TLR Chapter 97

Gabe and Ezra had been at the cabin for nearly two and a half weeks when Gabriel felt himself becoming restless. "Ez! Come on! One night going out isn't going to kill us!  Dinner we don't have to cook? Other people for company even if it's just for an hour? Please? I'm going crazy here! I want to watch Netflix or TV, just for a little while."

Ezra shook his head. "The whole reason for us being here is to take a break from all that technology and noise and enjoy each other and nature," he told his brat.

Gabriel wrapped his arms around his Top's neck and kissed him soundly.  "I love being with you, Ez, you know that. And we've been enjoying nature, every day, hiking, fishing, cloud watching. It's been fun, but I just need a change of scenery, just for a little while. Please? Even a storm to watch and listen to would be nice... the rain on the roof, the lightning flashing... but we haven't even had one of those. And a real bathroom. Water that we don't have to pump into buckets, heat up and carry to the bath basin. One night, Ez. That's all I'm asking for."

Ezra raised an eyebrow. "You're just going through technology withdrawals. If you want a change of scenery, we can hike up to the lake and fish there instead. The weather has been great and the leaves are beautiful. We can even make it an overnight trip and make a campfire. Or, I know a good way to help you get through those cravings." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Gabe practically jumped on Ezra. "Sounds good to me. Want me to put on my chaps?" he joked.

Ezra grinned. "Your bare bottom looks very sexy in chaps... put them on my boy."

Gabe ran into the bedroom, opened the closet and took out his fringed vest, chaps and cowboy hat. He stripped naked and put the costume on hurriedly, then returned to Ezra, slinking around the corner between the living room and bedroom, putting on a show that his husband would never forget.

Ezra's grey eyes opened wide and he leaned back to watch the show, sitting on a nineteenth century style chair as he watched his lover. He shone with desire as he observed his brat.

Gabe 'galloped' in slow motion over to his husband and straddled his legs, leaning down for a deep kiss.

Ezra obliged and returned the kiss ardently.

Gabe pretended to twirl a lasso and 'caught' Ezra by the neck, slid backward off his lap, and mimed pulling his husband up and into the bedroom where they wore each other out.

Ezra had lightly swatted his boy's bottom turning it a light pink and after having sated themselves and worn to a frazzle by their activity fell asleep with Gabe cuddled in his arms.

Just after eleven-thirty Gabe was awakened by a gnawing feeling in his stomach, which growled loudly. He lifted his head to see if he'd woken Ezra, but his husband slumbered on, snoring lightly.  The slightly younger man disentangled himself from his lover's arms, picked up his discarded clothing from earlier and crept into the living room where he changed quietly.  He poked his head back into the bedroom to make sure Ezra was still sound asleep, and finding him zonked out but good, he sneaked out the door. Carefully putting the ATV into neutral, he pushed it down the slight incline of the driveway until he was about three-fourths the way down it before he started the engine and headed for the resort.

<<<<>>>>  

Ryan O'Donnell was on duty, patrolling while Duke kept an eye on things in the office until his shift ended. It had been a pretty quiet night and he was looking forward to taking his break at the lodge bar like he usually did. He knew although the bar closed at two o’clock Jake wouldn’t leave until all the patrons were gone and would be waiting for Duke to come when his shift ended at three o’clock so they could go to their home together. He would be there when Ryan arrived as usual and would have a cold drink for him.

Gabe had been sitting at the bar for at least an hour and a half. He'd devoured two plates of ribs and was working through his second helping of fried potatoes, washing the bites down with liberal doses of beer. He had arrived close to last call for alcohol at one o’clock so he had made sure to order a couple of beers to take him through his meal. It was time for the bar to close shortly after 2 a.m. when he saw the young security officer walk in. He grinned and said in a loud voice, "Hey, Barkeep, since when do you let a twelve-year old kid wander around in the wee hours of the morning? Call his daddy and have him pick the kid up."

Jake raised his eyebrows. "Gabe, you know Ryan. And you know he's not twelve. The bar is closed now. How about I wrap up the last of that meal for you and you head back home."

"Head back? Why? Because some punk Rent-a-Cop walked in?"

  

"Gabe," Jake began, “our security officers are not Rent-a-Cops, and even if they were they're here for your safety as well as everyone else on the resort, and deserve some respect.”

Gabe made a derisive noise and leaned back, looking at Ryan with slitted eyes.

Ryan had just walked up to the bar and scowled at the man who had just made a derogatory remark to him. "Hi Jake, get me a root beer would you please?" he asked. He turned toward the other man, holding his anger at bay. "Maybe you've had a few too many Gabe, I can drive you back to your cabin."

"I ain't takin' a ride from some little twelve-year old pretending to be a cop. I can drive just fine, little boy," replied the older man. He'd never had respect for anyone younger than him in any position of authority because in his opinion they didn't know how to handle it. He'd had younger bosses in the past and all of them had been mini dictators.  "Just drink your root beer, kid, and go on home to your mommy."

"Gabe, that's enough," Jake said in a warning tone.

Ryan's green eyes flashed. "You think I'm a little boy?" He went up to Gabe and got in his face. "I'll have you know I graduated at the top of my class at the police academy and I know how to handle drunks like you!"

"I," Gabe stressed, "am not drunk, kid.  It takes more than a couple of beers to get me in my cups... unlike some people I've heard of," he continued with a smirk.  "And from what I hear you and your instructor, Coral right? are an item now.  So, I'm wondering just how you managed to graduate at the top of your class, child?"

Ryan, furious, grabbed the front of his shirt. "I'd shut your trap if you know what's good for you before I shut it for you!"

When Ryan saw Jake coming around from behind the bar he let go of Gabe, but glared at the other brat intensely.

"No Rent-a-Cop is going to do anything to me," Gabe replied angrily, brushing his shirt off as though Ryan had made it dirty somehow.

"Duke and Coral are on their way," Pete said to Jake in an urgent tone.

  

"Thanks, Pete. Now, the two of you, settle down, understand? Gabe, you're on coffee until Duke gets here. Maybe a beer and a half isn't enough to make you drunk but you're acting like one.  Ry, have a seat over at the other side of the bar, I'll get you that root beer, ok?"

" 'Kay," Ryan replied.  

He was just about to sit down when Gabe mimicked 'Kay', in a nasty tone.

"Back off, Gabe," Ryan said through clenched teeth.

  

"Shut the front door!" Gabe laughed, looking at Ryan.

  

Ryan glared at Gabe. He went over to the door and shut it. "Don't know why you'd want me to shut the door, but I'm happy to oblige," Ryan said sarcastically.

"And this is a shining example of our fearless Rent-a-Cops," Gabe scoffed.

"Sit. Quietly. Now," Jake ordered, glaring at Gabe, prepared to intervene if necessary.  

Gabe refused to sit and instead stepped closer to Ryan until they were nearly toe to toe.

Ryan had had enough of Gabe. "You're nothin' but a trouble maker. I'm goin' to ask James to ban you from ever comin' back here!"

"Ry!" Jake said in a tone of command.  "Have a seat. Duke and Cor are both on the way. Just keep your cool. C'mon," he said as he tried to steer Ryan to one of the stools at the other end of the bar.

"That's right, little baby, let your nanny take care of you," Gabe sneered as he approached Ryan in a threatening manner, fists clenched, ready for a fight.

<<<<>>>>  

Ezra jumped when he heard the radio in the cabin crackle to life. He couldn't help but notice that his Brat was not in the bed with him and hoped that he'd only gone to the outhouse. "This is Ezra," he answered the call, his stomach knotting with worry.

"Ezra, it's Pete from the resort lodge bar. I called Duke and Coral both. Gabe is here and he picked a fight with Ry."

Ezra growled, "He did? Is he alright? Is Ryan alright? What can I do to help?"

"Nothing at this time, Ezra, but Duke and Coral both are on their way. One of them will bring Gabe back home to you once things have calmed down. I just wanted to let you know where Gabe is, and that he's safe."

"Alright, Pete. Thank you. Ezra out."

With nothing else he could do at the moment, Ezra added wood to the fire, thinking of the fire he was going to light under Gabriel when he got his hands on him.

<<<<>>>>  

Ryan pulled away from Jake and glared at the other man, facing him fearlessly. He wasn’t one to walk away from a fight. 

Gabe reached the young security guard, placed his hand in the center of Ryan's chest and shoved.  He and Ryan were about the same height and weight, and the older man was sure he could take the young man in an honest fight. Even a dishonest one as he had always been a scrapper, and didn't mind fighting dirty when the need arose. "You just go sit down and drink your sodie pop like you were told, kid," he said snidely. He shoved Ryan again, this time a little harder, causing the young security guard to lose his balance slightly. "Now be a good little boy or you're gonna get a spankin' when you get home."

Worried that a full-fledged fight was about to erupt, Jake began to step forward to get between them and keep the two men apart. 

Fire burned in Ryan’s eyes. He ignored Jake, and in two quick moves had the other man in an incapacitating hold. "Who's the baby now? You oughta be glad I'm on duty right now or I'd mop the floor up with you!" the younger man said fiercely.

Gabe's eyes bulged in surprise and his mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.  His arms were trapped but he still tried to elbow Ryan in the ribs.  The young man was too well trained to allow the feeble attempt to make contact. Gabe tried to wriggle free, but Ryan had a firm grip on him and Gabe found that he was pinned for good and all.

<<<<>>>>  

Duke left the office after receiving the call from Pete about a disturbance at the bar in the lodge. He was almost finished with his shift. He usually went to meet Jake when they were both off. He frowned to find the door between the restaurant and bar shut. They never shut that door. He opened it and walked inside and shook his head as he saw Gabe and Ryan fighting. Or rather, he found Gabriel trying to fight his way out of the body lock that Ry had him in.

"You two break it up now," he said in an authoritative voice.

Ryan glared at Duke. "Not until he promises to stop bein' rude and shovin' me around."

Duke arched an eyebrow. "Gabriel, were you shovin' Ryan? If so it had better stop right now," Duke said sternly, in security officer mode.

Gabe gasped and tried to kick the young security officer in the shins with his heel but missed.  "He's roughing me up!" he squeaked. "Get 'im off me! I'm a guest 'ere! 'e can't treat a guest like this!"

Ryan growled, "Then act like a guest and stop harrassin' the security officers!"

Duke knew that if he took action that Ryan would be embarrassed in front of the gawkers, so he allowed Ryan to continue to handle the situation as he was the officer on duty.

Just moments later, Coral came in, calm and collected as he took in the situation.  He stood beside Duke and leaned against the bar with his arms crossed and raised an eyebrow at his boss and friend. "Think we should help him?" he asked casually.

Duke shook his head. "Ry's doin' all right."

Coral chuckled. "I know Ry can handle him, I was talking about Gabe. One more minute and I think he's gonna wet his pants," he whispered with a grin.

Duke shot Coral a grin in return.

Ryan asked Gabe, "You gonna behave now?"

"Get offa me, kid!" Gabe said in a strangled voice.

The young security officer shook his head. "Not until you promise to be good."

  

Gabe could feel his face reddening in anger at being spoken to like that by a mere boy.  "Oh yeah, I'll be good," he replied.

  

Ryan may have missed the tone in Gabe's voice, but Coral heard it loud and clear. Before he had a chance to say a word, all hell broke loose.

Ryan began to release Gabe and in an instant a punch came seemingly out of nowhere and landed in the young security guard's face. Angered by the pain he flew at Gabe with all he had, punching as hard as he could and as fast as he could manage.

  

Ry forced Gabe backward by his onslaught, knocking over bar stools in the process. Gabe tripped over one of the downed stools and ended up on the floor.

  

It took both Jake and Coral to pull Ryan off of Gabe, who laid there, stunned and wide eyed as he held a hand to his nose to staunch the blood that was trickling from it.  "He... he hit me!" Gabe gasped.  "He hit me!"

  

"You assaulted a security guard," Jake said angrily. "And you began verbally attacking him as soon as he walked into the bar." 

  

Duke went over and helped Gabe up and said, "What did you expect when you hit him first?" 

Ryan was struggling against Coral. "Lemme go!" he cried, not finished with Gabe.

Jake disappeared and returned with a damp, ice filled bar cloth and put it on Gabe's nose and mouth. He righted a bar stool, and forcibly put the injured man on it to keep him still.

Coral held onto Ryan and bent down to whisper something into his partner's ear.

Ryan stilled immediately at what Coral said, but continued to shake, the adrenaline still flowing through him.

"You're all on his side!" Gabe began to cry. "You're all against me!"

  

"You've been on Ryan's back since he walked in here, Gabe," Pete said angrily. "As far as I saw it was self-defense."

Coral looked down at his somewhat calmer partner and looked him over for injuries.  His nose and cheek were a little puffy but Coral was grateful to see that it wasn't much worse than that.  Pete came over with another damp, ice filled cloth for Ryan to put on his injury.

The young security man took the cloth from Pete with shaking hands and placed it on his face and said, "Thanks Pete."

"Yes, thank you Pete," came a disgruntled voice from the back of the crowd. "I want to check you both out before you go anywhere."

Everyone turned to see a not very happy Heath, bag in hand.  The crowd parted magically, allowing the doctor, who had only just gotten to bed an hour or so before and having received a call from Pete about Ryan and Gabe fighting, to approach his patients.  He did a quick but thorough check of the two injured men involved and declared them in good condition other than a few bruises. Gabe had red marks on his ribs obviously caused by Ry's punches, but he couldn't find any indications that the IT Tech was going to have more than a few sore spots the next morning.

"Your nose and cheeks might swell and discolor a bit," he warned Gabe, "but otherwise you're in one piece. I'd keep that ice pack twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off, and take Motrin if you feel any pain or discomfort."

Gabe gave Heath a somewhat embarrassed look that the doctor had no problem deciphering. He gave the man a wry smile and then turned to check out Ryan who looked tousled but otherwise in much better condition. 

"A little bruising on the knuckles, and his face will be a little tender. Looks like Gabe didn't land more than a glancing blow," he assured Coral who hovered nearby while Duke took statements from the witnesses.

All of the onlookers had the same thing to say. That Gabe had instigated the confrontation, and that Jake had tried to break it up several times. None of them believed that Gabe had been drunk or incapacitated in any way, and that Ryan had only been defending himself when Coral and Duke had walked in. 

Duke put his large hands on Gabe's shoulders. "I'll take you back up to your partner and let him know what's been goin' on here."

Jake went back behind the bar and poured Ryan an extra-large chilled mug of root beer with a straw.  "You just sit and relax now, Ry. It's all over," he said in a soothing tone.

  

Coral sat beside Ryan and wrapped his arms around his partner's shoulders.  "I love you, Hon. It's ok now."

Gabe began to tremble but it had nothing to do with anger at this point.  He allowed himself to be led out by Duke.

  

"Pete, you go with Duke, will you? He's going to need a ride back."

  

"Sure thing, Jake," Pete replied, giving Gabe one last unfriendly look.

Duke escorted Gabe out to the ATV he had driven down to the lodge and watched as Pete got into another one so Duke would be able to ride back. He had asked Jake to call Ezra on the radio to let him know they were on their way.

<<<<>>>> 

Once Gabe was gone, Coral wrapped his lover into a warm, hard hug.  

Ryan looked up at Coral and snuggled into him. "I wanna real beer Coral," he whispered.

"You don't need a real beer, Hon. Remember, I told you the worst time to drink is when you're upset.  Let's go patrol while Duke takes care of Gabriel.  And don't worry. I know that Ezra will have a few things to say to him when he gets back."

Ryan said, "You gotta get up to work the early shift tomorrow, you need your sleep Coral. I'll finish this root beer and then head out." He told his lover with a little sigh, "I'm not a baby."

Coral smiled gently down at his lover. "No, you're not a baby. I'd say you're something more along the lines of the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog*. I think that not only Gabe, but a lot of those onlookers will think twice before trying to cross you."

Ryan couldn't help but grin, even if it did hurt his face a bit. "I'll be all right, Cor, I'm not a kid despite what some people may think."

Coral leaned down with a grin and planted a gentle kiss on Ryan's cheek.  "They underestimated the rabbit too, and look what happened to them," he laughed softly.  "Will you be ok to finish your rounds then, Hon?"

The younger man nodded. “I’ll be all right Cor.” He then gave his lover a puzzled look. "I don't understand though why Gabe told me to shut the door...the front door. I shut the door, but he didn't seem pleased, it seemed to make him act worse," Ryan told his fiancé.

"He said what?" Coral asked, confused.

Ryan said, "He told me to shut the front door."

Coral's skin reddened just a bit at the thought that someone had been messing with his boy's head.  "It's a silly way of saying, 'Shut up', if I understand correctly," Coral replied.  "It's supposed to be more... polite, funny even... but I'd say that Gabe was far from polite tonight.  Don't let him worry you, Hon." 

The young man blushed as his partner explained things. “’Kay, but I wish I wasn’t so stupid about things sometimes,” he told the older man. “You’re right though, Gabe wasn’t bein’ very polite. I wonder what got into him that he felt that he had to pick a fight with me?” he said out loud. “I didn’t do anythin’ to him as far as I know.”

Coral stopped and thought a moment. "I don't know, Angel, but believe me, I'll check on it tomorrow afternoon when I get off work. His actions and words were unwarranted, and I'm sure James will want to have a chat with him as well."

Jake, who had begun clean up in preparation for closing, shook his head thoughtfully.  "Gabe has told me things in the past. Just venting, you know? But I never thought he'd unleash on Ryan like that.  He hadn't had much to drink. Granted he chugged the first one down pretty fast, but he was nursing the second one and he didn't appear drunk in any way shape or form, or I'd have cut him off."

  

Ryan nodded. "I hope whatever it is he gets over it." He kept the ice on his nose and cheek and sipped on his root beer.

"Ezra will make sure that whatever it was will be resolved... soon," Coral assured his lover. "Jake, was there any indication that Gabe had any hostility toward Ryan before that you noticed?"

  

"No, nothing. Ezra and Gabe usually stick close to the cabin and only come into the resort proper to buy more groceries. This came as a total surprise to me," Jake replied.

Ryan leaned into Coral as he continued to sip on his drink and held the cold compress on his face. He'd have to leave to go on patrol again soon.

The younger man said, "I've never had any problems with Gabe before, although I don't know him very well.  I had only had occasional contact with him when I was workin' part time," he told the men.

"Alright, Hon, we'll get this worked out tomorrow. I'll go with you for the last part, and we can go home together, if you like. Not," he stressed, "because I think you're a baby or incapable, but because I care for you, and I'm worried about you.  Not only that, but you need to file your report on the incident."

Ryan turned a bit pink in the face, a bit guilty and knowing he’d have to put this into his report. "I did grab him by the shirt front though," he admitted reluctantly.

"Was that before or after he attacked you?" Coral asked, keeping his tone neutral.

The young security officer said, "After he verbally attacked me, but before he shoved me, and when I saw Jake comin' over I let go of him," he admitted.

"Well, it sounds like you were provoked, Ry. I'm not condoning laying hands on him in anger, but after that, when he physically attacked you, you were within your rights to defend yourself and as security, had the right to restrain him in any way you saw fit.  I'm sure Duke will see it that way as well, once he gets the whole story.  Come on, Hon, let's get to the office and you can file your report."

"Cor," Jake said hesitantly, "Gabe kept calling Ryan a Rent-a-Cop, and implied that the only reason he'd graduated at the top of his class was because you and he..."

Coral's eyebrows furrowed in a deep frown and his lips pressed together in anger.

  

"We all know that you and he didn't...  that you weren't... you know," Jake said, blushing a little. "And I'm sure he knows it too. He was just saying anything he could to get a rise out of Ryan."

"We'll get him straightened out tomorrow, if Ezra doesn't see to him tonight," Coral replied tightly. "Ry," he continued, his tone softening considerably as he looked at his partner with love and concern, "are you ready to go?"

Ryan sighed at the mention of filing reports, not his favorite thing. He bit his lip for a moment and then said, "But you need to report for your own shift at eight o'clock and I don't get off until seven."

Coral sighed. He'd often reminded Ryan that he wasn't to work doubles unless it was an emergency, and to get as much rest as he could between shifts. He knew that he couldn't ignore his own advice, especially where Ryan was concerned.

"Ok, Hon. I'm headed back home as long as you're alright."

"I'm about ready to get back to work. I'll be all right. Besides, Duke won't be back for a while since he and Pete took Gabe back to Ezra."

Coral gently removed the ice pack from Ryan's face and looked closely at his lover. "I'll go home, Hon, but if there are any other problems I want you to call me immediately, understand?"

Ryan smiled at Coral. “I'll make sure to do that," he told him, laying the cold compress on the bar. "I'll go to the office now and fill out the reports and finish patrollin' if there's time. Harry will be there by six and can cover the patrol until it's time for me to leave."

The older man couldn't resist giving his partner a last, enduring hug and a gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm just a phone call away. Remember that," he said as he stood up to leave.

Ryan said, "Yes Cor, just a phone call away." He held up his cell phone to show him he understood. He got up to head for the security office to do his work.

Coral walked Ryan as far as the office and then headed toward their home.  He knew Ryan was more than capable of taking care of himself, but he hated it when his partner was hurt in any way.  He felt the anger he'd been suppressing surging up again. He wanted very badly to go to Ezra and Gabe tonight but knew it was too late. Sighing in frustration he arrived at their bungalow and laid down on the couch, radio and cell phone beside him on the coffee table so that he'd hear them if Ryan called. Despite himself, he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

<<<<>>>>  

Duke drove along the path that would take him to cabin number two where Ezra and Gabe were staying. He glanced back to see Pete following. "Gabe, I've not known you to act like that before...what's got into you? You've known Ryan, even though you may not have had much contact with him before. He's been hired in full time since you and Ezra were last here."

"He's a kid. He has no business being in charge of anything, let alone security late at night. Heck, he shouldn't even be a guard during the day. I see the way he saunters around, like he's king of the hill.  He's nothing but a brat, just like me, and brats plus authority just don't mix in my book," Gabe said, anger clear in his tone.

Duke looked at Gabe. "I'm sorry you feel that way Gabe. Would you think I shouldn't be in a position of authority either? Since you were last here I have come to terms with the fact that I too am gay and I also am a brat."

Gabe's eyes widened in surprise.  "You? You can't be! You're older than I am. How can you be a brat? And if you are a brat what are you doing in charge of anything?  Yeah, you were a Marine at one point, but now you and the others are just Rent-a-Cops.  My, how the mighty have fallen," he continued bitterly. "So, tell me, are all of you Rent-a-Cops brats?  I'm gonna have to talk to James about that."

Duke's grey eyes flickered and he clenched his jaw. "You'd be surprised just how capable brats are and they are in positions of authority, even decorated soldiers.  I don't feel like I've fallen. I feel complete now that I know and understand things I've been strugglin' with for years. It's a relief.  I'm not sure what's got your feathers ruffled, but I sure hope you can work it out with Ezra. All of us in security are not brats, but when it comes to law enforcement we're all equal. You may call us Rent-a-Cops, but you sure didn't look too happy when Ry had you in that hold.  You looked relieved to see me and then Coral arrive to come to your rescue."

Gabe took the time to chew on that information, and he didn't like the taste.  He resented fellow brats giving him orders, and he resented the idea that these people had been put into a position of authority.  He planned to talk to James in the morning, providing that Ezra allowed him to speak to anyone, about the imbalance of authority in the security department.

Duke drove up to the cabin and pulled up to the door, then got out and helped Gabe out as well. Pete drove up behind Duke.

Pete looked at Duke and whispered, "Do you need me to go in and tell Ezra what happened?"  He was always happy to help Duke but he didn't want the wrath of Gabriel to descend on him during the rest of their stay. He was a big guy, but didn't like fighting if it was avoidable, preferring to use his words as his father had taught him.

Duke looked at the other man and responded to his question. "Not if you don't want to. Just stay near though."

Pete smiled in relief. He didn't want to be in the middle of the fracas and gladly slipped back into the front seat of the ATV.

Ezra, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his brat, hearing the sound of vehicles approaching went to the door as they pulled up and opened it. He watched as Gabe shook Duke off and shook his head. He had a very stern look on his face. "Why don't we all go inside and we can talk about what went on at the lodge."

Ezra followed close as his brat took a seat at the kitchen table. He said, "Duke, why don't you take a seat so we can discuss things."

Duke came into the kitchen and seated himself.

Ezra busied himself at the wood stove and poured hot chocolate, something he knew would calm his brat and that he had made while waiting for them to arrive. He looked at the bruised nose and got an ice pick and chipped some ice from the ice box, putting it into a cloth and placing it gently on Gabe's nose. "Keep this on that bruise Gabe and tell me what happened," he stated calmly.

"That Rent-a-Cop, Ryan, the kid, punched me in the nose," Gabe related angrily.

  

Duke arched an eyebrow. "Maybe you'd like to tell your husband why he did that?"

Ezra gave Duke a look, but said gently, "Tell me how that happened, Gabe."

Gabe shifted nervously.  "It was just the way he walked in, like he owned the place.  The way he spoke to Jake, like he just expected to be waited on hand and foot, maybe his butt kissed a little while he was at it. I just... felt like his ego needed to be deflated a bit, along with his big head."

Duke looked at Gabe amazed. "Ryan isn't like that at all. It was closin' time when I got a call that there was a disturbance and when I walked in Ry had Gabe in a body hold."

Ezra raised an eyebrow at Duke's description and gave Gabe a stern look. "Look, Babe, I know you have had bad experiences with younger men in authority. Did you take any time to talk to Ryan before you started making judgments?" 

"What was to talk about, Ez? You know what they're like. He's a kid. He should have stayed part time. No kid that age should be given any kind of authority, they don't know how to handle it. And you had to hear the way he was talking to me, Ez! He threatened me! Just because he's one of those Rent-a-Cops he felt he had the right to threaten me.  If he'd just been another guy I could have decked him, but because he hides behind that uniform, he thinks he can get away with anything he wants.  He grabbed me!"

Ezra pulled Gabe into a hug. "I don't condone what you did Gabe, but it doesn't sound like Ryan acted very professional when he made threats and grabbed you."

"That will be addressed with Ryan as well," Duke said quietly, "From the report I received, Ezra, our security officer walked into the bar and Gabe started on him. He apparently already had a beer and a half and all the officer did was to come into the bar for his lunch break and order a root beer. I understand Ryan only grabbed him after Gabe threw out some very derogatory and insulting remarks to the young man. According to our bartender Jake, Ry released him when he approached and Gabe here continued to hurl insults. The young security officer did make threatenin' remarks, but only after Gabriel here started it."

Giving Gabe a pointed look, Duke said in an authoritative voice, "Calling us Rent-a-Cops won't gain you favors with any of the security officers here, who are fully trained police officers by the way. And Ryan's professionalism will be addressed with him as well."

Ezra nodded and again gave his boy a stern look. "You and I have talked about respectful behavior before Gabriel haven't we? Even now you are not being very respectful," he pointed out.

Gabe knew he was guilty of many things this night, and he was at a loss for words. He was the first to admit that he had problems with authority figures. Ezra was the first man he'd met in charge of people who had treated the employees under him with respect, which was one of the first things Gabe had fallen in love with.  He was unwilling to say anything more and clamped his lips tight, turned his head and crossed his arms.

Ezra recognized his husband shutting down. He squeezed his shoulder gently and then with his other hand touched the ice pack he had prepared for the bruise on Gabe's nose and mouth and asked gently, "Tell me how this happened Gabe."

Gabe told the story from his point of view, owning only a small amount of the blame and making Ryan out to be the bad guy.  He knew that Duke hadn't been there for the whole thing and couldn't know what had happened exactly.  He completely forgot that Pete was in the ATV, and that he had indeed, seen and heard everything.  "So, then he attacked me and punched me on the nose," Gabe finished finally.

Duke raised an eyebrow. "It's not the way I heard it. I'll be back in a minute. Pete was there and I'm sure he can verify if this version is the correct one." He got up to go outside.

"That's not fair!" Gabe said fearfully.  "Pete is Ryan's friend. Of course, he's going to stick up for him!"

Duke shook his head at the way Gabe was trying to blame everyone else but himself for the situation he found himself in and went out to the ATV. "Pete, I need for you to come inside and explain to Ezra what happened before I arrived with Coral."

Pete took a deep breath, unfolded his 6 foot, 250-pound frame out of the ATV and followed Duke into the cabin. He looked bashfully at Ezra and avoided eye contact with Gabe altogether.

  

"See! He's gonna take Ryan's side! I know it!" Gabe said loudly as his nerves began to take over.  "I told you, they're friends!"

  

"Me 'n Ry aren't friends," Pete said quietly.  "I mean, we're friendly, but we don't hang out together unless it's a resort event, y' know?"

  

Gabe glared at Pete who glanced sideways at the other man then returned his gaze to Ezra and began to relay the events he'd seen firsthand.  "I'm sorry, Gabe, really," he continued in his usual quiet way, "but the truth's the truth. An' Ry didn't do anything to you til you started up with him."  He looked at Duke, hoping that the other man would tell him he could go back to the vehicle and wait for him. When no such words were spoken, Pete trained his gaze on the ground and stuffed his fingers into the side pockets of his jeans.

Ezra sighed as he heard the story from Pete with Duke making a few additions. "I'm sorry this happened gentlemen. I'll talk to Gabe about things and it won't be happening again." He gave Gabe a significant look.

Gabe blushed deeply but kept his head down. He knew he was in the wrong and he knew that Ezra was going to make sure he knew that before the night was through.

Duke nodded. "Thanks Ezra and you can be assured I'll be talkin' to Ryan." He looked at Pete, "It's time for us to be gettin' back."

Pete looked gratefully at Duke and sidled out of the cabin, glad that Ezra hadn't asked him any more questions. He hated to get a fellow Brat in trouble, but he knew that if he'd lied his Top would have taken it out of his hide in one way or another.  He quickly got back into the passenger side of the ATV since he knew Duke would want to drive.

As Duke and Pete left the cabin, a radio call came in from James who asked if Duke would meet him and Jeff at the office to discuss the situation. With a sigh, Duke drove the forty-five minutes back and dropped Pete off.

Pete had crossed his arms over his chest and remained silent on the way back to his bungalow where his worried Top awaited him with hugs and kisses, wrapping an arm around him as he led his lover into their home.

Duke seeing Pete safely to his Top, turned the ATV and made his way to James's office.

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The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog is from Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975