Email: slashgirl@gmail.com

Note: This is the third in a series of 5 stories based on songs
by the Everly Brothers. I think you probably need to read parts I
& II to make any real sense of the story. But it's up to you. Yes, it is songfic.


The EB series #3
Crying in the rain
by Stacy Stronach
copyrighted June 1997


After Jim left the loft, Blair got up off the bed and started to
throw things into his backpack. He had to get out of this place,
at least for a few days, so he started mentally reviewing who he
could stay with. *Shit, most everyone is out of town, this being
summer vacation and all. I can't exactly room with Simon, the
situation would be tough to explain. I guess I'll camp out at my
office. I better leave a note for Jim or he'll go ballistic.*
Blair thought to himself, as he sat down to write his letter to
Jim.

Blair headed out shortly after lunch, Jim still wasn't back, and
groaned when he realized it was raining like a son of a bitch.
Of course, the Corvair decided that it was just too damn wet to
be out in weather like this and died, when Blair was 3/4 of his
way to the Campus. So, like it or not, he had to walk the last
leg of the journey with all his stuff on his back. He'd call
someone later to get the car and fix it. Blair had his Walkman
on and decided to flip it to the radio to hear the weather,
and again the radio was on the oldies station and the DJ was
announcing another Everly Brothers song. *What is it with those
guys? Every time I turn on a radio I hear one of their songs.
Humpfh, I wonder if _this_ one will be as appropriate as the
others* Blair thought and was brought to a standstill by the side
of the road as he heard which song it was:


I'll never let you see the way my broken heart is hurtin' me
I've got my pride and I know how to hide my sorrow and pain
I'll do my crying in the rain

If I wait for cloudy skies you won't know the rain from the tears
in my eyes You'll never know that I still love you so the
heartache remains
I'll do my crying in the rain

Raindrops falling from heaven could never wash away my misery
Since we're not together, I look for stormy weather,
to hide these tears I hope you'll never see

Some day when my crying's done I'm gonna wear a smile and walk in
the sun
I may be a fool but til then darling you'll never see me complain
I'll do my crying in the rain.


Blair just stood there, dumbfounded. And crying in the rain.

Across town at Cascade Park, where Jim had decided to go to jog
off some of his frustration and anger, he had just arrived back
at the truck after a two hour run. It had just started to rain so
he climbed in and started the truck, turning the heat up high, he
was so cold. The radio happened to be tuned to the oldies
station, and when he heard the song that came on the radio, the
one by the Everly Brothers, "Crying in the rain", the tears
started pouring down his face, it described his situation so very
well. *What the hell am I gonna do?* Jim thought, *You're going
to go home and apologize to Blair, ask him if he can forgive you
for being a total and complete idiot. Then you're going to tell
him to take all the time in the world to make a decision and that
you'll love him no matter what and would wait til the end of time
for him*.

When Jim arrived back at the loft, he knew before he opened the
door, hell, he'd known when he parked the truck, that Blair
wasn't there. He was so sensitized to his Guide's bodily rhythms
and smell, he could detect them over great distances. Jim saw
the letter for him on the stand by the door. He read it, and
tried not to cry.

Jim,

I'm sorry Jim, but I need time to think and I can't do that here.
Please don't try to find me, I'll call you in a couple of days to
let you know...to let you know.

Jim, please believe me when I say I do love you, and lust you.
But commitment scares me. I mean you say forever, but do you
really mean it or will you be like everyone else in my life and
pack things in one day, without warning? Or pack my things for
me, one day, without warning? I love the idea of being with you
forever, but I don't (can't) trust myself to say it, cus what if
I'm lying. What if you're lying and don't know it. What if you
find out after a little while that you're tired of me? I
couldn't handle that. (I know I'd never get tired of you.)

So, I need a little time, Jim. Please understand. I do love you,
more than life itself.

yours with love

Blair


Sitting heavily upon the couch, Jim reread the letter. He wanted
to find whoever had hurt Blair and put them through slow torture.
He also wanted to find Blair and take him and hold him and never
let him go. *Oh man, I hope I didn't fuck up too bad, I hope he
comes back to me*. Jim thought to himself. Jim decided to try
and find out where Blair was, but all of the friends places that
Jim called, there was no answer, just machines, and he realized
that most of them would be away. He called Blair's office, and
getting no answer other than the machine, left a message. Blair
would be back. He had to come back. Or Jim would be lost
forever.

Jim decided to check Blair's university office, just in case he
was there. On his way over, Jim spotted the dead Corvair by the
side of the road, so he knew he was on the right track. *I hope
he's OK and nothing happened to him* Jim thought. Arriving at
the university, Jim headed straight for Blair's office, and as
soon as he entered the building Jim started listening/smelling
for the younger man. *Ah, he's here* Jim thought as he first
heard his Guide's heart rate, then a few moments later, smelled
the smell that was uniquely "Blair".

Jim knocked on the door as he opened it, thanking the gods that
it was unlocked. Blair turned around when he heard the door
open, *Oh, gods, it's Jim* he thought, not totally surprised,
he'd figured Jim would look at him. Wiping the tears from his
face, Blair spoke, "Hey, Jim. Look I'm sorry about earlier--"

"No, Blair, I should apologize. I tried to force you into a
situation that you were uncomfortable with. I didn't mean for it
to sound like an ultimatum. Blair, I mean it when I say I want
to be with you forever. And that I want to be your only one. So,
if you're willing to try this relationship, so am I. I'll wait
for you forever, Chief. Do you think you could try this
relationship, Blair?" Jim said as he looked deeply into Blair's
eyes.

"Oh, Jim, I'm so confused right now. I really need a couple of
days to sort out things. Please, Jim, I really do," Blair said
quietly.

"I understand, Chief. But if you're not home in a couple of
days, I'm gonna come down here and get you. And you don't want me
to have to do that, do you?" Jim smiled, softening his words.

The two men hugged, and said their goodbyes, with Jim heading
home for the loft and Blair staying at his office.

Later that night, after the storm system had passed, both men
stood outside staring up at the same stars, each making the same
wish on the same falling star. *Please let us be together,
please.*


tbc...