai food when he'd entered the apartment.
"That Thai chicken stuff you like. It will be ready any minute now."
Bobby glanced over at his partner. Darien looked happy, kind of boyish.
"You seem relaxed didn't the Keeper run tests on you again?"
"Yeah, but nothing that hurt for a change. I'm just glad to see you that's all."
Darien leaned over an kissed Bobby, just a simple hello kiss. He ran a hand
down Bobby's back after the kiss, kind of a need to touch his lover thing.
"Okay go sit down, dinner is ready." Bobby served the food offered Darien
a beer again. Then took his place at the table. They ate, talked about the
news and stuff. Bobby had the CD all set to play, but a background music
one was playing when Darien had arrived.
"Okay I've waited all thru dinner, what's up?" Darien grinned, he knew
something was coming and since he trusted Bobby, he knew it almost had
to be good.
"Well you remember when you played that song for me a while back?"
"Yeah, you liked it, or you said you did."
"Yeah, yeah I liked it. It was nice. I just didn't know how to respond. But
I do now. Listen." Bobby hit the play button on his remote for the stereo.
The song started and Darien cocked his head to listen.
Please forgive me
If I act a little strange
For I know not what I do.
Feels like lightning running through my veins
Every time I look at you
Every time I look at you
Darien looked at Bobby, his face was glowing all his love there for Darien out in
the open.
Help me out here
All my words are falling short
And there's so much I want to say
Want to tell you just how good it feels
When you look at me that way
When you look at me that way
"Bobby I love this song."
"Listen to all of it." Bobby shushed him.
Throw a stone and watch the ripples flow
Moving out across the bay
Like a stone I fall into your eyes
Deep into some mystery
Deep into that mystery
I got half a mind to scream out loud
I got half a mind to die
So I won't ever have to lose you
Won't ever have to say goodbye
I won't ever have to lie
Won't ever have to say goodbye
Darien could wait until the song ended he moved to the other side of the
table and lifted Bobby into his arms for a big bear hug.
"I love you man. This song is so great." Darien told him.
"It's how I feel." Bobby hugged him back hard.
They kissed as the song ended. Darien was ready to take things into the
bedroom. He wanted to express his feeling the best way he knew how.
"Come on Hobbsey, we need to …."
"Hang on a second there's something else." Bobby freed himself from
his partner and went to the kitchen where he had stashed the photo.
He handed it to Darien, who looked puzzled. Then he smiled, he remembered
asking Bobby for a picture. He hadn't expected this. He opened the plain while
box the frame was in. The photo of Bobby was beautiful. It had captured him
perfectly, right down to the direct eye contact he usually directed at people.
"You had this made?" Darien asked, when it was obvious he'd done just that.
"Yeah, well you said you wanted a picture of me." Bobby looked embarrassed,
and shifted his gaze from Darien's face.
"I love it, it's perfect I just can't believe you let them take your picture."
Darien studied it again, Bobby was wearing a snug fitting black tee shirt and
black jeans. They showed off his build nicely, but not overly so.
"Well I….." Bobby didn't finish his sentence. wanted to please you. It sounded
to mushy.
"Come here." Darien carefully set down his gift and hugged Bobby again.
"Thank you, this is great."
"I get to take one of you now." Bobby told him.
"Anything you want Bobby. Maybe now we can go into the other room."
Darien bounced his eyebrows at him.
"Anything I want is it?" Bobby smiled and followed Darien into the bedroom.
end