Never Again – 35

 

"The question is, why is someone going after you again?" Cal asked. He was sitting on the edge of Joseph's bed, a beer in one hand, a frown on his face.

Joseph took a drink of coffee. Cal had forbidden him to have any beer because he said it wouldn't be good for him in his condition. He'd pointed out he wasn't on any meds stronger than Advil but that didn't faze Cal. He had put his foot down and since Joseph wasn't in the mood to argue, he'd agreed. "I doubt it's because I'm taking a job someone else could be getting paid for, which was Dan's reason to hear him tell it."

"Just my opinion but I think it was. Something had him upset, maybe he and his wife were having problems, he couldn't pay the bills, or what have you. You got the brunt of his anger. If I'd have been smarter, I'd have taken him aside and talked to him instead of just kicking him off the job."

"It's easier to see things like that in hindsight. However it still doesn't answer your question. And before you ask, as far as I know, I haven't pissed anyone off." Joseph chuckled. "Unless one of the guys has the hots for you and wants me out of the picture."

"Like how would they know?" Cal asked, his frown deepening.

Joseph patted his knee. "I was teasing. But still… No, there's no way anyone could have picked up on anything. We've been very careful."

"Do you have any enemies? When you owned the website, did you do a news story that might have gotten someone royally upset with you?"

After giving Cal's question some serious thought, Joseph shook his head. "I wrote a few editorials that didn't sit well with some people, but nothing worth trying to kill or maim me over—and certainly not at this late date." He tapped a finger to his lips. "Turning that around, do you have any enemies? A fatal accident at the site could shut it down and for all we know, I was the target only because I was in the right spot at the right moment."

"Now that's something I hadn't considered. Not the enemy part, per se, but the idea of shutting down the site so we couldn't continue."

"When you talked to the original owner, did he say anything about anyone else being interested in purchasing the property?"

"Nope. He jumped on my offer as if I was his last, best friend for wanting to buy it."

"Which still doesn't preclude the fact someone else might want the land now. We're fairly close to having everything cleaned up so we can start rebuilding."

Cal nodded slowly. "The worst of the real decontamination work is done. If we were closed down now, if our licenses were revoked, which might happen if there were more 'accidents', someone could step in, take over, and turn the place into a profitable business instead of Rebuild apartments to help get the homeless get off the streets."

"If that's the case, and we're only guessing right now although it is the most logical idea we've come up with, then at least a couple of the men are ringers. And that is not a nice thought. It means someone started planning this as soon as Rebuild bought the land and the building."

"One good thing," Cal said with a small smile, "we can eliminate anyone who worked for us before then. Still, I'm going to have to put everyone on alert that there could be more trouble."

Never Again – 34

 

"Heads up!"

Joseph never heard the shout because he was wearing earplugs, but he felt the air move as something fell past him, landing on the ground barely inches from where he was standing. He was instantly covered with dust and debris from a broken sheet of drywall. He looked up at the second level balcony, shielding his eyes from the bright sun. He didn't see anyone but he knew the drywall hadn't fallen by itself. Someone grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back before swinging him around. He saw Cal's terrified face and did his best to reassure him everything was all right.

"Like hell you are!" Cal pointed to a tear in the leg of Joseph's disposable suit and the blood streaming down his thigh. "Sit down now," he ordered.

By then most of the men had appeared, some looking shocked, others asking what had happened. Cal sent George to get the first aid kit and in the next breath told Joseph if he didn't sit down there'd be hell to pay.

Despite the blossoming pain in his leg, Joseph wanted nothing more than to go up on the balcony, hoping to find some clue as to who had thrown the drywall over the railing. One look at Cal's face and he did as he was told, sitting on a pile of lumber a few feet away.

By then George had returned. He knelt by Joseph, ripping the leg of the suit farther open until he could see the wound in Joseph's thigh. "Looks like a nail got you," he said when he started to clean the large gash. "Done a good job of it too. Cal, you'd better get him to the ER. He'll need stitches and a tetanus shot if I don't miss my guess."

"I'll be fine," Joseph protested. "Just clean it out and bandage it up." The last thing he needed was to go to the hospital. It wouldn't take an intelligent doctor long to figure out he wasn't quite what he seemed. Besides which, he needed to figure out who had it in for him this time, because what had happened was no accident.

"Don't give me any shit; you're going to the hospital," Cal growled. When Joseph tried to stand, despite the fact George hadn't finished, Cal put his hands on his shoulders to stop him. "I mean it, Joe."

Joseph nodded in apparent resignation but he fully intended to convince Cal otherwise when they were out of earshot of the others. All he had to do was go for a run, something he'd managed to sneak in once a week on a night when Cal hadn't come home with him. One shift and he'd be healed. Of course, if I do that he's going to wonder. I can hide the wound from everyone else, but not him. Damn. At least whether I shift or not, it's not going to get infected so maybe—

"Tell you what, no trip to the ER and George can stitch me up."

"Like hell," Cal growled.

"I could," George put in before it became a full-blown argument. "I was a medic way back when. I know which end of a needle is up and believe it or not there's a small suture kit in here." He took it out to show Cal.

"What about the tetanus shot?"

"I had one six months ago," Joseph said, lying through his teeth. "That should cover that."

Cal sighed. "All right, looks like I'm outnumbered. Go for it, George, and slather him down with antibiotic cream too."

Ten minutes later Joseph was stitched, bandaged, and on his feet again. His leg hurt like hell as he made his way up to the balcony, but there was no way he was going to let anyone know.

While George had been playing doctor, Joseph had watched the men, studying each one carefully when they weren't aware of it. As far as he could tell, none of them seemed upset that he hadn't been hurt worse than he was. He tried to figure out which ones hadn't shown up when the 'accident' had happened. Unfortunately there were enough new guys he saw only rarely in passing that he wasn't certain if any of them were missing.

"Put your damned mask on," Cal grumbled when he came up to stand beside him.

"Sorry." Joseph did, reluctantly. It impeded his vision and sense of smell, both of which he'd been using to see if he could sense which man, or men, had tossed the drywall over the railing.

"What are you doing on the balcony anyway?" Cal asked.

Joseph shrugged. "I guess I was hoping my attacker left some clue to who he was. And it was an attack, in case you didn't get it."

Cal nodded. "I figured it was. I was up here ten minutes before it happened and there was no drywall anywhere within fifteen feet of where it had to be to fall on you. The question is, how did he, or they, manage it without anyone realizing what was happening?"

"Probably because you had most of the men working on the end units, finishing them up."

"True enough." Cal leaned on the railing, staring down at the broken shreds of the drywall. "Do you think this has anything to do with Dan?"

"That thought occurred to me." Joseph shifted to take his weight off his injured leg.

"Okay," Cal said, catching the movement out of the corner of his eye, "You're going home if I have to drive you myself."

"They might wonder why it took a couple of hours for you to return," Joseph said teasingly.

Cal snorted. "Rich boy, you aren't up for any fun and games right now."

"I'm afraid you're right, but let me call a cab. It's early and there's still too much to do today for you to take off."

"Okay." Cal glanced around then patted Joseph's butt. "I will come check up on you though, once I'm out of here."

"I'll put the pot on for tea."

"Tea?" Cal laughed. "Just make sure there's a couple of beers in the fridge."

Joseph thought for a second then nodded. "There are." Taking out his phone he called for a cab then hobbled back down the stairs, going to the gate to wait for it.

Never Again – 33

 

It took them a while before the fish was on their jury-rigged spit and cooking over the fire. For a moment they were afraid they'd have to rub two sticks together to get the fire started until Cal remembered he had matches in his backpack.

"Last of the beer," Cal said as they waited, handing Joseph one can. He was so careful opening the other one Joseph burst out laughing, even though he was equally as cautious. "To… us?" Cal raised his beer in a toast.

Joseph smiled. "To us." He tapped his can to Cal's before taking a drink.

It was after dark by the time the fish finished cooking. Much to Joseph's surprise, Cal had a few paper plates and plastic utensils stashed in his backpack, well wrapped in a plastic bag. When he asked why, Cal said, "A carry-over from the streets. Sometimes people would give me leftovers from their lunches and it just seemed a bit more civilized to put them on a plate. So I guess I got in the habit of making sure I always had some." He shrugged in a self-deprecating way.

"Well this time it came in quite handy. I was debating whether we'd have to find some very big leaves."

"Seriously?"

Joseph grinned. "Seriously. Like in the movies where people get stranded on a desert island."

"Uh huh, sure."

While they ate, first the fish then the sandwiches Joseph had brought with him, they couldn't seem to keep their eyes off of each other. Hardly surprising, Joseph thought when he realized what he was doing. After all, how often do I eat dinner with a totally naked, very handsome man? Never as far as I can remember. He chuckled, and when Cal asked why he explained.

"Now that you mention it," Cal said as he raked his gaze over Joseph from head to foot, "I never have either—and for damned sure not in the middle of nowhere sitting on a beach, if you can call it that."

"There's water and there's land going down to the water. I think that constitutes a beach, even if there isn't any sand."

"Good on the no sand. It gets in places when you're not wearing anything I don't even want to think about." Cal covered Joseph's semi-hard cock with one large hand. "Like here and, well, I can't show you the other one because you're sitting on it."

Joseph winked. "As soon as I finish eating—"

Cal cocked an eyebrow. "So food is more important than sex?"

"I do need to fuel up for round two, young man."

"We're the same age, so don't give me that, rich boy."

Don't I wish? Joseph bit down on that thought, muttering, "Again with the 'rich boy'."

Cal tapped his fingers on Joseph's thigh. "I suppose I could come up with a new one. The problem is what?"

Seeing the wicked gleam in Cal's eyes, Joseph promptly said, "I can live with 'rich boy'."

Cal grinned. "Good, because it's my special name for you and I'd hate to change it." He cupped one hand behind Joseph's head, pulling him close enough to drop quick kisses on his mouth. Between each one he whispered, "rich boy," until Joseph ended it by taking Cal's face between his hands and kissing him thoroughly enough to make his teasing stop. Which, following the laws of nature, caused more interesting things to happen. Thus it was closing in on midnight when they finally decided they should get dressed again and head back to the city.

"We have to be at work at the crack of dawn." Cal sighed, while they made their way to where they'd left the truck, the beam of his high-powered flashlight leading the way.

"You do," Joseph told him, trying not to grin. "I just might sleep in."

"Nope. I'm the boss and if I have to be there, I'm ordering you to be there too—on time and ready to get your ass to work."

Joseph couldn't let a line like that pass. "I think the storage shed would be the best place for that, unless you want the guys watching."

"What? Oh hell!" Cal burst out laughing. "Walked into that one, didn't I?"

"Big time."

They continued bantering all the way back to the city until they pulled up in front of Joseph's house. Then they got serious when they looked at each other.

"We should probably keep this between the two of us?" Joseph asked softly.

Cal nodded. "Probably. I don't want to, but yeah, I suppose so. At least for now, people being how they are, even here."

"I agree. We don't want another 'Dan incident', so to speak."

"True, but—" Cal smiled shyly, "—I wouldn't mind a few more 'Joseph incidents'."

"I think—no I'm sure—that can be arranged."

"When and where?"

"Here and umm, tomorrow night? I suspect tonight we're going to be too beat to do anything but sleep."

Cal nodded. "I think you're right."

Joseph kissed him good-night. "I'll see you in, dear God, another four hours."

As Joseph got out of the truck, Cal grinned. "Is that my nickname? 'Dear God'?"

Joseph grinned back. "As if. Now off with you."

Cal saluted and drove away and Joseph watched until the truck's taillights disappeared from view before going inside.

Now what have I gotten myself into, as if I didn't know? I guess I'll just take it one day at a time and if, God help us both, it does turn into love. I suppose I'll deal with that when the time comes.

* * * *

For the next month Joseph and Cal spent as much time together as possible. Unfortunately it was mostly at the apartment building site. Cal wanted to get the preliminaries—meaning the clean-up—completed as quickly as possible so they could start refurbishing the building for its new tenants. Each time one of the Rebuild houses was completed to Steve's satisfaction, he would send the men to work with Cal. But still it seemed to be taking an inordinate amount of time to get all the mold, mildew, and asbestos removed and the destroyed interior walls taken down.

"I swear…" Cal said late on one of the few nights when he had come home with Joseph. He sighed when he wrapped his arm around him.

"What do you swear? Don't leave me hanging here," Joseph replied.

"If I'd known what a huge job these apartments were going to be, I would have thought twice, or even three times, about starting this project."

"No, you have taken it on anyway and you know it."

"True," Cal replied sleepily. "But damn. I wish… and before you say it, I know. If wishes were horses…"

Joseph smiled when Cal's voice faded out. "We would ride. Indeed, we would," he said softly.

Never Again – 32

 

"You would think," Cal said softly, "it had been forever since you made love to someone."

Joseph turned his head to smile at him. "It seems as if it has been."

"How long?" When Joseph remained silent, Cal kissed his temple, saying, "You don't have to answer. I'm just happy it was me who helped you. Damn, that sounds wrong."

"Perhaps." Joseph chuckled. "But I know what you meant."

"Why? I mean, why so long? If it has been. And that didn't sound so good either."

Rolling onto his side, ignoring the grass tickling him when he did, Joseph traced his fingertips over Cal's mouth. "Nope, no foot in there."

Cal grinned. "Bet me." Taking Joseph's hand in his, he kissed the palm. Then, his look very serious, he said, "Can I ask you something? Or ask it again? Why so long?"

"Personal reasons."

"Okay, sorry. I shouldn't have pried." He started to sit up but Joseph wasn't having any of that. He put his hand on Cal's shoulder to keep him where he was.

"You have every right to 'pry', all things considered. I loved someone once, loved him more than life itself. He died and I vowed he would be the last."

"How long ago?"

"Many years ago."

"When you were a teen? Your first love and your last? When you were that young? Damn. That's, well, it's sad." Wrapping one arm around him, Cal eased him over until Joseph was resting on his chest then gently stroked his hair. "He's the last man you've been with?"

Joseph nodded, not correcting Cal's assumption about his age when he and Rawleigh were together. After all, how could I explain? In this day and age, where everything is based on reality and myths are the fodder of bad movies, he would think I was insane and—and disappear before I even got the chance to show him.

"Why me?" Cal asked. "I mean… well you know what I mean, I think."

"How can I explain it so it makes sense and doesn't make me seem condescending? There's something about you that reached out to me, as much as I tried not to let it. You're nothing like him physically, but you have the same invincible 'nothing is going to stop me' spirit he had." He looked up at Cal. "Does it bother you that I compare you to him?"

"Honestly, it does a little. And yet the fact you loved him and see some of him in me—I think I like that." He smiled, brushing a kiss over Joseph's lips. "I don't expect you'll love me the way you did him. But if you care for me in some way… well, I can live with it."

"I do care. Trite as it sounds, I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I'm not a man who falls into bed with anyone who looks my way."

"No kidding. I kind of got that." He tugged Joseph's beard lightly when he continued to look somberly at him. "You're supposed to smile. You're the one who's always tries to smile so I'll smile back."

"I do, don't I?" Joseph did smile then—and laughed softly. "I think you just turned it around, Cal."

"Good. Now one more question if you don't mind, only because I'm curious. What was his name?"

"Rawleigh."

"Rawleigh." Cal rolled the name over his tongue. "It sounds old-fashioned."

Joseph shook his head. "The name was old, yes, but he wasn't an old-fashioned…" He almost said 'man' before remembering Cal thought they'd been teens. "Boy. It was just a family name. He was very much a child of his time, our time, full of life and ready to try anything."

"How did he die?" Cal asked softly.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got shot." Which is the truth, although he'll take it differently than I meant it.

"Damn. I've heard of that happening to kids when punks do a drive-by or something. I'm sorry, Joe. What a horrible way to lose someone you loved."

"It was," Joseph replied somberly. Then, realizing all of this talk had put a damper on their mood, he jumped to his feet. "Let's cook that fish. I'm starving."

Cal looked up at him in surprise then grinned, getting up as well. "And just how are we going to do that?"

"It's call 'fire'. You gather some wood, pile it up, and find a nice big stick. Haven't you ever cooked food in the wild?"

"Nope. I'm a city boy, born and bred."

"Okay, so here's the plan. You get the wood; I'll gut and scale the fish."

"And cut off its head? I don't like my food looking at me when I'm eating it."

Joseph laughed. "Okay, just for you, I'll do that too."

Never Again – 31

 

"Joe?"

Cal's voice brought Joseph back from his memories. He looked at the large fish Cal was holding and nodded. "Very nice."

Like a young boy whose father hadn't really acknowledged his accomplishment, Cal's face fell. Immediately feeling guilty, Joseph smiled up at him. "Actually more than nice. That one alone should make a good supper for us."

"Great!" Cal went to get Joseph's creel. When he opened it, he chuckled. "I take it you didn't really expect us to catch anything," he said when he removed the sandwiches Joseph had carefully made and packed in it that morning. Putting the fish into the creel, he set it in the water to keep it cold.

"I was just hedging our bets?"

"Right." Cal shook his head. Going back to where he'd left his pack, he took out two beers, handing one to Joseph before sitting down on their rock again. "Shit," he muttered as he popped his open and it spewed out foam.

"Should have stuck them in the water too," Joseph told him as he carefully held his at arms-length to open it. When the foam subsided, he took a deep drink, staring out over the water.

They were silent for a few moments. Then Cal asked, "Are you all right? All of a sudden you seem, I don't know. I guess sort of the way I usually am, like smiling will break your face and talking… well, you're usually the one who does that."

"You talk too, when you're in the mood."

"I guess. But you still didn't answer my question. Is something bothering you."

"No," Joseph snapped, relenting seconds later. "I'm sorry. No, I'm fine. I was just remembering something. Something from… a few years ago."

"Something bad I take it, considering how fast your mood changed."

"Good and bad—let's forget it, all right? We're here to enjoy ourselves." He took another drink. "So when was the last time you really went fishing? Not just goofing around like now."

"Damn." Cal frowned. "A long time ago, for the real thing. I mean, I take it seriously but I don't fixate on having to catch something. Still, there was a time about four years ago. I went to England for some R&R during my deployment, since I didn't want to visit my parents. I was in the Lake District when I met a guy who thought life revolved around fishing. So—" smiling a bit sourly, "—we decided to have a competition. Needless to say, he won but not by much." He shook his head slowly, looking down at the water lapping the bank. "He wanted more as his reward than I was willing to give. I guess I should consider myself lucky he was only guessing I might be interested. I managed to convince him I didn't swing that way." He looked back at Joseph. "So that's my one and only story about 'real' fishing."

"Definitely—different." After considering whether to say something, he did. "It must have been hard under Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Cal shrugged. "The whole thing was stupid in my opinion but since there wasn't any choice, I lived with it. It's not like I had anyone in my life, so I managed." Picking up a small stone, he tossed it from hand to hand, smiling slightly. "So now it's not a secret any more between us. Not that it has been for a while, I suppose."

"Not really." Joseph watched the stone, not daring to look at Cal for fear he'd see something in his eyes he wasn't certain he could deal with.

"Look, Joe, I don't want you thinking—well, you know—that I'm somehow telling you all this because, well… damn it!" Cal straightened, throwing the stone hard out over the lagoon. The splash when it hit the water sounded loud in the sudden silence between them.

"Cal, I'm a big boy now. I think I understand things as well as the next guy and I know you were opening up to me, probably like you haven't to anyone in a long time. I guess you could say I'm flattered you trust me enough to do that."

"But that's it. You're just flattered."

Seeing the hurt on Cal's face, Joseph couldn't help what he said next, even though he knew better. "You're an interesting man and I'm attracted to you. I'll admit that."

"Attracted, but you're not going to let it go further than that."

Joseph sighed. "If I did, we'd both get hurt."

"Why? And isn't that always a risk no matter what? A man and a woman take the same risk and sometimes it works and sometimes it ends badly. But still…" Cal jumped to his feet. "Oh hell, never mind. I should have kept my damned mouth shut," he said angrily as he strode back to his pack, taking out another beer. Apparently in his anger he forgot what happened with the first can because he popped to top on this one then started swearing as it spewed all over him.

Joseph looked at the beer frothing down Cal's front and started laughing. For a minute Cal scowled at him then he was laughing too. Once started, it took a long time for them to calm down again.

Cal came over, dropping down beside Joseph, still chuckling. "I might have needed a bath in this heat" he said as he stripped off his shirt, "but not with beer."

Joseph swallowed hard. Cal's naked torso was something to behold. It was all rippling muscle with the dark nipples standing out in contrast against his lightly tanned flesh. He looked up and something passed between them—a feeling, a need.

Suddenly their lips locked together in a hard kiss, Cal's hands scrambling for the hem of Joseph's shirt. He broke the kiss just long enough to pull the shirt up and off him, and then they were kissing again.

Hunger flooded Joseph. Desire, which had been suppressed for so long, broke free. He fought it and he lost. Or, he decided much later as he lay completely sated in Cal's arms, perhaps he had won.