Title: Tag Author: Cae Pairing(s): Clive/Tony, Greg/Ryan, Past Ryan/Colin, possible future Ryan/Colin/Greg, Jeff/Chip. Rating: Pg-13ish Summary: A day in the life. Disclaimer: The plot (*snort*) is mine, everyone else belongs to themselves. Notes: This started off as a ficlet. Oy! A big ole Thank you to Melody for the beta :) "I'm actually lost Tony" the slight, balding man huffed into his mobile phone; his sharp British accent standing out thickly in the constantly moving crowd. He listened mutely to the reply, absently reaching into the pocket of his khaki slacks and bringing out a handkerchief to mop his brow. Clive Anderson was most definitely not used to this humid weather and his body was protesting vehemently at being out in it so long. "Well I spent quite a lot of time just staring at the Golden Gate Bridge."....."Don't laugh! That thing's huge!" he squeaked. Clive walked a little further, involuntarily smiling as his lover laughed affectionately at him over the phone. "I'm not asking for directions! I'm British! I'll get mugged or something....will you kindly stop laughing at me and help me here?" Realising he was getting nowhere with his plea, as Tony seemed intent on milking the hilarity of his helplessness for all it was worth, Clive decided on a different tactic. "Look, I haven't seen you in a year, I've travelled half-way across the country to be with you and I just want to get to you quickly...hold you...I've missed you." That did it. Clive's sharp features broke out into a decidedly evil smile at the chagrined apology being babbled over the line. "Where am I? I'm....well, there are a lot of shops." He rolled his eyes at the sighing "well that narrows it down" response. "Bugger it, I'm going to ask somebody" Clive decided, spying a couple of relatively non-threatening men looking in the window of a jewellery store. "Excuse me?" he puffed, wishing he'd bought some water...or maybe a ventilator. The shorter of the couple turned to him, blue eyes sparkling at him through a pair of black-rimmed spectacles. "Yeah?" "I'm hopelessly lost and need to get to Jackson Street. Would it be possible...?" "Dude" the other man cut in, "you are so far from there. You're gonna need a cab." "Is there a taxi rank near?" "Hold on" the taller of the two smiled. He walked to the curb and leaned out for a few seconds. "You're British yeah?" "Yes" Clive chuckled, relaxing slightly at the shark-like, but very pleasant answering grin. "What gave it away?" "Must be the 'Rule Britannia' tattoo on your forehead" the man winked. "I'm Greg, by the way and that tall freak of nature is Ryan." "I'm Clive, nice to meet you." Their short greeting and handshake was interrupted by a loud "HEY!!" from Ryan, who was waving his arm to get the attention of a passing yellow cab. The car pulled up to the kerb and he opened the door for a very grateful Clive. "Thank you so much. You've both saved my sanity" he smiled. "No problem" Ryan replied, closing the cab door. "The British are invading again" Greg muttered as they turned back to the store. "Well if that's the invasion party, I don't think we have anything to worry about." "Not true, we still have to buy my mother a gift" Greg sighed. "Doesn't matter" Ryan shrugged, snaking a long arm around Greg's waist. "Whatever we buy she'll hate and blame me for picking it out." "She doesn't hate you Ryan." "Oh please" the taller man snorted, running his long fingers through his short, sandy hair, "she despises me." "She's only upset 'cause you corrupted her little boy" Greg smirked. "Like you were totally innocent." "According to her I was." "That woman has an uncanny ability to ignore the blatantly obvious." "It’s a trick she learned when my dad started fucking about with her sister." Ryan sighed loudly, slipping his hand from Greg's waist to grasp the other man's smaller fingers. They turned as one to walk further along the street, fingers loosely entwined. "I miss Colin" Greg uttered quietly, glancing idly at the store fronts as they passed. Ryan smiled slightly, squeezing his lover's hand. "I was just thinking that." "Do you ever wish we hadn't...?" Greg began, referring to the awful time three months ago, when Colin had come home early to find his lover, Ryan, in bed with a man he had, up until that point, thought of as his best friend. "No" Ryan replied sadly, "but I wish we'd handled it better." "We shouldn't have run. We should have stayed, at least tried to work it out. "We broke his heart Greg, staying would have made it worse." "We broke our own hearts too." Ryan stopped, uncaring that they were in the middle of a busy street, and gathered the shorter man in his arms. "I'm sorry" he said softly, resting his chin on Greg's head. "Not your fault" came the muffled reply. Greg squeezed him a little tighter, before letting go and stepping back a little. "We both fucked up." "I wanted you both though" Ryan muttered, idly toying with the collar of the other man's blue silk shirt. "Me too" Greg smiled, earning a surprised look from his lover. "I can just imagine the look on your mother's face with that scenario" Ryan chuckled. "She'd spontaneously combust" Greg laughed. As quickly as the brevity came, it left; the mood turning solemn once more. "I love you" Greg said earnestly," and I love what we have. I just wish I hadn't lost my best friend in the process." "I'll tell you what" Ryan smiled, bending slightly to plant a firm, quick kiss on his lover's lips, "let's go find something cheap and cheerful for your mother, then go home and call him. At least we can let him know where we are, even if nothing develops from it." "Yeah?" "Yeah" Ryan nodded. They turned to continue, but were abruptly halted by a speeding figure that crashed headlong into them, knocking Greg flat on his back. "Oh man! I am so sorry!" Greg straightened his glasses and looked up into the brown eyes of the young man who had collided with him. "No worries" he frowned, accepting the hand extended to him. The young man was practically bouncing, apologising once more as helped him up. "Seriously, its okay. No harm done." "Cool...great. Sorry once again man." With that, he nodded briefly at Ryan and Greg, his smile showing an almost blindingly white row of showroom teeth, picked up a large blue duffle bag and skipped off. Mentally berating himself for knocking some poor guy on his ass, Chip Esten broke into a run once more, excitement thrumming through his veins. Six months. Six long, agonising months since he'd seen his lover; and even then it had been too brief. But now he was finally going be with Jeff. After five years of dating, spending barely two of those years in the same country, let alone the same bed, they were going be together. For good this time. As Chip rounded the corner and saw a familiar figure waiting for him, he knew it'd take nothing short of a nuclear explosion to break them apart again. "Jeff!" he called excitedly. Jeff's face broke into a wide smile at the call. He turned, stubbing out his cigarette and opened his arms, just in time to catch Chip who had unceremoniously thrown his bag down and launched himself into his lover's arms, wrapping his legs around Jeff's thin waist. "Whoa!" Jeff chuckled, steadying himself under the onslaught. "Hey you." "I got it baby!" Chip smiled breathlessly, locking his arms around the other man's neck. "They granted me my discharge." "Oh my God! You're kidding me!" "Nope" Chip grinned, staring intently into Jeff's beloved and sorely missed eyes. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me for good now." "I can live with that" Jeff breathed, swooping in to lay a passionate, lingering kiss on his boyfriend's lips. Chip moaned into the embrace, cupping the back of Jeff's head and deepening the kiss. Oh how he'd missed this...how he needed this. A loud, intrusive cough beside them caused the couple to break apart with a slight squelch, making the owner of the cough wince a little. "I'd appreciate it if you guys moved this to somewhere a little more private." Jeff glared at the portly, bespectacled cop, not appreciating the obvious disgust in the man's eyes. "Hey! It doesn't bother me man" the policeman said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture, "but you looked as if you were gonna start disrobing in the street." "Sorry officer" Chip smiled, picking up his bag. He grabbed Jeff's hand and led the still pissed man away. As soon as their backs were turned, Officer Drew Carey's pleasant expression turned dark, his angry gaze fixed on Jeff's back. 'How fucking dare he! He's not my type, but I might make an exception for that prick! If only you knew who I am little boy. What I'm capable of.' His black thoughts accompanied him as he continued his beat. It had been five days since he'd felt the thrill of the chase, the satisfaction of surprise and the ultimate ecstasy of the conclusion. He was craving it like a drug. He needed a fix soon, or he'd lose control like last time; and that wouldn't do at all. He'd been sloppy and consequently, nearly caught. They hadn't managed it though and it was in the papers again the next day. 'Gay Ripper strikes again! Police remain baffled'. "Gay Ripper" Drew sneered. "How fucking original." Truth was, he couldn't give a flying fuck if they were gay/straight/screwing sheep, as long as they were his type. Just because he targeted men, didn't make him gay for fuck's sake. The papers were right about the police being baffled though. They'd even brought in a profiler to help them catch the killer. Drew smirked, remembering that day clearly. He'd been called in, along with all the other cops on his shift, to a meeting where the agent would give them a detailed profile of the guy they were trying to catch. Late thirties to early forties, check; probably a loner, check; of high intelligence, check; believes that people don't appreciate him, wrong there, knows people don't appreciate him. Most likely in a job that makes him feel important, gives him a sense of power; check. After the idiot had finished 'stating the fucking obvious', one of the other guys had joked that it "sounds just like Carey", another answering "except for the part about intelligence." Drew had laughed along with them. Let the monkeys have their fun. The idiots didn't have a clue. Oh how he'd love to see the look on their faces.... He was starting to get antsy now, sweaty palms shaking slightly. He needed his fix. Rounding a corner, Drew spotted a likely candidate struggling to remove a large television from the back of a cab. His mind adjusted immediately to 'stage one' mode; befriend and stalk. Helping a guy take stuff into his house was a fool-proof way gaining his confidence...and his address. "Can I help you with that sir?" Colin Mochrie momentarily paused his war with the TV set and looked up into the kindly face of the rotund police officer leaning over him. "Oh, yes please" he smiled gratefully. "This damn thing's starting to get the better of me." Drew felt the familiar thrill shudder through his body. Oh this one was perfect, a gift from the Gods. It was fate, he decided; if he hadn't have stopped to berate the two queers making out in the street, he'd have passed this building before this one had even arrived. Missing the opportunity completely. He always knew that he was performing a service, that his actions were dictated by a higher power; this just confirmed it. "They can be a nuisance" he smiled sweetly, moving to extract the stubborn object from the car. "New to the neighbourhood?" "Pretty much, yeah. I'm just moving the last of my stuff in, got a job in Loui's" Colin huffed, grabbing the other end of the television. "Loui's eh? I heard they were getting a new chef. You it?" "Yup" Colin puffed as they began their ascent up the staircase. "I start tomorrow." "Nice. I'll have to pay you a visit, I eat there a lot." Colin nodded, smiling briefly at the officer. "Here we are" he stated as they reached his door. There were only two apartments on the second floor, both doors facing each other. He fished the keys out of his pocket and turned the lock, being instantly greeted by a small, sleek bundle of meowing fur. "Hey Oddbot" he grinned, bending down to pick up the little silver tabby cat. Drew eyed the purring animal, smiling affectionately. "Cute cat" he beamed. 'Trophy.' "Well, I'd best be off. No doubt I'll see you around." "Okay" Colin smiled, shaking the officer's hand once more. "Thank you so much for all your help, I really appreciate it." "No problem" Drew returned, revelling in the electricity and anticipation as he treated himself to a lingering gaze into his prey's wide, trusting eyes. "I'll be seeing you." "Well, he was nice eh?" Colin said to his feline companion, when the policeman trotted down the stairs. He put the cat down and hefted the large television set into the lounge. Thankfully that was the last of the bulky stuff, his furniture having been delivered a few hours ago. Desperately needing a fresh start, Colin had been more than grateful when this job opportunity came up. He'd spent the last few months moping and nursing a broken heart after finding out that his best friend and long-time lover had been sleeping together. They'd both up and left after that, not even bothering to let him know where they were going. Sure, they had left a lengthy, apologetic note, but the fact that they were willing to just cut him out of their life, made him wonder if he'd ever meant anything to them at all. That in itself had hurt more than the affair. To him, it was a larger betrayal. "Fuck 'em" he informed Oddbot, who was curling himself around Colin's legs, meowing for some dinner. Circumnavigating the various large boxes littering his living room, Colin made his way to the kitchen. He fished out his beloved coffee pot from one box and set it on the counter, rooting through another for the cat food and bowl. "Here ya go" he smiled, placing the food down for his increasingly frantic pet and opened another box. "Shit" he cursed softly, "I forgot to buy coffee. Okay, I'm gonna go shopping" he told Oddbot, who could care less what Colin did now he had his food. After grabbing his keys and checking his wallet, Colin opened the front door, just as his cell phone rang to life. Sighing, he closed the door and picked up the phone from the couch. "Hello?" For a few seconds there was silence then, just as Colin was contemplating repeating himself, there came a tentative "Col?" The voice was instantly recognisable, even through the tinny echo of his phone, and Colin sat heavily on the couch. "Ryan...what...why are you calling me?" he breathed, running a suddenly sweaty palm over his denim clad leg. "Greg and I..." Colin's heart sank at the terminology. He knew they were together, but hearing it was incredibly painful and something he wasn't ready for. "We...we were talking about you today, about what we did, how much we hurt all of us and..." "All of us?!" Colin interrupted, straightening himself. "How exactly did you both get hurt? Forget the lube?!" "Colin please! Please..." The obvious anguish and second, whispered plea stopped Colin in his tracks, curbing his anger slightly. "Please what?" "We miss you, I know we don't deserve any less but we miss you so much and we were wondering if maybe we could...I dunno, get back in touch or...oh God, I'm not doing this very well." "You left me Ryan, you both did" Colin replied quietly, closing his eyes against the tears that were threatening to spill down his cheeks. "That hurt me more than you'll ever know." "Oh God Col I'm so sorry. I...we thought we were doing the right thing. We wanted to give you space and thought that, if we left, it'd be easier on you." "You fucking well thought wrong Ryan! That nearly destroyed me! Five years we were together, five fucking years and you drop me like I meant nothing! Like we'd meant nothing. You both just...you just destroyed me and walked away." The last few words were barely whispered, tears flowing freely down Colin's cheeks as the familiar ache crept in. So far gone in his own pain, Colin barely registered the choked sobs and the repeated "I'm so sorry" breathing into his ear. The voice left abruptly, to be replaced by another familiar tone. "Colin? It’s Greg; what's going on? Are you okay? Ryan's just collapsed crying on the chair and...Well he never cries...Are you there?" "I can't do this right now Greg" Colin sighed quietly, scrubbing the tears from his face. "I don't know why you suddenly decided to call me after all this time, but I wish you hadn't." "Don't hang up, please" Greg said suddenly. A muffled exclamation from Ryan in the background preceded the sound of the phone being wrenched from Greg's hand. "Colin, wait!" Ryan pleaded. "Ry...Don’t do this, please. Maybe a year or so from now I'll be ready to talk to you both, but it’s too raw right now. I can't do this and certainly not over the phone." "Wait...can't we meet up? We didn't go far, we couldn't. We couldn't leave you...we...we just moved over the bridge. We could come over and...Or, or you could come here if you prefer..." Colin's deep chocolate eyes widened in shock as Ryan frantically rattled off their address over the phone. "You've gotta be kidding me" he sighed, rubbing his sore eyes tiredly and standing up. "Kidding?..Wha...?" "Ryan, open your door." "Pardon?" "Just open your friggin' door!" Colin yelled, losing his patience fast. He walked down the short hallway to his own front door and opened it; a few seconds later he watched as the door to the apartment opposite opened and a familiar, tear-streaked face peeked out. "Oh my God!" Ryan gasped, dropping his phone to the carpeted floor. "Fate just loves kicking me in the nuts" Colin sighed, closing and pocketing his own phone. Before he could register Ryan moving, he was pulled out of his doorway and enveloped in a tight, strong hug. A heartbeat later they were joined by Greg, wrapping his arms around Colin from behind. For a moment, all he wanted to do was lose himself in the familiar, strong embrace. He desperately craved the comfort he'd been denied these past months; but the pain out-weighed any comfort he might gain and he quickly pulled away from them both. "Don't" Colin muttered, moving back to stand in his doorway. "I'm sorry" Ryan said sadly. "Me too" Greg echoed, "I just...got carried away..." "I know, but just...don't, okay?" Colin's gaze flicked between the two sets of eyes fixed on him. He could read the anguish, regret and deep sadness in both of them and it threw him a little. After all these months, he really didn't expect them to even think about him, let alone show that kind of emotion. "Can we...can we at least talk? Please?" Ryan asked quietly. "Sure, if you have coffee" Colin smiled sadly. "We have coffee" Greg replied, his voice hopeful. "Let me close the door, I don't want Oddbot escaping." "You still have Oddbot?" Colin looked at Ryan's wide-eyed, surprised face and, for a moment, he was tempted to say "Yeah, I don't desert the ones I profess to love." But he simply nodded. The three walked tiredly into Ryan and Greg's apartment, passing the television in the lounge and making their way to the kitchen, none of them taking any notice of the breaking news report being blasted onto the screen. We are here outside the police station where a man they believe to be the Ripper, a killer who has been terrorising our city for almost six months, is being detained and questioned. Sources inform us that the man being questioned is actually a police officer who was arrested when he returned from his shift....