Jason sat quietly in the darken room he used as his office. Copies of Medical Examiner's reports were strewn all over the top of his desk where he eyed each one carefully.  There was everything from overdoses to stabbings to suicide.

Ten in all and every one of them he knew exactly how and when they met their demise.  He should know, in a way, he was there with every one of them. He watched as their life left their body and their souls were handed over to  Alaiel. He had stood emotionless as they each begged and pleaded with the Dark Angel for their souls to be freed and screamed obscenities at Jason as they were forced into the Abyss that would be their home from eternity.

He simply looked up as the door opened and Jerome stuck his head in. 

"I'll call when I get to Jerry's."  Jason simply nodded.  "Look, Baby, I hope you figure out what's going on and take care of it.  I love you but right now, I'm not even sure I like you. I want you back Jason." Jerome whispered before shutting the door softly. 

Jason sat quietly, wanting to run after Jerome as he listened to the car leave the drive.  He wanted to hold his love and explain everything but he knew it would only force them farther apart. He also knew that he wanted to stop, but that this thing he did seemed to have as much control over him as a drug must have over an addict.

He covered his exhausted face for a moment the with a deep sigh, looked at the two open files in front of him.  Maybe after these two he could stop.  He could just call it quits and tell Alaiel where he could stick the rest of the souls waiting to be collected.

And so he had grabbed his helmet and headed down the highway.  He thought about Jerome and the argument over and over, never realizing how fast he had been pushing his bike until the flash of blue and siren burst broke through. 



After he signed the ticket and started back on his way, he felt slightly lighter....until he pulled into the driveway of the Old house and saw Greg's SUV already parked.  As he pulled next to the vehicle and got off, he had to fight his feet to keep moving toward the front door. 

He paused for a moment and reached for the doorknob, only to jump as it opened suddenly and Greg stood smiling at him. 

I never want to see her like that again.

And wouldn't you know, she was right.

About everything.

Including that damn PDA.

following this

Jason watched quietly as Jerome drove up with Izzy.  After his talk with Xander, he was exhausted and had decided to wait for Jerome on the porch.  His mind had been taken back to the part of his life he still feared.  He knew as soon as he could, he had to grab Jerome and talk to him, a talk he had never really meant to have with his love. 

He stood as Izzy rushed up the stairs with Jerome in tow, carrying several bags.  He carefully hugged Izzy around the huge cake box she was carrying and indicated that Xander was inside with the others.  He looked at Jerome and smiled. 

"I don't understand, but I'm so glad to see you Jase." He grinned as he neared.  "Let me get these things inside so I can get you a proper welcome." 

"Jerome, we need to talk." Jason cursed silently at the sound of his voice and the sudden look on Jerome's face.  "I didn't mean to make it sound so serious baby, but...." He ran his fingers through his hair.  "Baby, go and put that stuff up and lets go for a walk."  Jerome nodded and disappeared into the house. 

"You handled that well Jason Jeffery Conner." He chided himself.  "So much for working your way into it."  He sighed deeply as he waited for Jerome to return. 

 "Jase? I..." Before Jerome could say anything, Jason stepped forward and embraced him tightly, kissing him hungrily.  When Jason pulled away, Jerome's eyes were wide.  "Baby, what's wrong....has something happened to one of the kids..." 

"No, nothing like that." He grabbed Jerome's hand and headed down the porch stairs.  "Come on, I want to find a quiet place for us to talk."

music: Lakehouse tags: rape

What do I do.  My sweet lover had another one of his nightmares last night.  Woke up screaming out the name of his dead lover.  The same lover who if he had not been killed, would probably be where I almost nightly, in the arms of Jerome.  Sweet, sweet Jerome. He won't tell me what he dreams.  He only hold onto me like I was a lifeline thrown to him in angrily swelling waters. 

Sometimes I'm actually jealous of a ghost, of a dead man. I can't compete with those memories.  

Rome tells me not to worry, that he's in the here and now with me, but.....but when those dreams happen, those nightmares, my love is so far away from me. His eyes are clouded over by whatever nightmare he sees.  And there is such anger in those beautiful eyes.  Eye that look at my boys with such gentle love and caring.  

I"ve read the reports, the ones on Tyler Falcon, Rome's dead love.  I know what they did to him.  I know how hard Rome actually worked to find the men who.....I know that two of them are dead now. They committed suicide after they had gone totally insane.  The other two?  Well one is in the prison psych ward and the other one is roaming the streets of Houston, shooting up at every chance.  So in a way, they are getting exactly what they deserve.  

Still, it doesn't help my love. It doesn't help the nightmares. And what does that mean? It means I'm totally helpless to do a damn thing.  

And I don't like to be helpless.

mood: distressed tags: jerome's nightmares

It had taken Jason almost an hour to get Jerome to calm down and explain why he was so excite, but once he did, he had gladly called Charlie and then Jerry and told them that it would be fine for them all to come over and he would start up the grill. He had sat down and made a list, sending Jerome and the two boys off to the store for a few extra supplies for the impromtu party. It was something he had discovered too late shouldn't have been done. 

When Jerome got back, Matthew and Jeremy ran out of the car, each one carrying a handfull of balloons, laughing and talking about the party and their friend Xander coming for a visit.  They remembered their visit to the apartment in Boston and wanted to know if that was the same funny man that was going to come and see them. 

As Jerome came into view, ladened with sacks, Jason tried to glare at him.  

"What?" Jerome said shyly.  "They wanted to get XanXan some balloons.  I talked them into the Welcome Home ones.  They were both determined the balloons should have been Happy Birthday ones."  When Jason simply stood with his arms crossed Jerome stomped his foot. "Come on, be a lovely gentleman and help me bring in the groceries.  Charlie, Greg and Tonk are due any minute."  

"Next time I go for the supplies." He finally grinned and as he headed for the car, stopped and kissed Jerome lightly on the cheek.  "Make sure the boys stay away from the grill, it's already heating and the last thing I need is to send one of them back to Rebecca with a third degree burn." 

"We know better than to touch it when you set it on fire Da."  Matthew suddenly appeared with his hand on his hips.  "We're not daft you know." 

"Yeah." Jeremy chimed in and then started to giggle. 

"They told you now didn't they."  Jerome couldn't help but dig at Jason's overprotectiveness.  "Right Da?"

"I'll see you after the party tonight."  Jason warned in humor.  "Now you and the boys go get things set up in the kitchen and find a place for the balloons.

He took the rest of the bags into the kitchen then began to open and season the meat.  He barked orders for Jerome to start the potatos and something about didn't all American picnics have some kind of potato salad? Then as they were beginning to cook, Charlie ran out, crouching as the two boys ran into her arms. Tonk and Greg followed close behind, grinning and waving. 

"So, when are we going to eat?" Tonk asked as he hugged Jason then Jerome.  

"After Jerry and Xander gets here." Jerome said as he ran past Tonk, heading for the kitchen.  "Can't let the garlic bread burn." 

"You've turned him into more of a queen than he already was."  Tonk shook his head then started laughing.  

"I didn't have to do much."  Jason laughed as he turned the meat.  He looked up as he heard Matthew squeal.

"XANXAN!!!".  Both boys ran up to Xander and Jerry and jumped which meant each man had to catch a child in mid-air. 

And so the afternoon wore on.  Xander got caught up on everything and told about his different experiences in Boston as they all ate and laughed.  Greg had picked up the camcorder off and on during the evening and recorded various conversations so that when the time was right, Xander wouldn't know what was going on..  

Finally Jerry grinned at Charlie and stood up, moving toward Xander.  Jason was quick to call the kids over to him and tell them that this was something really important to Jerry and Xander and they had to be very quiet until it was over.  They both promised and stood by their father. 

Jerry had Xander sit in a chair then gracefully got on one knee, fishing something from his pocket.  He almost laughed as he saw Xanders eyes widen in both confusion and hope. 

mood: amused music: "Get This Party Started"----Pink tags: party