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To Cut a Long Story Short	By : OpenPage Category: 1 through F > 21 Jump Street Views: 775 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own 21JS or the characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. All characters and events in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is coincidental.

Chapter List
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One week later
Saturday night at the Boho was a lively affair and the perfect place for all the cashed-up twentysomethings to kick up their heels after a hard week at the office. Shouting out his order over the din, Tom paid for his beer, and picking up his glass, he proceeded to push his way through the crowd lining the bar. Once free from the ruckus, his eyes scanned the room, his gaze eagerly searching for a glimpse of the unruly mop of dark hair that never failed to send his heart into an arrhythmic flutter. When he caught sight of the object of his affection, his stomach flipped, and he paused for a moment, his eyes soaking in the perfection of Booker’s handsome features. It was a rare treat for him to observe his lover unnoticed, and he struggled to keep the love he felt for the dark-haired officer from showing in his eyes. They were at the club celebrating Harry and Judy’s birthdays—which, coincidentally, happened to fall on the same day—and he was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his emotions in check. He longed to slip away with his lover, to find a private place where they could be themselves and openly display their affection without fear of judgment. But his love for Judy and Harry had him putting his own selfish needs to one side, at least for their special night. Because his friendship with the two officers was an essential part of his life, and seeing them happy was worth the few hours he had to pretend he wasn’t hopelessly in love with the man everyone assumed was his nemesis.
Catching the dark-haired officer’s eye, Tom raised his glass and offered him a shy smile. When his lover rewarded him with a cheeky wink, the young officer’s heart skipped a beat. And with that one intimate look, he finally understood the meaning of love. He’d thought surrendering his body to Booker was the defining moment in their relationship, but he was wrong. Love wasn’t about sex. It was about two souls falling into rhythm… their hearts beating as one... their breaths synchronizing to form an unbreakable spiritual bond. And as he watched the man who had become his lover laughing and chatting with their friends, any remaining fear and uncertainty vanished along with his inhibitions. They may have ridden a roller coaster ride of emotion to get where they were, but there was no doubt in the young officer’s mind, their relationship was, and always would be, the real deal. His feelings were not a passing phase, Booker was definitely ‘the one’, and the time had come for him to man up and reveal his secret to those he considered his family. He’d always been fiercely private about his personal life, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Because to continue to hide his feelings only cheapened his love, and Booker deserved so much more. Through patience and kindness, the dark-haired officer had earned his unwavering loyalty and respect, and the only way Tom could think to repay him, was to openly profess his undying devotion, and to hell with the consequences.
As though in a dream, Tom reached into his pocket and pulled out his key ring. He’d learned a valuable lesson at the beachside condo, and he wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. With shaky hands, he removed his apartment key and approached his friends. Nervously clearing his throat, he waited for the officers’ voices to fall silent before presenting his gift to Booker. “I… uh… I want you to have this… again.”
Booker’s mouth dropped open, and he stared back at Tom with wide, incredulous eyes before casting a furtive glance in Doug’s direction. “Uh, Tom, are you sure you want to do this now?”
Tom wiped a nervous hand over his mouth, but when he spoke, his voice did not falter. “I’m sure. I know I didn't do it right the first time, but I promise you, this time, there are no strings attached. I want us to live together.”
Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, Booker reached out and took the proffered key. “Baby, I don't want you to feel pressured if you're not—”
“WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!” Penhall exclaimed in a loud voice. “Back up a second. Did you just call Hanson baby?”
Although Tom had opened the dialogue by giving him the key, Booker did not think it was his place to out his lover in front of their friends. Instead, he looked to Tom for guidance. Their eyes locked, and at that moment, a silent understanding passed between them. It was time.
Inhaling a deep, calming breath, Tom turned to Penhall. “Yeah, he did.”
“Um, why?”
It was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question that had the potential to change everything, but there was no doubt in Tom’s mind he was doing the right thing. It had taken three months, a car accident and a fist fight for him to acknowledge what his heart had known all along. He was in love with Dennis, and he didn’t care who knew it.
Taking hold of Booker’s hand, Tom laced their fingers together, drawing strength from the warmth radiating from his lover’s skin. “Because… well, we’re a couple.”
A stunned silence followed Tom's statement, closely followed by Penhall’s nervous laugh. “Very funny, Hanson. You and Booker? Yeah, right. Even if you were gay, which you're not, there’s no way in hell you’d hook up with him.”
Shifting uncomfortably, Tom tightened his grip on Booker’s hand. “Sorry, Doug, but you’re wrong. I love Dennis, and he loves me.”
Uncertainty dulled the light in Doug’s eyes, but only for a moment. Seconds later, his dark orbs flashed with a seething outrage. “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FREAKIN’ MIND?”
The volume of Doug’s angry outburst had several heads turning in their direction, the curious onlookers momentarily ceasing their conversations in favor of the argument unfolding in front of their eyes. The jovial birthday celebration was quickly turning into a heated altercation, and in an attempt to diffuse the volatile situation, Judy stepped forward and rested a gentle hand on her friend’s arm. “Penhall, please don’t overreact. It’s obvious they love each other, isn’t that—”
“You KNEW about this?”
Judy’s gaze flitted nervously from Penhall to Booker and back again before she confessed her part in the ruse. “Well, yeah, I did. But only because Dennis asked for my help. And at the time, Tom didn’t know he’d said anything, so it’s not like I was covering for the two of them.”
“Is that right?” Penhall snapped before turning his fury on Harry. “And what about you? Were you in on it too?”
Harry raised his hands and took a step back. “Hey, man, don’t drag me into this. No one told me anything.”
Fed up with Penhall’s childish tantrum, Booker stepped forward, his dark eyes blazing with anger. “Jesus Christ, Doug, stop behaving like such an asshole. You might be Tom’s best friend, but if you can’t support his choices, maybe he’d be better off without you in his life.”
Penhall was in no mood to receive a lecture from the man whose very presence, had turned his life upside down. He couldn’t believe Tom was acting so irrationally, and unable to contain his frustration, he jabbed a finger in the dark-haired officer’s face. “Oh, you’d just love that, wouldn’t you, Booker? I bet this is all your—”
“STOP! JUST FUCKING STOP!”
All eyes turned to Tom. Shocked by the look of pure misery etched on the young officer’s face, Doug had the decency to stay quiet, his contrition softening his expression. But his regret didn’t extend to an apology. He couldn’t believe his best friend had kept such a momentous secret from him, and he began to wonder what other skeletons Tom had hanging in his closet. And it was then he realized he didn't know his partner at all. The man he would have happily taken a bullet for was nothing more than a figment of his imagination, a pretender, and for the briefest of moments, he wished they'd never met at all. Because if their whole friendship was based on a lie, then that meant, their friendship never existed at all.
As the thought took hold in Penhall's mind, hot tears pricked at his eyes. He needed space to work through his conflicting feelings. He loved Tom, but he was no longer sure he trusted him. And so, with the weight of his friend’s confession bearing down on him, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away, his departure leaving a noticeable tension hanging in the air.
“Geez,” Harry muttered under his breath. “What’s his problem?”
Judy gave a warning shake of her head. As far as she was concerned, their birthday celebration was neither the time nor the place to start proportioning blame and taking sides. All she cared about was repairing her warring friends’ fractured relationship, and taking hold of Tom’s hand, she gave his fingers a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t take it to heart, Hanson. You surprised him, that’s all. He’ll apologize once he’s had time to cool off.”
By lowering his gaze, Tom managed to keep his pain hidden behind his long lashes. “I dunno, Jude. He seemed pretty pissed off.”
Hearing the sadness in Tom’s voice, Booker shifted uncomfortably. Although the dark-haired officer felt justified in giving Penhall a piece of his mind, he couldn’t help but feel a modicum of remorse for the part he’d played in escalating the argument. His temper had gotten the better of him, and rather than smother the spark before it had a chance to spread, he’d added fuel to the flames, giving it the nourishment it needed to explode into a raging fireball. His baby was hurting, really hurting, but before he could speak and offer up an apology, Tom’s soft voice broke through the silence. “I need some air.”
Judy squeezed his hand. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’m okay,” Tom muttered, and with a brief glance in Booker’s direction, he gently disengaged his fingers from his friend’s hold and disappeared into the crowd.
“Should I go after him?”
Turning her attention to Booker, Judy studied the dark-haired officer’s worried face. “Yeah, I think you should. But be gentle, he's obviously upset. Harry and I will talk to Penhall, and hopefully, we can sort this out.”
“Um, what about Fuller?” Harry interjected. “He’s due here any minute, and he won’t be happy if he thinks we’ve bailed on him.”
Judy glanced at her watch. “Damn. Okay, I’ll find Doug, you wait for Fuller. And if Booker’s okay with it, maybe you can fill him in on what’s happened.”
When Harry raised a questioning eyebrow in his direction, Booker shrugged his shoulders. “Sure. Now it’s out in the open, it’s only fair Coach knows.”
Relieved they had a plan, Judy pushed Booker in the direction of the door. “Great, now go. But watch what you say. I know you’re mad at Penhall, but he’s still Tom’s best friend, and that means, when all this blows over, he’s going to be a big part of your life. Just promise me you'll remember that before you say something stupid. Okay?”
They were the wise words Booker needed to hear, and he flashed his friend a grateful smile. Penhall's disapproval meant nothing to him. Tom’s happiness far outweighed his own chagrin, and if he had to swallow his pride to keep from losing the man he loved, then that was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Nothing was worth losing his lover over, not even the satisfaction of tearing Doug a new one. And acknowledging that fact was a huge step in his own personal development. He was finally growing up, and he hoped with the help of people like Judy, he would continue to evolve and make Tom proud.
With that thought in mind, the dark-haired officer raised his glass and knocked back the last mouthful of his drink. Placing the empty tumbler on a nearby table, he wiped a hand over his mouth and went in search of the one person who, without realizing it, made him want to be a better man.
**
The door to the bar slammed closed, encapsulating the cacophony of music and voices behind the reinforced metal barrier. In the distance, the sound of traffic reached Booker’s ears, the urban resonance surprisingly soothing after his altercation with Penhall. Closing his eyes, he stood for a moment and allowed the familiar vibrations of the city to roll over him. He needed to channel his inner sangfroid before speaking to Tom, or he risked telling the young officer exactly what he thought of his best friend’s appalling behavior. Penhall’s reaction, although not completely unexpected, had infuriated him to the point where he wanted to punch the officer square in the nose. But violence was not the answer. If he were to make things right, he needed to keep a level head or risk making the situation a whole lot worse. And the last thing he wanted to do was burden his lover with any more emotional pain by asking him to take sides. Like it or not, Doug and Tom were a package, and if he wanted a relationship with one, he had to befriend the other. Such were the complications of life.
Opening his eyes, Booker scanned the narrow alleyway. At first, he didn’t see any signs of life. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spied a lone figure hovering in the shadows. Relief washed over him, and quickly getting his thoughts in order, he hurriedly approached.
At the sound of footsteps, Tom turned and offered his lover a faint smile. “Hey.”
“Are you okay?”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Tom shrugged. “I guess.”
An awkward silence followed before Booker spoke again. “Do you regret telling them?”
A flicker of annoyance passed over Tom’s face, and he expelled an irritable sigh. “No, of course not.”
“But you’re worried about Doug’s reaction?”
“Aren't you?”
Booker paused. He’d fully intended to talk Penhall up, to tell Tom the officer’s reaction was justified and to cut him some slack. But as he looked into his lover’s gloomy face, all his good intentions flew out the window. Tom deserved his best friend’s support, and if Penhall wasn’t prepared to at least try and understand, then he wasn’t worthy of his lover’s mateship.
Taking time to choose the right words, Booker offered up his thoughts. “No, not really. I mean, I get that you and Penhall are close, but… well, this is about us, Tommy, not him. And if Doug can't be happy for you, then, I really don’t think he’s the friend you thought he was.”
Tom remained silent, his mind frantically sorting through the confusion of thoughts rattling around inside his head. He knew Booker was right, but it wasn’t as easy as just walking away. Penhall was like a brother, he was his family, the one person he’d always turned to in times of doubt… Except he hadn’t, not when it really mattered, and suddenly, he understood why his friend was so hurt. He’d kept a huge secret from Doug, then instead of talking to him in private, he’d made his big reveal in front of everyone. And to rub salt into the wound, Judy already knew, and although that wasn’t his doing, he still felt a certain amount of guilt. His friend deserved better, and he hoped he could convince Booker to at least give him a second chance because if he were forced to choose between the two most important people in his life, he knew a little piece of his soul would die.
The young officer’s teeth anxiously worked his lower lip. He had a decision to make, but just as he started to speak, Doug stepped out of the shadows. “Tommy, can we talk?”
Before Tom could answer, Booker stepped protectively in front of him. “That depends,” he interjected, cold fury creeping into his voice. “Are you going to apologize or are you too homophobic—”
“Whoa!” Penhall exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “What are you talking about? I’m not homophobic.”
“Oh, really?” Booker shot back, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “So, that little tantrum inside the club had nothing to do with Tom and me sleeping together?”
Shifting uncomfortably, Penhall stared at the ground. “No, not really. I mean, it’s a shock, but… well… I dunno, I guess I just can’t believe you kept it a secret.”
Unconvinced, Booker put Penhall to the test. “So, you’re okay with us sharing a bed, are you? And kissing, and having gay—”
“Okay!” Penhall interrupted, one hand raised in front of his face. “Enough with the details. I get it. I don’t need a blow-by—I mean… Jesus. I...uh—”
“Oh, grow up,” Booker snapped, his eyes rolling for effect. “If you’re okay with all this, why are you behaving like a twelve-year-old?”
“So, now we’re resorting to insults, huh? Very mature, Book.”
“Don’t you throw this back on me! You’re the one acting like an asshole. Newsflash, Dougie, Tom’s a grown man, and he doesn’t have to get your permission to live his life the way he wants to!”
Throughout the heated exchange, Tom remained silent. He stood with his eyes downcast, his shoulders hunched forward as though to protect himself from the angry words flying through the warm September air. More than anything, he wanted the two most important people in his life to get along, but as the argument escalated, it seemed more and more unlikely that would ever happen.
Out of the corner of his eye, Penhall caught a glimpse of Tom’s face, and his anger, once again, ebbed away like the turning of the tide. It didn’t matter who his friend fell in love with. What did matter was that he was happy. And looking back over the past few weeks, he couldn’t ever remember seeing him more content. Whether he liked it or not, Booker obviously filled a void in Tom’s life in a way he, as his friend, never could. It was an epiphany, of sorts, and embarrassment heated his face. As much as he hated to admit it, he was actually jealous of the dark-haired officer’s close relationship with his friend. When Tom had dated women, he’d never felt threatened because the male-female dynamic was so vastly different to the bond they shared. But hearing the news his friend was dating a man had rattled him. He feared being replaced, and in a moment of panic, he’d lashed out. It was an embarrassing acknowledgment, but it was also a relief to know it was just the plain old green-eyed monster making him behave like an asshole, and not a subconscious bigotry toward homosexual sex. But he was also honest enough to admit he was surprised by Tom’s choice of partner. He didn’t dislike Booker, but he’d always assumed Tom did, and therefore, their relationship had come as a hell of a shock. It would have been funny if the situation weren’t so serious, and he hoped one day, he and Tom would feel comfortable enough to sit down with a few beers and have a good old laugh about it. But at that moment in time, the future was not important. It was the present that mattered, and inhaling a deep breath, he spoke over the top of Booker in a loud, clear voice. “OKAY, YOU'RE RIGHT! I’M SORRY!”
Booker stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Sorry about what?”
Slouching his shoulders in shame, Doug struggled to look Booker in the eye. “Everything. I’ve behaved like a complete asshole, and I’m sorry.” When the dark-haired officer remained silent, he stuck out his hand. “So, no hard feelings, okay? I’m happy for both of you… really.”
Surprised by Doug’s sudden change of attitude, Booker’s gaze drifted over to Tom. As much as he wanted to tell Penhall to shove his apology where the sun don’t shine, he couldn’t quite bring himself to utter the words. It wasn’t about backing down, it was about compromise. He loved Tom, more than he’d ever loved anyone, and if that meant forgiving Penhall, then he was more than prepared to do it. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a bit of fun at the officer’s expense, and tilting his head to one side, a mischievous glint brightened his eyes. “Hmm, no hard feelings, huh? Well, I don’t know about that, Doug. I have a lot of hard feelings when Tom and I are—”
“Dennis,” Tom warned.
A moody pout formed on Booker’s lips. “Spoilsport,” he muttered.
Lowering his hand, Penhall addressed the dark-haired officer. “Um, if you don’t mind, I’d like to have a few moments alone with Tom?”
Booker turned to Tom and cupping his face in his hands, he pressed his lips against his lover’s soft pout. “Do you want me to stay, baby?” he murmured against the plush flesh, his thumbs lightly caressing the young officer’s flushed cheeks.
Although Tom still wasn’t overly comfortable with public displays of affection, he was astute enough to know Booker was, in a strange, male-dominant way, marking his territory. It was a little disconcerting, and he briefly wondered if he would forever remain caught in the middle of the two jealous officers’ ongoing rivalry as they each possessively vied for his attention. But he wasn't too worried. It was early days, and he hoped, once both officers had a chance to calm down, they would put their macho differences aside and learn to get along, if only for his sake.
Penhall awkwardly cleared his throat, the harsh sound pulling Tom back to the present. Embarrassment colored his cheeks and taking a step back, he smiled into Booker’s handsome face. “I’m fine. Go back inside. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Releasing his lover’s face, Booker directed a smug smirk in Penhall’s direction and sauntered away, his reputation intact. An uncomfortable silence followed, the air heavy with unanswered questions. Eventually, it was Tom who spoke. “Are you freaked?”
The muscles in Penhall’s jaw tightened before visibly relaxing under the weight of Tom’s worried gaze. “No, not really,” he sighed. “I just wish you’d trusted me enough to tell me, that's all.”
“Yeah, me too,” Tom replied in a voice tinged with regret. “I started to, at the hospital, but I was still trying to get it straight in my own head, if you know what I mean.”
Penhall suppressed a grin. “I think using the word straight is kinda out of context here, Hanson.”
An amused smile tugged at the corners of Tom’s lips. “Asshole.”
Another long silence followed, more companionable this time.
“So, we’re okay, right?”
It was a question Tom had no trouble answering. “Yeah, we’re okay.”
Launching himself at his friend, Penhall pulled the young officer into a tight bear hug. “I love you, man, and I really am sorry.”
Tears pricked at Tom’s eyes and circling his arms around Penhall’s bulky frame, he returned the hug. “That's okay. I love you too.”
The two men remained wrapped in each other’s arms, drawing comfort from the warmth of their friendship. And as all the pent-up tension drained from Tom’s body, his tears transformed into a contented smile. After three months of uncertainty, he'd finally found the courage to profess his love to the world, and he was no longer, peeping through the closet door.

Finis
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To Cut a Long Story Short