The Deepest Cut of All

Written By: Mel


Bobby couldn’t believe what had happened. He looked at the blood pouring down his leg from the deep gash on his thigh. He wasn’t feeling any pain; the sight of the blood was almost fascinating as it poured in wide rivulets to pool on the ground by his feet. A voice in his mind was shouting at him to do something, but he stood momentarily frozen. It was the sound of the saw dropping from his numb fingers to the garage floor that woke him from his disoriented daze.

Suddenly spurred into action, he grabbed the first thing he could find to squelch the flow. Seconds later, a dirty shop rag was pressed firmly against the 5-inch wide slash, and in his panicked state, Bobby never gave his choice of cloths a second thought. ‘Oh God, Dave’s going to kill me,’ he fretted. He hobbled from the garage toward the back door of the house, holding the rag in place over the wound. Dave’s voice reverberated in his mind, reminding him to remove his shoes at the door and place them neatly on the shoe rack. He went to the sink and grabbed some paper towels from the counter. Then, tossing the blood soaked, dirty rag in the sink, he began to mop up the bloody mess. He used nearly the whole roll of towels to hold back the flow of blood. This gave him time to grab a couple of rolls of gauze from the first aid kit under the sink. He wrapped the gauze tightly around the still heavily bleeding cut and taped it up securely. By the time he was done, his leg was beginning to throb.

He stopped to look at the bloody mess all around him; the trail of blood across the kitchen and out the back door, the blood on the shoes so neatly placed on the rack. Dave had spent the last two years trying to teach Bobby responsibility. There had been countless lectures, lines written, and even spankings Bobby had endured before he finally learned to pick up after himself. Those lessons, however, were nothing compared to those of the subject of safety. For breaking those rules, Bobby had felt the heavy sting of the old wooden hairbrush. Dave was a stickler for safety around the shop. Bobby could just hear Dave’s voice now, "Tools do not belong in the hands of fools. If you cannot handle them safely you will not handle them at all."

‘Oh God, Dave is going to kill me,’ he thought for the second time. Motivated by that consideration, Bobby began to clean up the mess. Carefully disposing of the paper towels, rag, and gauze wrappings in a garbage bag, he used the rest of the paper towel along with some spray cleaner to clean up the blood from the floor. The pain in his leg was really making itself felt now, and he limped over to the cupboard and took out the Tylenol bottle. Swallowing three extra strength pills with water, he then went carefully back to his clean up. He followed the trail of blood out to the garage and cleaned it up, even taking the time to wash off the saw blade.

With all of the evidence placed carefully into the garbage bag, which was then tucked into the bin in the garage, Bobby began to relax. It was then that he looked down at his leg. The hastily wrapped bandage was soaked through with bright red blood; even the bottom edges of his shorts were blood soaked. He hobbled back to the kitchen, removed the bloody wrappings and changed them for fresh. ‘Thank God Dave insisted on a well stocked first aid kit.’ He once again hid the incriminating evidence and went up to the bedroom to change.

Bobby took off his soiled clothes and placed them in the bottom of the bathroom hamper. ‘It’s my week to do the laundry anyway,’ he thought. He put on soft loose sweats and a clean T-shirt. Sitting on the side of the bed Bobby began to realize that he was in a big mess. Although he was sure he had cleaned everything up, how could he hide the biggest part of the problem from Dave? They usually showered together, changed in the same room, and slept wearing little or nothing depending on the weather. It wouldn’t be possible to keep Dave from seeing the bandage and demanding to look at the cut.

Damn, why did his lover have to be a doctor? Oh he knew Dave would care for him with all the love and tenderness in his heart. The cut would be fixed; Bobby pampered until it was sufficiently healed, then and only then, would Dave "deal with the issue." Bobby felt desperate; he didn’t want another session with that wicked hairbrush and worse still he didn’t want to suffer through the guilt caused by disappointing Dave. He had to do something, get away for a while, just until the cut healed. Tears began to streak his face as he moved from the bed. He got his sports bag down from the closet shelf and began to pack up enough clothes and things for a couple of weeks away. He put on the new Nikes Dave had bought for him and limped out to the car with his bag in hand.

Realising, as he got to the car, that he had forgotten his cell phone, he went back to the house. Just as he was picking up his cell, the house phone began to ring. The call display read ‘Dr. David Brook.’ ‘Oh no,’ Bobby thought. ‘Dave’s calling. If I don’t answer he’ll come home looking for me.’ Bobby was already grounded for not calling home when he was going to be late. With a phone in the workshop, there was no reason for him not to answer. He snatched it up after the fourth ring. "Hello," he said, breathlessly.

"Hi, sweetheart." Dave’s deep voice came on the line. "Just thought I’d call to see how your day was going."

"Oh, just fine," Bobby managed to squeak out.

"Are you all right?" Dave asked, his voice sounding concerned.

"Sure, Dave, everything’s okay here. Why do you ask?" Bobby said trying to sound normal.

"You sound out of breath, Honey. You sure you’re okay?" Dave asked again.

"Yep," was all Bobby could manage.

Dave decided to let it go. "All right, honey. Listen, I’m going to be a little later than I thought tonight. I’ve had a couple of difficult patients today and I’m running behind schedule. Have you decided what you’re making for dinner yet?"

"No, I’ve been busy in the workshop."

"Okay, well if you’d like to just order something in, I’ll be home about 7 PM."

‘I won’t be here,’ Bobby thought sadly. ‘I just can’t be.’ "Okay, Dave, I’ll see you then," he said, anxious to get off the phone.

They said their good-byes and with tears still running down his face, Bobby took his cell phone and locked the door behind him. He made his way back to the car and slid carefully into the driver’s seat. Despite the Tylenol his leg was still throbbing as he put the car into gear. Giving silent thanks for the fact that it was his left leg he had injured, Bobby backed out of the driveway.

Bobby swiped at the tears to clear his vision as he drove aimlessly down the road. He found himself turning onto the highway, heading north from town. He knew he had to find somewhere to stay for the next few days, somewhere Dave wouldn’t think to look for him. That’s when the thought of his stepfather’s cabin came to him. His mother and stepfather were away on a cruise and so he knew there was no chance of them unexpectedly showing up. The cabin was on a beautiful lake about 90 minutes north of the town where Bobby and Dave lived. They had visited it in the past and Bobby knew where the spare keys were hidden.

It was a long painful drive and a voice in Bobby’s head kept trying to get his attention, telling him that he was being a fool, that running away wasn’t the answer. But he kept telling that voice to shut up; he just knew that he couldn’t face Dave now, not after he’d been so stupid. Dave had warned him time and time again about taking care to do things the right way. He thought back to the accident, ‘stupid, stupid, oh god how could I have been so stupid?!’

It had been a beautiful late spring afternoon and Bobby wanted to finish the drawers for the cabinet he was working on. It was a little too hot in the garage for his jeans so he had put on his lightweight running shorts. Bobby wanted this piece to be hand crafted and took pride in the carefully hand cut dovetailing he did for the joints in the drawers. The sunshine coming into the open garage door had been so inviting that Bobby couldn’t resist taking his work outside. So, breaking one of the cardinal rules about working at the bench with the wood properly clamped into place while sawing, Bobby carried the piece of maple he was currently dovetailing over into the sunshine and rested it against his leg as he began the first cut with the detail saw. As he was drawing the saw back against the wood, the neighbour’s dog began barking at a squirrel. That split seconds worth of distraction was all it took for the saw to slip off the edge of the wood and down against Bobby’s thigh, carving a deep gash into the flesh.

Bobby shuddered at this remembrance; he was feeling nauseous and sweaty from what he had been through and was having to concentrate hard to keep his mind on driving. A little over an hour into the trip the gas gage reminder came on, warning him that he needed to fill up soon. He was grateful to find a full service station off the highway so he didn’t have to get out of the car and fill the tank himself. He paid for the gas using the credit card Dave had given him. Dave had made him stop using the credit card his stepfather used to pay for, and had insisted Bobby no longer live off his mom and stepfather. Bobby was learning to make his own way in life, so the joint credit card he shared with Dave was checked each month for expenses and Bobby had to show that each purchase was within their budget. Bobby grimaced, thinking of how unhappy Dave had been with him for making frivolous purchases; he had been lectured and punished on more than one occasion for misusing their credit.

Punishments were not something Bobby liked to think about. Dave could be very stern at times. Bobby had spent hours writing lines and essays on his misbehaviours and the spankings; well those were just awful. Of course, Bobby had been able to talk himself out of trouble on occasion, especially when Dave was tired. His method of wrangling out of trouble by acting extremely contrite and begging for forgiveness had served him well all his life. It had worked especially well on his mother.

The trip to the cabin seemed to take forever, but finally he saw the turn off from the highway and knew he was almost there. Bobby pulled onto the gravel drive and stopped the car. The sun was shining brightly through the trees as he looked at the rustic building. The beautiful cabin had been in his stepfather’s family for three generations. Despite its age, it had been carefully upgraded to provide the users with all the modern conveniences and amenities.

As Bobby opened the car door and gently shifted his injured leg, he found himself momentarily incapacitated by the pain. It took tremendous effort just to stand and walking proved to be even more painful. He took his bag and limped slowly towards the cabin. He retrieved the key from its hiding place under a stone in the garden, unlocked the door and went inside.

The cabin was slightly musty smelling after having been closed up for sometime. Bobby didn’t care about smells; he just wanted to sit down. He made his way over to the sofa and lowered himself gently on to it and lay down. Feeling exhausted from the pain and the long drive, it didn’t take long for him to drift off to sleep against the soft cushions.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dr. David Brook turned onto the street where he lived with his beautiful young lover. He smiled at the thought of Bobby waiting for him. Bobby was a precious gift to David. The young man had entered his life like a whirlwind nearly three years ago. Just when Dave thought that he might be alone the rest of his days, along came Hurricane Bobby disrupting everything in his path and stealing Dave’s heart at the same time.

‘His Bobby,’ Dave smiled again. ‘Bobby with the curly dark hair, huge blue eyes, compact yet very masculine body. Bobby, who could wrap the world around his little finger. Bobby, who had been indulged most of his life by his doting mother and wealthy stepfather. Bobby, who wanted for nothing, nothing that is except some guidance.’ Bobby had always been a loose cannon. He went after what he wanted and he almost always got it. Heaven help anything or anyone that got in his way. Not that Bobby was a bad person. On the contrary, he had a heart of gold, but he was spoiled and had never had boundaries placed on him.

Ironically one thing that Bobby had set his very spoiled sights on was Dave. Dave was handsome, tall, with light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes and had managed to maintain the well-built body he’d had during his college football years. Dave was a successful Doctor with a thriving practice and gay to boot and Bobby wanted him from the first time he laid his eyes on him. Although Dave was physically attracted to Bobby and could appreciate Bobby’s vivacious nature, he had believed at first, he could never have any kind of serious relationship with this spoiled Brat.

Strange how fate has a way of stepping in and giving you just what you need and not necessarily what you think you want. Bobby got the man he went after, but instead of having Dave wrapped around his little finger, he found himself firmly under Dave’s thumb. Dave, on the other hand, who hadn’t wanted this spoiled Brat, had ended up with an incredible, irrepressible partner who filled his life with joy.

As Dave turned in the driveway his smile turned to a frown. Bobby’s car was gone. ‘Where could that Brat have gone?’ he wondered. Dave was not happy. Bobby knew better than to go out when he was grounded. He headed into the house in hopes of finding a note of explanation from his wayward partner. Dave searched the kitchen, but no note was to be found. He picked up the phone and dialed Bobby’s cell, but was quickly greeted with Bobby’s voice asking the caller to, "Leave a message, Dude."

"Bobby, where are you, young man?" Dave said. "You had better get home right now with a good explanation of why you are out of this house when you are grounded."
Feeling exasperated, Dave hung up the phone and wandered upstairs. He made his way into their large walk-in closet. He toed off his dress shoes and changed from his work clothes into jeans and a T-shirt. He glanced at the shelves that held Bobby’s jeans and sweats and noticed that they appeared half-empty. ‘Someone needs to get his laundry done,’ Dave thought. He made his way back to the kitchen, got himself an iced tea and sat down at the table to look at the newspaper. He hadn’t had time to even glance at it that morning.

After twenty minutes, Dave really began to get concerned. He tried Bobby’s cell again with no luck. Deciding a trip to the garage might provide some insight into his Brat’s absence, Dave went to the back door and bent over the shoe rack. He reached for his runners and noticed with a start that Bobby’s old sneakers had red-brown stains all over them. Disconnectedly, he snatched them off the shelf and carried them to the light to look more closely. ‘Oh God!’ he thought. ‘It’s blood! And a lot of it! Bobby, where are you? What’s happened to you?’

Dave dropped the shoes and ran barefoot out towards the workshop. The cabinet Bobby was making stood there silently. A couple of newly jointed drawers lay on the bench along with several pieces of cut wood for the one Bobby was currently making. The first thing Dave noticed were bloody fingerprints on one of the pieces. Looking at the garage floor, he could see dried smears where blood had been half cleaned off the concrete. An especially large smear was over by the entry way to the garage.

Dave ran back into the house, while trying to think of where Bobby would have gone if he were bleeding that badly. He picked up the phone and dialed the number of his best friend and medical partner, Dr. Paul Ladd. The familiar voice of Paul’s lover came on the line. "Hello, Ladd residence, resident Brat speaking," Danny answered saucily. He had obviously recognized the call display from his friend’s house.

"Danny, it’s Dave. Do you know where Bobby is?" he asked anxiously.

"Oh hi, Dave," Danny replied. "Isn’t Bobby at home? I thought he was grounded."

"Danny, this is very important. Have you heard from Bobby at all today?" Dave’s serious tone alerted Danny to a problem.

"I talked to him this morning before I went to class. Why? What’s the matter?"

Not wanting to upset the younger man, Dave just asked, "So you haven’t spoken with him at all since then?"

"No. Dave, what’s going on?"

"Nothing, Danny. Listen is Paul home yet?" he asked, hoping to speak with his friend.

"Yeah, I’ll get him."

A moment later the strong British voice of his best friend came on the phone. "David, Danny said you were looking for Bobby and that you seemed upset. Is there something wrong?"

"Paul, Bobby isn’t home. I found his shoes covered in blood and there was evidence of a lot of blood on the garage floor. His car is gone and he doesn’t answer his cell phone. God, Paul, what am I going to do?" Dave was becoming panicked now.

Paul knew his friend had a tendency to allow his worry for his Brat to take over his sensibilities. "David, you need to remain calm. If he’s hurt himself, perhaps he went to the ER. John Marshall is on call this afternoon. I’ll phone and ask if he’s seen Bobby. You keep trying Bobby’s cell and call any of his friends who he might have gone to if he needed help."

"All right, Paul. Please let me know immediately if you find out anything," Dave pleaded.

"I will. I’ll call your cell phone so as not to tie up your home line. Okay?" he spoke firmly in an effort to calm Dave down.

"Thanks, Paul."

They hung up and Dave tried Bobby’s cell, again with no luck. He got their small phone directory and began calling all of Bobby’s friends. No one he reached had heard from Bobby at all that day.

He jumped when he heard the ringing of his cell. "Hello, Bobby?" he answered hopefully.

"No, David, it’s me," Paul replied. "I’ve talked with John Marshall and no one at the hospital has seen Bobby. He’s promised me to call if anyone hears from him. Have you found out anything?"

"Not a thing. No one seems to have heard from him at all today. Paul, I’m so scared. I just don’t know where to look." Dave was beside himself with worry.

"It’s going to be all right, we’ll find him. Danny and I are on our way over now," Paul reassured him.

"Are you sure you want Danny involved, Paul? I don’t want to upset him. We’ve only just got him stabilized." Dave was also concerned for Paul’s fiery little brat.

Danny was a newly diagnosed Diabetic and Dave had recently taken over as Danny’s doctor. They had had a difficult time getting him on a stable regime of diet and medication.

"I know that he’ll only worry more if I leave him home alone. It’s better to have him with me where I can watch him," Paul replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bobby woke some time later to find himself in semi-darkness. The sun had sunk low in the sky, making the room seem lonely and cold. He struggled into a sitting position, the pain in his leg making him gasp. He managed to reach the lamp on the end table and turn it on. Feeling very alone and afraid, Bobby thought, ‘God what am I doing here? I want to be home with Dave.’ Knowing that Dave would be disappointed in him, not only for being careless but also for running away, Bobby resisted the urge to pick up his cell phone and call him. Bobby thought he could withstand anything that life might throw at him, anything except the sad look in Dave’s eyes when he learned Bobby had failed him again.

Realising how thirsty he was, Bobby got himself up off the couch and slowly made his way over to the kitchen. His mom and her husband always kept the place well stocked, so he knew he’d find bottled water and canned goods enough to put together a meal. He downed a bottle of water in just a couple of swigs and found a can of soup, which he managed to heat. By the time he got the soup over to the table to sit down, he was feeling nauseous. He no longer wanted it but decided that he should try and force down at least a little of the warm broth. He barely managed a few spoonfuls when he felt his stomach roll. Moving as quickly as his leg would allow him, Bobby got to the kitchen sink just in time to heave up the little bit he had eaten.

The pain in his leg and the nausea were now competing with a glaring headache for Bobby’s attention. Deciding he should lay down again, he got his bag and made his way down the hall to one of the guest bedrooms. He carefully slid the sweatpants off and looked down at the bandaging around his leg. The bandaging was again soaked through with blood, but Bobby didn’t have the energy or emotional strength to look at the wound. He just collapsed on the bed and fell into a fitful sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By the time that Paul and Danny pulled into the driveway, Dave was absolutely beside himself. Paul took in the ashen colour of his friend’s face and decided he needed to take charge of the situation. "Come on, old man," he said, taking Dave by the arm and leading him to a chair in the living room. "Sit down before you fall down."

Dave allowed himself to be lead and took a seat in the oversized lounge chair that he and Bobby so often cuddled in. The chair, the whole house for that matter felt so empty without his beloved partner. Dave gave Paul a beseeching look. "Paul, I’ve got to find him. He’s hurt badly, I can just feel it."

Paul just gripped his best friend’s shoulder and turned to his young partner. "Danny, get David a glass of water," he instructed. Then he looked back at Dave. "We’re going to find him, you have to have faith, my friend." Pausing for thought, he asked, "Can you think of why Bobby might not have contacted you if he was injured?"

"I…I think he could be afraid he would be punished," Dave said haltingly. "If he got hurt being careless… well that’s become a big issue for us. I’ve really been coming down pretty hard on him about workshop safety. God, Paul, have I been so strict I’ve made Bobby afraid of me?" Dave looked at his friend in anguish.

Giving a reassuring smile, Paul replied, "I don’t think Bobby is afraid of you, David. He is, however, young and immature and he may fear the consequences of his actions."

Just as Paul was speaking Danny came in with the requested glass of water. He spoke quietly to the two older men. "Bobby isn’t afraid of you, Dave. He loves you. But he is afraid of being a disappointment to you."

Dave looked up at the serious face. "A disappointment to me? Bobby could never be a disappointment to me. He is the best thing that ever happened to me. I couldn’t imagine my life without him."

Danny shook his head. "I know that, Dave, but Bobby isn’t very sure of himself. He’s afraid he doesn’t deserve all of the love and attention you give him. A couple of weeks ago you punished him for over spending on his credit card, remember?" Dave nodded, remembering the incident well.

"Well, he told me then that he didn’t understand why you waste your time on him. I asked him what he meant and he said he was such a loser and you were so smart that he was just dragging you down. That you deserved someone better than him."

Dave hung his head sadly. "We’ve talked about this and I thought I had gotten through to him, that he understood how much he means to me, how much I love him. I can’t believe I didn’t see this."

"We’ll get through this, David," Paul assured once more. "The first thing we have to do is find Bobby. Then you’ll have the time to deal with these feelings of his, okay?"

"Your right of course, Paul. I just wish I knew where to look," Dave replied.

The three friends spent the next few hours calling around to everyone even remotely connected to Bobby and Dave. They drove in their cars to every restaurant, coffee shop, hotel and motel in town. They kept in touch constantly via their cell phones.

Finally after midnight they met back at Dave and Bobby’s house. Paul had kept Danny with him the whole time and was now getting worried about his own Brat. Danny was looking exhausted and despite Paul’s ensuring that Danny ate and took his insulin there was no denying the fact it was time to put a stop to the search for the night.

Also by this time Dave was quite distraught. He had refused the food that Paul had encouraged him to eat and his head was pounding. Paul decided once again that he would have to step in and take charge. It was not be the first time Paul had made important decisions for Dave and he knew it likely wouldn’t be the last.

Unknown to either of their Brats, Paul and Dave had a past that consisted of more than just friendship. The two men had gone through their medical residencies together, and for a time had been lovers. During that time, Paul was Dave’s Top.

In the end they came to the mutual decision to end that aspect of their relationship, but they remained the best of friends and had started up a family medical practice together when they had completed their residencies. Paul still took the role of senior partner in their practice and Dave was quite comfortable deferring to him in that area. They also acted as each other’s personal physicians, a practice some who knew how close they were might have frowned on, but it work well for them.

Paul looked at his distraught friend. "David, Danny and I are going to stay with you tonight. We’ll take the spare room." This was said as an order with no room for argument. He then turned to Danny, "Danny, go upstairs and get ready for bed, sweetheart. I’ll be up in a few minutes." Danny looked sad and tired as he gave Paul a hug and quietly left the room.

"David," Paul said gently when Danny was gone, "I want you to go to bed and get some sleep."

Dave shook his head. "I couldn’t sleep, Paul, not with Bobby missing…I just couldn’t."

Paul nodded. "I know, David, but you have to try. Just go upstairs and get ready for bed. I’ll be up shortly."

Dave found himself slipping back into the long practiced role of obedience to Paul. He climbed the stairs, stripped down to his boxers and sat on the side of the bed he shared with Bobby. He heard his bedroom door open and knew it was Paul, but was too tired and defeated to bother even looking up.

Paul sat his medical bag on the dresser beside the bed and removed a syringe. He pulled out vial and drew up 10mg of Valium. Tapping off the air, he then depressed the plunger until a small bead of the drug formed at the end of the needle. He brought the syringe and an alcohol wipe over and sat on the bed beside Dave. "Give me a hip, David."

Dave’s eyes suddenly widened in realization of Paul’s intentions, "What? No, Paul, I don’t need anything. Just let me be." He tried to pull away but Paul took hold of his arm.

"David, I am not going to argue with you over this. You need to sleep and we both know you won’t be doing that without a little help. So quit giving me a hard time and give me a hip!" He tried to gently turn Dave away from him a bit to access his hip, but Dave tried to pull away again. Paul delivered a quick swat to his friend’s bottom. "Be still," he commanded. Startled, Dave stilled and Paul was able to pull his boxers down enough to expose the fleshy part of his hip.

Dave tried again to object. "Please, Paul, I don’t…"

But Paul was quick and had the site swabbed and the injection deep in the muscle before another word could escape his friend’s mouth. "There now," he said as he removed the needle and swabbed off the drop of blood, "all over. Now I want you to lay down and go to sleep. Do you hear me?" As he spoke he gently pushed Dave down in the bed and pulled the duvet over him.

Dave wanted to fight, wanted to tell Paul no he wouldn’t sleep, couldn’t sleep, not while his Bobby was missing. But he was so tired and the pull of the drug dragged him down into sleep despite his protests.

Paul smiled sadly and brushed the hair back from Dave’s forehead. "Sleep well, sweetheart," he whispered as he bent over and gave Dave a chaste kiss on the cheek. He loved Dave very much, although he was not ‘in love’ with him. Dave would always hold a special place in Paul’s heart.

Paul slipped quietly from the room and went into the guestroom where Danny was waiting for him. Danny sat up in the bed looking anxiously at his partner as he came into the room. He had seen Paul retrieve his black bag from the trunk of the car and knew that he was very concerned about Dave. "Is he okay?" Danny inquired.

Paul smiled. "Yes. I gave him something to help him sleep. Otherwise he’d be in no shape to deal with tomorrow." Looking deeply into his Brat’s eyes he asked. "How about you, sweetheart? Are you holding up okay? I know you’re very worried about Bobby."

Tears welled up in Danny’s eyes. "I’m scared for him, Paul. Why would he run away like that? Doesn’t he know we all love him?"

Danny needed the reassurance he had attempted to give to Dave through out this difficult day. "You said it yourself, honey, Bobby is running scared. He doesn’t have the confidence in himself to feel positive of David’s love for him. Believe me when we find that little Brat we’ll make sure he understands just how much he’s loved. Even if we have to beat that understanding into his thick hide." Paul said the last part with a smile, but Danny grimaced with the knowledge that it wasn’t entirely a joke. Bobby was going to be in big trouble when they found him, if they found him.

"Danny, we both need to get some sleep as well. Why don’t you lay down, Sweetheart? I’m just going to get changed and use the bathroom." Danny nodded and lay back in the bed. Paul returned a few minutes later and slid beneath the covers to curl up against the warm body of his partner. He lay in bed quietly stroking Danny’s back until he felt the younger man relax into sleep. Now he just had to convince himself to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Bobby woke again he was feeling terrible. He was very cold despite the blankets he had wrapped around himself. Although it was late spring, the night-time temperatures this far north were still pretty cold and Bobby hadn’t thought about getting the heater turned on when he fell into bed. Now, he was suffering for it.

Shivering violently, he sat up and tried to get out of the bed, but the cut on his leg screamed in protest at his every movement. He lay there, trying in vain to convince himself that moving to get the heater going would be worth the pain it would cause. Finally it was his protesting bladder that spurred him to movement.

He dragged himself out from under the covers and nearly screaming out loud from the pain, he made his way slowly to the washroom. On his way back from the washroom he managed to get the electric baseboard heater going. A fire in the wood-stove would have been nice but he had no energy for that. His head was pounding fiercely as he tried to settle back in the bed. That, along with the pain in his leg was enough to dive away his ability to fall back to sleep. For the next few hours until dawn Bobby tossed and turned, moaning in the bed.

The first pale rays of morning light finally motivated him to drag his mutinous body from the bed. He pulled back the covers to find the air had warmed considerably with the heater going. Looking down at his leg he could see the skin that was exposed on either side of the bandage was quite red and the leg felt quite hot to the touch.

The bandage was hardened with the dried blood that had soaked it, except over the center which still appeared to be damp with drainage from the wound. Bobby knew the cut should be seen to, properly cleaned and dressed. He thought he might attempt the drive into the nearest town and find a doctor, but as soon as he tried to get up and walk, he realized that wasn’t going happen. He was struck by waves of dizziness, and his leg would not bear his weight, forcing him to do a kind of shuffle-hop just to get to the washroom. He found some Advil in the medicine cupboard and swallowed two down with a hand full of tap water.

Slowly making his way back to the bedroom, he carefully lay back on the bed and began to sob. He wanted Dave so badly; it was time to admit what a mistake he’d made and call home for help. He reached for the cabin phone on the table beside the bed and picked it up. Holding the receiver to his ear, Bobby could hear nothing, no dial tone at all. He jiggled the hook up and down to no avail; the line was dead. It took
Bobby another hour before he could work up the strength to go to the living room where the phone extension and his cell phone were located. The extension proved as dead as the phone in the bedroom. Phone service in this remote area could still be plagued with breakdowns from time to time. He picked up his cell phone, hit the speed dial for home and was rewarded with the message across the screen that informed him there was no service. Bobby suddenly remembered this from his previous trips to the cabin, cellular service was not reliable in the rocky valley where the cabin lay.

Breaking down completely with fear, pain, and frustration Bobby let out pain filled wails of anguish. "Dave…Dave…Oh God, Dave, I need you…" he sobbed over and over again. He realized for once and for all what a fool he’d been to run away. If only he could be home again with his lover, Bobby promised himself he would gladly accept whatever punishments Dave saw fit.

Then Bobby’s feverish mind began to wonder what if Dave didn’t want him back? After all he had left home without so much as a note; he was such a screw up why would Dave want anything to do with him? Dave would be so much better off without such a useless partner. He could find someone worthy of himself, someone who didn’t cause the kind of trouble Bobby did. With feelings of such despair over coming him, Bobby sank back on the couch and wept.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Paul woke to the sound of the shower running. Danny was still curled up beside him, so he knew that Dave was up and getting ready to resume the search for his missing Brat. Thank heavens it was Saturday and neither of them was on call this weekend. They would be free to concentrate on looking for Bobby.

Paul met Dave as he was coming out of the bathroom with a towel slung around his hips. He could see the dark circles of worry under Dave’s eyes, but at least he looked a little better for the sleep he had gotten. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked cautiously.

Dave gave him a sour look. "I slept pretty well, given the fact that I wasn’t given much of a choice in the matter."

Paul wasn’t about to get into a debate on the subject. "You needed it," was all he would say to that. "I’ll grab a quick shower then get Danny up. We’ll get something to eat then we can plan where we are going to look today." Dave only nodded and went back to his room to dress.

They were all sitting around the kitchen table thirty minutes later having finished a quick bite of breakfast, which Dave hardly touched. Dave watched with envy the way his friend fussed over his Brat. Paul made sure that Danny ate properly, tested his blood sugar, and then gave him his morning dose of insulin. Danny made small noises of protest over the fussing, which Paul quickly put to an end. God he would give anything to have Bobby here right now, Dave thought, to listen to him protesting over Dave’s insistence that he eat a good breakfast, to talk about their plans for the day. He’d even be happy to hear Bobby complain about how busy the grocery store was on Saturday mornings, and could Dave just do the shopping himself.

Finally finished with the morning rituals, Paul turned to Dave. "Where do you want to begin today?"

"I thought we’d drive up to Kitchener and check around town there. Bobby lived there for a while with his parents and he might have gone to someplace familiar."

"That sounds reasonable. Do you want to go together or take separate vehicles like we did yesterday?"

"Separate, I think. That way we can cover more territory at once."

They agreed and went to gather up their things for the trip. Dave picked up his wallet. He did his ritual check to ensure that it contained cash, identification and credit cards needed. He was walking toward the door when it hit him, ‘Cash, credit cards!’ Running towards the den, he called out, "Paul! I’ve just realized something!"

Paul and Danny followed him quickly into the den. "What is it?" they cried in unison.

"Bobby would have needed to use cash or credit cards if he was travelling or staying anywhere. All our accounts are joint ones. I’m going to pull up the information on the Internet. The accounts should tell me of any withdrawals or charges made in the last 24 hours. Then I can call the bank and get the details of exactly where they were used." Dave’s voice sounded alive with conviction for the first time since he discovered Bobby was missing.

Dave started up the computer and opened the web pages for their bank. Unfortunately, Bobby had made no withdrawals from either their checking or savings accounts. When he opened up the page for their credit cards, however, Dave grew excited. There it was; a charge for gasoline dated yesterday and Dave hadn’t bought gas since Tuesday.

After two phone calls and a bit of prevaricating on Dave’s part (he gave the impression that he thought fraudulent charges might have been made), he sat holding a piece of paper with the information on the gas purchase Bobby had made in Port Severn.

"Port Severn is almost a ninety-minute drive north of here," Dave said with bewilderment. "Where would Bobby have been going so far north?"

Danny and Paul sat looking at Dave anxiously. "Does he know anybody up that way?" Paul asked.

"Phil and Joan’s cabin is up near there, but they are on a cruise right now. Unless…unless, Bobby wanted to be alone. He knows how to get inside the cabin. They always keep it well stocked so he’d be able to manage there on his own. Yes! Of course, he would go there!" Dave was nearly shouting.

He went back to the small phone directory and quickly found the number for the cabin. When he dialed he was greeted with a recording informing the caller that the number was temporarily out of service. He slammed the phone down in the receiver and jumped up from his chair. "I can’t believe it! The fucking phone is out of service!"

Paul put his hand firmly on Dave’s shoulder, his voice quiet but firm. "David, calm down. Losing your temper will not help the situation."

Dave’s voice was anguished. "You don’t understand, Paul. I’ve got to find him and I’m being thwarted at every turn."

"We will find Bobby. Now we have a good idea where he might be. Do you know of any of the neighbours near the cabin who could go and check on it and see if he’s there?"

Dave shook his head. "No, I’ve only been there a few times. I never got to know any of them."

"Can you reach Bobby’s parents? Maybe they could get in touch with a neighbour."

"I don’t even know what cruise line they’re on. Bobby would have that information I suppose, but I wouldn’t even know where to look."

Danny was getting upset with all this talk. "We need to go and get him! Why are we standing here talking about it?"

Paul moved his reassuring hand from Dave to Danny. "Settle down, Daniel. We’re trying to see if we can find someone who could reach him first, or to even be sure that he is there."

"Paul, Danny is right. I’ve got to go now. Bobby is my responsibility and I’m not going to leave him hurt and alone any longer than I have already."

"All right, David, but you’re not going alone. Danny and I will go with you. We’ll take my SUV. It’s larger than your car and we’ll need the space to move Bobby if he’s badly hurt."

The three men quickly gathered their things. Paul retrieved his medical bag from the room upstairs. When they got to the truck he pulled out the extensive first aid kit he kept there, ensuring the contents were complete.

Dave navigated while Paul drove. It was a long tense journey and none of the men had much to say.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bobby lay on the couch for a long time overcome with sorrow. He’d lost everything that was important to him, thrown it all away because he was stupid. Dave wouldn’t want him back after this. All the support Dave had given him, helping him with his apprenticeship, buying all those expensive tools, Dave had even paid to have his own garage converted into a workshop for Bobby. And how had Bobby repaid him? With carelessness and cowardice. He had run away and left the best thing that had ever happened to him. His life was in shambles.

After a while extreme thirst forced Bobby to move from the couch and he painfully made his way to the kitchen. Halfway into the room his wounded leg gave out from under him and he fell hard to the floor. Agony flared through his leg and his arm screamed in protest as it took the brunt of his weight in the fall. Bobby just lay there stunned and in pain. His life just wasn’t worth living any more, he thought as he slipped from consciousness.

Paul turned the truck down the dirt road. Dave was sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for the first sign of the cabin between the trees. Suddenly it was there. It was in front of them with Bobby’s car sitting on the gravel drive.

Dave was leaping from the truck almost before it came to a stop. He ran madly for the front door of the cabin and pulled fruitlessly against the locked entry. He raised his fist and banged loudly on the wood. "Bobby! Bobby! Answer me, Bobby!"
Paul and Danny were right behind him as he continued to pound on the door. There was no sound of movement within the cabin. "Is there another entrance?" Paul asked as he pulled Dave back from his frenzied knocking.

"Yes, on the lake side." The three men ran around the cabin to the deck that faced the lake. The sliding glass doors and broad expanse of windows gave the cabin’s occupants a perfect view of the lake. They also allowed anyone on the outside a perfect view into the cabin’s living and kitchen areas. The sight that met their eyes caused Dave’s blood to run cold. Bobby lay unmoving on the kitchen floor.

Dave pulled frantically at the locked doors, shouting out, "Bobby, Bobby, can you hear me?" He banged on the glass until Paul pulled him sharply back.

"You’ll go right through the glass!" he said, giving Dave a shake. "You said there was a hidden key. Where is it?"

"Under a rock in the front garden."

They ran for the garden, but of course the key wasn’t there. Bobby had taken it inside when he entered the cabin. Dave hefted the rock in his hand. "I’ll smash out the window by the sliding doors and we can reach through and open the lock."

"You’d be cut by the flying glass. Think man! Let’s find some other way. Danny, you go around the building this way," he pointed in one direction. "Dave and I will go this way. Check every window you can reach and see if any of them are unlocked."

They set out around the large cabin and within moments Danny was calling out, "Paul, Dave, come around this side!" They met under a very small window that was cracked open.

"It’s the bathroom," Dave declared. "But it’s too small. I’d never get through it."
"I could!" Danny exclaimed. "Just give me a boost. I can get through."

Dave exchanged anxious glances with Paul.

"I can do it!" Danny reiterated. "Lift me up. I’ll pull off the screen, then I can push the window all the way open and slide through."

Paul nodded. "It looks like the best solution."

They boosted Danny up the wall with a handhold under each of his feet. Danny pulled the screen out and tossed it back onto the lawn. It was a tight fit even for Danny’s narrow shoulders and hips, but he managed to shimmy through. To his good fortune, the toilet was right below the window and he was able to grab the top of it as he made his awkward, graceless decent to the inside floor.

"Unlock the front door, Danny!" Dave shouted as he and Paul ran back around the building.

Danny ran down the unfamiliar hallway and froze momentarily as he passed Bobby’s unconscious form on the floor, but he knew he had to get the other men in here first. He reached to doorway and quickly turned back the deadbolt. Dave was through the door and at Bobby’s side before Danny or Paul could move.

Dave dropped to his knees at Bobby’s side. He put his hand to Bobby’s neck and felt a strong carotid pulse. Thank god! Bobby was lying prone on the floor with his head turned towards Dave, a sheen of sweat covered his very pale face. Dave began to run his hands professionally down Bobby’s limbs, neck and spine, assessing for injury. He cringed at the sight of the blood soaked gauze wrapped around Bobby’s thigh. Paul was at Bobby’s other side repeating the assessment.

"Dave, there’s edema in the right wrist. I don’t think it’s fractured though. Let’s turn him." They gently aligned Bobby’s body then turned him onto his back. Bobby groaned at the movement and his eyes opened slightly.

Dave’s reassuring voice broke through the pain filled fog of Bobby’s existence. "It’s okay, Baby. I’m here, you’re going to be just fine."

Bobby coughed slightly trying to moisten his dry throat. "Dave?" he asked weakly.

"Shhh, just lay quietly while Paul and I check you over."

Paul was looking at the gauze wrapped leg. "Danny, run to the truck and bring in my bag and the first aid box," he instructed.

Paul looked at Bobby’s face. "Bobby, listen to me, sweetie. I know you’re in a lot of pain, but we have to look at your leg. We’re going to have to cut away the gauze because it’s stuck to the skin. It’s going to hurt a bit. I’ll give you something to help with the pain, then I’ll pour some saline over it to soften it, but you’re going to have to lay still. Okay?"

Bobby was still trying to believe Dave had found him: that he was really here. He looked up into his partner’s face. "You came for me?" he whispered.

Dave shook his head sadly but put a smile on his face to reassure his lover. "My God, baby, of course I came for you! You’ve scared me half to death. I love you, Bobby. Don’t you know that?"

With that Bobby started sobbing again and tears streamed down his face. "How? How did you know…?"

"Never mind, sweetheart. I’m here now and that’s all that matters. We’re going to get you fixed up and we can talk about it later." He gently brushed the tears from Bobby’s cheeks, then leaned forward and kissed his lover’s soft mouth.

Danny came running into the kitchen and handed the two bags to Paul. He looked down and saw that his friend was awake. He knelt by Bobby’s head and spoke gently to him. "Hey, buddy, how you doing?"

Bobby gave him a weak smile. "Feeling pretty shitty."

"Well, Paul and Dave are gonna get you feeling better real soon." Danny said trying to sound positive for his friend’s sake.

Paul took a few things from his medical bag. He filled a syringe with Demerol for pain and Gravol for nausea. He nodded to Dave who helped him turn Bobby slightly so he could get at the injection site on his hip.

Bobby gasped when he saw the size of the needle. "No, please don’t… I don’t want a needle. Can’t you give me a pill? Please!" he cried out in fear.

Dave calmly tried to reassure him. "Sweetheart, a pill won’t help you. You need the shot, so just be still and it will be over before you know it."

Paul pulled down Bobby’s boxers at the hip, prepped the site and had the injection in quickly. Dave smiled at his friend. "You’re too damn good at getting those in fast."

Bobby let out a wail of protest. "Oww, that hurts!"

Dave smiled as he steadied his partner. "It’s all over now, baby, and it will help take away the pain in your leg and wrist." He gently brushed back Bobby’s curls from his forehead.

"Danny, go see if you can find a small pillow on the couch that we can put under Bobby’s head," (Paul or Dave?) requested.

Danny retrieved a pillow and they tried to make Bobby more comfortable while they gave the injection some time to take effect. Dave looked at the swollen wrist and declared that it should be iced, and he sent Danny on another errand to fetch some from the freezer. After a short while Bobby began to feel the effects of the drugs.
The pain in his leg was easing for the first time since he had cut it nearly a day ago.

Paul had been looking around the room and spotted the large dining table. "David, lets get him up on the table. Tt will be easier for all of us."

Dave agreed and they sent Danny in search of blankets to cover the table, making it more comfortable for Bobby. Once the table was prepped, Dave and Paul lifted Bobby from either side, carefully supporting his leg. Danny held his head as they moved him onto the table. Bobby moaned slightly in discomfort from the move but all in all the pain was greatly reduced.

Paul began to set up supplies he’d removed from his bag and the first aid kit. "All right now, Bobby, we’re going to take a look at this leg of yours." He used scissors to cut through the gauze at the side of Bobby’s leg and gently tried to lift up the stiff material, but it was stuck like glue to the skin and hairs on Bobby’s leg. He slid a plastic sheet under the leg and took a bottle of sterile saline and poured a small amount onto the gauze to moisten it. He continued the process with Dave’s assistance until they had the wound exposed. The cut was long, deep and gaping open.
It was oozing bloody and pussy discharge.

Danny felt ill at the sight of it and had to turn away. Bobby was pale and beginning to shiver violently. They wrapped him up in blankets from the bedrooms, leaving only the injured thigh exposed.

Paul looked to Dave. "We’re going to have to debris it and pack it open. It would be a lot better if he were in the hospital when we do it. Let’s just do a saline wash and cover it before we move him. We can start him on antibiotics at the hospital."

Bobby started to protest. "No, I don’t want to go the hospital. Dave, please don’t make me. Can’t you just stitch it up here?" he pleaded.

Dave looked lovingly at his Brat. "Bobby, honey, it’s too late for it to be stitched up. We have to clean the wound out and pack it. It will have to heal from the inside out. You’re going to have to be on antibiotics for a while to clear up the infection that has started in it. You need to go to the hospital to have the wound cleaned. We can give you some more medication there for the pain so it won’t hurt you while it’s being cleaned. Do you understand?"

Tears were again leaking from Bobby’s eyes. "You really have to?"

"Yes, honey, we do." While Dave did his best to soothe his sobbing partner, Paul cleaned the wound with more saline and loosely covered it with sterile dressings.

They carefully moved him to the back of the SUV. The two doctors determined that it would be safe and preferable for them to drive him back to the hospital at home rather than search for the nearest local hospital.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ It was late evening before Dave and Paul carried a very sleepy, well-drugged Brat back to his own home and into his bed. Once they had Bobby tucked in and Dave was sure he was asleep, Paul gently took Dave by the arm and pulled him from the room. The two men walked past the living room where Dave could see that Danny had fallen asleep on the couch and went to the kitchen where Paul had tea made for them.

Paul placed a mug in front of his friend and sat down across from him. He could see the far away look in Dave’s eyes. Paul reached over and pushed the mug into Dave’s hands. "It’s for drinking, not staring at," he admonished.

Dave looked up and smiled. "Sorry, it’s just been a long 24 hours." He picked up the mug and grimaced at the strong hot brew. "You English think tea is only good when it’s strong enough to peel paint," he snorted.

Paul smiled in return. "It’s bracing, and far better than that dishwater you call tea." There was a long pause as the two men sipped their drinks. Finally Paul spoke up. "He’s going to be all right you know."

Dave shook his head. "Physically, yes," he acknowledged. "But I don’t know what I’m going to do with him, Paul. I’ve got to teach him that he can’t run away from his problems but is punishing him the right thing? Is fear of punishment what caused him to run in the first place?"

"David, you and I both know it was not the fear of punishment that drove him to run. So does Bobby if he’s being honest with himself. If anything, David, I think you go too easy on the boy."

Dave looked startled by this statement. "What do you mean?"

"Bobby’s problems have always stemmed from his lack of self-esteem. His father died when he was young and although she loves him, his mother has never given Bobby what he truly needs. She spoiled him to make up for the lack of time and attention he really needed from her. His stepfather indulged him in order to appease his wife. The boy has always lacked in structure and guidance. Do you remember that he was actually quite eager when you suggested adding discipline to your relationship?"

"Yes, he told me he knew he needed it, that he wanted to have structure. He’s even told me it makes him feel loved that I would do that for him." Dave smiled at this remembrance.

"When did he tell you that?" Paul asked.

"When…? He’s said it several times."

"On any particular occasions?" he prodded.

"Yeah, always right after I’d spanked him," Dave replied thoughtfully.

"There’s your answer, old man. Bobby needs you to come through for him. He recognizes your love for him in your actions. He knows you don’t like to punish him and that it’s hard on you, so he sees it as an act of love that you would do that for him." Paul hesitated for a moment then asked, "Bobby has talked you out of punishing him before, hasn’t he?"

Dave looked slightly embarrassed. "Yes, a few times."

"How was he after these occasions? I mean how did he behave towards you?"

Dave sat and thought about this for a few moments. "He tended to be distant, a little rude, he didn’t seem happy."

"David, when we were together, how many times did I let you talk me out of a punishment?" Paul asked with a smile.

Dave looked up startled by the question. "Never!"

"During that time, did you ever feel I’d let you down? As a partner, I mean."

Dave looked at his best friend with great sincerity. "God no, Paul, you were always there for me. You have no idea how much I learned from you. How much I appreciate everything we had together and how much I appreciate the fact that we have remained friends."

"What we had was special, David. We both know it just wasn’t meant to be." He laughed. "It’s damn hard for a Top like me to have a Brat who’s trying to Top him. We both just needed something else, and now we have found the partners we were meant to have. And we still have each other as friends. The best of both worlds, don’t you think?"

Dave nodded. "You know how I feel, Paul." He reached over and put his hand on top of his friend’s. "I couldn’t imagine not having you in my life. Even if you do still try and order me around," he grinned.

Paul smiled back. "Now, what are you going to do with Bobby?" He gave Dave a very serious look. "David, he needs you to be what you’ve promised him you would be. You have to follow through, even when it makes you uncomfortable. That is part of the commitment you made to him. Bobby messed up badly here. He broke several of the rules you have established and he needs to be held accountable for them. You are the one who has to do it. You cannot drop the ball on this one."

Dave dropped his head into his hands. "I know you’re right. It’s my own insecurities as a Top that caused this. God, I’ve fucked up this relationship big time! Bobby deserves someone better than me," he moaned audibly. "I’m such an idiot."

Paul stood up and walked around to Dave as Dave followed him apprehensively with his eyes. "What are you doing, Paul? No!" he protested, resisting as Paul attempted to pull him from his chair. Paul, however, was the stronger of the two and he somewhat roughly now took hold of Dave’s arm and dragged him up out of his seat, delivering two hard swats to his bottom as he did. "Oww! Paul! What are you doing! Oww!" David grabbed his bottom and turned in astonishment to meet the stern eyes of his best friend and ex-lover. "What was that for?" he demanded as he continued to rub.

"There’s more where those came from, young man," Paul admonished, pushing him gently back to his chair. "You do not have the luxury of self-pity and you are the furthest thing from an idiot I have ever met, so just stop it! Bobby needs your strength right now, not your own uncertainty, so you’d better pull yourself together."

Dave looked stunned and chastened. His bottom was still stinging and he kept his hand on it, rubbing gently as Paul walked back around to his seat. "Sorry, Paul," Dave uttered brokenly as his friend gazed sternly at him from across the table. "I know I have to do this for Bobby. I love him so much and I have to do a better job of showing him that. I just don’t know how."

"David, you know as well as I do, what you need to do here," Paul returned. "You have to talk to Bobby, explain that there are going to be some changes in how you deal with punishments from now on. Make sure he understands all broken rules will have consequences. Then compile a list of all the rules he has broken here, make a decision on the appropriate punishments and follow through on them." Finally his look softened a little at the abashed expression on his friend’s face. Dave was still rubbing his bottom and fighting back tears, and Paul smiled wistfully. "The premise is simple, David," he observed softly, "the execution will not be, but it will be worth it in the end. Trust me. In the end, you will have a much stronger relationship and a much happier Brat."

"How can I thank you for everything you have done for Bobby and me?" Dave’s voice wavered slightly as he finally met his friend’s eyes. “Your advice is, as always, good. Even if you do have to reinforce it rather emphatically sometimes," he smiled a little ruefully as he finally took his hand from his still stinging behind."

"You know I’ll always be here for you, Dave," Paul reached for his friend’s hand and Dave’s eyes misted over slightly, "and for Bobby," Paul added softly. Paul stood then from the table and stretched as Dave wiped at the corners of his eyes. "I think I’m going to go and get my sleepy boy and head home," he yawned and Dave nodded, still trying to pull himself together.

Paul woke up Danny and they said their good-byes. "Call me if you need anything," Paul clasped Dave’s shoulder as he ushered his own yawning Brat towards the door. "Dr. Marshall and I will cover for you at the office this week. You need to stay home and take care of that Brat of yours."

Dave nodded, "Thanks again, Paul," he replied gratefully, "for everything."

"Take care of that Brat," Paul replied, squeezing his shoulder and then he and Danny were gone.

Dave closed the door behind them and went back upstairs to check on Bobby, who was still sleeping soundly under the influence of the drugs he’d been given. Dave knew they were in for a difficult while ahead but love would see them through this, he was sure.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dave was awakened before dawn by the soft moaning coming from the warm body lying beside him. He sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. Bobby was curled on his side, eyes half open, his face pale and sweaty. "Bobby, sweetheart, it’s okay, honey. I’m here."

Bobby began to whimper quietly, still half asleep but feeling the discomfort caused by the waning of the drugs he’d been given the evening before. Dave reached over and gently stroked the sweat-dampened face. Bobby felt slightly feverish. "It’s all right, baby. I’m going to get you something for the pain, just hang in there for a minute." Dave got up and went to the dresser where he had placed Bobby’s meds the night before. He prepped two syringes and an antipyretic suppository and brought them back to the bed with him. He pulled back the covers on the bed and spoke softly to his lover. "Just relax, honey. You’re going to feel much better soon." He quickly bared Bobby’s hip and had the first injection in before Bobby knew what was happening.

Bobby cried out with shock at the sudden addition to the pain he was feeling. "Oww, no!" he wailed, turning to look at Dave. His eyes widened at the sight of the second needle in his lover’s hand. "No more!" he cried, pulling as far away as could.

However, Dave was faster and he quickly drew Bobby back to him. Mindful of the injured leg, he rolled Bobby to his other side. "Just one more, honey. You need the antibiotic and your stomach couldn’t handle it orally yet." Bobby squirmed, but in his weakened condition Dave was easily able to subdue him and get the shot into him.

Indignant and angry, Bobby once more rolled away from his partner. Dave smiled to himself. ‘Well that makes it easier,’ he thought.

Putting his hand on Bobby’s back, he rubbed slow relaxing circles. "I’m sorry, honey. I know you don’t like needles, but they’re all done for now." He continued rubbing Bobby’s back, using his hand to surreptitiously slide down Bobby’s boxers.

Thinking that Dave’s moves were simply amorous, Bobby mumbled. "No, Dave, I don’t feel good."

By this time, Dave had Bobby’s shorts down quite low. He slid his finger between the taut cheeks and quickly pushed the slippery suppository into Bobby’s puckered opening. Bobby jumped at this further intrusion into his body, attempting to dislodge it but Dave kept his hand firmly in place. "Easy, baby, it’s just something for the fever. Just lay still and let it help you." He lay down behind Bobby, hugged him snugly and continued to rub his back

Bobby was feeling unhappy and overwhelmed by all he had been through. He lay stiffly in Dave’s arms, not wanting to enjoy his lover’s gentle touch. "Leave me alone," he snapped resentfully.

Despite his lover’s protests, Dave continued the soothing touch. "No, baby," he admonished. "I’m not going to leave you alone, not anymore. You’re being alone has not done either of us any good." He hugged Bobby tighter. "You are mine. I love you more than life and we’re going to work this out together. Do you understand me?"

Tears began to streak Bobby’s face. "How can you love me after what I did?" he mumbled.

Dave turned Bobby gently back to face him. "Bobby, you made some serious mistakes and we need to deal with them. But, honey, I could never stop loving you, no matter how many mistakes you make."

With that Bobby began to cry even harder. Dave held him for a long while, speaking quiet endearments and rubbing his back until the medication took effect and Bobby drifted back to sleep.

The next three days were spent taking care of Bobby’s physical needs. He was uncharacteristically co-operative and uncomplaining through the dressing changes and accepting of the medication. Dave was relieved when Bobby started eating and he was able to get him onto oral meds. The low-grade fever had completely disappeared and the wound showed every indication of healing well, though it would leave a noticeable scar on Bobby’s pale skin.

The conversation between them during this time was kept light and Dave steered it away from the subject of Bobby’s actions and the consequences to them, informing Bobby each time he would try and bring it up that they would deal with it later when Bobby was well.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, Dave was in the kitchen washing up a few dishes when the doorbell dragged him from his work. His face lit up as he realized who it was. "Paul, come in!" He exclaimed delightedly as he held the door open for his friend.

Paul smiled as he entered the house. He drew the medical bag he was carrying to Dave’s attention. "I thought I’d come by and check on Bobby," he explained.

"Well, he is your patient," Dave replied wryly. "Can you stay a while for a visit?" he asked.

"That would be nice. How about I go see to the Brat first, then we can have a chance to catch up a bit," he suggested.

"Sure." Dave hesitated for a moment. "Paul, would you mind if I took advantage of your presence to make a quick run to the store. I hate to leave Bobby home alone."

Paul nodded his head in complete understanding. "Of course not, take your time. I’ll stay with Bobby until you get back. Then we can sit and talk for a while. I must admit I’ve missed you at the office this week."

Dave smiled and took his jacket off the hook near the door. "Thanks, Paul, I won’t be long," he said as he slipped out the door.

Paul placed his own jacket on the hook Dave’s had just vacated and he headed up the stairs to the master bedroom. "Well, young fella, how are we feeling today?" he asked his young patient as he entered the room.

Bobby looked up in surprise and gave him a shy smile. "Hi, Paul," he replied. "I’m feeling okay. I just wish Dave would let me come downstairs. I’m so sick of being in bed."

Paul sat down on the bed beside Bobby and opened his medical bag. "Well, let’s take a look at you. If the cut is healing enough that we feel you can put some weight on the leg then we just might let you do that." Paul checked Bobby over then removed the dressing on the wound. Bobby clamped his eyes shut. Each time Dave had changed the dressing Bobby looked away, he was afraid to look at the ugly cut. Paul put on his glasses and carefully examined the cut. Although it was still open, it was healing nicely and the drainage was clear. Paul dressed it again and smiled at Bobby as he looked up. "Dave’s been taking good care of you, I can see. I’ll talk with him about you getting up later today, although you’re going to have to use a cane for a while. I don’t want you putting your full weight on it yet."

"Thanks, Paul. How’s Danny doing? I haven’t talked to him all week." Bobby hesitated for a moment and then asked. "Is he mad at me?"

Paul chuckled. "No, Danny isn’t angry with you. He’s been after me all week to let him come and visit you."

"Why wouldn’t you let him? Are you afraid I’m a bad influence on him?" Bobby asked unhappily.

"No, sweetie, not at all! You’re his best friend and I would never call you a bad influence. David and I both agreed you needed to have a few days of quiet rest and when you and Danny get together, you’re anything but quiet."

"Couldn’t he at least call me?" Bobby pleaded.

"Let’s give it another day or two, honey," Paul replied.

Bobby sat back against the bed sulking. Paul decided to change subject. "The weather has been beautiful this week and before you know it you’ll be back out in your workshop."

Bobby’s eyes welled up with tears. "No I won’t. Dave is never going to let me touch another tool."

"Oh of course he will. It’s your work, Bobby. Dave would never try to take away your work." Paul said reassuringly.

"He will! I screwed up so bad that he won’t even talk to me about it!" Bobby sobbed.

Paul gave Bobby a gentle hug. "Bobby, you have to give it a little time. You and David will work this out. Trust him to help you. He’ll know when it’s the right time for you to sort it all out. I know he will talk with you but he wants you well enough to deal with it. Right now while you’re healing, you don’t need the added stress. Do you understand?"

Bobby nodded sadly. "I guess," he replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By Saturday Bobby was doing much better and walking without the cane. Dave had even taped some plastic around the dressing and had allowed Bobby to have a shower. It felt so good to stand under the hot spray. In the end Dave had to pull his contented, water-logged Brat out of the shower. He helped him dry off and get dressed. He stayed with Bobby as he made his way down the stairs. Dave was still concerned about Bobby when he was navigating steps.

When they arrived in the kitchen Bobby could see that Dave had laid out the table for a beautiful breakfast. There was fresh fruit salad and homemade muffins. Dave pulled out Bobby’s chair for him and once he was seated, he bent over to kiss his lover’s soft sweet lips.

Bobby smiled. "Wow, Dave, this looks wonderful. What’s the occasion?"

"Just wanted to celebrate your returning good health, my love," Dave replied and he went to the warming oven and pulled out Bobby’s favourite frittatas.

Bobby’s eyes lit up. "Frittatas! This is special! Thank you."

They ate well and enjoyed light-hearted conversation. Dave insisted on doing all the clean up while Bobby relaxed and then he suggested they take their coffee out on the back porch where they could enjoy the nice day together. As they walked out the door, Bobby couldn’t help but look across the driveway to the garage, standing there with its door tightly shut. It almost seemed to be mocking Bobby in its silence. He hadn’t been outside since Dave had brought him home a week ago and the sight of the garage gave him a chill.

Dave placed his mug on the table, sat on the porch swing and pulled Bobby down close beside him. Wrapping his arm around Bobby’s shoulders, he hugged him close and kissed his head. "I think it’s time you and I had a little talk, don’t you?" he whispered.

Bobby swallowed. He’d known this was coming, of course, and yet had still been somehow hopeful it could be avoided. He looked into Dave’s intense eyes and nodded. "I guess we should."

Dave smiled. "Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’re going to work this out, okay?"

Bobby gave him a weak smile in return and mustered his courage with a large sip of the strong coffee, which he then placed next to Dave’s on the table. "I know I’m in a lot of trouble," he sighed.

"Figured that out all by yourself, did you?" Dave smirked.

"Don’t tease me about this, Dave, please." Tears welled in Bobby’s eyes.

"Sorry, sweetheart. Why don’t we start at the beginning. I’d like to know exactly what happened in that garage last week."

"You’re not going to like it," Bobby remarked.

"I already don’t like it. Just tell me what happened, the whole unabridged story."
Bobby swallowed hard and began the long story of his carelessness in favour of getting some spring sunshine, his panic over the fall out that would come of it and his ill-advised flight from home. He sat quietly crying in Dave’s arms as he finished his tale.

Dave was silent for a few minutes, stroking Bobby’s head. He realized things had happened pretty much the way that he had figured. "Bobby," he began "when we first came to an agreement about discipline, we wrote up a set of rules. If you remember we wrote those together, neither of us made any arbitrary decisions about them. We discussed each rule thoroughly and the possible consequences involved for the breaking of those rules. You and I both agreed to keep to those rules and consequences, didn’t we?"

"Yes, Dave," Bobby replied miserably.

"Well, Bobby, there has been some serious failure in the following of those rules. That failure has been very damaging to our relationship, so very damaging, and I’m so very sorry to have to say this, Baby, but . . . ."

Bobby cut him off with a pitiful wail. "No, Dave…please don’t say it! Please!"

Dave was disconcerted by Bobby’s extreme reaction but he remained firm. "Bobby, I have to tell you this…"

"NO! Please don’t tell me that it’s over! I’ll be better, Dave, really. I promise! Don’t break up with me!" Bobby threw himself over Dave’s lap sobbing. All he could think was that the beautiful breakfast and the tender care during the week were just Dave’s way of making it easier on him. Dave was going to dump him.

"Oh god, sweetheart, no!" Dave exclaimed, horrified. "I’m not trying to break up with you!" Bobby continued to wail. "Bobby, listen to me!" He pulled Bobby up and lifted his face, forcing Bobby to look at him. "Bobby, I love you! You are my reason for living. I am NOT trying to break up with you."

Bobby began to hear what Dave was saying and he looked at his partner with red puffy eyes. "You’re not?" he sniffed.

"Oh, honey, of course not," he reassured. "Now will you listen to me?" Bobby nodded. "All right let’s start this again. I was trying to tell you that I am so sorry I have not kept up my end of that agreement."

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked, still sniffling.

"I mean I have not been consistent in reinforcing those rules and I have let you talk me into getting away with breaking them." He kissed Bobby’s damp face. "When I was feeling tired or just not up to it, I let them slide and in the end I have allowed that to hurt our relationship. So for that I am very sorry and I can assure you I will never again allow outside influences or inside ones for that matter," he said while ruffling Bobby’s hair, "to cause me to fail in my responsibilities to you. That, my darling boy, includes the consequences for this latest fiasco."
Bobby looked at Dave. He could see the love in Dave’s eyes. Yes, he would be punished but it would not be the end of the world. He knew they needed to do this, to give their relationship a fresh start. He also knew that in the end he would feel better; that the terrible guilt he had been feeling would be relieved. He needed the absolution that accepting the punishment would give him.

"I’ll do whatever you say, Dave. I know I deserve whatever punishment you decide on. I really screwed up here," he let out a small sob. "I think you should ground me for a year and paddle me everyday of that year. It’s no less than I deserve," he said hanging his head sadly.

Dave couldn’t help but give a small smile. "I don’t think we need to go that far, sweetheart. Why don’t you go get a pen and some paper and we’ll write down all the issues? Then we can decide on the appropriate consequence for each, okay?"

Bobby nodded and scrambled into the kitchen for the requested items. He held them out to Dave as he returned but Dave shook his head. "No, you keep them. I think you should write the list."

Bobby snuggled up beside his lover again, with the pen and pad of paper on his lap. "All right," Dave said, "let’s start at the beginning. What was your first mistake?"

Bobby thought for a second. "I guess, not using my saw safely. I should have had the wood at the bench and held in the clamp before starting the cut."

"Okay then, the first broken rule was not following shop safety. Write that down," Dave instructed. "What was next?"

"Well, I used that dirty rag on the cut. That was really bad."

Dave chuckled. "No, sweetheart, that was just instinct to grab something to stop the bleeding. I won’t punish you for that, although I think it would be good policy to keep a first aid kit in the workshop from now on. What do you think was next?"

"I hid all the mess from the accident. You know, buried in the garbage."

"Yes, to say nothing of the blood covered clothes I found hidden in the bottom of the hamper when I was doing the laundry the other day. That was a form of lying by omission. You tried to hide something from me that I needed to know. Write that down. But hey," he added with a wry smile, "it looks like you’ve finally caught on to the cleaning up after yourself rule." Bobby groaned at that and then neatly printed out the second sin on the paper. "Next?"

"I lied to you when you phoned. I told you everything was fine."

"A direct lie, so you can put that down as well. Along with keeping secrets from me, we both agreed not to do that. With the only exception being the type of secret you would keep by not telling about a Birthday or Christmas gift or happy type things that are kept secret for special occasions like surprise parties. The surprise I got when I came home last Friday was hardly happy," Dave admonished.

"Dave, I know I’ve said it before but I just want to tell you again how sorry I am for the pain I caused you. I can only imagine how you must have felt to come home and find I was gone and to find the blood. I feel so bad about that, Dave, I really do," Bobby said very sincerely.

"I know you do, honey, and it does help me to know that you can understand my feelings," Dave replied, pleased with his Brat’s sincerity. "Now, what was next?"
"I ran away," Bobby said sadly.

"That’s the most serious one of all and we’ll cover it shortly, but I think you’re forgetting something."

Bobby thought about this and suddenly realized. "I was grounded. I wasn’t supposed to leave the house or workshop."

Dave nodded. "Good, now you can write down, disobedience. Anything else you can think of before we get to the running away?"

Bobby had to think hard about this but finally it occurred to him. "One other thing: I didn’t keep my cell phone on." Dave nodded and Bobby immediately added it to the list.

"Okay, I think we’ve cover them all besides the running away," Dave paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Bobby, running away from home is not only breaking a rule, it’s cheating our relationship. Did you think that since you hurt yourself it meant our relationship was over? That what we have together is worth so little?" Dave’s voice betrayed a little of the pain he had been feeling this past week.

Bobby began to cry again. "No, Dave, it wasn’t like that at all. I just didn’t want you to be angry with me, to be disappointed in me. I know it sounds so stupid now, but I really thought if I could just get the cut healed, I wouldn’t have to see this look in your eyes. Oh god, I just wasn’t thinking clearly at all! I panicked. I never wanted to hurt you. Our relationship means everything to me. How can you ever forgive me? I should be punished for being so stupid," Bobby sobbed.

Dave pulled him into his lap, kissing the top of his curly head. "You are not stupid! What you did was not such a smart move, my darling, but you are right, it was panic. What we need to teach you here is how to deal with difficult things when they happen. How not to panic, but to react calmly and most of all be honest with yourself and me." He continued to place soft kisses on Bobby’s head as he spoke. "You are not being punished for being stupid. You are going to be punished for breaking our rules. I don’t ever want to hear you call yourself stupid again. That’s not just insulting yourself, it’s insulting me. It says that I would pick a stupid man as my partner and that just isn’t so! As a matter of a fact as I recall, insulting one another is a punishable offence, isn’t it?" Bobby’s breath caught at the thought of adding another item to the list and Dave smiled a little. "It’s okay, sweetie, I think we can let that one slide this time."

Dave pulled Bobby up a bit on his lap and looked at him. "So how many broken rules do we have on that list?’

Bobby studied the list. "Seven," he reported sadly as he read each of them.
Not following shop safety
Lying by omission
Direct lie
Keeping secrets
Breaking grounding
Cell phone off when away from home
Running away

"That sounds about right," Dave replied. "Now, to the consequences. Let’s start with the lighter ones, breaking grounding, and not having your cell phone on, both first time offences. Since you broke the grounding I think it is fair that it should be extended for one week. For not having your cell phone on, you will write 300 times, ‘I will keep my cell phone charged and turned on whenever I am away from home.’ You’d better write that on your list now so you don’t forget it." Bobby dutifully copied out the sentence on to the pad.

Dave waited for Bobby to finish then he began again. "Lying and keeping secrets from me are very serious things. Don’t you agree?"

Bobby sniffed. "Yes, I know they are, Dave. I’m so sorry."

"All right, since you have never before shown a major tendency towards lying or keeping secrets, I won’t make as big a deal of it this time. I think that a 500-word essay on how damaging lying is to our relationship and 10 licks with the hairbrush will cover it. However, if you lie like this to me ever again the punishment will be much worse. Do you understand?" David looked seriously at his young partner.

Bobby just sadly nodded his head, whipping the tears from his cheeks with his shirtsleeves.

"Okay, now onto shop safety. This is something that you have been in trouble for in the past. You have written lines, been spanked and paddled for this, and still you paid no attention to the rules." Dave’s voice had an edge of sternness that Bobby didn’t like to hear. "What was the last punishment I gave you for this?" Dave knew full well what it was but felt is was more effective to have Bobby recite it.

Bobby spoke in a quivering voice. "A long hand spanking followed by 10 licks with the hairbrush."

"Not quite effective enough, was it?" Dave asked, not expecting an answer. "Well, the previous times I have caught you in the act before you were injured. This time you have already received a certain amount of punishment by the way of the injury you suffered. But you still broke a rule I have had to deal with in the past and I cannot let this one go easily. So for the next two weeks while your injury finishes healing, you are grounded from the workshop."

Bobby gasped and began to protest. "But, Dave, I have work orders to fill and I’ve already lost a week and…"

Dave cut him off in mid-sentence. "I’m sorry, Bobby, but I’m quite serious about this. Your health and safety are more important than your work orders. I’ve already let your clients know that you have been injured and cannot work for a while. They were all very understanding and sent their best wishes for your recovery. Besides, when people order custom made furniture like this, they know they are dealing with an individual craftsman and delays are quite normal."

"Dave, please, it’s what I do for a living. Please don’t take that from me!" Bobby was caught between sorrow and anger.

"I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I have made up my mind this is too important to…"

Bobby tried to pull away from Dave. He was feeling angry and wanted to get away from his partner. "You can’t fucking do this, you don’t have the right!" he yelled, managing to extradite himself from Dave’s lap. But Dave quickly had an arm wrapped around Bobby’s waist and he pulled him back to him, this time face down over his lap. Dave delivered four sharp swats to Bobby’s behind.

"Stop it right now!" Dave demanded. "I’ve made the decision and you will abide by it." Bobby was startled by the sudden spanking and settled down a bit. Although he was still very angry, he was no longer fighting. Dave pulled him up to a sitting position. "Are you ready to listen to me now?"

Bobby refused to acknowledge him. He should have known Dave would do this despite the reassurances Paul had given him the other night.

"I asked you if you are ready to listen to me?" Dave repeated. "Or do you need another trip over my lap?"

"This isn’t fair! Paul said that you wouldn’t take away my work and you’re doing just that," Bobby’s voice was heavy with emotion.

‘Damn it!’ Dave cursed silently to himself. ‘What was Paul thinking, making a promise like that! He certainly wouldn’t like it if I stepped in between him and Danny that way! Advice was one thing, but that was taking it too far.’ "Firstly," he finally began, controlling his voice carefully. "Paul is not your partner, I am. Secondly, he is right. I am not taking away your work. I’m giving you two more weeks in which to heal and have time to think about what your job and our relationship means to you. I’d advise you to take advantage of that time. But hear me and hear me well, young man. You mean more to me than any job in the world. So if you give me further cause to doubt your ability to do your job safely, I will take that job from you." Bobby was still sulking and swiping angrily at his tears and Dave paused for a moment, deciding to try another tact. "Bobby, I am very proud of you and your skills as a craftsman. The furniture you have made for our home is unequalled anywhere but, honey, you are of far more value to me as a partner than you are as a furniture maker."

Bobby could hear the sincerity in Dave’s voice and he began to realize that his partner might have a point. "I’m sorry, Dave. It’s just that my work means so much to me."

"I know it does, baby, but you mean more."

Bobby relaxed a bit and tucked his head into the crook of Dave’s neck, who reached up to stroke the soft satiny curls. Dave sat and rocked Bobby gently in his arms until he felt his Brat relax a bit more. Finally though, he straightened up once more and took a deep breath. "Let’s get this done, shall we?" he asked and he could feel Bobby’s head nodding against his shoulder. "Now along with being grounded from the workshop, I want a 500-word essay on tool safety."

Bobby groaned, "Another essay?"

Dave smiled slightly. "Yes, another essay, and you will receive 15 licks with the hairbrush." He could feel Bobby stiffen in his arms at this pronouncement, but he offered up no protest. "Well, now we’re down to the last thing on the list: running away." He decided he needed to see Bobby’s eyes for this, so he pulled his young partner around so they could face one another. He took Bobby’s hands into his and looked straight at him.

"Bobby, I’ve been thinking a great deal about how to deal with this. We both agree here that this is a very serious issue and I have to handle it that way." He gave Bobby’s hands a gentle squeeze. "You car is still up at the cabin, it’s perfectly safe there and there will be no reason to retrieve it until we go for our annual visit on Labour Day weekend."

Bobby started to interrupt. "But I…"

Dave shook his head firmly. "There is no reason to retrieve it because you are grounded from driving for the summer." He kept talking, giving Bobby no further opportunity to interrupt. "Along with losing your driving privileges, your grounding is extended by two more weeks and you will be spanked. The spanking will include 5 licks with my belt," he pronounced softly.

Bobby felt his chest constrict and his stomach clench. He didn’t know what to say or do. He knew that in reality he deserved everything Dave was giving him and more. He had certainly expected the grounding and the spankings. Dave had never strapped him before and although it scared him, he knew it would be okay. Dave would never harm him. But losing his car for the whole summer! God, he hadn’t expected that one. He felt overwhelmed and just slumped forward a bit, quietly crying.

Dave had to steel his resolve. It almost would have been easier to deal with if Bobby had been fighting and angry but to see him just sitting there crying, was so difficult. He knew dragging this thing out any longer was just being cruel, so he drew a deep breath and spoke to his miserable partner. "I want you to go to the den now and wait in your corner. We’re going to do this over three days, sweetheart. We’ll do the fifteen with the brush today, ten tomorrow and the belt on Monday. I’ll be in to you in a little while. I want you to take this time to think about things, okay?"

Bobby just sniffled and slowly made his way inside the house.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dave sat on the back deck for 15 minutes quietly finishing his now cold coffee and dreading what he had to do. Finally knowing he couldn’t leave Bobby waiting any longer, he went into the house and climbed the stairs to their bedroom to retrieve the hairbrush from his night table drawer. He ran his hand over the surface of the table. Bobby had made this table the first year they had lived together. In fact, Bobby had made all the dressers and tables that adorned their room; he truly was a skilled craftsman. Bobby commanded a considerable sum for his work and deserved every penny of it.

Dave sighed. Knowing he could delay no longer, he pulled himself together and made the trek downstairs to the den. Bobby stood quietly in the corner, leaning heavily on the wall, his shoulders were slumped and Dave could hear the soft sound of sniffing. He sat down on the butter soft leather sofa that adorned the long wall opposite the corner Bobby was occupying. "Bobby, come here please," he called.

Bobby turned slowly and walked towards his partner with his eyes pinned to the floor in front of him. He stopped in front of Dave, still not meeting his eyes. "Take down your pants please," Dave solemnly requested. Bobby’s trembling hands undid the belt and button and then slid down the zipper. He had been wearing Dave’s pants as they were larger and did not irritate his still bandaged leg, but they had to be held up by a belt around Bobby’s much smaller waist. So with the belt undone the pants slid of their own volition to the floor around Bobby’s ankles.

Dave reached for Bobby’s hips and gently guided him down over his lap, mindful of young partner’s still healing leg as he positioned him onto the sofa. With the injured left leg tucked safely out of the way, Dave slid his fingers under the waistband of Bobby’s boxers and deftly pushed them down. He rested his hand against the pale unmarked bottom in front of him. "I think we have covered why we’re doing this already this morning, so I’m not going to ask you to recite the reasons for this spanking. Do you have anything to add to what we’ve said?"

Bobby just shook his head, which rested against a throw pillow. "All right then, let’s get this done." Dave brought his hand down sharply against the twin globes, raining down a long set of unstopping spanks, covering the entire surface of Bobby’s bottom and upper thighs. It did not take long before Bobby was crying and reaching back in an effort to halt the attack on his vulnerable skin, but Dave secured Bobby’s hand at his waist and continued the spanking. Finally, after what seemed like forever to Bobby but in reality was only a couple of minutes, Dave stopped the spanking. Thinking it was over, Bobby tried to push off of Dave’s lap but his partner held him firmly at the waist. "Sorry, sweetheart, but we aren’t done yet," he said as he reached to the cushion beside himself.

Bobby turned to look and let out a wail as he saw the hairbrush in Dave’s hand. "No!" he cried kicking his legs but Dave was determined and just held Bobby tighter.

"Fifteen for not following shop safety rules," he reminded as he brought the back of the large wooden brush down against Bobby’s already tender behind. He delivered five sharp smacks to the middle of each buttock, two at each crease where leg meets cheek and finally one in the center. By this time, Bobby was squealing and kicking so hard Dave was concerned he might injure himself further. He gently lowered Bobby to his knees on the floor and held his sobbing Brat’s head in his lap, softly stoking the damp sweaty hair. "Shhh, baby, it’s all right now, we’re done for today. You’re okay, darling. I love you so much, Bobby."

He sat soothing and petting his lover until the worst of the sobbing stopped. Then he carefully pulled Bobby into his lap, mindful of the sore bottom and they cuddled for a long while until Bobby’s hitching breaths settled to regular breathing. He placed dozens of tender kisses against Bobby’s tear streaked face.

Bobby finally found his voice. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I hurt us, hurt our relationship! Dave, I’m so very sorry!" he sobbed.

"It’s all right, baby. We’re going to be just fine. We’re done for tonight. We’ll finish the rest tomorrow and Monday. It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. We’ll work it all out." He kept up the soothing words until he realized his beautiful little Brat had fallen asleep in his arms. They lay back together on the sofa for more than an hour before Bobby stirred.

Dave looked down at the huge blue eyes staring at him. "Okay, baby?" he asked.
Bobby’s throat was dry and scratchy from crying but he managed a smile and said, "Yeah, I’m a little cold though." Dave realized that his lover was still naked from the waist down, the pants and boxers where lying on the floor where they had fallen when Bobby kicked them off.

Dave helped his partner to his feet and bent to retrieve the clothes. "Turn around for a second before you get dressed, bend over a bit and put your hands on the back of the couch. I just want to see if everything looks okay." He carefully inspected Bobby’s backside for bruising and then satisfied all looked well, he helped his lover into his boxers, being extraordinarily cautious with Bobby’s leg and sore bottom.

Bobby had to smile despite his aching butt. Dave was always so solicitous after a spanking. If he wasn’t so damn sore he might almost find it cute.

Dave wrapped his arm around Bobby’s waist. "How about we go upstairs and have a little lay down together?" Dave proposed as he guided his Brat from the room.

"Can I get a drink of water first?" Bobby asked.

"I’ll get you upstairs and settled in and then I’ll bring you a nice cool drink. Okay?" Dave continued to lead Bobby up the stairs and when they reached the bedroom he helped him out of his clothes. Bobby stripped completely not wanting to feel even the soft boxers against his tender behind. Dave pulled back the covers and Bobby lay down on his stomach. "I’ll be right back, sweetheart. I’m just going to get your drink." Bobby nodded his head against the pillow.

Dave was back moments later with a chilled bottle of spring water and a straw so Bobby wouldn’t have to sit up to drink. The older man quickly shucked his own clothes and crawled under the covers with his lover. "Here, darling, this will help your throat," he urged softly.

Bobby turned enough to take the bottle and drank down most of it within seconds and then he handed it back to Dave. "Thanks," he whispered. "That was good." Bobby cuddled closer to his lover and Dave pulled him tightly into his arms. Stroking Bobby’s back, he let his hand travel up the center then down along the side, following the curve of Bobby’s hip and keeping carefully away from the freshly spanked skin. Bobby began to purr with pleasure from the gentle massage.

Within minutes, Dave began to feel his lover hardening against him. He hadn’t really anticipated this when they came to bed. He was thinking Bobby would be too upset and sore from the spanking. He had only expected some cuddling and a brief nap. However, it had been more than a week since they had made love and his body’s desires where quickly making themselves known. Dave stopped himself though before taking any action and looked down into Bobby’s bright blue eyes.

Before Dave could say anything Bobby rubbed himself up against Dave, making his wishes quite clear. "Are you sure, sweetheart? You’re not too sore?"

Bobby’s voice was husky with desire. "I want you, Dave. Make love to me please."

Dave smiled. He didn’t need to be asked twice. He could never resist an amorous Bobby. "We need to be careful," he cautioned as he reached into the bedside drawer for the lube. Before he could move further, Bobby slid down under the sheet and engulfed Dave in his warm wet mouth. After enjoying several minutes of this exquisite pleasure Dave pulled Bobby up and kissed him passionately, his tongue slipping in and possessing his partner’s mouth. He didn’t pull away until he was breathless with desire. "Which way will be more comfortable for you, sweetheart?" he asked his panting lover. Bobby smiled and turned onto his belly with legs spread, he lifted his hips to give Dave better access. "I like how you feel against my back," he whispered.

Dave needed no further urging. Using plenty of lube, he carefully prepared his lover. Once he felt Bobby was sufficiently stretched, he slid his throbbing cock into the hot tight channel. Although his body demanded the deep hard thrusts they usually enjoyed, Dave was careful not to brush too much against the sensitive bottom or to put his weight on Bobby’s injured leg. He tried to keep his movements firm enough to satisfy and yet gentle enough to do no harm.

Bobby finally got tired of Dave’s overly protective behaviour and began to thrust backwards to meet Dave’s forward movements. "Damn it, Dave! I’m not made of glass! Fuck me!" he demanded.

No longer able to resist, Dave allowed his passions to take over and he moved forcefully against his young partner. Within moments they both came to a shattering climax, collapsing together on the bed. Dave managed enough control to roll them both onto their sides to keep his weight off Bobby’s tender buttocks.

After he regained his senses, Dave slipped from the bed and returned moments later with a warm face cloth and towels to clean up his exhausted lover. Bobby was so out of it he hardly stirred as Dave washed him. He climbed back under the covers and joined his partner in a post coital nap.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Despite the love they shared, the next two days were very trying for the two men. Dave knew he had to hold firm and carry out the two additional spankings and he had an especially hard time on Monday when he entered the den were Bobby was again standing in the corner for ‘thinking’ time. It was eight o’clock in the evening and he knew he could delay this no further. He sat on the sofa, laying his belt down on the cushion beside him and calling his lover over.

Bobby was crying before he even reached Dave. "Dave…," he sobbed. "Please, I’m so sorry, please…," he pleaded.

Without speaking Dave reached up and divested Bobby of his pants. He then pulled his unresisting partner down across his lap. Bobby’s bottom was still a bit red from the previous two nights’ spankings. Dave laid his hand on the warm skin and then took a deep breath to fortify himself. "Bobby, why are you getting this spanking?" he asked.

"Because you’re mean and cruel," Bobby sobbed out.

Dave gave Bobby two stinging swats. "Do you want to try that again?" he asked.

Bobby yelped at the pain. "No!" he cried.

Dave posed the question again. "Why are you getting this spanking, Bobby?"

Bobby tried to pull himself together. "Because I ran away from home," he whimpered softly.

Dave decided to accept the answer. "Okay then, let’s get this done." He brought his hand down smartly over the quivering buttocks before him. It took only a dozen smacks before Bobby was sobbing pitifully. Dave knew it was enough and he reached for the belt. "All right, Bobby. Five with my belt and then we’re through with this." He could feel Bobby shudder and saw him clutching the pillow at his head. He drew the belt back, closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself and then he brought it down sharply. Bobby drew in a high pitched gasp but did not cry. Knowing it was best to get it over with, Dave gave the next four licks in quick succession and Bobby let out a mournful wail. Finally, Dave tossed the cursed belt aside and gathered his crying lover into his arms.

"Dave, I’m so sorry! I’ll never run away again. I promise, Dave! I’m sorry!" he cried over and over.

"It’s all over now, baby," Dave attempted to soothe his seemingly inconsolable partner. "I love you so much, Bobby," he smothered the tear-soaked face with kisses. "You’re going to be okay now, darling. Shhh, just relax, let me take care of you now. Shhh…" Dave reached for the warm blanket hanging on the back of the sofa and wrapped it carefully around Bobby’s lower half.

Quietly, the two men cuddled together until Bobby had stopped crying enough to talk. "Dave, I promise I’m never going to do anything so bad that you have to use that belt again. It hurt so much."

Dave smiled at his young lover. "I sincerely hope not, Bobby, because I never want to have to do that again either. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do but worth it if it helped you learn not to run away from your problems."

"I’m learning, Dave, and I do promise you that I will talk to you first when I have a problem I can’t work out on my own. I won’t ever run away again."

Dave kissed Bobby’s sweet lips. "That’s all I ask, darling, that’s all I ask."

Two weeks later Bobby’s leg had healed well and on Monday morning, Dave ceremoniously handed him the keys to the garage workshop. It had been more than three weeks now since this ordeal had started. Bobby ran happily out and unlocked the garage, the place he thought of as his sanctuary. Dave followed his young partner and was in just the right place to see the look on Bobby’s face when he saw the brand new professional band saw standing in the center of the room.

Bobby turned to look at his lover with an expression of pure joy. "Dave, oh my god! Thank you, thank you…," he squealed. He gave his lover a tremendous hug then ran over to take in the new piece of equipment.

Dave made a point of showing Bobby the new fully stocked first-aid kit hanging beside the workbench. He then kissed him good-bye and headed off to his office.
Bobby spent the rest of the day experimenting with his new toy.

Life in the Brook’s household returned to some semblance of normality over the next few weeks. There were a few tense moments when Bobby chaffed at not having his car and not even being allowed to drive Dave’s when it was available, but the summer passed quickly and the couple grew closer in understanding of one another’s needs.

Before they knew it, Labour Day weekend had come and gone and Bobby had regained all that he had lost and more. He had learned to have more faith in his relationship with Dave and was able to bring his problems to his partner without the desire to run away from them.

That is not to say Bobby didn’t still get into his fair share of trouble. He and his best friend, Danny, were still Brats after all. They were two happy Brats who definitely kept their partners on their toes. But that’s another story.

The End.