Safe Harbor - 2

Kurt Straub looked up from the paperwork, which had him ready to swear in frustration, and smiled when he saw the young man standing a bit hesitantly in the office doorway. "Here comes trouble in the flesh. Hey Prizm."

"Aww, Father Kurt, I’m not that bad am I?" Bobby grinned a bit, sitting in one of the chairs across from the Father when Kurt pointed to it, dropping his backpack on the floor as he did.

"You have had your moments, and what happened to getting your hair cut like you promised."

Bobby shrugged. "I don’t seem to have the time."

"Bobby." Kurt’s tone was admonishing but only slightly as he used his real name now, not his street one. "So, to what do I owe this visit?"

Bobby ran a hand through his too long, dark hair. "I saw something last night and I don’t know what to do about it."

"Tell me."

"Well…I was up on the roof above Marston’s Grocery getting ready to crash. Then I heard voices in the alley." Bobby went on to tell Kurt what had happened. "When they drove off I got a bit of the license number." He dug in his pocket and handed Kurt the slip of paper.

Kurt frowned deeply. "My first question is, are you sure they were police?"

"Yeah, they were in blues with all the crap on their belts. Hell they cuffed the two kids, the boy even before he had to suck one of them off." 

"Did you recognize either of the kids?"

"Yeah, I’ve been trying to think of their names. The guy’s street name is Scooter. The girl, umm…" Bobby snapped his fingers, "Minnie, yeah, because she’s so mousy."

Kurt sighed. "I know them both. They were staying here up until a couple of days ago."

"Here at the Harbor? Scooter doesn’t do that from what I’ve heard."

Kurt chuckled. "Given the weather last week I’m surprised you weren’t here."

"You know me. I don’t like…"  Bobby’s voice trailed off.

"People, a real bed, haircuts."

"All that, yeah. Got enough of it in Juvie. I’ll stick to the street. I got good places when I need them. And can we quit with this talk. How are we going to, well is there something you can do about those cops?"

"I’ve got a few contacts. I can see if this…" he tapped the scrap of paper, "is part of a plate number for an unmarked police car. If it is, why would two street cops be using it?" Kurt added almost to himself. "I can also find out if Scooter and Minnie were arrested or if they were just dumped somewhere else with the fear of retribution beaten into them if they said anything to anyone."

"Who would they tell? It would be like me walking into the cop shop and reporting what I saw. No way in hell would any of them believe me and I’d end up being hassled every time one of them saw me after that."

Kurt nodded. "Unfortunately I suspect you’re right. Let me send out a few feelers and see what I come up with." He smiled slightly, fingering the collar on his shirt. "This gives me ins a lot of other people don’t have."

"Okay, thanks, Father. At least now I can stop worrying and get back to living."

If you can call it living.  Kurt shook his head as he watched Bobby sling his pack over his shoulder and walk out of the office.

Safe Harbor - 1

Bobby aka ‘Prizm’ peered over the edge of the roof again, pulling his head back quickly. When he took another cautious look he thanked his lucky stars he’d decided to sleep on the roof tonight, not in one of the doorways.

Below him in the alley two kids he vaguely knew were being rousted by a pair of cops. He couldn’t see the cops’ faces since the only light came from dim bulbs over the back doors of a couple of shops, but he sure as hell could see what they were doing. One of them had his hand tangled in the girl’s hair, forcing her to her knees in front of him. The other one already had the boy on his knees, light glinting for a second off the hand cuffs on his wrists.

Bobby didn’t have to watch to know what came next. Instead he inched his way to the corner of the roof, searching for the squad car. He knew he probably wouldn’t do anything about it but he still wanted to find out who the bastards were if he could get a number off the car. The problem was there was no squad car in sight. It surprised him as they had to have come in from that end since it was a blind alley.

Resting his back against the parapet, Bobby waited. A few minutes later he heard a muttered oath and the sound of a hand hitting flesh. Taking another surreptitious look Bobby saw the girl was sprawled on the ground, sobbing, the cop standing over her as he zipped up his pants. The other cop finished moments later, pulling out of the boy’s mouth. As he stripped off a condom and put his flaccid cock back in his pants he glanced at his partner, receiving a nod in return.

They pulled the kids to their feet, cuffed the girl, and marched them to the end of the alley. As Bobby watched they opened the door to a dark sedan, shoving the kids into the back seat. Then they got into the front seat and moments later drove off. Bobby tried to get the license number, managing to see the first letter and a number as the car passed under a streetlight.

"D3, D3, D3," he muttered as he made his way back to where his few belongings sat. He took a scrap of paper from his backpack, wrote the information down then shoved it in his pocket.

Now what? For sure I can’t walk into the cop shop and report what I saw. Not with my record.

His ‘record’ included a couple of busts for soliciting and one for having drug and graffiti paraphernalia on his person. He’d spent time in Juvie for the soliciting busts since he hadn’t had the wherewithal to pay the fines. Of course now that he was eighteen his records were sealed but that didn’t mean a damned thing and he knew it. He’d been on the streets since he was fourteen and the cops in the area knew his face and had rousted him often enough even when they had no grounds to pick him up.

So who can I tell, and do I even want to? Yeah it ain’t right what they did, but…

Wrapping his tattered blanket around himself he curled up, using his pack as a pillow. He started up at the dark sky, the few stars partially obliterated by fast moving clouds.

Just don’t rain again. That’d really put a topper on the night.

He finally drifted off, still debating who he could talk to and whether it would even do any good if he did.

The Hotel – 52

I didn't move in with Edwin immediately. I had to set everything up to make Marsh the official head of the troupe, quit my job with decent notice, and sell my house, among other things.

Eventually, however, I was ready. I planned on renting a truck to bring what I was keeping up to the hotel. Edwin put the kibosh on that, sending Logan down with the hotel's van instead. But not until the day after the troupe threw me a farewell party.

It got pretty mushy, pretty fast. I hadn't realized quite how much I was going to miss all my friends until that evening. We assembled at a local bar we sometimes frequented—the remaining seven of the original troupe plus the four new actors we'd added since that fateful week at the hotel.

Caitlin couldn't seem to stop laughing, and crying, when Noah and Phil began telling stories about the pangs of creating the troupe. Ramsey, Kirby, and Marsh added their two cents worth and then gave me a photo album they'd put together with pictures from several of our performances at the shelters and senior centers.

By the time the evening was winding down I'll admit was teary-eyed.

"I'm going to miss every last one of you more than you know," I proclaimed, looking at them one by one. "Noah, Phil, I expect to get an invitation to your wedding, if you ever get it together enough to set a damned date." That got laughs from everyone as they were dancing around when to do it just as they'd danced around everything about their relationship from the beginning.

"Ramsey, you take care of my girl…" I smiled at Caitlin, adding, "And you make sure he eats, okay?"

Caitlin patted Ramsey's stomach. "I don't think that will be a problem. I might have to put him on a diet."

Ramsey groaned dramatically, to the amusement of the rest of us.

"Kirby…hell, what can I say? You and Marsh are the lynchpins of the troupe, now. You're the director, so don't let the kids give you any guff." That had happened when Marsh hadn't been able to find someone from the outside who might be interested in taking on the job. Kirby had bitten the bullet, to use his words, offering to wear two hats—actor and director. Marsh had accepted willingly.

"Marsh, thank you for taking over." I patted his shoulder since he was seated right beside me.

"My pleasure. You might wonder why you chose me when I call you every week to ask your advice on something."

I snorted. "Somehow I doubt it. You've been doing great so far. If any of them—" I swept my hand around to encompass the troupe, "—give you any trouble, ground them."

"Time out will be me," Marsh replied with a grin. Then he sobered. "I want to say, on behalf of everyone here, we're going to miss you, Austin."

"I'll miss all of you, too."

"You know where to find us, so don't be a stranger," Kirby called out.

"I won't be," I replied, and I meant it. I might not come down every week, but I would be back to catch up on how everyone was doing. "On that note, I bid you good night. I have to be up at the crack of dawn. Someone who shall remain nameless expects me up there by noon…or at least before sunset."

"Tell the nameless one we say 'Hi'," Caitlin said. Then she hugged me. "I love you and all you've done for us."

Her sentiments, and her hug, were echoed by everyone else so it took a while before I finally made it out of the bar. When I was out on the sidewalk I looked back through the window. They were watching me, and raised their glasses in a salute. I waved before walking away to face my new life with Edwin.

* * * *

Logan did show up almost at the crack of dawn. Between us, we loaded the van. I wasn't bringing any furniture, but it was still filled almost to overflowing.

"How the hell I managed to accumulate so much…" I shook my head in disbelief.

"Don't worry, there's room for all of it up there," he replied with a laugh.

He was right, of course, and I knew it.

We arrived at the hotel just after one that afternoon. Edwin was waiting on the porch. His face lit up when I got out of the van and seconds later held me tightly as we kissed. "You made it," he said when we broke apart.

"You thought I wouldn't?"

"I… To be honest I was afraid you'd change your mind at the last moment. You're giving up all that…"

I put a finger to his lips, then swept my arm out to encompass everything we could see—the hotel, the lake, the forest and the mountains. "But I'm gaining all of this, and—" I kissed him again, "—the man who has my heart. So no, my love, I'm not giving up anything I can't live without."

That was the truth and I haven't spent one moment regretting my decision. 

The End

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 35

"You did a good job," Samuel told Paddy when he appeared seconds later in the head guardian angel's office.

"Thanks," Paddy replied morosely, his wings sagging in reflection of how he felt.

Samuel came around from behind his desk, laying one hand on Paddy's shoulder. "It wouldn't have worked," he said softly.

"I know." Paddy wasn't surprised at Samuel's words, or his concern. Somehow he always knew everything about the guardian angels in his charge. Their hopes, their fears—nothing got past Samuel. It was the reason, Paddy thought, that he was who he was.

"It's just… Damn it, when is it my turn?"

"When the fates decree."

"It's been over eight hundred years." Paddy sighed deeply. "I know, there's nothing you can do about it but…"

"Go. Rest. Unwind. Things will look better in the morning."

Paddy snorted softly. "Maybe I'll go bug Dom first. That always cheers me up."

"He's off on an assignment, as are Deidre, Dave and Hal. Now if you want to have a bit of fun… No, that wouldn't be a wise idea."

"What?" Paddy asked.

"There's a new angel who could use taking down a peg or two. He seems to think he's the chosen one since he ended up here."

Paddy smirked. "Let me at him. Right now I'm in exactly the right mood to deal with him. It'll take my mind off of Mike and…everything."

"I thought you might be. His name is Theodore."

"'Gift of God' huh? Now this could be fun. Where can I find him?"

Samuel told him, chuckling to himself when Paddy immediately took off with fire in his eyes. "Now let's hope this takes his mind off of Michael," he murmured. He knew it would—eventually. After all, that was a reason he was the head guardian angel. To watch over his charges and help them deal with problems, both on the job and in their personal lives. And all in all, he had managed to do that successfully for more time than even he cared to think about.

The End

(Of the story, and the series. Thank you for following along. I hope you enjoyed them/it)

The Hotel – 51

The moment I walked into my living room Edwin pulled me into a hard embrace and kissed me. Only when we broke apart did he ask, "No show tonight?"

"Nope. I'm free and clear until I have to be back to work tomorrow."

"Perfect. Now where's this dinner you promised me?"

"Damn, I just got here. Give me a few minutes to change into something more comfortable and I'll see what I have to work with." I hurried to my bedroom, returning a few minutes later in jeans and a T-shirt to find him in the kitchen. He had the steaks I'd taken from the freezer that morning sitting on a plate, the oven's broiler heating up, and was slicing potatoes.

"I said I was going to…" I didn't get any further because he gave me another kiss before telling me he was in the mood to cook tonight. Who was I to argue? He did suggest I could make a salad, which I did while he cut up two potatoes into cubes, heated oil in the skillet and tossed them in with garlic and onion powder, pepper, and salt. He put the steaks on to cook, stirred the potatoes until they were crispy brown. When they were ready, he put them around the edge of the serving tray, topping them with parsley and parmesan cheese, and set the steaks in the center.

I had already set the table, after finishing the tossed salad. With everything ready, we sat down to eat. As we did, I wondered how to broach the subject of my moving up to the hotel on a permanent basis, if he wanted me to. It was fine to talk about it in the abstract, while bemoaning the fact it wouldn't happen because of our differing life-styles. Now, it could happen, presuming he liked the idea in reality.

We had almost finished eating when he paused, looking at me in speculation. "There's something on your mind."

I nodded. "Something's come up which might affect our relationship."

He sucked in a breath. "Something bad?"

"I don't think so but…" I hesitated.

"Austin, spit it out, please. You're worrying me."

"Okay." I took his hands in mine. "The troupe got together and decided I'm not needed anymore so I'm free and clear and if you truly want us to be together on a permanent basis and you wouldn't mind my living with you at the hotel and…" I stuttered to a stop.

The smile he gave me was, well, ecstatic is the only way to describe it. The kiss that followed rocked me to my core. 

"I want," he said when he eventually let me go. "Heart and soul I want you in my life forever. How could you even begin to think otherwise?"

"Because I was scared, Edwin. Scared that what we felt was all some wonderful dream that would end when it became possible for us to fulfill it. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it's how I felt—until this moment."

He cupped my face in his hands. Gazing at me, he smiled gently. "It does make sense. I was afraid, too. Afraid we were both too stubborn to give up what we loved in order to be together without any barriers." He kissed me again. "I think, no, I know, I owe your troupe a deep debt of gratitude, or will when you tell me exactly what happened and how they came to the conclusion you were…" he grinned, "extraneous now."

I did, but not until after we went to bed to seal our new relationship. The sex was great. It always was. This time there was added significance to it as we each said what we never had until tonight—"I love you."

When we had finished, and spectacularly so, and were wrapped in each others arms, I laid out what Caitlin and Ramsey had told me, including their suggestion that I set up a repertory company at the hotel if I began to miss being involved it something theatrical.

"I think that's a fantastic idea," he said when I finished. "With one proviso. Everyone involved has to come from the town."

I knew immediately why. "You don't want to take a chance on using humans, who might discover what you and they are."

"Exactly. The town is a safe haven for a reason." He smiled, shaking his head. "Now I can't guarantee how many of them can actually act worth a damn…"

"I guess we'll find out, won't we."