Neon Yellow: Obsessive Adhesives (13 page)

Unsure of how much time had passed, Spencer struggled to break through the all-I-want-to-do-is-sleep barrier. He opened his eyes and fixed his bleary gaze on Jason. “Nice...” he managed.

"Nice?” Jason sounded indulgent, if indignant.

Spencer nodded, then remembered that Jason probably couldn't see him. “Better than nice. Can't think of the word."

"Tomorrow we'll look in a Thesaurus.” Jason kissed Spencer tenderly. “Sleep now."

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Spencer's eyes snapped open. Despite being wrapped securely in Jason's arms, he looked around him. Something had made a noise. Not a sleeping noise, either. More like a something heavy shuffling in the leaves and twigs outside the tent noise.

"What was that?” he whispered urgently.

"Whawaswhat?” Jason mumbled back, before quietly snoring himself back into dreamland.

Seeing he'd get no sense from his boyfriend—even wary, he got a kick out of thinking that word—Spencer stayed alert, eyes wide open and ears pricked. For several minutes, the only noises were the creek, a slight rustling from the breeze that stirred the trees, and crickets. A far off owl hooted to the silence. Deciding that whatever it was had gone, Spencer closed his eyes and snuggled back into the warmth that Jason offered. Then Spencer heard footsteps again. Slow, as if they were ensuring they'd not be heard, but footsteps nonetheless. They didn't sound like a bear or bunny. This time, they were definite steps, not shuffling ones.

Spencer dug Jason in the ribs with his elbow.

"Huh?” Jason woke with a start. “What?"

Spencer shushed him. “Listen,” he hissed.

He couldn't tell whether Jason was actually listening or just humoring him or if he'd gone back to sleep. There were another couple of footsteps, heavy and faltering.

"Hear..?"

"Shh!"

Spencer grinned, pleased that Jason didn't think he was a flake. “Well?"

Jason hugged Spencer close, then let him go. “Sounds like something, but I don't think it's anything to worry about. I'll just stick my head out and check."

Jason shuffled about in the darkness and Spencer heard him pull on a pair of jeans. The flashlight blinked on for just a second, just for Jason to ensure it was working, Spencer assumed. Then there was a quick hard kiss pressed to his lips. “Stay here, stay warm. I'm gonna be cold when I get back.” He left quickly.

"Fuck that...” Spencer found a pair of sweatpants—looking for clothes in a hurry was one drawback to sleeping naked—and pulled them on. Not being as brave as Jason when it came to the cold, he also pulled on a jacket. Mmm, Jason's. It smelled of him, his aftershave. He shuffled to the doorway of the tent. No way was he waiting in bed like the little woman. He'd seen too many horror movies to be caught there. Nope, out in the open where he could take his chances was a much better idea. Besides, he hadn't heard anything but Jason's stealthy footsteps around the tent. He shoved his feet into his sneakers and pushed open the flap that served as a door.

That was the exact moment a gunshot echoed off the rocks and someone yelled in pain.

Momentarily confused, Spencer looked at the tent flap. Then it dawned on him what the noise was. He froze. Jason! Oh God, please not him.

"Jason!” Spencer yelled, his voice cracking. He prayed he'd get an answer. He wasn't sure he could sound so together if he had to call out again. The silence seemed to last for ages. Spencer had never heard such a sinister nothingness. It scared him beyond belief.

"He's alive,” a voice Spencer recognized, but couldn't put a name to, finally replied. “For now. Come out of the tent, Spencer. I forgive your little dalliance with him."

"Jason!” Spencer called again as he all but fell out of the tent. The small camping shovel Jason had bought with them fell as he brushed against it. He grabbed it; better to go out there armed than unarmed, even though there wasn't much he could do with a fifteen inch light-weight shovel.

"I'm okay."

Jason sounded like he was forcing himself to sound normal. Spencer heard him breathing, rapidly and deeply. He looked over to where Jason's voice had come from and saw a dark shape on the ground. A shadow near him seemed to be pointing at Jason but was definitely facing Spencer. Spencer cursed the early dawn light, everything was still shadows, still too dark to see their attacker's face.

"See, Spencer, he's okay."

The voice sounded more familiar to Spencer now. He just had to make his heart slow, and stop pounding in his ears, so he could place it.

"What...” Spencer croaked. He realized that what looked like a finger pointing at Jason's head was, in fact, a gun. An icy chill surged through him. “Um... what did you do to Jason?"

"Shot him. He won't be so fucking perfect now."

"Just my leg, Spence,” Jason said slowly. “I'm not dying."

"There's still time,” the gunman snarled. “I should kill you for just daring to touch him."

Jason lapsed into silence again. Spencer had never been so terrified. He had no idea what to say or do, but knew he should be helping Jason. If he'd been shot, he'd need to go to the hospital. He might die if he didn't, mightn't he? Spencer didn't know and he cursed himself for his inaptitude. A thousand thoughts were shooting through his head, all colliding and fighting to be recognized first. Spencer wanted the gun gone, or at least pointed somewhere other than at Jason's head. But what should he do?

"What do you want?"

The gunman barked a laugh. “You, Spencer. Every day you talked to me, said good morning and stopped for a chat. Every day we connected a little more..."

"Shaun...” Spencer whispered into the stillness. The security guard from work. Tall, well built, friendly and oh so normal. Spencer had always thought himself to be a relatively decent judge of character. Hell of a time to screw that one up.

"Until he took you away from me.” Shaun gestured toward Jason with the gun and Spencer flinched.

"He didn't,” Spencer started and then cleared his throat, desperately wishing for some water; his throat was so dry. “He couldn't take me away from you. I, um... I didn't know. I thought... but it was you leaving me those notes."

"Of course it was me.” Spencer could almost hear Shaun rolling his eyes as he spoke. Then his voice softened. “I hope I didn't scare you."

Not as much as you're scaring me now.
“No, um... I was flattered.” Spencer indicated the gun with a flick of his hand—the other hand wrapped firmly around the shovel—trying to seem casual about it. “Er, can you, um, put that down? Or something? He's not going anywhere."

"He's annoyed me."

"That's no reason to kill him.” Was it worth trying to reason with someone as obviously unhinged as Shaun? “I mean, you'll go to jail and I'll... I'll miss you.” Spencer figured that by telling Shaun what the man wanted to hear, it would definitely give him some thinking time and, hopefully, lull Shaun into feeling less threatened, less likely to shoot Jason again.

Shaun shook his head. “No, I won't. Plenty of places to dispose of a body up here. No-one'd even know."

As he'd seen every episode of
Forensic Files
, Spencer knew this wasn't necessarily the case. However, he didn't think
now
was an opportune time to debate the point. He did need to distract Shaun, get the gun and save Jason from imminent death. An easy task for a shy accountant. Why hadn't he taken Klay's advice so many years ago and taken Jeet Kune Do classes? Bruce Lee wouldn't have any problems in this situation—he'd make it look easy. The grim truth was that Spencer's options were limited. Running like a bat out of Hell into the woods had crossed his mind. Knowing the area like the back of his hand, he could make it easily to civilization. That would take time and give Shaun the motive to make good on his threat to dispose of Jason's body. There was only one thing Spencer could do, he took a deep breath and stepped in between Jason and Shaun. Not the wisest of moves, but he had to do something.

Spencer tried to swallow around the lump in his throat, but the desert his mouth had turned into made that an impossible task. Different scenarios passed through his mind as he waited for Shaun's reaction. Each one had the security guard firing his weapon. In some Spencer dodged the bullet Matrix style, only succeeding in getting Jason shot, and in others Shaun just outright shot them both. Not even his brain could fantasize an escape route that saved them. What had he done to spark this obsession in Shaun? Had he lead the man on? Spencer couldn't think of anything that could even remotely be considered flirting. Was this somehow his fault? It was all going to end here, in his favorite area, surrounded by the Herkimers he loved. That thought depressed Spencer. His life flashed before him and it was a pathetic mess, Jason being the only bright spot. God, he was going to die—be murdered—and he hadn't even had sex yet!

Shaun reached out and closed his hand around Spencer's forearm. “Don't stand there. I don't want to accidentally shoot you."

"I don't want you to shoot anyone.” Spencer tried to make it sound like he cared for Shaun's welfare rather than Jason's. He tried to ignore the hand gripping his arm, but it was a steel band. If Shaun wanted him moved, Spencer knew he'd move.

"I want to shoot him.” Shaun gestured at Jason, with the gun. “Did he hurt you?"

Spencer heard Jason mutter something—something uncomplimentary if he'd heard the words ‘fucking idiot’ correctly. He glanced at Shaun, but the man seemed to be too focused on him. Waiting for something. Oh, an answer to his question. It took a lot of will power for Spencer not to roll his eyes and say something sarcastic. As if
Jason
would hurt him. He bit his lip instead and shook his head. “No... I don't think..."

"'Cos he's a player,” Shaun continued. “Out with different men every night. Drinking, drugs, sex. You deserve better.” Shaun physically moved Spencer, letting go of his arm so he could run his knuckles down Spencer's face. “I'd worship you. Anything you wanted..."

Spencer wondered if that was a cue so he could bargain for Jason's life. Or at least an ambulance. He was surprised he was keeping it together so well. It must be true what they said about adrenaline kicking in. Although Spencer didn't feel like a super hero who could take Shaun one handed, he did feel he was able to focus better. And, as no-one had been killed yet, it was looking good. “Um, can we get him an ambulance?"

"Why?"

Spencer glanced at Jason. He could see his boyfriend well by now. Jason was very white and had his eyes closed. His breathing was shallow. Spencer hoped he was just trying to conserve energy. The reasons he wanted an ambulance for Jason were too many to begin listing and he couldn't tell Shaun any of them, apart from the most basic. “He doesn't deserve to die."

The look that Shaun shot Spencer made him think that he shouldn't have said that.

"Don't tell me you liked what he did to you."

Fuck yeah!
“You were watching?"

"As much as I could. I need to know..."

"Fucking pervert,” Jason muttered.

That one, Shaun heard. His attention refocused on Jason and he pointed the gun with more intent.

"See Spencer. Not worth saving. He's filth.” Shaun's voice shook with anger.

Spencer looked at Jason. The man was so very pale, his eyelashes dark against his cheeks. For the first time, Spencer got a look at the wound, or rather at Jason's hands covering the wound, trying to stop the blood-flow. His jeans and hands were bloodied, but the wound appeared to have clotted somewhat. Spencer assumed that was good. Jason was still conscious but obviously cold and in need of medical attention. Spencer wondered if he might die without it.

"Let me call help for him and we can go.” Spencer's fingers tightened around the handle of the small shovel. He had no intention of going anywhere with Shaun, so he needed to be ready for when Shaun's attention wasn't on him.

"No,” Jason croaked. “You're not going anywhere with him."

Shaun turned to Jason, a menacing smile on his lips. “Looks like he's made his decision..."

With as much strength as he could muster, Spencer grabbed the shovel in both hands and swung it so the flat part hit the back of Shaun's head. The security guard turned, a look of stunned alarm in his eyes. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Spencer struck again, using his whole body to power the strike. The blow reverberated through the handle and along his arms when he made contact with the side of Shaun's head. The man crumpled, falling to the ground in a slow motion action replay, and staying there.

"Oh, God...” Spencer dropped the shovel and nudged Shaun's prone body with his toes. Shaun stayed still and, to be honest, Spencer didn't feel like touching him to find a pulse. He just hoped that he hadn't killed the guy. He kicked the fallen gun closer to Jason, hoping that Jason knew how to use it, because
he
didn't and had no desire to learn.

"Jason?” Spencer crouched in front of Jason. His fingertips touched Jason's shoulder and, for one horrible moment, Spencer thought his boyfriend was dead; he was that cold. Then Jason's eyes opened, looking slightly unfocused.

"Please tell me he's dead."

"I don't think so.” Spencer cast a suspicious glance at Shaun, half expecting him to spring up and attack at any moment. “If he moves, shoot him.” Spencer pushed the gun closer to Jason. “I'll be right back."

A quick kiss to Jason's lips and Spencer sprang into action, setting off for the tent at a run. What did he need to help Jason? He needed to treat for shock, stop the bleeding and get help. And make Jason warm. He grabbed a blanket, their pillows, his T-shirt and cell phone and ran back to a, hopefully, still conscious Jason.

"Jason?” Spencer's voice shook at the single word. He needed Jason awake and talking to him.

"What, love?"

Relief washed over Spencer at the sound of Jason's voice. “I'm gonna take care of you.” He wrapped the blanket around Jason, cursing himself for not grabbing a sweatshirt as well.

Jason nodded and used one hand to pull the blanket around him tighter. “Figures you'd have a first aid certificate, too."