monaboyd | FIC: Western Lovers: Cowboys & Archaeologists 20/30

Title: Western Lovers: Cowboys and Archaeologists 20/30
Author:

sassywitch
Pairing: BB/DM with a smattering of VM/LT and DW/OB
Rating: NC-17, to be on the safe side.
Summary: Billy is a man to be reckoned with. Can Dom heal his wounded soul and his own into the bargain. Could Billy make him forget the bitter lessons of the past?
Feedback: Feedback is my writers crack, which is not to be confused at all with plumbers crack.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. These men whilst adorable and perfectly happy to slash themselves, their actual relationship is something that they only know. This story is adapted from a series of books that I adored when I was younger written by Elizabeth Lowell.
Word Count: 6230
Header Art: Courtesy of the incredibly talented

loki_girl
Previous Chapters: can be found Here
A/N: A huge thank you to

dylan_dufresne for the inspiration, the prodding and the beta. My grammar sucks really, really badly so she had to suffer it so nobody else would. Yes, yes i know. This is a couple of hours early, but my connection has been spotty today so I'm going to give up now and go to bed, ergo, this is just a little early.

~*~*~*~

Dom woke gradually, his movements slow and languid as he stretched one long arm out to reach for his lover. Coming up empty, he sighed sadly, and rolled onto his back. His body was pleasantly sore and achy, but he wouldn't have it any other way. Stretching lithely, Dom pressed his face deep into the pillow, inhaling Billy's residual scent deeply before he flicked back the sheet and dragged himself out of bed.

Moving through to his bathroom Dom turned on the steaming water and when he was satisfied with the temperature, stepped under the pulsing jets. Washing his hair quickly and lathering his body with his apple scented shower gel, Dom washed, rinsed and then stepped out of the shower, briefly regretting the loss of Billy's scent from his skin.

Slipping into a pair of low slung jeans, Dom then opened his closet door and selected a royal blue t-shirt. Reaching for one of the thin cotton sweaters he habitually wore, Dom's hand lingered before he let out a slow breath, and left the sweater there. Slipping his feet into his trainers, Dom grabbed the white straw cowboy hat he had taken to wearing, and stepped outside.

Wandering up the path to the main house, Dom could barely wipe the smile from his face, and even as he entered the dining room through the side door, a room filled with large strong ranch hands, Dom didn't feel his normal, stomach turning discomfort. Removing his hat as he drew near the table, Dom turned soft eyes on Billy, knowing that he was the real reason for his apparent calm. He trusted Billy to keep him safe, and he trusted Billy to know when it was all too much for him. Billy just knew, Dom didn't know how, he didn't know why, but Billy understood, and Billy knew when Dom needed saving, when he needed distance, and most of all, when he needed loving.

"Archaeology agrees with you, Dom." Liv spoke softly as Dom sank into the chair that Billy had pushed out for him.

"Why?" Dom frowned, looking up at Liv.

"You're positively glowing," she said, smiling at her friend.

Dom looked sharply at David as he appeared to choke on a mouthful of his juice, then back at Liv.

"Must be all the sunshine instead of lecture halls.” Billy offered without looking up.

"Must be," Liv agreed, her eyes passing from Billy to David and back to Dom again, eyes narrowing as she watched Billy pour juice for Dom.

Dom reached across the table and snagged two pieces of toast off the large platter, then looked up at Liv. "It's much nicer being here then back in the classroom." He dropped one slice of toast on his own plate and handed the other to Billy. "I'd forgotten how much I loved camping out on a site."

"Apparently," Liv replied, and passed a large platter of scrambled eggs to Dom. "It's good to see you so happy."

"We've found some remarkably intact pots and shards," Dom said, as he scooped some eggs onto his plate and then some onto Billy's, all while Billy was putting rashers of well cooked bacon on his own plate and then an equal portion on Dom's plate.

When Billy reached across the table to lift the platter of fried tomatoes, he met Liv's measuring gaze.

"What?" he asked with a shrug.

"Nothing," Liv spoke sweetly, a smile creasing her face. "Not a thing." She lifted the platter of mushrooms and passed it to Dom.

"I think we need to keep you two here more," Viggo stated. "Liv would like me to be as domesticated as that."

"As what?" Billy tilted his head.

"You two." He nodded to their breakfast plates. "Are you even aware of what you just did?"

"We spend a lot of meals together out at Arwen Canyon," Billy explained, a light blush climbing up his cheeks.

"Apparently," Liv said dryly.

"Well oiled machine." Viggo nodded. "I can see that."

"Well oiled," David added. "Mum'd be proud Billy."

"Daisy…." Billy growled. "Shut up."

"She could never quite domesticate any of us." Daisy ignored his brother. "But she'd like this picture." He looked straight at Billy, nodding sagely as he spoke.

"Shut up, you silly git," Billy chuckled as he lifted his fork. "Can I eat now? Or do y'all have something else you need to observe?"

"Nah, I think we're done," David replied, grinning around a mouthful of food. "Unless you feed each other, too."

Billy's glare was all the answer David needed to cease his conversation.

Dom sat quietly listening to the comfortable banter, more glad than he could say that Billy had intercepted on their behalf. Breakfast passed quickly after that. Food was devoured, and well fed ranch hands left their kitchen ware in the sink before moving to take care of their duties for the day. David left to saddle a horse and take a look at some of the fences along the edge of the mesa, while Liv and Viggo lingered over coffee until Dom left to sort potshards and Billy went to check on a horse that was foaling.

"I want you to talk to Billy," Liv stated as soon as they were both out of earshot.

"What?" Viggo asked.

"They're sleeping together." She waggled a finger at Dom and Billy's empty chairs.

"They're what?" Viggo spluttered. "How exactly did you reach that conclusion, dear?"

"Its obvious, darling."

"Obvious to everyone?" Viggo asked calmly. "Or just to you?"

"Did you just have breakfast with the same couple I did?" she asked, and then frowned.

"I'm almost certain I did, my love."

"Then I need, no, you need to find out if Billy’s intentions are honorable."

"If his what, are what now?"

"You heard me," Liv glowered at him.

"Darling, I know we're a ways from civilization, but this isn't the wild west. I'm not Dom's shotgun wielding daddy."

"Maybe you should be." Liv shrugged. "Maybe all he needs is for someone to look out for him."

"They're both big boys, Liv," Viggo spoke quietly. "They can both look after themselves, and each other apparently."

"Tell me you can't see the difference in Dom," Liv answered. "And for Christ's sake, it's not the bloody camping. He's in love. In love with Billy. And unless I missed my guess and misread that blush, Billy loves him back." She paused to sigh. "You don't want to see the fragile Dom you first met come back, do you?"

"Of course I don't," Viggo said. "I just don't think we should interfere."

"It's not interfering," Liv protested. "It's merely looking out for our friends."

"It's interfering," Viggo asserted.

"No, it's not." Liv shrugged. "It's maintaining domestic harmony."

"Alright, alright. When I think the time is right, I'll talk to him," Viggo relented, sighing in exasperation.

"Today," Liv instructed with a firm nod. "Or you'll keep putting it off until it's too late."

"Yes, dear," Viggo parroted as Liv collected the remainder of the dishes and bent down to press a kiss against her husband's lips.

"I love you, my big romantic man."

~*~*~*~*~

Dom sat at the long table, quietly sorting pot shards, listening to the radio that was tuned to a local country station, singing softly along with the music as he worked steadily at reassembling the pots. Engrossed in his work, the hours melted away, and when Billy slid his arms around Dom's waist, he yelped in surprise, his body tensing in fear. Billy immediately withdrew his arms and murmured apologies.

"I'm sorry, Honey." He stepped back.

Dom took a deep breath, calming himself, relaxing the suddenly tense muscles. "Come back here, Ramrod," he murmured without looking up. "You startled me is all, Try that again."

A small smile curled up Billy's lips as he stepped forward, letting his fingers trace the bare flesh around Dom's waist, his body molding itself along Dom's back.

"Where's your sweater today?" Billy asked softly as Dom's head tilted to one side to allow Billy's lips access to the flesh there.

"Didn't need it," Dom murmured, his fingers released the potshards as he folded his arms over Billy's.

Billy lifted his head to look at Dom, wondering if he realized what he had just admitted to.

Dom's eyes darkened as he let his head fall back against Billy's shoulder. "Kiss me?" he whispered.

"Honey," Billy sighed, letting his lips press against Dom's for the briefest of seconds. "I came to see if you'd like to see some new kittens," he whispered against Dom's cheek. "And have lunch in the hayloft with me," Billy gestured to the back pack that sat in the doorway, a silver thermos poking from it's top.

"Just lunch?" Dom asked, kissing him gently.

"Well, unless you're going to tempt me some more," Billy replied, softly and pressed a long slow kiss to Dom's lips, then pulled back to look into Dom's face, speaking seriously. "I didn't come here just for sex, Dom. I really do love your company."

"I know that," Dom said, nodding. "Really, I do. But can't I want you, too?"

"You can want me all you want, Honey." Billy ground himself against Dom's back, his fingers dipping inside the loose waistband of Dom's low slung jeans to stroke his lower belly. "I want you like a fire burning," he murmured against Dom's neck before he released him. "C'mon, if we don't go soon, we'll be picnicking on your bed."

"There's a problem there, how?" Dom asked, smiling as he reached across the table to turn off the gooseneck lamp.

When the stretching revealed more of the golden skin that Dom normally kept covered, Billy's hands slid from Dom's hips, his thumbs caressing his lover's well-defined back dimples.

Loving the feel of Billy's fingers on his skin, Dom moaned softly and arched his back, the action baring more of his golden flesh, a soft sigh leaving his lips as he did. Stepping closer to Dom, Billy rubbed himself against Dom's buttocks as his hands caressed the exposed beauty of his lover's back, curving around his ribs and sliding across his chest. A moment later Billy's fingers found Dom's nipples and twisted them gently, his lips pressed against Dom's neck as Dom arched back even further into him with a wanton gasp of pleasure.

Sliding his hands down the length of Dom's torso, Billy let his fingertips play with the waistband of Dom's jeans before he plunged one hand inside the loose denim, his fingertips brushing across Dom's rising arousal. Grinding his own, seemingly ever present hardness against Dom's buttocks, Billy strung kisses across Dom's neck and shoulder before he pulled back, his breath heavy, and chest heaving. Control hanging by a ragged thread, Billy folded his hands across his chest in an effort not to reach out and touch his Honey.

"We've got to go, Dommie." He smiled, turning his head to look into Dom's confused, lust glazed eyes. "There's a loft full of fresh hay that I want to see you in."

"Then we should go." Dom smiled as he slipped out from between Billy and the table, pressing a light kiss to Billy's cheek before he walked into the bedroom, returning a few moments later, his ever present sweater covering his t-shirt.

"Why the cover up?" Billy frowned, instantly missing the bare flesh. Dom didn't even speak, just lifted the front of the sweater, revealing the sizable bulge of his arousal. "Point taken." Billy grinned and lifted the back pack over his shoulder, extending a hand to Dom.

Walking the short distance to the old barn, Billy sent Dom up the ladder to the hayloft first, more than happy to watch the play of muscles under denim as the younger man climbed. Billy would never have been prepared for what he found when he reached the top of the ladder himself, as Dom was laying on the blanket that Billy had spread on the fresh hay, his shirt and sweater a rumpled pile of blue fabric beside him.

"What took you so long?" Dom smiled at Billy, opening his arms to his lover.

"It may just have been something to do with the view," Billy said, setting the back pack down in the hay near the ladder and unsnapping the press stud closures on the front of his shirt. Dropping his hat carelessly beside the pack, Billy's shirt fell over the top of it before he fell to his knees beside Dom. "I'm here now. Does that count?"

"It does to me," Dom murmured as he kissed Billy's warm shoulder.

"We're supposed to be here for lunch," Billy stated softly as his hands brushed across Dom's bare skin.

"I'm not so hungry for food," Dom explained as he strung kisses along Billy's neck.

"You're too thin. You should be eating," Billy said, his hand finding Dom's heavy arousal and stroking it through the soft denim.

"Later," Dom groaned, arching up into Billy's touch. "Please Billy?" he whimpered.

"You know I can't say no to you," Billy sighed as he pulled deftly on the buttons of Dom's blue jeans.

"Better not," Dom whimpered, his own hands struggling to pull Billy's jeans open, fumbling with the heavy denim, soft mewling noises bubbling up from deep in his throat.

Billy slid his hands into the open V of Dom's jeans and closed his hand around his lover's hardness, his breath heaving as his lips slid against Dom's and then he pulled back to look into Dom's passion-clouded eyes. "Dommie," Billy whispered softly. "Slow down, Honey. We're not going anywhere," Billy said before he pressed his lips to Dom's throat.

"Easy for you to say," Dom murmured, his hand closing around Billy's as it stroked him wetly.

"Why?" Billy smiled as he let Dom's hand guide his own.

"You're not the one that's going to explode." Dom wrapped his legs around Billy's thighs and desperately ground himself against Billy.

"Trust me, Honey," Billy almost chuckled. "I won't let you explode."

"Help me, Billy," Dom whimpered.

"Like this?" Billy whispered against Dom's lips as he tightened his hand on Dom's burning arousal. A thumbnail scraped gently across Dom's sensitive tip as Billy let his fingers stroke Dom's length, and he rose up on his knees as his hand's pace increased. "Or maybe you'd prefer this." Leaning down, Billy flicks his pointy tongue across Dom's damp tip.

"Billy!"

Dom's cry echoed around the rafters in the barn as his hands flew to Billy's head and tangled in his ginger hair, his hips arching up, thrusting into Billy's mouth, incoherent mumblings falling from his kiss-swollen lips. One of Billy's hands continued stroking Dom's insistent length, his hot mouth closing around just the tip, and sucking in a cheek-hollowing pressure, his other hand gently caressing Dom's tight sac.

"Please. Please. Please." Dom's new mantra washed over both of them as his hips stuttered up towards Billy's mouth, his body taut. "Billy!" Dom moaned, his hands moving to grab handfuls of blanket and straw at his sides, his control completely lost as he reached his climax.

"See," Billy murmured as he pulled Dom into his arms, folding him into a tight embrace, Dom's slender body trembling from the intensity of his release. "I didn't let you explode."

Dom was silent for long minutes, his face nuzzled against Billy's neck.

"Billy?" he spoke gently, fingers tangling in Billy's furry chest hair.

"What's up, Honey?" Billy's brow furrowed, recognizing the smattering of fear, or maybe it was insecurity in Dom's voice as his fingers stroked Dom's bare back reassuringly.

"Can I?" Dom's voice broke nervously. "Can I do that for you?"

"Sweet Dom." Billy cupped his chin and turned Dom's blushing face up so that he could look into Dom's eyes. "You don't need to ask permission. My body is yours to explore, experiment with, and if it means you're touching me in any way….then it's all good." Billy pressed a wet kiss to Dom's lips. "I can't get enough of you, Dom. Don't you realize that?"

"You wouldn't mind?" Dom asked again, his eyes glittering.

Billy lifted Dom's hand from his chest and moved it down until it covered his arousal.

"Does that feel like I'd mind?" Billy almost groaned, his breath uneven.

"I guess not," Dom murmured with a smile.

Pulling out of Billy's embrace, Dom kicked his way out of his jeans and straddled Billy. Moving slowly, he took one of Billy's nipples into his mouth, sucking and licking it until the ginger hair that covered the rosy bud was glistening and wet. Repeating his motions on the other nipple, Dom then trailed his tongue across Billy's belly, dipping his long tongue in and out of Billy's navel repeatedly, plunging it in over and over, loving the soft, moaning sighs that Billy made when he did.

"You like that?" Dom asked as he looked up into Billy's flushed face.

"Honey, if I liked that anymore, I'd be exploding." Billy laughed tightly, his fingers carding through Dom's hair. "Taste me, Dommie?" he whispered.

Dom watched the naked pleading in his lover's eyes, his mouth twisting into a smile before he trailed his tongue lower, across Billy's thick nest of pubic hair and around the base of his pulsing arousal. Trailing his tongue along Billy's length, Dom snuggled his body between Billy's thighs, and looking up from under long dark lashes, he watched Billy's face as he flicked his tongue back and forth across the tip of Billy's hard erection. Pressing his tongue against the little slit that oozed the sweet/salty essence that was his Billy, Dom's fingers gently caressed and explored the taut sac beneath his arousal.

"Sweet heaven, Dommie," Billy moaned. "Please….Please just….Please?" he begged, hips aching up to thrust towards Dom's mouth.

"Please?" Dom murmured, his warm breath on the moist tip of Billy's cock sending a shudder of sensation through him. "Please suck you?" he growled.

"Yesssss!" Billy hissed. 'Please, Dommie.”

Dom's only answer was to slide his mouth over the head of Billy's cock, his mouth firm, lips covering his teeth as they clamped tightly around the leaking tip. Tongue flicking out to brush against the sensitive spot just below his head, Dom teased it over and over as his cheeks hollowed.

Whimpering under Dom's tender onslaught, Billy realized that the frequency of their unions didn't dissipate his desire for his lover, in fact, he was almost positive it only made every desire and every sensation more intense, more satisfying, and definitely harder to resist.

When Dom's long fingers closed around his thick length, Billy was lost, and because of the sensation of Dom's fingers and mouth on him, the fingers of his other hand gently twisting his taut sac, Billy gave up all semblance of control. Back arched, feet clenching inside his boots, Billy's fingers grabbed at handfuls of hay, his head thrown back, neck taut as he strained against the sensation flowing through his body. Glancing down, seeing Dom's stormy blue eyes looking up at him through thick dark lashes was his ultimate undoing.

Hips arched, the bones were prominent over the dark denim hanging from Billy's body as he reached his climax. Dom's lips closed tight around him, sucking Billy's fluids hungrily from him. As Billy sank bonelessly back down to the blanket beneath him, Dom crawled up his body, kissing Billy wetly before molding himself along Billy's side, eyes heavy as he rested his head against Billy's chest.

"Was that alright?" Dom whispered.

"Don't ever doubt yourself with me," Billy murmured. "I've never felt anything that I feel with you, with anyone else, Honey."

"But is that a good thing?" Dom frowned.

Billy stroked his back slowly. "It's a very good thing, my Dommie."

Billy's eyes flicked to the watch on his wrist and he sighed. "Dom, I have to go and take care of a couple of things, will you stay here….wait for me?"

"Will you be long?" Dom asked.

"If you were to have a nap," Billy kissed his blonde hair gently "You won't even miss me." His fingers stroked Dom's skin reassuringly. "Nobody uses this barn. It's only for the smithy's gear, and there's no use for that today. The men are all working in other parts of the ranch. You'll be safe here until I come back."

Dom pulled him into his embrace and kissed him, long, slow and wet. "Promise you'll hurry?"

"I'll be as quick as I can be, Dommie-mine."

"Then I'll be here," Dom says with a nod, sitting up in Billy's arms and gently pulling his jeans up over his hips and fastening them carefully.

"Careful or I won't be leaving at all," Billy sighed.

"I need to be careful for that?" Dom winked as he draped himself across Billy. "Will this do?"

"Tease." Billy nipped at Dom's lower lip as he rolled Dom onto his back. "Stay here. I won't be long, okay? I've just got to check on that horse, and I'll be right back."

"Don't rush for me," Dom murmured sleepily as Billy stood and lifted his shirt, shrugging into it as he watched Dom. Dropping down to straddle his lover's hips, Billy rested his weight on his hands as he kissed Dom, and his teeth tugging at Dom's bottom lip as he licked at the sensitive, kiss-swollen flesh.

"I'll always rush to get to you, Honey." Billy punctuated his statement with a quick, hard kiss, then stood, picked up his hat and climbed partway down the ladder before he spoke again. "I won't be long. You're safe here, Honey."

Dom laid on the blanket, his eyes closed, enjoying the silence of the barn, except for the soft mewling of the kittens they had come to check on. The tranquility was broken, however, when Dom heard the definite rustlings of someone on the main level of the barn.

Smiling at nothing in particular, Dom rolled on the blanket, his blue gray eyes intently watching the top of the ladder, waiting not so patiently for the appearance of Billy's beloved ginger head.

After a time, still hearing the muffled sounds from beneath him, Dom was beginning to wonder if his 'visitor' had been Billy at all. Surely if it had been Billy, he would be up in the hayloft already. Moving to the edge of the loft, Dom leaned barely over the edge and did in fact see gingery blonde hair. David. Dom pulled back from the edge nervously.

Quickly wriggling into his discarded jeans, teeth worrying his bottom lip anxiously, Dom groped across the fragrant hay for his t-shirt and sweater. Slipping them both on quickly, Dom moved closer to the edge of the loft, his eyes darting all over the barn, watching David as he collected tools and started a fire in the forge.

Observing David, Dom realized how alike, and yet how completely different he and Billy were. They both moved with the grace and fluidity of a dancer, their steps silent. Both, although vastly different in size, were strongly muscled, their coloring similar, while Billy's skin seemed to freckle, not tan, and David's hair was more blonde than ginger, and thicker, too.

But that was where their similarities ended. Every touch of Billy's was tempered with a gentle caring that Dom knew was the core of his lover. Gaze sliding over David's leanly muscled framed, Dom could see the barely harnessed pain and anger that was eating at David's soul. With a blinding flash of clarity, Dom realized that David was hurting just as badly as he himself had, for most of his life. David, however, had turned to dealing with his pain in a completely different way. It was strange, feeling a kindred spirit in a man that sent an icy frisson of fear down Dom's spine. When David strode out of the barn, Dom saw his chance. Scuttling quickly down the ladder, he had almost started to breathe again when a deep voice spoke to him.

"You didn't have to leave on my account."

Dom whirled around to look into serious blue eyes, his own eyes wide with fear. David stood between him and his only visible exit.

"No…." he stammered "No, it's alright. I should be going anyway."

"Billy shouldn't be too long," David added, his eyes appraising Dom slowly.

"It's alright, I'll see him later on." Dom folded his arms around his chest, backing slowly towards the huge barn doors.

"Alrighty then." David shrugged, and as Dom passed him, he lifted a hand to pluck some strands of crumpled straw from Dom's tousled hair.

David's fingers had barely skimmed across Dom's blonde strands when Dom flinched as though David had physically hit him. Dom's hands trembled as he wrapped his arms around himself and gripped his own sides tighter, willing his heart to stop racing and to stop the cold sweat beading on his skin. Fear froze Dom to the spot, his teeth bit down on his bottom lip so hard that he tasted the coppery tang of blood on his tongue, and his blue eyes were wide with bone chilling fear that threatened to sap his very soul before he managed to gather control of it again. All he wanted to do was run, run fast, away from this big, strong, military man and find safety. He wanted to lose himself in Billy's arms, because he was safe there. Billy wouldn't let anyone hurt him anymore.

David's lips compressed into a thin angry line, and he pulled his hand back as if burned, showing Dom the straw he had plucked from his tousled blond hair, before dropping it to the ground at Dom's feet.

"Is my brother the cause of that?"

Dom barely heard David's words, and it took even longer for comprehension of David's angry words to dawn. He shook his head wildly, eyes never leaving David's face, struggling to push his voice past the lump of fear in his throat.

"Be truthful with me, Dominic. If he hurt you, I'll kick his ass from here to Sunday. Our mama didn't raise us to hurt our loved ones."

"Billy could never hurt me," Dom murmured, pulling his shoulders taller, standing straighter, his love for, and need to defend Billy outweighing his fear. "He's sweet and kind and gentle," he continued, defending his lover.

"Good. Not words I've ever heard as descriptors for my brother, but good." David turned back to check on the temperature of the forge. "No-one, kin or not, has the right to beat on those close to them."

"You're right," Dom replied softly. "But that rarely stops them."

"It does if I know about it," David answered bluntly.

"There's not many men who would." Dom stood his ground, forgetting his wish to flee, suddenly curious about the man who was his lover. "I thought Billy was the only one."

"Told you our mama raised us right." David shrugged "Besides, there's only so much you can see before you fight back."

"You've seen it, haven't you?" Dom stated softly.

"Seen what?" David answered absently, busying himself with the horseshoe he'd come to repair. His strong fingers traced the metal as his mind sank slowly into memories of pain and death, suffering and anger that he was fighting to escape.

"The evil men can do," Dom whispered as he stepped one step closer.

David nodded tightly.

"Billy has too, hasn't he?" Dom probed.

"More than me," David replied with a nod.

"Why?" Dom spoke almost to himself. "Why when it hurts you so much, why do you keep going back? Why do you keep fighting?"

"Because there is always women and children, there is always someone weaker, persecuted by someone stronger, someone with more money, more power, more ego. Because it's not right to turn our backs and let them be hurt and tortured and beaten, just because they were born to a weaker minority. Because no matter how much it hurts us, to just ignore them, that hurts them more than we can ever be hurt."

"But there are other ways to help." Dom frowned. "Like welfare organisations?"

"They're a band aid over the festering wound that is the hierarchy of whichever insurgents have taken over the country at the time. The only way to stop them is to vaccinate the country. Welfare organizations hands are tied. Mine aren't. Billy's never were either."

"You're both very special men then," Dom murmured, one long fingered hand reaching out to press against David's shoulder in support and comfort, then pulling back to wrap around his ribs again. "I couldn't do what you do."

"Not special." David shook his head. "Well, I'm not anyway. Billy is. Always has been."

"Why is he alone?" Dom asked.

"He's not. He's got you now." David narrowed his eyes as he looked up at Dom. "Or are you planning on breaking his heart, too?"

"Breaking?" Dom frowned, puzzled by David's words. "Too? He's been hurt before?"

"When he was younger than you, I'd wager," David spoke. "Not my story to tell. Ask him, he'll tell you."

"When's he's ready, he will,” Dom replied, nodding in agreement. "Why did he leave Scotland?"

"He couldn't stay there and survive with a broken heart." David shrugged, pausing for a moment before he looked straight into Dom's face, his clear blue eyes, cold and hard with his intent. "I won't let you take the Double L away from him. It's his home now."

"I love your brother," Dom said softly, reaching out to press against David's arm. "I'm not planning on hurting him, ever. But thank you for loving him enough to protect him from me."

David looked at Dom, his gaze piercing and inscrutable. "No need. You're a good match for Billy. I'm glad he found you."

"I'm glad he found me, too," Dom said with a smile.

"You'd best get cleaned up, because you look like you've been fooling round in a hayloft." David smiled at Dom, gesturing to the straw caught in Dom's hair.

"Thanks, David." Dom nodded as his fingers brushed straw from his hair, then turned his back on the larger man and walked from the barn.

David waited until he could see Dom was out of earshot and almost back at the old ranch house.

"You can come out now," he spoke quietly, smiling smugly when Billy stepped out from behind a wall.

"Thanks, Daisy," Billy murmured.

"For what? He's like a skittish horse. I can see why you love him,” David replied. "He's easy to like. Who hurt him so badly he can't control it?"

"A bastard who didn't know what a prize he had," Billy explained. "If I ever meet him, he'll know the meaning of helpless and weak."

"Make sure I'm with you," David replied calmly, steel evident in his voice.

"I didn't mean for it to get so intimate up there. It was meant to be lunch."

"I'm guessing it was," David said with a wink.

"He's so beautiful when he forgets and just lives,” Billy murmurs. " He's so eager and innocent. He says things that set a fire in my blood that I just can't ignore."

"That goes for you, too. You haven't let go of that iron control in years. Maybe it's time you did." David looked him up and down. "You look like you've spent your life savings with a twenty dollar whore."

"Not even close my friend," Billy laughed. "Thanks for not scaring him. He's been hurt badly, and he just needs to be loved."

"I can see that, and looks to me like you're filling the job description admirably." David quirked one eyebrow. "He was more worried about defending you than being scared of me. He loves you, you know."

"I can't let him," Billy said as he shrugged. "I have to let him go at the end of the summer."

"You may not have a choice. He truly does love you."

"Daisy, you're nothing if not repetitive," Billy sighed.

"If I say it often enough, will you believe it?" David asked.

"Nope, I can't afford to."

"Can't afford to?" David repeated.

Billy shook his head, not daring to speak, the pain of having to let Dom go in a few short weeks already stealing his breath and breaking his heart.

"Pip?" David asked quietly, reverting to an old childhood nickname he hadn't regularly used since they were teenagers. David fondly remembered the huge book that his brother had pored over for most of his teenage years, that had produced the nickname. "Talk to me?"

Billy sighed and turned his back on his brother, not wanting to encounter David's knowing gaze as he spoke. Or see pity in his brother's eyes when the tears already welling in Billy's eyes overflowed.

"I love him, Daisy," Billy murmured. "So damn much." He sighed. "But not like Marton. It's different, it's deeper. I can't explain why…or how." Billy paused. "That's why I can't afford to think past summer."

David stepped closer, pressing one large hand against his brother's shoulder. "Why not?"

"You've seen him, Daisy. He's so beautiful, so pure and innocent and unscathed by 'our' world." Billy paused, swallowing tightly as his accent thickened and his voice cracked. "I have to let him go, let him find his own path. He can do so much better than a broken down, beat up, cowboy mercenary."

"Have you bothered to consider maybe you are the path?" David murmured.

"I can't be." Billy shook his head.

"Dammit, Pip," David sighed. "You've both in love, don't screw it up trying to be noble. You're a good, honorable man, he deserves you. Don't do it, Bro. So many people don't ever get that."

Billy turned to face his brother and looked up into his eyes.

"I love him," Billy said with a nod. "There's no denying that, but I love him enough to let him go. To let him find the partner he deserves."

"Don't fuck it up, Pip," David spoke softly. "What if you are the one? You'll both be miserable for the rest of your lives."

"I'm too old, too broken, too jaded. I was meant to fix him, not keep him."

David looked into his brother's eyes for a long moment, searching for a doubt. Not finding any, he pulled Billy into a tight embrace.

"I'm here when you need me," he stated against the top of Billy's head.

"Thanks." Billy sighed, pulling away from David's embrace. "Same here. You know that, don't you?"

"Nothing to tell, Pip." David turned his attention back to the forge.

"Horseshit," Billy spoke, his small hands on his hips as he watched his brother's avoidance tactics. "Cate called."

"She's got no fucking right." David spun around, his blue eyes glistening like ice chips. "I'm no longer in her employ."

"Dammit, Daisy," Billy cursed. "She's worried about you. About your daughter. She was being a friend, not a CO." He paused, watching his words penetrate David's anger. "When were you going to tell me about your baby?"

"She's not my baby," David replied with a shrug.

"Cate seems to think she is," Billy probed.

"I found her," David murmured with a shrug. "Militants had killed her family, missed her, I don't know how, but when I found her, she was dehydrated. She was almost dead. I couldn't leave her, Pip,” he spoke softly. "So I lied. I said she was mine, and I brought her home with me."

"Where is she?" Billy asked quietly.

"Miranda has her until she's strong enough and I work out what to do."

"Which is?"

"How the fuck would I know, Billy?" David hissed. "I didn't think ahead alright? All I knew was if I left that tiny little angel there, she'd be dead now." He paused trying desperately not to lose his temper. "I couldn't let her die. I couldn't save her family, but I could save her."

"Will you tell me about her?" Billy slipped his hands into his pockets, his stance loose, eyes fixed on his brother. "Please?"

"No-one is sure how old she is. Doc guessed she was about 2 months old when I found her. She's so tiny, that when I first picked her up, she wasn't even as long as my forearm and weighed no more than a feather, with thick black hair and brilliant green eyes. " David looked into Billy's eyes, his own filled with sadness. "She's bigger now, and she's filling out, but she still doesn't cry."

"Why not?" Billy frowned.

"Don't know. Even when they were inoculating her, she barely even whimpered." David shrugged. "It was eerie."

"Want me to talk to Liv and Viggo? You can bring her here," Billy suggested.

"That wouldn't be any better, Pip." David sighed with a gentle shrug. "I can't work with her with me. She needs a family."

"Want me to scout around my contacts?" Billy whispered, frowning.

"Thanks, Pip," David replied softly. "I'd love to keep her in the family, but none of us are exactly family material."

"I'll see what I can do," Billy stated with a nod. "I've got to check on that filly again. If Dom comes back, tell him I'll see him after dinner."

"Sure," David replied, turning his attention to his work at hand as Billy strode out of the barn.

Chapter 21

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Date: 2006-05-07 01:28 pm (UTC)

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