The Summons: The Aftermath

It was getting late by the time Matt made his way back to Steve’s room. He had set Kevin about the task of preparing his big brothers’ rooms and then had left him in Kurt’s capable hands. Jesse and Sean had been coaxed into helping and though all three of Ryan and Danny’s allies went about the activity in a silent, surly manner, they did begin to feel better just being together.

The rest of the house had scattered in fear of Matt’s wrath. Many had left the house altogether and those who had not were keeping well out of sight. Matt smiled smugly as he came abreast of the now deserted common room. ‘It was too easy,’ he thought. ‘It was just too easy.’

Quietly, he opened the door to Steve’s room and as he stepped inside, his thoughts became more sober. The speech he had given to the lucky common room dwellers had been the only easy part of the day for him. His fondness for all his little brothers had, in fact, made the day exceptionally difficult. He felt sorry of course for Danny. He understood Danny’s impetuous and passionate nature and was sorry for the corner his little brother had backed himself into.

Ryan’s punishment, though, had affected him deeper than that. His relationship with Ryan had always been an odd, at times strained, but ultimately wonderful one. He saw a lot of himself in the young man he and Jason had chosen to be Steve’s little brother. They butted heads sometimes over the right way to protect those they most cared about, but Ryan’s motivation was always clear.

Matt admired his little brother’s grit and determination to do what was right (even if his sense of what was right was at times misguided). He admired his kindness, warmth, and mischievous sense of fun. He was hard on the kid, sometimes, for his reactive tendencies. He knew that, and he always had been. He had, in fact, made a point of being so. It was this part of Ryan’s personality that Matt most identified with. It was the part he recognized most in himself, and it had been his own experiences that had taught him what trouble such tendencies could bring.

All the same, meting out the sentence he himself had agreed to in Council had, in the end, proven to be even more difficult than he had anticipated. It had been excruciatingly hard to face those remorseful blue eyes and stand firm. After all, from a personal perspective, Mcarthy had had it coming. From a personal perspective, in fact, Matt couldn’t help but offer up a silent cheer. He would have liked to hire a band and throw a party, perhaps declare a new holiday in his brothers’ honor. Damn it! From a personal perspective, he was proud of them, proud of both Danny and Ryan, but that was from a personal perspective. Reality was what it was and rules were rules. Exceptions were not to be made, especially for the presidents’ brothers.

Matt sighed. He could not afford to think about these things right now. His own feelings were unimportant. As hard as the day had been on him, it had nearly wrecked Steve, and that was the worry that was at the forefront of his mind now as he stood in the doorway of the recovery room, looking down at his three dozing brothers.

He pulled a chair up next to the couch and nudged Steve gently as he sat down. “Hey,” he whispered as Steve sleepily opened his eyes.

“What time is it?” Steve yawned.

“Time we were all thinking about bed,” Matt answered with a soft smile. “How was this one?” he mouthed, pointing at Danny.

“He was fine,” Steve responded. “Did you threaten him?”

Matt hung his head to hide the involuntary smirk that appeared at the question. “Told you about that, did he?”

“Was it really necessary, Matt?” Steve asked. He was still feeling just a bit perturbed, and his exhausted state did nothing to help his grumpiness.

“Well,” Matt chuckled a bit despite himself, “perhaps not.” Then his eyes grew serious and he looked up to gaze thoughtfully into the earnest eyes of his partner. “But in my mind, at the time, it was.” Steve smiled a little at the beseeching and half apologetic tone, and when Matt bent down to kiss him, he met his partners’ lips full on in a gesture of reassurance. “You know me,” Matt whispered as they parted.

“Yeah,” Steve acknowledged softly with a small laugh. “I know you.”

Matt then held up the key to Danny’s room that was now in his possession. “I didn’t know Danny had given up his room.”

“Yeah,” Steve responded as he instinctively smoothed his sleeping little brother’s hair. “He didn’t want Kevin to be bothered by roommates while he was thinking things over after the meeting. Besides,” he smiled affectionately down at both his younger brothers as they began to stir. “I think they kind of missed rooming together.”

“Well, I’m sure he’ll be glad to have it back . . . .”

“Who will be glad to have what back?” Danny inquired groggily. He was looking at his two oldest brothers now and attempting to follow the conversation.

“You,” Matt laughed, “will be glad to have your room back.”

Danny arched his eyebrows in anxious surprise. “Sure, as long as it’s not tonight,” he responded.

“I think it would be good for you guys to have your own space tonight, Danny,” Matt started.

“No!” It was not Danny’s protest that filled the air and stopped Matt mid-sentence. “No, Matt, please,” Ryan pleaded. “Please, let Danny stay with me tonight. I want him to. Please . . . .”

Matt sighed as he looked at the two fretful faces now confronting him. “All right,” he relented at last. He had neither the heart nor the desire to fight his brothers on such a minuscule detail right now. Besides, maybe they were right. Maybe it was better for them to be together. “I think it’s time we got you guys back to your room then, don’t you?”

Danny and Ryan looked imploringly at him. “Can’t we just stay here?” Ryan entreated. “I don’t want to go out there,” he bit his lip as his eyes filled.

“Me neither,” Danny echoed. “I never want to go out there again.”

“That’s a little extreme, Dan, don’t you think?” Matt responded gently.

“No!” Danny grumped. “How are we going to face them all?”

Matt hesitated, gazing thoughtfully at his suppliant brothers as he searched in his mind for the words to say. The last thing he wanted right now was to appear insensitive. On this issue, however, he was determined to remain firm. Ryan and Danny would have to face their friends eventually; putting it off wouldn’t help. Anyway, they needed their beds. They would be stiff enough tomorrow as it was, and in enough pain. It would not do to have them sleeping on the couch or the floor. Lastly, there was Steve to think about. Matt felt his partner needed some significant TLC of his own and that would be a lot easier to see to once Danny and Ryan were tucked safely into their own room.

“Please don’t make us, Matt!” Danny continued before his brother could respond to his last question. He knew from the look in Matt’s eyes that he was fighting a lost cause, but then a few hours ago he had been sure Matt wouldn’t let him see Ryan too. “Can’t we stay in here? Just for tonight? Please . . . .” He continued to look hopefully at his oldest brother and Ryan’s silent appeal joined his.

Matt’s eyes softened as he contemplated his two miscreant brothers. It was in moments like this that he understood why Steve had such a hard time keeping his resolve. “It will be all right guys,” he assured gently at last.

“Matt please . . . ”

“I understand your feelings, Danny,” Matt cut him off, “but it’s not going to be easier tomorrow. There is no one out there right now. I checked earlier, but I will check again. It’s the easiest it’s going to get, right now,” he reiterated softly.

Steve had up until now remained silent, but as Matt finished speaking, Ryan and Danny turned desperate eyes on him and he swallowed hard as his throat tightened. “Matt’s right,” he whispered huskily. Danny’s face crumpled and Ryan hid his against Steve’s chest. “You both need your rest tonight,” Steve continued, “and you’re not going to sleep comfortably in here.”

“We’re not going to sleep comfortably anywhere,” Danny griped.

“But you will be better off in your beds than you will be anywhere else,” Matt interjected.

“All I have is a cot,” Danny sulked.

“I know,” Matt responded with a touch of exasperation. “That is why I would like it better if you’d go back to your own room . . .”

“No!” Danny and Ryan protested as one. Steve struggled to keep a straight face as his partner struggled to maintain his patience.

“Ok,” Matt replied finally in a soothing tone. “I am not going to force that issue, but you are both going back to Ryan’s room then where you have a bed at least of some kind waiting for you.”

“But everyone is down there!” Danny objected agitatedly.

“Down where?” Matt pretended not to know what he was talking about.

“In the common room,” Ryan answered for his little brother. “How are we supposed to go out there, Matt? The whole house has been down there since this afternoon, waiting for us.”

“No one is down there now guys I promise,” Matt promised once more as he and Steve locked eyes.

“What did you do?” Ryan inquired suspiciously, looking from one of his big brothers to the other.

Matt shrugged and looked guiltily away. “Nothing,” he replied. “They must have gotten bored and lost interest is all . . . .” Steve was an expert at reading his face; there would be no concealing the gesture he had made on his younger brothers’ behalf. He wasn’t sure if Steve would view it with a favorable eye and he certainly did not want to talk about it right now, not in front of Danny and Ryan.

“Bull shit!” Danny accused with a glower. “What did you say to them?”

Matt pursed his lips and looked down at the ground as all his brothers waited. “Ok,” he admitted finally as he looked back at Danny and Ryan. “I might have taken some little steps to ensure that no one would be down there or hanging out in the hallway . . . .”

“Like WHAT?? What did you say??” Ryan demanded.

Matt was silent again for a moment. He knew his brothers would hear eventually about the speech he had made, if not from Kevin, then from Jesse or Sean; somebody would tell them. He wasn’t sure how they would feel about it, and he wasn’t sure they were in a fit enough emotional state to handle this conversation right now. “Essentially, I told them to mind their own business,” he responded at last.

“Is that ALL you said?” Ryan questioned skeptically.

“That was the foundational message, yes,” Matt met his brothers’ accusing eyes head on. “Come on,” he said as Danny and Ryan continued to look searchingly at him, “let’s get you guys to bed.” The change of conversation back to the original subject signaled to Danny and Ryan that their big brother was, for the moment, done talking about this. They still had questions, and they knew Matt was being unusually evasive, but they were both too tired to put up any more of an argument. They too knew they would learn, from other sources, the nature of their oldest brother’s remarks. They weren’t even sure they were in a hurry to know. For the moment, they were just relieved to find they would not have to face the multitude they had both been dreading.

In his current state, even the thought of it was overwhelming to Ryan, and he pressed his fingers to his eyes in an effort to keep back the tears. So many people he had trusted had betrayed him. Sean, Jesse, Andy, and Pat he knew had been there out of concern. That he understood, but who else? Who else had the right to pry into his and Danny’s business like that? Tears began to streak his face despite his efforts, sneaking out beneath his thumb and forefinger. He was just so tired.

“Come on, Bro,” he heard Matt coaxing Danny to his feet and as his oldest brother offered Danny his hand, Ryan felt Steve’s soothing touch once more on his back.

The process of getting Danny and Ryan to bed that night was long and painful. Steps did not come easily to either of them and especially not to Ryan. Lying on the couch all afternoon in the arms of his big brother had been good for resting and good for the reassuring comfort he so needed, but it had not been good for having to move anywhere afterwards. Danny stood to the side, watching, helplessly transfixed as Steve and Matt tried to get Ryan on his feet.

It soon became clear that Ryan was going to need the full support of both his older brothers to get anywhere. Ryan, upon this realization, crumpled into a pile of frustration and exhaustion, and Steve folded him once again in his arms.

Matt, with some gentle words of reassurance, guided Danny from the room, leaving Steve to comfort Ryan as best as possible. Danny went with him as far as Steve’s room, but would go no further without Ryan. Seeing Danny’s determination on this point, Matt left him there, and, taking Steve’s robe from its hook beside the closet door, returned to aid his other two brothers.

To Danny it seemed an eternity that he waited, but it was probably no more than fifteen minutes before Ryan finally appeared. He was wearing Steve’s robe backwards, with the opening towards the back, and was supported on either side by his big brothers.

Matt checked, as he had promised he would, that there was no one lurking in the hallway or the common room. Then, when he was satisfied that all was clear, the slow processional continued. Danny went first, and Ryan, helped along by Matt and Steve, limped his way behind him. Not a single soul was there to witness it. Well, there might have been a cracked door here and there, but not a single soul that would dare own up to it.

At long last the two emotionally exhausted brothers were deposited safely in their room. They were almost too tired to appreciate the extent of the comforts supplied by their little brother and their friends, though they were happy for the ice-packs and fresh sheets and pillows. Those were things they couldn’t help noticing as Steve and Matt settled them for the night.

Matt, sitting on the side of Danny’s bed, smiled as his little brother closed his eyes. ‘They would certainly be grateful tomorrow,’ he thought as he looked around the room once more. Steve was sitting on the side of Ryan’s bed, and he too was looking around, clearly touched by what he saw. Everywhere were signs of how well Kevin knew and idolized his big brothers. They were wanting for nothing that might make them more comfortable over the next day or two: all their favorite movies, all their favorite snacks, piles and piles of ice-packs, books and magazines that were sure to capture their interest, and under Danny’s favorite movie, Remember the Titans, was a note.

It was from Kevin, telling his big brother that his room was ready for him any time he chose to reclaim it, but that his desire to stay with Ryan at least in the short term had been anticipated. It was with this realization that Kevin had left everything he could think of to assure Danny’s comfort as well as Ryan’s in this room for the next couple of days. If there was anything lacking, however, Danny was to “please let [him] know” and he would remedy the situation immediately.

‘What else could he possibly need?’ Matt smirked as he looked over the note once more and thought affectionately of Kevin.

The slightest of sounds from the direction of Ryan’s bed brought Matt’s thoughts tumbling back to the present. He looked up from the note he had been perusing to see Steve leaning into his hands. Overcome by exhaustion and worry, he was swiping desperately at the tears that were now trying to force their way out.

“Hey. Hey Baby, come on,” Matt moved quickly to fold his emotionally shattered young partner in his arms. Gently, he pulled Steve to his feet and as he did Steve buried his face in his chest and clung. “Come on, Baby, let’s get you out of here,” Matt whispered. Steve raised no protest as Matt ushered him tenderly towards the door.

Matt knew there were many things he and Steve needed to talk about, now that this whole painful business was finally over. Most of all, he intended to be sure that Steve understood just who was and was not responsible for the consequences visited upon Danny and Ryan, and he was extremely thankful to have the whole holiday break before them, so this difficult conversation did not have to be raised and explored all at once.

The long separation they had endured the first few months of the semester was the longest they had experienced in the last four years; it had been difficult for both of them. Matt missed the daily presence of Steve's lively energy and wit. He missed his partner's quiet presence, and yes, even his moodiness. Steve was so much a part of his life, now, that one day without him brought on a feeling of melancholy that was utterly uncharacteristic of him. The prolonged absence necessitated by the responsibilities they each had to their own individual lives had been excruciating. Now, despite the circumstances surrounding their reunion, Matt was thrilled to have his partner within arm's reach again, and he intended to savor every second of the next month they would have together. Yes, there was lots to talk about, but tonight, as Matt softly closed the door to his younger brothers’ room and guided his partner down the hallway, there were only two priorities on his mind: getting Steve’s hands cleaned and bandaged, and getting him tucked safely into bed where he could sleep at least some of his confusion on that point away. ‘Sleep is what we all need,’ Matt thought again, resisting the temptation to rub his own eyes as they reentered Steve’s room. There would be plenty of time to talk about things tomorrow.

The Aftermath Chapter 2

It was nearly ten pm now, and an eerie, unnatural stillness settled over the house as tales concerning the severity of Ryan’s punishment continued to spread. Matt had been quite right in his conjecture. The sound proof walls had been inadequate and, though faint, Ryan’s first cries had carried to his stunned housemates below. The next second had found Sean bolting for his room and moments after that loud music had drowned out the terrible sound, but the damage had been done. Matt’s abrasive speech had done nothing to counteract the rumors. His unusual degree of ferocity had, on the contrary, leant them credence.

Now, in that same unnatural stillness, Kurt and Mike waited. They sat silently across the kitchen table from one another, gazing anxiously at the window, and fidgeting with the steaming mugs of coffee in front of them. They were doing more fidgeting than drinking. “Where are they?” Mike finally asked for the third time in five minutes.

“They’ll be here, Man,” Kurt replied irritably. “It’s a four hour drive, and I’m sure they weren’t able to just jump in the car and leave.”

“What if they changed their minds?” Mike questioned tensely.

“They didn’t,” Kurt replied, looking down into his mug. That was the one thing he was sure of. He picked up his cup and breathed in the strong scent of the liquid inside. ‘No way in hell would that happen,’ he thought to himself as he remembered the grave tone accompanying both his earlier conversations. He sipped his coffee absently. ‘No they’d never change their minds now,’ he sighed and looked at the window once more; it only taunted him with the same pasty reflection it had shown him five minutes earlier. He took another sip of his coffee and continued to avoid Mike’s eyes. The wheels they had set in motion were now rolling forward whether they wanted them to or not.

It was nearly another hour before the patience of Steve’s two most loyal friends was finally rewarded. The soft crunch of gravel reached their ears as a car rolled slowly into the driveway, and at last Kurt met Mike’s eyes and held them. This was it. The sound of car doors opening and closing announced the definite arrival of the only two people who could possibly set this messy situation to rights. It had been a gamble to call them, but as Mike had pointed out to Kurt, it would have been a worse gamble not to. Such were the thoughts running through Kurt’s head as he followed the progress of the low, sober murmurings now making their way up the path. He and Mike both got to their feet, and, anticipating the knock, Kurt swung open the door where he was greeted by the somewhat surprised expressions of Jason Williams and Brad Peterson.

“Well slap my ass and call me stupid if it’s not Kurt Brian Coughlin!” Jason broke the silence first and Kurt cringed at the sound of his full name as it emerged from Jason’s mouth. He had it heard it in just that way all too often when Jason was president. Jason caught the sheepish expression and grinned at Brad. “Look at you! Last time I saw you, you were just a knock kneed sophomore, and now you look like someone I might actually think twice about messing with.” He laughed as he smothered Kurt in a bear hug. “It’s great to see you, Man!”

“It’s great to see you too, Jay,” Kurt returned quietly, wincing slightly as Jason released him. “I just wish the circumstances could be different.”

“I know, Bud, I do too,” Jason responded in a tone that belied his former enthusiasm and he studied Kurt’s face for a moment, taking in the apprehensive uncertainty that had settled there. “Calling us was the right thing to do,” he assured softly, giving Kurt’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Let’s hope Steve thinks so,” Kurt grumbled.

“I’ll handle Steve,” Jason replied confidently, “and that overprotective bully of a brother of mine too,” he added wryly in answer to the doubtful look that remained on Kurt’s face.

Kurt sighed. “I’m not sure Matt even knows that Steve summoned Gregg. There was so much going on. They had much more pressing things on their mind this afternoon . . .”

“Kurt,” Jason repeated firmly, “you did the right thing for the position you and Mike were put in. It was a position you should never have been put in to begin with and when all this is done and over, Steve will come to realize that too. It’s all going to work out, ok? We’ll take it from here.” He gave Kurt’s shoulder a final squeeze and then moved past him into the kitchen to greet Mike.

“How you doin’, Brad?” Kurt stretched out his hand to the man who had remained a quiet observer until now.

Brad grasped his hand firmly. “I’m doin’ ok, Man. What about you? You hangin’ in there?” Kurt shrugged as Brad stepped into the kitchen. It had been a long day, a lot of emotion and it was really getting late now. He was tired and worried. Brad sensed it. “It’s going to be ok, Man. You’ll see,” he echoed Jason’s comforting words. “This is nothing new really, right? Steve and Gregg have been at one another since their freshmen year. It’s a shame that Danny and Ryan got caught up with all this, but it’s not the first time. It’s gotten messy on both sides more than once. Now, it’s just coming to a head. It almost had to happen, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, maybe,” Kurt replied somberly.

“We’re going to straighten this out, Man. Don’t worry,” Brad reiterated quietly. Kurt turned away from him and pulled two more coffee mugs from the cabinets above the sink.

“You guys want some coffee?” he asked tiredly. He was doing his best to keep his emotions steady, but the adrenaline brought on by the anticipation of Jason and Brad’s arrival was slowly seeping away now. He had been dealing with Sean, Jesse, and Kevin all day and he was simply worn out. Brad and Jason exchanged glances as they sat down next to Mike at the table.

“Coffee sounds great if there is some,” Jay replied, “but don’t go out of your way. I can’t believe you guys stayed up for us. We didn’t expect that.”

“Well we wouldn’t have left you to fend for yourselves after driving four hours to get here,” Mike returned good naturedly.

“Aww it wasn’t that bad,” Jason returned. “Got to catch up with the big guy here,” he indicated Brad. “As close as we live to one another, you’d think we’d hang out more often, but it’s actually been quite some time.”

“Too long,” Brad replied sincerely as Kurt set mugs in front of him and Jason and then took his own seat.

“Well, apart from our great desire to see you again,” Kurt started sardonically, “we actually did have another good reason for waiting up.” Jason’s eyes twinkled as he once again looked Brad’s way.

“Really?” Brad responded in kind. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense.” Jason couldn’t help smirking and he looked away in an effort to control it. The exchange was typical and for a moment it felt like they really were back in college again.

Kurt was oblivious to the gentle barb that had been tossed his way or else he was too tired to acknowledge it, and he responded as if Brad’s tone was nothing but perfectly natural. “Nobody knows you guys are here yet,” he said quietly, “and, if we can, I’d like to keep it that way, at least for tonight.”

Kurt was so serious and Mike’s silence so much in tune with his friend’s tone that Jason’s stomach knotted in a way that it had not yet done. All traces of laughter disappeared as he looked again for Brad. Brad’s face was now lined with tension that had not been there a moment before. He was looking at Kurt and Mike, watching their faces as they both peered again into the bottom of their coffee cups. Jason redirected his gaze to Steve’s two friends too. Kurt and Mike shifted in their chairs, but they didn’t look up. ‘They’re hiding something,’ Jason thought to himself, and another streak of anxiety accompanied the thought. Brad and Jason waited now for Kurt and Mike to speak. Kurt and Mike, however remained quiet, and it was in that moment that Brad and Jason heard the silence, really heard it for the first time since they had arrived. It was so deep, so still. Jason bit his lip. Something significant had gone on here. There was more to the story than Kurt had given them over the phone. The house was too quiet for 12 am the last week before the end of the semester, and it seemed almost deserted. Sure, some people would have left already for break, but there were almost as certainly some who had stayed. Where were they? What had happened here?

“How are my bros?” he asked at last, and his voice was barely above a whisper.

Kurt shrugged, but still did not raise his eyes. “They’re ok, Jay. It’s over and they got through it. You know how tough they all are . . . .”

“. . .But what? What are you not telling me, Kurt?” Jason pressed agitatedly as he looked from one drawn face to the other.

Kurt swallowed hard and looked at Mike. Mike’s fingers curled around his coffee mug and he refused to meet Kurt’s eyes. There was only one major detail they had not included in the account of the day’s events they had given to Brad and Jason on the phone. They had thought it would be easier to tell in person, but now that the moment had arrived, neither was keen to be the one to tell it.

“Come on Guys, out with it!” Jason commanded. “You’re freaking me out.”

Kurt swallowed again. “They caned, Ryan,” he uttered at last in the smallest voice imaginable.

“They WHAT?” Jason was hoping to hell he had heard wrong.

“They CANED Ryan,” Kurt snapped, and there was no mistaking what he had said this time.

“Jesus!” Jason exclaimed sitting back in his chair as the shock registered. “Jesus, God! Why? Why would they do that?” The expression on Jason’s face was one of utter dismay and Kurt could not bear to look at him as he answered.

“It was the decision of the counsel, Jay . . . .”

“Oh, don’t you dare give me that crap, Kurt!” Jason retorted. “Fuck the counsel! Is Steve the God damn president or what?”

“It’s not Steve’s fault, Jason!” Kurt responded defensively.

“The hell it isn’t!” Jason exclaimed.

“He did everything he could, Jay, to keep consequences to a minimum . . . .”

“BULLSHIT, Kurt! That is complete bullshit! He IS the president! There’s no law that says he had to call a damn counsel meeting! Why didn’t he just handle it?”

“Oh, yeah,” Mike quipped, “that would have made him real popular!”

“Being president is about a lot more than being popular, Mike,” Jason responded.

“Yes it is,” Kurt retorted, “it’s about being fair. Steve had a whole lot of people on his ass. People were talkin’ about favoritism, accusing him of giving Danny and Ryan special treatment . . . .”

“Well, Jesus Christ!” Jason slammed his hand down, causing some of his coffee to slosh onto the table, silencing Kurt, and making all three of his friends jump. “What in the hell is wrong with that? They should get special treatment! They are his little brothers!”

Kurt and Mike looked at Jason in amazement and even Brad was looking at his friend as if he had just sprouted three extra heads. “Do you hear yourself, Man?” Kurt asked.

“I mean it!” Jason repeated. “Danny and Ryan took their licks. They paid their passage in front of the whole fucking fraternity! I know you guys have all had first hand experience to know how hard that night is, but it’s different if you’re the one bending over. You can’t begin to imagine how humiliating it is! I know it’s all for the good of the fraternity. I think we’re all on board with that, but I don’t see any of these other whiners stepping up and volunteering their asses, so I think the least that night should buy my little brothers is a little special treatment!”

Silence greeted the end of Jason’s passionate harangue, and Kurt, Mike, and Brad just stared at him. They didn’t really know what to say. They had all seen Matt, Steve, Ryan, and Danny in their turn through what had undoubtedly been the roughest nights of their college careers. They had been there when their friends needed them, but they had never stopped to consider the lasting effects of the night. It wasn’t a subject anyone wanted to dwell on, least of all the presidents’ brothers, and none of them had ever aired their feelings as honestly and openly as Jason just had. What Jason had said was true, and it was a point of view worth considering. ‘Too bad he wasn’t at the counsel meeting,’ Kurt thought and as he thought it, he couldn’t help wondering why Steve had not called him. ‘He would have been the best advocate Danny and Ryan could possibly have had.’ He glanced at Brad and Mike, but could not read either of his friends’ faces. He looked back at Jason.

“Ok, Jay,” he replied quietly. “So what would you have done?”

“I don’t know,” Jason returned candidly. “I wouldn’t have summoned them though! Not the first time it happened. Maybe for starters, I would have grounded them . . . .”

“Oh, Jason, come on!”

“I would have grounded Mcarthy too,” Jason continued undeterred, “and then I would have assigned them a joint project that would have taken them the rest of the semester to complete.”

Mike snorted. “Can you imagine Danny, Ryan, and Gregg working on a project together?” He smirked at Kurt, but Kurt was too tired to see the humor at the moment. Brad remained silent. He and Jay had discussed this on the way up. He didn’t think it was such a bad idea.

“And this would have been your decision?” Kurt challenged now in a tone of disbelief. “Without the advice of the counsel? Without even taking time to think about it? It’s just that easy?”

“What’s wrong with it?” Jason returned unfazed.

“Your little brothers were way out of line here, Jay! That’s what’s wrong with it! They attacked a senior!”

“A senior who was intentionally baiting and taunting them on what was well known among all the upper classmen to be an emotionally difficult day for them.”

“Jay,” Kurt tried to reason with him. “You know how Steve dotes on Danny and Ryan! If there was any possible way to spare them the Summons don’t you think he would have? There was just too much talk about favoritism, too much speculation that Steve was not being fair. There was even a house pool going with greatest odds placed on Danny and Ryan getting off completely.”

“So what?” Jason demanded. “So what if there was talk? Talk is just that . . . talk . . . and there is always plenty of it to deal with no matter who the president is. I dealt with it, Matt dealt with it and everyone who came before us dealt with it too. You can’t let it influence you . . . .”

“That’s real easy to say, Jay!” Mike got a little heated too, now. “But it’s a lot easier said than done! Especially when there is some truth to what’s being said. You know how Steve is with your little brothers, Man, and they’ve been playin’ him a little this year. It’s not like it was when you and Matt were here and you had control of them. If this were last year, or the year before, this probably wouldn’t have escalated so far, but it’s not and it did so the situation had to be dealt with. No one is more broken up about it than Steve, and you can’t possibly blame him anymore than he blames himself!”

Some of the fire dissipated from Jason’s demeanor and he bit his lip as he looked at Steve’s two best friends. A feeling of intense empathy for the current president filled him for the first time. Of course this had been hard on him. Of all the years for this to happen, it just had to be when Steve was President he thought wryly. Whether or not Steve’s leniency had contributed to the incident or whether there was another way to handle it once it occurred was a moot point now Jason reminded himself. He was here to support his brothers, all of them, and see them through the rest of this nightmare. It was not the time or place to point fingers.

“Think of it this way, Jay,” Kurt went on quietly. “Ryan is going to be president next year. Do you really want him entering that position with a propensity towards the same types of temper bursts that are responsible for landing him in this situation?”

“No, of course not,” Jason replied edgily, “but Ryan doesn’t generally have ‘temper bursts’ without good reason. He’s a prankster and a bit of a clown at times, but you have to really be trying to set his temper off. Gregg must have been really working at it.”

“Well, there’s no doubt about that,” Kurt acknowledged with a touch of irony, “but that doesn’t excuse Ryan’s behavior, Jay.”

“I know it doesn’t excuse it completely,” Jason replied calmly, “but I can’t believe that a caning was warranted.”

“It was a difficult decision, Jason,” Mike spoke up once more, “and it was not taken lightly by anyone. The counsel met several times until finally this compromise was reached . . .”

“I still don’t understand why Steve even got the counsel involved!” Jason became agitated once more. “This should have been his decision!”

“Oh, Jay, Man! You just don’t get it!” Kurt’s frustration returned too. “The way things went down, it was all but out of Steve’s hands completely.”

“Nothing’s out of his hands completely!” Jason returned heatedly. “He’s the president!”

“All right,” Brad intervened for the first time as Kurt and Jason glared at one another across the table. “This is getting us nowhere. We are all on the same side here and what’s done is done. Jay and I came here to help, not to quibble about things we can’t change,” he looked pointedly at his friend. Jason scowled and looked away. “There is nothing any of us can do about what has already happened, but we do have some control over what happens next.” He looked at Kurt and Mike. “Now, you guys had the good sense to call us, but apparently you didn’t tell us everything,” he admonished gently.

“Sorry,” Kurt responded quietly, “but we knew Jay was going to be angry about Ryan, and we thought it would be best to tell him in person. Maybe we were wrong . . . .”

Kurt and Mike were both looking with some chagrin at Jason now and Brad’s eyes too turned again to his friend. He was hoping that Jay would take the olive branch that had been extended to him, but Jason’s petulant demeanor didn’t change. Brad sighed to himself. ‘Guy is stubborn as a mule!’ he thought irritably. He looked back at Kurt and Mike. “Why don’t you guys tell us again, now, everything that happened, starting with the fight the day of the meeting? Then we can figure out what we’re going to do to handle this disaster.”

“Don’t leave anything out this time!” Jason interjected crabbily, and Brad shot him a look.

So, Kurt and Mike began to rehash once more all the painful details leading up to the punishments Ryan and Danny had received earlier that day. They started by telling Brad and Jason of the bond that had formed between Danny and Kevin. They recounted Danny’s ever increasing state of agitation as the day of the meeting approached, and told their two attentive listeners how worried Ryan and Steve had been about their little brother. They told of the pool game that had occurred the morning of the meeting and of the volatile confrontation that had taken place between Danny and Kevin. They told of Danny’s raw emotional state later on that day as Gregg taunted him in the Common Room, and they told how Sean and Ryan had tried to intervene. They told of the disastrous attack Ryan and Danny had ultimately launched on Gregg and of Sean, Jesse, Andy and Pat’s valiant attempts to prevent it. They then told how the delighted senior, having been nearly choked to death, had gleefully dangled the inevitable Summons in front of Danny, pushing Ryan’s temper once again past its threshold.

Brad’s brow furrowed as he listened to this account and Jason’s face clouded with barely restrained fury. Kurt and Mike then went on to tell of the details most directly relevant to the day. They began with Sean and Jesse’s discovery that their friends had been summoned and their well intentioned, but fruitless search for Kevin. They then went on to describe Gregg Mcarthy’s despicable behavior, and how terrible it had been for Danny and Ryan when they arrived to what they thought would be a virtually empty house, only to discover that the common room was filled with their morbidly curious housemates. They went on additionally to describe how traumatizing it was for Kevin to come looking for his brothers, only to have their predicament unfolded for him in front of the whole house. Brad’s face had grown extremely grave by this time, and though he said nothing, it was clear that he was not at all impressed with his little brother’s behavior.

Finally, Jason had had enough. “Jesus Christ! Ok!” he interjected impatiently. “I can’t listen to this anymore! Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that the Summons was justified. I’m still not seeing how the caning was necessary.”

“Well there was another incident, Jay . . .,” Kurt began as he exchanged uneasy glances again with Mike. Ok, so there were two major details they had failed to mention.

“What do you mean, there was another one?” Jason inquired suspiciously. “I thought this was all about the fight.”

“Ryan went after Gregg again a couple of weeks later. Fortunately, Steve was there to intervene; if he hadn’t been there would have been another attack, and Ryan would have been out of chances.”

“Well what about Mcarthy?!” Jason demanded indignantly. “How is it that he keeps having the opportunity to badger my brothers into this type of behavior? You know damn well neither of them is inclined to pick fights! When is someone going to do something about his jackass tendencies? Sorry, Man,” he glanced at Brad. Brad’s body language, and facial expression, however, indicated that there was no need for such an apology.

“Jason, as you and Brad are both aware, Gregg knows how to manipulate the rules. He can be an a-hole at times but he rarely steps the line . . . .”

“The hell he doesn’t!” Jason protested. “He finds whatever buttons are pushable and he pushes them!”

“But as you just implied, he does it to everyone . . . .”

“Oh, come on, Kurt!” Jason snapped. “Are you really going to tell me Gregg wasn’t trying as hard as he could to get Danny and Ryan in trouble? Everyone knows he has it in special for them! This has been going on for 3 years now, but Matt and Brad always managed to keep a lid on it, so how did things get so far out of control this year?

“Well, in case you didn’t notice,” Mike replied sarcastically, “Matt and Brad weren’t here this year.”

“All right!” Brad rejoined, finally. “Corners, everyone! Kurt, what happened between Gregg and Ryan the second time?”

“It was over Danny again of course,” Kurt supplied resignedly. “It happened in the locker room right before the Championship. They still weren’t sure what was happening with Kevin. It didn’t look like he was going to play and that meant, as you already know, that Danny, Ryan, and Steve weren’t going to get to play either. Danny was a mess and Ryan was feeling helpless. Gregg started heckling Danny about Kevin’s apparent lack of loyalty and Ryan just lost it.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Jason responded derisively.

“Anyway,” Kurt continued without rising to the bait, “Steve stepped in just in time, but he felt it was an incident he could not keep from Matt and Matt felt in turn that it was a matter to be discussed by the counsel. Ryan has to learn to control his temper, Jay. I know you don’t think it’s fair that Gregg has so far escaped without punishment, and maybe it’s not, but he’s not going to be president next year is he?”

Jason didn’t know exactly how to respond to that and as Mike, Kurt, and Brad looked at his face, none of them knew what to say either, so another awkward silence descended. “It’s all right, Jay,” Brad said at last. “I’ll talk to Gregg tomorrow, and he’ll have to do his time, just as your brothers did . . . .”

“How’s that going to help Ryan and Danny now?” Jason demanded angrily.

“At least it will even the playing field . . . .” Jason slid his chair back from the table and got to his feet. “Where are you going?” Brad asked.

“I need a beer,” Jason replied. “Coffe’s not doing it for me, right now.” He made his way over to the refrigerator and opened the door. Then he stood there for a moment, pretending to survey the contents of the fridge. He could feel the concerned eyes of all his friends boring into his back. What an ordeal this had been. ‘What a fucking ordeal!’ he thought.

As Jason was searching for a beer and trying to process the story he had just been told, his friends remained quiet behind him. Kurt was fidgeting now with the crumpled envelope he had on the table in front of him. He had been absently folding and unfolding it all night and by now it was quite wrinkled. “Is that it?” Brad asked quietly at last, gesturing towards the envelope. Kurt nodded. “Let me have it,” Brad commanded gently. Kurt willingly pushed the envelope with its troubling contents towards its more suitable carrier, and Brad took possession of it, folding it once and placing it in his pocket.

It was in that moment that Kurt caught just the slightest of movements out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to see Kevin Kramer sneaking away on tiptoe from the door of the kitchen. “Hey, Kev’bo, wait!” Kurt called him back. The sound of his voice caused Kevin’s back to go rigid and broke Jason’s trance. Jason finished selecting his beer and closed the door. He turned just as Kevin turned guiltily to face Kurt and the two brothers’ eyes met for the very first time. Kevin reddened and looked quickly at Kurt. He was wearing nothing but his underwear and a t-shirt.

“Sorry,” he mumbled apologetically. “I didn’t mean to listen. I just came down to get a drink of water.”

“It’s ok, Bud,” Kurt replied soothingly. “Having some trouble sleeping?” Kevin nodded. “Well, kid, these are guys you should get to know, anyway. Jay,” he addressed Jason, now, whose eyes had never left Kevin. “I’d like you to meet your youngest brother, Kevin Kramer.”

Kevin’s blush deepened and he looked back with an expression of awe at the older man standing in front of the refrigerator. Jason’s name was far from new to him. Danny and Ryan had spoken of him frequently, and Ryan especially spoke in hero worshipping terms.

“So,” Jason smiled a little despite himself, “you’re the rascal at the center of this whole big mess, huh?” Kevin bit his lip and looked away, and Jason realized his mistake immediately. ‘Way to go, Dickhead!’ he reprimanded himself. ‘That was just the perfect thing to say!’ “Here, Bud,” he held out the beer he had just taken from the fridge. “You look like you could use one of these as much as me.” Kevin looked hopefully at the beverage being offered and then looked at Kurt.

“It’s all right, Kev’bo,” Kurt assured. “I think Steve would approve.”

Kevin looked back at Jason and tentatively reached out to take the bottle being offered. “It’s been a pretty tough day hasn’t it, Bro?” Jason asked gently, pushing the beverage firmly into his hand. Kevin nodded, not daring yet to try his voice. “You know I was just messing with you a moment ago, and that none of this is your fault, don’t you?” Kevin shrugged. His eyes lingered on Jason as Jay turned back to the refrigerator and fished out another beer, and his eyes were still on his big brother as Jason turned again to face him. With another soft smile, Jason set his own beer on the counter and took the bottle opener from where it hung on the side of the fridge. He couldn’t help feeling drawn to the kid, he thought, as he uncapped Kevin’s beer. All the stories he had heard about Kevin had painted him as Danny’s uncanny double, but those big eyes reminded him more of Ryan. He sighed as he popped the top off his own beer and leaned against the counter.

“Here, Kev, have a seat,” Mike pulled out the empty chair next to him and cautiously Kevin approached the table. He was eying the other stranger now, the one seated between Kurt and Mike, on the other side of the table from where Mike was inviting him to sit now. Mike followed his eyes. “This is Brad,” he introduced unceremoniously as Kevin took his seat. At the name, Kevin’s eyes narrowed. He had heard just as much about Brad as he had about Jason. He knew who Brad was; Brad was Gregg Mcarthy’s big brother. Brad extended his hand, but Kevin did not take it.

“What are you doing here?” he challenged heatedly.

“Kev!” Mike admonished. Brad though was not offended. He struggled to repress a smirk as he looked over at Jason, but Jason grinned openly at him. ‘NOW the kid sounded like Danny.’

“Kevin,” Kurt interjected, “you may not know this, but Brad is not only Gregg’s big brother, he is Matt’s best friend.”

“So!” Kevin remained undeterred as he glowered at Brad. “That doesn’t explain what he’s doing here!”

“Well, you don’t need to know precisely what he’s doing here, Bud. He came to help. That’s all you need to know. He and Jason both came a long way on a last minute request. Mike and I asked them both to come, so unless you’d like to incur Matt’s displeasure, I would advise being respectful to both these guys while they’re here.”

Kevin frowned and thought of his resolve, that was only hours old, not to ever do anything that would cause Matt to spank him. ‘Was this a spanking offense?’ he wondered. His scowl deepened, but at last he grudgingly accepted Brad’s still extended hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kevin,” Brad tried to contain the amusement in his voice. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Me too,” Kevin returned sourly and he took a swig of his beer.

Now that Kevin was among them, there was an unspoken agreement among the 4 older members of the fraternity to put further arguments concerning the day’s events on hold; Kevin had been through enough.

“So, Kev,” Jason started as he made his way over to join the sober little group now gathered around the table. “The Bulldogs are champions this year, and from all I’ve heard that is mostly because of you. How does it feel to be the newest and biggest star of the team?”

Kevin shrugged as Jason pulled out a chair and sat down. A lot of the euphoria caused by the team’s championship had been tainted for him by the circumstances surrounding it. “It’s all right I guess,” he responded quietly. “I’m not really the star. Danny is. He’s had the team close to the championship since last year. I maybe gave the final push in that direction, but without Danny, it would never have happened.” Kevin’s eyes were fixed now on the label of his beer bottle as he absently started to peel it. Jason watched him quietly for a moment, surprised by the humble response. Matt and Steve had told him of the deep attachment that had formed between Danny and Kevin, and Mike and Kurt had of course just confirmed it, but seeing the evidence that testified to it sparked another unexpected feeling of tenderness towards the kid.

Since he had graduated, Jason had followed the progress of his alma mater’s team closely, as most ex- Bulldogs did. All reports of Kevin Kramer had painted him as the typical cocky kid with stars in his eyes. Theoretically, Kevin’s view of the world was that it should revolve around him, ‘and why not?’ Jason thought. ‘Within the bounds of Saber Bend, it practically did.’ That was not what he was seeing right now, though. Whatever traces of cockiness had ever been there were gone, over ridden at least for the moment, by an apparently genuine and extremely appealing affection for his brothers. Jason sighed. It was pointless to try and make small talk with the kid right now; there was only one thing on his mind. “How are they?” he asked quietly at last.

“They’ve been better,” Kevin answered shortly. “Why are you guys here?” He finally raised his eyes to meet the earnest stare Jason had trained on him.

“Kurt and Mike thought we might be able to help,” Jason responded in the same undertone he had used previously.

“With what?” Kevin asked bitterly. “It’s over. I mean, Ryan will probably be glad to see you, but what can HE possibly do to help?” He turned accusing eyes in Brad’s direction once more. “It’s his little brother’s fault this whole thing happened to begin with!”

“There was fault on both sides, Kev,” Kurt rebuked gently.

“Yeah, whatever!” Kevin scoffed and he took another swig of his beer.

“It’s true, Kevin,” Brad entered the conversation for the first time, placing his hand gently on Mike’s arm to stay the sharp retort. “There is fault on both sides, and everyone has to atone for their part. Your brothers have paid for the mistakes they made and Jay and I are here to keep things fair.” A look of bewilderment replaced the hostility that Kevin had been radiating in Brad’s direction, and then as Brad held his eyes, slowly a look of shocked comprehension emerged. “Understand?” Brad questioned gently, and finally Kevin nodded.

“So what are you guys going to do?” Kevin inquired tentatively.

“We haven’t decided yet,” Brad responded candidly.

“Kev,” Kurt interjected, putting a stop to further prying. “You should understand that no one else knows the information that Brad just trusted you with. No one else even knows they are here yet. Not only do we not know what we are going to do yet, the topic is also a highly sensitive one. I do not expect we will share our decisions with you even when we have made them, and what you have learned thus far, you need to keep to yourself. Is that clear?”

Kevin shrugged. “Ok,” he responded carelessly.

“I mean it, Kevin,” Kurt restated firmly. “If you leak this to anyone, and I do mean anyone, you are going to find yourself in very hot water, and I would think you’ve had enough of that for awhile, yes?”

“OK!” Kevin responded in a tone that would have made Matt’s hair stand on end. “I won’t tell anybody!”

An awkward silence filled the room, and the four older guys exchanged looks as Kevin glowered once more at his beer bottle and tried to come to grips with his temper. He hadn’t meant to snap, but sometimes he felt everyone treated him like a kid, and he wasn’t one. He could keep a secret. All Kurt had to do was ask. There had been no need, in his view, for the strongly worded admonishment he had just received.

“I don’t know about everyone else,” Mike ventured at last, “but I’m starting to fade here.”

“Yeah,” Brad agreed, “I gotta admit, I’m pretty beat too. The drive wasn’t bad, but all the running around beforehand just about did me in.”

“We’ve got to figure out where to put you guys tonight,” Kurt contemplated thoughtfully.

“Well no one’s in Danny’s room right . . .?” Mike started.

“NO!” Kevin huffed. “No one’s staying in there!”

“All right, Kev, relax,” Kurt soothed. “It was just a suggestion.” Brad and Jason looked at Kurt inquiringly. “Kevin fixed up Danny and Ryan’s rooms this afternoon,” he explained, “made them both as comfortable as possible, but Danny opted to stay with Ryan, which is what he’s been doing for the last month or so . . . .” Jason raised his eyebrows. “It’s a long story,” Kurt sighed as Kevin’s cheeks reddened again. “The long and short of it is, though, that he worked hard to prepare that room, so we should leave it as is, ready for Danny whenever he moves back into it.”

“Well, that’s no problem for me,” Jason responded. “I brought my bedroll and my plan all along was to crash in Ryan’s room.”

“You sure you don’t want a bed?” Kurt asked. “There are plenty of empty ones. I’ve just got to think whose not here.”

“Nope, I’m staying with my bros,” Jason repeated decidedly.

“Ok. Well then, Brad, that just leaves you.”

“I have my bedroll too,” Brad responded. “I’ll just find a spot on the floor or one of the couches somewhere down here.”

“Nonsense!” Kurt replied. “If Jason wants to spend the night on the floor in Ryan’s room, that’s his business, but I’m finding you a bed. Kev, haven’t your roommates both left for vacation already?”

“Why?” Kevin questioned suspiciously as he met Kurt’s eyes. He looked over at Brad and then back at Steve’s best friend. “He’s not staying in my room!” he declared belligerently.

“Oh, Kev, come on!” Kurt returned irritably. “He’s here to help. He’s doing me, Mike, and your brothers, for that matter, a favor.”

“I don’t care! I don’t want him in my room!” Kevin maintained stubbornly.

“Kurt, it’s ok,” Brad intervened. “I was planning on sleeping on the floor.”

“You’re NOT sleeping on the floor!” Kurt repeated adamantly. “You sleep in my bed, and I will sleep in James’. Is that all right with you, Kev?” he demanded, and his tone was more threatening than inquiring. He was as tired as anyone at the table. His nerves were frayed and he was getting just a little fed up with Kevin’s attitude. Kevin sensed that he had pushed Kurt just about as far as he dared so he gave an affirmative, if sullen, shrug of his shoulders to show that the last proposed plan was acceptable if not exactly thrilling.

Jason had all this time been watching Kevin closely. His heart ached for the kid. The only thing harder than being on the receiving end of that vicious fraternity paddle, was having to stand by while your brothers got licks. It was the most helpless feeling in the world. ‘And it only gets harder,’ Jason mused as he tried to shake off the memory of the meeting he had presided over Ryan’s freshman year. He didn’t want to think about that right now. “Hey, Kev,” he started in an inviting tone, “you want to help me get my things? I’m going to need you to show me which room Danny and Ryan are in, and I have some stuff for you guys, so I don’t know if I can carry it all in one trip.” As hard as Kevin tried to hide it, there was no missing the eagerness in his expression as he looked up at Jason, and even Kurt had to smother a smile.

“Ok,” Kevin responded with an affected air of nonchalance that caused Brad to smirk at Mike. Jason was one of the elite Rho Beta Chi members who had actually found his way into the NFL after graduation. He was connected to players and coaches throughout the league, so the promise of “stuff” for his little brothers was certainly an enticing one.

And so the long evening finally began to wind down and come to a close. It lingered just long enough for Mike, Kurt, and Brad to finish their coffee, and wash their mugs in the sink. They left them to dry in the drainer, and then, with a knowing exchange of glances, left Jason and Kevin to themselves. Steve’s friends accompanied Brad to the car to help him with his things and then the three of them made their way as quietly as possible upstairs, leaving Jason and Kevin to finish their beers, respectfully giving the two brothers time to connect.

Jason and Kevin were tired too of course, but they were in no real hurry. Each was intrigued by the other and glad for some time alone, even if all they were doing at the moment was sitting in companionable silence. As little as they knew one another, it was a reassuring and comfortable silence that reflected the empathy they both felt for Danny and Ryan; it was a bonding silence. It was a silence that somehow made that earlier silence seem just a little less horrible: Kevin felt just a little less alone and Jason felt just a little less helpless as they sat there in the kitchen, sipping their beers and musing over the events that had brought them together.

The Aftermath Chapter Three:

The Proverbial Fan

Begins to Blow

Jason held his breath as he opened the door to Ryan’s room, waiting for any small sound that, in the stillness of the house, might betray him, but the deep silence remained unbroken. His eyes followed the shaft of light that now illuminated the sleeping forms of his two brothers, and he hesitated. They looked so peaceful; maybe this was not the time; maybe he should wait. He looked undecidedly in the direction of Kevin’s room. Kevin had invited him to stay in his roommate, Alex’s bed. Jason couldn’t help smirking as he thought of the very different reception he and Brad had gotten from the kid. Kevin was quite a handful. ‘A real chip off the old block,’ he thought wryly. It would take a good deal of patience and a firm hand on the reins to get Kevin through his next few years of school. Jason smiled crookedly at the thought. ‘If only . . .,’ he thought. ‘But no,’ he pushed the idea out of his head and the next moment his wistful ponderings were interrupted.

“Jay?” The voice that called to him was weak and gravelly from the emotion of the day. It startled Jason. It was so unlike the voice he knew, that at first he wasn’t even sure which of his brothers was stirring.

“Hey champ,” he returned tenderly as he looked towards the sound to see familiar blue eyes staring back at him.

“What are you doing here?” Ryan inquired huskily.

“I came to see you, Bud,” Jason whispered. Thoughts of Kevin were gone for the moment, now, as he moved quietly into the room, set his duffel bag and bedroll on the floor, and eased the door closed until only a dim sliver of light remained. Danny still appeared to be sleeping soundly and Jason fervently hoped he would not wake him.

“So, you know what happened?” Ryan inquired in a tone of distress.

Jason left his things on the floor and approached the bed. Ryan’s eyes followed him all the way. “Yeah, I know, Bro,” Jason acknowledged grimly, squatting beside him and peering into the puffy eyes. Ryan turned away from him, pressing his face into the pillow. “Got yourself into a real pickle this time didn’t you, champ?” Jay chided gently.

“I fucked up, Jay!” the words came out in a muffled sob. “I fucked up royally!”

“Oh Ry,” Jason’s hand went to the back of his little brother’s head as Ryan’s shoulders heaved under the light sheet that covered him. Jason had to bite down hard to keep from saying the words that came impulsively in that moment to the tip of his tongue. He wanted to absolve Ryan from all responsibility, tell him none of this was his fault, and his heart ached because he could not do it. As a former president, he knew better. To utter such words now would bring comfort to Ryan and would deliver the message his little brother most wanted to hear, but it would also reverse the benefit of the excruciatingly hard lesson he had learned today. It would, additionally, undermine Steve and Matt’s authority, and Jason would not go against his two brothers in such a way. It was a difficult situation, and one that Ryan and Danny had earned some punishment for. Jason might disagree with how Matt and Steve had handled it; he might even now be preparing some choice words that would let them know just how vehemently he disagreed with them, but he would not disrespect them nor would he confuse Ryan by allowing his little brother to know the full extent of his feelings. “Don’t do this to yourself,” he entreated softly instead. “It’s over.” Ryan didn’t respond; he just balled his fists in the pillow and clutched it tighter to his face.

Jason was at a loss. He didn’t know what to say, and his legs were starting to cramp from crouching. He glanced around the room, and now that his eyes had adjusted somewhat, he could see the contents. There wasn’t much more than the bare essential furniture (well, these days, T.V., DVD/VCR, refrigerator, and X-BOX were considered bare essentials), but happily he did spot Ryan’s desk chair. It was nothing fancy, just a plain wooden chair, and it was just what he needed. If he was very careful, he could lift it and maneuver it without waking his other little brother. His aching, burning legs urged him to chance it.

“Are you mad at me?” another garbled whisper greeted him as he set the chair beside Ryan’s bed and sat down.

“Oh, come on now, Champ, you know better than that,” Jason rebuked gently. “Nobody’s mad at you.”

“Matt and Steve sure were,” Ryan choked into the pillow.

“Yeah right!” Jay scoffed with a half laugh. “How long was Steve mad at you, Bro? Half an afternoon?”

Ryan shrugged his shoulders. That was about right. “Well Matt was really pissed!” he insisted.

Jason sighed. Yeah. Matt would have been. Matt was a stickler for rules. ‘Though,’ he pondered ironically, ‘his little brother was good enough at breaking them when it suited him. When he did, however, he accepted the consequences without complaint.’ “You do the crime, you do the time.” That was Matt’s philosophy and it never wavered, whether he was applying it to his brothers, himself, or another member of the fraternity. It had a lot to do with the way Matt had been raised. ‘That piece of crap orphanage where he grew up would make a rock out of anyone,’ Jason thought bitterly, ‘and it wasn’t just himself that Matt had been watching out for in there.’ Jay sighed again. “He’s not mad now, is he, Kid?” He finally responded mostly to humor Ryan. He knew there was no way Matt would still be even the least bit angry. He was as forgiving as he was strict and he would consider the whole thing done and over now. It was water under the bridge so to speak, no reason to dwell on it.

“No, but he was!” Ryan reiterated in another play for his brother’s sympathy.

“I know it’s been a rough day, Bud,” Jason replied consolingly, “but it’s over now . . . .”

“No it’s not!” Ryan sobbed. “It hurts, Jay! It hurts like hell! I can’t even get up to go to the bathroom comfortably and I’m supposed to go home like this? I can’t hide this, Man! My folks’ll never let me come back.”

“Ok, Champ, ok,” Jason soothed. He moved onto the bed next to Ryan and gathered his little brother into his arms. “We’re going to figure it out, ok?” Ryan clung to him. “It’s going to be ok,” he whispered again, dropping his chin to the top of Ryan’s head. Ryan was too worked up to respond now, so for awhile Jason just held him.

It was quite some time before Ryan started to calm down. Seeing Jason had sparked a much needed release for him. It felt good to talk about the anxieties that were at the forefront of his mind without feeling he was going to worry anyone or add to their guilt; Steve and Matt felt bad enough as it was. He didn’t want to make them feel worse. “What am I going to do, Jay?” he choked at last.

“Well, Bro, I think maybe you better start by letting me see what kind of damage we’re dealing with, huh?”

Ryan turned beet red and pressed his face into Jason’s chest. “I don’t want you to see,” he mumbled.

“Come on, Champ, you know there’s nothing there I haven’t seen before, ok? Let me just see how bad it really is.” Jason knew there was a good chance that things felt worse to Ryan right now than they really were. He had a solution in mind to the problem Ryan was posing, and he hoped fervently that Ryan would be receptive. It was a proposal he had been mulling over on the long drive down to the college in any case, but it would require last minute adjustments to Ryan’s Christmas break plans that the kid might not want to make. If Ryan was going to be up and around in a couple of days, he might prefer to go ahead with the plans he had made. “It’s ok,” he soothed again as he began to peel the sheet carefully back and Ryan clutched at him. “Easy, Bud,” he coaxed again, but the words stuck in his throat and his arm tightened reflexively around his little brother as Ryan’s freshly caned bottom came into view. Nothing had prepared Jason for the mass of raw and bloody welts that now met his eyes. His stomach turned violently as intense feelings of rage and nausea battled inside. ‘What the hell were they thinking?’ he thought to himself as he covered the wounded area once more as carefully as possible.

Jason pulled Ryan closer, but did not say anything, so, finally, after a minute, Ryan looked shyly up at him. He took in the new, darker look on his brother’s face and his eyes welled. He did not want to be the cause of trouble between his brothers and Jason did not have to say a word for Ryan to know what was on his mind. Jason too knew that Ryan was reading him, but there was nothing he could say to reassure him. He met the anxious blue eyes head on, and cupped his little brother’s face in his hand. “Looks like you’re spending the holidays with me, Little Bro.,” he whispered, brushing his fingers over the flushed, wet cheek. Without a word, Ryan put his head back down and nestled once more against him. Jason tightened his arms again and sighed. He knew Ryan would like him to just leave things be, but he couldn’t do it. He had not been consulted about this decision before it was carried out, but he would damn well have his say now, even if Ryan would rather he left it alone.

The Aftermath Chapter Four:

The Infamous Contents Hit

It was a long, sleepless night for the presidents’ brothers and their friends. It was a night filled with ticking clocks, dripping faucets, imaginary noises in the wall, and worst of all, it was a night filled with thoughts, thoughts of what they could have done differently.

Rho Beta Chi was not an early to rise kind of fraternity (is there such a thing?) The so called early risers normally stumbled out of bed just in time to make it to their 9 am classes during the week. On the average weekend the concept of “early riser” was pretty much obliterated completely, unless you count those who never went to bed until 7am. On this last Thursday morning before the Christmas break began, however, there were stirrings in the house as early as 6am.

Brad Peterson was down in the kitchen, moving about with the quiet robotic ease of one who was accustomed to both his surroundings and his routine. He might have graduated a year ago, and in many ways perhaps he had moved on, but to him the Rho Beta Chi House was still home; to him, this house would always be home. He opened the cupboards to find that the coffee filters and the cheap tin of coffee were right where he expected they would be. Absently, he took them down, placed a filter in the coffee maker, opened the coffee tin, and began scooping.

It was fortunate that he did not need to think about what he was doing because his mind was most definitely elsewhere. It was in the same place it had been all night, caught between two worlds. It was calling him back to the carefree days he had spent as a Saber Bend Bulldog, and at the same time urging him to think of the reality he now lived in. It was enticing him with the anticipation of seeing his little brother and all his old friends, but also plaguing him with thoughts of the difficult situation before him. ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . .’ he thought wryly as he tossed the last scoop of grinds into the filter, and stuck the cup back into the coffee maker. God, how he had hated that book! He filled the container that was sitting by the sink and poured water into the machine, closed the top and then flicked the button to its on position.

He was trying very hard to avoid being ensnared in the needless drama of his college days while still acknowledging that this behavior of Gregg’s was something that had to be dealt with. ‘How could we have let this happen?’ His unrelenting conscience pricked him again. He and Matt had known of the danger. They had talked about it before, during, and after graduation. They had both been worried about the acrimonious feelings between their little brothers, and the explosive situation they were leaving behind. They had seen how those feelings were bleeding over into the next generation of Bulldogs and that had concerned them even more, especially given Danny’s hot head and Ryan’s fierce loyalty and determination to protect his brothers. Gregg and Steve had both been warned in no uncertain terms to keep their little brothers out of their war, and Kyle, Ryan, and Danny had been cautioned to stay out of it. They did not know the history and were operating on an incomplete understanding. There was some justice on both sides and both Steve and Gregg’s feelings were understandable to an extent; they had both been violated at a time when they were young and vulnerable, uncertain of themselves and extremely impressionable. ‘For Gregg,’ Brad thought sadly, ‘the sense of betrayal had not been new.’ This time a budding friendship had been the casualty of his displaced anger. The shock and outrage and injury had run so deep, however, on both sides that nothing Brad or Matt could do or say had any hope of repairing the damage.

Brad sank wearily back against the counter as images of Steve and Gregg’s freshmen year flashed again before him. They were the same images that had haunted him all night: images of Steve lying unconscious and battered on the ground, Matt’s panicked agony, and Gregg’s remorseful despair. He shuddered as he once again remembered his own sense of helplessness. ‘I should have kept a closer eye,’ he reprimanded himself for the millionth time since Kurt’s phone call. ‘This was bound to happen. Why weren’t we watching for it?’

“Well! I’ll be damned! Look what the cat dragged in!” The deep baritone voice interrupted Brad’s unwelcome reverie, and he looked up, smiling crookedly as he took in his best friend’s disheveled appearance.

“Morning glamour puss,” he scoffed. “You’re looking pretty hot yourself.”

“Touché,” Matt laughed as he and Brad exchanged that macho embrace that mystifies women everywhere. It must have taken long years of scientific research and experimentation to perfect that embrace. It somehow communicates just exactly the right amount of warmth (and is saved for only very special occasions and very good friends, otherwise a hardy handshake will do). Despite the true affection it does communicate, however, it also manages to avoid any unnecessary show of emotion or overly sentimental implications. Heaven forbid the world should know how very deeply men care about their friends. Matt and Brad had this obligatory male ritual down pat, having performed it on occasions too numerous to count.

“It’s great to see you, Man,” Brad said sincerely as the two friends parted. “Want some coffee?” He indicated the freshly brewed pot.

“You have to ask?” Matt replied, seating himself on the counter. Brad smirked as he reached into the cupboards for another mug.

“How sad is it that you still know your way around this dump?” Matt quipped.

“Well you know what they say,” Brad started as he set the mug on the counter. “Once a dog . . . .”

“ . . . always a dog,” Matt joined him and both men laughed. There was a moment of nostalgic silence as Brad began pouring the coffee, and Matt picked up the spoon his friend had set on the counter, fidgeting with it absently.

“Milk and sugar?” Brad glanced up at him as he poured both into his own coffee.

“Hell, NO!” Matt resounded emphatically. “I don’t know how you drink that shit!”

Brad grinned again. This was definitely the same old Matt. “Give me that,” he commanded taking the spoon away just as Matt was about to attempt balancing it on his nose.

“So, what are you doing here, Man?” Matt asked.

Brad didn’t answer right away and he kept his eyes on his coffee as he stirred it. “Steve didn’t tell you,” he responded finally, and it was more a statement than a question.

“Steve knows you’re here?” Matt arched his eyebrows in surprise.

“No,” Brad snorted as he finally looked up to meet his friend’s eyes. “But if he saw me he’d know why I was.” Brad handed Matt his coffee and Matt took it, continuing to stare blankly at his friend. Brad met the bewildered look head on as he took up his own coffee and leaned back against the counter once more. For a moment all was quiet.

“So, are you going to fill me in or what?” Matt prompted edgily at last. His lack of sleep was telling on him a bit now. He knew his partner and his best friend were not one another’s biggest fans and if Steve had something to do with Brad’s presence in the house, chances were it was not a good thing. He wasn’t sure if he really even wanted to hear this.

“Steve summoned Gregg,” Brad replied reluctantly at last.

“He did what??” Matt inquired. Instead of answering, Brad picked up the envelope that had been sitting on the counter beside him, and handed it to his friend. Matt set his coffee down and opened the envelope, pulling out the scrap of paper inside. He unfolded it and instantly recognized the handwriting as belonging to his partner. “How did you find out about this?” he questioned grimly as he perused the carelessly scrawled document.

“Kurt and Mike called us,” Brad responded quietly.

“Us? Whose us?” Matt demanded, but Brad continued without answering his question.

“Steve flew off the handle yesterday afternoon, apparently, and in a rash moment, instructed Mike and Kurt to deliver the summons. They were obviously concerned and didn’t know what to do, so they called us . . . .”

“Whose US??” Matt pressed insistently.

Brad hesitated once more. “Jay is here too,” he admitted reluctantly after a minute.

“Oh Christ! Are you serious??” Matt looked up from the paper to meet his friend’s eyes once more. This was the last thing he needed. He had wanted his big brother last night, but now the ordeal was over. He just wanted to move on, and he sure as hell did not want to explain this to Jason. “Does he know about Ryan?” he asked agitatedly.

“Yeah, he knows,” Brad replied soberly.

“Fuck!” Matt exclaimed. “So, how pissed is he?”

“He’s not too thrilled,” Brad admitted. ‘And that’s the understatement,’ he thought as he remembered Jay’s reaction last night to the news of his little brother’s caning. That was before Jason had even seen Ryan. ‘God only knows what the man’s mood is like now,’ he mused as he sipped his coffee, and gave Matt time to process the situation.

“I can’t believe this!” Matt complained. “Why didn’t Kurt and Mike come to me?”

“Well, you were just a little preoccupied at the time, Man. What did you want them to do? Knock on the door and ask to speak with you? Would you have even let them in?”

“No, but they could have found me afterwards at some point.”

“Well, they did what they felt was best under the circumstances,” Brad reproached gently. “They were trying to remain loyal to Steve and you can’t fault them for that.”

“I’m not faulting them,” Matt grumbled. “It’s just they’ve put me in a really awkward position with Jay. You know how he is about Ryan.”

“Kurt and Mike didn’t put you in that position, Man,” Brad pointed out quietly. “Steve is the one who ultimately made a really bad decision.”

“Yeah, I know,” Matt griped. “You’re right. I can’t imagine what he was thinking!”

“I don’t think he was,” Brad replied softly.

“I wish he had told me at least,” Matt carped resignedly. He knew all that Brad was saying was true. “Why wouldn’t he tell me?”

“That is something that you’re going to have to ask him,” Brad responded with the frank sincerity that Matt had always prized as one of his friend’s best attributes, and for a long moment both men were silent.

“Brad??” The voice filled with eager disbelief and anticipation drifted down the long hallway and into the kitchen and the two best friends locked eyes.

“Here we go,” Brad muttered grimly. He held Matt’s eyes for another moment and then indicated the paper his friend was still holding. Matt handed it to him, and bit his lip as Brad stuck it back in its envelope. Rarely was Matt at a loss for words, but this was one of those times. He felt genuinely sorry for his friend. This was not the kind of reunion either of them had hoped for when they talked about visiting their Alma Mater after graduation.

“Holy shit! You are here!” Gregg Mcarthy exclaimed as he appeared in the doorway and the next moment Brad was engulfed by the enthusiastic embrace of his little brother.

“Hey, Kid,” Brad closed his arm affectionately around his younger protégé. “It’s great to see you,” his tone was warm but serious.

“Kyle and the guys said they saw your car in the driveway, but I thought for sure they were messing with me! I can’t believe you’re really here!”

“Well, I am, Kid. I’m here,” Brad replied quietly.

“So, what are you doing here?” Gregg looked up, and, seeing that Brad’s eyes were not on him, he followed his brother’s gaze. His cheeks flushed as he encountered Matt’s surprisingly empathetic eyes and he looked quickly back at Brad. “Why are you here?” he asked again, pulling away from his brother, just a hint of accusation now in his voice.

“Don’t freak out, Bud,” Brad tried to soothe, “but we do have some things we have to talk about.” Gregg gazed at him incredulously and Brad looked back into the accusing green eyes. He saw this kid so differently from everyone else. He was a handful for sure, but then so were Matt’s brothers. Just about everyone looked on Gregg as the bully of the fraternity, but all Brad ever saw was his little brother’s vulnerability.

Matt looked on, and his thoughts were not unlike Brad’s. Why did this kid seem so different when Brad was around? What about Brad made Gregg drop the wall of rage and bitterness with which he seemed to approach everyone else? ‘When Brad was around, the kid was almost human,’ Matt marveled ironically as he watched his friend with his little brother.

This was not the first time such thoughts had entered Matt’s mind, nor was it the first time for Brad’s wistful musings. Both men had in fact been down this road of thought many times before. They had even talked about it, but their conversations never really led anywhere. The truth was they both knew the answers to their questions, and they both wished they could share what they knew, so others would have a chance to understand Gregg as they did, but that was not to be. What they knew, Gregg had shared with Brad in confidence. Brad had only shared it with Matt when circumstances had necessitated it. Both men took the trust that was placed in them very seriously. Matt had not even told Steve what he knew, and unless Gregg chose to share his confidence with someone else, Matt and Brad would remain the only two guardians of his secret.

“I can’t believe this!” Gregg looked back at Matt, an expression of rage now replacing his disbelief. “You had no right to call him, Matt! Who do you think you are?”

“Gregg . . . .” Brad placed a hand on his shoulder, but Gregg was not to be mollified.

“Don’t!” he snapped, pulling away. “Gregg!” Brad called again as his little brother ripped away from him and headed for the door. “Come on! Don’t be like that . . . .” Gregg, however, was past the point of listening.

Steve, with impeccable timing, was just entering the kitchen in search of his own big brother, as Gregg was storming his way out. There was barely room enough for the two of them in the narrow entrance way and, with a glower that would have frozen fire, Gregg shoved Steve hard back against the wall, out of his way. Steve of course was not in the best of moods himself and was, on this morning, not to be trifled with. Such being the case, he shoved back, hard, sending Gregg Mcarthy into the opposite wall. “Don’t mess with me, Jankowski!” Gregg threatened. “I’ll wipe the floor with your pansy ass!”

“Bring it, then!” Steve rose to the challenge. That was all that he had time for, however, as Brad and Matt got between them.

“All right, that’s enough!” Matt scolded as he steered his struggling partner into the kitchen and Brad steered Gregg the other way.

“You’re lucky Big Brother was there to save your ass!” Gregg called as Brad dragged him away. “Next time, you won’t be so lucky!”

“Yeah well neither will you, asshole! I’ve had it with your crap, Mcarthy! I’ll see you at 10!”

“What is that supposed to mean, Jankowski? Is that some kind of threat or something? You’ll see me at 10? You pick the place, and I’ll be there . . . .!”

“Gregg, that is enough!” Brad repeated Matt’s reprimand. “Turn around and walk away! Now!” With a little help from his big brother that is exactly what Gregg did, and Steve, with a little help from Matt, found his way into the kitchen.

“What’s the matter with you?” Matt chastised as he shoved Steve into a chair at the kitchen table. Steve shrugged, frowning sullenly at the table.

“What’s Goldie doing here?” he inquired petulantly. ‘Goldie’ was the nickname Steve, Danny, and Ryan had assigned to Brad not just for his blond hair but because of his impeccable ability to always do the right thing. It was short for ‘golden boy.’ Brad didn’t mind. He was in fact amused by the whole thing. Matt, however, didn’t care at all for the name or the disrespectful tone that went with it. Steve was, in other words, pushing his luck at the moment.

“Why don’t YOU tell ME what he’s doing here?” Matt responded, now.

“How the hell should I know?” Steve looked up to meet his partner’s penetrating stare. His defensive tone and his pale face, however, conspired against his affectation of ignorance.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Matt asked quietly now. Steve swallowed as he looked at the hurt in his partner’s face.

“I was afraid you’d be mad,” he whispered lamely. Matt turned away, and reaching into the cabinet above the sink, he started to gather the things for their breakfast. Steve watched him. “Are you?” he asked finally.

“Am I what?” Matt countered as he poured cornflakes into the two bowls he had set before him. “Are you mad?” Steve reiterated his previous fear.

“No, Steve,” Matt replied as he poured the milk. “I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.” Steve dropped his eyes back to the table and tears welled. It was the kiss of death. There was nothing more upsetting to him than Matt’s disappointment. He would a thousand times rather that his partner was mad. “Eat your breakfast,” Matt urged gently, setting the bowl of cornflakes down in front of him, “and then we’ll talk about it.” But breakfast was something Steve had no interest in, now. Matt took his own cereal and, settling in a chair across the table from his partner, silently began to eat. He watched Steve poking balefully at the sodden flakes in his bowl, but he said nothing. Unspoken words sullied the air between them, rendering reproach and reassurance equally useless at the moment. Steve was miserable and would remain so until they were able to have a proper discussion.

Chapter Four: The Infamous Contents Hit Part Two

“Gregg!” Brad called after his hot headed little brother as Gregg tore from his grasp and stormed down the hallway towards his room. “Gregg!” Brad did his best to follow without adding to the scene that was starting to rouse the other seniors who roomed along the lower corridor. “What are you looking at, Bowers?” Brad glowered at the nosy upper classman who had cracked his door to observe the commotion.

“Nothing,” he retorted.

“That’s what I thought,” Brad returned. “Kindly continue your vigilance inside, then.” Fred Bowers closed his door with a bang.

“What’s going on, Brad? What are you doing here?” Alex Murphy inquired from the other side of the hallway. Brad looked over to see the rumpled head and sleep filled eyes of one of the nicest guys in the fraternity. Alex was a good kid. He worked hard, generally minded his own business, and was just one of those unusual people who got along with everyone. To Brad’s knowledge, he had no enemies. Other doors were opening too, now, and Brad cursed under his breath as he heard Gregg’s door slam down at the far end of the hallway.

“Sorry guys, I know it’s early. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Everything ok, Man?” Dominic Brady asked.

Brad looked at him and smiled a little despite himself. He’d always been fond of the tall cornerback now gazing anxiously back at him. “Everything’s fine, Dominic,” he replied warmly. “Everyone go on back to bed. I look forward to seeing you all later.” His tone was convincing and most of the seniors, exhausted from exams, chose not to probe further. Whatever was going on with Gregg Mcarthy was his business as long as he wasn’t burning the house down.

************************************************************************

Chapter Four: The Infamous Contents Hit: Part Three

Matt finished his own breakfast and did not linger long before deciding that Steve too was finished. The younger man had not taken so much as a bite of the now soggy cereal, nor had he looked up to meet his partner’s eyes since Matt’s last admonishment. He was doing nothing more than pushing the milk saturated flakes from one side of the bowl to the other. ‘Enough was enough,’ Matt thought as he got to his feet. He knew stalling would not make either of them feel any better.

He collected their bowls, and carried them to the sink, leaving Steve to glare at the table as he washed, rinsed, dried, and stacked them neatly in the cupboard where he had originally found them. He then turned to once again survey his partner. Steve still did not look at him. “Let’s go,” he commanded softly at last. Steve’s scowl deepened, but he did not move until Matt took a couple of steps towards him. He then, all at once, leapt to his feet as if something had burned him, and without a word preceded his partner as they exited the room. Quietly, Matt followed. He wasn’t sure how much of Steve’s current agitation was anger with him and how much of it was guilt and anger towards himself. That was always the question with Steve, though, and Matt knew if his younger partner had his way in this type of situation, those questions would never be answered.

Above all things, Steve loathed the idea of analyzing his anger. In the end it always came down to two sources: his own persistent self disgust and the relentless anxiety that plagued him. In these moments before a “talk” Steve was always consumed by doubt. As a matter of routine he questioned his own stupidity, and wondered how Matt could possibly put up with a partner as feckless and needy as him. He hated Matt for what he knew his partner would do, and at the same time loved him because he would do it. He felt defensive and vulnerable. He wanted to and likely would at some point tell his ‘controlling bastard’ of a partner right where to go. Then, in the same breath, he’d be horrified with himself for uttering such an unforgivable sentiment, and would think no punishment great enough to absolve him. At the crux of the confusion was the fear that one day Matt would see through him. He would discover what Steve, in the deepest pit of his stomach already knew; he would see what a needy and unworthy brat he really was, and on that day, Steve was sure, Matt would leave him.

Softly, Matt closed the door behind them as they entered Steve’s room, and then he took his partner’s hand and led him over to the bed. Sitting down on the side, he gently drew Steve between his knees, and wrapped his arms around his waist, holding him securely. “Tell me why you’re going to get spanked,” he directed quietly.

Steve’s eyes filled once more and he shrugged, taking a deep breath and looking away from Matt as he struggled to keep stubborn tears from falling. It’s not that he hadn’t known this was coming, but hearing it out loud was always a shock, and it was only Matt’s steady hands at the small of his back that kept panic from setting in. He swallowed hard and finally looked back at his partner as the tears, against his will, began to fall in earnest. “I guess because I summoned Mcarthy,” he finally choked. “I know it was a bad decision. I should have waited, but he deserves it, Matt! I told you last night what he did! He told everyone! You saw the common room! Everyone was down there and it was because of him . . .”

“Steve,” Matt cut him off with the same gentle, soft spoken tone he always used in these situations. “You are not being punished because of the summons. I agree with your decision, and even if I didn’t, you are the president and it is your decision. There is only one reason you are about to get a spanking, and that is because in all our conversation about these events last night, you failed to mention this very important detail. You kept it from me on purpose and that is the same as lying. You do not lie to me, Steven! Not under any circumstances!” Matt slipped his fingers into the waistband of his now distraught partner’s boxers, and pulled them down below his knees, revealing the flawless white butt and solidly built thighs of a runner. He then settled Steve over his own muscular thigh and laid his hand on the vulnerable bottom.

Steve wrapped his hands in the comforter and buried his face. He knew this would be a long, hard spanking, and perhaps he needed it to be. Matt’s tolerance for lying was zero. He knew that, and though he had not considered it a lie exactly to keep his decision from his partner, he had known it was wrong. His shoulders heaved as he remembered that the perfect opportunity had presented itself in the course of their conversation last night for him to tell Matt about the summons, and instead, he had actively chosen to keep this information to himself. From that moment on the guilt had been building. He did not like to keep things from his partner. It felt like lying, even if he had convinced himself that it wasn’t. He knew, in any case, that Matt would not be happy with him if he found out and the thought of Matt’s displeasure distressed Steve more than anything else. He had backed himself into a corner by that time, though. He knew, no matter what, that Matt would be angry with him, and the thought of the inevitable confrontation, not to mention the blistering spanking that would surely follow, caused him to maintain his silence. It was a decision he regretted more than anything as he waited now, bare bottom upended, over his partner’s knee. He had disappointed Matt which was even worse than making him angry. The guilt was unbearable, and unpleasant as it was, Steve, in some ways, welcomed the punishment. He knew it would take care of his guilt, and he felt he deserved it. A burning bottom was better than a burning heart and all would be right in the end. Matt would take care of everything.

Those were his thoughts before the spanking started. Then his partner’s hard flat hand landed squarely on his backside, his head reared up, he gritted his teeth, and all thoughts not related to the immediate misery of his situation ceased to be. Matt did not let him down, and on this day the road to absolution was to be, as Steve had predicted, a long and hard one. Again and again, he felt his partner’s palm of steel land on his increasingly tender buttocks. He bore it as bravely as he could, burying his face once more in the blankets, and wetting them with his silent tears as he bit down into the soft material. Aside for the occasional whimper or grunt, he made no sound, nor did he move. He instead lay contritely over his partner’s lap, accepting the punishment he felt he deserved as Matt walloped his bare behind. He would take this punishment without complaint, he told himself; each scalding smack brought him closer to Matt’s forgiveness. He clutched the blankets close to his chest, clenched his teeth tightly and swore he would not cry out; for several minutes, only his shoulders gave away the depth of his distress.

Matt knew him too well, however, to let this affectation of forbearance pass. A spanking that produced no release would do his partner no good at all. It was all very well for him to forgive Steve; he had already done so. More importantly, Steve had to forgive himself, and Matt knew his partner would do so only after he felt he had been punished sufficiently. It was to this end that he relentlessly continued to smack Steve’s bottom, now growing red and hot to the touch, until finally he got the release he was looking for.

“Oww, Matt!” Steve cried at last. “It hurts! Please! You’re hurting me!” He twisted in his best effort at escape, but Matt held him still and continued to spank. Again and again his hand fell. “Please!” Steve protested once more. “Ok! I’m sorry! Please stop, please!” Matt, however, did not honor the request. Not for another minute or two (an eternity as it felt to Steve). Steve bucked and kicked and pulled to get away, and his cries were no longer the soft self sacrificing groans of the first few minutes, but the sharp agonized screams warranted by the thrashing he was receiving. Still, Matt’s hand did not slow, nor did it stop. Only when his beloved partner was once again sobbing quietly and contritely into the blankets, too emotionally spent to protest further, only when his own hand was as red and hot as the bottom he spanked, when it was too tired and numb to carry on its relentless handiwork, only then did Matt finally stop the punishment.

Then, in that moment, falling back on the pillows of the bed, he drew Steve down on top of him, and enclosed his weeping partner in his arms. As he did so, he gently but firmly blocked the backwards movement Steve’s hands instinctively made. Matt was a firm believer in letting the punishment be felt, keenly felt. He did not give punishment lightly, and when a spanking did become necessary, he expected the lesson to be learned the first time. This resolve made him, not insensitive to his partner’s agony; it rather made him all the more aware of it. Steve clung to him, and soothingly, Matt rubbed his back and whispered the words of forgiveness his partner had been longing to hear. For a long time, they lay there this way, making no attempt at conversation. Matt’s soft crooning utterances were the only words spoken, and they brought much needed relief to his young partner’s wounded heart.

At last, however, Steve began to grow calmer, and as he did, Matt broached the conversation that would clear the air between them once and for all. “We have to talk, my love,” he murmured into Steve’s hair. Steve clutched at his shirt and buried his face deeper into his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me about the summons?” Matt persisted quietly.

“Because,” Steve replied with barely audible huskiness, “it was a bad decision. I knew it was a bad decision practically as soon as I made it, but I still had to deal with Danny and Ryan and I couldn’t go back! I was ashamed, Matt! I lost my head, I wasn’t thinking straight. I did everything we’d just been telling Danny and Ryan not to do, and I was afraid you’d be mad,” he started to sob again.

“Why did you think I’d be mad, sweetheart? What are you questioning? You don’t think you should have summoned Gregg?”

“I know he deserves it,” Steve choked, “but I should have waited until I was thinking more clearly. I ended up going off half-cocked and setting a piss poor example for Danny, Ryan, and Kevin. I feel like such a fucking hypocrite! Who am I to preach to them when I act like a friggin jackass too the first time Gregg pushes my buttons!”

Steve was starting to get worked up again and for a few moments Matt was silent. He continued to rub his partner’s back and stroke his hair, but he kept his thoughts to himself until finally Steve looked up at him, brushing at his tears, and looking for a reaction. Matt met his partner’s eyes and cupped the tear stained cheeks in his hands. “I want you to listen to me very carefully,” he directed softly, and Steve nodded. “I see many distinct differences between what occurred in the common room between Mcarthy and our little brothers and the situation that resulted in your issuing Mcarthy’s summons. To begin with, the scene our brothers created took place in front of most of the upper classmen in the fraternity, making damage control of any kind impossible.”

“So . . . .what??” Steve scoffed; his tone full of self-loathing. “It’s ok to break the rules as long as nobody knows about it?”

“That is not what I meant!” Matt exclaimed just sharply enough to cut off any further comments of this nature. “Rules are made for a reason. They are not meant to be broken. I know you are still feeling responsible for the trouble Ryan and Danny got themselves into, but make no mistake about it, it was their trouble. Don’t let these guilty feelings you’re having lead you to draw parallels where there are none.”

“I beat the shit out of them, Matt! For acting on impulse! And how the hell am I to know that I wouldn’t have done the exact same thing if I’d been down there!”

“You did not ‘beat the shit out of them,’” Matt corrected adamantly. “They received a punishment that was in proportion to the infraction they committed.”

“That’s debatable,” Steve muttered disdainfully, thinking of Ryan’s welted bottom.

“And,” Matt continued, ignoring the cynical comment, “you weren’t down there that day were you? Unlike our brothers, you knew enough to keep yourself out of potentially volatile situations on a day when emotions were running high for all of you. Danny and Ryan had no business running their mouths in the common room to begin with. Even if you had been down there, I firmly believe you would not have created that kind of scene. You have better control of yourself than that.”

“How can you be so sure?” Steve demanded. “I ran my mouth easily enough to Kurt and Mike. I had no trouble losing my head then!”

“That’s exactly my point, Steven!” Matt returned with a hint of exasperation. “You’re version of ‘losing your head’ involves venting to your closest friends in the privacy of a bedroom, not attacking an older member of the house in the middle of the common room.”

“But I still broke rules!” Steve maintained stubbornly.

“What rules did you break, sweetheart? What are you talking about?”

“Well, when is the last time as president that you summoned somebody by scribbling a note on a piece of paper and sending your best friend to do your dirty work? Did you ever ask Brad to summon someone for you, or Chris?”

“I agree that it was a bit unconventional, darling,” Matt returned with just a hint of sarcasm. “What you broke, however, was more a ritual than a rule. There’s nothing in The Code or the rule book that says you have to stand by the formal process that is the common practice, and God knows that son of a bitch deserves to have his ass beaten. I told him the other day when I found him messing with Jess that if I were still president, I’d have beaten his ass a long time ago, and I meant it! He has this punishment coming just as surely as Ryan and Danny earned theirs. I do agree, perhaps, that it could have been handled better. However, what’s done is done. We just have to deal with it now and move past it.”

“And just how the fuck are we supposed to do that?” Steve sobbed, hiding his face again in Matt’s chest. “I fucked this whole thing up, royally. Fat chance, now, that any of us are going to move past this! I should just step down, now, before Mcarthy and his posse forces me to resign. If I go quietly, now, it will be easier for everyone.”

“And just how is your resigning going to help anything?” Matt questioned softly.

“It will make Mcarthy happy for one thing,” Steve retorted sullenly.

“Who the fuck cares what Mcarthy wants?” Matt demanded. “He’s the classic want to be! I feel sorry for the guy, kind of, but I don’t think you should take him too seriously. All his hostility comes from dreams he knows will never be realized. He’s been venting his disappointment on all of us since your freshman year when he didn’t make the starting team, and believe me, my darling, nobody wants him to be president. He wouldn’t do half as good a job as you do. He has no fucking idea how much work is involved with being president. He thinks it’s all sunshine and glory, but believe me, he’d want to resign after one day.” Steve snorted into Matt’s chest at this vehement assertion on the part of his partner and Matt smiled a little at the hard won victory as he laid his hand affectionately on the back of Steve’s head. “It will not do a lick of good for you to step down, my love,” he continued softly. “It will not make Mcarthy any happier, even if he thinks it will, and it sure as hell won’t make anyone else in the fraternity happy. Who do you imagine could succeed you?”

“Anybody!” Steve choked. “Anybody could do this job better than me! I’m so fucking wishy-washy! That’s what they all say, anyway! And all I do is fuck up!”

Matt knew it was true. There were indeed those in the fraternity who thought Steve was a bit “wishy-washy.” He too had heard that terminology being flung around in connection with his partner’s name. There were a lot more people, though, who considered him to be one of the fairest presidents the fraternity had ever had, and if he appeared wishy-washy, his defenders claimed it was only because he was determined to consider all sides of every situation. “You care too much what others think of you, sweetheart. No true leader is popular with everyone. You do a fine job as president. You are well loved and respected by the fraternity as a whole and by the neighboring fraternities and sororities. Your reputation for making fair decisions is wide-spread. People know you will give them a fair shake regardless of their situation or place in the fraternity and that is not an easy reputation to earn.”

“They think I favor Danny and Ryan,” Steve sobbed.

“Well, maybe you do at times, sweetheart, but what do they do that’s so bad? You came through in the end. When there was a situation that really called for action, you took it. I do not believe you will hear anyone claiming you favor them from here on in.”

“I just feel like such a fuck up!” Steve cried.

“Why, sweetheart, why do you feel that way?” Matt hated it when his partner talked like this. “You are so very far from being a fuck up!” He squeezed Steve’s shoulder and held him close. “Tell me what’s brought this on. Do you think I expect you to be perfect?”

“No,” Steve choked. “I just don’t want to be a disappointment to you. I shouldn’t have made the decision to summon Mcarthy that way, but once I did, I should have told you. I just feel like I really let you down!”

“Steve, sweetheart, you are never a disappointment to me.” Matt instantly regretted his choice of words earlier that morning as the true source of Steve’s distress became clear. “You just made a mistake. It’s over now. We’ve taken care of it and we’re going to move forward from here. We’re fine, sweetheart. I may be angry sometimes and sometimes I may not understand choices that you make, just as sometimes you may not understand where I am coming from. We will always talk through it though, my love, and I will never stop loving you for the wonderfully fair minded, big hearted, strong and loving person that you are.”

“I didn’t want a spanking!” Steve sobbed, clinging once again to his partner and letting everything go, now.

Matt wrapped his arms tightly around him and held him close. “I wouldn’t have spanked you, Baby, if you had told me about the summons last night,” Matt returned quietly.

“But, I didn’t think you’d understand,” Steve sobbed.

“You’ve got to start trusting me, Steven.”

“I do trust you!” Steve protested indignantly.

“No,” Matt returned quietly, “you don’t. Not if you are so worried about consequences that you do not want to confide in me. You know I would never hurt you, don’t you? That I would never do anything I didn’t feel for sure was in your best interest?”

“Of course I know that,” Steve protested exasperatedly, “but that doesn’t make it any easier when I know a punishment is coming. Needing it is not the same as looking forward to it, Matt,” he added sardonically. Matt couldn’t help smirking and he clasped his partner to him in appreciation of the truth behind Steve’s words. Steve laid his head against Matt’s chest, listening to his partner’s calm, reassuring heartbeat, and for a moment there was silence.

“Are you afraid of me, Steve?” Matt whispered finally in the same serious tone he had used previously. “Are you afraid of being spanked?”

“No,” Steve hesitated, his cheeks warming. “Not afraid exactly, but it’s not pleasant.”

“No,” Matt chuckled again softly despite himself. “I don’t imagine it is nor would I expect you to find it a pleasurable experience; that would rather defeat the purpose. I don’t want you to be afraid to talk to me, though, any time you have a problem you think might get you spanked.”

For a moment they were both quiet again. “Do you know why I spank you?” Matt asked softly at last.

“So, I won’t repeat bad decisions like this one,” Steve sighed wearily.

“What was the bad decision?” Matt asked quietly.

“The decision not to tell you about the summons,” Steve grumbled as he played with his partner’s shirt buttons.

“That’s right,” Matt whispered. “I can’t promise you I will never spank you when you make a mistake, sweetheart. Sometimes mistakes you make will warrant a spanking, and it is an effective deterrent as you said. At least, I hope it is,” he caressed the bottom that was still warm to his touch. “You are a bit of a wild card, Steven William Jankowski,” he chuckled again affectionately, “and you do, occasionally, need some help governing your actions. More than that, though, my darling, I spank you to help you let go. You need that and you know it. That is the main reason we started to include discipline in our relationship to begin with. You hold things too close, Steve. I rarely know what is going through that enigmatic mind of yours. You keep things from me, and you try to solve problems on your own as if I was not in your life at all. We are partners; you have no need to prove your independence to me. I know how strong and capable you are, and yet we constantly end up having this discussion. You withhold things from me, you feel tremendously guilty about it, one way or another they come out, and you end up over my knee which is what you were trying to avoid to begin with. On many occasions, like tonight, if you came to me to begin with, there would be no punishment. Even if you know you are going to get a spanking, though, wouldn’t it be better to just get it over with, rather than put yourself through all this guilt and anxiety in an effort to avoid what you know will be the inevitable end anyway?”

Steve shrugged. He knew his partner spoke truth, but it was a whole lot easier to make the resolution “to just get it over with” than it was to act upon it.

“I need you to tell me when problems arise, my love,” Matt whispered. “Even if you think I might punish you.”

“I just feel like I should be able to handle this stuff on my own!” Steve carped. “I’m a college senior, 21 years old, and the fucking president of the fraternity. I shouldn’t have to go running to my partner to solve all my problems for me!”

“I am not solving your problems FOR you, Steven! A partnership means we face things together. I discuss challenges that come up in my life with you too.”

“But you don’t rely on me to solve them!”

“I do rely on you,” Matt corrected gently.

“For what??” scoffed Steve. His insolent tone gained him a sharp smack, and he yelped as the fire in his bottom reignited. He tried to pull his hands free, but Matt held him fast.

“Lie still and listen to me,” Matt admonished softly. Tears were streaking Steve’s face again, and he buried his face in Matt’s chest, but he stopped moving as Matt rubbed gentle circles on his back. “I do rely on you, sweetheart. You’re my partner, and I love you. Our needs may not be the same, we wouldn’t be half so good for each other if they were, but that doesn’t mean I need you any less than you need me. I tell you everything, Steve, really I do. You know more about me than anyone, and if there are things you don’t know that you want to know, you have only to ask. You keep me focused on what’s important, you keep me from becoming too serious, and you make me laugh at myself. That’s no easy feat, right?” His teasing inquiry was met with stubborn silence, and Steve refused to look at him. “Right?” Matt pressed more adamantly as he tickled his partner’s side. Steve squirmed, but still did not look up or answer. “Hey,” Matt persisted, placing his fingers gently under Steve’s chin and forcing him to look up at him. “I don’t admit my faults very often as you know, so you better enjoy the moment, now.”

At last he got the smile he was after, grudging as it was, and affectionately he caressed the wet cheek. “We may not always be able to solve one another’s problems, sweetheart,” he whispered, “but we should always be willing to talk about them. Take last night for example. If you had told me about all this last night, we might have prevented Brad and Jason’s involvement in this whole thing.”

“What do you mean, Brad AND Jason’s involvement?”

“Jay drove down with Brad,” Matt responded quietly.

“WHAT? Why?” Steve did not receive the news well. “I can understand Gregg calling Brad; that’s his prerogative, but why would Brad get Jay involved? It’s none of his damn business!”

“Brad didn’t call him,” Matt replied evenly, keeping his soothing hand on his partner’s back as Steve’s agitation rose once more.

“But then how . . .?” Steve protested.

Matt did not answer at first, and Steve continued to stare at him in bemusement. “Matt!” he prompted insistently. “How did Jay find out about the summons if Brad didn’t call him?”

“Well, sweetheart, Kurt and Mike had some concerns . . . .”

“Kurt and Mike called him?” Steve interrupted, gaping at Matt in stunned disbelief.

“Well, they were concerned, sweetheart.”

“I don’t give a good God Damn! These are my decisions to make! I’m the president! They told me their concerns and they were undoubtedly right, but it is not their job to second guess me! God damn it! I can’t believe this!”

“Well you placed them in a very awkward position, Steve, and they didn’t know what to do. I guess they thought that Brad and Jay could lend some objectivity to the situation.”

“So it wasn’t Gregg who called, Brad,” Steve began to put the whole picture together. “I thought Mcarthy was just being a jack off, pretending he didn’t know what I was talking about downstairs a while ago, but he really doesn’t know yet, does he?” Matt shook his head.

“This is bullshit!” Steve pushed himself off of Matt, throwing back the light sheet his partner had drawn over him. Matt tried to pull him back, but the look Steve turned on him warned him to let go, and Matt, in his infinite wisdom, did not feel this was really the time to remind Steve who was in charge.

“They did what they thought was best,” Matt asserted in a palliative tone. He rolled on his side, propped himself up on his elbow, and gazed at his partner’s slim, toned back. His eyes drifted hungrily down to the rosy pink ass and muscular legs, and he allowed himself the tiniest of smiles as he took in the squared position of Steve’s shoulders.

“So what happens now?” Steve groused as he stood gazing defiantly at the curtain veiled balcony window. “I suppose Jay and Brad came to talk me out of the summons, right?”

Matt snorted. “To talk you out of it? This is Jay we’re talking about, Steve. You think, after hearing what Danny and Ryan went through, that he’d want to talk you out of the summons?”

A new anxiety gripped Steve as Matt’s words sank in, and the color drained from his face as he turned to look at his partner. “Does Jay know that we caned Ryan?” he asked tremulously.

“Yeah, he knows,” Matt sighed resignedly, laying back on the pillows and wondering for the millionth time just what he was going to say to his older brother. His thoughts turned again to Steve, however, as he glanced over and met his partner’s now sickly countenance. “Come here, sweetheart,” he coaxed, lifting the sheet invitingly, and Steve did not hesitate. He crawled back into the warmth of his partner, and Matt closed his arms around him again, letting the sheet fall over them both. Steve cuddled up to him, and Matt tightened his hold. “I’ll handle Jay,” he promised in a tone that revealed just how much he was relishing the idea of performing that task.

Steve nestled closer, pressing his face close to Matt’s chest, and listening once more to the comforting beat of his partner’s heart. “So if they don’t want to stop the summons, then what are they doing here?” Steve inquired quietly.

“I don’t know,” Matt admitted. “I haven’t even seen Jay yet. I only know he’s here because Brad told me. Brad obviously came to support Gregg. Maybe Jay just came to see Ryan and Danny,” Matt did his best to sound hopeful. Steve, however, looked up at him once more and the look of incredulity on his face, assured Matt that his younger partner knew as well as he did just how likely it was that Jay would mind his own business now that Kurt and Mike had gotten him involved.

Chapter Four: The Infamous Contents Hit Part Four

As the cracked doors around him began to close, Brad made his way down towards the end of the hallway. He tried the doorknob to Gregg’s room, but found it locked. “Gregg,” he called softly through the door. He got no response. “Gregg,” he tapped the door gently. “Come on, Man, open the door.” Still, all was quiet within and Brad sighed, steeling himself for a battle. This was not by any means unusual behavior on his little brother’s part. He had spent many long hours talking to Gregg through closed doors when Gregg was in a temper over some perceived injustice. This was not how he had hoped to begin this visit, though. “Gregg, come on, don’t do this. This isn’t going to solve anything.” Silence. “I’m on your side, Man. Remember?”

“You’ve got a nice way of showing it!” The angry response came through the door.

“Gregg, I know you’re angry. Just let me in, and we’ll talk about it. You don’t really want to have this discussion through the door do you?” Silence greeted him once more and Brad decided he was done messing around. “All right, Gregg, listen to me,” he counseled as quietly as possible. “You are in a lot of trouble, bud, right now, and I am pretty much the only friend you have. I am interested in hearing your side. I’m the only one who wants to hear your side. Quit the baby act or I’ll pack up my stuff, and go home. Is that what you want?” As Brad had expected, he was once again rebuffed by a lack of response. “All right, Bud. See you later. Good luck with Matt and Jay. Call me if you want.” He turned and started to walk down the hallway. He smirked to himself as he heard the tentative sound of the door opening behind him. Gregg was stubborn, but this was a trick that worked every time.

“What do you mean, ‘good luck with Matt and Jay’?” Gregg called petulantly after him. But Brad ignored him and kept walking. “Brad! Wait!” Gregg called a bit more desperately. Brad had often interceded on his behalf with the two respective presidents, both of whom were formidable in their different ways. Being left on his own to deal with them, if they were angry with him, was not an idea he particularly relished. They might not be president anymore, but they were still intimidating. Gregg swallowed hard as he thought of Matt’s speech to the common room on Danny and Ryan’s behalf. He hadn’t been there, of course. He wasn’t that stupid. He’d been long gone by then, but his younger brothers had apprised him of the details in an extremely graphic account, complete with convincing dramatization. He’d found it funny then, but now his stomach knotted. Was Jay really here too? Fuck, just how much trouble was he in? “Brad!” He called again adamantly. “Please!”

Finally Brad turned around to see Gregg standing in the doorway of the room. The look on his face was almost panicked and Brad did nothing to appease his anxiety. He instead confronted his brother with a stern countenance. There was no trace of humor left for Gregg to detect. “Are you ready to be reasonable, now?” Brad demanded. Gregg scowled, but he stood aside and opened the door to his room wider in an open invitation for his brother to enter. With no further words Brad availed himself of that invitation. Gregg followed him and closed the door behind them.

“So why don’t you tell me what’s eating you?” Brad encouraged in a mollifying tone as he turned the desk chair to face his recalcitrant little brother and sat down.

“Why don’t you tell me what you know?” Gregg retorted.

“I know,” Brad returned evenly, “that you are in some mega hot water, little bro, and so the less attitude you give me right now the better off you’re going to be.”

“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Gregg griped. “I mean, I know I was messing with that little punk, Kinkaid, but I wasn’t gonna do anything. I was just busting his chops . . .”

“What happened between you and Jesse?” Brad demanded with concern as he sat forward and fixed his brother with a penetrating stare. Gregg shifted uneasily and looked away in an effort to avoid Brad’s eyes. “Gregg?” Brad prompted.

“Nothing happened really. He was all fussed up about Lockheart’s summons. He was just sitting there in the common room with the rest of those pansy asses he hangs around with. I just couldn’t help myself . . . .”

“How did you know about the summons Danny and Ryan got?” Brad inquired grimly.

Gregg shrugged, but he still refused to look his brother in the eyes. “Word gets around, Man. You know how it is.”

“No,” Brad responded sharply. “No, I do not know how it is. A summons is private business as you well know.” Gregg flinched at his brother’s rebuke. “Not just anyone has access to that information, Gregg, even under normal circumstances, and these are Steve’s brothers. Now, you tell me how you found out about this.”

“I paid Ceaver to keep a watch and get the information for me, ok?” Gregg returned irritably. Clearly, he felt it was explanation enough, but Brad did not agree.

“Ceaver is a sophomore,” he replied. “Just how the hell does he have access to that information?”

“He works in the mail room,” Gregg grumbled. He snuck a tentative look at Brad’s face, but looked away again as he met his brother’s angry glare. So much for Ceaver and the other mail room toadies he thought resentfully. That would be the last time he’d get information from them.

“You’re unbelievable!” Brad chastised. “How could you do that, Man?”

“I should have known you wouldn’t understand,” Gregg carped.

“You’re God Damn right, I don’t understand! Those are Matt’s brothers, Gregg! What’s gotten into you?”

“What is the big deal, Brad? So, I paid Ceaver to tell me when the summons came through! I wanted to be sure Jankowski followed through with his promise! Those little shits get away with everything, Brad! It’s not fair! And I had a right to play with Kinkaid a little. He would have done the same to me! I didn’t know Matt was going to be here, though I should have figured, since Jankowski can’t wipe his own ass without Matt’s input.”

“All right, Gregg, calm down. Matt and Steve have nothing to do with this, so I’ll thank you to can the cheap shots right now. Matt did not call me, and you’re not in trouble because of the shit you started with Jesse,” Brad informed his now irate younger brother. “I didn’t even know about that quite frankly. This is much bigger than that, bro, and you have no one to blame but yourself.” Gregg swallowed hard as Brad’s unusually harsh tone pierced his normally thick emotional armor. “Why don’t you tell me just what you did with the information you got from Ceaver?” Brad softened his tone a little as he saw the impact his words had made.

“What do you mean?” Gregg attempted vainly, but it was no good. The tremor in his voice betrayed him and all the color drained from his face as he confronted his big brother’s steely eyes.

“Are you trying to tell me that it wasn’t you in the bookstore telling every Tom, Dick, and Harry that passed by what was going to happen at the house at 5:00 when everyone should be at dinner? You trying to tell me that you didn’t make a point of informing Andy and Pat, and that you didn’t taunt Sean and Jesse with threats about telling Kevin?”

“Brad I . . .,” Gregg started to protest.

“Don’t!” Brad reprimanded. “Don’t you dare make excuses! There are no excuses for that kind of behavior, bro! You are in way over your head here, in more trouble than I’m sure you bargained for, and I’ll stand by you, but I am very far from condoning what you did.” Gregg looked wounded as his brother’s sharp words hit their mark. Brad was rarely ever angry with him. He always, somehow, seemed to know where he was coming from even when he didn’t agree, but now Gregg realized he had crossed a line that his brother would not cross.

“Sorry,” he huffed. “I just wanted them to pay for once.”

“Gregg, what exactly have you got against them other than they are Steve’s brothers?”

“Are you serious?” Gregg demanded. “They are, every last one of them, Kramer included, maybe Kramer especially, sniveling and spoiled brats who aren’t used to working for anything! They go through high school doing nothing, blowing off class, and getting their asses wiped for them every time they take a shit. The sun rises and sets on them the whole time, no matter how crappy their work is, and no matter how obnoxious they are. As long as they keep winning football games they get whatever they want. They all come here with a sense of entitlement like no one else. They think the whole world revolves around them as it is, and then they become the presidents’ brothers and the whole cycle starts over again with everyone in the fraternity kissing their asses for another four years. I work my ass off, Brad, every year! And every year it’s the same. I have to step aside and make room for the next rising star. I’m never gonna play in the NFL, Man! I’m never gonna know even if I might have been good enough. You want to know what I have against them? Now you know.”

“Gregg,” Brad said as gently as possible, trying to keep the vexation out of his voice, “very few of us get to play in the NFL. Jason is the first one to make it from Saber Bend in years. Matt didn’t make it, I’m sure Steve and Ryan won’t. Danny and Kevin both could, it’s true, but anything could happen between now and then. That is just the nature of the competition, Man; it’s nobody’s fault. I would have liked to play for the NFL too, but I knew from the start that it would take a miracle.”

“Well at least you got to play all four years here as a starter,” Gregg pointed out bitterly, and to that Brad didn’t know what to say. An awkward silence ensued and lasted for at least a couple of minutes before Brad ventured to gently counsel his mutinous younger brother once more.

“You’ve got to let it go, Bud,” he advised quietly at last.

“I can’t,” Gregg returned shortly.

“You’ve got to, or you are going to find out that there are worse things than not playing for the NFL. If you keep after Danny and Ryan this way, Man, you’re going to find yourself out of the fraternity.”

“Steve wouldn’t dare!”

“I think he would,” Brad replied softly, “if you push him far enough. You’ve already pushed him into making a bold and practically unprecedented decision . . . .”

“What are you talking about?” Gregg scowled.

Brad sighed and avoided Gregg’s eyes as he withdrew the wrinkled envelope from his pocket and held it for a moment. This was the moment he’d been dreading. There was no question that Gregg had earned the summons, but the kid was his little brother and he did understand some of his feelings. Seniors felt they were safe, above the censorship and punishment reserved for younger members of the fraternity, and usually they were. Brad was not sure how to go about telling his little brother that he had the dubious honor of being the first senior in as long as anyone in the fraternity could remember to receive a summons from the president. “There’s no easy way to say this, Bud,” he replied at last, and he held the envelope out to his brother.

Gregg met Brad’s eyes and a look of bewilderment replaced the scowl as he took the envelope from Brad’s outstretched hand. Slowly he opened the envelope, not at all sure that he wanted to see whatever was inside. He unfolded the paper and as his eyes perused the haphazardly scrawled words and understanding slowly began to dawn, he felt the blood drain from his face. “Didn’t you wonder what kind of trouble could be so great that it would make me drop everything and drive up here, Bro?” Brad attempted to soften the blow by reminding his little brother that he was here.

“Well, yeah, I mean, I guess so,” Gregg replied shakily, “but he can’t do this!”

“I’m afraid he can,” Brad countered softly.

“No! He has no right!” Gregg protested. “I’m a senior!”

“A senior who violated one of the most important rules of the fraternity, Bro, and Steve is the president.”

“Seniors don’t get summoned!” Gregg returned hotly.

“They do, if they deserve it,” Brad responded not unkindly.

“But I was just messing around! People always find out sooner or later anyway! I did those brats a favor! Saved them the trouble of explaining to everyone why they can’t walk properly . . . .”

Brad smirked despite himself. “Oh come on, Man! You don’t really expect anybody to buy that this was some magnanimous gesture on your part do you?” Gregg shrugged and looked sulky. “The fact is,” Brad regarded him seriously once more, “what you did to Danny and Ryan was cruel, Gregg. You exposed their private trouble to the house and made an already humiliating situation even more humiliating for them. Just as you feel you should be exempt from the Summons as a senior, as Steve’s brothers, Danny and Ryan also had a perfect right to think themselves safe. They behaved wrongly, though, in attacking you and Steve acknowledged that by doing what no other president has done in recent history. He backed you up, Man, by summoning them, even though from all I heard, you were very far from being an innocent party in that situation. You acted in a way almost guaranteed to set them off and you’re damn lucky Steve didn’t summon you for your part then and there. That was a freebie, Bro, and you didn’t have sense enough to take it with grace and let well enough alone. Steve is within his perfect right as president of this fraternity to summon you now. I would have done the same thing in his shoes, and I am only surprised he didn’t do it sooner.”

“But he didn’t even follow the correct procedure!” Gregg protested.

“That is neither here nor there, Bud. The pink and blue slips are traditional, but there is nothing in the rule book or The Code that says they have to be used.”

“How did you find out?” Gregg demanded sourly.

“Steve entrusted the summons to Kurt and Mike and they felt it would be wiser to call me and Jay than to try and handle it themselves.”

Gregg’s face darkened and he bit his lip. “Kurt and Mike know? Fucking Jesus Christ, Brad! That is totally not fair! He’s not supposed to do that! He’s not supposed to tell anyone, but me . . . and you, I guess,” he added grudgingly.

“Well, Bro, after what you did, I don’t think you’re going to have a leg to stand on. You might, if Kurt and Mike had delivered it immediately as Steve asked them to. They did the respectful thing though and called me. Nobody else knows, but me and Jay, and given Steve’s emotional state at the time, and how much your actions contributed to it, I do not think we have a lot of room for bartering.”

“Please, Brad! You’ve got to get me out of it! Please! It’s not fair!”

“I don’t think I can get you out of it, Bud,” Brad returned quietly. “Steve is the president and he’s made his decision. I don’t think I have much to say about it.”

Gregg’s look of utter dismay pierced his big brother’s heart, and in that moment, Brad wished he could get Gregg out of this. Even if Gregg deserved the pending punishment, it was hard not to feel pity for his situation. “Brad, please! I don’t want to be spanked,” Gregg pleaded, “especially not by that pathetic little weasel, Jankowski!” He met his brother’s eyes for a moment, but then his cheeks flushed and he turned away. “Isn’t there anything you can do?” he asked desperately, as he gazed out the window into the private and old fashioned court yard; Gregg’s perfect academic record had gained him one of the nicest rooms in the fraternity this year.

“I’ll try, Bro.,” Brad promised quietly. “I’m going to do my very best to minimize this as much as possible for you, but I would not count on a total reprieve.”

“What do you mean ‘minimize it’?” Gregg asked hopefully, finding somehow the courage to look at his brother once more.

“I am hoping,” Brad began carefully, “that I might be able to convince Matt that there is too much history between you and Steve for him to fairly preside over this.”

This wasn’t exactly what Gregg was hoping to hear. “If not him, then who?” Gregg huffed. Brad remained quiet for a minute. He didn’t think Gregg was going to like his answer much, but really what answer was there that he would like? “Who, Brad?” Gregg pressed again insistently. “Not Matt?”

“No, not Matt,” Brad agreed and a fleeting look of relief crossed Gregg’s face. “I think,” Brad continued evenly, “that it would be best for everyone if Jay and I handle this.”

“No!” Gregg recoiled at the idea. “Not Jay, Brad! Please not Jay!”

“I’m afraid you’re not going to have too many options, Bro. I think it unlikely that Matt would agree to usurp Steve even if you would prefer it.” He could see from Gregg’s sulky expression that he would not prefer it. He wanted to be told he could get out of this nightmare completely. “I don’t think Matt’s even going to be real happy about giving over to Jay, but I think I can make a case for it, and convince him. I’m afraid that’s the best I can possibly do, Bud.”

Gregg crawled onto his bed and lay on his side, facing the wall. He clutched the pillows to his chest and refused to look at his brother as he let the significance of Brad’s words sink in. He was in deep shit. His cheeks warmed again. The thought of having to drop his pants and bend over for Jay was only marginally more tolerable than the idea of doing so for Steve. Everyone knew that Jason Williams was not a huge proponent of spanking. He had, as president, most frequently employed other means of discipline. Still he could swing a mean paddle, and when it was necessary he did. Gregg had been on the receiving end of those blows more than once, and Jay had given him what he still considered to be the worst paddling he had ever received. He clutched the pillows tighter as unbidden tears welled in his eyes and leaked onto his cheeks.

“It’ll be ok, Bud, I’ll get you through this,” Brad’s soothing voice brought mixed feelings of reassurance and mortification and as he felt his brother’s comforting hand on his shoulder, Gregg pressed his face into the pillows to try to stop the tears that were now freely falling.

‘I hate you, Steve Jankowski,’ he thought menacingly to himself. ‘I hate you and I will get you back if it’s the last thing I ever do!’

************************************************************************

It was 8:30 am when Matt stepped out of Steve’s room and, after glancing one more time to be sure his now slumbering partner was not disturbed, softly shut the door behind him. It had been an intense couple of hours, and now that his partner was finally resting, Matt felt that he could really use some coffee, some air, and some time to think about how to handle this situation with Gregg.

“Hey, Matt.”

Matt stopped and his back went rigid. The voice had come from behind, but he did not need to turn around to know who was speaking to him as he heard the click of another door closing not far down the hallway. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” he muttered under his breath. He was not ready for this yet.

“We need to talk, Bro,” the voice continued.

“Not now, Jay,” Matt replied tensely without turning around.

“Yes, now,” Jason insisted. Patience never had been his strong suit.

“Look, Man, it’s been a long night,” Matt finally turned to face his big brother. “I’ve hardly slept at all and I’m exhausted.”

“YOU’VE hardly slept at all!” Jason repeated. “What about Ryan and Danny? How well do you think they slept last night?”

“This is neither the time nor the place to discuss this,” Matt whispered harshly.

“Why not?” Jason questioned obstinately.

“Because,” Matt hissed, “walls have ears!”

“So,” Jay challenged. “We’re not talking about anything new. It’s all over the damn fraternity thanks to Gregg! How could you let Steve do this, Man?”

“Let Steve do this! LET him do it!? Have you lost your senses? You think this was Steve’s idea? That he wanted to do this? Don’t you think that if there was any other way to handle this, Steve would have found it?”

“Give me a fucking break, Matt! He is president of the whole God damn fraternity! This was his decision to make . . . .”

“This was NOT his decision to make!” Matt spat, getting right into Jason’s face now. “This was the decision of the council!”

“Oh, the hell with the council!” Jay responded disgustedly. “I am so friggin tired of hearing about the council! Why the fuck did he get them involved? Ryan and Danny are our brothers! He should have dealt with this himself.”

“You’ve sure got a lot to say about this, considering you weren’t here!” snapped Matt. “You know damn well that this kind of situation is exactly why the council was formed in the first place. Steve had no choice but to get them involved. Have you been out so long that you’ve forgotten how it feels to be president? How it feels to be the one responsible for meting out consequences when your brothers are involved? You’ve been there, Jay! More than once, but not like this! Never like this! Never have any of us been put in the position that Steve was with Danny and Ryan, so don’t you dare presume to second guess him!”

“I sympathize with his position, Matt,” Jason conceded, “but he could have used his influence to shield them. If he had handled this privately he wouldn’t have backed himself into the corner that made the Summons necessary.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Matt glowered at him. “You really think that was the way to handle this? Bro, you’re out of touch!”

“Excuse me!” Jason fired back forcing his tone into a gravelly whisper that matched Matt’s. “But you didn’t spend the night in that room with them, Matthew! You want to talk about out of touch?! You didn’t have to hear the sounds Ryan made every time he moved . . . .”

“Oh, fuck you, Man! I know how much pain he’s in! Who do you think stayed with him all fucking afternoon and evening yesterday? Who do you think put him to bed? You think Steve and I just left him in a crumpled heap on the floor?”

“My POINT is,” Jason continued obstinately, “that level of severity was unnecessary! If Steve had just handled it himself, he could have protected them . . .”

“You’re dreamin’, Man! You haven’t been here in this house as long as me yet. Maybe you haven’t heard the talk, or encountered Mcarthy’s loud mouth! It’s all over the fucking fraternity that Steve favors Danny and Ryan. He could not just shove something this big under the carpet!”

“Who’s talking about shoving it under the carpet?” Jason demanded. “I know he had to deal with it, but there were lots of other ways to do it! If there’s talk of favoritism, I’m not surprised. Danny and Ryan are both on the rascally side at times. You know as well as I do that they require a firm hand. Steve needed to grow a backbone and handle them before this! The fact that he didn’t isn’t their fault! They shouldn’t have to pay like this, Man! Steve created his own heat, he should have faced it! What’s a little talk to him if it means protecting Danny and Ryan from that kind of punishment?”

“And what would you have had him do, instead, Jay?” Matt snapped.

“He could have grounded them for the rest of the year,” Jason suggested.

“Oh that would have made them much happier,” Matt returned sarcastically.

“Or,” Jason ignored him, “he could have assigned them some extra chores to do for the remainder of the year and some writing tasks. He could have forced a written apology to Mcarthy and had them read it front of the fraternity.”

“You think that would have satisfied Gregg?”

“Who the fuck cares?” Jason replied.

“Easy for you to say, Man! You do not have to lead this fraternity for the rest of the year!”

“Well, hell, if you are so determined to make use of the Summons and nothing else will make you happy then he could have paddled them for Christ sakes! But HE should have made that decision then and done it right away! He should have done it the same fucking day or at least the day after, and spared them all this fucking drama! Then it would have been over. It would have minimized the stress where everyone was concerned. Gregg would have never had a chance to pull the crap he ended up pulling, and Ryan would not have had to endure a caning! Man, that was so unnecessary! I mean I understand what you’re saying. Once he brought the council in, he was bound by their decision; it was out of his hands. But he was a fool to give up that control in the first place and it was Ryan who paid for that mistake!”

“You make it all sound just so easy, Jay! But you weren’t here!”

“I would have been if someone had called me! Why’d I have to hear about all this from Kurt, Huh?”

Matt paused. He didn’t know exactly how to answer that. He didn’t want to hurt Jay’s feelings. He had made the determined decision not to call him because he had known they would disagree about how to handle this. Steve had been emotionally distraught as it was. He didn’t need his two big brothers giving him conflicting advice. “Look, Man,” he began quietly at last, “maybe Steve and I could have made some different decisions, maybe we could have handled some things better, but we did what we thought at the time was best for Danny and Ryan as well as the fraternity. Hindsight is always 20/20, but what’s done is done. There’s no point in rehashing it.”

Jason scowled. Matt was famous for that kind of level headed rationality. It was infuriating, but it was difficult to argue with. “Fine!” he concurred. “But Brad and I will take it from here!”

“Just what in the hell is that supposed to mean?” Matt demanded.

“I think you know what it means, Matt.”

“No, I don’t, Jason. Why don’t you explain it to me?”

“Brad and I had a long conversation about this on the way down . . . . “

“Oh you did?” Matt interjected bitterly. “And no doubt you guys got it all figured out.”

“Given the circumstances, the fact that Gregg is a senior, the history between him and Steve, the way the Summons was handed down and Steve’s emotional investment in the situation, Brad and I both feel it would be better for everyone if we handle the punishment.”

Matt stared at him. “You’re serious,” he responded after a minute.

“Yes,” Jason replied quietly. “Brad and I talked about it, and we agree that it would be best.”

“I see,” Matt returned incredulously, “and did it ever occur to either of you that Steve and I might like to be part of that conversation?”

Jason shrugged. “You and Steve have had a lot on your minds the last couple of days. We figured, it might be easier if we just . . . . .”

“If you just what?” Matt interjected angrily. “Stripped Steve of all his rights as President? You have some nerve, Jason, showing up here like this!”

“Kurt and Mike asked us to come, Matt!”

“I don’t care if God, himself, asked you to come, Jay! You had a responsibility to direct Kurt and Mike back to the appropriate authority: in this case, Steve! Instead, you just went ahead and involved yourself . . . .”

“Hey! I have as much right to be here as you, Little Bro! Ryan and Danny are my brothers too, and so, in case you forgot, is Steve!”

“That’s fine, Jay! I have no problem with you’re being here! You want to visit with Danny and Ryan, coddle them, treat them like martyrs, and make them feel like Steve treated them unfairly, you go right ahead! Be my guest! But Steve is still the President! He controls the decisions that affect this fraternity, not you! And that includes Mcarthy’s Summons! So if you are not going to support him in that then just stay out of it!” Matt turned and stalked down the hallway towards the stairs.

“Matt!” Jay called after him, but Matt did not respond. “Matthew!”

“No! We’re done, Jay! I’m done talking!” Matt replied without turning around.

“Fuck,” Jay muttered under his breath as he watched his little brother storm down the hallway. He had not planned this encounter to go this way. Why had he forced this conversation in a moment when Matt was clearly not prepared for it? It had been a long time since he had seen his little brother and he had forgotten how stubborn Matt was and how protective he was of Steve. He had been arrogant and presumptuous in his approach just now and he had made what was predictably a difficult situation, even more complicated. He heard quiet footsteps come up behind him, but he did not turn; his eyes were glued instead to his brother’s disappearing back.

“What happened?” Brad asked quietly as he came up beside his friend and followed his eyes.

“I just made a huge fucking mistake is what happened,” Jason responded, and reluctantly he filled Brad in.

To get Matt Sheppard truly angry was an accomplishment as Jason and Brad were both well aware. It wasn’t often that Matt really lost his temper, but once it happened a significant cooling down period was required to mollify the situation. Jason and Brad both knew it would be useless to approach Matt until he had at least an hour to regain his composure. It was, therefore, already 9:30 before they ventured to go in search of him. Well, ‘search’ is perhaps a misnomer; Matt’s best friend and his big brother both knew there was only one place Matt would be when he was in that kind of mood and that was the weight room.

They entered quietly to find Matt still furiously pumping iron; he had the weight room to himself and he did not look up as Brad and Jason entered. “Hey,” Brad began awkwardly. Matt ignored him. “Can we talk?”

“Sure,” Matt responded in a clipped tone. “I don’t know what there is to talk about, really, since you guys already seem to have it all figured out, but go ahead. Talk.”

Brad grimaced as he watched his friend continue to lift the heavy free weights. Matt wasn’t going to make this easy. “Nothing’s set in stone, Man,” he replied soothingly.

“Really? You could have fooled me from the way Jason presented things.”

“I didn’t mean to piss you off, Matt . . . .”

“The hell you didn’t!” Matt snapped, and finally he brought the weights to his side as he glared at his brother.

“Well how would you have felt if you came to visit and found Steve in that kind of condition?” Jason demanded.

“That is not the point!” Matt retorted. “It’s not the same thing!”

“That IS the point!” Jason countered. “I may not be fucking Ryan or Danny but they are my little brothers . . . .”

“Oh for Christ’s sake, Jay! They are my little brothers too! You think this has been easy for me? You think I liked having to punish them that way?”

“Well, why did you then?”

“We’ve been through this, Jason!”

“Yeah well, I ‘m not satisfied with your explanation!”

“Well, it’s the only one you’re going to get!” Matt snapped.

“All right!” Brad interjected. “This is getting us nowhere! We didn’t come down here to fight with you, Matt.”

“Then what DID you come down here for?” Matt inquired irritably.

“We wanted to explain where we are coming from AND,” he added quickly as he looked at Matt’s face, “we wanted to hear your point of view. This is still your decision, Man: yours and Steve’s. Just hear us out, though, ok?”

“All right,” Matt replied. “I can’t imagine what you’re going to say that will make me believe Steve deserves to have his rights as President taken away, but go ahead, I’m listening.”

“It’s not a matter of stripping him of his rights, Matt . . . .”

“Well, then what would you call it?” Matt demanded.

“Jay and I are not trying to punish Steve if that’s what you think,” Brad replied softly as he began to understand why his friend was so defensive. “We know he was in a tough spot. I don’t blame him for summoning Gregg. I would have done the same thing and I told Gregg so.” Brad saw Matt’s shoulders relax a little, and encouraged, he continued. “While, I’m not sure I agree with what Steve did, entrusting Kurt and Mike with business that was his to handle, I do understand the level of duress he was under. Kurt and Mike did the right thing by calling me and Jay so no harm was done. This is not about that, Man. We are not trying to be punitive in any way. We simply believe it would be better for everyone involved if Jay and I handle this.”

“How would it be better?” Matt inquired, but his tone was no longer defensive.

“Think about the situation we’ve got here, Matt,” Brad counseled quietly. “It’s unprecedented, really. I know that Gregg is exceptionally immature in many ways, but he is a senior. He has some status in the house. Some of the younger guys, particularly Kyle and co, really look up to him. We do really have to be careful about the message we’re sending here.”

“What message do you want to send,” Matt retorted, “that seniors can do whatever the hell they want without the fear of consequences?”

“No,” Brad responded quietly, “of course not, but we do have to be sensitive to Gregg’s place in the house.”

“Well he sure as hell didn’t give Danny and Ryan that same respect!” Matt replied.

“I know,” Brad acknowledged softly, “and Gregg will understand how wrong he was in that by the time Jason and I are done. We will require him to answer for his actions, Matt, I promise you, but there is no sense in shaking the house up more by turning this into a bigger drama than it needs to be.” The look on Matt’s face now told Brad that his friend was listening to what he had to say and acknowledging its validity. “You know, there will be drama if Steve handles this, Man. How could there not be? Steve and Gregg are the same age, and they’ve been arch rivals since freshmen year. There is deep resentment, as you well know, on both sides. Against our advice and best attempts to prevent Danny, Ryan, and Kyle from getting involved, Steve and Gregg have involved all of them in their feud. Kyle, Danny, and Ryan have in turn involved their friends and younger brothers. This is a truly explosive situation, Man, and now that we are all involved, the three of us have a responsibility to the house as well as our younger brothers, to see that the situation is managed in the best and fairest way possible.”

Matt’s shoulders sagged as the rationality of Brad’s argument penetrated the defensive protection he naturally felt for his beloved younger partner. He hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to gather his whirling thoughts as Jason and Brad gazed quietly at him. “Ok,” Matt finally looked up at them. “Let’s say we do it your way. How do you plan to handle it?”

“I will accompany him upstairs to the president‘s room, just as I would have in previous years,” Brad replied quietly. “Jay will wait for us there, and if you and Steve want to wait with him until we get there, that is your prerogative. If you and Steve have anything to say to Gregg, we’ll wait until you’ve spoken your piece, and then Jay and I will escort him into the Correction Room and administer the punishment. We will remind him of The Code, and the respect he owes to his brothers and fellow fraternity members. We will remind him that a Summons is a sacred disciplinary procedure; it is something that we all at one time or another have had to endure, and anyone who receives one has the right to expect that only the highest degree of sensitivity and discretion will be afforded to him. It is not acceptable to exacerbate or sneer at another’s misery and when the members in question have status in the house as Ryan and Danny do those rules become all the more important. He will be made to understand how unacceptable his behavior was and it will be pointed out to him that he is lucky you and Steve have the class to treat him with the courtesy he did not provide your brothers. He will take the same punishment that Danny did, Jason will deliver the licks, and when we are through, he will apologize to you and Steve as well as Danny and Ryan.”

It was the idea of an apology that did it, not the apology to Danny and Ryan because certainly he and Steve would insist upon that as well, but the apology to Steve. Damn, didn’t his partner deserve that after all he’d been through? And it was something that Steve could hardly insist upon for himself; there was just too much personal history there. For that matter, he wouldn’t mind hearing that little shit say the words, ‘I’m sorry,’ either, disingenuous as they would most certainly be. Maybe, it WOULD be better if Jay and Brad handled this. Certainly, no one would question their motives, Gregg would take them seriously, and the punishment would perhaps make more of an impact on him. It was much harder ultimately to be scolded by those you cared about, or at least respected, than it was to be reprimanded by someone with whom you already had a contentious history. Matt looked up and found Brad’s eyes. “You promise me Gregg’s going to apologize to Steve?”

“The moment we’re through,” Brad assured.

“When will you do it?”

“Tonight, while everyone is at the campus party.”

Matt picked up the towel he had hung over the bars of the nearby stationary bike and wiped at the beads of sweat dotting his forehead. He then wiped at the back of his neck, but still he didn’t say anything.

“Matt?” Jason had been quiet all this time, but now the tentative sound of his big brother’s voice caused Matt to look in his direction.

“I’m sorry,” Jay went on in a tone filled with sincere remorse. “I know I acted like an ass. It’s just all this came on so suddenly, and then seeing Ryan in that condition . . . . I know we don’t always agree, but I wish you guys had let me help you.” Matt looked down and bit his lip. “Let me help you now,” Jay importuned. “You have had too much of this on your shoulders, Little Bro. Both you and Steve need a break. Let me handle this.” Matt finally looked up at him once more, and the two brothers locked eyes. “I’ll take care of it,” Jay whispered. “I promise.”

“All right,” Matt agreed resignedly at last. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Talk to who?” The apprehensive voice coming from the direction of the doorway caused the three young men to freeze. They had been so intent on their conversation, that they had not heard Steve come into the building. Steve, having woken to find the time past 10, his partner absent, and no signs of Mcarthy, had gone in search of his partner. A series of inquiries among his fellow seniors had led him to the weight room, and now he stood in the doorway looking from one guilty face to another. “Brad, Jay,” he greeted coolly.

“Steve,” Brad nodded to him.

“Hey Bro,” Jay returned quietly and with that Steve turned back to Matt who evaded his eyes.

“Talk to who?” he asked again. “What’s going on?”

Finally, Matt faced him. “Brad and Jason were suggesting,” he began carefully, “that it might be a good idea if they handled Gregg’s punishment.”

“What?” Steve blanched.

“They feel it would be best for all of us,” Matt replied evenly. Brad and Jason shifted uneasily, but Matt was looking his partner squarely in the eye now.

“And you agree?” Steve demanded.

Matt shrugged a little. “You are perhaps just a little too close to this situation, Bro . . . .” The agonized look that crossed Steve’s face pierced Matt’s heart and checked his words. Steve did not wait to hear him finish his thought. “Steve!” Matt called as his partner turned for the hallway. “Steve, Come on!” Matt’s call was greeted by the slamming of the door and he swore. “Damn it! God damn it!” Matt turned on Brad and Jay as he threw the towel into the communal laundry bin nearby. Brad bit his lip and Jay looked guiltily at the ground as Matt glared at them. “All right,” Matt informed them. “We will go with your plan, but you guys handled this totally wrong and I hope that you see that now!” He put up his hand to silence Jay as his big brother opened his mouth to protest. “I know you were just trying to help,” he acknowledged. “And I understand your concern for Danny and Ryan, but when Kurt and Mike called you, your first move should have been to contact me or Steve . . . .”

“Well you guys were a little preoccupied at the time, Bro . . . .” Jay started.

“It doesn’t matter!” Matt cut him off. “You don’t think the issue could have waited a day until we could talk?” Brad and Jay were both silent. “You fucked it up guys! This is not our show anymore; this is Steve’s time, now. Next time someone tries to involve you in his business, have a little respect and talk to him directly about it or if not to him, at least to me!” Matt looked levelly at his best friend and his big brother but neither of them met his eyes; they really didn’t know what to say, and after a moment when it became apparent they were not going to respond, Matt left them standing there and followed his partner.

“Steve, wait!” Matt called, though he wasn’t sure Steve was even within hearing range anymore. By walking as fast as he could, without actually running, Matt had captured just a glimpse of his partner’s retreating back as Steve followed one of the many campus paths leading into the 5 acres of woods that surrounded the college. He too was moving at a good clip, and that fact finally forced Matt into a full out run. “Steve!” he called again as he got closer. This time he was sure his partner had heard him but still Steve did not turn around or in any way respond to him. Matt was in reasonable condition, but not the athletic condition Steve was in and Steve had gotten a big head start. Consequently, by the time Matt finally caught up with his partner he was somewhat winded. “Wait!” he breathed, but Steve continued to ignore him. “Steve Stop!” Matt grabbed his partner’s arm. Steve wrenched away from him, but Matt grabbed him again, harder, and spun him around to face him.

“Oww! Let me go!” Steve raged as he once again tried to pull his arm loose. This time, though, Matt held him fast. Steve glared up at him. “I don’t want to talk to you right now!” he snapped.

“Well, I want to talk to you,” Matt returned, unfazed, “and you are not going anywhere until we settle this!”

“You don’t want to hear what I have to say!” Steve growled.

“Then why don’t you settle down and let me do the talking!”

“Why should I listen to you? You two faced cock sucking, mother fucking liar!”

Without a word, Matt took a firmer hold of Steve’s arm and hauled him off the path and deeper into the woods. “OWW! What are you doing?” Steve demanded.

“We are NOT going to have this discussion here,” Matt responded.

“You’re hurting me, Matt! Let go!” Steve carped. He struggled again to pull his arm free, but Matt had a vice grip on him now and his efforts were fruitless. “Bastard!” Steve hissed.

“Keep talking, My Boy, keep talking,” Matt responded.

Steve was only too happy to comply. He certainly had a lot to say and he was too angry to remember that the relative silence from Matt was not likely to be a fortuitous harbinger of things to come. “Just because we have a DP,” he rattled on, “does not give you the right to plot against me with those two assholes!”

“Nobody’s plotting against you, Steven!”

“Yes you were!” Steve insisted as Matt continued to pull him along. “I saw you!”

“Maybe you should be sure of what you saw before you start running your mouth,” Matt suggested.

“But you even said you agree with them!”

“I said I thought you might be a little too close to the situation. That’s all I said before you decided to take off on me!”

“I’m the president! It’s not up to you to make all my decisions for me and it’s certainly not up to those two douche bags!”

“Watch your mouth!”

“Well they are!”

“You do not talk about people like that! Especially not people we care about!”

“YOU care about them! They can go fuck themselves for all I care!”

“You are treading a very thin line, my boy,” Matt admonished. “I know you’ve had a hard morning, but you are about two seconds away from taking another trip over my knee.”

“Like I give a fuck,” Steve muttered.

Matt stopped and stared at him and Steve paled. He had not meant for Matt to hear him. “Sorry,” he whispered, but this was a transgression Matt dared not let slide. Scanning the area, his eyes settled on a moss covered boulder with a relatively flat surface, and he started to pull his partner towards it. “No! Wait, Matt! I’m sorry!” Steve protested. Now that the threat was imminent, he found that he certainly DID give a fuck. His butt had not yet fully recovered from the scourging it had received earlier that morning, the last thing it needed was more of the same. That realization had come too late, however, to do him any good. Before he could even protest further, he felt the chill of the December air wafting over his naked, pink buttocks and a moment later he found himself over his partner’s knee getting his butt blistered for the second time that morning. The previous spanking made it impossible for him to bare this one quietly, and if he was grateful for anything in that moment, it was for the depth of the woods that surrounded him and carried away his anguished cries of pain and fury.

“I don’t ever want to hear you speak of our relationship that way!” Matt scolded. “Not ever! It is insulting, degrading, and disrespectful,” each of the three words was punctuated by another sharp smack.

“OWW!” Steve sobbed. “OWW! OK! I’m sorry!”

“I hope you really mean that,” Matt returned.

“I do,” Steve wailed. “I definitely do! Please, Matt!”

“Didn’t we just get through talking about how we are going to face problems together? As partners?”

“Yes!” Steve squirmed and writhed over his partner’s thigh in his best attempt to evade the punishing smacks Matt continued to rain down. “OWWW! I’m sorry!”

“If I had the paddle here with me, right now, I’d use it,” Matt informed him. “I’d wear your butt out! In fact, you’re lucky I don’t search out the greenest switch available, bend you over that log over there, and take after you with that!”

Steve curled his fingers and gritted his teeth, grasping at his partner’s pants leg for comfort. Curiously, though, Matt’s abrasive words had a somewhat quieting affect on him. His partner was rarely mad enough to use an implement of any kind; he did not really relish the idea of the paddle and used it only on the most serious occasions. To hear Matt regretting its absence now made Steve realize just how important this issue was to him. His rage settled at least a little and he made a concerted effort to listen, though the hard, driving spanks to his bottom made that difficult.

“You . . .do . . .not . . . run from me! Is . . . that . . . clear?”

“Yes,” Steve choked, beginning to feel some real remorse.

The intense smacking continued for another couple of minutes as Steve pulled and twisted to get away. His agonized cries were renewed as Matt fell silent and put all his concentration into the punishment. Twice, Steve nearly slipped off his partner’s lap, but Matt caught him and pulled him back up, making Steve yelp as he redoubled the force of the next several smacks.

“Please, Matt, please!” Steve sobbed. “I’m sorry.”

Matt was not in the habit of giving into his partner’s begging during these moments, but this time the spanking did stop, abruptly, and he lifted Steve to his feet to face him. “Do you want this DP?” he demanded, gripping his partner’s shoulders and looking intently into the tear drenched face.

“Yes!” Steve sobbed.

“Then you have to start taking it seriously!”

“I DO take it seriously!” Steve protested.

“Taking it seriously means you listen to me, Steve. It means that we discuss things and you hear me out before jumping to conclusions like you did just now with Brad and Jason.” Steve scowled, but the warning in Matt's eyes kept him from speaking out. “They really are just trying to help, Bro,” Matt rebuked gently. Steve still did not comment, but he ground his teeth together in a way that left Matt with no doubts regarding his lack of conviction on this point. “You have to stop running away, sweetheart!”

“I’m not . . .!”

“You are! I’m not just talking about times like today either. You shut me out, Steve, on a continual basis!”

“No I don't!” Steve sobbed.

“Yes you do, bro! You cannot take off on me every time you hear something you don't want to hear!” He folded Steve in his arms as his partner crept into his lap and buried his face against his shoulder. Carefully, Matt removed the tangled clothing from Steve’s ankles, and adjusted his legs to be sure the abrasive material of his pants did not contact the tender area. He cuddled Steve close, letting his chin fall to the top of his partner’s head. “If this is the relationship you want us to have, you have to be willing to commit to it all the time, not just when it's convenient . . . .”

“I'm committed!” Steve returned belligerently without looking up. “It's just hard sometimes!”

“Well, it's not always going to be easy, sweetheart, but you've got to be willing to listen even when you don't like what you hear. You’ve got to start listening,” he repeated in a whisper, “and more importantly, you have to start talking to me, Steve. We cannot keep things from one another. When you bottle things up, it’s not healthy, either for you or for our relationship. Understand?” Steve nodded against his shoulder. “So, do you think we can talk about Brad and Jay, now, without you snarling at me?” Matt inquired wryly.

Steve bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep back the acidic reply that naturally leapt to the tip of his tongue. It was just like Matt to pull this kind of dirty trick. Hadn't he, Steve, just now insisted that he was committed to hearing his partner's point of view on any topic that came up between them? He groaned and pressed closer into Matt's shoulder and Matt could not help chuckling softly as he perceived his partner's dilemma.

“They are not trying to be punitive, my Darling,” Matt broached the subject as gently as possible, but his words brushed a nerve all the same. Punitive, patronizing, condescending, Steve felt all these words applied to Brad and Jason's intrusion here. Clearly, they felt he was unworthy of his title, and incapable of executing his duties in a just manner. Steve felt both wounded and betrayed by that lack of confidence especially coming from Jason. He had never formed as close a relationship with his oldest brother as Ryan had. The relationship between Jay and Ryan was special. Still, Steve had always thought Jay was reasonably fond of him, and Jay had never given him any reason to suspect otherwise. Certainly, his big brother had never questioned his competence either before or after he had become president of the fraternity. To be second guessed this way by Jay, now, was a slap in the face. It hurt to know that his big brother thought he had made the wrong decision; it hurt all the more because that decision had been the hardest one Steve had ever had to make.

“Brad agrees with you, you know,” Matt whispered as he correctly guessed the direction his partner’s thoughts were taking.

“He does?” Steve looked up in surprise.

“Yes,” Matt’s eyes twinkled as he encountered his partner’s skeptical expression. “He’s not such a bad guy, Steve, you know. He is my best friend, after all, and his sense of justice is as infallible as yours. If you’d give him a chance, you might find the two of you have more in common than you thought.” Steve’s brow darkened, and he pressed his cheek into Matt’s chest once more as he pondered his partner’s words. It was all well and good that Brad was such a swell guy and everything, but it was hard to forget that he was Gregg Mcarthy’s big brother. Not only that, but last year Brad had sparked a chain of events that had ultimately landed Ryan and Danny in boiling hot water with Matt who was the president at the time. Well, ok, so maybe he hadn’t exactly caused those troublesome events to occur, but he had brought what he deemed to be a cruel joke on Ryan and Danny’s part to Matt’s attention. The repercussions, thereafter, had been swift, harsh, and, Steve still felt to this day, unjust. Brad’s interference, then had been a bitter pill to swallow, and Steve felt the same way now, even if this time Brad was on his side. ‘Why can’t he just mind his own business?’ Steve thought grumpily.

“Brad told Gregg he thought you were right to summon him and that he would have done the same thing,” Matt continued his attempt to assuage his little brother’s wounded ego. Steve made no response this time, but Matt could feel him relaxing. “Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to sit back and let Brad and Jason take things from here?” Matt’s lips brushed his partner’s ear, and he tightened his arms around him, fitting his face into the nook of Steve‘s neck. “All you’d have to do is sit back and wait for the apology. They’d deliver him right to us. Don’t you want this all to be over, my love?” he breathed. Steve squirmed as he felt Matt’s warm breath on his neck, his ready protests dying in the back of his throat. “Aren’t there things you’d rather be doing than dealing with Mcarthy?” Matt’s whiskery stubble grazed his cheek and Steve inhaled his partner’s clean, musky smell. Warm, gentle lips once again gently assaulted his ear and as Mutt nuzzled and kissed the nape of his neck, Steve turned on him, his hazel eyes alive with the heat of his arousal.

“All right,” he acquiesced, holding a finger to Matt’s lips to stop his partner’s ready kiss, “all right. But there’s one thing you all better understand and get straight right now.” Steve’s finger prevented Matt from answering, so he raised his eyebrows questioningly. “I’m the president, this year,” Steve insisted authoritatively. “ ME! I make the decisions! Is that clear?”

Matt’s eyes danced and he felt himself grow hard as his partner’s flinty gaze bore into him. He grabbed Steve’s fingers, pressing them to his lips for a long moment, his eyes never leaving his partner’s. “You are the president,” he assured. Steve cupped Matt’s face in his hands, running his thumbs over the grizzled cheeks, searching the hungry blue eyes before him for any trace of insincerity. He found none. He shut his eyes, tilting his head forward and grazing the lips that now eagerly sought his. Matt pushed forward, aggressively probing, accustomed to having his way, but as his tongue gained entrance, Steve latched on, and with a force that surprised his partner, drove him back. The next thing Matt knew, he was on the ground, his usually submissive partner looking down triumphantly as he straddled him.

“Say it again!” Steve commanded, this time with an impish grin.

“You are the president,” Matt returned obligingly with his own little smile.

“Again!” Steve directed, holding his partner’s gaze as he pushed Matt’s shirt out of his jeans and slid it up his chest, revealing the taut muscles and the single line of soft dark fuzz that ran from navel to nipples, and expanded at the top.

“President Steven Jankowski,” Matt murmured as Steve lowered his mouth to his belly button. “Presiden . . .,” Matt groaned as Steve’s tongue found its mark, and Steve simpered wickedly as he continued to trace with his soft, warm mouth, the line along Matt’s belly. “Oh, God,” Matt moaned once more, arching his back as Steve found his hardened nipple. Expertly Steve nipped and teased, sucking hard and running the tip of his tongue around the edge of the tender skin as his partner squirmed under him.

Matt was enjoying the unusual burst of dominance from his partner, and so far had accepted it with good grace, but patience was not among his top virtues and, as Steve prepared yet another assault, his desire finally got the better of him. He reared up swiftly, catching his partner by surprise, and dove for Steve’s vulnerable jugular. Pressing his mouth hard into Steve’s throat, he grabbed his partner’s muscular ass cheeks, still crimson and warm from the recent punishment. Steve whimpered, an expression of pleasure as much as pain, and with possessive authority, Matt pulled him forward. Deftly, Matt’s fingers found the glistening, hot rectum, and gently he caressed it, relishing the wetness as he slid his finger in and out. Steve shuddered in anticipation but, despite the distraction, managed with his own practiced hands to make short work of the button and zipper that barely restrained his partner’s hardened penis. Matt gasped and grabbed Steve harder as he felt his organ encased by the familiar warmth and wetness of his partner’s mouth. Up and down with expert rhythm, Steve worked his tongue, gently sucking and swallowing, taking the bulging cock in as far as he dared, until finally the taste of salt and cream filled his mouth. “Dear God, I love you,” Matt murmured into his partner’s neck and then he kissed Steve hard, laying him gently on the ground, and cushioning his head with his hands as he sucked his own cum from his partner’s lips.