Coping
by Taylor Jameson


Brad sighed as he flipped through the channels. Since the on air kiss, the media
attention had pretty much died down and people had gotten used to them as a
couple. His mother had called, in tears, and he told her everything. She was upset,
but glad her son had found love.

He'd spent very little time, over the week that had passed, with Greg. He was
almost always working, no doubt to quell the upset in his system.

Smiling softly, Brad picked up the phone and dialed Greg's cell number.

"Hi sweetie," Brad said as Greg picked up.

"Hey studly, how are you doing?" Greg replied.

Brad set aside the carton of 'cookies 'n' cream' ice cream he'd been devouring
to ward away depression, "As good as one could expect."

Greg let out a dry chuckle, "I understand, I've been keeping myself busy."

Brad sighed, "I know...I miss you. Can we get together tonight?"

Greg paused for a moment, "Okay, I'm on the way."

"Great!" Brad grinned, "I'll be waiting!" He hung up, his heart racing. After
brushing the Oreo crumbs off his shirt he went about cleaning up.

* * * * *

Brad smiled as he looked out the peephole on his door. There was Greg, in his
smart brown suit and gray tie. Letting out a sigh of relief he opened the door.

Greg smiled as he entered the condo and shut the door securely behind him.
"I love you..." He smiled, kissing the younger man.

"It's been so long," Brad smiled.

"Someone's been eating sweets," Greg grinned, "Tastes like ice cream and Oreos."

"'Cookies 'n' Cream.'" Brad smiled, "I guess we all cope differently, some have
booze, some have stress, I have food."

Greg grinned and held Brad close, "Yet you still have such a sexy physique...let
me guess, you work out."

"Not since little league." Brad smooched Greg.

"Lucky team." Greg smiled, then changed the subject, "What are you doing this
weekend?"

"I'm open until next Monday, then Drew needs me for a taping." Brad smiled,
running his fingers over the buttons on Greg's white shirt, "Why, are you
gonna take me somewhere?"

"Well," Greg punctuated with soft kisses; "I got a call last night. And my agent
says he can get a gig this weekend in Vegas. And I thought you could come
with me..." He ran his hands over the cotton of Brad's fractal print shirt.

Brad smiled around the small kisses; "I'd love to go." He put his arms around
his lover under the dark brown jacket. "When do we leave?"

Greg kissed him harder, sliding his hands into the back of Brad's jeans, the skin
feeling good and warm. "In the morning."

Brad smiled and whispered, "Doing anything special tonight?" He rocked them
back and forth a little.

"Just you," Greg purred, pressing his fingers into the soft flesh just above Brad's ass.

"Is that a promise?" Brad smiled wickedly, kissing Greg's cheek and making a trail
to his ear.

Greg gasped slightly as Brad began to nibble and suck at his earlobe, "Anything
you want..." he breathed, "Just don't stop doing that."

Brad kissed the pinkening ear once more, "I'm sure there are other things I can do..."

Greg let out a low moan and released his lover, then let Brad lead him to the
bedroom.

* * * * *

Greg smiled impishly as he hung his jacket on the knob of Brad's bedroom door.
"You know," he shrugged off his suspenders, "I've never been in your room before."

Brad smiled back and pulled off his shirt, "Is it everything you'd hoped?" He giggled.

"Actually, I pictured it to be a little...fruity." Greg smiled, then explained as Brad
raised an eyebrow, "You know, movie posters and comic strips and pictures of kittens."

Brad smiled, his room was simple. A large four poster oak bed with blue sheets
that matched the pale blue carpet and curtains. The walls and furniture were all
variations of light brown. "I don't spend much time in here."

Greg unbuttoned his shirt, fumbling slightly, "It's cozy though."

Brad undid his jeans and let them fall to the floor, then stood before his man in
nothing but black cotton boxers with glow-in-the dark stars. The self-consciousness
came over him again, the creeping feeling of inadequacy, the fear of disappointing
his lover. Blushing, he crawled into the bed and pulled the sheets up to his nipples.

"What? I don't even get to see how sexy you look in here?" Greg asked, making a
child-like mock frown and puppy dog eyes.

Brad swallowed, "No, I'm just ready to get down and dirty."

Greg pulled off his undershirt and undid his belt, "But just studying your body is
half the fun..."

Brad blushed as Greg dropped his pants and walked to the bed, standing by his
feet. "You don't want to study me, besides, I'd feel like a science experiment."

"On the contrary," Greg smiled, uncovering Brad's feet and lower legs, "I want to
kiss every bit of skin you have."

Brad blushed, "Would you settle for rubbing my back?"

Greg smiled, "Sounds reasonable." He let Brad roll onto his stomach and hand him
a small bottle of Vaseline Intensive Care lotion, "Next time, I'll bring sexier lotion,"
Greg muttered sarcastically.

"I didn't think you'd be rubbing my back tonight," Brad replied.

Greg laughed and straddled Brad's thighs, then squirted some of the aloe lotion
into his palms and began to massage his way up. "I meant to ask last time, but
what's the deal with your lack of body hair?"

Brad chuckled slightly, his muscles molding with Greg's hands, "I never liked it, so
I have it waxed and shaved once a week." He moaned as his body hummed,
"Does it bother you?"

"Not really," Greg rubbed harder, "Just curious." He continued to rub and mold
Brad's back, sometimes getting a little pop out of the spine.

"This feels so good..." Brad sighed in pleasure, "You're going to have to do this
more often."

Greg grinned impishly again and lowered Brad's boxers so his rear poked out,
then pushed him up a little and removed them entirely.

Brad's skin grew even warmer as he felt Greg's lips pressed to the curve of his ass.

Greg left a trail of butterfly kisses across each soft cheek, nuzzling and nibbling
ever so gently.

Brad flexed his upper leg muscles as Greg worked his magic. The sensations
made his skin warm and tender, then his back bolted straight as Greg's tongue
split his rump and flicked across his asshole.

Greg worked harder as Brad gasped and let a tiny squeal pass his throat. He
let the tip of his tongue slide into the small hole, then flicked it as best he could.

Brad gasped and grabbed at the bed as Greg's tongue penetrated deeper, each
minute movement making his body throb. His cock pitted fitfully into the mattress,
and Brad whimpered, hoping to signal his need. Gently he thrust back against his
lover.

Greg removed his tongue and positioned himself on his knees as Brad put himself
face down with his soft ass in the air.

Brad's knees slid a little on the mattress as Greg spread his knees, his body
buckling in anticipation.

"Can I?" Greg whispered, running a delicate finger over the blushing butt.

"Keep going...I'll tell you if it hurts..." Brad replied, bracing himself.

Greg slid his index and middle finger into his mouth, generously wetting them,
then slowly worked them into the hole.

Brad bit into his lip slightly as the fingers penetrated. It wasn't painful, but slightly
uncomfortable and definitely arousing.

Greg smiled as Brad pushed back against his stroking fingers. Carefully, he took
his almost erect cock in hand, giving it a few strokes, then removed his fingers.
"Here comes..." He whispered.

Brad tried to relax, as he'd seen in films, but when he felt Greg run his stiff member
over the hole, spreading the precum for lubrication, he couldn't help but clench his
hands around the already balled up sheets.

With a deep breath, Greg positioned himself and gave the first gentle steady push
until the head was all the way in.

The pain spread like fire as Brad felt Greg inching his way in, but refused to signal
for him to stop.

Greg pushed harder, almost all the way in, and grasped Brad's stable hips with
one hand and his rock-hard cock in the other.

Brad moaned as Greg pushed the rest in and gave his member a powerful stroke.
Then, quickly pulled almost all the way out.

Greg thrust evenly, pistoning Brad's cock as an echo. He could not take much
more of the strong pull and his thrusts grew more erratic.

Brad moaned loudly, the pain gone and replaced by a sweeping ecstasy. He felt
his body clench and lurch as his orgasm hit.

Greg cried out as Brad clenched, not even feeling the cum flow over hand. In a
motion he pulled out and spread his seed across Brad's backside.

Brad tried to hold himself up, but the rush was just too much. He fell forward as
Greg pulled out and dug face first into his pillows.

Greg cried out and came hard, but didn't realize he was falling. He saw the top
of the bed, and then hit the soft blue carpet with a thud.

Brad heard Greg moaning and looked to the side, reaching out for his lover,
"Greg?" He groaned.

"Ugh..." Greg moaned, pulling himself off the floor and onto the bed, "We have to
work on technique."

Brad smiled and snuggled close, pressing his face into Greg's neck.

* * * * *

For hours, the just laid there, not sleeping, just holding each other.

Then Brad sighed and whispered, "How many others have there been?"

Greg lowered his gaze so he didn't have to look Brad in the eyes, "Does it matter?"

Brad cupped Greg's chin with his moveable hand, "Greg...please?"

Greg placed a gentle kiss on Brad's thumb, "Its not important. I love you and
that's all that matters."

"I want to know...It must have been a lot." Brad bit into his lip; thinking of his
lover's other men.

"There were three, okay?" Greg finally offered, "I'm not proud of them, and
none of them meant as much to me as you do."

"Oh..." Brad blinked, lowering his eyes, "Anyone I know?"

"Sweetie, what's done is done..." Greg put his arm around Brad and pulled
him closer.

"Was it someone we work with?" Brad asked, sitting up and evading Greg's
grasp.

"No, one was in high school, one was in college and the other I met on the
road a year ago," Greg admitted, blushing, "I don't even remember their
names."

Brad smiled slightly and kissed his lover, "Why don't you rest here? I want
to take a quick shower."

Greg nodded as Brad walked towards the bathroom and stretched out on
the slightly sticky sheets, emotionally and physically exhausted.

* * * * *

Brad stepped out of the shower and quickly toweled off, then slid into his blue
terrycloth bathrobe. His body hurt so badly, but it was worth it. He peeked
into the bedroom as he passed by, Greg was thankfully asleep.

It wasn't that he didn't want to be near Greg, he just had to think. Under the
cover of darkness, he stepped out onto his secluded balcony. //Hell with
the photographers, if they want their damn pictures, then can take all they want.//
He sighed, staring out at the city lights.

They'd been together a short time, yet he felt so deeply for the older man. After
only the last two months, Brad could safely say he was in love. He knew there
had been others before him, Greg was healthy and attractive with a killer personality
after all, but the actual thought bothered Brad deeply. He wondered why Greg had
even gotten into those situations, if he ever loved any of them.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Brad turned away from the city below.
"Las Vegas..." he whispered to himself, "Everything will be okay once we get out
of God-Damned California."

With that, he went to rejoin his lover.

* * * * *

The morning was hectic, Greg woke Brad at 6am and they quickly packed him
a suitcase, then drove to Greg's and picked up the bags he'd packed the day
before. They reached the gate just in time for their 10am flight.

On the plane they sat silently, mostly dozing and ignoring the attention they were
getting from the other passengers.

After getting the rental car, Greg dropped Brad off at the hotel, leaving him
directions and his ticket to the performance at 9pm.

* * * * *

Brad kicked off his shoes and sat on one of the big beds in the double occupancy.
Even for a cheap hotel in Vegas, it was nice. Brad grinned, one thing he knew
about his Greg, he had good taste.

Just being out of the California rush, even if they were now in the throng of
Vegas tourists (it was an improvement), made him feel better. The normally
public-nervous Greg had even given him a small kiss before he got out of the car.

After a few quick room checks, Brad helped himself to a small mini-bar martini
and undressed, then sat in their private hot tub.

* * * * *

Brad's eyes fluttered open, the hotel room was dark and his skin was wrinkled
into a pruneish form. "I guess I dozed off..." he mumbled to himself, then looked
at the clock. It was almost 8pm. In a rush, he grabbed everything and got dressed,
then caught a cab to the club.

By the time he had arrived and was escorted to his VIP seat, it was 5 minutes
until Greg went on.

* * * * *

The show was okay, not even close to a best, but worth the ticket price if not more.

During the last five minutes, Brad escaped to the back stage door and showed his
pass to the large guard, who nodded with a knowing grin and let him in.

The backstage area was abuzz with familiar, and not so familiar, faces. PR reps,
managers, agents and a group of disheveled looking teens and twenty-somethings
with passes.

"So, who's on next?" Brad asked nonchalantly.

One of the older looking groupies looked at him with a disgusted look; "You
must be kidding..."

Brad shook his head negative; "I'm just here to catch Greg."

The guy rolled his eyes, "Well, he's one of the lucky few to open for a private
gig for the best band on Earth."

"A KISS reunion concert?" Brad smiled sarcastically.

"No Fruit, Metallica." The roadie replied, "It's a private gig, only people in
the audience and back here know."

Brad nodded as the guy turned away, "Whatever." He mumbled under his
breath. Then, he smiled warmly and hugged the perspiring comic as he came
into the back area. "You were great!"

"I know." Greg grinned, "Let's go outside real quick here..."

Brad let Greg lead him out the stage doors and into the alley behind the club.

"I know I promised this trip would be mostly pleasure, but there's this party
tonight, and it's kinda business..." Greg explained quickly.

Brad wrinkled his brow, "Wait, who's hosting this party?"

Greg grinned, "Metallica! They're in there! Didn't you see their equipment
backstage?"

"Oh...I guess I wasn't paying attention. I'm not really that huge of a fan..."
Brad replied.

"Well, starting tonight you will be." Greg smiled, "They invited us to their
hotel room with them and a few close friends."

Brad sighed, "Well, if you want to go, I guess we can."

"All right!" Greg beamed, then took Brad by the hands again, "Let's go back in
and listen, the opening band is up!"

* * * * *

Brad sighed as Greg led him up to the penthouse suite the band had reserved.
His head was still pounding and swimming from the loud music's pulsing rhythms.
The concert helped him remember how good the band was and he vowed to buy
their CDs.

"This is it!" Greg grinned, clenching Brad's hand tightly, "I can't believe we're going
to party with Metallica!" he rang the bell at the door.

Brad let his ears adjust to the tune of 'Enter Sandman' played on a good system
with the bass up, as a tall dark haired man opened the door.

"Greg!" Kirk smiled, clasping hands, "Heard you act in the dressing room...
you're pretty fucking funny."

Greg nodded, "Thanks, you guys are awesome! This is my man, Brad."

"Hey guys!" Kirk announced to the room of about 20 people, "This is Brad,
he's Greg's!" Then led Greg into the room.

Brad entered and shut the door behind him as the guy led Greg away. The
music pounded in his head as the next song came on. Greg had deserted him
in the middle of the large group of strangers.

Heaving a sigh he slouched into a cozy couch by a table with burning incense,
it smelled like vanilla.

"Hey Brad..." A small man said, approaching and sitting beside him. "Sorry
about Kirk, he's just a little pumped after the concert."

Brad smiled and clasped his hands; "I'm getting used to being known as Greg's
attachment."

"Hey, you're still your own person." The guy clapped Brad on the shoulder,
"I know what its like to be just an accessory...I am a drummer."

Brad smiled, "Sorry if it's a stupid question, but who are you?"

The small man smiled, "I see, you must not be an obsessive listener."

"Sorry..." Brad sighed, "I haven't listened in a while and picked it back up
today."

The little guy grinned, "Hey, no offence taken." He held out a hand and Brad
shook it, "I'm Lars Ulrich, short and bitchy Dane at your service."

Brad smiled, "Brad Sherwood, comedy and improv specialty, recently had my
relationship with Greg exposed by some tabloid trash."

"Ouch." Lars responded, wincing, "That has to hurt."

"Well, it's a lot of stress on us...and the show, but I think its going to be okay."
Brad sighed.

"So you guys are pretty serious?" Lars smiled.

"In a way..." Brad sighed and crossed his legs uncomfortably, "I mean, every
relationship has its share of problems."

Lars nodded, he wanted to pursue the 'problems', but Brad seemed unsettled.
"I understand, want a drink?"

"What ya got?" Brad grinned wryly.

"Come on!" Lars grinned, "You name it."

"Bloody mary." Brad smiled, "And keep them coming."

* * * * *

Greg smiled and glanced over at Brad, he was drinking and chatting with the drummer.

"So," Kirk smiled, "Are you interested in possibly going on the road with us? We
could use an opening act before the opening band."

"I don't know, how many shows?" Greg asked slightly smiling, knowing his answer
already.

"Well, we've got one big gig here, then one in Arizona, then a few more in Colorado
and Texas." Kirk replied, "The next three weeks, basically."

Greg frowned, "I have to talk it over with Brad..."

"Sure, no problem." Kirk smiled, "Have you met James and Jason yet? It was their
idea to ask you about finishing the tour with us."

* * * * *

Brad smiled, laughing, and drained his third bloody mary as a groupie brought
number four. "So you see, she and I could never work out! She was attracted
to women and I wasn't!"

Lars smiled and laughed lightly at the anecdote. "Well, at least you never had to
keep a chick in tow to keep the group together."

"You mean, you have?" Brad smiled, sipping on the drink.

"Well, don't let anyone know I told you, but," Lars sipped his strawberry
daiquiri, "The whole band has fucked each other at one point or another. Usually
Kirk and I are the sex-crazed guys, though Jason gets in often. James...well,
he's usually not interested."

Brad nodded, "Sort of a togetherness thing?"

"Kinda, you know, more unattached sex than anything." Lars grinned, "Keeps us
sane."

Brad grinned and nodded, dizzy from the vodka. He laughed and stood up,
"I gotta go to the bathroom..." he mumbled.

Lars pointed the drunk man in the right direction and watched him trip over a table
and onto his ass. "Here, let me show you."

Brad smiled as the small man led him, his vision blurring.

Lars smiled and stood watch as Brad used the large bathroom.

"Is Brad in there?" Greg asked, approaching the drummer.

"Yeah," Lars replied, "But he's drunk on 3 1/2 bloody marys."

Greg smiled, "He doesn't drink much." He shifted nervously, "Look, Kirk and
Jason want to play some demos for me in the studio and I want to let him
know I'm going to be gone for a while."

"I want to go back to the hotel!" Brad cried out, opening the door, his pants
around his ankles.

Greg pulled Brad's pants back up and refastened them, after adjusting Brad's
boxers. "You can crash here, I'm sure the guys don't mind."

Lars smiled, "Yeah, you can use the big bed even."

Brad whined, "No, I want to go to my hotel room...where my stuff is."

Greg and Lars looked at each other, "I can't take him, I have to go with Kirk
and Jason."

Lars sighed, "Okay, I'll take him."

Greg smiled and gave Lars the address and his key, "Thanks, just put him to
bed...I'm sure he'll fall right asleep."

Lars nodded and took Brad towards the vehicle.

* * * * *

"Here we are." Lars smiled, holding Brad up as he threw open the door.

 "I'm sorry..." Brad blubbered. He'd been crying all the way about how Greg
had been with others before him.

"It's okay." Lars hunted for the light switch and found it.

Brad winced against the light, "I mean, I love him with all my heart, but he's
been with others! And I haven't!"

Lars sighed and plopped Brad onto the first bed, "You know, he's not that bad."

"I just...I wonder what its like to be with someone NOT GREG!" Brad sobbed.
With a hollow thud he fell into the stack of pillows.

"I'm sure you don't mean that." Lars smiled, running a hand over Brad's back.

"I do so." Brad sighed, rolling onto his back.

"Brad, you're drunk." Lars smiled softly, "Now just go to sleep and you'll feel
better in the morning."

"I'm not so drunk that I don't know what I want." Brad sighed, "Ever since he
told me about the others, I've wondered what it would be like to try someone else!"

Lars stood up and took the suitcases from the bed and placed them on the floor.
"Shh...don't say that."

"Why?" Brad sat up, dizzy from the speed of the ceiling rushing away, "Is it because
you know I want you?"

Lars stepped back, then replied, "No, I just don't think you should do that to your
relationship with Greg." He sat beside Brad and gently laid him down.

Brad sighed, "I just want something different to...test...our love."

"Look," Lars smiled gently, "I know you love Greg, and he loves you." He placed a
soft kiss on the comedian's forehead, "Call me if you're ever single." With that, he let
the drunk man sleep.

*****
END
*****



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