ODDS OF LOVE

Episode Thirteen

Operating Room 

" We're losing him , Doctor " 

                          ----------------------------------

DuBuis sat on one of the most uncomfortable chairs he had ever sat on in the surgical waiting room. He held Spencer's glasses up to his lips. He missed the man so bad. 

Faith approached her brother gingerly. Her tall lanky body was still in her police uniform , her badge shiny , her service revolver and handcuffs on either side of her pants. She held in her hands two cups of black coffee. One she pressed into her brother's hand and he nodded gratefully. She sat next to him silently.  " He'll be ok , " she murmured. " He promised to do my taxes next year. " 

Mark Mullins and his four month pregnant wife Susan sat near him with their eyes looking at their friend worried. Mark held his wife's hand tightly. 

Scout Mullins , Mark's little brother ,  was high on weed as usual but even he seemed reserved and quiet as he stood by the window  looking at nothing really. 

Susan said , "It's a boy. Mark and I want to call him Spencer. " 

                                          ------------------------------------

            BEFORE

DuBuis was offended. " You make me sound like a slut. I was not all about sex and one nighters you know , Spencer Norland. I was with Joe for a year if you do remember. I helped the turd set up that fancy bistro of his. " 

He saw his best friend and his fiancé of two months look over at where the tall lean and agile Joe Jacobs with his sun kissed surfer boy good looks was gyrating on the Pink Lady dance floor with his twink of the moment. DuBuis didn't want Spencer looking at Joe. What ? Did he think Joe was attractive ? Sexy ? Sexier than DuBuis ? 

" Actually it was nine months. Same amount of time as it takes to carry a baby to term. It was nothing but pleasure of the sexual arousal between you two. He did nothing but patronize you. He never once introduced you to his rich Eastern Shore family. He allowed his friends to laugh at you and never once defended you. He thought he could do whatever he wanted because he assumed you would never leave him. That is why he cheated. Remember ? I helped you burn the sheets. " Spencer actually looked angry. His blue eyes flashed with rage and something else DuBuis couldn't figure out behind the lenses of his glasses.  " He considered you to be just a new trendy hobby. Because you are African American. You were always too good for him. You were too good for all of them. But that was what you preferred , right ? " Spencer lifted his glass of water to his lips and took a sip. " " Light easy arrangements ? No fuss , no muss ? " 

" Why exactly are you bringing all this up now , Spencer ?  I am not a certified card carrying Mensa genius like you but I really shouldn't be as confused as I am now ! "  He looked at Spencer who sat across from him at the small circular table , drinking water in a crowded gay club , wearing his usual old fogey Mr. Rogers clothes including an oddly cute bow tie with red hearts. DuBuis had never considered a man to be adorable but that was what Spencer was. Adorable. Sweet. Gentle. Vulnerable. Spencer being Spencer was not attracting a lot of attention in the club that night and he was glad of that. Spencer was too damn special for a quickie in a restroom stall or a blow job down on his knees with some damn horny stranger who just wanted to use him. DuBuis suddenly felt his own privates tightening at the mere image of Spencer down on his knees before him. Shit. Chill out , he told himself. This was Spencer. After that idiot in college Spencer panicked if he was even touched down there. He had never asked him but sometimes he wondered if more hadn't happened in that damn dorm room. He should have ignored Spencer and beat the hell out of that football player for the prank he played back then.  

Spencer continued , " I am bringing it up right now because I need to know why. I need to know before we get married. Marriage is serious to me. I never considered myself marriageable material ever but I always knew if I got married to.... to.... anyone that it would be a permanent institution. I will never cheat. I will never leave unless I die. Why me when you chose none of them ? Why me and not Joe ? " 

DuBuis leaned forward and stroked Spencer's face gently. " Because you're you. Isn't that enough ? " Then he kissed him tenderly on the lips. 

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Operating Room

" We have a pulse. He's back. "

                                            Before

" I'll never cheat , " DuBuis said firmly. " I'll never leave you. I'll protect you forever. Now do you want a chocolate fountain at the reception or not ? "