A Test Of Patience

A Test Of Patience

Posted: January 2005
Title: A Test of Patience
Author: Naresha and Lis
Type: RPS
Characters: Craig/Karl
Rating: R
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and it is not intended to cause insult or offence to the persons referred to herein.
Warnings: Implied homosexual relations, coarse language.
Beta: Larien Elengasse
Summary: It's New Year's Eve and Karl decides to come clean to Craig.
Author's Notes: This fic has been rated in accordance with the approved TTFF Rating System for Australian and New Zealand fiction.

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The dark haired man took a deep breath and pushed the button that would ring the doorbell. It had been eight months too many since he last saw his friend. The filming of Helm's Deep was pure torture, seeing well-sculpted thighs encased in leggings and an ass that begged to be taken. Now thanks to a few people on a very large scale, the Kiwi finally found the man he wanted to talk with. Karl sighed. Perhaps Marton and Mark were wrong. Craig didn't seem to be home. 'Craig has probably found someone to warm beds with at a party already.' Karl thought sadly

"I'm coming, I'm coming..." Craig called out from down the hall, stretching as he walked and wondering who was ringing his doorbell at 10pm on New Year's Eve.

Karl turned to leave when he heard the voice. He stood there nervously thinking about all the things Craig could tell him.

Craig fumbled with the keys in the small table in the hallway, not having bothered to turn the light on. "Just a second," he said, attempting to find the right key and get it into the lock.

Karl stood in the doorway, waiting patiently. Finally, he heard the key turn in the lock, and he stepped back as the door opened inwards. Craig rubbed his eyes as the streetlight's glare caught him.

"Umm... Hi," Karl said.

"Karl?!" Craig stood in the entryway, shocked.

"Yeah, Craig," Karl said quietly.

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought two friends might be able to spend New Year's Eve together," Karl explained shakily.

"Would you like me count the number of months we haven't spoken?"

Karl shook his head and turned walking back down the porch steps.

Craig cursed to himself and ran down the steps after his old friend. "Karl! Wait up."

Karl had already had two drinks, and he thought he had the nerve to finally come clean. It was not meant to be though. Craig's words hit him hard, but they were the truth. There had been too much time not spent talking, or on his part explaining why he felt he had to distance himself. "There's a pub down the street. I'll just go back. Happy New Year, Craig," Karl replied, as he kept walking.

"Karl! Would you stop walking for a moment please?!" Craig stopped at the bottom of his path.

Karl stopped but he didn't turn around. "You're right, I shouldn't have come."

"I'm an arsehole. Didn't you get the memo?"

"Last memo I got was to be in Bonn for the convention last month."

"Seems you missed the one about me being a jerk when I'm tired."

Karl turned to look at him. "Where's your buddy that follows you around? What's his name again?"

"What are you on about?"

"The guy you were screwing at the last convention," Karl said with more jealousy than he wanted.

"That was at the last convention! He went home, I went home. The end." Karl looked away as Craig continued, "Look, I'm going back inside. It's nearly 10.30 at night and I am standing in the middle of a suburban footpath on New Year's Eve in nothing but my boxer shorts. If you want to talk about whatever you came here to talk about, then follow me. If not, then head back to whatever pub you came from and continue to get drunk." Craig turned around, rubbing his arms to take the chill off.

Karl followed him. He knew that he needed to tell Craig the truth.

"Oh fuck..." Craig ran his hands through his hair and turned around, relieved to see Karl had followed. "I don't suppose you have your phone on you?" Craig sighed, relieved as Karl handed it silently to him. "Thanks." He sat down on the step, pulling his legs up to his chest as he dialled the operator. "Any twenty-four hour locksmith," he said sighing, waiting for the lady to connect him. "Left the keys in the door when I opened it." He explained, as he looked up at Karl. "We're locked out thanks to this wind."

Karl shook his head and reached into his pocket producing a pocketknife. He played with the lock for a few minutes and the lock popped open.

"What were you, a car thief in a previous life?"

"I have locked myself out of so many things I have learned that it is cheaper to do it myself than call someone."

Craig handed the phone back, having apologised to the man he'd just woken up. "Right... Thanks," he added quietly as he ran upstairs, returning in tracksuit pants and a jumper.

"Since when have you stood on ceremony?" Karl asked looking at Craig.

"What are you on about?" Craig asked absentmindedly, pulling on a pair of socks.

Karl shook his head, looking around a bit from where he stood. "Things went wrong, Craig. I'm sorry."

"You can sit down." Craig flicked on the heater and turned the volume on the television down.

Karl stood, looking out a window. "Mark was right, you know. He was right when he said that there was someone in love with another at that convention."

"What?"

"You heard me. When you, Mark and I were having dinner on the last night. He had said that there was someone in love but they wouldn't say it."

"I have no idea what you're on about, Karl! I'm not intentionally not remembering!"

"Have you ever been afraid to tell someone something for fear they will never talk to you again?

"Hell yes! I defy you to find any person living or dead that hasn't!"

"When it comes to matters of friends and love?"

"Especially in those matters. Look," Craig sighed, "we all like to think we're all alone in these sort of things, but in actual fact we're not."

Karl looked at the clock. "I've been holding secrets in too long."

"So talk."

"Sit."

Craig obligingly deposited himself on his sofa and looked up at Karl. "Talk," he said, as he looked up at Karl expectantly.

"I've been holding something in for the past four years and I can't keep doing it any longer. I found someone when we were filming Rings."

"Congratulations."

"Someone you know very well."

Craig nodded, yawning.

"Tell me, Craig... Do you fancy only one night stands?"

"Sometimes. They make me forget if I'm having a crappy time. But they don't offer the same things as an actual relationship."

"If someone was to ask for more would you give it to them?"

"It would depend."

"On?"

"On a lot of things! Where I was in my life... Who was doing the asking... What sort of history we had... How I was doing with work, with money, with family... Like I said; it would depend on a lot of things."

"Me."

"As in... You're asking me now if I want to be in a relationship with you?" Craig asked slowly, wanting to make sure he was perfectly clear on the subject.

Karl crossed the room and kissed Craig, holding the back of the couch to support him.

Craig pulled back. "I thought you were waiting for an answer?"

Karl shook his head. "I know my answer." He turned and walked out of the place, not willing to hear the words that would break his heart.

"Not again..." Craig ran out after Karl for a second time, purposely pulling the door closed behind him. "Karl!"

Karl kept walking. He refused to hear the words that would break his heart. There was no emotion from Craig, not even the slightest hint. All he wanted was to go find the pub and get completely drunk.

"Karl Urban, would you stop PLEASE?!"

"I don't want to hear it! I'm already broken, Mr. Parker. There is nothing that could fix this."

"Fine then. Guess I'll go wake up one of my neighbours so I can call a locksmith."

Karl nodded and started walking again.

Craig cursed silently, his plan having failed. "I was going to say yes!"

Karl turned. "What?"

"Doesn't matter. You're obviously after a one night stand, so you'll have better luck at that pub of yours." Craig called over his shoulder walking back to his home.

"I don't do one night stands."

Craig nodded, continuing to walk.

"There's never been another and there will never *be* another."

"Can't hear you, Karl. You'll have to speak up," Craig yelled, wandering slowly up his front path.

"I LOVE YOU, DAMN IT!"

Craig turned around. "Then stop bloody well running out the door!!!"

Karl stood there watching Craig. Even the baggy pants seemed to accent the Kiwi's body.

Craig shook his head and stormed up the steps to his house. "Sometimes I just don't know what I see in you Karl. One moment, you're all over me, the next minute you're running out the door preferring to get blind drunk!!!"

Karl followed him. "What?"

Craig turned around at his front door. "That's what you've just done! Didn't even wait for me to say yes or no. Instead, you dragged me out here at this godforsaken hour to argue!"

"It's not like you enjoyed it."

"Who are you to say if I did or I didn't?! I pulled away to say YES, you idiot! But you ran out the door before I could!"

Karl moved up to him. "Say that again."

"You ran out the door before I could say yes"

"Before that." Karl said quieter.

"Who are you to say if I did or didn't enjoy it?"

Karl stared at him trying to process the words.

"I've said it already." Craig said quietly.

Karl stood there numbly as Craig stepped back to the door. "Well... Guess I'll be going back inside then."

"You..."

"Yeah... Me. Who'd have thought it?!" Craig smiled weakly, knowing it was a poor answer, but not knowing what else to say.

"You...me..." Karl said, knowing he sounded like his son, but his mind wouldn't wrap around the facts.

Craig shook his head. "I don't think so, Karl... You walked away..." He smiled ruefully. "Only one night stands walk out at this hour." he pulled his keys out of his pocket and laughed shortly. "I lied. Locked myself out intentionally this time. Didn't work." He unlocked the door and stepped inside, "Sorry." He pulled back into the hallway for a moment. "Might have been nice..."

Karl turned and walked down the streets heading for the hotel his things were in. He knew when he got there he would change his flight and head home as soon as possible, not caring how much of a penalty he would have to pay. His fear had won once again and he was alone.

Craig sighed and closed the door, dropping back in front of the TV as he watched the last of the fireworks display on the screen.

"We interrupt your scheduled programming to announce there is a fire in lower Wellington. Most of the people have gotten out safely, however, several guests have not been accounted for yet. We will bring you further updates as they come in."

Craig sat up, staring at the screen. "Damn... Great way to start your New Year." He shook his head and turned off the television before moving up to bed.

*~* The next morning.*~*

"More updates on the fire in downtown Wellington. Two guests are still missing in the fire at the hotel. One is a businessman travelling from the United States and the other, Lord of the Rings actor Karl Urban. It is unknown if either survived the blaze that is still raging in the building."

Craig stuck his head out of the shower at the news, all but ripping the taps off the shower as he wrenched them off. Once dressed, he bolted down to the scene, desperate to find his friend.

Karl sat in his car watching his things go up in flames. All his clothes and personal things could be replaced, or at least most of them could. During filming, he had managed to steal one of Craig's shirts, which he kept with him as a reminder of what he needed to say and whom he needed to say it to. It was gone now, just like everything else in the building.

Craig pulled his car to one side of the road, not caring if he got a ticket or not. He walked slowly, navigating his way carefully through the people and ash.

Karl stared silently at the flames that seemed to call to him. His love for fire had never truly died; it was just put in its place. One of his friends used to joke that Karl had set more things on fire than a boy scout. More than likely it was the truth, but it was all in the way of bonfires or simple campfires, he never had the thought of setting something like this. Slowly, he got out of the car and walked towards the flames

Craig didn't know what to do with himself. He didn't know whether to stay put or to try and find Karl in the midst of the mess before him

The soft whispered promise floated through his ears as he neared the building. Craig's words of rejection filtered through also. It was a waste to even try anymore. All he wanted was his belongings and a plane ticket.

"Why'd you do it, Karl?" Craig said quietly. "Why'd you walk away? I'm the one who has one-night stands at conventions! I'm not exactly Mr Commitment."

A few people stood watching for signs of either Karl or the other man. Rescue people had seen Karl, in their mind, he was trying to get back into the building, and they brought him to the front.

"We have another!" one of them called to the ambulance crew who hurried towards them. The firemen and medics exchanged and the medic lead Karl past Craig, the light slightly hitting Karl's features.

Craig turned to where the call came from "Karl?!" he stood, shocked as his friend was walked past him.

Karl turned with a slightly haunted look on his face.

"Karl???" Craig couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Craig?" Karl asked his voice scratchy from the smoke.

Craig nodded mutely.

"Why?"

"You"

Karl slowly walked towards him, coughing suddenly from the smoke still in his lungs. The medic motioned for Craig to follow and took Karl to the ambulance. Karl shook his head when they tried to give him oxygen. "I'll be okay without it."

"Let them do their work, Karl."

Karl sighed and did what Craig said, keeping an eye on him as if he would disappear. He reached out a hand, looking up sadly. "Stay for at least our friendship?"

Craig squeezed the hand. "Let's start with working on that."

Karl pulled him closer resting his head on the other man's stomach. "Lost your university shirt."

Craig laughed. "Is that where that went?!"

Karl nodded, not looking up. "It was in my suitcase."

"I think I can see my way to forgiving you for that. I'm not sure how, but I'll find a way to struggle on without it!" He smiled.

The medic double checked everything and took the oxygen off. "I'll let you sign this waiver for treatment, however I do still suggest you see a doctor."

"He will." Craig assured him.

Karl signed the paper and shook his head as they left. "I have nothing now."

"You have a son. I don't think you're allowed to put children in suitcases.

"All my clothes, my passport, everything in there is gone."

"All that's replaceable."

"I had the pictures of us during filming and at the premieres in there."

"Replaceable. Not as easily, but still replaceable."

Karl looked at him and reached out, tracing Craig's jaw attentively. Craig caught the hand. "Let's get you home. And showered. Home and showered. Then we can go from there."

"Home is on the other side of the island." Karl said sadly.

"Yeah, well. For today, at least, you can use mine."

Karl nodded. He followed silently until they reached Craig's house. After a nice, long hot shower Karl emerged in nothing but a towel.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah."

"There's not much there, but feel free to raid the refrigerator:

Karl stood and looked at Craig lounging on the chair. "And if I wish to raid something else?"

"We need to talk about that one"

Karl's eyes dropped back to the floor.

"We haven't talked in MONTHS, Karl."

"Because I was too damned afraid that you would find out and walk out on me." Karl replied, looking for his singed clothing.

"We haven't talked about anything. Hell... We haven't even talked about the weather! You didn't even say hello at the premiere."

Karl finally found the clothes and went into the bathroom, putting them back on. "You want to talk.... The weather is shite, the premiere was hell, and being that that you were with someone was even worse. I knew since I laid eyes on you that I had finally found something special. I held it in, refused to say a word about it because of being told you had someone. I did everything I could to be friends and not think of how much I would have liked more. Now it's all too damned late."

"Oh for..." Craig clenched his fists and let out a loud sigh. "Karl... Don't start this again! You ignored me! You've been ignoring me for bloody months! That is not being friends! How the hell am I supposed to figure out what you're feeling when we can't even talk to one another?!"

"It was blatantly obvious, Craig! Elijah fucking stood on a damned table announced it!"

"Elijah was DRUNK! If I remember correctly, he also announced that Sean Bean was the Easter Bunny!"

Karl shook his head and put the towel away in the basket. "Forget anything was ever said."

"I don't want to forget anything was ever said. If I wanted to, then I wouldn't have bolted out of my house with no underwear on to get downtown and find you!"

Karl stood there.

"I wouldn't have gotten myself locked out of my house at 10pm last night in an effort to stop you running away..."

"You stood there and told me it was too late."

"I stood there and told you I wanted you. I said yes, Karl! Except you didn't seem to want to hear it! I told you what I thought might get you to follow me inside! I thought it might shock some sense into you. Didn't work evidently."

Karl shook his head. "I'm not going to torture myself over this anymore. I've done it for the past 5 years."

"Five minutes ago, you wanted to throw me down and "raid" me. Forgive me if I've got crappy timing, but I do like to get the crap out of the way before embarking on something like this."

"I thought you wanted it too, I was wrong." Karl grabbed his jacket and put it on. "If you'll excuse me, I'll stop wasting both our time."

"What the fuck?! Karl... I DO want it! I've said it a hundred times. Maybe you should think about whether or not YOU really want it, because you seem determined not to have it."

"You want the damned weather, don't give me that!" Karl angrily wiped his eyes. "I should have been in that building."

"I'm not giving you anything you're not asking for, Karl. You said you were trying to be friends. I only pointed out that what you had said wasn't true. Friends talk, Karl! Friends do things together! They don't ignore one another at functions!" Craig glared at him. "Bullshit. If you really believe that, then you need help."

Karl looked at him hurt. "That's why when I went to talk to you, you were bent over the sink telling some guy how much you loved him."

"Karl... I haven't said that to anyone in years! One night stands or not, I don't say I love someone to get them into bed. Chances are I was telling him how much I loved some part of him!" He shook his head. "How long have we known each other? I would have thought you might have figured that part out by now."

Karl walked to the door, hurt beyond words. "I gave up trying to talk at that convention when I called you and someone answered and told me to stop calling. They said you didn't want to speak to me."

"I didn't even know you'd called, Karl. I found him racking up my hotel bill when I got out of the shower and kicked him out."

"You were right, Craig, it's too late. There's too much pain involved."

"Because you're putting it there, Karl. You're throwing up roadblocks here."

"No, I'm telling you what you wanted. You wanted to talk to find out why I haven't spoken to you, now you know. Now that I've made an ass of myself and lost more things in one night than I've lost my entire life, I'm going to find my way home."

"And I'm telling you where you're wrong. But you don't want to believe me."

"If you think its so damned easy to fix, then tell me how, because I don't see a way. All I see is someone that I love that I can never have. All I see is you and that guy together. All I heard is that damned voice telling me that you never want to speak to me again and to stop calling." Karl's breath hitched and unwanted tears came. "All I remember is after I saw you in that bathroom you avoided me."

"I had some guy's dick up my arse at the time! I was hardly going to come up and say sorry for the floorshow, Karl! I was more than a little embarrassed by it all!!!"

Karl opened the door. "It's forgotten Craig. It's all forgotten."

"Didn't you hear me, Karl?!"

Karl walked out the door and turned back. "It's all forgotten. The times we had on set the fun I had before I saw you in the bathroom. It's all forgotten."

"For what? In favour of holding on to some stupid memory?! Why not try forgetting what you saw in the bathroom??? Remember the good times, Karl, not the crappy ones."

"The good times only remind me that there was someone who held my heart and they don't want it."

"Well unless you have someone else in mind, I've just told you I DO want it!!!" Craig exploded.

Karl shook his head. "I'm going to walk out this door. Do not bother to contact me. As far as you are concerned I am dead."

"You came to me, Karl! I said I wanted what you did. And now you're walking out?!"

"It's not easy when you think nothing can harm you, then you see what I saw, heard what I heard, then try to talk to the person and all they want to discuss is the damned weather. Then on top of it all, they want to know why you haven't spoken to them in 8 months, and all it does is rip your heart out all over again."

"I'm trying to understand, Karl!!! Trying to understand why the hell you went from being a normal happy guy who was my friend to ignoring me for no good reason. Then you show up on my doorstep at 10pm at night, proclaiming your love for me!!!" Craig stared at him, hurt. "You ignored me for EIGHT MONTHS! And you expect it all to be the same?! I didn't know what I'd done!"

"Now you do. Go back to your lover. He's got more to offer than I do anymore," Karl said, walking out and heading towards town, searching for a taxi.

"WHAT lover?! Karl... You are determined to see what isn't there! There is no one else!!!" Craig shouted, storming off after him.

There isn't a me either," Karl said numbly, finally finding a taxi and asking if they would drive him to the airport.

Craig grabbed him before he could get in. "Would you wake up to yourself, Karl?! You just escaped a massive fire for one thing!"

Karl stood there, watching him.

"I'm not going to keep doing this, Karl. I've lost count of how many times I have run after you in the last twelve hours! You want something to happen, you have to stop running!"

"I expect nothing," Karl said without emotion. "I'm not going to keep trying to discuss the weather or the past when there is no past as far as I am concerned. The weather is fucking rainy."

Craig slapped him. "Wake up to yourself, Karl."

Karl's hand went up to the area and his eyes filled with hurt. He opened the door and got in the car.

Craig turned around and stormed off. "Fuck it up all over again, why don't you?!"

Karl directed the cab to the airport. He paid for the ticket and waited the few hours it took for the next flight to come in. When his flight was finally called, Karl got up numbly and walked over, waiting in line for his turn to hand in his ticket and board the plane. With a small glance backwards Karl handed in his ticket and walked onto the plane.

Craig sighed and dropped down onto the couch, flipping though the various channels.

Karl flew back to his place stopping and getting his son. He went back to his place and started settling in, forgetting his past and everything he wanted for himself in the future.

Mark finally got up and called Craig. He had intentionally sent Karl there hoping the sexual tension between the two would finally be resolved.

Craig ignored the phone, not really in the mood to talk to anyone.

"Craig, answer the phone," Mark said into the answering machine. "I know you are in there with Karl, but the least you can do is answer the phone and tell me that the two of you finally settled the tension."

Craig picked the receiver up. "You knew about this?! You knew he was coming here?!"

"Of course I knew he was coming. How do you think he found your place?" Mark asked.

"YOU KNEW?! Well thanks a lot for the heads up, Mark! Thanks for everything!"

"Craig we are men, but we aren't stupid. Everyone felt the sexual tension between you two on set and at the convention. It was obvious you were not about to do anything about it, so when he started asking questions we all sent him to get you."

"And that resulted in him walking out this door half a dozen times in the last twelve hours!"

"Craig, what happened?"

"He showed up, he left, I dragged him back, he left again, his hotel burnt down, I dragged him back and he left again!"

"Why?"

"WHY?! WHY?! Because he didn't want it! He doesn't want it as much as he says he does! Every excuse in the book was pulled out. He doesn't want this, Mark!"

"He's been drinking."

"He hasn't been drinking ALL night, Mark. I couldn't smell it on him. He just doesn't want this. I told him I wanted to try, and he walked out!"

"Was he talking about the con?"

"Among other things."

"He was drunk."

"Not that drunk, Mark"

"The last time it only took him two scotches. We sat in the back corner of a restaurant and Karl poured his heart out about what he saw, what he heard, everything. He became depressed and only walked out of his hotel room when he was scheduled to be at the con. Trust me, Craig, it doesn't take much to get him drunk."

"Mark... I am not running after him any more! I have tried everything I can. He just doesn't want this as much as he says he does!"

"Craig you need to pin him down and force him to listen. He hasn't been the same since that convention." Mark sighed. "Call him at least."

"No, Mark. I have made him listen to me. But he doesn't want to know."

"He loves you, Craig." Mark said. "Have you tried pinning him to an object and just kissing him?"

"He did that to me, then walked out."

"Have you tried since he started ranting?"

"That was after I dragged him back in the first time."

"I don't know, Craig. He was very hurt when I talked to him."

"He's not the only one, Mark."

"Give him one more chance, Craig. That convention damaged him more than what you thought."

"No, Mark. I've chased him enough as is. No more."

'Craig, look, I'll meet you there with him. I'll hold him, you talk, because he needs to hear it. He needs to let go of the past."

"He has to do that by himself, Mark."

Mark got dressed. "Craig, he needs it. Look, I promised him I wouldn't say anything, but you are the only one he wants. He's never been with another man in his life and refuses anyone other than you."

"Yeah, well he just blew his chances."

Mark reached Karl's house and put Craig on hold, talking him into going with him. Mark then got back on the phone with Craig. "I swear on our friendship once more, Craig."

Craig snorted and hung up

*~*6 hours later*~*

Mark knocked on Craig's door.

Craig sighed and opened it.

Mark stood with Karl behind him. "In, Karl." Karl walked in silently holding his son. Mark looked at the two of them. "Talk!"

Karl looked up from his son. "It was all said," he whispered.

"He's right."

Mark growled. "I did not leave my honeymoon bed for the two of you to be stubborn."

"No one asked you to, Mark. You made the decision all by yourself!"

Mark stood there. "Karl, tell him how you feel."

Karl looked down, tying his son's shoes. "I love you, but it hurts when I think about that convention. I never thought I would find someone that would make me feel like a teenager again."

"Karl... I am not going to apologise for that again! I didn't know! Hell... I shouldn't have to apologise!! It was a case of bad timing; nothing more, nothing less!!! It wasn't intentional or anything!"

"Craig." Mark warned.

"Well I'm sorry, Mark! But I am not going to apologise for that again! I will not be tied to a single damned memory!"

"Craig, tell him how you feel." Mark said low and angry

"I have, Mark." Craig said pointedly. "Repeatedly."

"Now."

Craig stood, staring stonily at Mark. "I have."

Mark went over and lifted the sleeping child from Karl's arms. "Then I suggest you two do something than stand here like fools."

"No one asked for your help, Mark," Craig said, walking back into his living room.

"Craig Parker!"

"Feel free to follow me!"

Hunter woke up and wiggled down. Karl watched his son follow Craig. "Dada?"

"Not me kiddo. He's standing in the hallway like a stunned mullet."

Hunter toddled over and tugged on Craig's shirt. "Up."

Craig sighed and picked the child up. "Here." He walked over to Karl, who had finally made his way to the living room. "This one is yours."

Karl stood, looking at Craig, who held his son. "He doesn't go to just anyone."

"Still your son."

Hunter hugged Craig.

Craig sighed, and bundled the child over into Karl's arms.

"Kiss."

Craig headed out to his kitchen, preparing coffee for himself.

"Not that simple, Hunter. Two people have to want to kiss before they can."

Craig tried to ignore the conversation going on outside as he made his coffee.

"Dada love him," Hunter insisted.

Karl shook his head. "You need more than that for this, buddy. Dada doesn't have enough to offer."

Hunter looked at his father, confused. "Me 'nough?"

"I told you before, Karl... Wake up to yourself. You're not the piece of shit you are determined to think you are."

"I'm not giving you away, Hunter. Don't even think about it." Karl smiled a little at his son. "Let's go find us someplace for ice cream."

Craig walked out onto the back porch with his coffee. "Still not willing to believe me"

"Give me three reasons to believe you." Karl countered.

"I give you what you want and you reject it"

"You've given me nothing."

"You asked, I said yes, you ran out the door!"

Karl shook his head and put his son down.

"I told you over and over "Yes" and you still kept walking away." Craig looked at him, hurt showing in his eyes. "Not exactly the best way to make someone love you. One hell of a rejection."

"Don't. Don't you even start that because you won't even kiss me."

"I did! You were the one who left over and over. *I* came after you every time you got scared and ran out that door! *I* was the one who kept trying to get you back here. You rejected me every time you walked out that door."

Karl shook his head. "I'm not doing this. You want to stand there and yell and drink coffee, find someone else to do it with. All I asked for was a kiss that *you* start not me. It's not worth fighting over." Karl turned his son and sent him towards the door.

"And all I asked for was to patch up the holes in our friendship before we took it to the next level. Can't have a solid building on a wobbly foundation."

"Why dada cry?" Hunter asked looking back at his father.

"Just walk, Hunter. When you are older you will understand. It comes when you feel something very strong for someone, but know it's impossible." Karl looked at Mark. "Just take me home."

Mark picked up Hunter. "No. You two are sorting this out or else I will never hear the end of it!" Mark walked up to Karl and pushed him into the living room, closing the door. "Talk, argue, screw, I don't care. I'm going to take Hunter for ice cream and I expect something to have been resolved when we get back."

"Damn it let me out, Mark!"

"It will be a cold day in hell, Urban. Now talk!" Mark called over his shoulder, as he walked towards the front door. "You like ice cream, Hunter?"

Karl's back slid down the door as he sat down, holding his knees to his chest.

"He's a bastard."

Karl rested his head on his knees. "All I want is to be home."

"Yeah, well... I offered you the opportunity to stay here for a while and you turned it down. And you're not getting back to the other side of the island until Mark returns with your son."

Karl stayed where he was. "I should have never accepted that part."

"Oh please... What next? Wish you'd never taken a role on Shortland Street? Wish you'd never become an actor?!"

Karl kept silent. He was out of arguments. All he wanted was to go home so he could cry for his loss alone into a pillow.

"Why didn't you wait for me to answer?"

"I don't wait for rejection." Karl whispered into his knees.

"Except I *didn't* reject you. I came after you and said yes! And you kept running"

"I don't want it for pity. That's what it sounded like it was." Karl kept his eyes on his jeans.

"What?!"

"You heard me."

"It's bullshit."

"From where I stood, that's what it sounded like."

"If it was pity, would I have chased you around half of this bloody island?!"

"Go do whatever it is you do, Craig. When Mark comes back, I'll tell him that it's not happening and he'll take me home."

"Karl, you're speaking utter gibberish! 'Do what I do?!' What are you on about?! There is no one else. I don't have to be anywhere else. I don't have to be in any bathroom with some jerk I picked up five minutes before hand. I'm here. With you. Attempting to convince you for the millionth time in twenty-four hours that I AM willing to enter a relationship with you and not out of pity!!!"

"Prove it."

"What?"

"Prove it. Initiate something." Karl looked up. "Something other than a fight."

"Alright. If you can prove you can keep your arse on a seat and not run out that door." Karl didn't move from the floor. Craig sighed, standing and moving over to where Karl sat, holding out his hand to him.

Karl sighed. He knew he was in for heartbreak, but if that was what was meant to be, then it was meant to be. He took the hand that was offered to him.

Craig pulled him up, moving back to the couch. Sitting down, he waited for Karl to do the same. He drew a deep breath, slightly put out by the lack of emotion that Karl was showing. Slowly, he leaned forward, bringing Karl closer to him finally brushing their lips together and kissing him.

Tentatively, Karl kissed him back.

Craig forced the kiss slightly, trying to prove his point. Finally he drew back. "Well?" he asked quietly.

Karl nodded looking at him. "You meant it."

"I mean it. Now keep your end of the bargain."

Karl relaxed back into the sofa. Craig sat silently, content to watch and make sure Karl didn't go anywhere.

Karl looked over at him, sighing. "Can I at least tell him that you bound and chained me while you had your wicked way with me?"

"He's not that stupid." Craig smirked. "Plus I think he'd ask for proof."

"Had to try." Karl closed his eyes, the events finally taking their toll on him.

"Lie down." Craig stood up.

Karl opened his eyes. "Huh?"

"Lie down. I'll get you a blanket."

Karl shook his head. "Can't sleep. Too much going on." Karl looked at him. "I sleep, you'll disappear just like you always do."

"It's my house! If I disappear, I don't have anywhere to live." He smiled.

Karl shifted his body, as began to relax his joints started popping.

Craig walked up the stairs, pulling a blanket from the cupboard. He walked back into the living room. "At least you'll be coherent when they come back."

Karl looked at him. "We could have gotten out of here?!"

"He shut the door. There's no lock, Karl."

Karl groaned as Craig continued, "I think you've just proved that you really need some sleep."

"What I need, sleep won't provide."

"No, but sleep helps. No stamina without sleep." He grinned.

Karl glared, but laid down. "I was thinking of talented fingers to get rid of the knots in my back and shoulders, Mr. Horny."

"Well, I'm sorry, but you really did make it seem like something else!"

Karl closed his eyes. "Warm fingers, good warm oils..."

"Sleep first, then we'll see about getting the knots out of your back."

Karl got up a little and looked at Craig. "Sit."

"What?"

"You heard me. Sit. Please."

"Okay..." Craig sat. "Happy?"

Karl rested his head on Craig's lap and closed his eyes, nodding. "So tell me... Should I keep it this length or cut it?"

Craig laughed. "Excuse me?!"

"My hair...should I keep it this length or cut it?"

"Leave it."

Karl nodded. "Figured I would give you the option,." he said, starting to fall asleep.

"Sleep."

Karl fell asleep holding Craig's thigh lightly, but enough that if Craig moved to get up he would know.

Hunter came bounding into the room, dead set on getting back to his father. Hunter looked at him. "Dada!!!"

"He's asleep." Craig picked Hunter up and deposited him on Karl's lap.

Hunter snuggled down into his father and grinned. "Dada you kiss."

"Maybe when he's awake, kiddo."

Mark walked in and saw Karl. "You didn't drug him did you?"

"No."

"Things get fixed?"

"Sort of."

"Let's go, Hunter."

"It's a start Mark! It's a bit hard to go from zero to one hundred in half an hour! We didn't scream, we didn't yell - we talked normally."

"Don't scream...can hear you," Karl mumbled.

"Let him sleep, Mark."

Mark sighed and shook his head. "Call me when he wakes up." He placed an overnight bag next to the couch. "Have a good night!" He smirked and winked as Craig pushed him out the door. "Congratulations, Craig."

*****

THE END

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