Philadelphia Freedom

Deuce glanced at the clock on the microwave, biting his lower lip as he walked across the room to where his phone was charging, unhooking it from the computer before sliding his thumb across the screen. He stared at Nick's name for a few seconds before touching it and putting the phone to his ear. "Please don't be at work."

Nick had gotten home from work about an half hour ago. He took a shower and had been lounging on the couch since in a pair of basketball shorts and a tee watching TV. He wasn't stressing at all over the fact that D was supposed to be breaking up with his girl tonight. Nope. Not at all. When his cell rang, his stomach did a little flip flop when he saw the picture of Deacon and him kissing pop up. He took in a deep breath and tried to act casual, "Hello?"

The smile that crossed Deuce's face at the sound of Nick's voice was completely unplanned, but the fact that just Nick's voice could make him feel like this was completely amazing. "Hey..."

"Hey," Nick couldn't help but smile nervously, "How's it going?" - Did you dump her?

"Things are good." The thought of teasing Nick and dragging it out crossed his mind, but tonight of all nights teasing would just be cruel. "You're talking to a single man."

 "Oh, yeah?" Nick's smile grew automatically, "How'd that go?"

"It was..." Deuce trailed off, not quite sure how to explain how the afternoon had gone. "I think she was expecting something else… She had wedding and bridal stuff on the brain and when I sat her down and she saw I was nervous…I think she got her hopes up."

"Shit...that must have been...damn." Nick surprisingly felt a pang of sympathy for the girl. Thinking Deacon was going to ask her to marry him only to be told things were over and, Oh by the way, those love bites I got in Boston? Yeah, they were from a guy. Must have been hard to take. Nick lost D once, but only after a long weekend, not two years. He could imagine the pain she must be feeling. Yet…Deacon was potentially his for the asking now, so he couldn’t bring himself to feel that bad.

"I don't think she believed me at first... she just looked so damn shocked. Then she told me she knew about the cheating and that I was already forgiven for it... But, I did find out something interesting from her once she was able to speak."

"What's that?" Nick asked.

Deuce laughed softly as he leaned against the kitchen counter. "I've been talking in my sleep... saying the name 'Nicky'.  She thought it was a woman..."

Nick's smile grew, "That's interesting."  He said, while inside he was doing a little Snoopy dance. So he really had been on Deacon’s mind, Nick could only imagine what he was dreaming about.

"She kinda stormed out when I told her that Nicky wasn't a woman... I've never seen her so pissed off."

"I bet, must have been quite a shock to her." Nick played with the hem of his shorts, "So before she stormed out, did you...like how do you know things are over? She might come back..."

Deuce shook his head slightly. "Even if she tries to come back, it's not going to do her any good. I told her that it was over. That I wasn't happy... that there was someone else."

Nick nodded. Damn he couldn't stop that damn smile from returning. "So it's over? For good?"

"Yeah, it's over Nick. I told you I'd call when it was over and here I am." Deuce couldn't stop smiling as he moved across the room.

Nick cleared his throat. "How are you feeling? I mean, that couldn't have been easy."

"I'm not going to lie to you Nick, it wasn't easy... I mean, we were together for two years, you know? But..."

"So...you feel like you made the right decision, though? No doubts?" Nick knew the trepidation was evident in his voice, but at that point he didn’t have the resolve to hide it.

"No doubts. It feels like this weight has been lifted." Deuce settled in on the couch, smiling when Winchester hopped up next to him.

"That's good then."  Nick chewed his lip. "I mean it sucks you had to go through that, and for her, but...yeah, if your gut is telling you it was the right thing, than that’s good."

"I should have listened to my gut a while ago..."

"Well...if I was a woman you might have. I get what a shock that is..." Nick sighed, "I've liked guys since I was about fourteen and I’ve fought it a long time. Hell, I'm still adjusting to the fact that I'm more gay than bi...It's a big deal, D."

Deuce sighed softly as he propped his feet up onto the coffee table. "Do you know how many times I've told patients that it's perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of? And then I..."

"Easy to say, but not always easy to take our own advice." Nick got up to get another water out of the fridge, "I mean I never thought any less of gay men, definitely didn't think any less of Ty when he came out. If anything I think he’s even braver...but admitting that to myself...it's something I've struggled with a long time. Probably not until we..." he set him water down and leaned against the counter, "I think I've finally come to accept that part of me."

Deuce smiled softly at that. "Oh yeah? That's good, Nick."

"All I'm saying is, it took me over twenty years. So...take your time with it."

"I know it's not going to be something I'm comfortable with overnight... but I do know what I want."

Nick couldn't help but smile again. Deacon sounded determined and confident and damn, all Nick wanted to do was catch the red eye to Philly and have D in his arms, but he wouldn't be able to take in if in a week or two Deacon had a freak out about the whole thing and changed his mind, "I need you to be sure. You should take some time..."

Deuce nodded. "I know you're worried Nick. Worried that she's going to come back to me and that I'm going to give in to her and that I'm going to hurt you again."

"Yeah, but not just that..." Nick sighed as he sat back down on his couch with his bottled water, "All of your friends, your family...hell, my friends and family. And we live so far apart...I just...if we're going to do this we need to do it right, yeah?" Nick had done a lot of thinking the past two weeks. Not just lamenting on what happened with D, but also about his choices in life. He planned on coming out to his family and friends. Not tomorrow, but soon…ish.

"I know... but, the important family of mine know. My parents, God, Dad is going to have a stroke." Deuce chuckled softly. "I'll shove Ty between us."

Nick smiled sadly, "But see, that’s the shit I want you to sleep on...take some time with. I don't want you to wake up in a day or a week like 'what the fuck did I do'...you're close with you family." If Deacon’s dad turned his back on him, he’d be crushed. It bothered the hell out of Ty, but Ty was made of a tougher skin than D and Nick hated to see him go through that. Besides the fact that if he wasn’t one hundred percent sure about things he might wind up resenting Nick in the long run.

"That's not going to happen. I'll admit it, this whole thing scares me, but it's a good kind of scared if that makes any sense..."

Nick nodded, "Oh, that makes perfect sense."

"So I'm not the only one that's scared as hell right now?"

"Of course I'm scared," Nick admitted, and he figured if D could make a big move tonight so could he, "You make me feel...vulnerable Deacon. I'm not used to feeling that way. But you also make me feel other things too. Good things."

Deuce smiled as he reached for the bottle of beer on the table, taking a long drink. "I know the feeling, Nick. It's like you can see something in me that no one has seen before."

"I get that" Nick agreed and thought your eyes. Those damn eyes see right into my fucking soul. It felt entirely too long since Nick had gotten to look into them. "Man, I can't believe it's only been two weeks since you've left."

"Feels like so much longer, doesn't it?" Deuce smiled as he ran his finger around the opening of the bottle. "I know we need to sit and have a serious talk about everything, but I don't want to do it over the phone."

"Yeah, I agree." Nick took a long swallow from his water. "Plus it'll give us some time, ya know? Get to know each other a little bit more with clothes on!" Nick Laughed. "Figure out where we stand."

Deuce laughed softly and teased, "Clothes on? Where's the fun in that?"

Nick laughed again. "True. That's why it’s good we're not in the same state. We have time to get reacquainted, yeah? Make sure this is what we want...without the distractions. Because I know once I lay eyes on you..." Nick shook his head, "totally distracted!"  And I would  lose my resolve to take things slow.

"I think we may need supervision the first time we see one another!" Deuce laughed as he finished off the bottle and got to his feet to make his way into the kitchen. "I think it's the only way we're going to keep things g-rated!"

"Yeah, we'll go right to triple X." Nick smiled fondly remembering how they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other once they’d gotten started. He set his feet on the coffee table and crossed his ankles feeling lighter than he had in two weeks, "I think the time will be good for us though. Like...you can court me."

Deuce smirked as he let his accent slip into his voice. "Why, Nick O'Flaherty, do you want me to woo you?"

Nick licked his lips and grinned, the gravelly drawl in D's voice sending a shiver down his spine, and tried to put on a southern accent of his own, "Why yes Deacon Grady. I am a nice catholic boy after all."

“Oh, I don't know, my Mama warned me about you Catholic boys." Deuce couldn't keep the grin off of his face as he tossed the bottle into the trash.

"Lies, all lies, I'm perfectly innocent." Nick chuckled as he rested his head against the couch, "You gotta prove to me you're worthy to have my heart and get into my pants...well, back into my pants!"

Deuce smirked again as he pulled a can of Mountain Dew out of the refrigerator. "Two beers and a big bag of cheetos?"

"Maybe...for the pants part anyway." Nick teased, "Might take a bit more for the heart...like laughing at all of my jokes and possibly eating raw shellfish."

"Uh-huh... and just what do I get out of this deal?" God, Deuce had missed this. Missed being able to just let go, to talk to and tease Nick

"You get me!" Nick smiled wide, "I'm a lot to handle!"

Deuce hummed softly. "Not sure you're worth eating raw shellfish for…"

Nick taped his empty bottle of water on his leg. Damn, he missed D. It was so good to talk to him again like this. "I'll just have to find another southern gentleman to sweep me off of my feet then."

“Good luck with that. It's the Grady genes. You won't find them anywhere else but the mountains of West Virginia!" Deuce laughed as he leaned against the counter again.

"Fucking Grady's..." Nick teasingly grumbled. "I'll stay right here in Southie where I'm safe, thanks."

"Oh no. I know where you dock your boat. You're not safe!"

“Gonna sneak attack me?" Nick raised a brow.

"I just might. Ty has taught me some things... even a gimp can sneak up on someone with the right training."

"I'm Recon, there is no sneaking up on me, baby." Nick winced at his slip. It was just too easy with Deacon. Too easy to get lost in him...to fall for him.

"And I was taught by Recon and I'm damn good with a bat!" Deuce grinned at Nick's slip, the word "baby" humming along his brain.

"I have at least one weapon on every level of the boat. Plus, I know your weak spots..." Nick smirked. Yup, armpits, flank, junction of hip to groin, behind his ear, among other places…

"Just one? I think you're getting a little too trusting in your old age." Deuce couldn't help but tease him.

"I said at least one! Besides, my whole body is a lethal weapon!” Nick tossed his empty bottle into the recycle bin and went out onto the side deck.

"Oh, I know one part of you that's a lethal weapon."

Nick smiled as he rested his hand on the railing and looked out at the harbor. It was a beautiful night. He took in a deep breath and let it out, decided to take a chance, "I'm glad you called, Deacon"

Deuce smiled at that as he leaned his head back. "I'm glad I called too, Nick. I've missed you."

"Me too...even just this. Talking and being stupid." Nick smiled. Funny how the weather reflected things. Raining before D left. Lots of rain since. Tonight? Clear and warm with a nice breeze. "I missed my friend of nothing else."

"I just missed everything. Being able to groan at your bad jokes, call you if I'm having a shitty day."

"Yeah..." Nick watched as he ran his thumb along the railing, "Let's build on that, ok? Take it slow?"

"I can live with that... I think that's what we need."

"Me too. Individually and as...together." Nick stopped himself from using the word couple, it sounded too intimate right now even if that’s what he truly wanted.

Deuce smiled. He liked the sound of together. "I still want to see you in person... can you get off work sometime?"

"Not for awhile..." Nick scratched the back of his neck "Most of the guys like to do their family vacays in the summer and I cover a lot of shifts. I do have off a few days around the fourth, but I told Ty I’d come down…I'll have to check the calendar. Why, when were you thinking?"

"Anytime, really... I haven't taken an actual vacation from work since the disaster that was Zane's introduction to the Mountains."

"Oh, hell, you’re definitely due for a real vacation then!” Nick snorted, ”Kidnapping and mountain lion attacks that lead to your brother nearly dying sure as hell don't count!"

"I think it's a requirement for vacations to hate anyone with the last name of Grady!"

"Nah, Ty and I have had some good ones.” And some fucking insane ones too, but always a good time in the end. “Maybe I break the curse when I’m there."

"Anything has to be better than the last two vacations I've had..."

"Why? What happened on the one before that?" Nick asked hesitantly. Had it been with his girl?

"I ended up with food poisoning."

"Oh God! That suuucks.” Nick winced in sympathy, “Early on in the trip or at the end?"

"Second day we got there... ate in the restaurant attached to the hotel. I was sick for fucking days."

"Oh, man! Basically ruined the whole trip, huh?"

"Oh yeah... and of course the assholes left my sick ass in the cabin and went off and had fun without me!"

"Who, Ty?" Nick laughed

Deuce laughed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Sounds like something he'd do, doesn't it?"

"Totally. He did it to me when I got sick in Tibet. Left me in the shithole hotel with a bucket, a pitcher of water and damp towel while he went off with some chicks for a three-way, or some shit. .." Nick shook his head and smiled at the awful memory, "Only time I ever had food poisoning. God I wanted to die."

Deuce burst into laughter at the mental image of that. "Sounds like Ty..! But no, I was with some friends from high school. Total assholes!"

“Bastards...the older the friend is, the more of an asshole they become." Nick had to chuckle because it was true in a way, but only in the best way possible because the familiarity was so strong. "Yeah, he patted me on the head, told me it would pass, and then I heard him whistling down the hall when he left. Uh, I wanted to beat his ass."

"Of course you did! At least Ty gave you a bucket. I had to crawl from the bedroom to the bathroom ‘cause I just didn't have the energy to get to my feet. I never want food poisoning again. Took a couple weeks to feel human again."

"Yeah, it sucks, man." Nick agreed and turned back to go inside, "My last few vacations have been action packed, I wouldn't mind just being a vegetable on an island next time. I mean, maybe a day or two of like scuba or something, but for the most part just chill."

"That sounds fucking amazing, actually. No phones, no computers, just warmth and nature and no people."

"Well, there might be people. I live on a yacht but I can't afford a private island!" Nick teased. "But yeah, no distractions and private enough I could swim naked in the ocean at night.”

"Sounds like more fun than my hot tub at night." Deuce laughed as he walked down the hall into the bedroom.

"Oh? You skinny dip in your hot tub?" Nick’s interest was piqued at the confession as he headed down stairs.

"Not like anyone is going to see me! And it feels damn good on my leg."

Nick licked his lips at the image. Naked, wet Deacon in a hot tub at night… "I like hot tubs." Nick informed him as he entered the master cabin and plopped down on his bed.

"You're just going to have to come to Philly then, aren't you?" Deuce kicked his shoes off, leaving them by the door as he walked across the room.

"Yeah...so we were saying...ah, do you want me to call you after work tomorrow and tell you what’s free on the calendar? Maybe I can come down…" Yeah, damn it, Nick was anxious to be near D, to have that talk and take it from there. Hopefully to the bedroom, but…

"Yeah, that sounds good..." Deuce walked across the room, sitting down on the bed. "My schedule is more flexible than yours. Let me know when you can get off and I'll see what I can do on my end."

"Ok," Nick nodded as he pulled off his tee shirt, "Like I said it might not be until a month or so...but yeah, I'd like it if we could get together."

"That works for me... wish it could be sooner, but I know it's a hard time to try to get off from work."

"Yeah. It's probably better for us anyway...in the long run. Make sure this isn't just physical with us, ya know?"  I know. Gotta be sure you do.

"I know, Nick. It's more than just physical for me. I know it might be hard to believe, but...I don't want anyone else."

"Good..." Nick smiled as he slid his shorts off and kicked them towards the hamper before lying down. "You must be exhausted. Long day."

"It's always a long day..." Deuce tugged his shirt off, finally starting to strip for bed.

"Emotional draining, I meant.” Nick corrected himself.

"It's just been a really long few days..."

"Weird couple of weeks," Nick acknowledged.

"That's for sure..." Deuce finally kicked his pants off before crawling into bed.

"Going to bed?" Nick asked because he could hear the rustling of the blankets.

"Maybe... just getting more comfortable"

Nick closed his eyes and imagined Deacon in bed.  "Me too...does that cat sleep with you?"

Deuce laughed softly as the kitten curled up on his chest. "He's making himself comfortable as we speak!"

"Hmmm" lucky cat "Well, I'll let you guys get comfy. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Get some sleep, Nick. You need it."

"I do, yeah." Nick nodded, he barely slept at all last night, his brain was in overdrive wandering if Deacon was actually going to go through with the break up. "Sleep good, ok."

"You too, Nick. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"

"Sounds good.” Nick smiled, “Good night, D."

"Good night, Nick... "