Title Clubbing Part Five Leo needed to talk to the President. Unfortunately, they both had completely full days, and it was after nine before they were both free. There were a few things that just couldn’t wait, and they were likely to take time. So Jed suggested they go up to the Residence so they could both relax a little while they talked. ************** ‘I’m sorry Josh. David can’t talk to you right now. Call back in an hour.’ ‘Edward please…’ ‘One hour Josh.’ Josh sighed as the line disconnected, then grabbed his coat and door key. ************** ‘Please, you have to let me in. I have to talk to Catherine.’ Jimmy shook his head. ‘Sorry, this is a members only club and you’re not a member.’ ‘Jimmy?’ The doorman turned at the sound of Catherine’s voice. He stepped back and Catherine saw Josh. ‘Leo’s not here Josh.’ ‘I know.’ ‘Come with me.’ ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.’ ‘Edward told me you would probably try here.’ ‘He told you I called David?’ ‘No, he told me you called him. Didn’t David give you his own number?’ ‘No.’ ‘I have it somewhere. If it’s turned off, David is unavailable.’ ‘Edward said to try again in an hour.’ ‘He knew you wouldn’t wait.’ Josh looked embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry if I made things difficult for you.’ ‘Are you?’ Josh tried to work out what Catherine meant. ‘Do you want me to go?’ ‘I’d like to know why you were so mean to Leo.’ ‘Mean?’ ‘He offered you everything, and you rejected him.’ ‘Look, what he does in his free time is his business. I don’t want…’ Catherine’s voice was loud in the quiet room. ‘What Josh?’ Josh’s voice was quiet. ‘To be like David.’ ‘Trust me Josh, you could never be like David.’ In spite of himself, Josh felt he had been slighted. ‘Why not?’ ‘Because you and Leo are not Edward and David.’ Josh rolled his eyes. ‘You know what I meant, right?’ ‘Yes. You’re worried about your status. You’d be Leo’s. Apart from actually being Leo, that’s not a bad thing to be.’ ‘How would you know?’ Catherine laughed. ‘One day you’ll understand Josh. It’ll be too late, of course, but you will.’ ‘Too late?’ ‘When you come here and Leo has someone else.’ ‘I wouldn’t come here…’ Josh realised what he had been about to say and just stopped himself in time. ‘Josh, go down and talk to David. Ian and Henry are there too. Maybe they can give you the answers I can’t.’ ‘No.’ Catherine got up. ‘Then leave.’ Josh got to his feet. ‘He gave me a ring.’ ‘I know.’ ‘Does he tell you everything?’ Catherine smiled. ‘He told me you have fish.’ ‘I’ve gotta take them back to my apartment.’ ‘Leo wanted to take care of you Josh. Your fish are not a suitable substitute.’ Josh paused in the doorway. ‘Is David here?’ ‘Yes. Go and find him.’ ‘Are you all friends?’ Josh sipped at his drink as he looked around the three younger men. ‘Yeah. Slaves stick together.’ Ian waved a hand at the far corner of the room. ‘Subs do the same.’ ‘Why don’t you all mix?’ Harry laughed. ‘You really are new to this, aren’t you? There’s a pecking order Josh. Leo and Catherine. Then Edward, and the other Masters. Then the Doms. Then us, then the subs.’ ‘Do we ever talk to the subs?’ David made a dismissive noise. ‘Not unless we’re told to.’ ‘What’s wrong with them?’ ‘They won’t commit. They hang around and wait to be picked up. They’re like the ugly people at the Prom.’ Josh laughed, then realised no-one else was. ‘Why don’t they hook up with someone?’ ‘There are always loads more people looking than offering. And you are so lucky.’ Josh looked at Harry. ‘Why?’ ‘Excuse me? Leo? Jeez, Josh, I mean…’ He shook his head slowly. ‘We’re not together anymore.’ David hit Josh’s shoulder. ‘Josh, do not say that out loud. You’ll get us trampled in the crush. Just for that, the drinks are on you.’ ************* It was after midnight when Leo finally forced his mind to concentrate on unlocking his front door. He’d been so tired, he allowed Jed to organise a driver to take him home, leaving his own car in the car park. Flicking the button on his answering machine, Leo was surprised to hear Catherine’s voice. ‘Leo, come to the club when you get in.’ ************* ‘Catherine?’ Leo frowned as he looked across to where Josh stood, surrounded by David and a couple of younger men. ‘He’s waiting for you Leo.’ ‘Are you sure?’ Catherine smiled, nodding. ‘Yeah. Take him home.’ ‘Josh, time to go.’ Josh hesitated only a moment before turning at the sound of the familiar voice. ‘Yes Leo.’ Aware Edward was at the bar, and Leo was probably not paying attention to him, David said slyly: ‘Lucky thing.’ Josh blushed as he followed Leo out to the cab. On to the next part Home Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index