The Weekend Arrangement

The Things That Anchor Us and Those That Weigh You Down

"Let's skive off early today."

Martin entered Jon's office with a new cup of tea and a wince. He didn't honestly think Jon would agree to sneaking away early, but he figured he'd try anyhow.

"It's Friday, and it's already three- it wouldn't even be leaving that early. Tim keeps giving me double thumbs ups and finger guns every time I even look towards your office and it is freaking me out Jon." Martin had harboured a dim hope that after his and Tim's lunch, things could start getting back to normal.

"Serves you right for running off with him at lunch. I assume it was to chat about me?"

"I mean- that's not...!" Martin sputters through what he's trying to say. "In my defence- I wanted to eat lunch with you at the commissary. He's the one that dragged me out. Tim is just worried about you- he cares about you. He seems like a good friend."

"Tim's a meddlesome busybody is what he is; and I'll tell him that myself." Jon sighs, a deep wrinkle forming in his brow; he couldn't really expect much else- Tim had been there for the fallout with Michael, and had tried to offer his support on Monday; of course he would say something to Martin. Especially after the stacks. Something like that really wasn't very in character for Jon- of course Tim would feel the need to say something to Martin. "Did he give you all the scandalous little details you may have wanted?"

"Hey- hey.. Jon, love." It's softly said, and Martin looks earnest as he reaches across the desk to lay his hand over Jon's. "He told me more than I should have heard- and that was my fault. I could have walked away. Should have walked away. I'm sorry I didn't, Jon. I was and am serious; I didn't ask for and I don't want details. Not from Tim. Those are yours and you'll tell me if you ever want me to know."

He meets Jon's eyes, and the look is so sincere and open and truthful Jon believes him- there wasn't any dissembling or trying to hide it, and Jon feels better about Martin's lack of guile. A measure of his tension eases, it was comforting how hard Martin tried with him. Jon sighs heavily- he can't really blame Martin for wanting to know- he hasn't been exactly forthcoming with any of the worst of it. Jon doesn't want to examine it too closely himself and doesn't want to risk seeing a patronising pity written across Martin's face.

"Thank you. I promise to let you know what is happening better- if I...freeze up."

"Honestly- Jon. You really don't have to. There's stuff in my past I'm not comfortable with- I won't ask you to dig into anything you aren't ready to. I just hate being the one to cause those freeze ups. I don't ever want to do that to you."

"I know. Martin; thank you."

Jon grips onto Martin's hand, still covering his. Martin could have easily attempted to lie and say he and Tim just had a friendly work lunch- but there was no hesitation in the way he admitted what they had talked about, and the honesty in that is a relief to Jon as Martin tries to pivot to something a little less heavy.

"I did find out the two of you went on a date, and I do absolutely need to know what Timothy Stoker thinks is an appropriate first date. God knows he goes on enough of them- they must be awful ."

"Hiking. He took me hiking." Jon laughs and rolls his eyes- looking back, it was an astoundingly poor choice for a first date. "I don't exactly give off an 'outdoorsy' energy, but he really thought tromping around a marshy field would impress me."

"Wow- that is so much worse than I had expected. Well that certainly goes a long way to clearing up why he rarely tells us about second dates."