Shadow Men – 66 – Anders and Grant

"Get your ass in gear, I'm leaving in ten with or without you," Anders barked out.

Things had been tense when the two men finally woke up just after dawn. Grant felt as if he was walking on egg shells as he made a quick trip to the bathroom to take care of business and then came back to get dressed. From the way Anders was acting, he suspected he felt the same way but with a touch of anger mixed in.

Or frustration, it was hard to tell which under the circumstances.

Grant shook his head while he checked to be certain he'd left nothing behind. Then he slung his backpack over his shoulders, grabbed his helmet, and stepped out of the motel room.

"Damn it, Grant, haven't you learned anything in the past few days?" Anders growled from behind him. "You don't just walk out a door without making certain there's not someone on the other side with a gun trained on you."

"Well there wasn't, was there?" Grant wanted to be angry as he swung around to look at Anders but the look of worry on his face did much to mitigate it and he felt guilty instead. "Sorry. Next time I'll remember."

"Good." Anders smirked then, just marginally. "Guess since you're still alive, it's safe for me to come out."

He did, getting on the bike after putting the saddlebag where it belonged. Grant climbed on after him, wrapping his arm around Anders' waist, and they were off.

* * * *

"Just where are we headed? I thought we were going to her office."

"Patience," Anders replied to Grant's question. "We're making a side trip to somewhere we can leave the bike and our gear."

"Somewhere safe?"

"No, I thought we'd park ourselves next door to the Senator's house."

Grant shook his head. "You're smirking right about now, aren't you?"

"Big time," Anders agreed.

If he hadn't known he'd probably hurt himself as much as Anders, Grant would have smacked him with his cast.

A few minutes later they were in an alley behind what Grant presumed were apartment buildings. Anders pulled up to a row of garages behind one of them, told Grant to get off, then followed suit and lifted one of the garage doors to wheel the bike inside and park it beside an small, older model car. He locked the door, and the bike, opened the door to the building and ushered Grant inside.

There was the strong odor of cooking in the hallway that led to a flight of stairs going up. Grant's stomach rumbled, which had Anders shaking his head and saying, "Are you ever not hungry?"

Grant flipped him off then followed him up three floors and down to end of a dingy hall. Anders paused by the door with his head tilted before he unlocked it. Moments later they were in an apartment, which made the hall look clean and neat.

"This isn't a safe-house or whatever you call them, is it?" Grant asked.

"Nope, because the Senator undoubtedly knows all of them thanks to the Colonel. I use this place only in emergencies."

"The last one must have been five years ago," Grant muttered as he gingerly put his pack down on a dust-covered table at one side of the room.

"Five months ago actually, but this is a big, industrial city so…" Anders shrugged as if saying that explained everything. "Go change into something a little less road-worn and then we'll get going." He pointed to a door, which Grant found out moments later led to a small bathroom. Rust marks stained the sink and shower but when he turned the water on it ran clear, for which he was thankful. He found towels in a cabinet above the toilet, stripped down, did a quick wash-up then redressed in clean jeans and a dark turtleneck, because that was the only type of shirt he had whose sleeves would fit over his cast.

He came out expecting to find Anders waiting to get in. He wasn't but Grant located him by the sound of running water from the kitchen. Before he could join him, Anders came into the main room. He looked Grant over, nodded then said, "Okay, let's do this."

Shadow Men – 65 – Anders and Grant

Someone was shaking Grant. He woke with a start, his hands fisted defensively in front of him.

"Hey, it's just me," Anders said quietly. "You were having a nightmare."

Grant pulled away, frowning as he tried to remember it. Though why he'd want to remember struck him as stupid. But he did want to—and he did remember. It had been a mishmash of Martin's death, someone chasing him who he couldn't seem to escape or hide from, and being tied down while the 'someone' tried to turn him to a pulp, starting with his wrist. It all had been vividly portrayed in black and white and blood red.

With a shudder, Grant nodded. "A bad one."

"Want to tell me? Sometimes it helps."

"It was…just very violent."

"I sort of got that when you started screaming."

Grant winced. "Sorry."

"Hey, no problem. Think you can get back to sleep again?"

With a small smile Grant said he thought so. Anders patted his shoulder before he got up to return to his own bed. It was then Grant realized the man was totally naked and had one fine ass. He turned his eyes away quickly but apparently not quickly enough because he heard Anders chuckle.

"Not like you haven't seen one before," the man said.

Then Grant heard the bedsprings squeak and the sound of Anders pulling up the covers. Relieved, Grant rolled onto his side, his back to Anders, and tried to fall to sleep again. When he finally did there were no more nightmares. Instead he had a dream. It started with him and Martin in their own bed then slowly Martin's image morphed into Anders and the very vanilla sex that Grant and Martin had normally practiced became heated and erotic with the Anders of his dream.

He woke so hard he ached, more than glad it was still night as he inched as quietly as possible from the bed and then silently started toward the bathroom.

"Need some help with that?"

Grant resisted turning to look at Anders. After a sharp shake of his head he made it to the bathroom and as silently as possible, biting back any sounds from his release, finished off what his dream had started.

* * * *

Anders watched Grant walk away. He would have growled aloud, his frustration with the man at the moment was so great, but he was damned sure it wouldn't do anything but make Grant even more uptight, if that were possible.

He was well aware of exactly what Grant was doing, could imagine his hand on his cock as he stroked himself to completion. "Stupid man," he whispered and then was uncertain which one of them was. Grant for avoiding the chance for some real sex and a connection with someone other than his dead partner, or him for even thinking it might be an option. But he was for damned sure going to say something he suddenly decided. It wasn't in him to remain silent. So he stared at the bathroom door and waited.

* * * *

After he turned out the bathroom light Grant opened the door a crack, praying that Anders had gone back to sleep. He was rewarded with the sight of the man leaning against the headboard, his eyes locked on the door. At least, Grant was glad to note, he had the covers drawn up to his waist.

"You can come out now," Anders said tartly. "I'm not going to jump your bones."

"Didn't think you were," was Grant's terse reply as he tightened the last remaining towel around his waist and stepped into the room.

Before he made it to his bed he was stopped by Anders' next words. "There's nothing wrong with wanting some tension release. We've both been through a lot the last few days. It doesn't have to be personal."

"I think that's what clubs are for." Grant was surprised at the sneering tone of his voice.

"I doubt they have one in this burg."

"Then I guess you just suffer or take care of the problem yourself." Grant made it to his bed by then and managed to get under the covers without losing the towel until he had.

"Like you just did? Naw, I'll pass. I prefer my sex man on man, not hand on man."

"Then you're shit out of luck 'til you find a willing one. I'm not into hit and run."

Anders snorted out an amused laugh. "Your language is definitely deteriorating. What happened to the uptight man who would no more have sworn than…than…?"

"What makes you think that? I'm not some prude but I do have a kid so I watch my words."

"Duly noted. Back to the discussion at hand."

"There is no discussion. I'm not letting you fuck me. End of story."

"So you're a bottom, huh? Good 'cause I'm a top."

"Of course, you are." Grant slid down onto his side, resting on his elbow as he studied Anders. When Anders cocked an eyebrow, Grant shrugged. "Just wondering if it would be worth it. Probably not." Rolling onto his stomach he buried his face in the pillow to hide a snicker when he heard Anders mutter, "Fuck you, too". He suspected it was followed by a raised middle finger but didn't bother to check.

Shadow Men – 64 – Anders and Grant

"Nice bike," Grant commented after Anders had parked it and come over to join him.

"That's all you can say, 'nice bike'? Look at it. It's top of the line, Grant."

Grant had to admit it was impressive, and it looked more comfortable than the one Anders had when they first met. "Okay, great bike."

"Damned right it is." He ruffled Nicky's hair when he came over and asked if he could have a ride. "When we get back, I promise you will. But now we have to get going." He glanced at Grant. "You packed up?"

"I didn't really unpack much, so yes."

"Same here. Let's get our stuff and hit the road."

Fifteen minutes later, after giving Nicky hugs and kisses and getting the same back, Grant put on his helmet and carefully got onto the bike. Corrie had insisted he keep his arm in a sling while on the bike and had come up with one from the medical supplies that were always kept on hand. He'd groaned but understood her reasoning.

"Ready?" Anders asked, his voice coming through the helmet mike.

"Ready," Grant replied after he'd wrapped his good arm around Anders' waist.

* * * *

It was just getting dark when Anders turned off the highway onto a side road. "We're going to spend the night at a motel so we're fresh when we get to Chicago," he explained when Grant asked.

That was fine with Grant. Though the ride itself had been easy enough, all things considered, his wrist was aching badly. He was also hungry and told Anders as much.

"Let's find a motel first, then supper," Anders replied.

It took a while before they found one that suited Anders. It was on the outskirts of a small town, set back from the road at the edge of a small lake.

"Planning on catching our dinner?" Grant asked once they were in their room, which faced the lake.

Anders snorted as he tossed the saddlebag he'd now returned to using on one of the beds. "Hate fishing. We'll eat in the motel dining room."

With a nod Grant dug his pills out of his backpack and headed to the bathroom for some water to wash them down. When he returned he saw Anders watching him worriedly. "I'm fine," Grant told him.

"Okay, if you're sure. Let's go eat."

* * * *

Supper went swiftly as Anders was almost completely non-verbal. Grant finally decided his mind must have been totally wrapped up in what they were going to do once they arrived in Chicago, although when he asked for details about that, all he got in return was a terse "Working on it."

So, when they got back to their room Grant immediately grabbed what he needed from his backpack and went to shower. When he came out again he saw Anders sitting on one of the beds, dressed only in his jeans, his eyes locked on the television.

It apparently took Anders a moment to realize Grant was standing there with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He looked Grant over, shook his head, got up and headed to the bathroom, saddlebag in hand.

Trusting much? Grant wondered, knowing the all important papers were in the bag. With a shrug he dropped the towel by the side of the bed, got in, and after pulling the covers up turned his attention to the television. By the time Anders returned, also towel-wrapped and drying his hair with another one, Grant was almost asleep. That didn't stop him from opening his eyes just enough to take a long look at Anders.

"Mind if I turn the TV off now?" Anders asked, even as he picked up the remote from the table between the beds and did so.

"Guess not," Grant replied with a soft snort. Then he turned on his side and soon was dead to the world.

Shadow Men – 63 – Anders and Grant

Back to a motorcycle again, Grant decided late the next morning when he heard one pull up outside the house. Anders had disappeared an hour earlier, saying he had an errand to run and taking Corrie with him. Now he knew why.

He himself had spent the morning with Nicky as planned. His son had insisted that he meet Rafe now that he was awake and aware, taking his hand to try and tug him toward the stairs when Grant had protested the man probably wasn't ready for company yet.

"He is, Daddy. Honest." Nicky tugged harder and Grant relented.

Steele was seated in a chair beside Rafe when they got to the basement room, deep in conversation with him from the look of it. Grant turned to leave when Rafe said, his voice hoarse, "Stay. You have to be the Grant that Steele keeps talking about." He grinned. "I think I'm jealous."

Steele snorted. "As if."

"Hey, I can be jealous if I want to be. But I don't." He held out his free hand. The other one, which still had an intravenous needle in it, was firmly if gently in Steele's grasp.

Grant crossed to shake it. "I'm glad to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"All bad, I hope." Rafe winked then said conspiratorially, "So tell me what really happened in New York. Steele made it sound like it was a walk in the park." Then he must have realized Nicky was right there because he added, "If so, you must have tripped over a rock." He tapped Grant's cast.

Grant chuckled. "Let's just say there was a park involved and leave it at that for the moment."

"All right, though I want the full story as soon as someone," he turned a mock glare on Steele, "believes I'm really able to handle things again."

"Soon, Rafe, soon." Steele leaned in to kiss his temple even though it was still wrapped in bandages.

"See," Rafe grumbled. "He's even afraid to give me a real kiss."

Nicky shook his head. "Nuh uh, I saw him kiss you."

"Spying on us, kid?" Rafe asked in amusement.

Nicky scrubbed the toe of his shoe on the floor. "I just wanted to say morning and the door was open but…"

"We were busy. Got it."

Rafe's eyes started to close and Grant realized that despite the fact that he was now out of his coma he was still very weak. "We should go and let him rest."

Steele smiled in appreciation. "We'll see you when you get back."

Grant winced. He hadn't told Nicky he was leaving again. "Definitely," he replied as he turned his son toward the door. Steele mouthed "Sorry" and Grant shrugged. "It was next on the agenda."

Which it was.

When they got upstairs Nicky stopped to look up at Grant. "Where you going?"

"Somewhere with Anders, but it won't take too long, maybe a couple of days."

"Oh." Nicky's mouth drooped sadly.

"Hey, you have everyone here. They'll keep you so busy you won't even know I'm gone."

"Will too." Then Nicky brightened a bit. "Can we go home when you come back?"

"That's the plan."

"And Anders can come too?"

Oh boy. "He's my friend so he might visit, sure. I bet everyone will when they can."

"Okay." Nicky grabbed Grant's hand. "Come on, see what I found outside."

Grant sighed in relief as he followed Nicky. Hopefully his son now got the idea that that was all Anders was—a friend.

Shadow Men – 62 – Anders and Grant

"Someone's tired," Grant told Nicky later that evening as the movie they were all watching drew to a close. They were watching it because they couldn't discuss any business with his son there and Nicky refused to leave his side. Not that Grant minded in the least.

"Nuh uh," Nicky protested. Then he yawned.

"Uh huh. Come on, let's get you to bed."

Nicky's lip went out in a fearsome pout. "Not tired."

"Nicholas."

Nicky sighed. "Okay, Daddy." He slipped off the sofa and started to the stairs. "Carry, please?"

Grant bent to pick him up but stopped when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"I'll carry him," Anders stated as he picked Nicky up. "With your arm…" He started up the stairs.

Grant snorted. "Now you're doing it."

"What? Oh. Oh hell." Anders chuckled. "I'm doomed."

Grant heard Corrie mutter, "Yeah, I think you are," and shook his head.

* * * *

With Nicky safely tucked into bed the adults gathered again in the living room. Steele had joined them, the look on his face telling Grant all he or any of the others needed to know—Rafe was on his way to a full recovery. Corrie agreed, telling them the doctor had said it would take a while but all the signs were there.

Once they were settled with coffee or beer, Anders took over. "For starters, Steele, you're staying here. What has to be done, Grant and I can handle and Rafe needs you now."

Steele started to say something before he nodded. "Agreed." He didn't look as if he minded the idea in the least.

"I can come in his place," Corrie told them.

"Honestly, I don't think it's necessary and you know more about what Rafe needs in the way of day-to-day care than Steele does at the moment. Besides, there's Nicky to consider."

She nodded. "Good points. All right."

Anders turned to Grant. "You're okay with this?"

"Yes, sure, why wouldn't I be? From what the two of you said on the way back here, all we have to do is get the papers to the attorney-general and convince her to do something with the information. The hardest part, I suspect, is going to be getting past her secretary."

Anders chuckled. "Probably."

"When are you leaving?" Corrie asked.

"I'm aiming for noon or thereabouts. That'll give Grant some time with Nicky first."

"Thanks for that."

Anders' lips curled up in a grin. "Hey, I don't want you grumping at me that you hardly got to see him."

"Uh huh. You just want to sleep in for once."

"Got it in one." Anders stretched. "Anything else we need to talk about?"

The others shook their heads and soon they disbanded.