Cody

Cody 17

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Clyde and Cody were still sitting with me and Brad outside of Camp Clyde, but his was no Kumbaya moment. Clyde was waiting for Cody to explain why things on Cody's Crest seemed so conveniently well planned.

Still looking at Cody and addressing Brad, Clyde said "There's a room down that hall over there, soldier, that is stocked with a full wardrobe of clothing in your size, including boots. Not your normal size. Your size NOW."

Brad turned to look at Cody, started to rise. Clyde extended a hand.

"There's a dry goods room with EIGHT cases of Stuart's favorite bourbon that I know because Stuart has told me there is not one full case of between here and our fair state's western border."

I chimed in. "And Serena's store had a full case as well as back stock to feed the midnight picnic."

Clyde started in on a list. "His favorite crackers. His favorite pickles. MY favorite cigars. His brand of cigarettes. Lukas' favorite sodas. Even goddam apples. Who in the FUCK drinks bourbon with apples other than Stuart? Nofuckingbody."

"What's your favorite steak, Stuart?"

"Tenderloin filets. They're healthy."

"There's a whole goddam shelf of them back in cold storage, and heads and heads of broccoli. I know the shithead has to have it three meals a day but the weirdest fucking thing is there are cases of that nasty green glop he loves. CASES."

"Wait. Did you just call me a..."

Clyde cut me off with a smirk and a wink and went back to staring at Cody.

"Code... you have 15 minutes now or we're going to be discussing this with Lukas at the dinner table and I will have a hardon for your neck if we scare that boy after what he has been through."

Cody looked at me. He didn't look away. He looked directly into my eyes. Not apologetic, emotionless.

"DARPA."

Clyde and Brad in unison like they had fucking rehearsed it: "Christ!"

Clyde asked "Is this a cage?"

"No."

"They can't have him."

"I recognize that. I think they know that now."

"Cody."

"Yes?"

"You are a toolbag."

Clyde got up leaving his glass, cigar, a plate to clean up, the door to the apartment open, and walked away heading to the cabin.

As he walked away we heard "Stuart, consider sending him to Antarctica... naked."

Brad had leaned back with his head against the wall, arms crossed and was looking at the ceiling. "Cody, clean that shit up," he said, and got up. "C'mon Stuart. I heard you're giving cooking lessons and you have a budding chef to train."

He turned around to Cody. "Not a fucking WORD of this to Lukas, or I will snap your fucking neck just by looking at you." Cody nodded and picked up the plate and glasses. "And make sure there are plenty of towels and anything else they might need, Station Manager." He spat the last two words.

The dog looked at Cody, and Brad and me retreating, and tags jingled behind us.

"Fucker." Brad muttered under his breath.

He stopped outside the door to the bat cave and turned to me. "Look... my career may be finished here, and this is all on tape, recorded, so there's no reason to stop being who we are, bud. Don't let this frighten you. Just keep on doing what you're doing, I will get Lukas trained to defend himself, and Clyde and I will figure out what if anything we can do about or for the DC contingent to let you get on with your life and lay the fuck off you. I don't know if that's a real possibility but I hope they see it's you and only you and there's no way they can have what you do because that's what this is all about." He gestured around.

"Let's go help Lukas cook steaks."

"Thanks Brad."

He nodded and the three of us, BDB, I, and our four legged shadow, entered the basement and ascended into the cabin.

Clyde works fast. The were on the truck frame. Lukas was attached to a nipple and Clyde was buried inside that muscular ass covered in blond fur. Luke was whining and begging, riding, and Clyde was smiling at him.

"Good man, Luke. You take me like a champ."

"You feel good in me big man."

"Good. That's the idea."

"Fuck steak. Fuck everything but fucking right now," muttered Brad, and he started getting naked. Mission accomplished, the big mean looking fucker with the big fucking dick already slinging seminal fluid all over the room as he walked, walked over and leaned down to the obscenely stretched asshole and took a taste of them both, sucking on Clyde's nuts, and licking the tautly stretched hole riding up and down Clyde's huge root. He pulled Lukas' surprisingly large 9 inch uncut dick back between his legs causing Luke to grunt and BDB mouthed the head.

"Ooooh" Luke crooned.

"Is he making you feel good Luke?"

"Yeeeeessss."

"Tell me what he's doing."

"He's sucking my dick and eating my hole where we're connected... ooooooh."

"Bud... don't make him come. He's not like us yet."

Brad looked up, his face covered in ass juice, precum and spit, "OK boss."

"You look so happy Luke."

"oooh, please sir... don't stop fucking me."

"For as long as you want to ride champ, I'm all yours, buddy."

"Still hungry? Here, smell." The big man had put his hand on the back of Luke's neck and pulled him down to his chest.

Luke smiled and inhaled, stuck his tongue out and licked. " Ooooohhhh, Luke. I'm full and it hurts. Help, please."

Luke sucked hard, and I could see Clyde's dick pulse as he came and BDB tongued it. His nuts were pulled up tight against the base of that thick shaft. I walked over and yanked them back down and Luke sucked harder. Clyde came again. "AAAAWWWW FUCK!!!" I walked over and leaned down and kissed him. He grabbed the back of my neck and stuck his tongue in my mouth. God he tasted good. Pulling my shirt over my head, I leaned into Luke and he sniffed, turned his head and found the dripping source and latched onto my right pec. Clyde stretched up and caught the left. HOLY SHIT. I started coming and didn't stop until both were empty. Intense. I opened my soaked jeans and pulled off my boots, dragged the slimy fabric down my legs and left them in a slick puddle on the floor and what the fuck, slid my ass right down onto my mate's face which put my slimy dick right in front of Luke. He opened wide and started chewing on foreskin. I could still hear BDB slurping away and could see the top of his head bobbing as he licked Luke butt and Clyde root. Who the fuck needs lunch?

A deep voice from below me "Hey Bud?"

"Yeah boss?"

"Stuart needs dicked. Can you handle that? Can't be in two places at once."

Brad's head popped up like a prairie gopher, grinning, covered in slime, looking into my eyes. "Wanna take a ride on the Reading? We can pass Go and everything!"

I laughed. "Yeah, smartass. Fuck me stupid. But I get to take your spot. That looked fun."

"DEAL!" He gave me a crooked smile. "C'mere."

I hopped off and walked around. BDB stood, walked around behind me, grabbed my waist, lifted me up in the air and deposited me on all fours right between Clyde's legs, face in his crotch, covered in Luke ass juice. Luke's dick was still by Clyde's nuts, and he was still riding that thick piece of meat, slickly sliding it in and out and cooing as it hit bottom. Brad whistled.

"Boss... Your partner's tail turned out smokin.'"

"Yeah. Wait `til you touch it and see what it can do."

Brad reached out and ran a finger down my asscrack, and the hole lengthened and ridged, pouting. I came at his touch. In the meantime I was sucking on Clyde nuts. They tasted good covered in Luke slime. I licked his root, and Luke latched onto his tit. I could see, feel him coming again. I licked around the hole hoping to taste some, but Luke was so tight, nothing came out of the connection. Brad's tongue started to lick my slit and I shuddered. I opened for him and his slick snake of a tongue slid inside. He sucked on my hole and tongue fucked it while I licked daddy dick and boy ass, running fingers through Luke's ass hair. I heard him still keening above me wanting to be fucked forever while I groaned on Brad's ass attentions.

Brad's face left my fuzzy butt, and I felt him move, knew it was coming, but when I felt his breath on my neck and the nose of his dick on my hole I thought hoooooly shit this is going to hurt. He nudged me. His head was wet with fucking precum. He kept doing it, sliding against me, nudging in, widening me, pulling back and doing it again. It felt soooooooo good. A dick massage for my hole. I groaned and licked Luke hole harder. Damn. And then, somehow, without pain, the corona of BDB's monster dick was inside me, the ridge backing out and stretching me before being actually pulled free, and he would advance, the forward progress more of the same nudging, slow, slicking everything up with copious precum flow and then "HOOOOLY SHIT!!! I"M CREAMING YOU MAN!!!" He came and shit got a lot slicker, Brad sliding in on his own Jizz.

So here I was, exactly where I like to be, in my man's crotch, smelling his scent, watching him, hearing him enjoy himself making someone else feel good, knowing he was happy, Brad had managed to learn from him and had not hurt me, not one bit of pain, buried way the fuck up in my colon past the third sphincter, rocking in and out of me,his arms under me grasping my shoulders from below his chest scrubbing into the hair on my back, groaning and grinning, full of dick and surrounded by the scent of man, and thinking about Cody returning I had an epiphany, and grinned wider. Luke was moaning above me, humping Clyde's root, starting to actually slurp on it with his stretched hole.

"Hey Luke?"

"Unh. Unh. Unh. Hunh?"

"Have you ever fantasized about a ghost making love to you?" I grinned.

I heard a deep chuckle "Hey buddy... You're going to like this."

"Brad... Don't freak out. You get some too."

I heard Clyde say "Next step?"

"Yes sir. FUCK. FUCK me deeep Brad."

"You. Fuck. were. SHIT man that's fucking hot. ooooh. gonna ask me to do it anyway. GOOOOD Brad. Don't fucking stop."

And I pictured it. Clyde disappeared. Luke sat up and impaled himself deeper and groaned, fell back forward and felt invisible arms around him, raising him up and down on Clyde's root. I looked down at my arms holding Clyde's thighs and pictured them caressing him without being seen, and... I blinked away.

Brad was still holding me but it looked like he was holding thin air, and fucking nothing. "HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK!"

"Go with the flow, Brad. Fuck me blind, man. You feel fucking good."

"I feel you on me, but I can see my dick!"

"Yeeeeah. Fucking HOT."

"Luke... how do you feel?"

"AWWW this is incredible. He feels so good."

About this time, I heard footsteps on the stairs and leaned down and licked Luke's hole.

The footsteps stopped at the top of the staircase and Cody stood there staring.

Brad came again, and I could see his come shoot into me and gradually disappear as I absorbed it into my colon. So fucking intense.

Cody's eyes were wide.

I decided the scene needed to end. There was only one way to make that happen. I leaned down and started sucking Luke's dick, sliding his foreskin up and down over his head. It took about thirty seconds he was so on edge. He screamed "OOOOOOH... I'm ... I'm ... FUUUUCK, he came in my mouth, blast after blast of thick Luke slime. He tasted good. He was spasming on Clyde's dick and it tripped Clyde's trigger, which in sympathy tripped me, my spasms tripping Brad and we were a heaving groaning mass of man flesh. Wow. What a finish. I imagined both Clyde and I reappearing before a disbelieving Cody and ... we blinked back into visibility, sweaty and out of breath, grinning.

Brad slowly slid out of me and said "That was fucking AWESOME." and started laughing.

"Have a good time, Luke?"

He was grinning from ear to ear. "YES sir. That was GREAT!"

Clyde wrapped him in his arms and kissed him deeply.

We all turned to Cody and grinned. He was carrying an armload of towels and walked into the bathroom.

"Cody brought towels! GANG SHOWER!!!"

They all piled toward the bath hooting and I hung out, waiting for Cody to return.

He did. I crossed my arms, dripping jism on his maple floors.

"The sniper was an act, wasn't it, Cody?"

"Yes."

"Open the house. I want a fire on the front porch."

"Have that set up when we get back?"

"OK"

"And then we can take a walk before lunch?"

He looked into my eyes. "OK."

"See you in a few."

Clyde had put the steaks back in the fridge before shit went down on the truck frame, so they were going to need to come back to temperature before they could be cooked. Luke's potatoes could cook while that was happening, and a half hour would be perfect for a walk with Cody.

I entered the sweet shitter to catcalls, and lots of joking. "DAMN Boss! TWO hot asses in one room!"

A low voice responded "You can kiss mine any time you want to big man."

We all broke up and Brad threw a washcloth at him.

"I might just do that, sir!" Brad grinned. I knew he really wasn't kidding. Clyde had a hot ass.

We washed each other, hugged each other, laughed and carried on. "The problem with liquid soap as I see it," Brad observed, "Is that you can't really drop it!"

I walked over to the sink and got the surgical soap and showed Luke how to scrub his armpits with it, used some myself. Clyde took the bottle, and so did Brad. We all rinsed and Clyde turned to Luke and stared at him. Luke looked up at him looking back. Brad and I exchanged glances, nods. Clyde moved him out of the shower cascade and walked up close to him. Luke was still looking up into his eyes. Clyde reached down and grabbed his dick and pointed it up and let fly from Luke's face, all over his chest, arms, legs, then turned him around and pissed on his back and ass.

"You can either choose to wear it or wash it off, Lukas. I like to mark things I care about."

"I'll wear it for a while if you don't mind sir."

"Whoop Whoop!" hooted BDB "We got a brother!"

"Get that man another Mello Yello!"

We fucking broke up laughing.

"Don't towel it off. Let it air dry, Luke," I advised

"OK sir. Thank you."

Clyde had turned off the water. He reached down and grabbed Luke's neck in both hands and kissed him full on the lips, tongue and all, and made a big deep bear groan. Luke whispered to him "Thank you sir."

"You bet, champ. Thank you."

We walked back into the living room, three dry, one dripping piss, to daylight streaming in the windows and the hardware elevators all stowed. Clyde looked at me.

`The sniper was staged.'

`That fuck.'

`I don't think it was his idea.'

`Don't start having Stockholm Syndrome on me.'

`I'm not. I thought it was pretty fucking transparent. These guys do not really know what they are doing.'

Brad looked at us. "Sorry to interrupt you nonverbal types, but the fucking cabin is open."

I looked at him. "It's safe Brad. Even if it weren't they would not hurt me, and Clyde is immortal, everyone wants Luke to be OK, so really you're the only one that's fucked."

Clyde busted out laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes and was holding his stomach.

Brad cocked his head and sneered "Very funny asshole." and chuckled.

Clyde put a hand on my shoulder still chuckling wiping his eyes, leaned down and kissed me. "Thanks for keeping it light." I smiled back and nodded.

"Cody should have a fire going for us by now on the front porch."

"DAYLIGHT!!!! Warm mountain breezes, dicks swinging in the wind!"

Brad never stopped.

Even Lukas was laughing, and he was covered in piss.

"Someone let the dog out so she can enjoy the fireplace and go for a piss. Walk with her please."

Luke got up and walked to the patio door, looked at the dog with his hand on the knob, gestured with his head. She got up and came to him and sat by the door. He opened it and she sat looking at him. He gestured again and she was off like a shot. He followed and closed the door.

"DARPA substituted a robot dog `cause that's not mine."

"That's a fast shine that little girl has taken to him. kinda sweet."

"So is he."

I looked around and the floor had been cleaned, no more jism, and my soaked jeans were missing, so were Clydes, and Brads. 4 pairs of jeans, 4 flannels shirts, socks, and boots all sat on and below the wash counter. I walked over and got my socks and boots and put them on.

I went out and sat on the porch in my spot by the fireplace and leaned back in a chair with a quilt on it, listening to the river in the canyon below. Door seals, a glass of bourbon and ice with apple slices, an ashtray, and a cigarette. Clyde was carrying a cigar, and there were cutters on the table. I took the cigar from him as he set his drink down and sat down beside me, and cut it for him, handing him the lighter and the cigar back. He put his right hand on my arm, and I turned to look at him beside me.

"You missed hearing it, didn't you?"

"You reading my mind again?"

"Nope. The heart this time."

"You're good, or do you use that line on everyone you pick up at truck stops?"

He smiled softly at me. "Thanks for the tip. I'll remember it."

I put my other hand on top of his. "What a fucking shitstorm."

"Yup."

"He even knew the commands I use with my dog."

"They do their homework."

"No way out but straight through the middle."

"You should be familiar with that strategy considering." He nodded down at the river.

I nodded. "Clyde."

"Yeah bud?"

"I'm glad it's you."

"Thanks. The feeling is mutual."

The door opened and a naked man in boots carrying two beers appeared thumping across the porch and dropping into the third of four chairs there.

"You got invisible company or are you just really thirsty?"

"I definitely have invisible company. The thirst is... just a lack of desire to get up now that I can be outside again."

"Aye to that, you big dicked wonder."

"Did I interrupt a moment?"

Clyde said "When aren't you interrupting a moment? It's always welcome."

Brad grinned. "Thanks."

"Fucked up shit at Cody's Crest. Someone ought to write a story."

"You're right, Brad. They should," I said.

Door seals. Cody. "You guys OK?"

Clyde: "Yes, thank you Cody."

"OK. Let me know if you need anything."

Door seals.

Brad asked me "You gonna take it back?"

"Depends on our conversation on our walk."

Clyde looked at me with a frown. "Your walk?"

"Yes. How hungry are y'all?"

Brad shrugged. "I want to drink beer. I'm good for now."

I got up and leaned in the door. "Snack plate for the guys, Cody. Thanks."

`I'm going to ask for some pretty outrageous stuff on that walk. Job promotions for you both and a shipload of money for you and me so we'll be comfortable, a house, and relocation of Luke.'

`It's very likely that you will get everything you ask for.'

`I know. If nothing else to shut me the fuck up.'

`Yep.'

`You're a SEAL. aren't you?'

`Yes. Special ops. Intelligence and sniper.'

`So you knew this was rigged.'

`Yes.'

`Why did you let it play?'

"Information gathering.'

`What do you think of Cody?'

`You heard me tell him.'

`Toolbag.'

`Yes. Spineless toolbag.'

`That may work to everyone's advantage.'

"Y'all are ATE UP with this nonverbal shit, you know!" Brad was grinning.

"Fuck you cowboy."

"You have," he leaned forward "and that thing you do moving millimeters... fuck that's hot." He grinned.

Clyde chuckled. "Glad you like it."

Oh, boss, I do. Big fuckin' time." He sat back and smiled.

He looked at me. "Your partner... doesn't fuck. He's a fucking professor at that shit."

Clyde put his hands over my ears and Brad giggled like a school girl.

I heard dog tags. A beautiful blond tan naked adonis covered in blond down with sparkling blue eyes appeared around the corner. He reeked of piss. He was grinning and sweaty. The dog followed, grinning more, panting, followed. He pointed to the hearth and she laid down there, grinning, looking at us, like... "look who I've been with, ... my new friend!" She was happier than I have seen her in days.

I offered "Luke... we're going to want you to cook." I pointed behind me at the wall of the cabin by the door. "There's a shower there.. Clean up before you do. Is there a towel there?"

"Yes sir, and soap."

I nodded.

Boots came off and he padded over. I heard the sound of water and a couple of happy Luke sounds, then silence as he toweled off. The padding of agile feet. He took the empty chair and pulled socks and boots back on.

"Like being nekkid with the guys?"

"I've never been this comfortable before sir."

"Well there's no switch here. You don't have to turn it off. Glad you're happy."

"I am, sir."

Clyde grabbed his neck and squeezed, grinned. Luke grinned back, looking at all of us.

"Where's Cody's chair?"

I looked at the guys, then at Luke. "Cody is playing host right now and doing chores. He won't be sitting down with us until we eat probably."

"I don't like this four chair thing. Can we ditch two of these and grab that bench?" pointing to the other side of the shower.

My chair stayed, Clyde and BDB carried theirs away and brought the bench back, moving quilts around. Lukas put another log on the fire, and the dog snored by his feet, blond down on his toes probably smelling like honey and wheat or something as pure. That put the two big guys on the bench shoulder to shoulder. Brad's beers were empty.

Cody appeared. Three beers, two bourbons with apples, a Mello Yello, and two bowls, one filled with cream colored glop, one with cheese cubes, and a plate with soft Naan and grapes.

Clyde looked at me questioningly.

"Babaganoush. Smoked eggplant, crushed with olive oil, lemon, and spices. Protein, Omega 3 and 6, very good for those big fucking muscles of yours and ensuring they get the blood they need."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Surprised?"

He looked at me almost angrily. "No."

"Me, either. It's good, and I'm sure it's the best. The bread is cooked in a wood fired Indian Tandoor, and if my suspicions are correct it has green onion in it... good for the colon. Tasty stuff."

Brad chimed in. "Let me guess. Another favorite of yours."

I nodded, already grinning over my first bite.

Brad shook his head "Gilded cage."

"No cage," I said. "Where y'all wanna go?" I raised my eyebrows.

"We have shit to finalize here."

Luke was still petting the dog, distracted, thankfully.

"Clyde... you raise horses, right?"

He looked at me hard. "Yes."

"You also train them, don't you?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Tack barn, the whole thing. Do you show them?"

"Sometimes."

"Pretty little girls from town. You teach them to ride."

"Mmm hmm."

"Mom brings them out in the Escalade from town."

He nodded.

"Pearl coat finish. Lots of chrome. They keep horses with you."

"Yes." His jaws were clinching.

Brad was getting wide eyed, and he grabbed a beer.

"You're above the Tug Fork, right?"

His head shot to his right and he stared at me.

"Thirty acres?"

"Old family farmhouse."

Clyde was getting pissed.

"YES."

"Wanna keep it?"

"Just. The. Way. It. Fucking. Is."

"Good. I like you smelling like horses."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

`You're defining.'

`Yes.'

"Brad."

"Yeah, you freak of nature?" He was grinning when he said it.

Luke had latched on to the conversation.

"You do OK for yourself."

"Between calls, yeah."

"I don't think you should have to cut all that grass any more."

"It's only five acres of lawn."

"What the fuck dude, that's six hours a week."

"I like it there."

"You would be happier without the maintenance so you could do more shit you like."

"You like Cody's cabin?"

"Hell fucking yes!"

"OK."

I looked at Clyde.

"Loft in town. House overlooking town. Hands for the farm and full modernization. Quarters. BDB Cabin with maintenance. Dollars. Promotions. Anything else?"

"Yes."

Clyde: "NSA at the house."

"Wh..?"

"24-7. With you. If these guys..."

"OK. I get it."

"The babaganoush is really good."

"What do you think Brad?"

"Shit looks slimy but it's really fucking good."

"Luke?"

"I could eat this all day long."

"Team."

Everybody chuckled, and the scent of pine smoke filled the air as the river below rumbled in the canyon.

I love these mountains. I really did want to get in the water.

I turned to Clyde. "I have a request."

"Livery and staff."

"Boats?"

"Yes please."

"OK, bud. You take care of the touristas and I will make mommy come in her pants watching the big man help her daughter learn to ride."

"Hey Luke.. If you owned a restaurant could you still study and not flip out when HR goes haywire?"

"You mean automotive engineering?"

"Yeah, boy."

"FUCK YES!!!" he woke the dog up and her ears perked up at his excitement.

"Can I have my own shop?"

"You fucking bet you can."

"AWW.. sweet."

Clyde was glowering at me.

"Brad... anything else you need or want?"

"Left alone would be good."

"OK bro."

"Hey Luke.. how do those coals look to you?"

"Almost perfect sir."

"Go get some racks and put your potatoes on. Pull out the steaks and let them come up to room temperature. Cody and I need to go for a walk. We'll be back in time to put the steaks on and I will show you a cool trick."

"Awesome."

"HEY. Isn't there any more beer in this tiny fuckin' building??"

Brad was incessant.

"This goop and the bread is awesome" was the last thing I heard uttered before I went inside and found Cody.

I leaned down and kissed his ear. "You have choices to make."

"I know."

"Let's walk."

No fake snipers, no removed bullshit.

I took him to my favorite spot on the property, rocks now warmed by the sun, and I sat down on a boulder on the back on the escarpment, looking at the river.

"Are we safe here, Cody?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything you want to say to me?"

He looked at me.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry is not allowed, Cody. If you had that in you none of this would have happened."

"I know."

"What is it you want to say?"

"I will do everything I can to help you be whole and live a normal life."

"Good start, bud."

I gave him the list.

"I can type that out for you."

"No. I have it."

"Pushback on one fucking thing and I will change a lot of lives very fast and things will become very uncomfortable."

"I understand."

"It's done. everything. You will be contacted and everyone will get what they want and need. 5 million to all three of you. All the rest."

"Thank you."

"You misled me Cody."

"Yes."

"Are you regretful?"

"No."

"I was doing my job."

"My dog is a job?"

"Yes."

"Seeya Code."

I walked away, leaving him on that cliff without a memory of what had transpired over the last week, and with his old mortal physicality.

As I walked away I thought I heard the impact of something unpleasant. I didn't look back.

I walked into the cabin alone and sad.

Clyde was there and saw the tears in my eyes, and grabbed me and took me back outside before Luke could see.

"Gone?"

"I'm pretty sure they shot him."

I started to cry.

"Hey, buddy."

He pulled me in tight. I was bawling. sobbing.

Cody was gone. I didn't care about the rest. That sweet man I held was.. gone.

I vocalized it for Clyde the best I could. "Not Stockholm Syndrome. Loss of Cody Syndrome." I cried. He held me.

"C'mon around front by the fire. Let's take a shower and lay down for a while."

"OK"

Clyde slapped me. Hard.

I looked up.

"Lukas is on that deck. You clean your head up."

I looked into his eyes. They were clear and unwavering.

"You did not kill him, Stuart. Were your terms agreed to?"

"Yes, including yours."

"OK."

"Shower. truck frame. quilt. You and me. Fuck the rest of the day."

Mechanically I followed that order with him.

We walked onto the porch, Clyde holding my hand and Brad started to speak and saw me.

"Need a hand boss?"

"Yeah bud. Take care of Luke this afternoon and look after the dog. Stuart needs to lie down for a while."

"Yes, sir."

"Brad... "

"Yeah boss?"

"Find us two heavy blankets. He's in shock."

"Yes sir."

From a warm shower we toweled off and Clyde laid me down on the truck frame. He covered me with ... him, and then two blankets and wrapped both arms around me, breathing on my neck. He held me tight.

I started to warm up. I started to cry again.

He stoked my neck and kissed me. "Shhh."

"But it was Cody."

"I know."

I just couldn't stop crying.

He snuggled up against me, warm, hairy, my partner. Reassuring, always there, and I felt so alone. He wrapped an arm over with more blankets and I shivered. I was freezing. Freaked out, overloaded. I was breathing really hard, like I had just run miles. I passed out, thankfully.

I felt... movement. Smelled fresh soap, damp hair, a fuzzy back against my chest, enveloped in Clyde's warmth. Big round pecs. big biceps, all covered in down, a twelve pack under my hand. I drifted back off. I heard the thud of big boots somewhere. Gone again. Darkness. warmth.

I saw the explosion again, Cody running toward me. I started to cry again. Clyde's big hand on my flank, stroking me. Blackness.

I heard whispers. Brad? Hazy, speech I couldn't discern. Then Clyde, in my ear. "You have to sit up."

Big movement behind me and the man cocoon was no longer over my back. "C'mon Stuart, I'll help you."

Big hands rolled me over and scooped me up and I was sitting. A hand placed a can in mine. "Drink that." My favorite soda.

I took a few sips and downed the can. Another appeared. I started to wake up. It had been Lukas that came and laid in front of me, and he rolled over against my back while I was sitting and ran his hands over my shoulders softly.

"I need something from you Stuart." Clyde.

`I need you to make me invisible again. I want to go and see if I can tell what happened.'

`OK' I sighed.

"Here." He put my face in his armpit. I inhaled. Calmer. I looked up at him.

`I might be able to tell you what happened if you'll make me safer while I go look.'

He was putting on his boots, still naked.

I drank more soda and watched him. Booted, he put his hands on his knees in an "I'm ready" gesture and ... he disappeared.

`Thanks, buddy.'

"On our rock?"

"Yes."

"OK."

Brad was here... fully clothed.

The front porch door opened and closed without anyone seemingly going through.

Luke was still behind me. Brad took the second empty can from me and handed me a third.

Luke asked "Did Cody get hurt?"

"I think so, Luke but we don't know yet. Clyde went to see if he can figure it out."

He kissed my back. "You love him."

I nodded, incapable of a response to that.

"OK cowboy," Brad stood in front of me and hoisted effortlessly and I was on my feet, waveringly "You need a shower."

"You want Lukas to bathe you?"

"I would prefer just to have company."

Brad looked at me and I at him. "OK... I can do that."

"Let's get you in the shitter."

He put an arm around and we walked to the john.

"Luke," he called over his shoulder

"Yes sir?"

"How about making Stuart Peanut butter and apple slices?"

"Everybody likes that. OK."

Brad stopped and leaned down and gave me a gentle hug and kissed me.

"I was worried about you."

I smiled weakly at him. "Thanks."

"Let's go get you wet and dry."

We got into the bathroom and he grabbed the surgical soap, a washcloth, and made sure everything was set on the shower shelf.

"You want me to get in with you?"

I looked at him and nodded.

"You just like seeing me naked."

I nodded.

"But you need to be touched too."

Another nod.

He shucked and stood, big dick swinging, big ... fucking everything.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

I walked to him and hugged him with my head in his furry chest. He put his big assed hand on the back of my head and the other in the middle of my back and let me inhale his scent.

"Hard day at the ranch, hunh, buddy?" I nodded against him.

"OK... lets get wet."

He turned on the water and we stepped in. I filled a cloth with soap and washed his back and chest, his head, way up there, and pushed him in for the rinse cycle. I cleaned his pits with surgical soap, and kneeled down and washed his nuts and asshole. He didn't even get hard. He knew I just needed touch. Washed his beautiful big assed legs, even his hairy toes. Stood back up and put my face back in his chest. He took the cloth from me and washed my hair, and still hugging me, my back and ass.

"I really like your ass now Stuart. It's beautiful. Perfect."

He ran the cloth over my asshole, and separated us and washed my chest and arms, used scrub on my pits, washed my nuts, and peeled my foreskin back and washed there. He kneeled down and washed hairy thick thighs, and my toes, too. Stood up smiling at me.

"We're going to get waterlogged."

He turned off the water and reached for a towel and dried me, and I did the same for him. He padded out to the washer and retrieved clean jeans, socks, and boots for me, and we got dressed. I felt at least awake, but with a deep lingering sadness. I knew we were all taken care of, and that Luke would be able to live in the house in town with us, all of the material shit, but... Cody. Sigh.

"Peanut butter and apples?"

"OK."

The plate was on the table. "Thanks Luke."

He came and hugged me and kissed my cheek, rubbed my bare shoulders. The front porch door opened and closed. Big boots crossed the floor, a chair pulled out and groaned under weight placed on it. I felt Clyde, and his emotions. He was not sad, or resigned. He was confused.

"No blood?"

"None."

"That means..."

"I don't know what the fuck it means, other than he wasn't shot there."

My heart jumped. "You think he might be OK?"

I grabbed another apple slice and covered it in peanut butter, and munched.

Clyde observed "I think he wasn't shot. That's all I think. No broken branches, not disturbance in the leaves on the rocks or in the woods. 1 set of footprints heading toward the rock from the other side, and one leading away on top of them. Boot lugs like ours. I followed them for a quarter mile into the woods and they disappeared on hard soil. "

Brad was frowning. "Do y'all think you could stop playing invisible man at the dinner table? It's fucking weird."

I looked at him and Clyde became visible, all naked 6'-4" of him. Brad looked at him.

"Maybe it was better the other way."

Clyde punched him in the arm.

"OW." He mock howled

"So after all that freaking out, he's probably still alive."

"Possibly."

"I'm sorry."

Clyde reached out and put a hand on mine. "No apologies. You invested a lot in Cody."

I looked into his eyes.

`He's still out there. I don't know what he's doing, but he's still out there.'

`He won't remember anything.'

`You..'

`Yeah.'

`Oh.'

`Shit.'

`... maybe that's better. Maybe he'll pull a Brad.'

I looked at BDB "Brad, how do you feel?"

"Like I want to wring his fucking neck."

"That's understandable. You bought in, too."

"Yes, I fucking did. I fucking held him while he learned to do one of the things I'm best at. I gave it all to him."

"The range."

"Yes."

Through this conversation Luke was starting to catch on but he deserved a full explanation.

"Guys. We're scaring and confusing Lukas"

Luke was sitting there with us at the table, frowning.

I looked at Clyde, and he looked back at me seriously.

`Take this please. You will be more objective and less... scary than me.'

Clyde looked at Luke.

He put a hand in the middle of Brad's back.

"We have a lot of fun at each other's expense sometimes, Luke, but that's because we're tight. May I be completely honest with you? Can I have your patience and attention while I explain what's going on here?"

"Yes, sir. Absolutely."

"To give you some history of me and my brother here," Brad turned to him and smirked, "Brad and I serve in the Military, sometimes together. We do the stuff that other people are not skilled enough.."

I interjected "Or brave enough"

"Thank you Stuart. ... to do. Very dangerous things. And we're pretty decent at it. We've been doing it a long time."

Luke asked "Do you kill people?"

"Sometimes, son. When it's absolutely necessary for everyone's safety."

"So, the night at your sisters when we encountered each other we thought it was odd, but there was something else going on and we weren't sure what it was, other than Stuart seemed to be at the center of it, and he thought Cody was at the center of it, which in a manner of speaking, he was. We still haven't figured your sister out, and think you can help us with that."

Clyde had not removed his hand from Brad's back. Brotherhood.

Luke said "I have a question."

"Fire away Luke"

"Why, if it was confusing to you and Brad, and unclear as to what was going on, did you mate with Stuart?"

Brad guffawed and looked over at Clyde. "Tell him Commander."

"Luke," he sighed, "he had my heart at hello." He glanced at me under deep brows and smiled.

I blushed and smiled back.

"So you knew it was OK?"

"99.5% sure, Luke. I was willing to risk a half percent."

Luke laughed.

"Sorry to interrupt, sir."

"You're fine Luke. I would prefer you ask questions. So knowing that Serena was deliberately manipulating the evening and using you when you showed up, we hot footed it, not knowing if Stuart had all of his questions answered. I still don't think he did, and we'll come back around to that. That is how we all ended up here, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"We all have fun, more sex, and Stuart, having encountered Cody in town, was pretty attached to him. See, Cody knew all about Stuart, like everything about him. What he eats, drinks, reads, what he likes to do, art, design, music, little fuzzy men, large fuzzy men..."

Luke laughed again.

"He's a pretty typical guy. Horny all the time, and therefore... apologies, Stuart, in the right circumstances, very easily gamed by a man that fit his description of the ideal. Stuart has two types that he is extremely attracted to. Small, compact well built wrestler types, like Cody, and big ugly fuckers like Brad and me."

He looked me in the eye. "Fair assessment?" I nodded.

"What Stuart didn't know even though he questioned Cody following him from a gallery across town to say hello was that Cody was involved in a secret government agency that researches and develops weapons for the government. They had known about Stuart for years, seen him do small things, a funny scene where he made two guys lose inhibitions and fuck in a taxi in town when no one else was around, harmless enjoyable things for the participants."

"He could also give shit to people. They must have researched him back to high school when he gave a friend the ability to change things and his wife went insane and killed herself. Or maybe the NFL Quarterback from his high school football team that nobody can injure."

"So Cody comes strolling up and says hello. Stuart wants nothing to do with a relationship and he's pissed by the invasion."

I interjected "How the fuck do you know the intimate details?"

"Remember those bruises and broken ribs? Think about MY history for just one second and you will get it."

Luke asked, "So you two know each other's entire history?"

I thought about it and said "Yes, holy shit, we do."

Clyde nodded.

"So this organization set Stuart up and he ended up here at the cabin with Cody and it was all romantic and shit... and they got it on."

Clyde's hand STILL had not left Brad's back.

"Brad here, sometime in the time line, got dealt a passing blow. He was a closeted Special forces Sergeant and had been fighting his will to suck dick all his life. In the parking lot of a fucking Tractor Supply, Stuart helped him load some fence into his truck and inadvertently touched him, and Brad became Big Dicked Brad. He also became dick hungry Brad, incapable of living in self denial any more, and he did. not. like. it. one. fucking. bit."

"He knew Stuart had changed him. I don't know if you've noticed but Brad's emotions are pretty strong and when the change happened and he realized that Stuart was the source, he aimed to kill him. Unfortunately for Brad... Stuart picked his home river as a get away. Brad followed in a much bigger much slower boat and Stuart set him up, dropping the boat he was in on his head, and while injuring him it didn't kill him... and Brad kept coming."

"Something you should know about our buddy here Luke. He will never stop. He's a machine. Once he sets his sights on something, it's already done. He will keep coming, and coming, and to the last blood in his veins he will work to meet that objective."

Clyde closed fingers on the back of Brad's neck and squeezed affectionately.

Brad dropped his eyes and nodded.

"So Brad aimed to either get answers or kill Stuart for making him what he always wanted to be anyway, which was comfortable with himself.

"In the meantime, Stuart had brought Cody to his own cabin after running away from him because, and this is something he hates so you understand the body modifications early today, Cody changed his base state and he was pissed and scared so he drove three hours in a Jeep he stole from Cody, where the river encounter with Brad had started. He didn't bring Cody really. Cody followed him, tracking him with weird Stuart sense. Romance ensued. Brad showed up being his usual subtle self slamming his pickup onto a tree wanting to get to Stuart, and general chaos followed, along with fucking, because guys fuck. It's what we do. In the course of that Stuart learned he could change things without physical contact.

"That was all before the night on the pier. The next sequence of events is that the three musketeers after arranging for repairs to the dumbass's busted truck returned to Cody's Crest ostensibly to return a jeep Cody had borrowed which wasn't true, and get Stuart's pickup truck and take it back to the Eastern Panhandle to get Cody's Jeep so he could drive it home. What actually happened is that Stuart, lightweight paranormal that he is, passed out after the day's activities and Brad modified Cody and took away his free will playing with his new psychic toys, and broke his arm."

Brad looked up into Luke's eyes "Guilty."

"Stuart, on waking discovered what Brad had done and strongly disapproved. Very strongly. Took the gift away and made him randomly disappear. Not knowing where he went, or anything other than he was no longer an immediate threat, he and Cody decided to nest a little bit here at the cabin because... well... it's perfect."

"Brad wakes up naked not knowing where he's been and picks up his truck not knowing why it's in the shop, and just starts driving, ends up here at the cabin, with a very freaked out pair of men."

Brad chuckled. "Dude... you should have seen the look on your face."

"They kiss, apparently make up, and things seem to be going fine until Cody kik's Brad's ass off the property."

Brad sighed "I didn't want to go too far away. I wanted to be close to Cody, so I went to Serena's."

Luke asked, "So you fell for Cody?"

"Big time. I was in tears leaving the mountain."

"And then, your sister's evening happened, to come full circle. By then, Brad had re-happened, Cody was a huge object of both Stuart's and Brad's affections, and I was sucked in, both Stuart and I think, by your sister."

"I don't think she realized what would happen when we met other than Stuart enjoying himself, which seemed to be her goal, and we don't know if she was working in tandem with Cody's people."

"So after our discoveries today with your help, Luke, we discovered that this had been very well planned, and began questioning Cody and he was honest and told us the government wanted Stuart's gift for military purposes, but we still can't figure out what your sister wants."

"Power. And with her it comes in any form."

"Is she part of a larger organization?"

"Yes, I think so, but I have never seen them."

"It's gonna be kind of hard to take from Stuart what he can't give."

Luke looked up at Clyde. "She thinks she can get him to give it to her."

"Do you think she knows that it's only one generation deep? That I can't give anyone what Stuart gave me?"

"I think she believes she can change that."

"You've watched us very closely Luke. What do you think?"

"I think it only works with others that are ... changed. By Stuart."

"Which one of us do you want to tell her that?"

"You, Clyde."

FUCK.

He looked at me, at Brad, who's neck he still held.

"OK. I AM after all, the completely immortal one here."

`NOOOO.'

`Yes. and the sooner the better.'

He looked at me with brooding eyes.

`We have enough shit going down here without Serena on our backs.'

He went and got dressed.

"I need a disposable car and I am NOT throwing away the Jeep pickup I restored."

Brad said "Take her Hummer. That would be kinda cute."

"Done."

"Stuart and I will follow in a Jeep. I have a feeling you will need a ride home. Ready to get shot up, cowpoke?"

"Yup. Let's go load me up, bud. Stuart... I'm gonna need a lot of invisigear."

We put the batteries and fusebox back in the Hummer.

AKs, glocks, harnesses, magazines, clips, Clyde was loaded for bear. armor vest, even around his groin and on his thighs. He was prepped. I thought the hummer out of existence, and him, too.

He cruised into the elevator and descended. Should arrive at Serena's in about 12 minutes. Brad and I followed in an open jeep loaded to the gills with hardware, including an rpg launcher.

"Brad... I need to drive."

"Why?"

"Because I can sense where he is and don't want to have an accident that will fuck this up."

"Fair."

"Watch the perimeter please."

"Do you want to be invisible, too?"

"It would help."

We blinked out.

"Stuart?"

"Yeah?"

"I can tell where you are now, too."

"Cool. that will help."

8 minutes.

out of the garage and down the road we slunk without being able to be seen, onto the main road turning toward Serena's.

We pulled in behind the Hummer, both vehicles facing out.

"Can you see ok, bud?"

"Affirmative. Hummer to our right facing out, perimeter appears secure."

Clyde had been waiting for us.

"Stuart?"

"Yeah, daddy?"

"Are you suited up?"

Asking if I had my vest and leggings.

"Yep. Lets."

Serena's front door opened and closed.

"Hello Clyde."

"Serena."

"I have a question I came down to see if you could answer."

"Simple, really. Stu.."

He sprayed her with bullets. blew the bitch to pieces. cut her in half.

"Enough talking."

He walked back outside.

Opened the back hatch on the Hummer.

RPG. Right through the glass doors.

went through the back wall and hit the propane tank.

He turned and got in the driver's seat and drove forward 500 feet. Brad and I jumped in and followed as the motel went up in flames. Another 500. We followed.

He got out and walked to the back of the Hummer, and started to take equipment out of it and drop it in the jeep.

He emptied it all except for the packet of C4 and the leads he had put in it, with the timer. He backed the vehicle up, turned it around, pointed it squarely at the gas pumps, and launched another rpg into the convenience store, now closed. The building imploded and lit up in flames. He reached into the Hummer and let it shift into drive with the parking brake on. Pulled the lever, and hopped in the back of the jeep. I made the Hummer materialize behind us.

"Let's go home."

We left as the Hummer hit the pumps , sat there for a few seconds, and exploded. The below grade tanks, not up to code did as well and the sky filled with fire and tarry black smoke.

As we rode back up the elevator to the bat cave, now all visible including the ammunition all around us, Clyde asked "Should I have been more civil?"

I looked in the rear view mirror.

"No, I think direct was the right approach."

Clyde had started a war.

when the Jeep was backed into place and we were unloading shit tons of hardware from it he said "Hey sport?"

I looked at him carrying shit with the physicality he gave me "Yes sir, Commander?"

"This is when your shit comes in handy."

"Wanna make us disappear?"

"Sure thing, sir."

"I need to get Luke and the dog first."

"Now, please."

I handed the magazines to Brad and hit the green button.

Walked calmly upstairs to see Luke staring out the window at the black oily fire below us.

"C'mon Luke, grab the bowls and food, and the dog."

"We have plenty of food downstairs."

He turned wide eyed.

"She wasn't amenable to conversation Luke."

He did not even look remorseful, just scared.

"C'mon. bring the dog."

We descended.

On appearance Clyde said "OK good. Stuart?"

Flat flagstone pavement, like the cabin had never existed.

"It's gone."

"Good."

"Luke.. is there a way to cook down here? I'm hungry."

Luke set out on a mission.

"FOUND IT!!!"

He returned. "Gas only sir. Vented back into the space."

"Carbon monoxide?"

"Sensors, sir. Lots of them."

"You know where the steaks are."

"Yes, sir."

"Make us something to eat, buddy.."

I interjected "Luke is not cooking. He and I are going for a walk, exploring. I want to check something out.

Clyde said "OK, that's fair. You OK about your sister?"

"She hated me sir. I'm sorry she was evil, but..."

"You wish you could have been there?"

"Yes sir. I'm still worried she's not gone."

"Believe me. She's not coming back."

"So is anyone going to be coming here looking to see if we did it?"

"Luke, the cabin does not exist any more. And if an investigation is raised to the Federal level, the folks from Cody's agency will stop it."

"OK sir." He looked at me. "Where are we going?"

"Following a hunch."

"I'm going back to camp for a drink first. Anyone want anything?"

"Two beers please."

"A bourbon and a cigar as well."

Luke and I left the guys to sort their hardware and stow it and went back to Camp Clyde to get them drinks and a cigar. I cut Clyde's smoke and Luke made the bourbons with platy of apples while I grabbed beers for BDB. We delivered.

"Y'all cook what you want when you're done and leave us some leftovers."

I lit a smoke and Luke and I headed down the corridor.

"What are you looking for, Stuart?"

"You remember Clyde said there were boot tracks heading down the trail past the rock?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm looking for a corridor."

"Another way in?"

"Yup, pup."

"It would make sense that there would be at least one," he said, "maybe remote from everything."

"Exactly. It may not be on this level."

"This may take a while."

"So what happened at the gas station?"

"Nothing unjustified. She did tie you up in a vehicle intended to explode and kill us. Clyde retaliated in like fashion, only probably like every mission Clyde goes on, the threat was eliminated."

"Meaning..."

"She, the motel, convenience store, strip club, and gas station were burned to the ground and left in ashes and soot. I would hate to be on the bad end of one of Clyde's missions."

"What is a SEAL?"

"In Clyde's case? The acronym is Sea, Air, and Land. He is responsible for intelligence gathering and is also a sniper, and special duties officer... he directs covert missions to infiltrate and destroy targets. He's about to be promoted from Commander to Captain."

"Is that a big deal?"

"If you could have seen him at your sister's you would think he deserved a bigger promotion than that. I have never seen anyone so calm and safe in those circumstances. Of course, I have never seen those circumstances."

"You saw him?"

"I can kind of see everything I make invisible. It's weird."

"You wanna try it? It's not really fun without a mirror."

"Maybe later."

We came to the end of the corridor where the elevator and stairs were, and a hall led off to the right. I pointed.

"We go this way. Check all the doors."

We were on the other side of the vehicle lift shaft, and there were doors both sides of this narrower hall, maybe five feet wide. The doors to the right had an elevator machine room, and a pump I assumed that brought water up from below the bottom of the shaft to feed the house water system. Another room had electrical panels.

Opposite those rooms was a data server room, a mop closet, a gang toilet, and boom. A 4 foot wide corridor at the very end. We looked at each other.

"Do you think this is it?"

I closed the door to the corridor without entering.

"You know how I said it was really no fun without a mirror?"

"Yes sir."

"Fuck mirrors. We will be safer if we can't be seen."

"You OK with becoming invisiluke for a little bit?"

He smiled and nodded. "OK big guy, let's go." I blinked us out.

"Wow. This is weird."

"Weird doesn't cover it, does it?"

"No sir."

"Can you feel where I am?"

"Yeah... I can sense you. Cool."

"OK. No talking in the corridor, OK? You can hold my hand if you want."

"OK."

We entered. This was an access tunnel, and had utilities running through it, large conduits, a gas line, insulated pipe meant chilled water, air, probably data in the overhead tray. It was lit with LED strips every 12 feet or so, with bright spots every 36. It curved around the contour of the mountain. We walked for 15 minutes very quietly and came upon a staircase leading up to the right. Luke was holding my hand. We ascended. Four flights and we were facing a door. No handles. exit button. I pressed. the door swung out below a rock ledge overlooking the canyon, a flat stone ledge in front of us.

`What are you finding, buddy?'

Jesus. That scared me. Clyde.

`Holy shit you scared the piss out of me.'

`Sorry.'

I could see him smiling.

`Exactly what I thought.'

`Entrances off the trail?'

`Yes sir.'

`You're going to see if there's another compound, right?'

`Yes. Y'all ok?'

`Brad's being Brad.'

`Thanks for checking on us. Here's how to get to us if you need.'

I imagined the path we had taken.

`OK. Be fucking careful, OK?'

`Promise.'

Luke sensed me stopping for no apparent reason. "Clyde?" He whispered.

"Yes. He knows where we are now. He asked us to be extra careful. Don't step out onto that."

Wet rock. "No tracks, OK?"

"OK."

"Let's continue on."

Closing the door, we descended and turned right, advancing through the shoulder of the mountain Luke still holding my hand. I stopped. I thought really hard about how to make what I needed to happen occur, and it just dawned on me.

`Luke?'

`Yes sir?'

`See? Your inside voice.'

`OOOOH. Cool!'

`so now we're like Clyde and me. OK?'

`Yeah. Way better. It was scary not being able to ask anything.'

`OK... let's go.'

We continued for another quarter mile on a right bend and there was a big staircase there, leading up, and down.

`Careful of your footsteps Luke. Very quiet.'

`OK.'

We ascended to the exterior door and I hit the button.

`Clyde.'

`Yeah buddy?'

`I see where the boot prints stop.'

`I'm at a door five feet from there.'

`The staircase leads down below the access corridor from here and we're going to check it out.'

`Stay silent bud. Let us know what you find.'

`Luke?'

`Yes sir?'

`We have to go down.'

`I know.'

`quiet.'

`OK.'

We descended. four flights to the corridor, four more flights to a door on a landing. This one had a handle. I turned it and opened it a crack. Carpeting. A corridor. Hotel finishes. brass and wrought iron handrail on a balcony. Huge glass wall overlooking the gorge. Cody... CLAY?

`Clyde.'

`Yeah buddy?'

`We're in the Clay resort.'

`OK stop right there. You turn your ass around and get the fuck back here right now.'

`OK Captain.'

`Not yet I'm not. Shag ass. I want you by my side and safe pronto.'

`Yes sir.'

`Luke, Clyde wants us out of here.'

`Let's go then. This is spooky.'

`Very. Let's go.'

`Quietly.'

We ascended to the corridor and made our way down the corridor back to the bat cave, closing the access door. The nearly a mile of walking took us a while, but emerging into the bat cave felt way good and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Before I materialize us do you want to see yourself like this?"

He giggled. "Yes please."

"Well, we're almost out of Mello Yello and bourbon so let's make a stop to restock and head to camp."

We did, and Luke found some pretzels he liked and grabbed those.

We headed to camp.

`Be right with you. Luke wants to check out being invisible. Needs a mirror. Need a drink?'

`Yes, and Brad needs two beers.'

`He's gonna get a gut.'

`Not with the way he moves.'

`Give us five.'

`Glad you're OK.'

We went to Camp Clyde and dropped shit on the counter, Mello Yellos in the fridge.

"Clyde needs a bourbon and so do I. Brad wants a beer. Two actually."

I dropped Luke's pretzels in a bowl.

"Where are they?"

"I imagine they are in the room to the left of the bat cave door as you enter from the cabin."

We loaded up and headed that way and sure enough, they were there with the shop light on over a big work table sorting and organizing gear.

One bourbon, two beers, a bowl of honey mustard tasting chemical dusted nasty carbs in a bowl, and a sliced apple on a plate later and Clyde grabbed my neck, kissing me.

I heard dog tags.

Luke turned and got down on his haunches. She grinned seeing him, and trotted up for scritches. "Hi" he said, hugging her.

she smiled, tongue wagging looking at the rest of us grinning about her buddy.

"The Clay resort?"

"Yeah. Cody. Cody Clay."

"You could have asked for more."

"Brad."

"Yeah?"

"You want Cody's Crest? And staff?"

"What? All of this??"

"They wouldn't have to build anything and it would come off their books."

"FUCK YES."

Clyde grinned at me "You are a conniving asshole."

"Yes sir." I stared at him.

"Maintenance in perpetuity."

Clyde whistled. "And an apartment for weary guests."

I snickered. "Exactly."

"It's not the Eastern panhandle and sort of removed."

"What the fuck do I care?" Brad was beaming.

"OK. I think they will probably do it. We fucked up the station. It's not very covert any more."

"Clyde's welcome to the neighborhood."

"Luke... you OK coming to live in town with me? We can pick out our house or have it built. Clyde is going to keep his farm."

"YES!"

"You have to go to school and we will get a crew and rent boats and open a restaurant for you so you can cook, probably not far from here, OK?"

"Can I still have a car shop?"

"Yes."

"AWW you guys are the best. Almost better out of bed than in."

We all laughed.

I had arranged a two million dollar trust fund for him, contingent on his graduating with a 3.5 or better. Incentives.

"Guys, Cody is in this building."

"Yes I am."

He appeared around the corner.

I looked at Clyde and he stopped. He was about to berserk.

Brad spoke up. "Your friend Stuart here spent the better part of the afternoon in shock thinking he got you killed. Took the three of us hours to get him to be able to sit up. He couldn't stop crying, man, thinking he'd lost you."

"That's my fault entirely."

"I'm not gonna call you on the carpet right now Cody, but there is a man in this room that needs a hug from you and you better see to it right now."

I was staring at him. Frozen.

He wasn't the same man I had remade... He was the guy I met on the Levee.

"You suck, you know"

"I know."

He was standing still... Looking at all of us, me in particular.

Brad was his usual dickness. "You better hug him so he knows it's really you and doesn't pass out again. He's been doing that shit all day thinking about you."

Cody stepped forward toward me and I started to shake.

I looked at Clyde with tears in my eyes. He nodded.

I started to cry. "Hurry the fuck up asshole. He needs you."

Cody walked up to me and put his head on my chest and his arms around me.

I turn my head up and groaned, still crying.

"Cody."

"Yeah?"

"Don't leave me."

"OK."

I planted my arms around him and sobbed.

I looked at Clyde.

"You two need to go to the camp, take off some clothing, and lay down. Cody, don't fuck this up."

He looked at Clyde. "I'll try not to, sir."

"Your record is naught for naught. Please improve that for my partner."

Cody grabbed my hand and led me to Camp Clyde.

I just stared at him the entire way.

"I thought you were dead."

"I know."

"C'mon."

`I'm with you, buddy. If you need anything I will be there in a heartbeat.'

`I know. I'm just...'

`It's ok. I love you.'

`I love you back.'

"I want a bourbon and a minute while we get naked."

Cody walked into the room and built one with apples and brought me a cigarette and a lighter.

"Cody's Crest is now Brad's."

I looked at him.

"Staff in perpetuity. You can put the cabin back now. The explosions at the motel have been attributed to faulty maintenance and code violations of taking care of a service station. No bodies were found although there was a lot of meat to be discarded from behind the counter. The property is now in your name and will be developed with a restaurant, camp, and boat livery on your behalf, and Luke is sole proprietor of the restaurant. Comes with maintenance staff to take care of the beach and pier, and if Brad is willing you have acearage to place cabins above the road facing the river."

"Who was Serena?"

"You were right. she was a witch, and we engaged her to set up the night at the pier. She and others in her cult thought that if you converted Luke they could spread your abilities among the clan. They have been apprehended and dealt with."

"My relationship with DARPA?"

"They have agreed to everything and will build you a house of your design on any parcel in town you choose, and a loft. You will also have a warehouse for storage of anything you choose. In exchange they ask for dialog to further understand who you are and your understanding of your abilities."

"I'm not very amenable to dialog."

"I'm well aware of that." he chuckled.

"So.. what constitutes dialog?"

"My impression is... allowing them to observe."

"Observation is fine. Interjection will not be handled well."

"They will have full time staff at both residences and have purchased a cabin adjacent to yours in the panhandle. The staff for the most part will not be seen nor heard."

"Clyde's ranch?"

"The ranch hand's quarters should be completed this week. The entire property has already been groomed, there is a paved entrance drive leading to the farmhouse already, and guest quarters have been built. The barn has been updated, and there is a new tack room and gathering space, a paddock, and three courses are being finalized now."

"Clyde's new rank is Captain, but he has all of the amenities of a Brigadier General including protection staff wherever he goes and first transport when requested. He has an annual stipend of 3 million dollars and has a 5 million dollar one time stipend to invest as he sees fit."

"Brad gets?"

"This entire complex, range and all, maintenance in perpetuity. Full staff. The house below, and contractors will be in starting tomorrow to put a real access drive in, gated, with low level lighting. The drive will be heated so there will be no issues with 2 wheel drives in the winter. He gets... anything he fucking wants and he will be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He has a 1.5 million dollar annual stipend and has 5 million available to invest as he sees fit.

"Lukas?"

"Not kidding here. Full ride, anywhere he chooses to study, and anything he wants. He has a 10 million dollar trust fund. If Lukas wants to do something, he will have the resources to do it."

"How do you feel Cody?"

"Like I should not have agreed to this mission."

"What happens to you now?"

"I will stay here, connected to the Clay Resort, and seeing to this station even though it will be in private ownership I will be overseeing its care."

"Do you remember the last week?"

"Vaguely. If you will forgive me I think I remember we loved each other."

"Yes. We did."

"I thought I was going nuts. OK. Thanks."

"Cody?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever made love to a ghost?"