Unravelling Zeke - The Foal
Banner by aliensouldream
Title: The Foal
Author: Gabi
Fandom: The Faculty
Pairing: Z/C
Rating: NC-17
Summary: There's a new addition on the ranch
Disclaimer: I own neither the rights nor the characters. If I did, Mr Tyler would be sporting a lovely new collar. I make no money. I have no money. Don’t sue me.
Note: beta’d by the wonderful Aliensouldream. I lurve you. xxx
Previous
Epiphany / Party & Boring / Plans / Casa Del Tyler / The Suit / Mom / Hate You / Meet the Connors / New York - Friday / New York - Saturday / New York - Sunday / Texting / The Deal / Complex / Snow / Pictures of You / A Connor Christmas / Missed This / Photogenic / New Years Eve / Trust / Saint Valentine / Spring Break / Calm / Storm / Stages / Whispers / Echoes / Stokely / I Love You / Mercy / Thrift / Messenger / Anticipation / So Talk / Sand / Insomnia / Penance / Signals / Murdock / Pilot / Concert / Midnight / Perspective / Lost / Nightmare / Seventeen / Open / Cosy / Friends & Enemies / Brandon / The Wait / Ten / Shirt / Shell / Shock / Promise / Bella / Fritz / Pills / Facade / Heir / Void / Smoke / Search / Silent / Gesture / Milton / Drive / Retrogress / Transition / Liberty / Exposure / Resolution / Blue / Mess-en / Sanctified / Delicatessen / Want You / Apologies / Active / Reputation / Confrontation / Frustration / Rebecca / Going Through The Motions / Ranch Mosler, MO / Monday / Key / Cake / Communication / Letter / Pittsburgh / Anything but Prom / Finals / Asshole / Test / Different / Introduction / Evening Glow / Tradition / Closure / Soul / Radiant
Casey was vaguely aware that he was dreaming. Under the sheets on his side with Zeke’s cock deep inside him in an eternal sliding fuck. A long, hot body against his back, warm fingers curled around his hip as he pushed back against his lover’s groin.
The weight behind him shifted as Zeke rolled onto his back and Casey became more alert. The dream slipped away and he realised that they weren’t actually fucking, it was simply the lingering ache of shower sex that infected his dreams. He lay in the darkness, savouring the memory before sliding blissfully back into that same dream.
The next time he awoke he realised that he was desperately grinding his ass against his lover’s hip and scoffed at the ridiculousness of it. He had a semi and an ache and a disinterested, sleeping boyfriend. He was probably too sore for sex anyway and if he carried on grinding in his sleep, Zeke would eventually wake enough to get expectant.
He was comfy, but the lingering feeling of Zeke inside him was making him horny and the deep ache was preventing him from sleeping properly. He couldn’t sleep and he couldn’t fuck. He decided to get up for a while and carefully pulled the covers back to avoid disturbing his boyfriend. He winced as he sat up and pressed his fingers into his belly to calm a twinge. He smiled down at his beautiful, sleeping demon and somehow fought the urge to wake him.
Now he lay on the sofa unable to watch television for fear of waking the house. He was bored and restless and too awake to go back to bed. As dawn began to lighten the drapes he decided to take his camera outside to capture the sunrise and the ranch while it was quiet. Getting off the sofa was going to be his biggest challenge.
~*~
“It’s me - Casey.” he whispered desperately. He’d forgotten about the dogs and now he pinned himself against the side of the house as three of them growled at him suspiciously on the porch. More were on their way. “It’s okay, it’s me.” He bravely held out his hand to be sniffed and tried to fake calm as the closest dog stepped forward. The relief when that dog wagged its tail was overwhelming. The others took the signal and changed their stance from aggressive to curious. He patted the closest dog and allowed the others to sniff him until they were satisfied. “Come on.” he coaxed, hoping a friendly escort would reduce the danger of repeating the process with another dog elsewhere.
He was accompanied by two of the dogs as he wandered the yard towards the stable blocks. Without a single cloud in the sky, the sunrise was disappointing. Instead he headed to the stallion block to catch them sleeping but was again disappointed that all the horses were already awake and looking over their doors. It was hardly surprising as a few of them were banging the thick wooden doors impatiently with their hooves. After a few “Good morning’s” he tried his luck in the mare’s block.
This proved more interesting as he slowly wandered down the dimly lit central aisle. Most were up and munching hay, but one lay sleeping with her foal tucked close beside her. She opened her eyes at the sound of the camera click and quickly heaved herself to her feet; the foal rising unsteadily beside her. “Sorry.” he whispered, feeling guilty.
He photographed the occasional nursing or sleeping foal but stopped at one door and stared. The heavily pregnant grey arabian lay at the rear of the stall with two tiny hooves sticking out from under her tail in a clear sack. He watched transfixed and mildly disgusted as her stomach heaved and bit by bit those thin white legs grew longer. The membrane broke as a delicate pink muzzle appeared. He willed her on in silence, that ache in his gut now resembling sympathy pains as she squeezed out a surprisingly large foal.
Only when the new life lay trembling on the straw and raised its head did he think to take a photograph. Only then did he think to alert the family in case she needed help. He slowly edged away from the stable and left the block. He called Zeke and waited impatiently as it rang. The voice was groggy. “Where the fuck are you?”
“Mare’s block. I just watched that arab shit a bag of foal, it was gross.”
“…What?”
“That white arabian. She’s just given birth.”
“Who, Dippy?”
“They called her Dippy?”
“Serendipity. Dippy for short.”
He shook his head and smiled. “Do you need to wake Lou? In case she needs medical attention or something?”
“Dunno.” There was a pause. “Maybe. Gimme a minute, we’ll be down.”
He was leaning on the stable door watching the mare - who was already back on her feet - tenderly nuzzle the confused foal, when he heard footsteps. “They’re on their way.” Zeke said quietly as he approached. He joined Casey’s side and frowned. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Casey asked, suddenly concerned.
“It’s white.”
“Its parents are white.”
Zeke sighed and rested on the door. “Grey.” he corrected. “And grey horses are born black. Or brown.”
Casey wasn’t sure what this meant for the foal. “So its an albino?”
Zeke shook his head. “Albino’s eyes are red, his are blue. And I’m pretty sure albinism doesn’t occur in horses.”
“So what, then?”
Zeke merely shrugged.
Becky marched down the aisle in her pink dressing gown and boots as quickly and quietly as she could without running. Her parents followed at a more respectable pace. “Let me see!” she said excitedly as she peered over the door beside Zeke, “Oh… it’s beautiful!”
Zeke glanced to Lou who’s expression fell immediately. “What?” she asked, striding the last few feet. “Oh, no.” she lamented upon seeing the foal. “Oh…” She placed her fingers over her mouth as if to lock back an escaping reaction.
John sighed hard and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll call the vet.”
“Momma?”
Lou straightened and forced on a smile for her daughter. “Let’s give them some peace.” she said, warmly, “I’ll make us some breakfast.”
“Momma.” Becky repeated in a more insistent tone, “What’s wrong?”
Lou composed herself and crouched, holding both her daughter’s hands. “The foal’s sick.”
“It might not be.” John cut in. When Lou snapped a glare at him he shrugged. “Not all white foals are lethal.”
“What’s lethal mean?” Becky asked. Casey really wished she hadn’t.
After another composing breath Lou continued, “There’s a very high chance the foal has a genetic disorder called lethal white syndrome. And if it has, there’s nothing we can do to save it. I’m sorry, Becky, but we will lose it.”
“No!” she wailed.
“Not all foals survive. You know that.”
Becky’s chin and lip quivered. “But it’s my birthday.”
Lou pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “I know, baby.” She smiled and gently wiped the tear from her daughter’s cheek. “So we better make sure you have an extra special birthday.” She stood and heaved Becky onto her hip. “Let’s get breakfast.”
“We need to sex it at least.” John said, sliding the bolt back. He opened the door and stepped in. “Easy girl,” he coaxed the wary mare, “easy…”
“Here.” Zeke said, rummaging in his pocket to produce a pack of mints. “She’s earned it.”
John offered a mint to Dippy and her ears flicked forward, her dark nostrils flaring as she reached for it. He patted her thin grey neck as she ate the treat. “Clever girl.” he said softly. The foal made a desperate, but failing attempt to stand as he crouched before it, finding itself crumpled on the straw again. “Shh… easy…” He gently lifted a hind leg. “We have a filly.” he reported, easing to a stand.
“She’s so pretty.” Becky sighed sadly.
“Shame we’ll never sell her.” Lou mumbled.
“She might be healthy.” John said sternly. “She’ll sell.”
“For what? A hacking price? She can’t be shown… or bred.”
“Why not?” Becky asked.
“Her colouring’s considered a fault. We can’t even register her. No one wants a blue eyed arab.”
“I do.” Becky countered. “And,” she added quickly, “when she’s old enough to ride I’ll be ten. I’ll be too big for Velvet.”
“Becky.” Lou warned as John fought a smile.
“We have the same birthday. I don’t want any other presents. Just her.”
Lou sighed hard. “I can’t promise her to you, she might die.”
“But I’ve already thought of her name!” Becky wailed.
“No!” Lou demanded. “You don’t get to name her until we know she’s healthy. You don’t get attached to her.”
“Too late.” she grumbled.
John stroked her hair with a sympathetic smile. “Your momma’s right, Becky. Let’s see what the vet says and then we’ll discuss it, okay?” She inhaled a shaky breath, but nodded listlessly. “Come here.” He lifted her from Lou’s hip and transferred her to his own. She sagged into him as he carried her back up the aisle. “Seeing as we don’t know if you’ll have a birthday foal I guess we’ll have to give you those other presents after all.” he said, walking away. “Do you think there’ll be cake too?”
“Maybe.” she muttered.
“What kind of cake do you think it’ll be?” he asked.
Lou ran her hands over her face and exhaled a slow steadying breath. Zeke placed his hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
She looked to the foal as it made another tentative attempt to stand. “She’s gonna be devastated.”
Zeke guided her into a hug with a smile. “If being with Casey taught me anything,” he said into her ear, “it’s to not quit on hope just yet.”
She looked to Casey and smiled. It was sad, but it was genuine. “Come on,” she said, righting herself, “I’m gonna need all hands on deck to keep her distracted today.”
They exited the block together, but after a few steps outside, Zeke touched Casey’s arm to stop him. “You aright?”
“Yeah.” Casey replied, “I mean it’s sad about the foal, but there’s a chance-”
“That’s not what I meant.” he interrupted, evidently concerned, “That’s the third time you’ve held your stomach this morning. S’up?”
“I’m fine. Its just twinges.”
Zeke frowned and cocked his head. “Did I do that?”
Casey smiled. “I’m fine, really.”
“Man,” Zeke drawled angrily, “I fucking knew I’d gone too far! You should have stopped me.”
“Why?”
Zeke balked at that. “I fucking hurt you. Don’t ever let me do that again.”
“Don’t you dare.” Casey growled, pointing a finger, “Don’t. You. Dare… wuss out on me now. You think this is the first time you’ve given me bellyache? No. Do I ever complain? No. Why? Because it’s a reminder. A souvenir of the hot as Hell shit we get up to.”
Zeke tried to speak but Casey shut him down with an accusing finger. “You’re my Lucifer, remember? Don’t you fucking wuss out now!”
“That’s not who I am.” he defended.
“Yes it is. Oh, yeah, it fucking is! Everything you do is geared towards giving me what I want and God fuck, do I want it! Corrupt away and consider me seduced, cos I am fucking hooked on you.”
Despite his obvious frustration, Zeke had to fight a smirk. “I meant-”
“I know!” Casey snapped, becoming angrier than intended, “You’re a package deal, I’m not an idiot. You’re my fallen angel and my wounded fighter, you’re my solace and my soul mate and…” the list was too long for his temper, “you’re my fucking… adorable dork!”
Zeke lost the fight against his smirk. “Adorable dork?”
“Too many adjectives and not enough time, so you’re a fucking dork, alright?”
Zeke grinned broadly and pounced at him, attacking him in a flurry of manic, passionate kisses. “I love you.”
“I know,” he managed between kisses, “but… Jesus… What the hell?”
His boyfriend was beaming. “No one’s ever loved me enough to get mad at me before.”
Casey’s laugh was borderline maniacal. “Everyone who loves you is mad at you.”
Zeke leant in, still grinning. “Not because it’s too vast to express.”
This time when Zeke attacked him he was ready for it. And far too willing.
They walked back to the house a good few minutes later after Zeke had picked Casey up to pin him against the block’s wall and immediately put him back down because he winced. As they walked Zeke threw an arm over Casey’s shoulder, kissed his head, laughed then kissed his lips, trying not to trip as they manoeuvred themselves towards the house.
Once inside they met the family in the kitchen. “Momma says you’re healthy now.” Becky informed Zeke from the dining table.
Lou was serving coffee while John plated up waffles beside her. “I have a great view of the yard while I’m rinsing mugs.” she said with a tiny smirk, “You’re gonna be just fine.” She handed them both a mug each. “Now sit.”
With his free hand Casey held up two fingers to Zeke and mouthed a grinning ‘two’, prodded him in the chest with a ‘point’ then made a zero with his fingers ‘oh’.
Zeke shook his head, “Shut up.” and took his seat.
Casey leant in to whisper “My healthy dork.”
This time he squirmed away. “Shut up.”
Becky smiled. “At least I know you’re healthy.” she said, “That’s something.”
Zeke kissed the side of her head. “And your family’s healthy. And it’s your birthday. We both have a lot to be happy about today.”
She smiled and wriggled in her seat before sitting up straight. “Right.” she said in a determined tone, “I promise not to be sad before the vet comes, okay?”