Page 36 of Unchained

“Jon! What’s taking you so long?”

“Damnit! I’m trying to find my trunks. All I can find is the speedo, and while I know you would appreciate it, I don’t think Gus would.”

Levi smiled and shook his head. “Frankly, I don’t think he would care. I get it though. It left nothing to the imagination.”

Jon glared at him through the bedroom door. “Ha-ha. I’m sure that’s why you picked it out, too. Wasn’t it?” Levi grinned at him. “What’s the hurry, anyway? It’s not like he’s going to kill us if we get there a few minutes late.”

Levi sighed. “Check your work bag. They may have gotten stuffed in there when we were getting ready to leave Galveston the last time we were there.” Jon disappeared back into the office.

“Levi! You are a genius! I fucking love you.”

He smiled. “I take it you found them?”

“Yep. Did you hide them in there or something?”

“Nope. But I know we were in a hurry since we slept in, and Gus wanted us to be back for dinner.”

Jon appeared in the doorway. His overnight bag hung from his shoulder. Levi smiled and watched a sly smile form on Jon’s face. “How the hell did I get so lucky?”

Jon blushed. “Luck had nothing to do with it. I’m the lucky one.”

“How you figure that?”

“Well, shall I count the ways you have saved my ass over the last few months?”

Levi coughed. “Let’s hit the road.”

“You seem to be in a rush this morning.”

“We’re taking back roads. Already took the top off the Jeep. I haven’t really had a day off since that weekend, and I want to enjoy the ride.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so? I would’ve gotten my ass in gear. You know I love cruising with the top down.”

Jon appeared to be pleased with himself. Levi shook his head and smiled. He pulled him into a warm embrace and kissed the top of his head. He felt Jon’s body melt into his arms.

“I love you so much.”

“I know you’re just worried about him. It’s ok to be worried, but he said he was fine. How did he say it?” Jon straightened his back, his face turned serious. He dropped his voice as low as he could. “Tell him to stop acting like a damn mother hen. I’m FINE. I just thought y’all would enjoy a weekend at the beach and maybe I’d like some company.”

Levi laughed. “Don’t let him hear you impersonating him like that.”

Jon smiled and raised an eyebrow.

“It was pretty good, though.” He took the bag away and headed towards the door. “We can continue this on the way.”

Within minutes, they were winding through country roads. Jon seemed to be distracted by the scenery. Levi realized he hadn’t taken Jon this way before and smiled at the child-like awe apparent on his face. Jon turned to look at him.

“I love it when you smile. It makes you sexier. Don’t get me wrong, on a bad day I’d still give you a ten. But that smile…it takes it to an eleven.”

Levi felt his smile grow. “Is that so? Well, if I’d known that, I would’ve gone with comedy instead of music.”

“I’m flattered that you would do that for me, but I don’t think your heart would be in it as much. The Dragon has become your baby, and you love it as it is, and are spending all of your time helping it grow back into what it apparently once was if the tales Leo spins can be believed.”

“Not just him. I’ve heard it from other people, too. Granted, Gus brought it back from the brink. I just don’t think he fully realized the potential that was there.”

“Possibly. But you know as well as I do that is very unlike him. I mean, from what you’ve told me as soon as he first laid eyes on you, he saw through your pain and anger and saw you for what you could be. I know he plays it down because he thinks he saw Timmy in you, but is it any different? He saw the wasted potential he’d seen in his son. When he realized you were suffering the pain that Timmy had been afraid of, maybe he imposed some of what he thought he saw, but that didn’t give you that potential.” Levi placed his hand on Jon’s thigh and felt the warmth of Jon’s hand on his.

“I thought you studied computers. Sounds more like psychology or philosophy today. But let’s say you are right. How would that explain what he saw in you?”

Jon laughed. A deep laugh that always made Levi’s heart skip a beat, though if asked, he would deny it.

“Or maybe I just watch way too much reality TV while you are at work. You know they’ve always got shrinks on those shows. You know the more of a dumpster fire the people are, the higher the ratings.”

Levi shook his head. “Well, at least you’re learning from the shrinks and not the dumpster fires.”

Jon smiled at him and turned away.

“You think Gus is lying about his procedure, don’t you?”

Levi inhaled deeply. “Yes.” What more could be said?

“I’m not sure if he is or isn’t, but I don’t think he would lie if it were really serious. Downplay something, sure. But to flat out lie about something just doesn’t feel like Gus. Not to mention, if it were that serious, he would have to tell us, so we’d be on standby.”

“ If he wanted us to be. I’m starting to think he’s ready to go.”

Jon sighed. “I hope not. We still need him. I think he still needs us, too.”