amendments

Warning: Nonconsensual discipline according to Gavin. Jack is pretty mean in this one and Gavin has tons of complaints. Sex- a couple of times, but it's not shown-Gavin would be too embarrassed. He likes sex a lot, but he doesn't want it shown. He TOLD me so.:)

Special and many thanks, kisses and hugs to Hedeia for fixing my mistakes, you all know it’s a full time job just fixing my to too problem let alone all the others. She is a beta QUEEN. Thank you sweetie!!!!

Amendments and Other Myths
   By Rusty

The Eighth Amendment of the Bill of Rights states that "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted."

There WAS an amendment!   Written RIGHT in the Constitution!

Gavin had read about stuff like that!

And he really felt that grabbing someone by the ear and pulling on it was just about one of the CRUELEST things a person could do. Why, the very idea of ear pulling offended every fundamental notion of human dignity.   Ears were one part of the human body that NEVER stopped growing; GRAVITY itself pulled down on them ALL throughout a person’s life, causing them to droop and flap around as a person aged.   That’s why a lot of really old people had those earlobes that NEVER ended.

He’d read about stuff like that, too.

If Jack didn’t stop yanking on HIS ears, Gavin was positive that his earlobes were going to be stretched clear down to his elbows by the time he was thirty. People would be calling him Dumbo; if there was a really good wind he would NEVER have a problem traveling to one of those third world countries, the ones that didn't have airports. He could just FLY there himself.

Now THAT wouldn't be so bad, he thought. He could use a really good pair of ears right about now!

“OW!” Gavin tried pulling Jack’s hand away from his ear. “You’re hurting me!”

Jack pushed opened the garage door and pulled Gavin into the kitchen. “Not yet! But I’m going to.”

“Jaaack,” Gavin whined as his jacket was pulled off with Jack’s free hand, never once unclamping those fingers from the vice-like hold on his ear.

Jack’s only response to that whine was walking briskly over to the kitchen counter, still pulling Gavin along by the ear, stretching it a little more with each step. He opened the utensil drawer and pulled out the wooden spoon.

That wooden spoon was just about the LAST straw. If ear pulling offended every fundamental notion of human dignity, the wooden spoon should shock the very core of someone’s conscience. If a person read through the WHOLE Eighth Amendment, Gavin was sure that you'd find Wooden Spoon listed as one of the CRULEST of Unusual Punishment devices. It should have its very own amendment!

Gavin thought it was about time he called the ACLU! Someone really needed to be notified of the inhumane and barbaric treatment being done to him...by his own partner. In his OWN home!!!

Jack was in COMPLETE violation of the Eighth Amendment!

TWICE!

Jack pulled the stool out from under the counter with his foot. Sitting down on the stool, he FINALLY let go of Gavin’s poor deformed ear and started unbuckling and unzipping his pants.

In the KITCHEN!!

Gavin decided right then and there that there WERE worse violations of the Eighth Amendment than ear pulling and wooden spoons. Being depantsed in the kitchen was probably one of the worst violations you could commit! This was beyond Cruel and Unusual Punishment. It went FAR beyond offending every fundamental notion of human dignity. This was SO much worse than shocking the very CORE of someone’s conscience.

This was just...SO damned embarrassing!!!!

"Let me explain!" Gavin whined some more. Jack apparently didn't think there COULD be an explanation. After pushing his pants out of the way Jack pulled Gavin over his knees and cracked that spoon down. Hard!

“Jaaack! OW!” Gavin hollered! Being embarrassed didn't seem so important once that spoon connected with his now very kitchen-exposed backside. “Pleease! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!!”“

His pants, even his UNDERWEAR, were banded about his knees. In the KITCHEN! It was….. UNSANITARY!

Gavin decided that right after turning Jack in to the ACLU, he was calling the Health Department. Being depansted in the kitchen was probably violating some kind of CODE!

Health Code Violations! Amendment Violations!

Jack was in SO much trouble!

“You LIED to me! How can you NOT mean to do something like that?!” Jack seemed completely unconcerned about the trouble he was in. He just cracked that spoon against Gavin’s flesh once more. “You told me you mailed your car payment in!”

Gavin yelped even louder when that spoon found its target a third and then fourth time. “OW…I DIDN’T LIE!”

Jack stopped mid-spoon. “What would you call it then? I asked you if you had mailed in that payment just this morning. And you said yes! I don’t see how that’s possible when I just saw it lying on the seat of your car, stamped and ready to be mailed, but NOT anywhere NEAR a mailbox.”

Gavin cringed. Jack’s knees were digging into his stomach. He was sure that nosey Ethel Masterson was peering in their kitchen window SEEING his naked butt sticking in the air. His ear hurt! Now his backside was on fire and he was sure Jack wasn’t anywhere NEAR finished with him.

Where was the ACLU when you needed them?

“I didn’t actually LIE about it! HONEST! I WAS going to mail it on the way to work this morning! When you asked me if I mailed the payment in, I was JUST thinking AHEAD a little. You know how you’re ALWAYS telling me to think ahead. It would have ONLY been an ….untruth…. by just a few minutes!”

Jack wasn't buying the..... thinking ahead theory. At ALL.

“You lied! And if you planned on mailing it today, WHY is it still in your car?”

Gavin shut his eyes tight. He really didn't think that his answer was going to help in getting his sentence reduced to time already served. Mr. Cruel and Unusual wasn't in a very merciful mood.

“I ….forgot?”

Gavin could have sworn he heard Jack growl….one second before that damned spoon starting making red clam sauce out of his once perfectly white behind.

By the time that spoon stopped Gavin was howling so loud that Martha could hear him from her dog run outside. She joined in the howling, apparently in sympathy.

Jack wasn’t feeling the least bit sympathetic. After pulling Gavin up by the arm, he pointed to the right kitchen corner.

“Pull up your pants and stand over there until I get dinner ready. After dinner, you can have some soap for dessert and then you’re going to bed. Being a week late on your car payment was irresponsible, Gavin, but I’m not going to tolerate you lying to me about anything.”

Gavin spent a few minutes trying to rub the sting out of his backside, unconcerned, at least for those few minutes, with how unsanitary and embarrassing it was to have your pants around your knees. In the KITCHEN! After he got his breath back, he wiped his nose with the sleeve of his shirt and pulled up his pants. Shuffling over to the corner, still sniffling, he leaned his head against the drywall.

The ACLU would be hearing about this!

Ear Pulling! Wooden Spoons! Depantsing in the Kitchen!   SOAP! Cruel and Unusual Punishments! Every last one of them! Those guys that wrote up The Bill of Rights, especially the Eighth Amendment part of it, should have been A LOT more specific about it.

Gavin wished that he had mailed that stupid payment in on time. And maybe lying about wasn’t such a good idea. Okay, so it was a really stupid idea! He must be losing his mind! Living with the Master of Cruel and Unusual Punishments should be enough incentive for a person to remember to pay their bills on time…. for real. And the Master thought lying about ANYTHING was just about the worst thing you could do.

He heard the door open and a few minutes later Martha was dancing around Gavin's feet. He sniffed as he bent over and patted her head.

"Quit playing with her and stick your nose back in that corner." Jack ordered from the sink.

Gavin turned his head and looked at Jack with his pitiful red watery eyes. "She was just saying hello."

"You can say hello later. Right now you're supposed to be standing in that corner, thinking about why lying is NOT acceptable, ever!" Jack pointed to the corner and motioned for Gavin to turn around.

Gavin turned back around, but he wasn't going to be quiet about it.

"You're being CRUEL, Jack! CRUEL! The punishment should fit the crime. There's an amendment in the Constitution that says so. You're an attorney, you should know about stuff like that. It was a LITTLE lie! You're going WAY overboard here."

"As your attorney, I'm telling you it would be in your best interest to take the Fifth one of those amendments...and keep quiet." Jack went back to fixing dinner.

Jack NEVER accepted that Fifth Amendment plea when Gavin NEEDED to use it. Take this morning for example. When Jack asked him if he'd mailed his car payment in, Gavin was SURE Jack would NOT have accepted it then! Jack apparently thought he could revise amendments...whenever he felt like it! Without a vote...or ANYTHING!

"Ear pulling and beating on someone with a spoon is barbaric!" Gavin muttered from his corner. "I need a new attorney! One that doesn't change whole amendments when it suits him! Who does he think he is anyway? Alexander Hamilton, apparently!"

"Gavin, you are giving me the idea that I didn’t make a very good impression! Maybe I should remind you that there are things you consider MUCH worse than that spoon."

Gavin decided that taking the Fifth wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Thirty minutes later Jack called out "Gav, wash your hands, dinner is ready."

After washing his hands in the sink, Gavin shuffled over to the table. He didn’t really feel much like sitting down right now. Martha wriggled at his feet. He bent down again so he could say hello. Properly this time.

“Sit.” Jack noticed Martha immediately sat.

“Good girl.” Jack looked up at Gavin and pointed to the chair. “But I was talking to you.”

Gavin sat at the table. It was just another Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Having to SIT at the table after what Jack had done to him.

“I’m not a dog, you know. You don’t have to talk to me like one. And I think you’re trying to KILL me! That’s what I think.”

“You like to exaggerate. That’s what I think.” Jack looked at Gavin across the table. “Why did you lie to me?”

Gavin looked up at Jack, giving him that….. you must be CRAZY… look.

“Because….you would have been mad about the car payment being late. You KNOW you would have been!”

Jack nodded his head, like he completely understood. “So you thought lying about it would make me LESS mad. Yes, that makes perfect sense to me.”

“I really was going to mail it today. I just forgot.” Gavin’s eyes shifted down to look at his plate.   “I know that’s no excuse for being late in the first place. But I didn't really lie when I said it was mailed. If I would have mailed it on the way to work….it would have only been an…untruth by just a few minutes.”

“It’s called a LIE, Gavin. You know that's something I'll never tolerate for any reason. I would think after this many years, you would realize that." Jack had that really hurt look on his face. The one that Gavin hated. "You haven’t done that in such a long time. At least that I *know* about.”

"I haven't! HONEST!" Gavin did feel guilty over the lying thing. He knew how upset Jack got over even the tiniest little one. Even tiny ones hurt his feelings. Jack thought all lies were the same. Gavin wished Jack realized that there were degrees of lying. Telling a tiny little lie about mailing in a payment wasn’t so bad, was it? It wasn’t like he had lied about …having an affair or ….selling arms to the enemy. He wasn’t breaching national security or something, for crying out loud! He picked up his fork and started poking at the green beans.

“I know lying was wrong and I'm sorry. But the punishment should fit the crime, Jack. You're an attorney; you should know about stuff like that. A little lie ….should mean …a little punishment. I haven’t told an unt…lie in a long time. And it was such a little one.”

“There aren’t any ‘little ones’, Gavin. You know that.” Jack pointed his fork at Gavin’s plate. “Quit poking at your food and start eating. After…”

Gavin interrupted Jack when a disgusting thought flashed in his brain. "I HOPE you didn't use THAT spoon to COOK with. That's unsanitary! I'm SURE there are CODES about stuff like that!"

Jack had to bite back a smile. "I didn't use that spoon to cook with and you know it. And after you’re finished eating, you can have some soap. Maybe that will remind you that there aren’t any ‘little ones’.”

“Jaack! I’ve been reminded enough. Honest!” Gavin took a bite of his beans; Jack never lied so he trusted that the food hadn't been contaminated by that spoon. “I'm really sorry...and you've already spanked me for it. That’s enough! It’s been month and months since I’ve been….untruthful. That should count for something.”

“It does count for something, Gav,” Jack agreed, nodding his head. “I’m sure it’ll be months and months before you think about doing it again.”

**

Gavin lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. His tongue still had that Irish Spring taste to it. He was sure his breath would smell like “manly man” for the next ten years. Putting soap in someone’s mouth was Cruel and Unusual Punishment in itself. But putting deodorant soap in someone’s mouth was WORSE than Cruel and Unusual. It was right up there with depantsing someone in his OWN kitchen.

Why, a person could DIE from eating deodorant soap! Gavin was SURE of that. Soap that was intended for cleaning off the sweat and dirt of big burly men was NOT meant to be inserted in someone’s mouth. The ACLU really needed to be called.

Jack entered the bedroom, walking softly in case Gavin had fallen asleep. “How come you’re still awake?”

“I told you I wouldn’t be able to go to sleep at nine o’clock!” Gavin complained from his pillow. “You almost KILLED me tonight. You pulled my ear, spanked me naked in the kitchen, and made me go to bed at nine. And then if ALL that wasn't cruel enough, you make me eat soap. Deodorant soap! It was cruel and unusual punishment, Jack. There are laws about stuff like that! ”

“Bet you won’t be lying to me anytime soon, though.” Jack answered as he headed for the bathroom.

Lying! He’d NEVER lie again as long as he lived. If someone asked “Do I look fat?” Gavin would answer… “YES, you’re as fat as a cow!”   If someone asked… “Do you like my new outfit?”…Gavin would answer… “No, it looks like shit!” He would go down in history as being the most truthful man that ever lived, right along side of George Washington, who was the father of every amendment in the Bill of Rights! They would build monuments in his honor, name schools and roads after him. Parents would tell stories about him to their children.... hundreds of years from now.

He would be famous!

Gavin figured Jack would be famous too. As the Master of Cruel and Unusual Punishments. Right alongside the Marquis de Sade and Ivan the Terrible.

Jack pushed back the covers and climbed into bed. He pulled Gavin close and kissed him on the lips.

“Sorry I lied. I don't even know why I did it.” Gavin rested his head on Jack’s shoulder.

Jack kissed the top of Gavin’s head and pulled him closer. “I know. And I know it’ll be a while before you think about doing it again.”

“I’ll NEVER do it again. You can just call me George Washington from now on.” Gavin slid his hand up and down Jack’s chest.

“Just remember that whatever you do that you *think* is going to make me mad, lying about it will only be making things much worse. It should help you in remembering to be truthful.” Jack rubbed Gavin’s back, kissing the top of his head. “Let’s get some sleep now.”

Gavin wasn’t tired at all. He’d been lying up here for two solid hours …ALONE! Being in bed alone was just about the most boring thing in the world. He needed to exert some energy if he was going to get ANY sleep at all tonight.

Jack loved the smell of Irish Spring. Gavin figured that he might as well take advantage of that fact…and exert a little energy. He WAS a manly man, after all, and his breath was Wondrous Clean.

He lifted his head up from Jack’s shoulder until they were face to face.

And …blew.

-----------------------------------

“You are being SO unreasonable lately!” Gavin complained from his stool. “I don’t understand why I’m grounded for the WHOLE weekend. We were supposed to go skiing this weekend! Everyone is going!”

Jack picked up the breakfast dishes off the counter and headed for the sink. “Not everyone. *We* aren’t going. Give it up, Gav. You know very well why you’re grounded.”

“No I don’t! You’ve already done every cruel and unusual punishment in the book to me for being late on that payment.” Gavin spread his arms out wide. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough?”

Jack turned off the water in the sink. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms.

“Gavin, all of those other “cruel and unusual” things that were done to you…. were for lying. You’re grounded for not making your car payment on time. And that’s probably ALL that would have happened if you would have told the truth to begin with.”

Gavin’s eyes widened. “Well, you spanked me….in the KITCHEN. Made me eat SOAP. You pulled my ear, Jack. My EAR! Inst…oh yeah! You also made me stand in the CORNER! Instead of grounding me for being late on the payment….you could just pick one of those OTHER things you did to me and ….we’ll call it even.”

Jack shook his head, smiling at Gavin. “Gav…”

Gavin threw his arms up. “I know! I know! I’m grounded!”

Gavin pushed his stool back and stomped out of the kitchen, muttering under his breath about life with the Marquis de Sade.

When Jack was finished cleaning up the kitchen he went in search of Gavin. He found him flopped face down on the couch; one arm dangled down the side, rubbing Martha’s belly. Jack gave Gavin’s butt a gentle swat.

“Move over.”

Gavin sat up on the couch, making room for Jack to sit down. After he was seated, Gavin laid his head in Jack’s lap. Jack brushed the hair off Gavin’s forehead and smiled down at him.

“I’ll stop on the way home from work tonight and pick up some DVD’s. We can just spend the evening hanging out together. We can paint the guest bedroom tomorrow; get that out of the way. You’ll just have to put up with hanging out with me around the house this weekend. I know it doesn’t sound as wonderful as going skiing, but it won’t be that bad, will it?”

“No.” Gavin plucked at the buttons on Jack’s shirt. Hanging out with Jack was his favorite thing to do anyway. Jack had been looking forward to the ski trip a lot more than he had been. “I know how much you were looking forward to the ski trip, even more than I was. Now, because I screwed up, you don’t get to go. I’m not mad at you, you know. Just mad at myself.”

“I know.” Jack pulled Gavin up until he was sitting in his lap. He cupped his hands against the sides of Gavin’s face and kissed him. “But hanging out with you won’t be so bad.”

Gavin laughed and wrapped his arms around Jack’s neck. He knew Jack’s favorite thing to do was hanging out with him. “No, it won’t be so bad.”

Jack kissed him again. “I’ve gotta go. I need to be at work a little early this morning. I’ll turn up the heat in the garage on my way out. Make sure you get Martha situated before you leave, okay?”

Gavin kissed Jack again before letting him up. He slid off the couch and sat down beside Martha on the floor, scratching her behind the ears.

A smile was starting to work its way across Gavin’s mouth. “Jack, you lied to me too, you know?”

Jack stopped and turned around, looking confused. “When have I EVER lied to you?”

Gavin bit the inside of his cheek. “You said that I would have only been grounded if I would have told the truth about being late on the car payment in the beginning. You know that’s so NOT true.”

Jack laughed. “I said that you ‘probably’ would have only been grounded.”

“Finagling, Jack?” Gavin smiled up at him.

Jack was still laughing when he turned back around and headed towards the hall. “Hey, I’m the master of the cruel and unusual, remember? Don’t think for a second that I’ll be so merciful the next time you’re late on your payment.” Walking down the hall, Jack called out again. “Just count yourself lucky that I’m feeling so merciful today.”

“I do feel lucky, believe me,” Gavin muttered to Martha, shaking her sock toy in front of her face. Martha grabbed the sock and jumped up on the couch.

Gavin stood up and glared down at her. “Get down from there! Didn’t you hear what he said? My mercy quota is filled for today!”

Martha jumped down on the floor and stared up at Gavin, giving him that confused look that she usually had on her face whenever the Big Guy wasn’t around.

Gavin shook his head at her. “I’m gonna have to fill you in on life with the Marquis de Sade. Being a citizen of the United States doesn’t mean a darn thing when you live at 1522 Washington Street. We don’t live in a Democracy here. He says you are supposed to stay off the couch. You don’t get a vote on that."

Gavin pointed a finger at Martha. "And let me tell you about that Bill of Rights thing! It means something totally different in THIS house! If you have a BILL, you better pay it on time. If you don’t pay it on time, don’t EVER lie about it. Because if you do either of those things, The Marquis gave himself the RIGHT to KILL you for it. That’s what I think.”

Martha slowly turned her head around and looked longingly at the doorway. She really hoped that Big Guy wasn’t going to be gone too long.

Gavin squatted down and rubbed Martha’s head. “I’ve told you before, don’t worry about it. You’ll grow to love him. He’s really a good guy.”
……………

Gavin burst through the door, yanking his coat off as he entered. Martha was waiting for him and danced at his feet. He didn’t even stop to give her a pat or a treat as he normally did when he came home from work. He spotted Jack leaning on the counter, the phone in his hand.

“Jack, you’re NEVER going to believe what happened. Crap!” Gavin’s cell phone rang before he could finish telling his news. He grabbed the phone from his belt and pressed the button. “Hello!”

“Hello! I was just calling to see when you planned on coming home?” Jack asked into the phone he held in his hand, looking right at Gavin.

“I’m hooome!” Gavin said into the receiver, giving Jack a confused look. Why was Jack calling him….when he was standing RIGHT here in front of him? “I didn’t park in the garage. You must not have heard my car pull up.”

He looked over at the clock on the microwave and realized that it was 7:00. Uh oh! Gavin blinked once and said into the phone, “I can explain about being late. Honest!”

Jack pushed the button on the phone and placed it in the cradle. “I don’t think we need the phones now, Gavin. It might have been nice if you would have used it to call and let me know you were going to be late, though. Don’t you think?”

“I can explain! I’m sorry I didn’t call but I have a really good explanation.” Gavin pushed the button on his cell and laid it on the counter. “You’re never going to believe what happened!”

Jack stood up from his leaning position at the counter and crossed his arms. “I want to hear what happened, but that doesn’t excuse you not calling, Gavin. You were supposed to be home at 5:30 today. Remember? Not only are you late, but you’re also grounded.”

Gavin plopped down on a stool at the counter and started talking fast. He thought it was best to get his explanation in quick, before Jack had time to explode.

“I know, but Adrian met me going out my office door and we got to talking and …talking and I couldn’t just NOT listen to him. He was SO upset and then after talking to him I was SO upset I didn’t think to call from the car. I turned off my cell when Missy called because he NEEDED to talk without being interrupted, you know? I didn’t turn it back on until I pulled in the driveway. I’m sorry. But it’s just awful, Jack. Adrian and Conner are…splitting up!! SPLITTING UP!! Isn’t that AWFUL!”

Jack sat down on the stool across the counter from Gavin. “Yeah, Gav, that is awful.”

Gavin gave Jack a surprised look. “You don’t seem shocked at all! I mean …..this is so….SHOCKING!!! Did Conner call you?”

Jack leaned his elbows on the table. “He hasn’t called today, but I knew they were having some problems.”

Gavin spread his arms out wide. “And you didn’t TELL me?! What! We keep SECRETS now?!”

“It wasn’t my secret, Gav. And I really don’t think that their problems were much of a secret lately anyway. You knew they were having problems.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck, which had gone stiff from worrying about Gavin for the past hour.

“Jaaack, everyone has problems. Arguments and stuff. That doesn’t mean they…break up.” Gavin didn’t get this at ALL. It was just awful.

“Gavin, some people just can’t work out their problems. It’s sad and I hate that it happened but …it happens every day.” Jack knew that wasn’t going to be enough of an answer for Gavin.

Gavin didn’t think that was enough of an answer. “I just hate it, Jack. Hate it! He’s only twenty-four, but you wouldn’t believe how many assholes have dumped on him. For no reason.”

Jack could think of a thousand reasons. “Gav, I know that you’ve liked Adrian from the moment Conner introduced him to us, but knowing him the way I do, I can’t believe he didn’t ask to be dumped on a time or two.”

“He’s just young is all.” Gavin shook his head. “He told me that finding Conner was the best thing that’s ever happened to him.”

Jack agreed with that. “I can see how he would think that. Adrian hasn’t held a steady job since moving in with Conner. Who wouldn’t like that set-up?”

Gavin shook his head again. “I know you’ve always thought Adrian was just a user, Jack. But he’s NOT! He just needs someone to help him find some direction is all.”

“Well, I agree with that.” Jack had been tempted to give him some direction himself a time or two.

“Adrian said that Conner just doesn’t love him anymore. He was SO upset. How could Conner do that to him, Jack?”

“Gav, this isn’t something that happened in a day. It’s been coming. Things have been going on with them for a while and it’s not ALL Conner.”

Gavin didn't think it was ALL Conner either, but he felt he had to defend his friend. “Conner told Adrian it was over and he moved out. Well, he moved in with his parents until Adrian could find a place since it’s Conner’s house. At least he’s giving Adrian time to find someplace else. But HE left Adrian! Adrian is just having some problems. He NEEDS Conner right now. What kind of person just LEAVES when a person is having problems?”

Jack started to explain what he knew. “I know there have been many nights that Adrian hasn’t come home until really late. He’s been spending money that he doesn’t have and then Conner has to bail him out. And I think…”

Gavin cut Jack off. “Being late is a really stupid reason for breaking up. It’s right up there with leaving the cap off the toothpaste on the list of really stupid reasons.” Gavin was appalled; he raised his hand out wide. “I’ve been late before. I was late tonight! Does that mean I have to worry that you’re going to leave me?”

Jack gave Gavin a look. “You KNOW what happens when you’re late. Don’t think I’ve forgotten you were late tonight either. I know you think you have a valid excuse, but you aren’t going to get away with it entirely.”

Crap. How stupid. He shouldn’t have reminded Jack about THAT. Gavin grumbled, “I KNOW what happens when I’m late…and I’ve spent money that I….shouldn’t have too. They’re both REALLY stupid reasons for breaking up.”

Jack tried explaining again. “We’re not talking about being just an hour or so late. Adrian hasn’t come home until the next morning a couple of times. Without any explanation about where he had been or who he was with. He never gave much information about where the money was going either. It was a little different from the things that you’ve done.”

“Well, even if I did those things…you wouldn’t leave me! We’d work things out.” Gavin shook his head. It still didn’t make any sense to him.

Jack had to agree with that. “You’re damn right we’d work it out. If you ever pulled some of the shit Adrian’s pulled lately, you’d never be able to sit down again in this lifetime.” He laughed at Gavin’s expression. “But you’d never do any of those things, Gav.”

Gavin threw his arms out. “Duh! Of course I wouldn’t! I KNOW that if I did…I wouldn’t be able to sit down again in this lifetime!”

Jack laughed again as he stood up from his stool. “Well, I don’t think Conner and Adrian handle things the way we do.”

Gavin thought about that a minute, then turned around on his stool. “Well, maybe they should.”

Jack opened the fridge and turned around, his eyes wide in mock surprise. “YOU would recommend to someone else the way WE handle things? YOU….the man that’s called me everything from the Marquis de Sade to Ivan the Terrible in just the past twenty-four hours. And what about all the cruel and unusual …..”

Gavin stood up from his stool and waved his arms out again. “Well, you ARE all those things and I DO hate all that stuff…when it happens. But it works, doesn’t it? I mean….we don’t have that many problems, do we? We’re happy, aren’t we?”

Jack leaned his arm on the fridge door, still laughing. “I know *I’m* happy. But from the way you’ve been complaining about me lately, I was beginning to wonder about *you* though.”

Gavin rolled his eyes. “You KNOW I’m happy. All that stuff works for us! Think about it, Jack! If it wasn't for you, I would never have opened my own business or been on time for anything. God, I'd be in trouble all the time!”

Jack nodded his head. “How we deal with things works for us. It doesn’t mean it could work for everyone.”

“It works for us, maybe it could work for Adrian and Conner too. Adrian could use a little help with….things.” Gavin shrugged at Jack’s expression.

“You know I've always thought Adrian could use a little ‘help’ myself. But what happened that made you change your opinion?" Jack asked, still leaning on the fridge door.

Gavin eyes went wide and he blurted out the confidences that Adrian had shared with him, without a second’s hesitation. “He’s been gambling! That’s where all his money has been going. He goes to the horse track all the time. He’s even driven up to Windsor a couple of times. Those are the reasons he’s been really late in getting home.”

Jack looked surprised in hearing that. “Conner thinks Adrian’s been seeing someone else because he wouldn’t give him any reasons for being late or where all the money has been going.”

It was Gavin’s turn to look surprised; he plopped back down on his stool. “NO! Adrian said he doesn’t want to BE with anyone else. He said he just couldn’t tell Conner the truth about everything!”

Gavin thought this was a perfect example of how his and Jack’s relationship WORKED. Why, he should write a BOOK about it. He and Jack could go on tour, doing the talk show circuit. Leno! Letterman! They could even go on Oprah, who in his opinion, was just about the smartest person, next to Jack, in the whole world. They could solve the problems of every couple in the country.

“SEE! This would never happen with us. You would never let me get away with NOT explaining something like that. GOD! You’d KILL me the very first time it happened!”

Jack closed the fridge door and sat back down on the stool across from Gavin, giving him a wry smile. “I don’t think I’d actually KILL you. You’d probably be wishing you were dead, though.”

Gavin wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes. “You’re joking, right? There is NO probably about it! I KNOW that I’d be wishing I were dead! But Conner didn’t press for answers the first few times it happened and it’s gotten totally out of control now.” Gavin shook his head. “If Conner was more like you, then he could have stopped this before it got to this point, see? It’s ALL Conner’s fault.”

Jack smiled and shook his head. “I have to say I’m touched by your complete confidence in my abilities in handling things. It’s really is nice to hear that, when just last night you were complaining that living with me was like living with ‘that de Sade guy’.”

“Like I said, sometimes you can be like that guy. And what grown man wouldn’t complain about all the stuff you did to me last night!” Gavin huffed and leaned his elbows back on the table.

“Gavin, you lied to me. I don’t want you to forget what ‘all that stuff’ was about.”

Gavin nodded his head. This just proved his point. “SEE! You don’t even let little tiny lies like that pass! Adrian lies to Conner all the time about stuff.   I bet if you talked to Conner and explained about Adrian’s problems, you could help them work this out.”

Jack sighed. “Well, I should tell Conner about the gambling. Adrian needs some kind of help, apparently. I don’t know how much I can help them, though.”

“Well, I think you could help a lot. Just give him some hints on how to handle …things. How to get Adrian to talk to him.” Gavin squirmed a little. “You don’t have to go into detail or anything. I mean, they don’t have to know how YOU deal with stuff like that….personally.”

Jack laughed out loud. “You want me to tell Conner that Adrian needs a little ….discipline, but you don’t want me to mention the details of how WE handle those things in our relationship. Is that right?”

Gavin thought that was a great idea. “Yeah, that’s what I want you to do. It might work for them too.”

“If I mention this to him, Gavin, I’d probably have to mention US too. It wouldn’t make much sense if I didn’t.” Jack laughed again at Gavin’s expression.

Gavin blushed a little. “You wouldn’t have to tell him everything! I mean, you don’t have to give him all the tiny, gory little details or anything.”

“I don’t think I’d have to go into very much detail, Gav.” Jack’s shoulders were shaking. “Most people can figure out how to spank someone without a play by play or a how-to video.”

“I KNOW that!” Gavin face was flushed. The very idea of someone KNOWING about the way that Jack handled …problems would be SO embarrassing. He changed his mind about going on that talk show circuit. Jay would probably crack jokes about it in his opening act. Letterman would probably come up with a top ten list on the reasons Gavin McCourt got his butt spanked. And he just couldn’t imagine discussing this with Oprah! She and Stedman would probably lie awake at night giggling about it. But he really wanted to help Adrian.

“Well, you could at least talk to him about the reasons he’s been late and the money. Maybe if he knows Adrian wasn’t cheating on him it might make a difference. Maybe they could work things out.” Gavin said, looking hopeful that his friend would get the help he needed.

“I’ll talk to him. At least explain about the gambling. Adrian does need help from someone.” Jack stood up and headed for the fridge again. “I don’t know if I’ll mention *our* way of handling things, though. Even if Conner was willing to commit to handling things the way we do, I don’t see Adrian agreeing to it.”

Gavin gave Jack a look of total confusion. “Well, what does Adrian have to do with THAT decision? It’s Conner’s decision.”

Jack looked amused. “I think Adrian would at least have to consent to it. The first time, anyway.”

Gavin’s forehead wrinkled. Now he was REALLY confused.   “I certainly don’t EVER remember consenting the first time that it happened with us. If I remember correctly, I walked in the door late and the next thing I knew I was over your knees looking at that worn out green growth that the landlord called a carpet…. about two weeks after I moved in with you! You NEVER discussed anything with ME!”

Jack smiled at the memory. The look on Gavin's face had been priceless. "No, but I did warn you what would happen if you were late again. That very next night you showed up about six hours late. If you ask me, that was all the consent I needed. You were daring me!”

Gavin didn’t remember it being quite that simple. “I don’t remember giving ANY consent. I don’t EVER remember you asking for my consent either. Are you saying that if we would have discussed all that then…. that I would have had a choice? NOW is a fine time to tell me this. After SEVEN years!”

Jack remembered it being just that simple. “No, you’d already given me all the consent that I needed by walking in late without calling, after I’d warned you what would happen. And since you’re still here, I just assumed I had your consent.”

Gavin thought Jack had this consent business a little mixed up and told him so. “You know, I think you have this consent business a little mixed up. I tell you ALL the time NOT to spank me! You’ve NEVER listened to me. Where was I when this ‘consent’ thing was going on? WHAT! Was there a special consent meeting and I MISSED it or something? Because I SURE wasn’t involved in it. I don’t remember voting in favor of anything.”

Jack tried not to laugh. “You were VERY involved in that meeting, if I remember correctly. And when we were finished with that meeting, you didn’t leave. I took that for consent. Your vote WAS counted.”

Gavin could tell Jack was trying hard not to laugh. He didn’t think there was a darn thing funny about this whole thing.

“Well then, I think it’s time we had another vote. We live in a Democracy and ALL of the people should have the opportunity to have their voices heard. There’s an amendment in the Constitution that says so, Jack. You’re really violating a lot of amendments lately, you know.”

“But WE don’t live in a Democracy. And it was a lifetime vote. And considering the fact that you just spent the last ten minutes telling me how all of this works for us, I'm going to assume that I still have your consent.” Jack laughed at Gavin’s snort. He shut the fridge door. “I think we should just order pizza tonight. And while we’re waiting for it to be delivered, we can discuss you being late tonight without calling. I’m sure by the time I’m through with you, your voice WILL be heard. Loud and clear.”

Gavin stomped his foot and started to whine. It was just a darn shame that Jack never forgot anything. “Jaaack! I had a good reason. That’s just NOT fair!”

“Hey, it works for us.” Jack picked up the phone, punching in the numbers to the pizza shop. “You just need a little help with….things. Why don't you go ahead and let Martha out while I order the pizza? Your howling upsets her."

Gavin's eyes went wide; he began sputtering. "MY howling upsets HER? What about ME? You sure don't worry about upsetting ME!"

"I'm just protecting your right to have your voice heard, Gav. When Martha starts howling, it makes it kind of hard to hear you." Jack put the phone to his ear and went about ordering the pizza.

Gavin muttered under his breath. “I think you're worse than that de Sade guy. That's what I think!"
…………..
********

Gavin stepped back, looking at the wall he’d just finished painting, and wrinkled his nose. He squatted down and picked up the lid to the paint can, reading the label. The color was SUPPOSED to be “Dark Cowslip”. Gavin thought it had been misnamed.

“Jaack, look at this wall. This color is disgusting. It looks like baby shit! Who would want to sleep in a bedroom the color of baby shit?”

Jack was on his hands and knees, filling in the baseboards with wood filler. He looked up, eyeing the wall, and then looked at Gavin.

“It does look a little greener than the paint sample. Maybe the guy didn’t get the mixture right.”

Gavin made a face. “Well, something’s not right. It’s just plain gross!”

Jack smiled, shrugging his shoulders. “Hey, you’re the design expert. I’m just the construction guy in this outfit.”

“Yeah right. Well, I say this looks like shit.” Gavin looked at the wall again. “Maybe I should run to the paint store and get another color.”

“Gavin, you’re grounded. Remember.” Jack went back to filling in the holes in the woodwork. “Sorry, buddy.”

“Sheesh, Jack. It’s just Lowe’s, for crying out loud.” Gavin put his hands on his hips and pouted at Jack. “What’s the big deal about running to Lowe’s.”

Jack looked up at Gavin and laughed. “Gavin, you love going to Lowe’s. You could spend hours there just looking at the bathroom fixtures. You’d rather go to Lowe’s than skiing. Being grounded means staying at home, remember.”

“Yeah, and you said that you’d stay home with me all weekend.” Gavin pouted some more. Even though being grounded sucked, there were several incredible things he could think of doing that didn’t require leaving the house. But every one of them included Jack! “How come you’re going to play basketball with Conner?”

Jack laid the caulking gun down on the floor. He moved several tools off of the old folding chair and sat down on it, motioning for Gavin to join him. “Come here, you.”

Gavin sat down on Jack’s lap. This was more like it. He started kissing Jack’s neck.

Jack laughed, “I’ll only be gone for a little while. I thought you wanted me to talk to Conner.”

“I do.” Gavin said between neck nibbles.

“I’ll stop by Lowe’s after I’m done playing basketball and pick up some paint. I’ll take the paint cans with me and you can pick out another color from the samples downstairs as a backup in case they can’t fix what we have.”

“Okay.” Gavin nibbled some more.

“I won’t be gone all that long.” Jack groaned, when Gavin’s hand started wandering.

“I know.” Gavin hand wandered some more.

“I have to meet Conner at one o’clock.” Jack shifted on the folding chair.

“That’s enough time.” Gavin went for Jack’s belt.

Jack groaned again. He picked Gavin up in his arms and stood up from the chair, heading for the doorway. “You are such a brat. You always get your way.”

“I might be a brat, but you’re easy Jack. Really easy.” Gavin laughed, putting his arms around Jack’s neck.

----

Gavin was bored. BORED.

He had no paint to paint with. Jack had taken the baby shit paint with him to exchange at the store. There was nothing on television that interested him. He wasn't even allowed to run to Blockbuster and exchange the movies they had watched last night for new ones. Gavin thought at the very least Jack could have gone to the video store for him before leaving. Prisoners had rights. It was written in the Constitution! Or at least he thought it was. He'd have to look that one up.

Martha was taking her afternoon nap, which Gavin thought was ridiculous. He thought puppies were supposed to have endless amounts of energy or something.

This was turning out to be the longest afternoon in Gavin's life. He looked at the clock.

Jack had been gone fifteen minutes. FIFTEEN MINUTES! Sheesh! At this rate he would be dead of boredom by two p.m.

There were several things that he COULD be doing. Laundry! He could clean the bathrooms. Dusting! Nothing much fun, but stuff Jack had mentioned that needed to be done, along with several other things.

Gavin had promised himself that he would NEVER lie again. He would ALWAYS pay his bills on time. He even went one step further in his promise and SWORE he would never do anything again that could even be considered "poor judgment".

Gavin McCourt was a new man.

Responsible. Prudent. Punctual. Vigilant.

Temper tantrums were a thing of the past, too. Although he really thought that suppressing your feelings too much could cause an ulcer or something. He'd read about stuff like that.

He looked out the family room window. The sky was clear; the sun was bright against the snow. The temperature gauge on the porch read 32 degrees. This was not Gavin's favorite time of year. He liked temperatures that hovered around 75 degrees. But 32 degrees wasn't bad when compared to the 20-degree temperatures they had been having. It would have been a perfect ski weekend.

He wished that he had started working on his "new man" personality a little sooner. It would have saved him a lot of trouble and he'd be skiing right now instead of being bored to death.

After going over the list of things to do that Jack had mentioned needed doing, Gavin decided on clearing the snow off of the driveway. He figured it would be VERY prudent to at least start on some of the things on that list.

The sun was making the snow wet, so Gavin had to shovel the snow. Not as much fun as the snow blower, but being the prudent and responsible person he was determined to be, the shovel would have to do.

Gavin was so deep in thought as he shoveled the snow that he didn’t hear the car pull up behind him in the driveway. He slipped, nearly falling when the car horn blared from behind him. He turned around to glare at the horn offender, but smiled instead when he saw Adrian behind the wheel.

Adrian was an inch shorter than Gavin’s 5’10. He had closely cropped brown hair highlighted with blond streaks, which Gavin was sure had come from a bottle. His dark brown eyes were fringed with even darker lashes, and the innocence that radiated from them was as fake as the blond streaks in his hair.

But there was something about Adrian that Gavin liked. He didn’t exactly know what that was, but it was… something.

Adrian rolled the window down and called out to Gavin. "Need a break?"

Gavin walked over to the car and leaned against the door. "I just started, but I could still use a break. Come on in and I'll fix us something hot."

Adrian shook his head. "I can't stay. Climb in and we can talk in the car."

Gavin ditched the shovel and climbed in the passenger seat. The car was warm so he unbuttoned his coat and pulled off his gloves.

"What's up?"

Adrian looked nervous; he fidgeted in his seat. "I was wondering if you could loan me some money?"

Gavin looked surprised. “Why?”

Adrian fidgeted some more. “I lost a little money at the track and I…need some cash to cover a bet.”

"How much?" Gavin asked, a little nervous himself. He didn't think loaning money to someone with a gambling problem would be...prudent.

"Three grand." Adrian held his hands up when he saw the look on Gavin’s face. "I'd pay you back. I swear!"

"Adrian, I don't have three grand!" Gavin rolled his eyes.

Adrian looked unconvinced. "You and Jack both make good money. You can't tell me you don't have that much saved."

"YEAH, in savings!" Gavin couldn't believe Adrian was even asking him this. "Most of what I make is going back in my business anyway. Jack takes care of the savings and stuff. I couldn't just take money out of it without him knowing about it and he would NEVER go for it!"

Gavin didn't mention that he had done that. ONCE. NEVER again. There were some things that he had learned fast and on the very first try.

Gavin searched Adrian's face. The panic and fear he saw there tugged at his heart. "You're in way over your head, Adrian. You need help."

Adrian let out a shaky breath. "I know. And if I could fix this one last thing I would never gamble again. I swear."

"Let's go in and call Conner and Jack. Maybe they can figure out how to help you with this."

Adrian shook his head. "I can't bring this to Conner now. I have to fix this first. Maybe then we'd have a chance of working things out, you know."

"I think you're wrong." Gavin knew if this were his problem Jack would WANT him to bring this to him. Jack would KILL him. But after killing him, he'd fix it.

"I have one other thing I can do." Adrian started backing the car out of the driveway. "There's this guy someone told me about that could lend me the money. He's done it for some other guys at the track. I was just hoping maybe I wouldn't have to go that route…you know, if you had the money."

"What guy?" Gavin didn't think this sounded like a very good idea, but what did he know about gambling people.

After going over all of the possibilities in his mind, Gavin's eyes widened and he started to sputter.

"Do you mean like a...loan shark! Are you CRAZY! Those people are dangerous! They charge like 100% interest and if you don't pay them back, they send guys named Bruno and Lenny to break your kneecaps. They could KILL you! I've read about stuff like that!"

Adrian gave a nervous laugh. "You read too much. This isn't a book or a movie, Gavin. This guy is perfectly legal."

Gavin snorted. "If he was legal he'd have an office or be in the yellow pages, for crying out loud. You wouldn't have heard about him from ‘some guys at the track’.”

"I have an address for him. I've never met the guy, but I know he's there now." Adrian stopped at the stop sign and pulled a slip of paper out of his coat. He handed it to Gavin.

Gavin read the address and choked. "Adrian, do you know where this is? I don't think it's a good idea to go there alone. I don't think that the people who hang out in THAT neighborhood would appreciate a guy like you very much."

Adrian’s smile looked kind of sick. "I know. That's why I thought you'd go with me."

Gavin was now convinced that Adrian had completely lost his mind. “I KNOW they wouldn’t appreciate someone like me either! You’re crazy!”

Gavin noticed for the first time that the car was moving. He looked out the window, noticing they were no longer in his neighborhood. God! He wasn't even supposed be out of his YARD. He had been doing SO well with being… prudent. But he really sucked at being vigilant. Gavin gulped.

He had been KIDNAPPED and he hadn’t even noticed!

Gavin grabbed Adrian's coat. "I CAN’T! You HAVE to take me BACK! NOW!"

Adrian tried shrugging his shoulder out of Gavin's clutched fingers. "Gavin, can't you just go with me, please? I just need some support, that’s all."

Gavin was really starting to panic. "I'm telling you that Jack and Conner would support you on this. I TOLD Jack about your problem. He's playing basketball with Conner right NOW!!"

Adrian hit the steering wheel with his palm. "You TOLD him? How could you do that, Gavin?"

Gavin was too panicked to worry about Adrian's feelings. "Jack told me that Conner thinks you're cheating on him, Adrian! Conner will WANT to help you once he hears about your problem. Let's just go back and call them!"

"Cheating on him! I would never cheat on him." Adrian rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe he'd think that. No wonder he left."

"Well, what did you expect? Lying and sneaking around the way you've been doing." Gavin spread his arms out wide, one hand smacking against Adrian’s shoulder.

"Two people that are supposed to be sharing a life together just don't lie to each other, Adrian! It's...….wrong!"   Gavin quoted the most important Jack Ryan rule. “If you can’t trust each other, everything else just falls apart!”

Adrian looked over at Gavin; the sadness in his eyes couldn’t be faked, even by a pro like him.   "I know."

"Okay, let's go back home and call Jack and Conner."

"I just need to fix this first. Please?" Adrian asked softly. “I’ll take you back home if you really want me to, but I’m begging you. Please go with me. It’ll only take a few minutes of your time.”

Adrian pulled into the parking lot of the address on that paper and parked the car. He sat there for a few minutes not saying anything….just looking at Gavin with those eyes, begging him for help.

When Gavin didn’t answer, Adrian slumped down in his seat looking totally defeated. “I’ll take you home and come back by myself.”

Gavin looked around the parking lot again. There was a bar sign hanging by a wire above the front door of the run-down brick building. Several letters were missing from the name on the sign, so Gavin played a little game of “Wheel of Fortune”. After filling in an “L” and a couple of “R’s”, he guessed the name of the place was “Lou’s Bar and Grill”. He hadn’t even needed any help from Vanna! Of course, Vanna wouldn’t be caught dead at a place like this.

Three men exited the front door, mostly staggering. If this were June instead of January, Gavin was convinced the three men would all be wearing wife-beater t-shirts, with “Mom” tattooed on their biceps. They were scary.

“Oh shit! You CAN’T go in there alone.”

Adrian shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not afraid.”

Gavin could see that was a lie. He didn’t have his cell phone with him, but even a place like this would have to have a pay phone. He could call Jack and Conner from inside.

“Well, I can’t very well let you go in there alone.”

Adrian gave Gavin a very relieved smile. “Thank you!”

They got out of the car and closed the door. Gavin straightened his shoulders and, doing his very best John Wayne imitation, sauntered towards the bar beside Adrian.

Once inside the bar, Gavin glanced around the smoke-filled room. He decided his first impression of the place was just about perfect. It was the seediest-looking place he’d ever been in.

Adrian leaned against the bar and asked the bartender if he knew the man he was looking for. The bartender pointed him out to Adrian. Adrian ordered two beers and passed one to Gavin, then motioned for him to sit at one of the tables. Adrian went to introduce himself to the man with the money.

The tabletop was sticky and Gavin was positive it hadn’t been cleaned since the place opened, probably somewhere around the turn of the century. He set the beer glass down on the table, deciding NOT to drink any of it. If the table was this dirty, he didn’t want to take a chance on having that glass anywhere near his mouth. He shuddered at the thought.

The butterflies in Gavin’s stomach were turning into large prehistoric birds.   He had a feeling Jack’s reaction would be a little …prehistoric too, but more along the lines of a caveman…with a club. He looked around the room and saw the pay phone next to the men’s room.

“I have to use the men’s room. I’ll be right back.” Gavin stood up from the chair and made his way towards the phone. He looked back once and noticed a really shady-looking man with beady eyes walk over to their table and sit down beside Adrian.

Gavin searched his pocket for change and, after depositing a pocketful, he dialed Jack’s cell. He answered on the third ring. Gavin decided that it would be best to cover his own ass first.

Gavin whispered frantically into the phone. “Jack! I’ve been kidnapped!!”

After a moment of silence, Jack asked, “By whom?”

Gavin took a deep breath. “Adrian.”

Jack’s voice sounded slightly aggravated already and he hadn’t even heard the story yet. “Explain.”

Gavin explained, first and foremost letting Jack know that he hadn’t known that Adrian was kidnapping him until it was too late.

Jack didn’t buy that part of it, though. His thoughts on the subject were short and to the point. Gavin should have let Adrian take him back home when he was given the choice and called Jack from there. He and Conner could have met Adrian at the bar before he’d even had a chance to go in.

Gavin hadn’t thought about doing it that way. It was those “vigilance” and “prudence” things again. He really sucked at those.

But he HAD been doing so well with the “prudent” part of his promise.

Jack’s voice interrupted Gavin’s thoughts. “Gavin, I want you to go sit in the car. Conner is with me and we can be there in fifteen minutes.”

Gavin gulped. “Jack, just remember I called you. You can’t kill me, because I did call you. That should count for something.”

“I’m glad that you called me and it does count for something, Gav. I’m only going to kill you once. Go sit in the car!”

Gavin stared at the receiver for second. Jack was going to KILL him. Once was enough! He was going to beat Gavin to death and then ground him for the rest of his life. Gavin just KNEW it!

He really should call the ACLU! Right now! Before Jack arrived! It would be the prudent thing to do.

Gavin hung up the phone and headed for the door. The prudent thing to do….. was to be sitting in that car when Jack arrived.

*********
After arriving back at their house, Jack and Conner had disappeared into the den. Gavin and Adrian were told to wait in the family room. Gavin felt sort of like a death row inmate waiting for the executioner to come and walk him down that Long Green Mile... to his DEATH!

Gavin sat motionless in the chair, staring into space. He was SO dead! Jack was going to KILL him. And he really couldn’t even think of a single argument for his defense. Not even a really far fetched one and he was usually pretty good at coming up with those.

He should NEVER have left the house with Adrian. He should have gone BACK to the house when he was given the choice and called Jack. It would have been the prudent thing to do. Leaving the house knowing he was grounded was just plain crazy. Going to see a loan shark to borrow money was just…. CRIMININALLY INSANE!!! And that was a defense that had been tried before. And ALWAYS failed! Jack NEVER went for the criminally insane defense.

When Jack and Conner had arrived at Lou’s Bar and Grill, Gavin had jumped out of the car and wrapped his arms around Jack’s neck. Jack had kissed him and told him again how glad he was that Gavin had called them. He had also told Gavin that they would be having a very long discussion on what “grounded” meant, just before swatting him back into the car to wait for them to bring Adrian out.

Yep, Jack was going to beat him to death and then ground him for the rest of his life! Gavin should have called the ACLU when he’d had the chance.

Adrian was pacing the family room back and forth. “What are they talking about in there anyway?”

Gavin looked across the hall at the closed den door. “Funeral arrangements.”

Adrian stopped his pacing and looked at Gavin. “What are you so upset about? I'm the one whose whole life is hanging in the balance. Conner will never take me back now. You didn’t do anything wrong. Jack would never leave you even if you did have a …little gambling problem.”

Gavin sank further down in the chair. “No, Jack would never leave me.”

The den door opened and Jack walked down the hall. Conner didn't come out of the room. Gavin wondered what that was all about.

Adrian hadn't noticed Jack's departure. He had momentarily forgotten his own troubles and was now wondering why Gavin so freaked. “If you aren’t worried that Jack will leave you, then what ARE you worried about?”

Gavin looked at Adrian like he was crazy and blurted out the truth. “Because he’s going to KILL me! DEAD!”

Adrian laughed at Gavin’s expression. “Jack’s a Prosecutor. He’s not going to kill you. And he won’t leave you. I’m the one that has to worry about being dumped. I don't understand what you're so upset about."

Gavin was sure that Adrian would NEVER understand about why he was SO upset. How did a person explain about stuff like that?

He looked across the hall again and saw Jack walking back towards the den, meeting Conner at the door. Jack was speaking to Conner in a low voice; Gavin couldn't make out what was being said. Then Jack held out his hand and passed....something to Conner. .
Gavin blinked and sat up a little straighter in his chair. It looked very much like...the paddle! Gavin watched as Conner looked at that paddle and then put it in his pocket.

Gavin smiled for the first time since Adrian had showed up at his door.

Adrian couldn't see the exchange between the two men in the hall from where he was pacing. He was completely oblivious to the fact that his whole life was about to change.

"Gavin, didn't you hear me? You're acting so weird. I don't understand what you're so upset about." Adrian flopped down on the couch, apparently tired of pacing.

“Oh, I have a feeling you’re going to understand. Completely! Before this night’s over. You won’t need any explanations from me.” Gavin decided not to elaborate any further. It was probably for the best if Adrian came to his own understanding about it, without any help from him.

Besides, Gavin had his own worries. There were a couple of other things that were MUCH worse than that paddle and if Jack was giving theirs away, well, he just didn’t want to think about the other...possibilities. Gavin gulped at the thought. Maybe it wouldn’t be THAT bad. One could only hope.

When Jack and Conner stepped into the family room, Gavin gave Jack a sick little smile. Jack didn’t smile back. Who was he kidding? It was going to be REALLY bad. There was no hope for it!

Conner grabbed Adrian’s coat off the couch and tossed it to him. “I think we’ve taken up enough of Jack and Gavin’s time. Let’s head home.”

Adrian gave Conner a surprised smile. “You mean you’re coming home? With me? For good?”

Conner smiled at Adrian. Gavin thought it was a very determined looking smile. When Jack smiled like that it usually meant very unpleasant things were coming. But Adrian didn’t quite understand about that look. Yet!

“Yes, for good.” Conner answered, not taking his eyes off of Adrian.

Adrian was almost dancing as he put his coat on. “That’s great! I’m really sorry about everything. I can promise you that nothing like this will ever happen again.”

Conner’s smile only looked more determined. “Oh, *I* can promise you that it will *never* happen again.”

Adrian was STILL oblivious. Gavin figured it would probably be the very LAST time Adrian would be able to enjoy a really good oblivion. Being a really good friend, Gavin let him enjoy that feeling this one last time.

Conner and Adrian thanked them both and Jack led them through the hall towards the kitchen door. Gavin just sat in his chair wishing he could work up a really good oblivion for himself. His wishful thinking was interrupted by Jack’s bellow.

“GAVIN! BASEMENT! NOW!”

Gavin whimpered from his chair. He really should have called the ACLU when he had the chance.

What about his right to a FAIR trial… in front of a jury of his PEERS?! What about his right to an ATTORNEY? That was one of the amendments in that Bill of Rights!

It was written RIGHT in the Constitution. He’d read about stuff like that!

“GAVIN!”

Gavin jumped up out his chair and scooted down the hall, fast. Those amendments were really hard to figure out sometimes, but he was finally getting the hang of it.

Jack decided WHAT was FAIR! Jack was the only PEER Gavin had to worry about!

And since HE was Gavin’s attorney that meant Jack had the RIGHT to KILL him!

That’s what it meant!

“GAVIN! IF I HAVE TO COME AND GET YOU….!”

“I’m coming! I’m coming!”

The END!

P.S.S. If anyone thinks Jack is being mean and unreasonable please let him KNOW, cause we don't know what happened in the basement yet. The author and Jack are still arguing about that.

The author is thinking very seriously about calling the ACLU. ;)