Devil's Effect

Go Fish

The early morning flight back to L.A. was uneventful, and Jason picked up a rental from the airport and was on his way to the loft by ten am. In his head, he had it all planned out. He'd go in quietly so he wouldn't wake Mike up, and slide into bed behind him. He'd wake Mike with kisses and Mike would be happy to see him. Jason hadn't decided what the confrontation about Chester would look like, or even if he would tell Mike for sure that he knew. If Mike welcomed him back, then there was no need to fight. He'd just tell Mike in no uncertain terms that he had made a decision, and he had to stick to it. If there was one thing Ryan had been right about, it was that Jason Wakefield wasn't going to be cheated on ever again.

Ry. He knows me so well. If he hadn't cared enough to call, I wouldn't even know. I wonder if Mike would have come to Seattle and never said anything about Chester. I wonder if he would have just picked up where we left off like nothing happened. Jason decided it didn't matter. Worrying over the "what ifs" wasn't going to help. The fact was that he knew Mike was screwing around with Chester, and a large part of him wanted to give Mike the benefit of the doubt. It was hard to walk away from someone you had so much history with, especially someone like Chester. Chester seemed to have a hold on everyone he loved. Mark, Ryan, Mike... they all had a bond with Chester that Jason didn't understand.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts of Chester that he didn't notice Mike's car wasn't parked in its usual spot. Jason grabbed his overnight bag from the front seat of the rental and started for the foyer and the elevator, anxious to get to Mike. He barely glanced at the familiar hallway as he made his way to the door. His heart was pounding even though he kept telling himself that everything was going to be fine. He was coming home for the weekend, like anyone might do if they were separated from their lover. Mike would be there, asleep, and everything would click into place.

Jason eased open the front door and was greeted by the bright sunlight filling the loft. With a brief smile he walked inside, thinking about how much Mike hated the sunlight in the mornings. The kitchen was bare, the same as when he left it a week ago. His eyes skipped to the table, where he dropped his bag, and then over to the bed in the corner where he'd been prepared to see Mike balled up in the blankets with his face in the pillow. Surprise rippled through him as he saw that the sheets were smoothed and tucked - the blanket and pillows, as well as Mike, missing.

He must be upstairs. It's probably a little darker up there, Jason reasoned, trying not to let the panic set in. He looked around the rest of the downstairs for clues, but most everything was gone, with him in Seattle. Only Mike's keyboard was there, with a crate of music next to it. He slowly climbed the steps, holding his breath until he got to the landing. The dark blue blanket was spread over the bed, and two pillows were on top at the headboard. He's not here. I didn't think he wouldn't be here.

Jason didn't allow himself to think that Mike was with Chester. There had to be another explanation. Even though he knew Ryan wouldn't lie to him, he wanted to believe Mike had gone out alone. Maybe he's at breakfast. Or out on the beach. Maybe he's running errands. There's a million things he could be doing that don't involve Chester. It doesn't always have to be about Chester.

He walked over to the bed and sat down, taking his phone from his pocket first. Calling Mike should have felt simple, but it didn't. It was a call that could change everything, depending on how Mike responded. If he responded. Jason examined his lock screen. It was a picture he'd taken of Mike while they were in Seattle. Even though the sky was gray behind him, Mike's eyes were shining, his grin wide. It was a good trip. Everything was fine. There's no way it's all gone wrong so quickly. He'll answer, and he'll tell me he's out at breakfast, and I'll go join him. It will be that simple. I know it. He unlocked the phone and pulled up Mike's contact, and pressed the little green circle.