*****

"Hey, Ril... Whoa!" and the door closed as fast as it had opened. Graham stood on the opposite side of the door. He hadn't meant to see what he saw. "Shit," he whispered to himself. He had forgotten to knock again. He wondered how much trouble he would be in with his friend, when he saw Forrest approach.

"Hey, is Riley ready, we're already late..." He stopped as Graham shook his head. "What? Is he still sleeping?" Forrest reached for the doorknob but was quickly blocked by Graham, who mouthed the word "no".

Forrest's faced showed his confusion and Graham pointed to the room, mouthed the word "Buffy", while he brought one hand up and formed a circle with his index and thumb. He brought the other index finger up and formed a thrusting motion into the circle.

Forrest sighed and gave a look that seemed to be a cross between annoyance and maybe even anger.

They turned and walked down the hall.

"Walsh is not going to like this." Forrest said as the mirror scanned their faces and opened. They stepped into the elevator and Forrest repeated his code to the small intercom.

"Accepted." A computerized voice spoke from the other side. The elevator started its descent.

"This would make, what, the fourth tardy this week? She is definitely going to get him." Graham said, waiting patiently for the door. "She'll really dig her heels in."

"As well she should." Forrest said, causing Graham to look at him, a bit surprised. He continued, "But we know Walsh has her favorites. Still, he's a soldier. He should know better. We're busting our asses all night on patrol, and he's up here fucking like there's no tomorrow. It's not fair."

"Chill, man. It's been a while since he has gotten any. Besides in the kind of work we are into, there may be no tomorrow." They had gotten off of the elevator and were now heading to the debriefing room.

"That's no excuse. He's letting a piece of ass get in the way of his work." Forrest's voice gave off an edge that his words didn't.

"Not just any piece of ass, it's the 'Slayer'." Graham said, half-mockingly. Forrest just sped up. He had made the slightest flinch at that name. Graham sped up to catch up with him. " Hey, Forrest...you're making this a bit more personal. Don't cha think?"

He made a wave of dismissal. "Man, whatever. All I know is that he is not doing his damn job. "

They entered the debriefing room and sat down in two empty chairs in the front. Walsh walked in.

"Good evening, fellas, get ready for one helluva night. We have a--" Her words trailed off as she looked over to the area of Graham and Forrest. "Where is Agent Finn?"

Graham's face reddened. "Last time I seen him he was in his room. He said that he was going to be a little late."

There were a few snickers that went around the room. No one was ignorant of the relationship with Riley and his girlfriend, and they knew where he would be if he wasn't at meetings. Graham couldn't even help but let out a small smile. Walsh's face, however, showed extreme annoyance. Forrest's face wasn't too far behind.

"Okay, that's enough." She said, quieting the soldiers. "We'll just have to continue without him. Okay, now we are looking for a Hostile 8926." She pressed a button on a remote control and a slide-picture appeared on the white-board before them, showing a group of demons, looking similar to the aliens from the movie "Predator". She continued to show slides of their profiles while speaking. "As you can see, they travel in packs. Very rarely will you find one alone. That is why--" The room door opened and everyone turned to see Riley step in. "Nice of you to join us, Agent Finn."

Riley's face reddened and he took the empty seat next to Graham. As Maggie continued, Graham leaned over to Riley and whispered, "Hey, sorry, man. I didn't mean to walk in on you like that. I just forgot to knock. Sorry."

"It's okay. I think we were more startled than you were." Riley laughed. "I just need to remember to lock that door." He looked over to Forrest, who had remained quiet the whole time. "Hey, man. What's wrong with you?"

"Just doing my job, man." He said, with a cold tone.

Riley looked at Graham in confusion, who just shrugged.

--

The cemetery. Three masked figures hid behind a crypt. Waiting. Listening. One took out a small handheld device. He stood, held it out and started to rotate in place. As he turned the device beeped faster. He stopped once he was sure that the device had found its target.

"Looks like we found our pack." Graham said, putting it away.

"Team 2. Report." Riley asked over his headset.

"Team 2 here." Forrest answered. For some reason, unknown to Riley, Forrest had opted to join team 2.

"Our readings show that they are about 20 yards southeast of your position. Do you see them?"

"Uh, yes. We see them. I thought that there were supposed to be six. I only see," Forrest looked closer, "...three. I think we can take them. Permission to engage."

"Permission denied. Wait until we reach you."

"But--"

"No buts. We don't know where the other three may be. Permission denied." Riley said the last part with a bit more force. He then waited for Forrest's compliance.

"Respond now Team 2." When there wasn't any response, he looked at Graham whose face confirmed his speculation. "Shit." The three of them stood and started to run towards the direction of Team 2.

--

Forrest took aim for demon nearest him. But it was too fast. The first shot missed and before the laser could reload, the demon was upon him. He took the butt of the gun and hit it hard on the head, briefly disorienting it. By the time it had gotten its bearings, the laser had powered up and Forrest shot at the demon. He looked over to see the rest of his team, consisting of Agent Garcia and Agent Williams, fighting the other two creatures. Sure, they weren't the best (Riley and Graham were better) but they were pretty good. They could hold their own, usually, but they weren't now. He probably should have waited like Riley told him to. But he didn't really trust Riley's judgment calls anymore. He had started to wimp out for too much. Forrest ran over to the one that was in the most distress: Agent Garcia. He aimed but couldn't get a clear shot. He finally just gave up on the gun and went to engage in physical contact. As he neared the two fighting figures, he was suddenly stopped by a growl from behind him. He turned around to be jumped on by one of the members of the pack. Forrest grunted as the demon brought up the free claw. Just as it started to make its journey downward it was stopped by another hand. A human hand. Another hand punched him, and pushed him off of Forrest. Then it was extended out, to help him up. He heard the voice before he saw the face.

"Need a hand?" The feminine voice asked. Forrest heard a sardonic, biting tone although in reality it hadn't been there.

"No thanks." He bit back in a voice that matched the one he thought he had heard. He scrambled to his feet. Buffy was hit in the back by another of the pack and fell to all fours. But she kicked him in the stomach and jumped to her feet. There seemed to be more coming and Garcia and Williams appeared to be dead. Forrest picked up his and Garcia's laser and started to fire it at every hostile that he could. But the Lasers took too long to recharge and he was quickly being approached by two of the demons. He dropped the guns and reached for both of the survival knives, one from his side, and the other from his boot. He threw one of them and it landed square in the middle of the hostile's head. The other demon reached him before he could throw the second knife. He turned, back-flipped over the hostile, and stabbed it in the back. That's when Team 1 had shown up.

--

Riley, Graham, and Agent Henderson, their third, rushed into the ongoing battle, Riley calling for backup before he himself went in to attack one of the demons. But there were more demons than soldiers and slayers. Henderson was dead within the same minute of entry. Forrest raced over to one of the dead demons, and yanked his knife out of its head. He ran over to help Graham, who was about to be attacked by a demon from behind. Graham and Riley had already stopped using their guns and opted for fists and knives and Buffy had been using a battle-ax that she had come with.

"Thanks, man." Graham told Forrest.

"No probl--" Forrest was cut off by a demon's fist connecting with his head. He fell onto the ground. He stepped back, shaking his head to rid him of lights he was now seeing.

Riley heard Graham shout to Forrest to watch out for the demon. Forrest looked out of it but Graham couldn't do anything because he was fighting off two of them on his own. Riley looked over to Buffy and saw three approaching her while she was fighting one of them. He looked back over to Forrest, who was now on his back struggling with a demon. He then heard the running footsteps of his backup and made a decision.

Forrest was struggling to get free, when the demon brought one claw across his chest, its nails cutting through the protective covering, his army issued clothing, and pierced the skin. Forrest screamed in pain. Just then a light surrounded the demon and it stood stark still. It started to convulse and then the light was gone. The demon just slumped over to the side.

"Sir, sir are you alright?"

Forrest didn't know if the voice was addressing him or someone else. He actually could've cared less. He was more aware of the dizziness he was now feeling. Then there was darkness.

--

He came to, hearing the various voices over him. All he knew was that he was moving and that he was on some type of bed. He could see lights moving above him as the voices became frantic. His eyes finally focused in on one figure, seemingly floating above him. It was Walsh and she seemed to have a very sympathetic smile for him. Her voice resounded and echoed in his head.

"He's coming to." She said to someone out of his range of view. "It's going to be alright, Forrest. Just hold on." He heard some doors open and one bright light shone right above his head. Then something covered his mouth and he was told to breath in deeply. He did the best he could and was out.

--

Forrest's eyes fluttered open and he groaned at the brightness of the room. His closed his eyes and kept them shut to stop the room from spinning. Then he opened them and they focused on Graham's face above him.

"Welcome back to the land of the living."

"Oh, man, what happened?" Forrest said, bringing his hand up to his aching head. He saw the IV on the back of it and realized that he was in the infirmary.

"You had a one nasty run-in with a member of Hostile species 8296." Graham pointed at Forrest's chest. Forrest's hand came up and traced the four parallel marks on his chest. "God, I feel like I've died."

"You actually did." Forrest looked at him. "Four times in the O. R. You had lost a shit load of blood and there was a lot of demon poison in your system, from the claws. They had to revive you 4 times. But when you hear what Walsh has to say, you will wish you were. She is pissed."

"Huh? Why? What I do?" Forrest sat up, wincing at the pain.

Graham sighed. "Garcia and Williams are dead. Since you were the head of their team--"

"I'm being blamed?!" He asked.

"No. No. It's just...why didn't you listen to Riley when he told you not to engage?"

Forrest sighed. "Because I knew for a fact that we had them. Or at least I thought we did. I couldn't let them get away."

Graham leaned in. "Cut the bullshit Forrest. You and I both know, you weren't thinking about capturing those damn hostiles. But first tell me about not being on team 1 with me and Riley."

"What are you talking about?"

"I checked the rosters from last night. You were supposed to be on team 1 but there was a last minute change to the schedules."

"I don't know--"

"It was made by your request."

Forrest was quiet. Graham sighed and grabbed a chair to sit closely to his bed. He spoke quietly.

"Whatever this is between you and Riley, you need to squash it. There is no one here that I would trust my life with more than you or Riley." Forrest remained silent, staring at the wall in from of him. "You know what I think?"

"I don't really feel like hearing one of your far out speculations."

"Well you're gonna listen anyway. I think that this is because of Buffy."

Forrest looked over at him incredulously. "What do you mean about Buffy, like I give a rat's ass about her."

"My point exactly. This didn't start until she came around. You never undermined Riley's authority, never been off his team, hell, you have been his second in command for over two years. And even before that we were together as privates in the same company. I didn't get it. Then I noticed that these things started to happen right after Buffy came." Graham got up and went to the window. He continued. "Then I made a connection. You didn't like Buffy at all. But why don't you like her? That's the question. I mean, she clearly makes your best friend happy. Aren't you supposed to be happy that he is happy? But that begs the question. Are you his true friend?"

Forrest, who had remained neutral through out, shot him an angered look. "What? Man, you should know how close me and Riley are."

"I do know. That's why I dropped that little segue. But then it all became clear. You are jealous of her."

Forrest chuckled. "Wait, let me get this straight. You think that I am jealous of Buffy. Why?"

"Because she's got what you don't have anymore."

"Yeah and what's that?"

"Riley."

Just then a doctor came into the room.

"Hello boys," she greeted with a big smile. "And how is my patient today?" She went over to Forrest and started to check his IV.

"Just fine."

"Good. I don't think you should be sitting up. And Agent Miller, I believe visiting hours are over."

"No problem." Graham said. As he opened the door he turned and looked at Forrest. "We will be talking." He left. The Doctor stayed for another minute, questioning Forrest about how he was feeling but she didn't get much. She left soon after.

That left Forrest the solitude to ponder on Graham's theory. He hadn't been able to refute the idea, because the doctor had come in. // She has Riley.\\ he repeated the words in his thoughts. //Okay now tell me something I don't know. But what does that have to do with anything? It's not like I'm in...love with Riley or anything. I'm not! I'm not!\\ He pulled the sheets up over himself, careful not to put too much pressure on the sore spots. He fell asleep, with that baneful thought.

--

"Okay, you are so not into this." Buffy said as she moved from atop Riley and to his side.

"Sorry." Riley couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

"It's okay." She cuddled her naked body against his. She was silent as she watched Riley stare up at the ceiling.

"What's wrong, Riley? What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Well, that's some pretty interesting nothing."

He couldn't hear her comment. He was too absorbed in his thoughts.

"I should've been there. You know, he died like four times while they were operating on him. I mean like a cease of all bodily functions, including the brain."

"That's usually what dead means, honey."

"You know what I mean. I should've been there. He's my best friend."

"Don't blame yourself, Riley. If he would've listened to you and waited, he wouldn't have been hurt. He should've listened."

"I know that. But that's the weird part. He never disobeyed a direct command, at all, especially from me. And we have never been on separate teams, since we were recruits. He's been my second in command since I became team leader. He's been acting really weird lately."

"You mean that's not how he acts all the time? He's been shitty to me since we started dating. But even before that he was still neutral about me."

"I'm sure its something else bothering him." Riley said reassuringly to her. But he was in deep concentration and his mind was eagerly trying to make connections and links with this new information. He went to sleep thinking about it.

*****
Part 2:

Graham walked through the halls of the frat house, with a determined look upon his face. He stopped in front of a door. A "Please Do Not Disturb" sign from the infirmary hung on the doorknob. He turned the knob and was not surprised to find it locked. He knocked on the door.

"Hey. You in there?" He asked a question that he already knew the answer to. Yet he still hoped for an answer from the other side of the door. He took out the key that he had been given some time ago. He unlocked the door and stepped into the room. He found Forrest moving back and forth from his dresser to his bed, putting clothes into a duffel bag. Without stopping, he greeted Graham. "You know, I've been meaning to change those locks."

"Where are you going?"

"Home. It appears that Walsh thinks I need to take a "leave of absence", as she put it. A time to 'cool off' and 'recollect myself'. So I've opted to take this time and go visit my parents. They've been wondering about how I've been doing and why I haven't called. I don't think that they would mind my imposing."

"Wait, aren't you still supposed to be in the infirmary? You are in no condition to be leaving right now. Look at you. You can't even bend without being in pain."

Forrest had just bent down to get into his bottom drawer, and there was a quick intake of breath as he reached for the clothes. Forrest turned to face Graham. "Dude you are not my mother. So stop acting like it." He continued walked over to his bed and stuffed the handful of clothes into it.

"I may not be your mother, but I am a friend. And I know what you are trying to do. Even when you come back you will have to settle this thing with Riley."

Forrest turned and snarled, "There is nothing to settle. Now shut your mouth. And who said that I was coming back?"

"What? Are you serious? You are going to quit, just because you may be having feelings for Riley?"

"I do not have feelings for Riley!"

"Fine. Then you won't mind me going to tell him that you are leaving and about my 'speculations'." Graham said as he went for the door. Graham was surprised how fast Forrest leapt over to the door and slammed it back closed.

"You will not."

"Then you will."

Forrest threw the first punch.

--

Riley walked down the hall toward Forrest's room. He wanted to clear up whatever it was that was happening between them. He got in front of the door when he heard the loud thump on the other side. Then a crash and the sounds of a struggle. He entered the room, only to find his best friends in an all-out brawl on the floor. There was glass from a shattered lamp spread out on the floor. He jumped in and tried his best to separate his friends, careful not to get hit in the process.

"Stop. Stop now. That's an order." He was in between the two of them.

"Save your breath, Riley. Forrest over here is thinking about going AWOL."

"Shut the fuck up!" Forrest said, trying to get around Riley to get to Graham, who had stopped aggressing.

"What?!" Riley said, looking at Forrest in disbelief. "Why?!"

Forrest stopped fighting and looked at Riley. "Because I'm sick of this shit!"

"Sick of what shit? What are you talking about? Someone been giving you trouble?"

"No." Graham answered for him. Never taking his eyes off of Forrest, he continued. "He's--" But he was cut off by Forrest's shouts.

"Shut up. I swear man. If you don't shut--" He leapt at Graham again but was caught by Riley before he could make a connection. Graham hadn't moved.

Riley looked Forrest directly in the eyes. "Dude, calm down."

"Man, let go of me." Forrest yanked himself out of Riley's grip. He went back to packing, roughly shoving his clothes into the bag.

Riley went over to Graham. "What the hell is going on here?"

Graham just stared at Forrest. Then he looked at Riley. "Although I wouldn't like anything more than to tell you right now, I think Forrest should be the one to tell you." He glared at Forrest, whose back was turned to him.

"Fine. But I don't think that he's going to tell me anything while you're here."

"Fine." He started for the door. When he was almost out of it he looked back at Forrest and said firmly, "If you don't tell him, you are a coward, Forrest. I mean it." And with that he stomped down the hall. Riley closed and locked the door. He placed a chair under the doorknob.

"That's so we won't be interrupted." He turned to face Forrest who was zipping up one bag and getting another out. Forrest apparently hadn't heard Riley, or he did, but chose to ignore him.

"Where are you going?" Riley said, stepping closer to his friend.

Without turning around, Forrest answered, "Walsh gave me a two week vacation. I'm going to my parents."

"I know, I heard. But the vacation only lasts for two weeks. That's a helluva lot of clothes for just two weeks."

"What can I say? I love dressing up." His voice was dry and sardonic.

Riley found a chair and sat there. He just looked at Forrest who had absorbed himself in packing. Forrest could feel Riley's eyes on him. Still packing he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm wondering when you are going to tell me what the fuck is going on."

"There is nothing going on." Forrest said through clenched teeth. He had stopped moving, briefly because of the feverish shivers traveling through out his body. He breathed deeply as dizziness over took him. He blinked a couple of times and shook his head. He continued to get the remainder of his clothes out of his closet and off of the hangers.

"Yeah. Nothing is wrong. Yet, you disobey orders, fight with your best friend, and you are trying to make a trip to a place a thousand miles away with a fever that could kill you. But nothing's wrong. Sure."

For the first time since the fight Forrest stopped and turned to face him. "Don't you have somewhere to be? I'm pretty sure Buffy is probably looking for you, right now. And we don't want to keep her waiting, now do we?"

"So this is about Buffy."

"NO! Why does everyone think that this is about Buffy?"

"Then what is it about?"

"It's about me. I want to get away from this place."

"Get away from this place or...from me?"

"What?!" Forrest went back to packing. "No. It's this place."

"I'm sorry. Firstly for whatever I did to bother you so much."

"You didn't--"

Riley interrupted him. "Secondly for not coming to help you when you needed me."

"Why? You did what anybody else would've done. If I was in that position I would have saved my girlfriend, too."

Riley winced as the bitterness of the words, coupled with the fact that they were coming from his best friend, stung him hard. He moved closer. "No, you wouldn't have."

Forrest had stopped moving and was now just starring at the wall in front of him. "Yes, I would've." He said with more force, his voice wavering just a bit. He shivered when he felt his friend's hands on his shoulders and his voice in his ears, whispering, "No, you wouldn't have."

Riley's hands moved down and his arms enveloped Forrest's waist, as he brought his friend's body against his own. Forrest resisted at first, not knowing how he should react, but then allowed himself to be drawn back, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling of his friend's warmth. He savored the feeling of the chest pressed against his back, not because it was there, but because it was Riley's. The night before he had come to the conclusion that some of Graham's conclusion could've been right. Even though he didn't want to admit it to himself. And after Walsh had came to visit him that morning to tell him about the "vacation", he saw it as an excellent opportunity to get up and out before he was found out. He was hoping that he was gone before Graham got wise. No such luck. But now he didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He relaxed back into Riley's grasp. Riley shared the shivers travelling up and down Forrest's spine. The fact that he was now holding onto a guy didn't matter one bit. He didn't even think he would've let Forrest go if Buffy had come into the room and caught them. He just had that desire, that craving, the need to be with his friend, and he didn't care about what others thought. He held on tighter and rested his chin on Forrest's shoulder, nuzzling his ear. He noticed that Forrest's body was unusually hot.

"We should get you back to the infirmary."

Forrest had been silently enjoying the feeling, his mind away in its own deliberations, when he heard Riley's whisper in his ear. He almost jumped. "Um, yeah. But I don't feel like it right now." Forrest turned around to face the man holding him. They both looked at each other for a moment. Then Forrest broke the silence. "I suppose that this is where we...you know..."

"Kiss?" Riley finished.

"Um, I guess."

Riley smiled. He began to lean in.

"Wait." Forrest stopped. "What if Buffy finds out?"

"So what? We will deal with that when it comes up."

Forrest smiled at that and his heart began to skip beats as Riley leaned in. He started to get incredibly dizzy and their lips only brushed against each other before darkness took over him. Forrest fell limp in his friend's arms.

--

Forrest's eyes opened and it took a second for the ceiling to come into focus. He knew immediately where he was. A nurse was standing by his bed, changing the IV bag. She looked over as he groaned and stretched. His headache was gone. He felt his chest and found that the stitches had been removed and all was left of his claw cuts were small welts.

"Good morning, sleepy head." The nurse smiled. "Finally decide to join us in the world of the living?"

Forrest's face showed his apparent confusion.

"You have been sleeping for a week."

"Say what?!"

"Yep. You were brought in about a week ago by one of your friends."

Forrest looked around the room.

"Oh. He's gone. But he will be back later today. Lord knows, he has every other day. Been drivin' the damn staff nearly insane." She said while changing his pillows.

"Oh. Well I'm feeling much better now. Do you know when I will be able to go home?"

"I'll get the doctor. She'll let you know." And with that she was gone.

He sat back and waited for the doctor to come in. It was in the silence that he realized who that friend was. Then the whole encounter in the bedroom. //Holy shit.\\ He didn't know what he was going to do. //I mean everything that happened must've been due to the fever.\\ That was the only logical answer. The door opened, interrupting his thought. A woman dressed in a long white overcoat, with matching light green shirt and pants. She carried a clipboard and addressed him while reading his name off of it.

"Forrest H. Gates?"

"That's me."

"It says here that you came in here with a coma about a week ago."

"That's what the nurse told me."

She put the board down and smiled at Forrest. "Well, you; how are we doing today, Mr. Gates?" She pulled out a small thermometer.

"Fine. Never felt better."

"Lift your tongue." She inserted the thermometer into his mouth. "Okay, tell me if this hurts." She started to put pressure on various parts of his body, looking up to make sure he wasn't in pain. She picked her board back up and wrote something down. She took the thermometer out of his mouth and looked at it. She wrote something down again.

"Well, your fever has gone back down." She pulled back his gown and looked at his chest. "And that wound seems to have healed up just nicely." She recorded something again. "Okay, I will have you set up for a physical to make sure that everything checks out and then we will see about getting you discharged. Okay?" She smiled.

"Okay."

She walked out of the room and moments later a nurse came in and told him to follow her. He went through the whole physical and was approved for the discharge. He changed clothes and walked out of the infirmary, happy to smell the fresh air. He had been thinking about the encounter again and he had found another logical reason for what had happened. He wanted it to. He realized why he had so much animosity towards Buffy. He realized that Graham was right, and chuckled to himself because he knew how much shit he would get from Graham when he found out he was right. He walked into his room, expecting a mess but was surprised to find it had all been cleaned up. His clothes had been put away and no one would've been able to tell that there had been a fight just a week ago. //Damn. How am I going to make that up to Graham?\\ He took off his shoes and lay down in his bed. Before he knew it he was sleep.

--

Knock, Knock, Knock.

The first three knocks were to slow to impede on Forrest's dreams, but the next three brought him out just enough for him to ask who it was. The door opened slightly and he saw Riley's head pop in.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure." Forrest quickly sat up in his bed, now fully awake. He watched the figure come in and situate a chair right in front of him and sit down.

"So...you feeling any better?"

"Yeah, a lot better."

"So..."Riley seemed nervous. He wanted to ask Forrest something but didn't know how to ask him.

"So..."

"Fuck it. Do you remember what happened the other night?"

"Yeah."

"Well...how do you feel about, what happened?"

Forrest stood. "Nothing happened. We just...hugged I guess. Nothing that friends don't do occasionally." Forrest could see Riley's heart sink in his face. He stepped closer to the still sitting figure. "Nothing happened because I fainted before it could. I'm not saying that I don't want anything to happen." He saw Riley's face look up with a smile. He stood and stepped closer to Forrest. They stepped closer and Forrest could feel the heat emanating from the body in front of him. He wanted more and stepped closer. Riley stepped closer still and now he could feel Forrest's breath on his shirt. His arms went around Forrest's waist and pressed their bodies together, their warmth increasing and co-mingling. He tilted his head a bit to look up at his friend, who was looking at him. Their faces came slowly together, slowly and there lips brushed against each other, only this time Forrest didn't faint. There was that dizziness again, but not from a fever. It was coming from the thought of him kissing his best friend. The kiss was so very simple, so very innocent. But the shivers running up and down their bodies said anything but.

The second kiss was filled with a greater amount of need. Both needed this. They both needed to make that connection. One that had been betrayed and could only be rebuilt and repaired by taking the relationship further. They were both ready to take that step. Riley's hand came around to cup Forrest's neck and bring him closer as he bent down further. Riley opened his mouth gently forcing his tongue in between Forrest's lips, which opened up for him with out objection. Riley in turn felt Forrest's tongue enter his mouth as they wrestled each other for dominance. Forrest gently sucked on Riley's tongue and pulled him closer. Riley sucked on Forrest's bottom lip biting it gently on occasion, causing Forrest to moan slightly. He felt Forrest's hard-on jump in his pants and started to grind himself against it, causing Forrest to moan even louder through the kiss. Riley pushed forward, leading himself and Forrest to the bed, never letting up from the kiss.

They maneuvered to where Riley was now on top of Forrest and he started to kiss his way down. He sucked on his friend's neck, turning the brown skin a darker shade. His hands went under Forrest's shirt and caught the ends of it. He gently brought it up over his head and Forrest repeated the act with Riley's shirt. Riley started his trail down again concentrating on all of the sensitive parts, the dark nipples, and the indent between the well-developed six-pack, eliciting moans from his friend, each one louder than the other. He could feel the hard shaft under his chest and it kept coming closer and closer to his mouth as he moved down the face. When he was finally faced with the dripping shaft, he took hold and slowly milked it. Forrest groaned loudly and gripped the sheets beneath him. Riley was very new to this but he had heard enough stories. He licked the head and listened to Forrest's response. He moved forward and let the head slip between his lips.

Forrest responded by squeezing Riley's shoulders and urging him on with a groan. Forrest's body was going through so much as his best friend bobbed slowly on his dick. It took everything in him not to grabbed the back of Riley's had and shove him down hard. But then the fact came to him. It was Riley. God Riley was giving him head. His best friend. The only person he trusted with his life. Only person he had ever loved as much as his own brothers. His closest friend. And with that thought he came in Riley's mouth. Riley relaxed his throat and swallowed his friend's hot liquid. He gently continued to milk it until he was sure that he had gotten every single drop of cum from Forrest's body, and the last of the satiated moans started from Forrest's gut and erupted from his mouth. The residual effects of the orgasm were heightened by the kisses that Riley made on his body as he moved up slowly. The kiss was electrifying, sending constant shocks to Forrest's already sensitive nerves. The kiss became deeper as they slowly begin to grind into each other, and Forrest could feel the hard member against his belly. In that moment Forrest made a decision. Without stopping the kiss he slowly maneuvered his legs on either side of Riley. Riley broke the kiss looking down at his friend, asking if he was sure with his eyes. The nod was so faint that Riley wasn't even sure that he had seen it until Forrest gave a slightly stronger one. Riley couldn't help but smile, before kissing his Forrest again. His friend was giving him his body. Somehow that made the kiss different. Very different. He didn't understand what it was but he knew the difference was there. A thought occurred to him as he pulled away again.

"Um...do you have any...it might hurt if I just..."

Forrest tried to think quickly, not wanting the mood to pass. But he shook his head, disappointment clearly on his face.

"Hey, don't worry." Riley smiled. He trailed down Forrest's body quickly. He lifted his friend's legs slightly and put them over his shoulders, Forrest's soles lying flatly on his back. Forrest's eyes closed tightly as he felt the tip of the tongue at his opening. Riley started with brief licks across the puckered opening and felt Forrest shudder violently under his arms. His mouth closed over it and he started to his tongue forced its way into Forrest. Forrest squirmed under the ministrations of his friend, his back arching up. He pushed down on his Riley's tongue, trying desperately to get it in further. He groaned louder and louder and finally his need took hold of him. He gasped Riley's name.

Riley knew by the tone that it was time. He came back up to facing his friend, whose eyes were closed, guided the head of his dick to the opening. Forrest's legs came up around his waist, giving Riley a better aim, and Riley bent down to kiss his friend deeply. Forrest groaned into his mouth as Riley slowly started to enter him. Riley's lips started to move over Forrest's face and neck, and his hands rubbed up and down his sides softly, hoping that it would help alleviate any pain Forrest may have been feeling, but he never stopped the slow entry. He groaned, between kisses, at the tight warmth that surrounded his cock. Forrest groaned into Riley's neck as his body tried to resist the huge intruder. He bit gently into Riley's neck, causing Riley to groan louder and reciprocate the action. Finally it was in completely and they both sat still, waiting for something. Suddenly Forrest's tightness loosened around Riley's thickness, and Forrest sighed as his entire body relaxed.

Riley pulled out slowly and Forrest moaned as the head brushed that secret spot, deep in his body. Riley kissed the arching chest and wrapped his arms around Forrest as he plunged into him. Forrest shook with pleasure and he groaned loudly. Riley was glad that the majority of the guys were out tonight. Forrest's groans grew louder as the pace picked up and so did Riley's. Forrest had gotten hard again and Riley managed to snake his hand between their bodies and grasp it. He milked it, timing the moves of his hand with those of his thrusts. Forrest was nearly writhing beneath him with pleasure and his ass gripped around Riley's cock, eliciting a deep guttural moan from the soldier. Riley knew that it was almost time, and he sped his hand up so that Forrest would cum the same time he did. He wanted Forrest to feel as good as he did. He only had strength to make to more deep thrusts and he came, filling his lover's insides with his thick, warm life-fluid. Forrest came a second after he started, his fluid coating their chests, melding them together in their momentary feeling of bliss. Forrest's legs, which had locked behind Riley's back, came around and relaxed at Riley's sides. The both gasped for air as the came down from their cloud. Riley's eyes met Forrest's and he smiled as he leaned and kissed his friend. His lover. His Forrest. He lay next to him in the bed, both of them still in each other's arms, Forrest's head snuggled in the space between Riley's chin and chest.

"My Forrest." He whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.

"My Riley." Forrest said, his breath hot against Riley's chest as he snuggled in close. Riley's grip tightened his lover's waist. He smiled to himself. //My Forrest.\\

//My Riley\\.

*****

Epilogue (Kinda...)

"Hey Ril... whoa!" The door opened just as it shut. Graham's heart had almost caught in his throat. //Damn. I got to remember to knock.\\ His breathing had slowed just as he saw a figure approach.

"Hey Graham."

"Hey."

"Where's Riley?"

"He's...not...here?" It was more of a question.

"Why do I get the feeling he is here and he's in that room?"

"Well...ya see. He's sorta..." Graham had to think quickly. "It's sorta a surprise for you." //Or at least it will be when you see it.\\

"Oh my god. He remembered my birthday. That's so sweet."

Graham just went with it. "Um...yeah that's right. And you don't want to ruin the surprise now do you?"

"No. Just tell Riley that I will meet him later."

"Sure thing, Buffy." When she had cut the corner of the hall, Graham knocked on the door, making sure that the occupants heard him. "Riley, learn how to lock your damn door! Shit." He walked off.

Riley jumped off of the bed and quickly locked his door, the air sending a chill over his body. He quickly got back in bed and kissed his Forrest.

The End