When Caleb and Fraser returned from finding Farang, Tristan was waiting for them as promised, curled up on the couch and watching a movie on the projector. Fraser was about to update his brother-in-law on their progress when Caleb stopped him. He didn't want to disturb Tristan, just watching the light dance in his eyes as the movie played was more than enough.

Caleb took the yellow fruits into the kitchen, cutting one open and slicing the black and white flesh into pieces. He brought the plate to Tristan and led Fraser out to sit with him on the patio. Through the window he could see his reactions clearly, watching him contentedly over his brother's shoulder.

Fraser was lost in his own thoughts, trying to determine how to lay eyes on his Knight again. Another visit to his neighborhood would be too suspicious; but if he could figure out his delivery route there'd be plenty of chances for a casual encounter. Better still, if there was something he could order to the office it would be even more natural that their paths would cross. Just a little more information was all that was required.

"That friend of yours" said Fraser, "Anything else he happened to find out about Farang Warik..?"

"Just the address and the people he lives with. Seems like he works freelance; no fixed contract with any company. I could probably find out the daughter's school if that helped..."

Fraser was ashamed to admit he considered it for a tenth of a second.

"No thank you" he said.

When Tristan's movie came to an end, he walked out to join them outside on the little patio. Caleb stood, ready to bring him a glass of ice water and a bottle of sunscreen, but Tristan motioned for him to sit. Caleb readily obeyed.

"Successful trip?" Tristan asked.

"Somewhat" said Fraser, "I happened to run into the person I was looking for when I stopped to pick up a few things at the market. There was no need to search too hard in the end."

For Tristan's peace of mind, it was probably better not to divulge Caleb's shady tactics.

"Oh well that was lucky" said Tristan with a smile.

"And how was the supermarket, Baby?" asked Caleb.

"Fine" said Tristan, "I gave Tibur my opinion on a special item he's hoping to promote."

"Anything good?" asked Fraser.

"I'd say so. Quite lovely in fact..."

With each man holding onto their secrets, the trio sat out in the afternoon sunshine, until Caleb began to worry that Tristan would burn.

"Should we find a restaurant for dinner?" asked Fraser, more used to being out than in.

"Maybe tomorrow night?" suggested Tristan, "We're seeing Dr Terice in the afternoon. If I can get my cast off... it might be nice to celebrate a little."

No sooner had Tristan finished his sentence, than Caleb was booking them a table. He wasn't thrilled that Tristan would regain even more of his independence, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. He just needed to keep closer tabs whenever he left the apartment without him. For his own safety, of course.

Fraser decided to take a walk and find himself a table for one at a local eatery, leaving the married couple to enjoy an evening alone at home. After a simple dinner, Caleb was cleaning up in the kitchen when Tristan came in to speak with him. Since Tibur had flashed him in the break room, he'd been thinking a lot about Caleb. While he may have mistaken Tristan's downcast eyes for a sign of his quiet aversion; the truth was that he'd been continually sneaking looks at Caleb's crotch.

"Can you help me..?" Tristan asked him.

Caleb dropped the plates in his hand and was standing by for whatever he needed to do.

"I want to take a shower. But I'm a little bit tired... I know the cast is likely coming off tomorrow but I don't want Dr Terice to scold me if I come in with it ruined... could you shower with me..?" 

Tristan hoped his excuse would be considered at least mildly plausible. In truth, he could have said he wanted him to hold the soap and Caleb would still have jumped at the chance to be of assistance. He followed Tristan into the en-suite bathroom with a dazed grin on his face. If this was another daydream, he was happy to be trapped there eternally.

Tristan pressed his ass against the sink and waited.

Caleb didn't move. He stood before him, his eyes traveling the length of Tristan's body as he pictured him naked. Every moment with this man was to be savored. Tristan, on the other hand, was growing impatient.

"Husband" he said, casting his enchantment, "My body feels sticky... hurry up and help me off with my clothes."

Springing into action, Caleb's fingers deftly unbuttoned Tristan's shirt and gently pulled it free from his arms. He was nearly salivating as he unzipped his pants and yanked them down along with Tristan's underwear. Tristan stood naked, but a strange confidence was growing inside him. Caleb's uneven breathing, the tent he was pitching... it was clear what power his body held.

Taking out the cast cover from the medicine cabinet, Caleb set about covering the broken arm. His fingers brushed against Tristan's ribs as he fastened it. Clenching his trembling hands at his sides, Caleb drank in every inch of Tristan's skin.

"Your turn" said Tristan, "you can't expect to shower me with your clothes on, can you?" 

That's right... he was going to shower him. To cover his naked body with water until it glistened. His pants getting tighter, Caleb undressed quickly; his dick bouncing from its fabric cage and pointing wildly in Tristan's direction.

Tristan observed it closely.

"Actually" he said, "I think I'll be able to shower alone."

Caleb looked like a boy whose Christmas presents had been confiscated before he could unwrap them. Tristan waited for him to pull up his pants and leave before locking the door and gleefully covering his blushing face. Wow. While Tibur's had been lovely, Caleb's was like a powerful warrior, standing to attention with violent intent.

The dangerous games that Tristan was playing were yet to bear the consequences he was sure to incite. Caleb had walked away... he'd been patient. It was true that Tristan's was the only voice he would listen to, and yet Caleb believed in balance. The more he did as he was told, the larger the reward he expected to claim for his obedience. Tristan still had his cast, he was still injured and in need of his care, but soon there'd be no such excuses. Caleb had aleady calculated the debt that Tristan owed him for his patience.

The following morning, Fraser was already out for the day. Despite their previous day of brotherly bonding, he felt too embarrassed to ask for Caleb's help in trailing Farang. He'd probably misunderstand him. This wasn't stalking... he was just looking for an opportunity to reconnect.

The taxi driver that Fraser booked for his reconnaissance was supposedly proficient in English. Picking him up from the Phoenicia and taking him directly to Farang's address, it quickly became evident that she'd oversold her language skills.

"We may be stopping at a few different locations" he'd explained, "When that van starts moving we just need to keep our distance, but we can't let it get away from us. I'm happy to tip generously the longer we can follow them."

"Not getting out?" she asked him.

Fraser frowned. 

"No..." he said, "we have to wait for the van to start moving."

"Ah! You're waiting for your friend. Then going somewhere else?"

Fraser took a deep breath and called his brother to translate over the phone. Shamefully admitting what he was up to, he knew that only Caleb wouldn't think to judge him too harshly.

"Who was that?" asked Tristan, as Caleb hung up the phone, his lips gently curving.

"Fraser's out shopping" he lied, "he wanted me to ask the sales associate about a pair of shoes." 

Tristan wasn't sure what he'd found so amusing, he oddly didn't like it that someone else had made him smile.

 "I want to watch a movie" he said.

Caleb switched on the projector, lowered the blinds, prepared the snacks and fetched the blanket. As he busied himself preparing everything he asked for, Tristan's mood began to improve.

After lunch they drove to the Terice Clinic.

"How have you been feeling since the yacht club?" asked Dr Terice, "Caleb wouldn't let me take a look at you. I'm sure if he could remove your cast himself he'd be willing to give it a go." 

Caleb lowered his eyes, having searched for how to do it online he'd graciously decided that Angela might do a better job of it. 

The arm was x-rayed, and Tristan checked over for pain or numbness. With the recovery deemed a success, Dr Terice called in the nurse to assist her with the saw. The sound was frightening, and although the doctor had explained it wouldn't hurt him, it didn't stop him from fearing the worst. As he cowered on the bed and squeezed his eyes shut, he felt Caleb's warm fingers wrapping around his hand.

"It's okay Baby" he told him, "I'm here."

He didn't let go until they got into the car.

"Did you book a table big enough for my friends to join us?" Tristan asked him on the way home.

After the disaster that was their sunset boat trip, Caleb had decided to decrease the numbers for their evening dinner engagement. It pained him to add even Fraser to the guestlist.

"Just family tonight" said Caleb, "We can do something with your friends on the weekend."

Just family. 

Tristan smiled at his reflection in the car window. Even if he was playing pretend, at least he was playing house. The prospect of any kind of family was a thought he hadn't entertained in quite some time. Once, he'd thought of Jed that way... He was reminded of a family restaurant they'd gone to in Cabi. Sarah's sister Danielle was visiting with her husband and two children, and Jed and Tristan had been invited to join them.

"We're still waiting to hear some good news aren't we?" said Danielle to her youngest, "Wouldn't it be nice if Aunty Sarah gave you a cousin..?"

Tristan had sat happily amongst them, feeling like part of something.

"I'm in no rush!" Sarah explained, "Besides, it wouldn't be like when you got pregnant and had Julie expecting alongside you. It's not like my bestie can go through it all with me!"

"Maybe he could give you the surrogate's number!" Danielle had laughed, "Have you thought about having a family, Jed?"

"With Carl and Sarah, I have all the family I need" he'd told her.

The smile vanished from Tristan's face as he sat in the passenger's seat of Caleb's car.

"Baby..? We're home."

Fraser was still not back. Despite the cause for celebration, Tristan didn't feel like doing much of anything. He went to lie down while Caleb called his brother.

"You need to come home" he said, "Tristan's sad."

"Um... that might be a little difficult right now" Fraser replied, "I'm at the hospital."

Calebs priorities were skewed.

"Well can't you get a taxi from there?" he asked him, "Do you need me to pick you up on the way to the restaurant?"

"I'm fine by the way" said Fraser, "but I don't know how long I'll need to stay here." Fraser dropped to a whisper, "Farang's mother had an accident..."

"And why are you there? Why don't you leave Farang to take care of her?"

"They haven't been able to get hold of him..." Fraser explained, "so for now it's just me... and Terrana."

Caleb's suggestion that Fraser leave the girl in the care of the nurses and come home was not well received. Granted, Terrana had cried for the first hour they were together, but now she was starting to warm to him.

"Is it Daddy?" she asked, pointing to the phone in Fraser's hand.

Fraser shook his head. He'd been waiting for Daddy to arrive for quite some time.

Caleb would usually be thankful for an excuse to be alone with Tristan, but he was starting to worry that he was the cause of his grief. When Fraser hung up, he tried calling Tibur, but it seemed that he was otherwise occupied. With no other alternative, Caleb took the elevator down to his storage room, and pulled out the only thing he thought might help.