Title: Another Day at the Park Author: Amara Pairing: ChipandBrad Rating: PG Summary: Even if you try getting away from something you can find something else. A/N: This is the Valentine’s Day fic I wrote for MissMissy on LJ. Another Day at the Park He had told Chip to meet him at the park. It was 1:30, the exact time he was supposed to have been there but Chip was stuck in traffic, behind a little old man in a hat. Everyone else zipped by not leaving him any room to move around. Chip grumbled about people who shouldn’t drive after they hit the age of 70. “What took so long, man?” Brad asked him 20 minutes later. They were walking out of the graveled parking lot and onto the springy grass of the lawn. He had been patiently sitting on a bench, waiting for Chip at the park. Every couple of minutes Brad would pull out his cell phone and check the time or flip through the phone book on it and ponder over the thought of calling his friend. But he would put it away and give Chip a couple more minutes. Chip looked over the park area, at the scattered trees, the small picnics set up, the children’s playground in the back. “Some old guy was in front of me, actually.” The other man laughed. “You know, those DMV people shouldn’t give out licenses to folks over the age of 75.” “I know! That’s what I was thinking.” Chip laughed too. “So, what are we gonna be doing today?” He looked around the park, thinking of different reasons that Brad might have wanted to meet there. Brad shoved his hands into his pockets and looked sideways at Chip. “I just thought you might like to eat out today. Since it’s so nice out.” And it was nice out. It was great weather, actually. Being the middle of April, the sun shone high in the sky just starting it’s decent. A stray fluff of a cloud skirted the horizon, being pulled along by a warm breeze from the south, no doubt. It was an absolutely perfect day. Chip scrunched his eyebrows together and sucked in his lower lip, giving his best puzzled expression. “Just the two of us?” “Yeah, why not?” Brad asked. “Just the two of us! We can make it if we try!” he sang out. Chip’s mouth split into a smile. “Fine. Just stop singing!” He laughed and scanned the park again. “Where are we eating? I don’t see any restaurants.” “Oh, um, we’re eating here.” Brad pointed at the blanket they were nearing. It had a basket with plates and plastic containers set up and spread out. It sat under a large maple tree; it’s leaves casting wide shadows as the sun filtered through. Chip stared for a minute, his eyebrows raised and his mouth open with a slight smile tugging at the corners. “How nice.” He turned a warm smile to Brad after his initial surprise. “I haven’t been on a picnic in a long time. Thanks Brad.” He sat down on the blanket, Brad following. He took two water bottles out of the basket and handed one to Chip. “It sounded like you’ve been having a hectic schedule, lately. I figured you needed a break.” “Yeah, I have.” Chip took the bottle, leaning back against the tree trunk. He looked over the various colored Tupperware containers on the red blanket. Brad was setting about opening them and dishing out food on the plastic plates. There was shredded pork and baked beans with cole slaw and a couple of rolls. Brad was opening another container with hush puppies in it and Chip’s mouth was watering. With all the food out Brad handed Chip his plate with a pile of food on it. “Thanks,” he said and took up a fork. “This looks good. Did you make it?” “Not really,” Brad smiled sheepishly. “Actually, I got Colin to help me make it. I got to stir the baked beans.” He got his own fork and started eating from his plate. Chip dug into his food and almost melted at how great it was. He peered over at Brad and saw the same elated look on his face, eating up everything on his plate. They sat in amicable silence finishing off the contents of the Tupperware containers and watching the pedestrians and cyclists and skaters meander around the park. It was about 2:30, the two guys laying back on the blanket resting and waiting for their food to digest. Brad looked over at Chip laying next to him, only moving his head a little but taking in his friend’s profile. Chip was younger then Brad by a couple of years and he had so much more energy. His expression now was peaceful and content; the same way Brad was feeling. Brad had been wanting to do something for his friend for a while but Chip never had the time. Always busy with work and his family and other stuff that Brad didn’t really understand. But Brad had finally gotten Chip away from it all and they were spending some time together. Brad sat up, stretched, and looked around the park. It was a very open place with a lot of room to run around. A large path circled the area but too many people were currently using it. He looked down at Chip who seemed to be dozing. “Hey Chip,” Brad poked his in the shoulder. “You awake?” Chip grunted, “I am now.” He rolled his head over to look at Brad, but was smiling. “What?” Brad jumped to his feet, pausing for a moment, “You’re It!” and ran a couple of yards before turning back around. Chip laughed, “What?!” But he, too, got to his feet and started running after Brad. The older man wasn’t surprised at how fast Chip was gaining on him. So, he sped up and weaved through the sparse trees and around trees and the poor pedestrians, trying not to run over anybody else’s picnic. Brad didn’t look behind him; he new Chip wasn’t that far after but slowed down anyway. He felt a light touch of Chip’s fingers grazing the back of his shirt and heard him call that Brad was now It. Brad turned, with a jovial smile, and raced after Chip. His heart was pounding in his chest and his feet flew over the ground, picking up speed after the smaller man. He kept his eyes trained on Chip’s back, the rest of the world a blur, and could hear him laughing. Chip was running back to their picnic blanket, hiding behind the tree and peering out as Brad came closer. Brad put his hands to the other side of the tree and waited a moment, trying to predict Chip’s next move or if he would do anything at all. He shifted one foot over and the other, creeping to where Chip was. Thankfully the tree trunk was wide so Brad saw Chip’s elbow sticking out before he saw Brad. He could hear the younger man’s heavy breathing and tried to cover up his own. He slowly reached out. His fingers were inches away from Chip’s arm. He tried to think of what he was going to do. Chip shuffled his feet, making his elbow move a little. Brad grabbed at Chip’s arm, heard a yelp, and pulled him down to the ground. They tumbled onto the blanket, Brad pinning Chip under him, breathing heavily into each other’s faces. “I got ya!” Brad announced triumphantly. They both laughed for a minute. But then the silence descended in an uncomfortable way. “Um,” Chip placed a hand on Brad’s shoulder. “Could you get off me?” “Oh,” Brad moved off of Chip, a blush racing over his cheeks. “Sorry.” “It’s ok. I’m really glad I came out here today.” Chip looked over at the older man. He put a warm hand on Brad’s knee. “Thanks.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ * End Happy Valentine’s Day!