almost there

[mute_clay]

Clay goes straight to Orlando’s after having left Alexander’s place. There’s a mail for him. He is too restless to type a long answer and settles for telling Orlando that everything is fine. Almost fine. That he will be all right. And that he wants to tell him about what happens but that he doesn’t have the words.

If I find them I will tell you.

He takes the key for Walker’s bus and gets a coat before leaving a note for Jimmy telling him that everything is all right. Still a lie. But he isn’t sure what to say otherwise.

The walk to Alan’s is uneventful. He has to drop of the key for David. See him if he is home.

It is – almost – time.

Comments

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

David is home. He's in the backyard, pondering the heated pool. For the first time he now wants to go for a swim. It is no coincidence that this desire has kindled post the cast on his arm.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Nobody answered the door when he knocked. Clay walks around to see if Alan is in the backyard. He isn't.
David is.

For a moment he is tempted to just drop the keys in the mailbox but then he sees David's cast and besides - it's David. He wants to say hi.

He whistles loudly.

Hey. You!

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

He turns around, the attraction of the pool broken for a moment.

"Hey," He moves the gate but the lock is too hard to shift with one hand. "You'll have to go around the front."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay walks back to the front door and waits for David to come open it.

In the meantime he fishes out the keys to the bus and tries to come up with a good way of saying he won't be around for a couple of days.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

It takes a while to open the front door and when it is finally accomplished a cat bolts through it.

"Fucking cats," is Clay's greeting.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay manages to catch the cat and deposits it once inside with the door closed.

He looks at David's arm.

What happened to you?

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Car accident. No big deal, a few cuts and bruises." He shrugs it off. "How's Callie?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shrugs. Saying that she is fine seems - wrong. Saying that she isn't wouldn't be truthful either. She seems to find the arrangement satisfying.

She's - ok.

Then he holds out his closed hand.

Got something for you

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah?" He's only half diverted. He is like a dog with a bone, he can't let go of this, not until the moment it kills him. "I've got something for you, too."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay manages a smile that not only feels warm but is warm.

Really?

And then he adds, hopefully sufficiently off-hand,

I've got some stuff to take care of so I'll be away for a couple of days. Thought I'd better get this to you first.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it's in the living room - come on." He leads the way in. "I almost opened it and had a look... but I stopped myself."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay follows, stopping to pet cats on the way. There seems to be quite a lot of cats.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"That's yours." He points at one cat who has darted in front of Clay as if to trip him. "She's a real little fucker."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay picks the cat up.

Hello there.

She tries to claw his eye out and then proceeds to lick his hand.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"She's about to bite you." David warns. That cat always licks before she bites.

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks up at him.

Have you been on to her about that cleanliness trip of yours as well?

He grins.

The cat sinks tiny little teeth into his hand and he waits patiently for her to let go.

He holds out his other hand.

Do you want your gift before I get eaten?

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"I totally want it." He looks at the closed hand. "What is it then? Something small..."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay shakes his head, grinning. Coming here was a good idea. He gets a better hold on the little cat and walks closer to David so he can drop the gift in his hand.

It's a set of car keys. With a colorful mushroom-shaped keyring.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

He looks at them. "But what are they for?"

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay grins at him.

Walker's bus. I have to make you promise that you won't set it on fire though.

He sits down on the couch. The cat has relaxed a little and is now busy climbing Mount Clay.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

"Do you want me to make a promise I might not be able to keep?" He is only half joking. "The cat's pissed on you."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay looks down at himself.

It'll dry.

Then he looks back at David.

As long as you promise me to get out if there is a fire, I'll be happy. And don't crash the bus. Too much.

[davidshaw.livejournal.com]

David hands Clay his own gift. "This is TOO COOL, Clay. TOO COOL."

[mute-clay.livejournal.com]

Clay opens his own gift.

He looks at David, smiling.

What is it?

[orlandomuse.livejournal.com]

Orlando reads the brief note, and he worries. He speaks out loud. "When I get home, I'm finding Callie. I need to see her, to know she saw you."

He shuts off the computer.