The Meeting

^{by Blue and HorseMadDreamer}

Colin shut the door quietly behind him, then leaned against it, saying nothing. It was as if he didn't want to draw our attention — impossible, because he was the last one to arrive. When he realized that we were all looking at him, he just offered a weary smile, but didn't move away from the door. He was completely soaked through from the heavy rain, and shivering besides.

Ryan had arrived just some ten minutes before, before the storm had broken, but he still had his jacket on. Without saying a word, he pulled it off and went to Colin, then draped it over his shoulders. He moved behind him, and started to put his arms around him.

"You'll get wet." Colin murmured.

"I don't care." Ryan said almost defiantly, and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him to his chest. Colin was still facing us, so I saw the surprised and pleased expression that flickered across his face. But he was also exhausted, so I also saw it when he shut his eyes, and leaned into Ryan's embrace ...

Even in Ryan's embrace, Colin swayed, barely able to stay on his feet, fighting the urge to collapse. Without releasing him, Ryan pushed Colin slowly forward towards the couch. Colin's eyes opened in surprise. As soon as he was within range, Ryan sat, pulling Colin down to sit beside him. The embrace never slipped. Once they were settled, Ryan reached up to Colin's chin and gently pulled his head down. Embarrassed, Colin fought the pull briefly, but exhaustion won over pride, and he stopped fighting with a sigh as he rested his head on Ryan's shoulder, eyes closed. They leaned against the couch back together. Ryan kept one arm around Colin's shoulders, holding him in place. The other hand drifted from Colin's chin to his hair, brushing the soaked strands, smoothing them, and tucking them behind Colin's ear.

The sound of the heavy rain quickly lulled the tired man to sleep.

When he was certain that Colin was sleeping, Ryan looked up at us. I could see the question clearly in his concerned green eyes. Why was the Canadian so exhausted?

"Why don't we move the meeting to the den?" Drew spoke softly before Ryan's silent question became oppressive. The room rustled as we picked up our belongings, moving quietly to keep from disturbing Colin. I was about to pick up my drink and ashtray when Ryan whispered to me.

"Greg, help me lay Colin down on the sofa." After I slid my hand between Ryan's shoulder and Colin's head, Ryan slipped sideways on the couch, bracing the sleeping man to keep him from falling. When he was clear of Colin's body, we gently laid him on the couch. The Canadian stirred and muttered but didn't awaken. Ryan knelt and started untying a shoelace while I worked on the other one. We had just finished putting Colin's feet on the couch when Laura walked back into the living room.

"I noticed that Colin was cold, so I asked Drew for some blankets." Bless Laura Hall's maternal instincts. She was holding two couch blankets for us. With a small smile of thanks, Ryan reached for one and placed it over Colin's chest while I put the other one over his legs. Laying the backside of his hand across Colin's forehead, Ryan checked his temperature, lightly brushing his fingers down Colin's cheek when he was finished. Ryan's eyes were still troubled.

"He'll be all right. Don't worry." After a reassuring pat on Ryan's arm, Laura left to return to the den. Grabbing our things, we followed more slowly after her. As soon as we were in the hallway, I stopped and blocked Ryan's path.

"What's up wi—"

"I don't know, Greg. I don't remember him ever just falling asleep like that before. Not when he was sober. And he didn't feel feverish." Ryan paused and then spoke more to himself than to me. "I just don't know."

Drew's meeting had been going on in the den for nearly an hour. We had gathered to discuss the upcoming USO trip to Saudi Arabia and the annual Las Vegas shows that immediately followed the trip this year. Even though our agents always handled the legal issues of the Las Vegas appearance (and this year, the USO tour as well), Drew liked for us to get together at least once to answer any questions or bring up any last minute issues. Plus, it was a good excuse for a small party at Drew's place. But this year, with Colin inexplicably asleep and Ryan worried and withdrawn, the meeting was more business than party. An intense debate was ensuing over whether or not we should censor ourselves during the tour in order to not offend the Saudis when a scream from the living room froze nearly everyone in mid-gesture.

Ryan bolted. As soon as the rest of us could get our legs to move, we ran to join him.

A second scream split the air as we skidded to a halt in the living room, unconsciously forming a protective semi-circle behind Ryan. Ryan was leaning over Colin, hands tightly gripping the Canadian's shoulders, shaking him, and calling Colin's name.

"Colin, wake up! C'mon buddy, you're having a bad dream. Colin!" The sleeping man woke with a gasp, his eyes wide with fear and clearly unaware of his surroundings. Brown eyes met the green ones hovering above them and lit with recognition and relief.

"Ryan!" With no warning, Colin sat upright and threw his arms around Ryan's neck in a strangling embrace nearly toppling him in the process. Ryan sat abruptly on the couch edge facing the Canadian to keep from falling over. He reached out and enfolded Colin in a protective hug. Still not fully awake, Colin clung tightly childlike while Ryan stroked his back reassuring him that it was all a bad dream. Slowly, Colin woke completely, his terror subsided, and he released his stranglehold on Ryan's neck. With a sheepish expression, the Canadian tried to pull away and restore some self-dignity, but Ryan had been too worried for too long to let Colin out of his protection that quickly. As Colin leaned back, Ryan's hands shifted from Colin's waist to his shoulders, but he refused to let go of him any further.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—" Colin began softly.

"Sorry for what? Having a bad dream?" Ryan's scolding was gentle and loving. "Anyone can have a nightmare, Colin. The only reason to be sorry is for being embarrassed about it." Blushing, Colin dipped his head. With a slight smile, Ryan reached under Colin's chin, tilted his head back up, and leaned in for a light kiss. Breaking apart briefly, Colin's hands wrapped around Ryan's waist, and then Ryan pulled him back closer. They kissed again — a more melting kiss this time.

Wanting to give the couple some privacy, I took a sudden interest in Drew's living room décor. Everyone else seemed to have a similar idea, but no one made a move to leave. We all cared for Colin, and there were too many unanswered questions for us to leave now. Bored with the drapery pattern, I shifted my gaze looking for something else to study. I found it in Jeff Davis' expression. From the not quite hidden look of shock, I realized that Jeff didn't know about the Stiles' and the Mochrie's non-traditional marriage arrangements. I made a mental note to mention it to Ryan or Colin. One of them could decide whether or not to explain their "We're in love with our wives and each other and our wives know" situation to him later.

"There's no reason to be sorry," Ryan broke off the kiss and repeated for emphasis, signaling the end of their private moment. Living room décor forgotten, we turned our attention back to the couple on the couch. Colin's blush was even deeper than before; the two were rarely so public about their relationship even around us. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Drew's eyes glint with mischief. I scrambled to say something before he could make the moment more awkward.

"If I were you, Colin, I'd have nightmares all the time. Just for the comfort afterwards." Ryan chuckled and glanced at Colin who smiled despite his embarrassment. Bless Laura again. Her words and tone were the perfect balance of understanding and teasing. The mood in the room felt instantly lighter. Ryan's chuckle grew to a full laugh with everyone, including Colin, joining in. Giving Ryan a playful shove to get him to stand up, Colin swung his legs off the couch, bent down to put his shoes back on, and then stood up.

The rest of us started to drift back to the den, but Drew headed for the wingback chair facing the couch and sat down with a purpose, eyeing Colin. Guessing what he planned, I headed for the chair next to it although I wasn't sitting there earlier. Drew might need supervision to keep from getting carried away. One by one, everyone silently claimed a seat until only Ryan and Colin were left standing. Colin looked at Ryan, almost pleading with him not to sit, but Ryan sat back down on the couch. Sighing lightly, Colin sat to his right. With obvious deliberation, Ryan stretched his arm along the top of the couch back behind Colin, not touching him but within instant reach.

His message was unmistakable. Ryan wanted answers too, but he wasn't going to let Drew or anyone badger them out of the shy man.

"So, Colin, what's up?" Drew's too casual tone fooled no one.

"'Up'? I don't know what you mean." Neither did Colin's.

"You arrive late for the meeting. You're soaking wet when you get here." Drew's tone hardened as he continued; his worry manifested as anger. "Then you fall asleep while sitting on my couch. I was wondering why." Ryan's fingers twitched, but his hand didn't move.

"It's raining, Drew. People who walk in the rain get wet." Brad snickered at the hint of patronization in Colin's voice.

"Shut it, Sherwood," Drew growled. Colin's attempt to lighten the mood had backfired. Drew felt insulted, and his anger flared first to Brad then to Colin. "Don't you think we deserve some answers? Did it occur to you that we might be worried about you? That we might care?" Colin's confident stage face dissolved under Drew's tirade while Ryan's face tightened into a mask.

"Ease up, Drew." Green eyes flashed a warning stronger than the mild sentence implied.

"'Ease up'? All I'm doing is trying to find out what happened! Or don't you even care?"

"What the hell does that mean? Of course, I care!" Ryan spat. Colin's eyes dropped to his hands in his lap at the argument. The hand on the couch back slipped down to Colin's shoulder. Fingers tightened with every word, acting as a steam valve for Ryan's mounting anger. "But I'm not going to force him to tell us if he doesn't want to! No one is!"

"Please, it's not worth arguing over," Colin pleaded for peace. But with his eyes focused on his twisting hands, his words lacked power. "Please," he repeated. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy with the tension.

"Colin?" Soft and even, Laura's voice offered a safe haven from the argument. Six pairs of relieved eyes focused on her instantly. "Colin?" she called again. I watched as Ryan and Drew dropped their glares and looked towards her, bodies still tense but willing to hold a truce. Pulled by her tone, Colin slowly looked her way. "You don't have to tell us anything you don't want to." Drew stirred but remained quiet. "But surely you understand that we're worried about you?"

"I didn't want to bother anyone."

"I know. But it bothers us more not to know." I watched as Laura's near hypnotic spell worked on more than just Colin. The tension in Drew's body drained away. Ryan loosened his grip on Colin's shoulder and started tracing small circles with his fingertips. "Won't you tell us? Please?" Colin seemed almost mesmerized and nodded slowly.

"Colin?" I matched Laura's tone and waited until I had his attention. As gently as I could, I asked the question Drew had never quite asked, "why are you so tired?" Colin sighed, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them.

"Do you remember in November when we talked about my schedule, Greg?"

"Yeah. I remember saying I thought you were way overbooked."

"You were right. I crisscrossed Canada and the States so many times in the last two months. I was so tired from the work and the travel, half the time I didn't know which time zone I was in."

"I could tell," Ryan joined in, still keeping the soft tone Laura and I had set. "You called at some strange times occasionally."

"Did I bother anyone?"

"No. Not really." Ryan reassured him and then backpedaled under his questioning look. "Well, once and while. But not often. No one really minded." Ryan thought for a moment and continued in confusion. "But that's why I didn't call you this weekend, remember? You were going to rest up at the hotel this weekend, so we agreed not to call each other." Colin's eyes turned inward as if he was debating what to say next.

"I never made it to the hotel." The room stirred and muttered. Colin was supposed to fly in from Toronto Friday. Today was Sunday.

"What happened?" Drew asked quietly.

"We were flying somewhere over the States when the plane developed a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Ryan looked pale, and his fingers started to clench Colin's shoulder again.

"I don't know. Mechanical, electrical, I don't remember. We had to make an emergency..." Colin paused, "... landing... in Boise."

"Boise? Why Boise?" Colin shrugged at Drew's question.

"Ask the FAA." He continued hesitantly. "After we ... landed ... there were a lot of ... questions ... and ... things ... that needed to be taken care of. Boise isn't an international airport, so we had to stay in one room near the gate. They wouldn't let us leave the room."

"That doesn't make any sense," Drew interrupted. "Why wouldn't they let you leave the room?" Colin's eyes turned inward for another moment. Then he shrugged again.

"No INS office maybe? Or no customs? I don't remember." He sounded weary. "By the time they were ready to let us ... go ... bad weather had shut down the airport. We spent two ... maybe three days ... in that room."

"When did you arrive in LA?" Ryan's grip had loosened, but he still looked pale. Colin looked at his watch, did some slow math, and stifled a yawn.

"About four hours ago." Exclamations and gasps echoed through the living room.

"You came straight here from the airport?" Drew's question sounded more like a statement of disbelief. "Why didn't you call? I would have canceled the meeting!"

"I didn't come straight here. I rented a car before I came," Colin protested, but Laura's spell that had brought him out of his shell was broken. "I didn't call because I didn't want to bother anyone," he added shyly. "Now you know all there is to know." Ryan lightly tapped Colin's knee with his free hand.

"You haven't told us about the nightmare," he gently reminded him. Colin turned and looked Ryan full in the face. Brown eyes searched deep into the green ones, trying to reach a decision. Ryan tilted his head and tried to look prepared to hear whatever the Canadian didn't want to tell. Colin's head drooped. The room grew still as he studied the weave of Ryan's shirt. In the barest of whispers, Colin began.

"I was dreaming about the landing in Boise ...

... the crash.

Some of us ...

... didn't make it.

In the nightmare ...

... I was one of them."

All breathing in the room stopped. Even the rain outside seemed to hold its fury. Colin looked away from Ryan's shirt, anguish etched on his face. He stared at the memories hovering in his mind for a moment then looked around. Eyes open wide but unseeing, eyes clenched tightly shut faced him as he slowly scanned the room.

Finally Colin braved a look at the man sitting next to him. Green eyes were the only color in the face. Ryan began to shake as twin fears — plane crash and Colin's death — gripped his mind. Colin reached out — one arm wrapped around Ryan's waist, the other reached behind his head — and pulled Ryan inward. Shaking harder, Ryan cinched his arms around Colin and buried his face in crook of Colin's neck. Colin circled his hand down Ryan's back and up to his neck repeatedly murmuring comfort not only to him but to us as well. Sightless eyes focused; closed eyes opened under Colin's ministrations.

After a few long minutes, Ryan raised his head until his face was level with Colin's. Their lips met in a fierce kiss. This time no one looked away as Ryan reassured himself — and by proxy, us — that Colin was not one of the some who didn't make it. Still not convinced by the touch of his lips, Ryan broke off, leaned his forehead against Colin's, and looked deep into the eyes before him. The intimate moment dissolved into a watery vision, and I took off my glasses to wipe my eyes. When I put them back on, I noticed that most of the others were wiping at misty eyes themselves. Colin brushed away Ryan's tears. With one last quick clench, the couple broke apart, and became part of us again. Ryan cleared his throat and looked towards Drew.

"Can we finish this meeting tomorrow? I want to take Colin home and put him to bed."

"If you know what I mean," Brad interjected. Several people including me threw Brad a look that would have frozen Hell. Ryan and Colin never brought their intimate relationship into their homes out of respect for their wives. And Brad damn well knew that.

"Sorry, habit," Brad muttered an apology. But the damage had been done. Colin looked worried.

"No, Ryan, I'll just check into another hotel," Colin protested. "I don't want to bother anyone." Ryan glared at Brad before turning back to Colin.

"You will not be a bother. You know that." His mouth flicked into a crooked smile. "Besides, if I checked you into a hotel, I'd just have to come fetch you again when I told her what happened. She'd want to see for herself that you're alright." Ryan paled a little and his smile disappeared. "But don't mention the ..." Ryan swallowed, "... crash ... in front of the kids. They're still nervous about nine-eleven." Colin nodded. Ryan turned back to Drew. "How about it, Drew, is Monday okay?"

"It's fine with me, if it's okay with everyone else."

"Why not make it Tuesday instead?" I suggested. "Colin could probably use two full days of rest. I know I could." Drew shook his head.

"We can't; the Drew Carey Show tapes Tuesday night. Is Wednesday okay?" A chorus of nods almost settled the issue.

"I can make it on Monday!" Colin exclaimed. "You don't have to move the meeting all the way to Wednesday just for me. I don't want t—"

"—to bother anyone." Jeff finished for him and then raised an eyebrow at the surprised faces looking at him. "Fast learner," he offered by way of explanation. When the laughter died down, Drew took another poll for a Wednesday night meeting. This time Colin stayed quiet. Meeting time settled, Ryan stood up to leave.

"Drew, would you bring my stuff to the set tomorrow for me?" After Drew nodded, Ryan turned to Colin who was still sitting. "Give me a moment to unlock the car doors then come on out. No sense in you getting soaked again tonight. We'll pick up your car Wednesday." Colin opened his mouth to speak. "And if you say that you want to drive yourself because 'you don't want to bother anyone', I'll tie you up and stuff you in the trunk!" he added hastily. Colin threw his hands up in front of him, palms outward in defense.

"I was only going to ask if you wanted your jacket back. It's still raining. But nooo, you have to be all melodramatic about it."

Bemused, Ryan shook his head, took the offered jacket, and put it on. With a general goodbye to everyone, he headed out the front door into the rain. Colin rose and headed for the door as well. His trip through Drew's living room was much slower than Ryan's was. Everyone stopped him for a heartfelt handshake or an occasional kiss on the cheek before they returned to the den to collect their belongings. Finally he made it to the open door where the last of the group — Drew, Laura, and me — were waiting. Drew and I shook his hand silently. Neither of us trusted our voices to remain steady right then. Laura stood on tiptoe, and Colin bent down so that she could give him a quick peck on the cheek. As he straightened up, Laura put a hand on his arm.

"Promise me that the next time you don't want to bother us, you'll bother us." Colin looked out the door when twin headlights stabbed the night and then back to Laura.

"I promise," he answered sincerely. With that, Colin turned and ran through the rain towards the lights.

"Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that," Drew boomed as he watched the departing figure.

"You wouldn't need two TV shows," I offered. Drew laughed and clapped me on back.

"You got that right, buddy! You got that right." Laughing, Laura closed the door. We turned and headed towards the den to help the others clean up before going home.

--- End ---

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