"For all the good that does me. The stakes are too high. I need more than your pitiful assurances. Billy!"
With bo staff in hand, Billy Kane stepped out from the shadows he'd been lurking in.
"You called boss?"
"Indeed. I need concrete evidence that what this buffoon is saying is legit. I want you to get it for me."
"Sure thing. You want any extra services with that? I'd be happy to throw in a permanent injury for Andy Bogard, free of charge."
"No. Under no circumstances are you to injure Andy Bogard. If what this idiot says is true, than he will prove more useful to me if he is unharmed. With this new information, the possibilities for revenge are now practically limitless."
Geese looked around at the carnage his latest training exercises had caused. His face was a mask of pure stone.
"Ordinarily, I would have no compunction to your engaging him, but not only will this give me a means for my revenge on Terry, I would also have a way of truly breaking him."
And for the first time since his oblivion, Geese Howard smiled.
***
"Aren't you ready yet? You've been packing for over an hour."
Terry stood behind Andy, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Before him was an open suitcase with various papers and clothing scattered around. Andy had been packing, unpacking, and re-packing his belongings. His eyes held a distant look within them, and he had trouble focusing on the job in front of him. He looked up when he heard the frustration in Terry's voice.
"Huh, what? What did you say?"
Terry sighed. "I said are you almost finished. You could've packed your whole house by now. What's taking you so long?"
Andy turned back to the suitcase. He held a shirt in one hand, which he slowly folded and placed inside. He stared at the rest of the items in confusion, his hands falling to his lap. He came to somewhat as a pair of strong arms made their way around his shoulders. Terry rested against him for a moment before speaking.
"Talk to me, Andy. What's wrong?"
Andy shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He closed his eyes and leaned into Terry's embrace.
"I'm not sure really. I seem to be having a hard time concentrating, and I don't know why." Andy turned his head to the side, listening to Terry's heartbeat. "I don't like this. If I can't pack a thing of clothes without spacing out, imagine what would happen if I got into a fight right now."
Terry shuddered at the thought and pulled Andy even closer.
"You wouldn't make it."
"I know. I don't know what's going on, but I don't like it." Andy pulled away and started folding his clothes. "I don't know if it has to with this adoption business or what. I was fine before. It's not like the end of the world or anything…"
Terry watched Andy closely. Though he was finally making progress with his suitcase, his movements betrayed the intensity and inner turmoil of his feelings. He moved with rough motions, yet was unaware of his own actions. Terry came round to face him.
"Andy, do you see what your doing?"
Andy looked up. "What?"
Terry reached out, catching Andy's chin. He waited as Andy gradually raised his head up to meet his gaze.
"Andy, as long as I've known you, you've always tried to bury your feelings, especially when you're upset."
"I'm not upset."
"No? Then explain the choke-hold on your shorts."
Andy looked down. He was stunned and somewhat troubled to see that he had clinched a pair of shorts in a tight fist. His grip was so fierce it caused his hand to shake from the intensity. Andy let his hand relax, his fist uncurling. The shorts fell noiselessly to the bed. Terry grasped his hand within his own. He massaged it slowly, feeling the tension ebb slightly.
"Too tense. This isn't like you Andy." The look Andy gave him made Terry chuckle. "Serious is one thing, but stress is different. Your muscles get any tighter and you'll start to implode."
Andy formed a picture in his mind, and burst out laughing. Terry sighed, grateful for the break in Andy's mood. He sat down behind Andy, massaging his shoulders.
"What to talk about it?"
"Not really." Andy sat there, enjoying the attention given him. "But you're going to keep bugging me until I do, right?"
"Yep."
"Thought so." Andy chewed his lower lip while searching for words to describe his feelings. "I guess I'm upset because nobody thought to tell us any of this. Like we weren't important enough to talk to about this."
Terry frowned, "Do you really believe that?"
"No. But I can't help feeling this way. I know Dad was probably trying to protect us, I just think he should have told us."
"Maybe he was going to tell us when we were older, and didn't get the chance."
Andy flinched, "I've thought about that too, which makes me feel guilty." He was surprised to hear Terry laugh. "What's so funny?"
"Andy, you must be the poster boy for viscous circles." Terry wrapped his arms around Andy's waist, his face buried in a mane of pale blond hair. "For what its worth, I don't think Dad meant to lie to us. And it's probably natural for you to feel the way you do."
"Maybe, but I don't see you suffering behind this." The minute the words left his mouth Andy knew it was the absolute worst thing he'd said. *Can you be anymore insensitive, you jerk?* He cursed his seemingly infinite stupidity. "Terry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"
"It's alright, I know what you meant." Terry picked a shirt up and began to fold it. "If it seems like I'm not stressed about this, well, I'm more concerned with you than in what ever emotions I should be feeling right now."
Andy turned to glare at him. "It sounds like you're using me as an excuse to avoid dealing with your own problems."
"Not really. I'm sure I'll crack up when your sane, that way you can take care of me in me time of need." The corners of Terry's mouth twitched at the last statement. The humor was not lost on Andy.
"In other words, you'll lose just as soon as I get it, and drive me back to insanity while I'm helping you. Now who's the poster boy?"
Terry held up his hands in capitulation. "So you caught me. What do you plan to do about it?" Terry went back to packing, and was taken completely by surprise when Andy tackled him off the bed. A mock fight ensued, which ended with Andy sitting across Terry's stomach.
"How the mighty have fallen! What am I going to do with you Terry Bogard?"
Terry looked up, a strange gleam in his eyes. "A better question would be what are you going to do *to* me."
A ferocious blush lit Andy's face. Terry used his distraction to flip him onto his back. Terry straddled him and began to tickle him unmercifully.
"No! No! No! Stop it! Stop!"
"Beg for mercy."
"No way!"
"Your funeral." Terry continued his relentless assault on Andy's ribs.
"No! Stop! Quit it! Ack!"
"Beg me, and I may spare you."
"NO!"
The tickling went on for another minute before Andy's resolve caved in.
"Okay! I'm begging you! Now stop it!"
"Say please."
"PLEASE!"
"Well…okay." The attack ceased, leaving Andy gasping for air. He threw a punch at Terry, aiming for his stomach. Terry caught it easily and pinned him by the wrist.
"Now is that any way to act after I've been so kind to you?"
"Kind?!" Andy looked at him, his expression stuck between amusement and incredulous shock. "You’re the one who started tickling me in the first place, you…"
A noise from the living room silenced them both. Terry rolled off, allowing Andy to sit up. He put a finger to his lips to still the question in Andy's eyes. He listened carefully. Terry could just make out someone sneaking around, followed by the sound of papers rustling. They both got up, with Terry taking the lead. They flew into the living room, hoping to catch the intruder off guard. What they saw made Andy's blood boil.
"Well now, aren't you two quite the love birds."
Andy pulled his hands into fist, his rage growing steadily by the second. He had no trouble focusing as he concentrated his anger to the very source of it. His eyes grew dark as he spoke through clenched teeth.