Queer as Muke

1.15.6 The Ties That Bind

Stephen whips around Adam on the ice rink the following morning, both of them playing a game that Calum as no idea what the rules are.

"How come you're sitting on the sidelines?!" Stephen calls to Calum, skating up to him.

"I told you, I can't skate!"

"Well, I'll help you!" Stephen pulls him up to standing.

"If God wanted me to be on ice he'd have made me a vodka martini!" Calum tells him, losing his footing straight away and ending up with his back to Stephen, being held up under his armpits.

Twirling around several times before Stephen can get him standing up straight again, he lets Calum go when the phone rings in his pocket.

"Adam, will you help me with Calum please?" He calls as he answers the phone.

Calum struggles to stay upright even with Adam supporting him, as he listens in to snippets of the conversation.

"One of the Swans has hurt his back. I need to go. I'm sorry Champ, I won't be very long," Stephen explains as he addresses his son, to Calum's dismay.

"It's okay, no biggie." Adam shrugs.

"It's a biggie to me! You're leaving me alone with him?!" Calum hisses to Stephen when he finally gets to the edge of the rink again.

"I'm not going to be very long!"

"We don't know each other very well!"

"Well, this is your chance to get to!"

"You don't understand!" Calum looks at Adam who's waiting for him on the ice.

"I don't understand what Calum?" Stephen sighs as he unties his laces.

"He was looking forward to being with you!"

"I'm not going to be gone for very long!" Stephen repeats, getting frustrated. "Look, here's the itinerary and money. You stick to that you'll have a great time! I'll see you in a little while." He goes to kiss Calum who pulls back away from him.

Ignoring Calum's petulant behaviour he walks off, leaving Calum with Adam, who skates away as soon as his father has left.

~~~

"Here you go guys." Joy hands a lunch menu out to Corey and Sam and then turns to Michael who's just slid into the seat opposite them both. "Hey, how'd it go last night Daddy?!"

"Would you mind not using that word in my presence?"

"Ooooh grouchy! That's what happens when you tend to tots! It's not a pretty job!" Joy replies, looking at Michael's face and seeing how tired he looks. "But I'm proud of you Michael, sacrificing the leather ball? That's big."

Corey and Sam both raise their eyes, and their eyebrows slowly from their menus to look at Michael curiously. Neither of them had realised last night that he should have been home taking care of Gus.

"Altruism is his middle name..." Corey says, looking at Michael pointedly.

"Oh, is that what the A stands for?" Asks Sam, giving Michael a look before studying his menu again.

"I didn't think in a million years that you'd give up an event like that so I tip my hat to you! Or should that be my wig?!" Joy continues blithely on, not seeing the looks that are shooting across the table between the three friends. "To you kid, for taking care of your kid!"

Luke arrives carrying a large plastic box for collecting glasses and dishes and perches on the back of the booth next to Michael listening in. "Actually I'm the one..."