2
"Well?" Brian said, stretched out on the couch. He looked so funny lying there, his head propped on one arm, his feet hanging over the other. Wasn't long ago he fit on it nicely.
"I got his voice mail," I replied, dropping down onto the floor in front of the couch.
He rolled onto his side and snaked an arm around my chest, teasing my thick fur.
I turned and looked into that beloved face, familiar, yet different. His cheekbones weren't quite as prominent as they had been and his eyes didn't look as sunken. He was regaining his strength, slowly and he tired easily, but he'd been through so much in the last few weeks.
We had taken a walk down to the lake this morning, me on one side, Jim on the other. He groused about not being an invalid, but I knew how he really felt. I can't explain it, but since he changed, the bond between us had become stronger. Much stronger than the normal papa/cub bond. Or, at least I assume it was so. This was the first time I'd been on the papa end of one, after all.
It was rather disconcerting, watching him stagger and stumble, when just a few days ago, he had practically flown through the woods, steady and light-footed.
Of course, that was before he had gained nearly a foot in height and at least a hundred pounds.
It should have been more, and would have if he'd gone through a normal change. But instead, he'd burned through twice as much energy in half the time it normally have take. By the time we had gotten back to the house, he was exhausted. He collapsed on the couch, breathing heavily.
"You need to try to get a hold of Mark," he had said, his eyes drooping.
"I will," I promised, stroking his long hair tenderly.
He smiled at my touch and slipped into slumber.
I went into the kitchen where Jim was pulling a couple of bottles of beer out of the refrigerator. He popped the top off one and slid it across the counter to me.
"You look like you need this," he said.
"I'd hoped that after he changed, it'd get easier," I replied, frustration tugging at my lips.
"I know, I know. I had hoped so, too."
"Thanks for sticking around," I said, clasping his shoulder.
"What are brothers for?" he answered, leaning in for a quick kiss.
"I wish Grandpapa could have stayed longer," I said wistfully.
"He'll be back," Jim chuckled. "He wanted to check out the guy who's writing all those were- bear stories. You know if he thought Brian wasn't going to be okay he wouldn't have gone. Don't worry. You're doing fine."
"You think so?" I asked plaintively, sitting at the table, taking a long pull at my bottle.
"I know so," he said affectionately. "So are you going to call Mark?"
"Well, I need to find his number, some how," I grunted.
He just grinned and slipped a piece of paper across the table to me. I looked at him in surprise.
"Well, when Mike was bonding with Cliff, I went to see Tony and the boys. Mark and Kip are regular customers," he said with a shrug.
I rose and went to retrieve my phone. I sat back down and dialed the number, my guts fluttering. The last time we had spoke, we hadn't parted on the best of terms. We had just lost Rick. He had screamed at me, blaming me for everything. I was so distraught, I couldn't even respond. He was the last cub Rick had taken. I had helped 'raise' him like I had all the rest in the many years we were together. His words had echoed through my heart for years, his blame answering my guilt. I strove, unsuccessfully, to drown my sorrow in alcohol, to bury it in mindless sex.
Finally, I had to just get away, leaving it all behind me. I had done it before, but never on my own. I had intended on having Jim teach me all the things I ought to have learned from Rick, but never had. Never thought I'd need to know.
But on the way there, my world was turned upside down but that handsome, handsome man now asleep on the couch.
And I wouldn't have had it any other way.
The phone rang several times and went to voice mail.
"Hi, Mark," I said, my mouth suddenly dry. "This is Paul. I was really hoping we could talk. Please give me a call. Hope to talk to you soon. Bye."
I hung up and looked at Jim.
"Guess the ball's in his court," I said, dejectedly.
"He'll call back," Brian said softly.
"I hope you're right," I whispered.
"I know I am," he twinkled back, some of his normal personality showing again.
He curled around and brushed his lips against mine.
"That nap seems to have helped," I whispered into his mouth.
"I do feel better," he smiled.
"You still owe me a fuck," I said hopefully.
"Soon, my love. Soon," he promised.
His stomach rumbled behind my head and he chuckled as I began to laugh.
"That's normal," I laughed, rising to my feet. I extended my hand and pulled him to his feet. I was pleased that he seemed steadier as we walked toward the kitchen.
"Look who's up," Jim said, looking over his shoulder as he stood at the stove. "Just in time."
"Something smells good," Brian said, pausing for a kiss as he walked past my brother.
"Steaks and pasta in garlic sauce," he said, gesturing to the slabs of meat waiting by the grill.
"Toss mine on, flip it, then serve," Brian grinned.
"That's well done compared to the other day," Jim laughed.
"Well, how do you like your meat?" Brian said innocently.
Jim looked at me.
"Hard," we all said in unison.
We were still laughing when my phone rang. I looked up from the display, into his eyes.
"Take it," Brian said, as he took a bite of his steak.
"Hello?" I said, anxiety pounding in my chest.
"Hi, Paul," came a hesitant voice. "It's Mark. I...I'm really glad you called."
"I was afraid you wouldn't call me back."
There was a long pause.
"Paul. I am so sorry. I was wrong to blame you for what happened. I hope you can forgive me," he said, his voice tight.
"Of course I can. You're my brother. I love you, dude."
He started laughing, though I could hear the tears in his voice.
"Did you just call me dude?" he laughed.
"Yeah. Guess I've been hanging around the wrong crowd," I said, grinning at my cub.
"It was just so strange hearing from you. I've been thinking about you a lot the last few days. Did you...did you feel something...strange the other day?"
"Well," I sighed, "I've had several strange...experiences the last few months."
"It's hard to describe, but all the bears in this area that we've talk to felt it."
"I'm guessing you felt my cub."
"You took a cub?" he asked in surprise.
"Yeah. And...well, he's something else. According to what Grandpapa said, when he changed, he...connected with all of us."
"Kip said he'd heard Grandpapa had been seen. Is he there with you?"
"He was. He had some other business to take care of out West."
"So, where are you, then?"
"We're in Northern Illinois."
"Actually, the cabin's in Southern Wisconsin," Brian corrected.
"Sorry. Southern Wisconsin. Mikey and Cliff are in Illinois."
"Mikey? Jim's Mikey?"
"Yeah. Cliff's his cub. After Brian decided to let me change him, we asked Mike if they'd like to rent his house while we holed up here at least until his change. Then, about a week and a half ago, Grandpapa and Jim showed up."
"Jim was there, too? Sounds like a family reunion," Mark said wistfully.
"Well, it was, in more ways then one," I said, glancing at Brian, who tried to kick me under the table. "But Jim decided to stay a bit longer. He's the one who gave me your number."
"Well, I'm glad he did. I miss you, Paul."
"I miss you, too. Too bad you couldn't come out for a visit."
There was a pause where I could him talking to someone. Kip, I suppose.
"Are you serious about that?" he said finally.
I glanced at Brian and he nodded with a grin.
"Very. What are you thinking?"
"Well, school doesn't start for another month and a half or so. So we might be able to come out for a visit."
"That'd be great! When were you thinking?"
"I'll have to find some clothes," he laughed. "Been too damn hot to wear anything around here."
"I bet Kip loves that. 'Bout the only time we put clothes on is when we need to get something at the store."
"I hear you. So, how do we get there?"
I gave him the directions and the address for his GPS and we said our goodbyes.
I sat down as Jim brought out my steak.
"I figured I'd wait until you got off the phone to put yours on," he said with a wink.
"Thanks. For everything," I said, hoping he knew how much his help meant to me.
"What are brothers for?" he said.
Brian rose and carried his empty plate into the kitchen, returning shortly with a glass of milk and a package of cookies.
"What? I can't have dessert?" he asked as we stared at him.
"Didn't say anything. Actually glad to see you're able to get it by yourself."
"You are getting around much better," Jim observed. "How are you feeling?"
"Actually feeling pretty good," Brian said, dunking a cookie in his milk. "Starting to feel like... well, not like my old self. Think my old self is pretty much gone, but I'm feeling better."
He gave at me with that arch look that I'd missed over the last few days.
"Trying to say you want your playmate back?" Jim chuckled.
"Well, you've had him longer than I have," Brian shot back.
"Yeah. More than two hundred years longer," he said, then patted my cub's cheek. "But your papa's waiting for his first fuck."
"But, I thought...," Brian began.
"First fuck's usually when the new bear gets to fuck his papa," Jim explained.
"I'm sorry, Papa," he said pensively.
"It's all right, honey. You weren't in any condition to fuck me. I was more worried about making sure you were going to be okay."
"I thought you said you weren't normally the patient type," he said, eying me askance.
"And I told you I thought you were worth the wait," I said, reaching out to caress his cheek. "And I was right."
Jim took a sip of his coffee and made a face.
"What's wrong?" Brian asked.
"Somehow, my coffee got too sweet," he deadpanned.
I flipped him off and Brian stuck his tongue out at him.
"When and where," he said, then turned to my cub. "And as I told Mikey, if you stuck that out, you better be prepared to use it."
"Oh, I'm ready," Brian growled.
"Save it for your papa," he chuckled. "Maybe you should head downstairs. Not sure your bed would hold up to two bears going at it."
"It's been fine so far," Brian said.
"You're quite a bit bigger than you were just a few days ago," Jim said, standing up and tweaking Brian's nose. "And trust me, you're an even bigger bear."
"Oh," was all he said, then turned to me hopefully.
"Go on," Jim laughed. "I'll clean up in here. Go."
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" I asked him.
In answer, he pushed his chair back. His dick was obscenely hard. It was longer than Mr. Hyde had been and thicker than Mr. Jekyll. And unlike either, the broad head was hooded by a long foreskin.
"Damn," Jim breathed. "Good thing Grandpapa got you broken in, Bro."
I pulled him to his feet and looked up into his eyes. Looking up at him. Another thing to get used to.
"So strange to be looking down at you," he said, echoing my thoughts.
"So long as you remember who your papa is," I growled softly.
"That's one thing you don't ever have to worry about," he whispered, bending to kiss me.
"Think I'll give you two lovebirds a little privacy," a strange voice echoed in my head.
I tensed and my eyes opened. Jim had left the room. Where had that voice come from?
I looked up into his eyes and knew.
"Joe?" I asked.
"Just me," he said. "I know you accepted that I'm part of Brian, now. And I love you for that."
I was surprised to feel a phantom caress across my cheek.
"And it seems that because of the bond you share, I'm part of you, too. Don't pretend to understand it, but I won't be an imposition."
"I told him I would gladly share him with you," I said immediately.
"Part of the reason I love you," Brian said.
"You there?" I said surprised anew. Before, when I had spoken with Joe, Brian's awareness had been...elsewhere.
"Yeah. I hear him, too," he said, eyes shining. "For the first time in a long time, I feel...whole. Thank you."
"But from what I've heard, your first fuck should be special, so I'll leave you alone."
"Are you sure? You don't have to...leave?"
We heard a faint chuckle.
"Well, Brian also has a bond with Grandpapa. I've discovered I can...visit him. I will say that Rick of yours is...interesting company."
I had to laugh.
"That's an understatement," I said, hugging Brian to me.
"He's not Brian, but I'm not complaining. Now go have fun."
"Well? Looks like we have our orders," he chuckled.