"John Gets What He Needs"
Part Two
Chapter Three
"Tom Gets A Black Eye"
By Hogan
Sounds of the shower could be heard masking other moaning sounds of sex taking place. John and Evan were in their usual place of passion, and enjoying their alone-time. Evan hugged his large-framed man and held on to him tighter and longer than usual, causing John to pull back and ask, "Everything okay, bud? You're acting very strangely this morning ... like I'm leaving or something, and you don't want me to go. What's up?"
"Nothing's up ... I just love the way you feel, up against me." Evan lied.
"I like it, too, Ev ... but we'd better get out of the shower if anyone else is gonna have hot water this morning."
"I guess you're right ... I need to start breakfast, anyways. Jacob is already home and he's gonna help me cook you and the guys a big breakfast. Tom and Andy are going to hang out here today ... probably get a basketball game going, then swim some more, later on."
"That sounds like a good plan. Did Jacob look okay this morning? He didn't look like he was out partying all night, did he?" John said looking at Evan for a reaction to his questioning. John knew he couldn't tell a lie very well while looking him in the face, and that he always tried to protect Jacob when he did something wrong.
"No, 'dad' ... he looked fine. I think he stayed over at his girlfriend's last night, because he came home very early this morning." Evan chuckled as he continued to say, "He had that happy 'I just had sex' look on his face."
"I hope we don't have to worry about being grandparents this soon," laughed John.
"Hey ... he's your kid ... I'm never going to be old or a grandparent," Evan laughed.
"Oh, he's not yours when it's convenient, huh? Is that how were playing it?"
"Damn straight, Mister Dad ... I'm just the glue that keeps it all together."
"You're so full of shit ... you know you consider yourself Jacob's parent and love him as much as I do."
"Busted, I guess, on that one ... but I have an advantage you don't; I can play the cool parent when you always have to be the law-giver."
"Ha ... ha ... ha ... very funny, smart ass. I told you, you always take his side when we're disagreeing."
"I know, I just hate it when he gets mad at me, and I can't stand it when he gives me 'that face'. You remember that time when I scolded him for being mean to Riley, when he was little ... he cried so hard he could hardly breathe. I felt so bad; I swore that would never happen again."
"Evan, you're a better dog-owner than you are a parent, but Jacob and I still love ya." John said as he laughed.
"I wouldn't have it any other way ... handsome."
"I'm going downstairs to start breakfast. Tom and Andy should be in the hall-bathroom, getting cleaned up. Maybe you should play a joke on them or something; you know the lock on that door doesn't work very well. Besides, the emergency pin, to open it, is hidden on the top ledge of the door-molding. Remember, we put it in there in case Jacob ever got locked in there accidentally, when he was a kid?"
"Dude, you are an evil genius," John smirked. "Maybe I'll just go and see what those two are up to in there."
"Go ahead ... you don't want to know how I woke Tom up this morning."
"Oh, shit ... what did you do, you perv? I'm sure it was something good that embarrassed and pissed him off."
"Let's just say, he was awakened the same way you were."
"You're such a perv ... I know you want to do him, don't you ... admit it!"
"John, you know I only love you."
"I was talking about you being a perv and wanting to have some of that ... I know who you love. Admit it ... you'd like to ride him, wouldn't you?"
"Okay. I've had fantasies about having sex with him a few times, but you know I'd never do anything like that, John. You can always trust me."
"Ev ... I know where we stand with each other. It's perfectly normal to have fantasies about other people. It doesn't mean you're not happy with your partner."
"Are you saying you have fantasies about Tom, too?"
"Hell, no... I haven't ever thought of having anything to do with Tom that way."
"Oh, so it's ... Andy, isn't it? Admit it ... you'd love to tap his ass, wouldn't you? All those muscles, and him in that cop uniform ... it gets you going, don't it?"
"Well, let's just say there's a fantasy there somewhere, but you know I'd never do anything, either. Besides, they're our best friends, and Jacob's uncles ... we could never do anything to jeopardize that," John said, smirking.
"I know ...I just think it's hot, thinking about you two going at it, butt-naked ... you two all sweaty... but only if I could watch," Evan smirked back.
"God, you are a perv ... and there's no worries ... you know who I love."
"I know, John, and I love you back. I'm off to get breakfast started. Go do something to 'get' those two while I'm busy."
"Okay ... see you downstairs," John said.
"If I hear yelling ... I'll just ignore it," Evan snickered.
"Oh, you're evil!" John said, with his signature grin.
Evan entered the kitchen to see Jacob already there starting breakfast. Evan and John both, but mostly Evan, had made sure Jacob had learned to cook and that he enjoyed doing it. He'd learned well, and he enjoyed cooking for his girlfriends, scoring points with them for the effort.
Jacob was cooking bacon and sausage, and already had the biscuits in the oven. Evan looked at him and smiled saying, "Is it ready yet? I'm starved."
"Very funny ... if you're done mocking me as a kid, maybe you can help me out and start the French toast, pancakes, and gravy for the biscuits."
"Yes, Sir! Sheesh ... you'd think you'd already made rank, or something," Evan laughed.
Jacob looked wide-eyed at Evan, then looked to make sure no one else was around, and said, "Cut it out, someone might hear you."
"Don't worry ... your dad is up to no good, upstairs."
"Oh, shit. What's he doing to my uncles now?" Jacob asked, with a grin.
"Trust me, you don't want to know, but at least he's in a good mood, so let's be happy he's having fun for now," Evan said, as he got busy cooking.
The kitchen was quickly giving off the morning breakfast-aroma and the smells made their way throughout the house. Evan got busy making the sausage-gravy for the biscuits and got out the flat-iron and began putting out pancakes and French toast. There'd be a bit of everything for whoever wanted what ... Tom would usually be the one who stuck to the biscuits-and-gravy and fried potatoes, while John and Jacob had eggs, bacon and sausage, and some French toast. Andy was more the pancake-eater, with eggs and bacon. Evan usually had fried-potatoes and some sausage.
Everyone would be taken care of, and the food would be a feast. It was a Christmas tradition that many would come over for breakfast on Christmas morning, then they'd go to John's moms for Christmas dinner. When Evan's parents were still alive, they would usually have the dinner at their home. Food always seemed to be the thing that brought people together, and they all enjoyed each other's company and family.
While Jacob and Evan were busy cooking, John was upstairs, outside the hallway-bathroom door, picking the lock and slowly opening the door. The room was steamy, and he heard his two hunky house-guests in the shower together, making familiar sounds. John snickered to himself and quietly entered the bathroom, quickly turned on the cold water in the sink and flushed the toilet at the same time, then darted out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He could hear two voices loudly cursing, and the sound of the shower-door opening. He smiled to himself and stood outside the bathroom door, laughing, now, out loud. The door quickly opened and Tom began cursing him, with a towel wrapped around him. John just laughed, and then quickly grabbed Tom's towel and ran downstairs laughing. Tom, being exposed, quickly went back into the bathroom and slammed the door.
"That fucker is gonna pay for this," Tom cursed, looking at Andy.
"Yeah, well, you're gonna have to wait for another day, 'cause he's gonna have enough on his plate. We better get downstairs and eat breakfast ... I'm sure it's probably done, because I can smell it," Andy said, with a grin.
John entered the kitchen and saw Jacob and Evan loading the table with everything a man could want for breakfast. John smiled and said, "Wow, guys, it looks like Christmas morning breakfast in here. What's the occasion?"
Evan and Jacob looked at each other, and then Evan spoke up and said, "We just thought it would be nice to sit down for a big breakfast, since the guys are here.
"Hey, Jacob, go up and tell them two breakfast is ready. I would, but they may be a bit mad at me right now," John smirked.
"You didn't do 'the toilet flush' on them again, did you, Dad?" Jacob laughed.
"It was Evan's idea ... I was just following orders ... honest," John laughed.
"Yeah, whatever ... don't hide behind me when they come down and gang up on ya, because I'm not gonna save you," Evan laughed.
Jacob darted out of the kitchen to go get the guys, and John went over to Evan and gave him a kiss and smacked him on his ass. "Looks great ... you two really cooked a lot of food. You wanna tell me what's up?"
"What do you mean ... 'what's up?' ... can't we just cook a big breakfast for everyone to enjoy?" Evan asked, without looking back at John.
"I see ... so you're gonna stay quiet about whatever's going on, so I won't keep bugging you."
"Don't worry, John, all will be fine and we'll have a good breakfast together, then later go swimming and have a nice summer day, before the warm days are gone and fall creeps in."
"I know I'm not looking forward to summer ending, either, but at least football season will be here again. That's always a good excuse for us to get together and enjoy each other's company," John smiled.
John sat down at his usual spot at the end of the table and Evan sat on the side next to him. All the food was on the table and Jacob returned with Tom and Andy in tow behind him. Everyone sat down, Jacob taking the chair opposite his father's, while Tom and Andy sat opposite Evan.
"Damn, guys, this is a lot of food," Tom remarked.
Everyone began serving themselves and filling their plates and the absence of conversation was noticeable. Everyone just seem to be focused on eating at the moment, until everyone was almost finished, when Jacob interrupted the silence, and began to make the prepared speech he'd rehearsed in his mind a hundred times.
"Dad ... I have something to tell you, and I'm asking you to hear me out before you say anything ... promise?" Jacob said, looking at his father.
John looked at his son, then around the table, and said, "Sure, son, this must be serious, since I can tell everyone in this room seems to know something I don't. It shows on all your faces," John said, with a noticeably agitated tone to his voice.
Tom and Andy looked at each other, and then over to Evan, and there was a tension in the air that continued to thicken.
Jacob cleared his throat and began with, "Dad ... I've made a decision about college, and I want you to understand, I really appreciate all the sacrifices you had to make to raise me. I want you to know I do appreciate everything you all have done for me. I made a decision, and I've signed up with the Marines. I decided to wait to go to college until after my tour is up. I leave in a week, for basic training in San Diego," Jacob said, with confidence, and relief that he'd finally told his dad.
John just sat there and looked at this son, and then put his fork down and looked around the room at everyone at the table. The silence was deafening, and John saw that everyone was looking back at him, waiting for a reaction.
John tried to process what his son had just told him, and just sat there thinking of what to say in response. There were no words ... he couldn't think of a single word to say. It was as if someone had hit him so hard that he couldn't think. He looked around the table again, and then to Evan, and stared at him, wondering, 'Why? Why hasn't he said something to me?' It was obvious, by the absence of reaction from everyone, that he was the last one to know. A feeling of betrayal and rage began to overcome him, and he got up from his chair.
"Dad ... say something ... please, understand that I need to do this," Jacob pleaded.
"Jacob Spencer ... I need to get out of here for a while. I don't want to have this conversation till I can speak with you calmly."
"John, please ... don't go ... let's get through this together," Evan said, as he reached for John's arm.
John pulled his arm away, glaring at Evan for a second, then said, "I can't fuck believe you. Of all the people who knew about this, and then didn't tell me, so I could stop him. If he gets killed over there in this fucking war ... I'll blame you for this, Evan ... So, don't you fucking talk to me right now, either."
"Dad ... it's not his fault. I'd already signed up before he figured it out. Don't be mad at Evan," Jacob pleaded with his dad.
"John, please, let's sit and discuss this, and work it out," Andy said.
"What the fuck is there to 'work out'? My only son is going to war, and I'm the last dumb-ass to fucking know about it. I need to get out of here and think," John spouted, angrily.
Tom got up and moved in, between John and the door, and said, "John please stay and..." but John didn't let him finish, instead punching Tom so hard that he landed on the floor. John stepped over him and walked out the back door. A stunned Tom just sat there on the floor, deciding not to provoke John anymore, but to let him cool off. Andy quickly reached down to help Tom up off the floor, and Tom said, "Fuck ... it's okay, I'll live. He didn't mean it, Andy; he's just hurt right now. He didn't mean to hurt me."
"I know, Tom ... I just didn't want him to hurt you ... you want me go talk to him?"
"No, Andy, that's not a good idea right now. Let him go walk it off, and process everything."
Evan got up and told Riley to go outside and find John. He knew Riley's presence would help calm John down.
"Fuck ... Uncle Tom, I'm so sorry Dad hit you, and not me," Jacob said, with sorrow.
"Jacob, your dad would never hit you, and he didn't hurt me too bad, he just needed to blow off some steam. I know he didn't mean to hit me ... I shouldn't have gotten in his big-ass way," Tom said, as Andy put some ice on his eye.
"Don't worry, Jake, he'll calm down and understand it's what you want to do," Andy said.
"Ev ... I'm sorry Dad is mad at you. You didn't deserve what he said to you."
"It's okay, Jake, don't worry about us. He's just hurt and really has a right to be ... I should've never kept it from him. I was wrong and I know it. I'm going to go outside and find him ... talk it over with him and get him to relax. You guys finish your breakfast and clean up the kitchen. I'll get your dad to calm down and talk to you."
"You think it's a good idea, Evan? He's really pissed," Andy said.
"I'll be okay, he'd never hurt me. Besides, Riley will be there ... just in case."
"Why the hell didn't that mutt try to protect me, when I got clobbered?" Tom hissed.
Evan looked at him and smiled and said, "Because, I think, he was laughing too hard to get up and do anything."
"Ha ha ha, that's so funny, douche-bag," Tom scolded.
Evan smiled and hugged Tom, then left the kitchen and went out the back-door, scanning the backyard, looking for John. He went to the garage and opened the side door, and saw John sitting on the bench, sobbing into his hands. He didn't even hear Evan enter the garage. Riley was quietly sitting beside him.
Evan walked up to John and stood in front of him. John looked up, got up and grabbed Evan, quick enough to surprise him, wrapping his arms around him while continuing to sob loudly. Evan rubbed his back and said, "Hey ... hey ... everything's gonna be okay ... Jacob is just going off to training, and he may never get sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. He'll make us proud, and he'll be okay. I know it, John ... don't worry."
John got a hold of himself enough to speak, and said, "Evan, I can't deal with him leaving us like this! Everyone I love always seems to leave me."
John continued crying, holding on to Evan, who'd never seen John so upset. He tried to console him by saying, "Look, John ... you have to pull it together and be strong for your son. You have to stand behind him in his decision. He has to know you're proud of him and of his decision to do this. He needs you, and he's not 'leaving' us. He'll be back, I promise."
Evan pulled away from John, called Riley and walked him to the door, shut him outside, and stepped back to John.
"John ... I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I just found out a week ago, when I was doing his laundry and saw the papers. I should've told you. You have every right to hate me and to be pissed at me. Riley isn't here to protect me ... you can hurt me back, if it'll make you feel better."
John stopped crying and looked up at Evan, with a look of shock on his reddened face. John just stared at Evan in disbelief and said, "Evan, I would never hurt you. I would never hit you ... ever. Don't you know that? I love you and never want to lose you."
"I love you, too, John, but if it would make you feel better, you can punch me for not telling you. Riley is outside and can't get to you, so go ahead and do it. I deserve it."
"I would have never said those awful things to you, if I'd known he'd already signed up, and that nothing you could've told me would've made a difference. I'm the one who's sorry for yelling at you."
Evan smiled and said, "Well, you sure cold-cocked Tom a good one ... I think he's gonna have a shiner for a while."
"Fuck ...I can't believe I did that ... he's gonna hate me! He and Andy will probably never speak to me again for being such an ass."
"Don't worry about that, John. He was actually defending you in there ... giving you an excuse to hit him. He's tough, and he's worried about you and Jake. You're gonna have to talk to him soon, because he's gonna go crazy thinking you're so mad at him. You know he can't stand it when he thinks you're upset with him ... it drives him nuts."
John had stopped crying and was collecting himself, as Evan rubbed his back, sitting on the bench next to him. "Evan, how can you promise me Jacob will be okay and will come back to us alive? That's something you shouldn't promise."
"Let's just say I talked it over with a friend."
"Oh yeah ... I forgot 'ERI KNOWS ALL'."
"Don't mock him ... he wouldn't let me down."
"You're a freak, you know that, don't you?" John asked, and smiled.
"Yeah, I know, a total fucking loony-dude."
"Well, maybe not a total nut, but I'll take ya, crazy and all."
John and Evan embraced and kissed, and Evan wiped away his tears and kissed him again.
"Im gonna go back inside and tell Jacob to come out and talk to you, and let him know that you've calmed down. You're gonna have to be supportive and show him you're not in shock anymore, and that you're proud of him. He'll need to know that, John, to get through what he's got ahead of him."
"I know ... send him out here ... I don't want to go back in there and face Tom and Andy right now. I feel like a jerk for hitting Tom."
"Don't worry about it, they understand. They're more scared that you won't forgive them for not telling you what he was planning on doing. He pulled the 'best uncles' routine on them, and they were caught in a hard place. Besides, you know your son; he's just like you, stubborn, and would've done it anyways, no matter what you'd said."
"You're probably right. He is just like me."
"Don't tell them I'm not mad at them, let them stew for a while ... serves the two whipped assholes right. I can't believe Jake can still pull that shit with them two."
"It's just because they love him so much. We all do. We all helped him grow up."
"I know. Okay, go get him and send him out here. Let's get this over with."
"You want me to stay, so you don't hurt him?"
"Very funny ... you know I'd never hurt him. Besides, I'm gonna do what you said, and forget my worries and anger, and support him. I need to let him know I love him and that I'm proud of him being my son."
"You're a good dad; I know I tell you that a lot, but it's true."
"Thanks Ev ... I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Me either ... probably licking nasty pussy like you used to," Evan laughed.
John laughed and smacked Evan on his ass, as he left to get Jacob.
Evan returned to find the guys doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. They all turned around and looked at him in unison, with weird looks on their faces.
Evan just looked back at them and said, "What?"
Jacob laughed and said, "We're just glad to see you're still in one piece. It must've gone well."
"Fuck, why didn't he punch you too? Why am I the only one coming out of this with a black eye?" Tom asked, half whining and half joking.
Andy laughed, putting his arm around Tom, and said, "Don't worry; I'm sure Jake still has one coming."
"Hey ... that's not funny, Uncle Andy."
Tom, Evan and Andy laughed, and then Evan said, "Jake ... he's ready to talk to you now. He's calmed down and he's waiting for you in the garage."
"Are you coming out there with me? What if he goes ape-shit again and tries to kill me?" Jake asked apprehensively.
Evan laughed and said, "Don't be a drama-queen, you're teaching Tom bad habits."
"Fuck you, Beavis, you're the 'queen' around here ... fag," Tom blurted out, punching Evan in the arm. Riley instantly growled and barked at Tom.
"Fuck you, flea-bag ... now you speak up, you worthless ..." Tom was cut off, as Riley darted toward him, but Evan grabbed his collar and shooed him out the back door.
"Honestly, Tom, you're gonna have to talk with that dog, and make up with him, because I don't think he's gonna forgive you unless you do."
Andy, Evan and Jacob laughed, and Jacob said, "Dang, guys ... I'm gonna miss being around all of you."
"Don't start that shit yet, Jacob. I'm not ready to hear about you leaving yet. Get out there and go talk to your dad ... you're a Marine now, so go deal with your father."
Jacob left to go to the garage, looking like he was headed for a firing-squad. He yelled for Riley, opening the garage door, and went in with him just in case, shutting the door behind them.
To be continued...
End Chapter Three
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