Revelations & Repercussions 4/10
Pairing(s): Don/Coop/Lia(OFC)
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s):Slash
Author's Notes: As always thank you my beta
bubbleslayerwho as always helps me with content and reigns me when needed.
Don slammed the door of his car shut as he stalked into the entranceway of his apartment building. His mind raged with a mix of emotions as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He ignored the mail that was sitting in the basket and hung his car keys up before proceeding further inside. He heard Lia's soft laugh coming from the kitchen. His lips tightened as he headed in that direction.
As he peered into the kitchen Don saw Lia holding up a spoon for Coop to taste from. He watched Coop lick his lips after he swallowed the proffered food and nodded. "Yeah, that's good."
Don heard Lia ask, "So you think he'll like it?"
"Yeah, definitely," Coop replied. He then leaned in and kissed her on the top of her head before slinging an arm around her waist.
"Good." She gave him a smile after she placed a light kiss to his lips. Both Coop and Lia looked up from the pot to see Don standing there.
Coop gave Don a puzzled look. "I thought you were going to Charlie's for dinner."
Don felt his anger bubbling up as he spat, "At least you two aren’t in public this time."
"What," Coop asked.
Lia frowned. "Don?" She moved away from Coop and took a step towards Don. "Everything alright?"
Don tightened his jaw. "No." He glared at the two of them before he strode away from them to the bedroom.
Once in the bedroom he locked his gun in the safe, before he took the gear off his belt and deposited it on the nightstand. Tossing his clothes in the hamper he changed into a t-shirt and running pants along with a baseball cap. Don sat down on the edge of the bed and tied his sneakers. As he did he thought to himself that this whole mess was their fault. If the finger needed pointing it was definitely at Coop and Lia. For it all. He roughly opened the door and slammed it closed behind him. On the way back towards the kitchen he heard Lia say, "What the hell is his problem?"
"I really have no idea," answered Coop.
"You wanna know what's going on? Do ya?" Don slammed his hands down on to the counter top. "Well, let me paint you a picture. My brother Charlie got a nice show from you two at that restaurant you went to last week. He saw you two all over each other.”
Stunned, Lia said, “Oh god.”
Coop muttered, “Shit.” He leaned back against the refrigerator.
“Exactly. Shit.” Don growled.
Lia pulled on her ponytail, a sign that Don knew to mean she was upset. “I don’t get it. We picked that place cause it was so far out.”
“Apparently not far enough cause my brother was there.” He rubbed his forehead. “That’s why Charlie asked me to dinner, to try to tell me that he saw you two together behind my back.” Don looked directly at Lia. “They thought you were cheating on me with Billy.”
“Don, I am so sor…”
“Sorry isn’t gonna cut it cause I had to explain that you were indeed not cheating on me. That I knew you were seeing each other.”
“So what if they know Lia is seeing both of us. Why is that a problem?” He folded his arms over his chest and shrugged.
Don turned a hard glare onto Coop. “Cause I didn’t just tell them that. I told them about me being involved with you too.”
“Oh,” Coop said simply.
“Yeah, oh.” He pointed a finger at both of them. “This is all your fault. "Why couldn't you two keep your hands, tongues, whatever, to yourselves while in public?"
Lia’s eyes flickered in anger as she shot back, “Excuse me? If memory serves me right you two were suppose to go to that restaurant originally, not Billy and me. So this still could have still gone down. Don’t go tossing this at our feet.”
Don didn’t have an answer for what Lia had said. She might be right, but usually Coop and he weren’t openly affectionate in public. making people think they were a couple just wasn’t their way. On the other hand, Don was usually more demonstrative with Lia in public, reciprocating her loving manner. The three of them stood in silence for a while. He watched a thought pass over her face as she stepped towards him and laid a hand on his arm. Her voice was quiet when she asked, “I’m guessing that what you told them didn’t go over well.”
Don fixed her with a glare. “No, it did not.”
“I don’t understand why,” Lia perplexed added. “They seem so open. Why would they care that you’re with a man.”
“Naw, you’re not getting it. They don’t care about that…” Frustrated he pulled away from her touch and put his hand on his forehead.
Coop looked Don squarely in the eye. “The problem is me?” Coop looked away.
“I don’t understand,” Lia questioned. “What problem could your they have with Billy?”
“Tell her Don. Tell her what I’ve been telling you for years.”
“I am not having this conversation with you again Billy.” Don clenched his fists.
Coop said to Lia, “His Dad has it in his head that I’m bad influence on Don. That it’s my fault that he stopped contact with them when he was in fugitive recovery. He thinks that I bring out the worst in Don.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Lia snorted.
Coop shrugged. Don caught a quick flash of pain in Coop’s eyes before he hid it behind his normal, 'I don't care what anyone thinks' look. “I’ve had enough of talking about this. What’s done is done they know now and if they can’t accept it, well then I don’t need them.” Don shot them both a dark look before turning on his heel. “I’m done with this. I’m going for a run.”
&&&
Lia and Coop heard the door slam.
“Billy?” She gave him a concerned look.
“Nah, it’s fine.” He left to go into the bedroom
Lia left Coop alone for a few moments while she tried to digest everything that Don had said. She turned off the burner on the stove and covered the pot with a lid. She rubbed her face for a moment before she went to the bedroom and found Billy laying diagonally across the bed on his back with one of his arms across his face. He uncovered his face as she sat down on the bed next to him. She studied him for a few seconds. Most observers would think Billy Cooper was just resting, not brooding. They wouldn’t notice the small lines etched in the corners of his usually twinkling, mischievous eyes. But Lia knew the faces of her lovers down to the last freckle. “Billy? Dinner is done if you wanna come eat?”
“Maybe in a bit.”
“Okay.” She waited a heart beat or so before asking. “Do you want me to stay here with you?”
“Yeah. I’d like that,” he replied.
She gave him a small smile and laid down on her side next to him, placing her head on his chest. He wrapped one arm around her and the two of them laid there in silence.
Coop started to play with strands of Lia’s hair. “Billy, you know that we’re gonna be okay right?” When he didn’t answer, Lia prompted him, “Bill?”
“Yeah, uh, what?”
“I said we’re gonna be okay.” She paused. ‘We’ve been through worse.”
Sounding unconvinced he replied, “Sure.”
Lia propped herself up on her elbow. “Bill, you have to know that we’ll be fine. Don just needs to cool down a bit. He’s been dealt a pretty nasty blow and we just, you know, need to give him a little space. I'm sure it will all work out with his family. They’ll come to know what we know. That the only thing that matters is Don's happiness. I think they just need some time to adjust to it all. Alan may need more time than Charlie, but they’ll come around." She sort of mused to herself when she said, "I think maybe we could talk to them for Don, help them come to terms with it. ” She cocked her head to the side, reading something else in his sky blue eyes. “You think that Don may break up with us don’t you?” She shook her head. “That’s not gonna happen.”
He said, “You, no. Me, yes.”
Realizing finally what was going on behind those eyes Lia blew out a sharp breath. “You’re wrong. Stop thinking that and listen to me.” She thumped him on the chest playfully. “Haven’t you learned by now that I’m always right?”
The corners of Coop’s lips twitched in a half smile as he replied, “Yes Dear.”
“See, was that so hard?” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Come on, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.” She stood up and offered her hand to help him up.
He took her hand but instead of getting up he pulled her down on top of him. He put his hands on either side of her face and asked, “When did you become such an optimist?”
“Nah, more like a realist. But seriously? One of us has to be.” She shifted herself so she could look in his eyes better. “Billy, I know you think that Don won’t want to see you anymore because his dad takes issue with that, but you know better than anyone that Don does what he wants. The more you try to push him into something the more he pushes back. I don’t know all of your history, but one thing you need to believe in is that Don wants you in his life. So please, never doubt that again. Don’t doubt his feelings for you.” She leaned down and kissed him deeply. Feeling him kiss her back she pulled back gently. “And don’t ever doubt mine for you either.”
&&&&
Hours later Don came home. He looked at the kitchen clock and saw that it read after 10:30. He sighed to himself and noted that Lia and Coop must have gone to bed by now. He had run for almost an hour and a half, trying to outrun his anger and pain till he couldn’t run anymore. He had finally stopped running and started walking his way home, his body covered in a sheen of sweat, when he realized that he was getting no where by taking off. Don regretted many of things he had said to the people he loved tonight, but mostly he regretted seeing that raw look in Coop’s eyes. He came to one conclusion as he walked back home, that he had to do whatever it took to make sure that both Lia and Coop stayed with him. He took a bottle of water from the fridge and quickly chugged it down before making his way to the bathroom. He stripped out of his clothing and turned on the shower. He hopped in under the cold water and quickly washed up and scrubbed his hair. He turned the water temperature up and let the hot water beat down on his back for a few minutes. Finally, feeling exhaustion taking over, he turned the water off and toweled off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and picked up his clothes. Don quietly entered the bedroom, seeing that Coop and Lia were indeed asleep, and that they’d left on one of the side table lamps for him. Coop was on the far side of the bed lying on his side with Lia curled up next to him. Don put his running clothes in the hamper and hung his towel up before gently pulling his pajama bottoms out from under his pillow on the bed. As he put them on he noticed Lia’s eyes had opened and were watching him. He met her gaze before he turned the light off and climbed into bed. He laid on his side facing her.
She whispered, “You were gone for a long time.”
’Yeah. I know.”
“You still mad?”
“A bit.”
“Oh.”
“Lee, we’re gonna be okay,” he quietly said back.
“Yeah?’”
“Yeah.” He watched her for a moment, wishing he could see her face.
Don felt like an eternity passed before she answered him. “Well, I’m not the one that needs to hear that. So when you get over yourself you need to talk to Billy.” She leaned towards him, brushing her lips over his before rolling away to snuggle against Coop.
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s):Slash
Author's Notes: As always thank you my beta
bubbleslayerwho as always helps me with content and reigns me when needed.
Don slammed the door of his car shut as he stalked into the entranceway of his apartment building. His mind raged with a mix of emotions as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He ignored the mail that was sitting in the basket and hung his car keys up before proceeding further inside. He heard Lia's soft laugh coming from the kitchen. His lips tightened as he headed in that direction.
As he peered into the kitchen Don saw Lia holding up a spoon for Coop to taste from. He watched Coop lick his lips after he swallowed the proffered food and nodded. "Yeah, that's good."
Don heard Lia ask, "So you think he'll like it?"
"Yeah, definitely," Coop replied. He then leaned in and kissed her on the top of her head before slinging an arm around her waist.
"Good." She gave him a smile after she placed a light kiss to his lips. Both Coop and Lia looked up from the pot to see Don standing there.
Coop gave Don a puzzled look. "I thought you were going to Charlie's for dinner."
Don felt his anger bubbling up as he spat, "At least you two aren’t in public this time."
"What," Coop asked.
Lia frowned. "Don?" She moved away from Coop and took a step towards Don. "Everything alright?"
Don tightened his jaw. "No." He glared at the two of them before he strode away from them to the bedroom.
Once in the bedroom he locked his gun in the safe, before he took the gear off his belt and deposited it on the nightstand. Tossing his clothes in the hamper he changed into a t-shirt and running pants along with a baseball cap. Don sat down on the edge of the bed and tied his sneakers. As he did he thought to himself that this whole mess was their fault. If the finger needed pointing it was definitely at Coop and Lia. For it all. He roughly opened the door and slammed it closed behind him. On the way back towards the kitchen he heard Lia say, "What the hell is his problem?"
"I really have no idea," answered Coop.
"You wanna know what's going on? Do ya?" Don slammed his hands down on to the counter top. "Well, let me paint you a picture. My brother Charlie got a nice show from you two at that restaurant you went to last week. He saw you two all over each other.”
Stunned, Lia said, “Oh god.”
Coop muttered, “Shit.” He leaned back against the refrigerator.
“Exactly. Shit.” Don growled.
Lia pulled on her ponytail, a sign that Don knew to mean she was upset. “I don’t get it. We picked that place cause it was so far out.”
“Apparently not far enough cause my brother was there.” He rubbed his forehead. “That’s why Charlie asked me to dinner, to try to tell me that he saw you two together behind my back.” Don looked directly at Lia. “They thought you were cheating on me with Billy.”
“Don, I am so sor…”
“Sorry isn’t gonna cut it cause I had to explain that you were indeed not cheating on me. That I knew you were seeing each other.”
“So what if they know Lia is seeing both of us. Why is that a problem?” He folded his arms over his chest and shrugged.
Don turned a hard glare onto Coop. “Cause I didn’t just tell them that. I told them about me being involved with you too.”
“Oh,” Coop said simply.
“Yeah, oh.” He pointed a finger at both of them. “This is all your fault. "Why couldn't you two keep your hands, tongues, whatever, to yourselves while in public?"
Lia’s eyes flickered in anger as she shot back, “Excuse me? If memory serves me right you two were suppose to go to that restaurant originally, not Billy and me. So this still could have still gone down. Don’t go tossing this at our feet.”
Don didn’t have an answer for what Lia had said. She might be right, but usually Coop and he weren’t openly affectionate in public. making people think they were a couple just wasn’t their way. On the other hand, Don was usually more demonstrative with Lia in public, reciprocating her loving manner. The three of them stood in silence for a while. He watched a thought pass over her face as she stepped towards him and laid a hand on his arm. Her voice was quiet when she asked, “I’m guessing that what you told them didn’t go over well.”
Don fixed her with a glare. “No, it did not.”
“I don’t understand why,” Lia perplexed added. “They seem so open. Why would they care that you’re with a man.”
“Naw, you’re not getting it. They don’t care about that…” Frustrated he pulled away from her touch and put his hand on his forehead.
Coop looked Don squarely in the eye. “The problem is me?” Coop looked away.
“I don’t understand,” Lia questioned. “What problem could your they have with Billy?”
“Tell her Don. Tell her what I’ve been telling you for years.”
“I am not having this conversation with you again Billy.” Don clenched his fists.
Coop said to Lia, “His Dad has it in his head that I’m bad influence on Don. That it’s my fault that he stopped contact with them when he was in fugitive recovery. He thinks that I bring out the worst in Don.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Lia snorted.
Coop shrugged. Don caught a quick flash of pain in Coop’s eyes before he hid it behind his normal, 'I don't care what anyone thinks' look. “I’ve had enough of talking about this. What’s done is done they know now and if they can’t accept it, well then I don’t need them.” Don shot them both a dark look before turning on his heel. “I’m done with this. I’m going for a run.”
&&&
Lia and Coop heard the door slam.
“Billy?” She gave him a concerned look.
“Nah, it’s fine.” He left to go into the bedroom
Lia left Coop alone for a few moments while she tried to digest everything that Don had said. She turned off the burner on the stove and covered the pot with a lid. She rubbed her face for a moment before she went to the bedroom and found Billy laying diagonally across the bed on his back with one of his arms across his face. He uncovered his face as she sat down on the bed next to him. She studied him for a few seconds. Most observers would think Billy Cooper was just resting, not brooding. They wouldn’t notice the small lines etched in the corners of his usually twinkling, mischievous eyes. But Lia knew the faces of her lovers down to the last freckle. “Billy? Dinner is done if you wanna come eat?”
“Maybe in a bit.”
“Okay.” She waited a heart beat or so before asking. “Do you want me to stay here with you?”
“Yeah. I’d like that,” he replied.
She gave him a small smile and laid down on her side next to him, placing her head on his chest. He wrapped one arm around her and the two of them laid there in silence.
Coop started to play with strands of Lia’s hair. “Billy, you know that we’re gonna be okay right?” When he didn’t answer, Lia prompted him, “Bill?”
“Yeah, uh, what?”
“I said we’re gonna be okay.” She paused. ‘We’ve been through worse.”
Sounding unconvinced he replied, “Sure.”
Lia propped herself up on her elbow. “Bill, you have to know that we’ll be fine. Don just needs to cool down a bit. He’s been dealt a pretty nasty blow and we just, you know, need to give him a little space. I'm sure it will all work out with his family. They’ll come to know what we know. That the only thing that matters is Don's happiness. I think they just need some time to adjust to it all. Alan may need more time than Charlie, but they’ll come around." She sort of mused to herself when she said, "I think maybe we could talk to them for Don, help them come to terms with it. ” She cocked her head to the side, reading something else in his sky blue eyes. “You think that Don may break up with us don’t you?” She shook her head. “That’s not gonna happen.”
He said, “You, no. Me, yes.”
Realizing finally what was going on behind those eyes Lia blew out a sharp breath. “You’re wrong. Stop thinking that and listen to me.” She thumped him on the chest playfully. “Haven’t you learned by now that I’m always right?”
The corners of Coop’s lips twitched in a half smile as he replied, “Yes Dear.”
“See, was that so hard?” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Come on, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.” She stood up and offered her hand to help him up.
He took her hand but instead of getting up he pulled her down on top of him. He put his hands on either side of her face and asked, “When did you become such an optimist?”
“Nah, more like a realist. But seriously? One of us has to be.” She shifted herself so she could look in his eyes better. “Billy, I know you think that Don won’t want to see you anymore because his dad takes issue with that, but you know better than anyone that Don does what he wants. The more you try to push him into something the more he pushes back. I don’t know all of your history, but one thing you need to believe in is that Don wants you in his life. So please, never doubt that again. Don’t doubt his feelings for you.” She leaned down and kissed him deeply. Feeling him kiss her back she pulled back gently. “And don’t ever doubt mine for you either.”
&&&&
Hours later Don came home. He looked at the kitchen clock and saw that it read after 10:30. He sighed to himself and noted that Lia and Coop must have gone to bed by now. He had run for almost an hour and a half, trying to outrun his anger and pain till he couldn’t run anymore. He had finally stopped running and started walking his way home, his body covered in a sheen of sweat, when he realized that he was getting no where by taking off. Don regretted many of things he had said to the people he loved tonight, but mostly he regretted seeing that raw look in Coop’s eyes. He came to one conclusion as he walked back home, that he had to do whatever it took to make sure that both Lia and Coop stayed with him. He took a bottle of water from the fridge and quickly chugged it down before making his way to the bathroom. He stripped out of his clothing and turned on the shower. He hopped in under the cold water and quickly washed up and scrubbed his hair. He turned the water temperature up and let the hot water beat down on his back for a few minutes. Finally, feeling exhaustion taking over, he turned the water off and toweled off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and picked up his clothes. Don quietly entered the bedroom, seeing that Coop and Lia were indeed asleep, and that they’d left on one of the side table lamps for him. Coop was on the far side of the bed lying on his side with Lia curled up next to him. Don put his running clothes in the hamper and hung his towel up before gently pulling his pajama bottoms out from under his pillow on the bed. As he put them on he noticed Lia’s eyes had opened and were watching him. He met her gaze before he turned the light off and climbed into bed. He laid on his side facing her.
She whispered, “You were gone for a long time.”
’Yeah. I know.”
“You still mad?”
“A bit.”
“Oh.”
“Lee, we’re gonna be okay,” he quietly said back.
“Yeah?’”
“Yeah.” He watched her for a moment, wishing he could see her face.
Don felt like an eternity passed before she answered him. “Well, I’m not the one that needs to hear that. So when you get over yourself you need to talk to Billy.” She leaned towards him, brushing her lips over his before rolling away to snuggle against Coop.