WELCOME TO PAL JOEY'S... THE DOCTOR IS IN It wasn't even close to being described as average. No, this bar was far from being anything like the bars he usually inhabited. Chris sat down on one of the bar stools. The scruffy bar tender turned to him. "What'll you have?". "Just give me whatever's on tap". The man poured Chris his drink and slid it across the bar. "I don't forget a face. Have you been here before?". "No. I don't get out much...to gay bars". The bar tender huffed. He turned back to drying glasses. Suddenly a young man stood beside Chris. He was tall blonde and handsome. Chris tried not to drool. "Hey Joe, we got a problem, man". The bar tender turned to the youth. "What is it, J? Is it the new guy again? He better fuckin' go on tonight or he's fired. Watch the bar". The bar tender ran off in the direction of a back room. The younger man glided over the counter. "Hey. What brings you to Pal Joey's?", the youth behind the bar asked Chris. Chris took a sip of his drink before responding. "I really needed a drink". "Stressfullness?". "Yeah, you could say that". "What's your name?". "Chris". "Cool. My name's Justin. If anybody around here gives you guff you just let me know. I'll take care of it". The boy smiled genuinely. Chris didn't doubt that the boy could take care of it, considering his built. He just wondered what the kid was doing there and why he seemed to be so respected by the other "regulars". Chris smiled back at Justin. "You work here?". "Yeah. I'm the only wait staff until JC gets in. Which sucks cuz it's almost happy hour. Then Joe's got all these problems with the new stripper guy. I guess he feels he can do better then here. I mean what the fuck is he doing at a gay bar in Springfield if he could do better? Yeah, a whole bunch of the men who come in here are sleave bags. Except for you. Whatta ya do, Chris? I mean you're wearing a suit. It's not proper attire here at Pal's. I doubt Joey would hear of such a thing". "I work around here. Big sky rise and all that shit. Mr. Executive, that's me". Chris frowned. "No need to be upset, man. Look at my job. I'm a waiter at a gay bar that has strippers". Justin laughed. His laugh was infectious and Chris felt himself chuckle along. Then the bar tender came back. The guy Justin referred to as Joey. Chris assumed he was the owner. How many Joey's could really work at a place named Pal Joey's, really. "Get back to work, J". Joey said. He ducked underneath the bar and began work on the glasses again. "Hey, I'll see ya later, Chris", Justin said before he left. "I just want you to know", Joey said without looking in Chris' direction. His voice sounded dangerous. He didn't seem like a force to be reckoned with. "That if you touch or harm Justin in a way he doesn't want to be touched or harmed I WILL break your arm". Chris gulped. He believed him. "No problem", Chris squwaked out. He cursed under his breath. Why did he always come off as some weirdo jackass uncomfortable in his skin everywhere he went. He obviously didn't fit in with these people. They knew that and he knew that, but did he have to act like he knew it. Truth be known Chris didn't fit in anywhere. People at work didn't even treat him seriously, and he was their boss. Chris was a joke to everyone he met. He laughed bitterly at that. Lance certainly meant it when he first told Chris that and Chris believed him whole heartedly. The bar tender turned to look at Chris oddly. "Did I say something out loud?", Chris asked. "Naw, I was just wondering why you were laughing. Are you okay? I don't allow crazies at my bar and rest assure that I will kick you out if I feel you're a threat". "I'm no threat. Not to anyone. I barely exist". Joey sighed. He leaned against the bar near Chris' stool. "So, you got problems. Talk to Pal Joey...he listens". Chris took in the sincere words and sincere expression. He found himself wanting to spill all of his problems out on this stranger. "I just got dumped". "One of those kind of problems, eh?". "No, it's much worse then that. I'm actually surprised I stayed with the guy so long. He was verbally abusive, ya know. He knew too much about my life and he pointed out what was wrong with me. Trust me when I say that hurts. There is so much wrong". "So spill. What's ailing you". Joey refilled Chris' empty glass. He set it down in front of Chris again and Chris took a sip. "I've never once gotten respect in my whole entire life. Everybody I know frowns upon me. I'm a joke to all and uncomfortable in every situation. Which is ironic considering I'm a huge executive of a large corporation. Still, no respect". "Did this guy that dumped you tell you that?". "Yeah. He was right, though. He pointed out a truth I didn't want to see". "Then why don't you change it. The way I see it is you gotta gain respect. If you let people run over you your whole life nobody will ever respect you. Like that guy who dumped you. He didn't respect you, so he showed you your faults. Did you love the guy?". "Yeah, I think I did. Our relationship was good...for a while. Until we passed the bullshit stage and REALLY got to know each other". "Maybe you should fight for him. Ya know, show him you're worth fighting for. Try to win him back. It seems to me that if you can work this out with someone you love you can work it out with the assholes at work and other people who take advantage of you. You gotta show them who's boss". Chris took the man's words to heart. He had to know what he was talking about. The power and authority he had was unquestionable. He spouted out intensity and the demand of respect. Chris envied him. Someone else came up to the bar and Joey busied himself with making the man a drink. Chris took in the bar's surroundings. There were tables lined around the stage that was next to the bar. There was also a dance floor where several men were booging down. Then there was a piano in the far corner. Chris wondered if there was a piano man. He desperately wanted to hear the song PIANO MAN by Billy Joel. That was a damn good song. Another man approached the bar and Chris caught Joey's slight smile. "I'm here, the party can begin". The man jumped onto the bar. He was tall, and handsome with chiseled features. He smiled at Joey. Then he looked down at Chris before adjusting his tie. "Hey, if it's gotta be formal it's gotta be done right". The man slid over till he hit the floor on the other side of the bar. "Go get your apron, asshole. You left Justin to do all your work". "I had a hot date". "I told you to stop going out with my mom". The man chuckled at Joey's comment. "Nope, sorry babe. It was my mom today". "What'd she say?". "False alarm. She's not pregnant, thank God. Really, she's too old to be making babies. 'Sides it creeps me out that my mom and pop are still going at it". He crinkled up his face. He then tied his apron around his waist and picked up a tray. He turned to Chris. "Shows starting. You should watch this, mystery tie guy. If the new guy does a good job we'll let him keep his job". Joey kicked the other man in the butt. "Josh, you gotta go help Justin. He's dieing out there". "Why don't you help him?". "I'm the bar tender". "You should get some more help. Perhaps put mystery tie guy on part time". "Chris is an executive". "Aw! Not looking for work. Damn". The man Joey had addressed as Josh smiled at Chris. "Too bad, eh? I'm Josh. Don't let Joey do nothin' bad to you. You saw how he kicked me in the ass, he's a kinky bastard you know". Chris saw the twinkle in Josh's eye and suspected that the relationship Josh and Joey shared was more then a friendship. Josh walked out into the crowd. The curtain on the stage began to rise. Chris' eyes drifted to the performer and his mouth hung open. The first thing he noticed was the eyes. Those damn soul searching, truth seeking, sexy as all hell eyes. Chris blamed their breakup on those eyes. Since when was Lance a stripper? His Lance. The same Lance that had broken up with him no more then a week ago. Chris sighed. The performance was okay. The fact that it was Lance freaked him out a bit. Lance did look cute up there. Chris would have to be blind not to see that, but it was quite obvious that Lance wasn't a professional. After the performance Chris got another drink. "What did you think of the new guy?", Josh asked Chris. He came up to the bar and leaned against it. He then told Joey a couple of drink orders. He faced Chris when he was done, expecting an answer to his question. Chris shrugged. "Not what I expected to tell you the truth". "Why's that?". Chris didn't have a chance to answer because Lance was suddenly there. He stood on the other side of Josh. Chris couldn't help but stare at his former lover. "How did I do?", Lance asked Joey. "I was just asking Chris the same thing", Josh said to Lance. Lance turned to me and I knew our faces reflected the same damn expression. "Chris? What the hell are you doing here?". "I was going to ask you the same thing, Lance, but I thought it would sound rude. Guess I was right". Josh sensed the hostility between the two. Joey placed the drinks on his tray and he was gone. Joey then discreetly went back to drying his glasses. Chris could tell he was eavesdropping a bit. "So, you're a stripper now?". "I'd like to think of it as artistic dancing". "You dance worse then I do". "I know". Lance sat down on the stool next to Chris. "How are you, Chris?", Lance asked. This question was posed much more tenderly then his last. "I'm okay". "Liar. I can hear it in your voice". "Do you want me to say that I've been miserable since you left? Cuz I ain't gonna say it. I'm not even thinking it. I don't need your crap". "Can I have a hug?". Chris smiled at the question. "Former lovers are supposed to hug when they see each other again, ya know? It's in the rule book". Chris pulled the other man close to him. "I need to get that book because I've never once hugged my ex". "What if I said I was sorry that I left?". They pulled away from each other. "I'd say you're a sad little fool who'd be disappointed because I haven't changed a bit". Lance reached a hand up that stroked Chris' cheek before running through his hair. "I miss you". Lance sighed as he touched the softness of Chris' hair. "I'm sorry I left. I...uh...I dunno, Chris. Consider taking me back, cuz Mike really misses you, too". Chris smiled. Mike was the goldfish Chris had won for Lance at a fair months earlier. "Well, then. I guess I'll just have to come over when you get off of work so I can visit. The children always suffer in divorces". Lance chuckled. "You know, Lance. You're all clocked out now, so you can leave", Joey hinted not so subtlely. Lance smiled. "Thanks, Joe". Chris threw some money on the counter. He then let Lance lead him out of the bar by the hand. Justin and Josh walked up to the bar. "Did you solve another problem, Joey?", Justin asked. "I sure hope so". "You should start a business", Josh began. Joey laughed. "I meant another business. With all that advice you give out you could make a fortune. Plus you give good advice". "I'm sure people wouldn't be able to wait to line up to get advice from the guy who owns a gay bar named after himself". "You never know until you try", Justin reasoned. "Now you're giving out advice, J. I think advice is given too easily these days. Why would people come to me when they could get it for free?". "They'd get it for free from someone who's not as cute as you, Joe", Josh answered with a grin. "Don't you guys have work to do?". "Yes, boss man sir", Josh answered. He and Justin saluted Joey before walking away to their customers. Joey smiled at their antics. Weird people took up space in his life. All in a days work, Joey figured.