0 comments/  23708 views/  2 favorites

Gale Force Ch. 01

By: velvetpie



Season One

I wrung my hands nervously and checked the table for the fiftieth time. It was a grand table. I had outdone myself but I had to in this situation. Today was the first day of shooting for Queer As Folk, an American version of the British show. That in itself was enough to be excited about but it was also my first big job and the future of my craft services business depended on how well I handled this first week. It made me feel even more comfortable knowing that the actors were unknowns at this point so I would likely not encountering any overblown egos. Yet. There was quite a buzz surrounding this production and I was damn happy to be part of it.

The opportunity had been an unseen boon. I had been in the grocery store, vehemently complaining to the produce manager about the state of the yucca he was selling and when he went slinking off into the office, I whirled around to find Ron Cowen applauding. Quite passionate about yucca, aren't you? I bristled at the condescension in his voice and I snarled back at him, "I'm passionate about all the food I prepare." He laughed heartily, making my dark skin flame with the heat of my anger. You're hired.

Of course, it hadn't been that easy. I had to prepare a sample luncheon for the administrative staff and later, a sample dinner for Cowen, Danny Lipman and other executives involved with Showtime. I served both meals in silence and without fanfare, allowing the food to speak for itself. I watched them tuck into grilled flank steak fajitas with handmade guacamole and Tabasco-laced mascarpone cheese, individual chicken Cordon Bleus and rice paper-wrapped vegetable rolls with a side of sweet Thai sauce. 

I was quite surprised to find a contract being shoved into my hands thirty-five minutes later and thus, I found myself where I was standing today, anxiously wringing my hands and surveying the breakfast table that I and my assistant, Gerry, had labored over for two hours and it was just now six-thirty by my Swatch. Without warning, Ron came striding up, clipboard in hand and glasses balanced on the end of his nose.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning to you!" He shook my hand and glanced across the table. "Looks magnificent!"

"Help yourself."

"I can't. I'm trying to watch my weight."

"Then let me make a suggestion." I went over to the center of the table and plucked a flourless blackberry muffin from its perch, setting it on a paper plate and handing it to him. "Lowest calorie muffin I make."

"Great. Thanks!" He pinched off a piece and popped it into his mouth, smiling at me as he chewed. "So, how do you feel?"

"Nervous."

"Nervous? I can't believe that you of all people would be nervous."

"This is my audition, Ron. It's probably going to end up being the most important day of my life."

Ron smiled, hefting his clipboard. "Don't make it so hard on yourself, Cary. If you cook for them the way you cooked for us, everyone will love you."

I returned his smile albeit it a bit nervously and welcomed Gerry's interruption. "They're coming!"

"Good!" Cowen mumbled, popping another chunk of muffin into his mouth. "I get to introduce you." My heart dropped in my throat and pulsed tightly there as the group of five men and three women announced themselves with loud conversation. I knew Sharon Gless. I'd seen a few Cagney and Lacey episodes, even though it hadn't been one of my favorite shows and I recognized Thea Gill from a soft-core porn show that I'd seen on HBO. The rest were unknown to me and I watched as each person gave Ron a hug.

"We're watching history in the making." Gerry whispered, standing just behind me. "This is the first show that deals with gay relationships."

"A lot of people are going to be pissed off."

"Should be a huge hit." 

I tossed a grin over my shoulder to him, then swallowed nervously as Ron waved the huge group over, placing his arm around my shoulder. "Everyone, this is Cary Brinson, the head chef of our craft services. Please make her feel at home."

I tried to make eye contact with each person, noticing that a lot of the guys were super-cute. Probably gay. Hey, it was going to be a gay show, why not use gay actors? The first person that came over was Randy Harrison, an angelic young man with blond hair and blue eyes who had been cast as Justin. Behind him were Hal Sparks and Sharon Gless, already bonding as the mother and son team they were to play. Next was Thea and Michelle Clunie, the lesbian couple and Peter Paige whom I would later find out would portray the flamboyant Emmett. Next was Scott Lowell, the only one who made a request of me, one that involved pecan bear claws.

I heaved a great sigh and almost left my spot at the corner of the table when the last of the cast members strode up, his dark hair falling in wings across his dark brown eyes. He acted as if he was aloof and untouchable but I sensed something different in him: a deep abiding kindness tinged with a hint of loneliness.

"I'm Gale. Do you have any bagels?"

Gale Force Ch. 02



Season One, cont.

I was in love.

Goddamn it, I knew I was in trouble when he smirk-smiled at me. I tried to ignore it but I had all of the symptoms. Dry mouth, suddenly sweaty hands, difficulty swallowing past the monumentally huge lump in my throat and shivers that made me sway unnaturally. Thankfully, I had the forethought to lean on the table and shoved my other hand into my pants pocket, attempting to look as if I didn't care.

His name was Gale Harold, an actor from Decatur, Georgia with a few movies under his belt and I didn't think I'd ever seen someone who smoldered sex. My skin tingled, my nipples instantly hardened and my heart fluttered in my chest. My brain worked to process his question and come up with an answer but I drew a complete blank. My faithful assistant, Gerry, nudged my arm, placing a wax paper-wrapped package into my hand.

"Uh, yes. Here you are. It's plain. Did you want something different?"

"Lox?"

Gerry disappeared into the cooler and brought the large plastic box of smoked salmon that I'd made the night before and a carton of sour cream. "Here you go."

"Thanks." 

Gale moved off without a second glance at me and I just stared after him, oblivious to the fact that I was standing like a statue, gazing longingly at him. "Fuck, he's beautiful."

Michelle laughed as she helped herself to a plate of fresh melon and Thompson green grapes. "We've been saying the same thing amongst ourselves for the last few weeks."

"Yeah," Thea grinned, grabbing a grape from Michelle's plate. "And he's straight."

"No!" I gasped.

"Yes!" Thea and Michelle answered in stereo, laughing at each other. "We, Hal, Scott and Gale are straight."

"And Peter?"

"Not sure yet but we're leaning towards bent." Thea answered, nabbing more grapes from Michelle's plate. For a second, they argued with Thea winning and eating more of Michelle's grapes, then graciously going back for a refill. "But you can't tell anyone. The producers don't want anyone to know what our sexual orientations are so that the show can flourish."

"I can understand that," I gave Gerry a nod as he refilled the muffin trays as the make-up and other people started to trickle in. "But what's that going to do to your private lives? Are you not allowed to date while you're on the show?"

"We can date," Michelle started, pausing to finish her iced raspberry muffin. "But it has to be very discreet."

The make-up personnel began to call for the actors and Michelle and Thea excused themselves, heading for one of the trailers. My next ninety minutes were spent feeding the other arriving cast and crew members and my mind stayed busy with making sure that the table was filled and that everyone was happy. When the onslaught was over, we placed the leftovers in a large silver tray, getting them out of the way so that we could begin preparing the lunch service.

"He was cute, wasn't he?"

I tried to ignore Gerry's question but I couldn't get the handsome face of Gale Harold out of my mind.

* * * * *

Lunch went spectacularly well. Everyone enjoyed the day's fare and I was grateful to receive some suggestions from the cast members. Only Gale had kept his distance from us, choosing to smoke in a corner of the lot while staring into space. 

"He's gotta eat." Gerry murmured and I agreed but I didn't want to encroach on his space. Actors are one of the strangest species I have ever encountered on the planet. I didn't think Gale was being an asshole; I just thought he was staying in his part, being the Brian the script called for in remaining distant from the other cast members. I picked up a sliced chicken sandwich, strategically placed dollops of mustard and mayonnaise on the side, added a pickle and a generous helping of fries and headed over, two bottles of water in my cargo pants pockets.

He didn't even look up or acknowledge my presence when I approached. I stood there for a few seconds, wondering what the hell to do and made the decision to set the plates and bottles down. It only took a minute to fold a napkin and set the silverware on it and I was walking away, my brain in a Gale-induced fog.

"Hey!"

I turned at his shout, wondering what he wanted. I was rewarded by a rare smile, his upper lip smeared with an obscene mixture of mustard and mayo as he chewed the huge bite he'd taken out of the sandwich. "Yes?"

"Thank you."



Gale Force Ch. 03



Season One, cont.

The days started to melt together after that. Episode One went by, then Two, then Three and I began to notice the difference in the actors. Michelle and Thea tended to order for each other, like an old married couple sans the arguments. Guest stars came and went and most were kind, thanking me for the gourmet food and praising my recipes. As always, Gale remained detached from the group, his dark eyes brooding and his nature restless. I took him his lunch meal every day, briskly striding away until five weeks into the mission, he asked me to stay.

"Stay for what?"

"Stay to talk."

"You don't want to talk, Mr. Harold."

"I don't?"

"No, you don't. You just want to peel that plastic wrap back and indulge yourself in the smoked salmon sandwich that I've made you." I watched him look down at the sandwich, then with a sigh, he pushed himself to his feet and began to unwrap the sandwich. 

"Smells fantastic."

"Tastes even better." I countered and started to turn away.

"You're wrong."

"About what?"

"My wanting to talk." I stared at him for a long moment, then took a seat across from him on the wooden bench, smiling as I watched him lay into the sandwich, his dreamy eyes closing in salmon rapture. "This is marvelous. You've really outdone yourself."

"This is just my version of a salmon po' boy. This is just the tip of the iceberg."

"Oh, really?" I could barely breathe, shivering at the sexy tone of his voice. He wiped his mouth and took a bite of his kosher dill pickle. "So why haven't you invited me over for dinner?"

"Didn't know you were interested."

"I'm always interested in good food." My heart dropped. I should have known that he wouldn't be interested in me. Who the hell would want a slightly overweight black girl, except for the fact that I could cook like a pro? "And good conversation."

"Sounds like a plan." I stood, nodding to acknowledge Gerry who had been patiently waiting to get my attention. "Let me get back to you on that."

"Don't wait too long. I could starve to death."

I laughed, turning away and I walked over to Gerry, ignoring the look of astonishment on his face. "What's the matter, Gerry? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"He talked to you?"

"Yes. He is a human being, you know, not a god."

"Sure could have fooled me." He gave me an elbow. "Have you heard about his scenes?"

"Of course. No one's been able to talk about anything else."

"Well, then, you know he's gay."

"Gerry, he's not gay! He's straight just like Hal and ... "

"How can a straight man pretend to have sex with a man so well?"

"It's called being a great actor, Ger."

"No one's that great an actor."

"You're just jealous that he's not gay and that you don't have a chance at him."

That made Gerry angry and he stopped, cocking his fists on his hips. "You don't have a chance, either, dearie."

"Better chance that you do."

"He ain't gonna want no cushion for the pushin'."

"You may be right, Gerry, but at least I know that I have a job when I wake up tomorrow." With the greatest of smiles, I spun around. "You're fired."

* * * * *

The next two days were tough. I couldn't find a replacement right away so I was doing double duty and getting very little sleep. I never complained; it was no one's fault but my own and none of the cast or crew members, especially Ron and Danny seemed to notice it. I was sitting near the trailer, rubbing my aching neck when a strong pair of hands took over, gently kneading the muscles.

"Wow, that feels great."

"You should have asked for one earlier. I'm great at massages." The breath caught in my throat when I realized that it was Gale. "Are you trying to kill yourself or something?"

"Why do you say that?"

"The last two days you've been running around like a chicken trying to escape KFC." I laughed at that. "Is your assistant sick?"

"No. Just fired."

"I see." His hands softened, now rubbing the area. "You could have asked for help."

"No, I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"Wouldn't want anyone to know that I needed help."

"Ah, so you're one of those." I nodded. "I don't blame you. I'm kinda like that, too."

"No!" I gasped exaggeratedly and Gale smiled, releasing my neck. I rotated my neck around, sighing at the relief his hands had brought me. "Thanks. Feels much better."

"Great. Now I have a favor to ask of you."

"Shoot."

"I want to have a dinner party on Sunday night, a cast dinner party for about 20. Do you think you could cater it for me?"

"That's three days away, Mr. Harold."

"I realize that but if you won't do it, I won't have the party."

"Gee, no pressure, eh?"

Gale grinned. "None whatsoever."

A shiver went through me as I recalled the touch of his hands on my flesh. "All right. I'll get you some dinner choices tonight but I have to have your answer on them before you leave tonight."

"That's easy. The choices are completely up to you. I trust your judgment."

"Wow. That was easy." I stood up. "Well, I have to get back to work. I've got to clean up."

"Give me your cell phone." I unclipped my Motorola at my hip and handed it to him. He flipped it open and fiddled around with it for a few minutes, then handed it back to me. "I gave you my phone number. You've got my apartment and my cell numbers. Give me a call if there's any problem and I'll give you my keys so you can get everything set up. We have a photo shoot that morning so you'll have the place to yourself."

"Cool. I can handle that."

"Great." He gave me one of his trademark smiles. "And by the way, the name is Gale."

I watched him walk away, then turned on my own unsteady legs, wondering if I'd be able to stand being so close the sun. Suddenly, I felt like Icarus, vulnerable and ready to melt away.



Gale Force Ch. 04



Season One, cont.

Jhonna joined me the next day and my catering operation returned to its normal functioning. Of course, no one but me noticed that. And maybe Gale. He came into work, went for his favorite blueberry muffin with sweet sour cream filling and gave me a wink. My heart leaped as always but I kept my feelings to myself, reminding myself of the reality of the situation. We cleared away the breakfast items, then began the lunch preparations and lunch service went by without a hitch. 

Since Jhonna had done such a wonderful job for me, I asked her if she was interested in helping me with Gale's party and she agreed, especially when I told her that I'd give her $300 for her efforts. As we were cleaning the lunch items away, Gale strode up, his usual smirk-smile in place as he stole a handful of chips from a tray that Jhonna was carrying away. She gave him a shy grin and hurried away, anxious to be done so that she could join her friends on a late afternoon outing. 

"Fabulous lunch." Gale sat down, munching on the chips. "I'm in love with your chicken Florentine."

"So that's why you took two servings."

"I couldn't help myself." He grinned and the sexy way his lips curved and his eyes glowed made my heart pound in my chest. He was going to be a huge star if sexual charisma had anything to do with it. "You should be proud of me. I finished every bit."

"Ron and Danny are going to can me if you get fat from my cooking." 

"I'll just have to tell them that I'll wither away to nothing unless you cook for me."

"Well, what do you do on the weekends? Wither away?"

"Basically." He grinned, wiping his hands on his jeans and reaching into his pocket. "Here's the keys to my place. This is your set."

"My set? Gale, I don't need a set of your house keys for a dinner party."

"You will if I have more dinner parties."

"Who says that I'll be the one to cater them?"

"I say." He gave me that smoldering smile again, sending tingles through my body. "The shoot starts at two and will probably be a couple of hours. Then, we're going to head out for a few cocktails so I'd estimate that we'll be at the loft at around six."

"Cool. I'll see you there."

* * * * *

Jhonna met me at my house later at ten and we had a couple of drinks before we started in on preparing the dinner for Gale's party. By one in the morning, we had most of the big stuff done and I sent her up to bed in the spare room while I finished the pie crusts. And then, I headed up to my own bed and drifted off into a nearly dreamless sleep, Gale's handsome face foremost in the dreams that I did have.

At noon, I pulled into the No Parking zone in front of Gale's apartment building and Jhonna and I unloaded the food, using the keys to get in. When I opened the door, I called for him, announcing ourselves and quickly loading his counters down with pans and trays of prepared food. Three more trips and we had everything unloaded and Jhonna volunteered to move the car, so I whipped out my chart and started organizing the pans.

"Boo."

I jumped at the hot breath on my neck as well as the low sound of Gale's voice in my ear. My ponytail smacked him in the face and he stumbled back, feigning injury as we both laughed. "Sorry."

"I thought that only happened in bad Akiro Kurosawa movies."

"There is no bad Akiro Kurosawa movie." 

"That you are right about." He moved from behind me and started peeking in the covered trays, making me have to grab his hand and give him a gentle slap, like a child caught stealing a cookie. "Hey!"

"You said you trusted me. Now get out of my stuff and go to your shoot."

"That's assault." He moved backward, holding his injured hand with a smirk-smile.

"Simple assault. Touch any more of that food and it's aggravated." I picked up a wooden spoon, wielding it like a riding crop. "Get my drift?"

"Yes, ma'am." He gave me a small salute and I went over to a pan and pulled out a wrapped muffin, his favorite. His eyes widened when he saw it and he gave me a sincere smile. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now get going." Jhonna entered as he was leaving and she silently moved beside me, checking the clipboard for the organization. Her smile and her funky way of looking at me made me give her a nudge. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Jhonna ... "

"You like him, don't you?"

"Who doesn't?" I pulled a few foil pans out, putting them in order and trying to avoid her eyes. "He's a fine specimen of masculine sexuality."

"Yes, but what do you see him as?"

I pretended that I was too busy to answer her question and pondered the answer I'd give her. I didn't look at him the same way that everyone else did. I didn't see Gale as Brian, his character; I saw Gale as Gale, a handsome young actor trying to make his way in the world and someone who appreciated the nuances and complexities of human nature. I secretly wondered if we'd ever have a chance.



Gale Force Ch. 05



Season One, cont.

When the first knock sounded on Gale's oak portal, I paused in the hallway, checked my hair and make-up, then proceeded to let the first guests in. Even I was amazed that I stopped to check my features. I had always been a tomboy and mascara and foundation were not words in my vocabulary. But on this momentous occasion, I had gone out and bought a pantsuit with a form-fitting top and had stuffed my 36Bs into it, loving the Elizabethan way that my tits perked up. Made me think of the empire waist dresses of the Regency age and for once, I actually thought that I was sexy, something I hadn't thought of in quite a long time.

Jhonna had insisted on fixing my hair and it fell in dark waves around my face, soft and smooth and giving me a girly air. I'd kept it pulled back away from my face most of the day to keep it out of the food but when I took the bandanna off, I was quite surprised at the effect. Suddenly, I was a woman. The mascara, foundation, eyeliner, blush and lipstick combined to make me a beautiful woman and that fact alone held me, glaring at my reflection with a look of absolute confusion and wonder.

The doorbell rang again and Jhonna stepped out from the living room, hissing at me. "Are you going to answer it?"

"Uh, sorry." I reached for the doorknob and smiled into Peter and Hal's faces.

"Hey! Don't I know you from somewhere?" Peter gave me a sweet hug, his eyes glazed with alcohol. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Feeding you assholes."

Hal laughed and gave me a hug as well. "Good. At least I know we'll eat well."

"Gale isn't here yet so go on into the living room and help yourself to some appetizers. Jhonna will show you where the bathroom is if you need it and she'll make you a drink."

"Good. I need one." Peter glanced back at Hal and grinned. "Another one."

Hal and Peter went off and as soon as they had gone, the doorbell rang again. This time, it was Melanie, Thea and Jack Weatherall, the actor who played Debbie's brother came in. I gave them the same instructions and shut the door behind them. Jhonna was ably handling Peter and Hal and I served everyone appetizers of scallop rumaki, aged provolone and prosciutto-wrapped melon slices and Thai chicken skewers, a third of which were composed of vegetables that we'd grilled. 

When the doorbell rang again, I answered it, glad that I was black because my face would have been red with the blush I felt heat my skin. Gale stood on his own doorstep, his arm around Sharon. I noticed his eyes meet mine, then slide down my body, moving back up to my face. "Who the hell are you?"

"Your caterer."

"You're not the person I hired. She didn't look like you." Sharon laughed and hugged me, moving inside and letting Randy and Scott by, each giving me either a hug or a kiss as they entered. Gale shut the door behind them, still giving me the eye and I turned away, my face burning. I tried to ignore him but he put his arm around my shoulders. "So you have boobs, eh?"

"Did you imagine that I didn't?"

"I don't know." He grinned, giddy from the cocktails he'd imbibed. "But I certainly didn't know that you'd look like this."

Part of me loved the attention but the other part was sad because it wasn't the type of attention that I wanted to attract. The alcohol had changed him into someone I didn't know and I suddenly wondered if I'd ever known who he was. Actors could sometimes be shits like that. I knew that even though this was my first studio job. Suddenly, I was turned off by the whole farce, wishing that I had just remained home. I wouldn't have to deal with the crap and nonsense. 

I gently peeled his arm off and turned him in the direction of his living room. "You should mingle with your guests. I have work to do."

Jhonna and I served the dinner about an hour later and I watched the drunken cast members tear into my mini Beef Wellingtons and Coquilles St. Jacques, spinach salad and roasted purple potatoes, followed by key lime pie and black cherry crepes for dessert. During the entire time, I felt Gale's eyes on me, hot and discerning and I had to force myself to keep my focus while we served the meal. We cleaned up the dishes and repacked everything, eating our own meals in the kitchen and laughing at Gale's intensity.

"Are you going to join us?"

I nearly choked on my crepe and Jhonna turned away, trying to hide her giggles. "Uh, no, Gale. Actually, we were just about to leave."

"You can't leave without joining us for some drinks. This is a dinner party, you know."

"Yes, but it's your dinner party, not mine. I'm your caterer."

"You're my friend." I was startled by his statement and lifted my eyes to meet his. "At least I hope you are."

I gave him a genuine smile. "I am your friend, Gale."

"Good!" He grabbed my hand and Jhonna's arm, propelling us toward the living room. "Hal, fix some drinks for the ladies, will you?" 



Gale Force Ch. 06



Season One, cont.

Sunday was a day filled with pain for me. The hangover I suffered was only balanced by the memories of the previous night and the fun I had. Dancing the tango with Hal and doing the polka with Sharon were bright highlights in my muddled memory banks as well as sharing a rum and Coke with Gale while Melanie and Jack made a quick alcohol run. He didn't seem to have the slightest compunction about sharing a drink with me and I ended up having to sit next to him to do so. It was much later in the evening when I noticed that he had his arm around the back of the couch and was lightly stroking my shoulder.

Jhonna left at 2 and everyone helped me load my stuff at around 4 and I made it home thirty-five minutes later, crawled into bed and awoke as I was now. When the intercom buzzed hours later, I dragged myself over, hoping that it was Jhonna and was extremely surprised to hear Gale's voice.

"Hey, it's Gale."

"What the hell do you want?"

"Woo, somebody got bit by something last night."

"It's your fault. Too many shots."

"Are you going to let me up or am I going to stand on your doorstep talking about your alcoholism?"

I buzzed him up and stood in the doorway, bursting out in laughter as I saw him climbing the stairs slowly. It was obvious that he was hurting as well. "You asshole!"

"Quit bitching and pour me a drink."

I ushered him in and he followed me into the kitchen where I fixed us both strong Bushmills & Cokes. I sipped at mine until I was sure that my stomach wasn't going to rebel and was quite delighted when my headache slowly throbbed itself away. We took the drinks into the living room and I sparked up the big screen television and located a reality show that had video clips of people getting busted up. 

We both seemed to like it and in minutes, we were hissing and squeezing each other's hands as we watched hapless individuals crash on motorcycles and other all-terrain vehicles and others who decided to test their destinies by propelling themselves in front of angry bulls and failing miserably. Nearly three hours had passed before I turned to him to ask a question. 

"So, you never told me. What the hell are you doing here?"

Gale's smile melted a bit and he took a long pull on his drink, then sat up, fishing a folded envelope from his back pocket. "I forgot to pay you."

"You could have waited until tonight. I'm catering the night shoots as well, you know."

"Yeah, but I didn't want to wait." He handed me the envelope and went back to watching the show, groaning in pain when a toreador got drilled by an errant bull's horns. As I watched him, I understood why he was here and the realization both excited and depressed me. I had suddenly become the Fat Girl. Who is the Fat Girl, you might ask? The Fat Girl is a girl who is usually a smart, intelligent professional woman whom always ends up being the best friend to handsome guys. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. I was now Gale Harold's bridesmaid.

While this realization burrowing itself into my skull, I sighed in inebriated acceptance and decided that it might be better to be the bridesmaid than to be someone who wasn't even invited to the party. Gale was the party and I was the wallflower. Oh, well. I refilled his drink and thumbed the remote over to another program, this one a documentary on the Warriors of Christendom with a special emphasis on El Cid.

I ducked into the kitchen and warmed up a huge hunk of seafood quiche, sliced it up and served him a couple of slices with oil-warmed green onions, cut and allowed to open in the fry grease. I thrust the plate in front of him without words and he accepted it silently, giving me a sly look as he took up the fork. Without a word, we tore into my quiche, the silence only broken by smacks and hums of appreciation. Gale cleaned his plate and set it on the coffee table, reaching for his drink.

"You could spoil a man, you know."

"Probably, but I haven't found anyone worthy of my method."

"Your method?"

I smiled and collected our plates. "The man that decides to step to me will know what he's getting and he'll understand my method. I'm not an easy pull or a groupie or even a desperate Fat Girl who's waiting for a bone to be tossed her way. I'm a gem, a beautiful piece of precious glass that's buried in the earth, waiting for someone to notice its worth. I don't want someone who is interested in how well I can cook; I want someone who knows that there's a real woman behind the food." I growled angrily. "And the fat."

"You're fat?" He laughed, throwing his head back and crowing so heartily that I couldn't be mad. "Should I start calling you Weezy or Florida or ... what was the name of Roger's mama on What's Happening?"

"Her name was Mabel. And you forgot Nell Carter."

Gale smiled, standing and grabbing his jacket. "I gotta go." I escorted him to the door, avoiding his eyes. He pulled his coat on and I yanked his collar straight, eliciting another smile from him. "I'll see you later." When he leaned close and dropped a kiss on my cheek, I could barely think straight but I can tell you that I floated all the way to work that night.



Gale Force Ch. 07



Season One, cont.

Sunday visits became a regular occurrence for Gale after that. He never asked and I never invited but he always ended up at my place, watching TV or playing video games with me. He brought drinks and I prepared lunch for us, usually some kind of quiche, which I later learned was his favorite. We started out on opposite sides of the couch and gradually migrated together, with Gale laying his head on my lap.

The episodes went on and Gale held more dinner parties, although subsequent ones included Jhonna and myself as attendees and not just merely 'caterers'. Finally, just before the Christmas break, Gale came over earlier than usual and was dressed in a nice pair of slacks, silk shirt and a suit jacket.

"Going to a funeral?"

He grinned and gave me a long hug. "Get dressed. We're going out to lunch."

"What?" Obviously, I hadn't planned on going anywhere.

"You heard me. We're going out."

"Oh, Gale! I've got a quiche in the oven ... "

"And I know you have a programmable oven. Set that sucker and let's blow this joint." There was no arguing with him. Every excuse I brought up was quickly shot down and he dragged me up the stairs, throwing my closet doors open and rummaging through my clothes. "Jesus Christ! Where are your clothes?"

I didn't want to admit to him that I wasn't really a clothes horse and with handling craft services for the production as well as his and Ron and Dan's occasional parties, I had no time to shop. Plus, I had no head for fashion so my wardrobe mostly consisted of jeans, pinpoint buttondowns and tennis shoes. "I ... "

"They are paying you, aren't they?"

"Yeah. I've got money. I just don't have any time."

He rubbed his face. "You know, for someone so intelligent, you're full of shit." I avoided his eyes as tears burned in mine. "I know the real reason you don't have any other clothes. You're embarrassed about your weight."

Bingo! I was so stunned that all I could do was stutter and he put his hands on either side of my face, forcing me to look at him. His expression was kind and supportive and I couldn't help the tears from escaping. He wiped them away and pulled me into his arms, holding me close until my sobs became sniffles.

"Cary, you're not fat."

"Yes, I am."

"Just because you have a belly? How many pounds overweight do you think you are?"

"At least thirty-five."

"That's nothing!" He pulled back and caught my eyes again. "That's baby fat." I sniffled, trying to look away but he wouldn't let me. "Besides, I wouldn't have eaten your food if you weren't a little heavy. Everyone knows that the best chefs aren't skinny." I had to smile at that. "Now, throw something on and let's go shopping."

I did as he asked. I decided not to think about it because I wanted to believe his words: You're not fat. No one had ever said that to me and I wanted to bask in that glory for awhile. He went downstairs and patiently waited while I pulled on some jeans and a Von Dutch t-shirt and washed my face and brushed my teeth. I programmed the oven just before we left and he opened the door and took a deep whiff.

"What kind?"

"Snow crab."

"Ah, you're killing me!"

"Hey, you're the one who decided that you wanted to go out, not me."

Toronto was bustling this morning but Gale knew the hippest stores and they were mostly out of the mainstream so we didn't have much trouble with crowds. I ended up buying quite a bit of stuff, so much so that the back of his rental car was stuffed. We sped back to the apartment and I changed into my choice of the new clothes, opting for a breast-hugging shirt, flared pants and a Matrix-like duster. It took me another 15 minutes to style my hair and when I came downstairs, the approval in Gale's eyes almost made me cry.

"Wow!" He smiled as I pirouetted for him. "It's a wonder what a couple hundred dollars will do!"

"Am I presentable now, Sir Harold?"

"Presentable and delectable. Like the breasts."

I laughed. I forgot that they were so prominently displayed in the new shirt. "I like them, too. They come in quite handy."

Laughing, we left my place and sped off to Randy's apartment.



Gale Force Ch. 08



Season One, cont.

The production closed down for Christmas and New Years and since I didn't have any family, I spent my holidays serving people at the homeless shelter and preparing menus for the remainder of the season. There were only a few more episodes left, then I'd be out of a job unless it was a hit. Shooting resumed just after New Years and I was happy to see the cast and crew members back again. Breakfast was hectic; the first day back from the holiday had created a heightened sense of urgency and everyone felt it.

Jhonna was wrapping a few muffins when she gestured to a brightly-wrapped box left on the table. "That's for you."

"Jhonna, you didn't have to."

"I didn't." 

I just stared at her for a few moments before I reached for it. "Then who did?"

Jhonna just shrugged her shoulders and turned away with a slight smile. I lifted the box, surprised at the weight and took it to the side, carefully opening the beautiful wrapping paper and lifting the lid, spreading the tissue paper aside. Inside was the most beautiful book I'd ever seen. The scent of aged leather filled my nostrils as I gently touched the rough cover, running my fingertips over the embossed designs.

"Oh, my God! It's beautiful!"

I was so stunned that I couldn't offer words to agree with her. It was an illustrated history of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, fashioned of decorated parchment and hand-painted with gold leaf and water color tempera. All I could do was sit there and stare at it for a long moment before Jhonna nudged me to open the card that was discreetly tucked in the front.

Merry Christmas. G.

Everything went silent. I didn't hear the calls of the director. I didn't hear the creaking sounds of the cameras moving into their assigned positions. I didn't hear anything. All I could hear was the beating of my heart and my brain was filled with amazement. I breached time as I traveled back to maybe our third visit when I'd mentioned my love of all things Arthurian and had shown Gale my collection of memorabilia. We'd even watched Excalibur and listened to the Wagner opus afterward. It touched me deeply to know that he'd remembered.

"Who's it from?"

"Gale." I covered it back with tissue and replaced the lid. "I can't accept it."

"Why not?"

"Jhonna, this isn't something that you just pick up from Barnes & Noble. This is an expensive gift!"

"Then what's the problem?"

"It's too expensive!"

"What did you get him?"

She knew what I'd gotten him. A year's worth of cooking classes with a local chef. Not only had our Sunday visits been about companionship but he had started reading my cookbooks and asking questions about things. I thought that the best thing that I could do for him was to get him lessons with someone who had been professionally trained. The cost was high, $10,000, but I was a Fat Girl, wasn't I? I was allowed to spend my hard-earned money frivolously, wasn't I?

"That's not the same, Jhonna."

"Why not? Seems to me that you read each other's minds and got each other presents that were meaningful. Why would you deny him the same joy?"

Yes. Why would I deny him the same joy? When I'd sent the package to his home address in New York, I had nearly burst with joy, knowing how much he would enjoy my gift, especially because the chef I'd chosen had fashioned a course that was based on his literary preferences. Chaucer's lunches, Michelangelo's breakfasts and Dali's dinners were just a few of the items to be covered and I knew that he'd be delighted.

"I ... "

"Just shut your mouth and say thank you."

When he came over on Sunday, I made sure that the book was front and center on the coffee table. "Nice book." He quipped, pouring drinks for us and I interrupted him to give him a long hug. "What was that for?"

"You know exactly what that was for."

We settled into our routine for the remainder of the season and all too soon, production was wrapping and I received my final payment for my services. Ron and Dan were overjoyed with my performance and wanted me to keep myself open for next year's production, presenting me with a contract that contained a substantial raise. I was flabbergasted but quickly signed it. I knew a fantastic opportunity when I saw it.

I held a wrap party at my house, inviting the cast who had welcomed me into their circle and we partied into the wee hours of the morning, dining on chicken roulades and lamb kebabs with jasmine-onion rice, cherry crumble and pumpkin-pecan pies. I noticed that Gale was uncharacteristically quiet and I stood beside him, giving him a gentle nudge.

"A penny for your thoughts."

He sighed, tossing half of his drink back as he looked over the assembly. "Just thinking about people I'll miss."

"Yeah, they are a wonderful group of actors, aren't they?"

"I was talking about you, too."

I took a moment to take a few gulps of my drink. "You won't miss me."

"I won't?"

"No, but your stomach will."

He laughed and turned to me, touching my cheek with his fingers, his expression suddenly serious. "You're wrong. All of me will miss you."

When his lips touched mine, I froze, my brain unable to process the fact that Gale Harold was kissing me. It was a soft kiss, warm, tender and gentle and when it ended, I found myself shaking almost uncontrollably. He noticed and gave me a small smile, caressing my cheek gently. 

"I hope you'll miss me, too."

"I will. Sundays will be terribly boring."

We just stared at each other for a few long moments, memorizing each other's features before Hal came over and dragged us back into the party. Two days later, Gale boarded a plane to New York and the season officially was at an end. 



Gale Force Ch. 09



Michelle's shout brought every head in the room turning and in two seconds, I was engulfed in a sea of arms embracing me. First Michelle, then Jack, Thea, Hal and Sharon gave me hugs and commented on my weight loss. During the break, I had managed to lose 10 pounds and had to work triple hard to keep it off while developing new recipes for the production. Peter kissed my cheek, murmuring something about my needing a haircut and Scott kissed my other cheek, advising me to ignore Peter.

Gale was the last to welcome me and he offered me a long hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "You look wonderful."

"Thanks, so do you."

"Hey, what'd you bring us?"

I released Gale to unwrap the huge platter that had been wrestled out of my hands, revealing the cookies that I'd spent most of the last three days baking. Shortbreads, cherry thumbprints, macaroons, snickerdoodles ... there were twelve different types, each made with fresh butter, eggs and superfine sugar. Everyone dug in, including Gale who picked up one of the shortbreads, munching happily.

Ron and Dan came in, giving me hugs as well and everyone sat down for the production meeting. The show was a huge hit and Gale was the breakout star. Buckets and buckets of fan mail proved that everyone loved his character and Hal was in a close second place. But for all the good news, there was also a bit of bad news as the show had become a lightning rod for gay haters and so-called 'family' associations who vehemently complained about the sex scenes and the warm, fuzzy depiction of homosexuals and lesbians.

After the meeting, everyone headed for the make-up trailers and production began. Jhonna and I set up breakfast, fed everyone, set up lunch, fed everyone, then set up dinner and fed everyone. The days were longer now and by the time we cleaned up the dinner detritus, I was ready for bed. Sharon came by to nab an extra muffin and invited me to go to out with them for a few drinks. Of course, I couldn't refuse so I found myself raising a glass and toasting the second season.

"So, did you miss me?"

"Naw. It was a great relief not to have to cook every Sunday." I grinned, then touched his hand. "You know I missed you."

"Looked like you got a new man."

"Why would you say that?"

"Lost weight, new clothes ... " He peered at me closely. "And you're even wearing make-up!"

"Jhonna worked on me during the break."

"Well, she did a good job. You really do look great."

I felt heat rush to my face and took a swallow of my drink. "Thanks."

"You think we could go out some time?"

"Sure." I shrugged.

"No, I mean us. Alone."

"You mean a date?"

"Yeah. A date. Think you could handle that?"

"Yeah, I think I could."

Gale gave me a million dollar smile and the heat rose in my face again. "Good. How about Sunday?"

"Our regular day?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Sounds good."

"You have to fix lunch, though."

"Let me guess, quiche?"

"Snow crab, since I missed out on it last time."

I returned his smile. "Snow crab it is."

The work week began in earnest and Jhonna and I jumped right into the fray. The production had become a bit larger so we were forced to ramp up the output but we managed it as we always did. I took Gale his plate as usual, always pausing to talk to him but not distracting him from his brooding. He never wanted to be too far from his character and I respected his efforts. He always had his smile for me, that cocky smirk-smile that made me want to jump his bones and hear his whimpers when he came.

At the end of the first episode of the second season's shooting, Ron and Dan held a celebratory dinner on set and Jhonna and I worked our asses off, turning out wild mushroom canapés, panko encrusted tilapia and thinly-sliced potato gratins, followed by individual New York style cheesecakes, served with a number of fruit coulis. We cleaned up, packed up and said good night and I was pleasantly surprised to find Gale waiting for me at my car. 

"That meal was fantastic."

"Thanks." I opened the door and tossed my purse in. "Is that what you were waiting to tell me?"

"No." He moved closer, his hands touching my waist and pulling me into him. "I was waiting for this."

His mouth took mine, warm lips pressing softly, then opening to slide his tongue against mine. A thrill of excitement raced through me and my arms curled around his shoulders, my fingers moving up through his silky dark brown hair and loving the warmth of his scalp against my skin. His stubble scraped me but I didn't care. At this moment, it was the most wonderful sensation in the world, next to the throbbing of my pussy and the pounding of my heart. 

I became aware of the path his hands were taking, sliding up from my waist and across my back to pull our bodies closer. It had been so long since I'd been held and wanted by someone that I'd forgotten how it felt. His arms were strong and held me firmly against him while his lips gently moved over mine, our tongues sliding together. He broke the kiss, giving me a second buss before stepping back and catching my eyes.

"That was worth waiting for." He whispered softly, giving me another hug. "I'll see you tomorrow."



Gale Force Ch. 10



Season Two, cont.

Saturday's production was extra tough so I didn't see Gale all day except for when we served the cast and crew. He came to the table to choose a chicken spinach salad with bacon dressing and gave me a quick glance. I could see that he had a lot on his mind so I gave him a reassuring smile and watched him walk away. Jhonna and I packed up and went home and I awoke early the next morning to make the snow crab quiche and the other items I was going to make for the picnic and Gale arrived right on time.  

"Hi."

"Hi."

The kiss was simultaneous this time, both of us coming together, mouths open and tongue exploring. I tried to be the aggressor but the sweet touch of his hands on my face reduced me to melted butter. I started trembling again and this time, Gale matched it with a few shivers of his own when I sucked on his bottom lip. "Jesus, what are you trying to do to me?"

Wouldn't you like to know? I stepped back with a smile and we grabbed the hampers, heading out to his car. He drove us to a secluded park outside of the city and laid out a blanket for us, sitting back patiently as I unpacked our meal. The quiche was still warm, fragrant with fresh shredded basil and gooey with Monterey Jack cheese. I had also made cheesy bread sticks, flavored with rosemary and olive oil and laden with tiny chunks of aged provolone, a creamy Parmesan sauce to drizzle over the quiche or dunk the bread sticks in and cold green onions.

I forked quiche into my mouth, watching with the smile of a satisfied chef as Gale's dreamy expression lasted through the entire meal, followed by a loud belch. I cracked open another Foster's and handed it to him, smiling when he curled up, setting his head in my lap.

"I'm gonna look like a fat hog on camera."

"No, you won't." I stroked his hair, touching his temples and tracing the lighter sworls there. "You'll look like a well-fed heifer."

"Thanks a lot!" He squeezed my leg and settled back down, his hand stroking my leg. "I so enjoy being with you. There's no pressure, no expectation ... " He paused, sighing heavily. "I can't go out any more. The show's so popular and everyone loves Brian so much ... I don't know what people want from me."

"That's the natural progression of fame." I said softly, still caressing him. "Brian is such an enigma. He craves the acceptance and comfort of the others but he's afraid of the invisible ties that go along with love. I think a lot of people can identify with that. Everyone wants to be loved but not everyone can handle the personal sacrifice that is sometimes involved."

Gale was silent for a few moments. "And you've made personal sacrifices for love?"

"Oh, yeah." I emptied the warm backwash of my beer and opened a fresh one. "Sometimes lost myself in it." I took another pull from the bottle. "I promised myself to never get lost in it again."

"But that's the fun part." Gale sat up, staring at me. "If you don't lose yourself, how can you expect to find yourself?"

"You know what losing myself was? Losing the ability to watch whatever I wanted on TV. Losing the freedom to come and go whenever I chose. Losing the right to having my own bank account. That's just a small list but everything I lost was due to what he wanted." 

His gaze was steady on my face. "It was like that for you?"

"It was when it called itself love." I took a steadying breath, releasing anger that I didn't want to direct at him. "I was fat and happy, excited to have the attention of a handsome man and being kept like a bird in a gilded cage."

"And how did the bird break out?"

"Quite by accident." I relived my escape from that awful relationship verbally. Years ago, I had stumbled upon an episode of Martha Stewart and realized that I could do what she did. While James was at work, I labored over recipes, concocting fantastic meals that made my own mouth water. One day, I whipped up a complete menu and took it to the Time Warner office, asking to see a few of the executives in charge. That risk had secured me several parties and a wad of money large enough to escape his claws.

"Sounds like a smart bird."

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes as I recounted the story. No matter how long ago it was, the imbedded seed still sought to bloom into depression. He enfolded me in his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

"Welcome to the world."



Gale Force Ch. 11



Season Two, cont.

The next four weeks brought changes and delays in our relationship, if you could call it that. I never really counted it as a relationship; I think I looked at it as an elongated pity fuck. Gale felt sorry for the black chef who took the time to see him as a human being and not just a celebrity and it was a 'safe' relationship: no competition. I accepted it as a potential sex relationship, telling myself that it was the best I could do. I should be thankful to have his attention and that I wouldn't let myself get used ... too much.

Each subsequent Sunday, I prepared lunch for us. Three Sundays, we picnicked somewhere out of the way but visually beautiful and our conversations strayed to personal territory. I was amazed at the amount of information that we shared with each other. He told me things that I'd never heard in the media. Two Sundays in a row, we had to end things early because of the production schedule but we managed to have a good time.

Robert Gant joined the regular crew and became Michael's lover. He asked to be called Bobby and seemed to have a natural connection with Hal. I found that he loved lemon-poppy muffins drizzled with honey and wasn't a great lover of pork. I didn't mind that. I usually didn't prepare much pork for the crew and stuck with chicken most of the time. The get-togethers that we had after that were as lively as usual, peppered by the regular cast: Michelle, Thea, Hal, Robert, Peter, Scott, Sharon, Randy, Jack and Gale as well as Fab, who was a love interest for Randy and Bruce, who played George, a wealthy pickle maker who had fallen in love with Peter's character.

It took me three days to compose and design the menu for Lindsay and Melanie's wedding and Jhonna helped me as usual, but I had to fashion a wedding cake as well. On the fourth day, we prepared the set and I retreated to a corner to take a nap while Jhonna handled things. I promised that I would let her take more of an administrative role toward the middle of the year and she had never let me down. I awoke to Gale's gentle rumble and the rough feel of his fingertips on my face.

"Hey, wake the fuck up!" I blinked and sat up, shaking the sheaf of sleep. "What are you doing sleeping on the job?"

"Sorry! Is everything all right?"

"Yeah. It's time to go."

I looked around to see that everyone was leaving and that Jhonna had packed everything up. "Wow! I slept that long?"

"Obviously. Jhonna said that you hadn't slept in two days."

"Just about. I caught a few naps here and there."

"Well, come with me. Uncle Gale's going to take care of you." Gale drove me home, leaving his car at the studio and was the perfect gentleman, unlocking and opening the door for me and escorting me up the stairs to my bedroom. "Take a shower and meet me out here."

I did what he asked without reservation and pulled on my robe, which he had snuck in and left on the chair. He was sitting on the edge of my bed and looked up at me when I entered, patting a large beach towel that he'd lay atop the comforter. "Lie down."

I crawled over and lay down, my entire body shivering with anticipation. I felt his hands on my feet first, warm and oiled, working the sore soles with firm, but gentles strokes. He moved up to my calves next, then pushed the robe up to work on the back of my thighs. I tried not to shiver too much but I couldn't help it. Gale was touching me! Such joy was rushing through me that I couldn't think straight. Maybe that was why I did what I did. I loosened the belt of my robe and pulled the top part down, exposing my back.

Gale didn't say a word; he oiled his hands again and massaged my shoulders and back, drawing several large sighs from me. "Feel better?"

"Much." I sighed again, turning onto my back and pulling my robe closed. "You should do that professionally."

Gale smiled, wiping his hands on the towel. "I've been working on Sharon all of last year. She was having leg cramps." I lay there and listened to him and I swear that I fell even more in love with him as a person. Sure, I always saw the sexual part of him. It was impossible to ignore but to know that his heart was as beautiful as well ... I just felt like crying to know that he was my friend. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason."

"Are you sure?" He turned, planting his hands on either side of me and moving his body over mine. "Because I could have sworn that you were looking at me like ... "

I gasped, glancing down at his succulent lips, just inches from my own. "L-Like what?"

He didn't answer. His mouth descended on mine and my shivering intensified with each swipe of his tongue. I moaned when his hand slid past the folds of my robe and found my breast, cupping it briefly before targeting the nipple and stroking the hardened bud. My body responded with a will of its own, my hips rising against his and he ground his hard cock into my hip. God, I wanted him so bad! I wanted him inside me, sliding into me and pounding me into the pillows with his strength.

His hand released my breast, sliding downward over my quivering stomach and his fingers parted my soaked petals, coaxing them open. I broke our kiss, throwing my head back and gasping as one thick finger slid into me. I exploded immediately, my pussy muscles contracting and rippling around him. I grabbed his shoulders as he continued his assault, using his thumb to rub my clit while pumping me relentlessly. He sent me over the edge again, his tongue tracing lazy circles on the side of my neck and shoulder, humping my hip in rhythm with his hand.

He quickened his speed and I fought to catch my breath. My entire body was tingling, my nipples hard as rocks and rubbing against the rough fabric of my robe but I didn't really feel any of this. I was floating, my pussy burning as he worked me toward the biggest orgasm I'd ever had in my life. I felt it coming from the tips of my painfully curled toes, streaking up my jellied legs and swirling around in the pit of my stomach. 

Gale felt it, too. He lifted his head and our eyes met and for several seconds, the world slowed down. Our mouths opened, our lips close enough to touch and our breaths mingled as we both came. His trembling became mine and I closed the space between our lips, sucking his tongue into my mouth as we clung together, wracked with sweet aftershocks. He sat up a bit, pulling his hand free and grinned.

"Glad I put that towel down."

I giggled, my stomach twisting in knots as he licked them clean. "Want some quiche to go with that?" 



Gale Force Ch. 12



Season Two, cont.

Things got strange after that.

Gale agreed to a slice of quiche and after cleaning the cum out of his under shorts, he joined me in the kitchen. But I felt raw. Sex had been something that I hadn't had much of and I felt as if I'd told him my greatest secret. I was terrified. I think he sensed my unease as well because he took his slice to go, leaving me satiated but pacing the floor. 

The next day, I responded to him as I did to everyone else and the look on his face was one filled with hurt. I knew that I was letting him down but even weeks afterward, I was still having problems reconciling myself with what had happened. He didn't talk to me when I brought his lunch and I started questioning what I'd done. When it came to Sunday, he backed out of our regular date, saying that he was tired from partying with the cast members the night before. I was doubly hurt. Not only was he canceling, but he hadn't invited me out with the cast.

After the wedding episode, Ron and Danny gave the cast a two week vacation, citing worries about fatigue and burnout. The production was going well and they wanted to make sure that everyone was in sync. Gale came to see me as Jhonna and I were packing up from the last meal and he gave her an appreciative kiss on the cheek, making her rush away with a shy smile. We stalked nervously around each other, afraid to make eye contact.

He finally spoke. "So what are your plans?"

"My plans?"

"Yeah, your plans for the break."

"Nothing much. Planning menus, ordering ingredients, you know. The usual."

"Not going to see anyone?"

I checked spice lids, ensured that they were tightly closed and shut the plastic case. "Maybe Jhonna. She's going to visit her family in Houston and she's invited me to come with her."

"So you're going to Houston?"

"Yeah, I think so. I deserve a vacation, don't you think?"

He sauntered over, moving close enough to whisper to me. "How about taking a few days off with me?"

Fat Girl woke up, thinking that it would be a splendid idea but I forgot that I had a brain. "I don't know if that would be a good idea."

"Why wouldn't it?"

"I don't know, Gale." I covered another container of meat with foil and put it in the box. "I mean, what are we playing at?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that you're really not interested in me."

"I'm not?"

"Not really. I think that I'm just a dalliance for you."

"A dalliance? Is that what you think?" The hurt in his eyes was more than I could handle and I had to turn away, blinking away tears. "I thought we were friends."

"We are friends." I sputtered. "But I ... I'm just getting really attached to you and I don't want to get hurt."

"I see." His words were hollow and I heard the lack of emotion in them. I wanted to look into his eyes but I was suddenly terrified that I made a mistake. That was Fat Girl talking. Or maybe it was me. "Well, have a good time." And with those words, he walked away.

I went to Houston with Jhonna and tried to convince myself that I'd done the right thing, for both Gale and myself. He was a star, a brightly burning beauty of a young man and there were thousands of beautiful women just itching to be on his arm. It wasn't where I should be or could be, for that matter. He deserved someone that was as beautiful as he was. If we had started something, he would have eventually come to the realization that an overweight black chef was not photo-friendly.

"You let him go, didn't you?"

"I had to." I moved over on the stoop, making room for her to join me and we sipped on our drinks, watching the fireflies flit about.

"He really cares for you."

"I know. That's the problem."

"What is the problem exactly, Cary? I'm having trouble understanding just what's so wrong about being with Gale."

"It's not right, Jhonna. That's the problem."

"But why?"

"Because I'll ruin his happiness, that's why."

I quickly swallowed the rest of my drink and arose, stumbling inside because the tears were beginning to roll down my cheeks and there was no way I could stop them. 



Gale Force Ch. 13



Season Two, cont.

More episodes followed but the relationship between Gale and I was finished. Randy would come and collect his food from the table, always giving me a sad look and my weekend life became boring. My emotional life also drifted into stasis and it was reflected in my cooking; lifeless, dull and limp. Michelle was the first one to notice it and with three episodes to go, she pulled me to the side, asking about catering a party for her.

"So what's going on with you?"

"Nothing, just tired."

"Are you sure that's all?"

I heaved a sigh wanting to spill my woes but not having the strength to do so. Jhonna slipped a muffin into my hand and I robotically took a bite. "I'm okay, 'Chel. Really."

"You know, Cary, you've become one of my greatest friends here and I'd like to think that I know you pretty well." She escorted me over to a bench and we sat, enjoying the cool breeze. "I also know Gale pretty well and he's not been himself for the last few weeks." She took a bite of her bear claw, licking the flaky pastry from her fingertips. "And I know that it has to do with you."

Tears started again and I fought to swallow past the huge lump in my throat. "Michelle ... "

"Gale's a deep guy, deeper than you think. He knows that he's gorgeous but that he hasn't let that go to his head. He knows how fickle and how vain the industry is. He looks for something solid in people, he looks for the depth of their heart in their feelings toward him, not how pretty his face is. And he found something in you that he liked and gravitated toward and then ... " She shrugged. "Something ended your friendship."

"I did."

"If you don't mind me asking, why?"

So once again, I unloaded, ripping the scab off of the wound again. Michelle listened quietly, giving my free hand a squeeze every couple of minutes to let me know that she understood. "Did I do the wrong thing?"

"Do you love him?"

That was a stupid question. I loved him so much I'd allowed it to affect my cooking, something that never, ever happened before. "Yes."

"Then just go with the flow. Don't stop loving him." She arose, wiping her hands clean and licking her lips. "He needs you just as much as you need him."

I stayed on the bench for a little while, digesting her words and finding truth in them. Why was I so afraid? I was fine until we'd had our little encounter and then I looked at his differently. But what was different? What had changed? He was the same, I was sure. It had been me then. Maybe how I saw myself. Was I scared that someone found me attractive? Was I not deserving of his affection? Could I not accept his affection without attaching too much emotion to it?

I made a decision right then and there, to tell myself the truth. 

Truth number one, I was in love with Gale. Head over heels and that wasn't likely going to die until I was pushing up daisies in some field years hence. 

Truth number two, just because I didn't have a perfect body, it didn't mean that I was unworthy of sex and love. I'd make do with what I had and everyone be damned.

Truth number three, I would take whatever Gale wanted to give to me and give whatever he wanted, within reason. I would do it because I wanted to be near and with him. I would sacrifice my feelings and would become his Fat Girl. I had no other choice in the matter. Everything in my world had become Gale Harold.

When lunch time rolled around and Randy came looking for Gale's sandwich, I politely told him to tell Gale to come get it and that I'd be in the trailer. It took a few minutes but Gale took my bait, angrily throwing the door open and storming in.

"What the fuck is your problem?"

"You are."

I locked the door behind him and shoved him down onto the couch. He just stared at me, his eyes dark with rage until he closed them as my mouth covered his. A small whimper escaped him as I let my hands roam over his chest, angling down to his pants and rubbing his hardening cock through the denim. I couldn't seem to get the buttons open and pulled my mouth from his while I pulled his t-shirt up and over his head.

"Unbutton your pants."

Stunned at my aggression, he quickly did as I requested, making himself more comfortable as I dropped to my knees. His cock was straining against his boxer briefs and the delicious scent of his musk filled my nostrils even as I bent to lick the wet spot forming on the fly. He groaned and gasped alternately as I licked and sucked the pre-cum from the cotton, then freed him, licking him from the base to the hot, slick head like he was a lollipop.

He tasted so sweet that I hummed in appreciation and when he moaned loudly, I realized that I was onto something. I'd heard about a 'hummer' and now, everything became crystal clear about its meaning. I took his cock into my mouth, humming as deeply as I could while my tongue licked circles around his hard flesh. I looked up into his eyes, a shiver running through me as I recognized the lust in his dark eyes and I deep-throated him slowly, swallowing the copious pre-cum that was now sliding down the back of my throat.

"Ah, yeah." He threw his head back, closing his eyes and thrusting his hips upward, driving his cock deeper into my mouth. I fought the urge to gag, taking a deep breath and swallowed frantically as he started to fuck my face. Again and again, my nose nestled in his fragrant pubic hairs, my throat, tongue and lips massaging every inch of his prick and his groans became louder and more pronounced while he got harder. He was nearly panting when he tried to push me off but I shook my head, grabbed his hips and pushed him as deep as possible into my throat.

The sound that he made sent chills through my body. He screamed, his teeth firmly planted in the fleshy parts of his hand to muffle the sound and his cock bucked in my mouth, thick salty-sweet gobs of cum painting my tongue and teeth. Once, twice, thrice, he flooded my mouth, hissing after each ejaculation and I swallowed, swirling it around my tongue before drinking it down. After the fourth and final squirt, the tension fled from his body and I eased his softening cock out of my mouth, cleaning it as best I could.

Gale didn't move for a few minutes, not when I used the cold wash cloth to wipe his forehead and chest clean and not when I swabbed his prick and pubes clean, tucking him back into his under shorts and buttoning his pants and shirt back up. I went back to toss the wash cloth in the sink, grabbed my grape soda and his lunch and placed the box on his lap.

"See you Sunday."

With a huge smile on my face, I unlocked the door and walked out of the trailer, giving Jhonna a wink as I rejoined her in serving the meal. Gale walked by me a few minutes later and I jumped as he pinched my ass on the way, his familiar smirk-smile back in place. Everything was back as it should be.



Gale Force Ch. 14



Season Two, cont.

We finished the rest of the season as the easy friends we were before and my life became a wonderful dream world. When Sunday came, Gale arrived with three bottles of wine and we were so grateful to be in each other's company that we embraced for nearly five minutes when I opened the door. I understood exactly what Michelle meant when she said that he needed me as much as I needed him. It wasn't easy being a star and certainly not as popular as he had become. I was his anchor in his crazy world and I fully understood where I belonged. Truth number four.

The remainder of our visits were mostly chaste. I think we understood how we needed to proceed and we decided to go a bit slower. We still ended up on the couch watching television, his hard cock riding in the crack of my ass. I wanted him inside me so badly that I had to grit my teeth to keep from reaching back and sliding him inside me. To his credit, he never spoke a word about it and would gently rub my pussy through my shorts, making me cream more times than I could remember.

Our last Sunday found me catering Michelle's party and it was impossible to spend any time with him. Jhonna and her friend, Leslie, helped me but the cast had grown considerably and as a result, I had more service to do. He caught me after the first course, feeding me chunks of crab cake and giving me small kisses in between bites. 

"I'm going to miss you." I smiled, chewing thoughtfully and used the edge of my apron to wipe remoulade sauce from his upper lip, leaning in to kiss the corner. "Nothing to say?"

"No." I set the plate down, pulling him between my legs. "But I'm glad."

"You're going to be in St. Lucia the whole break?"

"Yep." My friend, Desmond, was opening a small restaurant down there and I had offered to help him develop his menu for room and board plus airfare. Jhonna was to accompany me and I was looking forward to getting him out of my mind, just to see if it could be done. One look at those pillowed lips told me that summer was going to be long ... really long. "You could come down for a visit."

"You'd want me to visit?"

"Absolutely."

Unfortunately, Gale's summer schedule didn't afford him the time to come and visit us in St. Lucia and I toiled away in Desmond's eatery, happily watching the numbers increase and leaving him much in the black. My wonderful friend had taken a liking to Jhonna and she decided to stay on as his chef, leaving me once again without an assistant and madly searching for one when Dan called me.

"Ready for season three?"

"Of course."

"Good. I need you to cater a picnic ... "

Season Three

His name was Golin and he came highly referenced from my restaurant friend, Allan. I knew he was going to be trouble. Why? He knew who I was because he had visited Desmond's and had fallen in love with me. He had watched me walk through the patrons at night, asking their humble opinions on the dishes that I had prepared and had been in awe of my expertise. In a word, trouble. But I needed the help immediately and couldn't wait to train someone else at such short notice.

"So why don't you open your own restaurant?"

"I like this. Greater autonomy."

Golin seemed to understand and continued loading the lamb-and-onion cream tarts onto the trays, followed by the steamed chicken dumplings. He stood back and observed the cast members streaming in, his eyes narrowing on each as they welcomed me back. I reserved my heartiest welcome for Gale who looked tired and a bit on the skinny side. His arms around me felt so right that I just tucked my nose into the side of his neck and squeezed him as hard as possible.

"Meet someone in St. Lucia?"

"No, why?"

"Because you lost more weight."

"Only five pounds. I think I sweated a lot of it off." I broke the embrace, stepping back to look at him. "I might ask the same about you."

"I didn't have you to cook for me." He dropped a kiss on my cheek, lingering to whisper, "I missed you."

I felt the blood rush to my face and I shoved a plate in his hands. "Here. Eat."

"Yes, ma'am."

I wish I'd have been watching Golin more closely from the beginning but I was busy with the picnic. I would regret that mistake in the weeks to come.



Gale Force Ch. 15



Season Three, cont.

I knew I was in trouble when I heard that Ron was sick just after he ate my gazpacho. I quarantined the rest of the soup and was rushing around to find out who else had eaten it. It turned out that I didn't have to rush. The sounds of retching people in the bathrooms and streets was enough warning. Production was scrapped for the day and I was left with a huge mystery. Luckily, Gale hadn't eaten any of the tainted soup and he and Randy collected me, telling me that I deserved a drink after the day I'd had.

"I've never had anything like that happen to me. Never." I groused, pounding a Foster's down and asking for another. I started to guzzle the next one and Randy caught my hand, gently wrenching the bottle out.

"We know that, Cary. We know how careful you are."

"In fact," Gale patted my shoulder gently. "Jhonna mentioned that you were quite anal about things."

"I am!" I hissed, grabbing my beer and taking a few swallows. "I take great pride in my food!"

Randy hugged my shoulders. "That's why we have a plan."

"A plan?"

We finished the beers and headed back to the lot. I was surprised to find Danny waiting for us in the editing center. As we crowded around the board and its monitor, I watched as two men set up a new camera in my trailer, aiming it at the refrigerator/prep area. I realized that they must have done it while I had run an errand, dashing out for mascarpone cheese and I saw myself come back, placing it in the refrigerator and heading back outside.

Silently, Danny forwarded the film and I watched the horrible day unfold yet again. Golin and I cleaned up and packed everything in the refrigerator, then the lights went out. The film went dark. I stood but a flicker of light caught my eye. The monitor lit up and Golin entered the trailer. My mouth hanging open, I watched as he pulled out the ceramic crock of yogurt, tossed something into it, gave it a stir and replaced it.

Everyone's eyes turned to me.

"I guess we won't be having yogurt tomorrow."

Golin was fired by Dan that evening and the cast was given a late afternoon start time to ensure that everyone would be recovered and I manned the lunch meal, alone again. It went off without a hitch and I put out the feelers for a replacement. My friend, Allen, who had suggested Golin, came by to help me with the dinner meal, absolutely horrified of what had happened. As it went, Golin was later arrested and that was the end of that tale.

Gale swung by just as we were finishing up to let me know that he was exhausted and was heading home. I gave him a quick kiss and continued my packing. Morning brought Stacy, an associate of Allen's, who had already started when I came in. Allen had brought her and left when I arrived. Breakfast, lunch and dinner flew by and it was Sunday.

I awoke at the crack of dawn it seemed and began preparing quiche for Gale's visit. I went for snow crab since it was his last favorite and scrubbed and showered, making sure that I was ready. The buzzer rang and I opened the door to a bouquet of roses and a face that I hadn't seen in nearly three years. My ex-boyfriend, Damien strode in, giving me a hard hug.

"How you been, baby?"

"D-Damien? What are you doing here?"

"I came to visit you, of course. I heard you were catering the Queer As Folk gig so I thought I'd come visit. And damn, don't you look good!"

"No, you thought you'd find a way to get some money out of me."

"Cary, how could you say that?"

"Because I know the truth, Damien."

He grabbed me, dropping the flowers and grabbed my hips, grinding into me. I started fighting him but Damien was six feet and nearly two hundred pounds of muscle. "You don't know the truth but I'm going to remind you."

"You look kinda busy."

Gale's voice made Damien stop and he turned toward the actor, his dark face contorted with anger. "Hi. Glad you came by."

"Are you sure? Because I can come back later."

Part of me wanted to scream while the other half did what I normally would with Gale. I laughed. Damien looked confused and I chose that moment to push out of his grip. My feet landed on the floor but I didn't totally escape. "No, no. Please. Come in."

"Oh, okay. Can Bobby come, too?"

At that moment, the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen strode into the room. Robert Gant strode in, easily dwarfing Damien and my ex released me, taking a step back. "Hi, I'm Bobby." He offered his hand, using his size to add a hint of menace. "And you are?"

"Just leaving." Damien stumbled backward, heading for the door and I flung the roses after him.

"And don't fucking come back!"

Gale shut the door behind him and we stood there silently, my arms wrapped around my body as I trembled uncontrollably. "Well," He said with his typical aplomb. "I'm glad he's gone. I only brought enough wine for us."

I laughed but at the same time, I started crying, mostly out of shock. Bobby put his arms around me and the three of us went into the living room. They wisely let me cry it out and Gale brought me a shot of tequila which I quickly tossed back. I related the story of Damien and our relationship and Gale became immediately concerned, worried that he might come back again. When I showed him my .38, he just shook his head with a smile.

"Guess you'll be all right."

"Thank you for rescuing me."

"Not a problem." Bobby grinned, patting my leg. "I was hoping that you wouldn't be upset that I was tagging along."

"Oh, no! Absolutely not! You're welcome here any time."

I collected myself and went in to grab the quiche and drinks, jumping out of my skin when Gale's warm arms went around me. "You never cease to amaze me."

"I hope that's a good thing."

He dropped a kiss on the back of my neck. "It's a very good thing." He took the knife from my hands and turned me around, bending to kiss me. Something was different about this kiss and we both noticed it right away. We had delicately stepped over the 'just lust' line and the feelings were now heading toward love. But I remembered my truths. This would be the fifth. Never speak my feelings to him, no matter what I thought. 

His mouth moved softly over mine, robbing the breath from my lungs and his arms warmly encircled me, drawing and keeping me close. He pulled back and gathered me closer, caressing my back. "Let's go watch some TV."



Gale Force Ch. 16



Season Three, cont.

I settled back into a regular routine after that. Every day at work, I provided the best I could, making new friends everywhere I went. My after-hours catering began to pick up and I was no longer just doing private cast parties and the occasional dinner party, I was supplying set dinners to a couple other productions, separate indie movies that were being filmed in the area As such, my time with Gale got whittled down to mostly just Sundays and even then, we were joined by Bobby and later by Randy and Hal.

I had just finished with the last serving of dinner when a flashy Corvette screeched to a halt next to me. The window rolled down and Gale grinned at me.

"Hop in."

He didn't have to ask twice. I locked my truck and slid in beside him. "Yours?"

"For the show. Let's take a ride."

"Okay."

I didn't care how late it was nor the fact that I was still wearing my chef's hat and my hair was clumped down. I was with Gale. My heart was soaring as we tooled around Toronto, smiles on our faces. We ended up at a parking spot overlooking the city and the Corvette rumbled into silence beneath us.

"It's beautiful out here."

"You don't get out enough." He turned toward me, pulling my hat off and ruffling my limp locks. "That's why I kidnapped you."

"You can't kidnap a willing victim." I smiled as his hand found mine, our fingers stroking and smoothing. 

"Willing?"

A shiver went through me and my nipples hardened into rocks. "Very."

He closed the space between us and we kissed, our mouths opening and tongues sliding softly together. The very sound of his whimper when I nibbled on his bottom lip intoxicated me and I shivered, feeling his hands caressing my shoulders, then moving down to my breasts. Softly, gently, his fingers cupped and weighed me, tracing the outline of my nipples through my shirt, then moving away to find the buttons. It seemed like a lifetime before his skin was against mine and I shivered again, moaning this time.

His mouth left mine, sliding down my neck and past the folds of my shirt. My entire body quivered when his lips brushed a nipple, teasing me before he sucked hard on it. I yelped in pleasure, thrusting my breasts toward him for more attention and Gale didn't disappoint me. He moved across to the other nipple and nibbled on it until I was breathless. We were both startled by the knock on the window and I hurriedly covered my chest. The officer was amused and gave us a warning to haul ass so we reluctantly did, heading back into the city.

"We have another break in a couple of weeks and I want to know if you'll go away somewhere with me." He glanced over at me a couple of times and I kept my sights on the city flashing by outside. "We can go anywhere you want, Cary. Please."

"I'm scheduled to work through break, Gale."

He stared at me for a long moment. "A guy would think that you were purposely avoiding him."

"I'm not avoiding you and you know it."

"Do I?" He took a corner sharply and the tires squealed. "I would think that you'd want to go with me."

"I do!"

"Then get somebody to cover for you." He said, looking over at me. "Or are you scared?"

"I'm downright petrified." That admission astonished both of us and pulled over to the side of the road, turning toward me with a look of concern on his face.

"You're afraid of me?"

"No. Not of you."

He reached over and touched my cheek. "Then what?"

"I'm afraid of me, of what I'm feeling."

"And what are you feeling?"

The softness in his voice made me want to melt but I remembered my truths and this was one of them. "A lot of things."

"Things? You can't be more specific?"

"I could but I don't want to." I cupped his hand against my cheek, searching his eyes. "Is that okay?"

Gale nodded, leaning across to give me a small kiss. "Yeah, that's okay." I returned his smile, melting once again. "So will you go with me?"

Fat Girl was winning again and I was helpless to stop her. Helpless? Let's tell the truth. I didn't want to stop her. I was getting ready to take a trip with Gale Harold and become his personal sperm repository for the next six days. Did I care? By the way my pussy was reacting, the answer was definitely no.

"As long as I don't have to cook."

His smile warmed me to the tips of my toes. "Whatever you want."



Gale Force Ch. 17



Season Three, cont.

As break approached, I made arrangements with Allen to supply the movie sets with dinners that I'd partly pre-made and stored in his walk-in refrigerator at the restaurant. It meant extra time on my part but Stacy agreed to help out and I paid her extra for the time. Michelle volunteered to go shopping with me so we headed out after work, buying more stuff than I'd bought in a long time. I carefully packed and spent the rest of the time preparing for the traditional pre-break cast dinner.

Gale had been silent all week and at first, it worried me. I'd take his lunch over and he'd just give me a knowing smile, open the box and lay into the teriyaki salmon over glass noodles or slurp up homemade chicken rice soup, suggestively licking his lips each time. By Wednesday, I was just about to lose my mind.

"So?"

"So what?" He took the box I was holding and flipped the lid back, smiling at the steamed chicken buns nestled inside.

"So where are we going?"

"Well, after we eat, we have a street shot ... "

"You know what I'm talking about."

Gale just grinned. "You'll find out soon enough."

I walked away grinning as well and threw myself back into my cooking so I wouldn't think about the trip. The last day before break, Michelle and Thea came over, locking their arms in mine and escorting me away from the table after Stacy and I had served dinner.

"Want to have some fun?"

"That's a stupid question." We all laughed and they took me over to the make-up trailer, then the costume trailer. Forty minutes later, I was an extra in Babylon, perched atop a table and dancing suggestively with a young woman named Jennifer. Gale and Hal had a scene with Peter and Scott and I did my best not to watch Gale's reaction to realizing who I was. He missed his lines twice and Hall followed suit after he noticed. Finally, the scene was over and I collapsed laughing into Thea's arms.

"That sucked!" Gale laughed, looking me up and down. "Whose idea was this?"

"What?"

We laughed at his expression and I ran off to change clothes, heading back over to the trailer to pack the night's leftovers away. Gale caught up with me outside and laid a deep kiss on me, making my pussy boil with welcome heat.

"Two days."

"Two days."

"Thanks for amazing me again."

I went to bed with a smile.

The break dinner party was the most fun I've ever had in my life, even though I worked my fingers to the bone in preparation. My bags were packed and waiting in the trailer and Stacy and I spent almost six hours setting up the room for the celebration. Ron and Danny came in, proclaimed our work wonderful as he always did and shooed us off to dress. 

Stacy opted for a black skirt and white shirt with a tuxedo jacket so she could remain in control of the wait staff and I chose one of my new purchases, a corseted black lace top that showed my assets tastefully and tailored slacks. A pair of chopsticks completed my styling and I headed off to make sure that everything was ready and was surprised to meet Gale in the hallway, a short bouquet of paper whites in his hand.

"Wow." He whispered, putting the flowers in my hand. "Are you sure you're Cary, my favorite chef?"

"You'll have to wait to find out." I gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "Now get going before you ruin my make-up."

The party began and I was once again absolutely gratified that it went off without a hitch. The food was perfect, decorations were gorgeous and everyone cried at some point. We were all going to be back together in eight days but the love that everyone had for each other was always palpable. It was what had made the show so special and so well-liked. And I was part of it. Michelle, Thea and I had grown closer. Peter, Scott, Hal and Bobby were good friends. And Gale ...

Our eyes met over glasses of champagne and my heart leaped at his wink. Only a matter of time now ... Ron and Danny gave their toasts and everyone finished their meals, lingering over pineapple bombes, key lime crème brulées and chocolate caramel tarts. I packed the extras in separate boxes for everyone and was picking up the plates when Stacy stopped me.

"He's waiting. Get going and have a great time."

I gave her a quick hug, reminded her that I'd have my cell phone and grabbed my jacket, shrugging it on as I left the room. When it reached outside, the most beautiful sight met my eyes. Gale, leaning against his car, waiting for me. I couldn't help it; I dashed straight across the street and launched myself into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and my mouth around his tongue.

He laughed. "I guess you're ready to go."

Fat Girl answered. "Anywhere with you."



Gale Force Ch. 18



Season Three, cont.

"So … "

"So?"

"You gonna tell me where we're going?"

"Nope. Just sit back and close your eyes and I'll wake you when we get there." I happily cuddled against him, laying my head on his shoulder and drifting off into a dreamless sleep. It only seemed as if a few minutes had passed when I felt his breath on my forehead, preceding the touch of his lips. "We're here."

Groggily, I stepped out of the car and stretched, yawning as he started pulling our bags out of the trunk. I could make out a building in the near distance but nothing more than the lights of other homes and the night sounds of forest creatures. Gale let us into the cabin and turned the lights on, illuminating freshly varnished pine floors, comfortable furniture and the jeering head of a moose. We trudged in, laughing at the spectacle and dropped our bags to take a quick tour of the place. 

Living and dining room areas were first and a spacious kitchen was around the corner, the refrigerator filled with Gale's requests and he grabbed two Tequizas for us, popping the lids and continuing up the stairs. The bedroom and a full bathroom with a clawed tub and shower were on the top floor and Gale circled the bed, sucking on his beer and eyeing both the bed and me.

"So … "

I grinned, following his earlier game. "So?"

"Wanna take a shower with me?"

"I like baths." I kicked off my shoes. "How about a bath instead?"

Gale put his beer down and grabbed me, wrenching the bottle out of my hand. "I can't wait that long." His mouth closed over mine, his tongue stabbing inward and searching mine. I matched his urgency with my own, scouring every inch of his mouth and remembering his taste. We fell onto the bed, his hips grinding into mine and a whimper of need rushed through us both, my body answering in a lift of hips and my hands on his ass. "Come on."

We both stood at the same time, ripping off jackets and shirts, pants and socks, heading for the bathroom as if we were kids at day camp, racing for the showers. I managed to strip first, jumping into the cold expanse of tile and turning the jets on. Cold, then hot water coursed out and I adjusted the temperature, basking under the refreshing waters, completely startled though aware of Gale standing behind me.

I felt the bar of soap first, then his hands spreading the blanket of bubbles across my dark skin, fingers stroking and moving around to the front and circling my nipples. He pulled me back against him, rubbing our soapy bodies together and I felt his cock ride the crack of my ass again and I opened my legs, allowing his tool to part my pussy lips. I whimpered, shivering as he moved back and forth in my warm trough, gently scrubbing me clean. His name whispered from my lips as his mouth moved across my neck and I turned around, slipping him into me. He moaned and we locked lips again, moving gently for a few moments before he pushed me back.

"Let's finish in here. I want you in the bed."

We quickly washed each other and jumped out, heading straight for the bed and landing there in a wet tangle. God, he was so beautiful! I was just breathless with the fact that I was in bed with Brian Kinney and Fat Girl was leaping for joy in my heart. But when he pulled back, his eyes searching mine before he bestowed a deeper kiss on me, I saw Gale, beautiful, handsome Gale with the sensitive heart and a jones for quiche.

I wanted to kiss my way down to his cock but he had other things in mind. He pushed me onto my back, pressing me into the pillows and moving between my legs. I felt that beautiful cock sliding along my weeping gash and I raised my knees, welcoming him into my arms. A slight adjustment and the head of his cock slid inside me, bringing groans of pleasure from both of us. I pulled Gale's head down, capturing his mouth and sucking on his tongue as he moved inside me.

It's hard to describe the beauty of someone's touch in the midst of making love. It was like a beautiful dream where everything revolved around the darkness of his eyes and the wide pink slash of his mouth, the way his back flexed and his muscles rippled and the tenderness behind his every whimper … I was lost in the dance with him. We became one, sharing breaths and movements, speaking a language that only we could understand.

A ball of heat began to build in my stomach, expanding with every thrust and I couldn't seem to get enough of him. Every stroke made my skin tingle and my toes curl. His mouth left mine and his breath bathed my ear, his groans fueling mine until we became one continuous moan of pleasure. When he changed his stokes, he found my spot and I gasped as my orgasm crashed through me. Gale raised his head, looked at me and cussed as he spilled his load into my clutching quim.

"Fuck," He gasped. "Do you always cum like that?"

"Like what?"

"God, you squeezed me so tight. You made me blow my load."

"Sorry."

Gale grabbed me and we laughed weakly. "Nothing to be sorry about." We snuggled under the covers, still quivering from our lovemaking. "I just can't wait to do it again." 



Gale Force Ch. 19



Season Three, cont.

"Good morning." I smiled, watching his sleepy eyelids flutter open. He groaned and stretched, inhaling deeply. "Hungry?"

"What have you got there?"

"Breakfast. Cheese omelets, sausage patties, bacon, orange juice and coffee." I set the tray on the side table and pushed a slice of bacon into his mouth. "Did you expect me not to be a chef?"

"No." He chewed, smiling. "What I didn't expect was for you to be up so early. You wore me out. Aren't you tired?"

"You forget," I leaned down and kissed him, savoring the feel of his tongue gently stroking mine. "I'm used to hard work. I don't get to lie around and look handsome all day like you do." His smile made my face hot. "And I am tired. I just wanted to fix breakfast for you." I reached out and touched his cheek. "You pampered me last night so I want to pamper you this morning."

"Thank you." 

His simple words of appreciation stayed with me the rest of the morning. We fed each other the meal I had prepared, then showered again, steaming up the shower with our own heat. I had thought that the times in bed were passionate but it paled in comparison to being taken from behind, his hands over mine as we leaned against the wall. I came so hard that I thought I was going to pass out and we managed to make it back to bed for a nap.

An hour later, we finally got up (after many kisses) and decided to find out what else the resort had to offer, other than the gorgeous cabin. The Algonquin Lakeside was absolutely gorgeous and I stood on the deck, gazing out across Oxtongue Lake. Gale slid up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Absolutely breathtaking." I reached back and slid my fingers through his hair, turning my head to kiss him. It was a simple thing to finish the turn and press myself against him, moaning softly as he took control of the kiss, turning me into jelly once again. 

"We're never going to get anything done this way."

I laughed. "I know. Why don't we rent a canoe and do some sightseeing?"

"Okay."

We paddled around the area and saw a huge amount of wildlife, mostly birds and a few deer and laughed a lot of the time. It was so easy to be with him and I hoped that he felt the same way about me. Certainly, the way he looked at me told me that and I found myself wishing that we could pull to the shore so he could have his way with me. After returning the craft, we went into the Visitor Center and Museum and spent an aimless hour wandering around. We had dinner in the banquet room and lingered over sirloin steak and seafood capellini, finishing with cappuccino and warmed frangelico.

On the way back to the cabin, we walked arm-in-arm, laughing and enjoying the brisk air and the beauty of nature that was surrounding us. I went to unlock the door and he grabbed my arm. "Cary, can I say something?"

"Sure." The unreadable depths of his dark eyes made me nervous. "What is it?"

He took my hands and looked down at our joined fingers. "I knew that being an actor would be a lonely job and I kind of resigned myself to being alone. I never thought I would find friendship. Not like this." His eyes found mine and I felt like bursting into tears, seeing the raw hurt in his eyes. "And I'm not just talking about the sex. I can have sex with anyone I want but it doesn't mean anything if the girl doesn't care about me. I don't want her to go to bed with Brian Kinney or with a star; I want her to go to be with Gale."

I reached up and cupped his cheek, unable to stop the tears from striping my cheeks. "Oh, baby … "

"Being with you heals my soul. When I'm with you, I feel so free and so accepted. I don't have to prove anything to you and I know that you're with me because of whom I am, not what I can give you." He took a breath, his voice shaking with emotion. "Thank you for being with me."

Fat Girl was frozen into place, deer-in-the-headlights caught and immobilized. I felt his lips touching my heated cheeks, gently kissing the tears away. I caught his mouth, running my fingers through his hair and pulled back, touching his chin. "You don't have to thank me, Gale. I'm here because I love you."

He didn't respond to my words and we kissed again, stumbling into the house and heading for the bedroom. The rest of our time at the resort went like this, peppered with side trips to a casino and a ride on a steamboat but our nights were romantic, spent with me preparing our meals and Gale making love to me until I fell asleep.

Our last afternoon there, we noticed a gift shop in the Inn and we decided to go in, taking a look around. "Should we get something?"

"Definitely. I want to remember this week."

He moved behind me, his lips hot near my ear. "I'll give you something to remember me by."

I playfully punched him in the arm. "I'm sure you will but I want something a little more tangible than my pussy filled with your cum." Just saying the words made the blood rush to my face and I looked away, feeling suddenly shy. "I want something I can touch when you're not there."

We looked around and were both caught by a crystal star with tiny stars throughout its body. I picked it up and ran my fingers along the polished edges, my mind going back to the previous night when we'd made love under the stars and how beautiful it was. I also thought about how he was a star and that the tiny stars were the many facets of his personality. This was the Gale that I knew.

"I want this." I whispered, taking it down from the shelf. 

We made the purchase and went back to the cabin where we proceeded to make love like there was no tomorrow. As the sun peeked through the clouds, I welcomed him into my body for the last time, taking both of us to the peak again and when I came, I couldn't help the words that floated out of my mouth. 

"I love you."

A moment later, Gale was cumming inside me, his mouth finding mine and our tongues dancing in the midst of our releases. He collapsed on top of me, then slid to the side so that he could hold me. He pressed a kiss to the side of my head and not long after, I heard the long, even sounds of his breathing as he fell asleep. I closed my eyes against the tears I felt burning, my heart somehow knowing that this would be the last time I'd be with him. 

I love you, Gale.

Blessedly, I slipped off into sleep.



Gale Force Ch. 20



Season Three, cont.

We got back into town on Sunday afternoon, exhausted and in a state of bliss but happy that we were back home. Gale carried my bags into the house and left me at the door with a long, deep kiss. I checked my messages and called Allen, happy that the meals had gone well and promising to meet with him as soon as I was back into the groove. Next, I called Stacy to check on her and thank her for taking care of things while I was gone. She asked about the weekend and I told her that I'd give her the gory details the next day. I was tired and after a hot shower, I hit the sack and went to bed.

Cast was back on set the next day and Gale and I went back to being professional friends, sharing touches whenever we could and continuing our Sunday meetings. We were joined by most of the rest of the cast so we couldn't replay the beautiful week that we'd spent together but the feelings were the same. He was still my Gale. Just before the last show, he received word that an audition he'd gone for had panned out and he was to star in a low-budget film called Particles of Truth. He'd be shooting in New York once the production was completed and we wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye.

The last episode was the most brutal. Scott's character had descended into drug addiction and the entire cast was affected by his gaunt look. I remember that when I saw that episode, I cried my eyes out. It was so tragic. I prepared the final party as usual but decided not to stay. I couldn't bear to look into those dark eyes which I'd come to know and love so well and know that it would be a long time before I would see them again.

At two in the morning, my doorbell rang and I got up to answer it, surprised to find Gale on my doorstep. He brushed past me, stumbling slightly and I pulled my robe closed, following him into the kitchen. Silently, I watched as he opened the refrigerator, pulled out a leftover slice of quiche, this one made with lobster, and popped a piece in the microwave. He didn't say a word as he grabbed a fork and knife and when the buzzer went off, proceeded to wolf it down as if he hadn't eaten in months.

My phone rang a few minutes later and Thea was on the other end. "Did he make it there?"

"Yes." I glanced over at him. "He's sitting at my kitchen table eating quiche as we speak."

"Good. We were worried. He was upset that he couldn't find you and said that he was going over to your place. Why didn't you stay? The party was a hit, as usual."

"I don't know. I always hate saying goodbye to you guys."

"Well, take care of our boys. And give us a call in a few days. We'll let you know what we're doing."

"No problem. Thanks, Thea."

Gale was licking the fork when I turned back to him. "Worried, was she?"

"Of course. You're in no condition to be driving."

"I wouldn't have had to drive here if you'd been at the party." He stood, a bit unsteadily, then marched right over to me. "Where were you?"

"I came home. I was tired."

"You weren't tired. You just didn't want to say goodbye to me."

I thought for a minute. "No, I didn't. I still don't want to."

"But you can't leave without saying goodbye!" He moved close enough for me to see tears in his beautiful eyes. "Cary ... "

"Gale, do you have any idea how much it hurts me ... "

His mouth descended on mine so quickly that I barely had time to react and our coupling seemed filled with desperation. We never made it to bed. With hands groping and mouths exploring, we stripped each other bare right in the kitchen, fighting for supremacy and neither winning. He pushed me against the refrigerator, pinning my arms above my head and licking a path down to my already hard nipples.

"Mmm, green apple."

I smiled at his comment about my body wash and hissed as his teeth teased my nipple mercilessly. He moved across to the other one, forcibly holding my wrists and all I could do was moan in complete pleasure. When he moved lower and nuzzled at my pussy, I nearly swooned. He kept my hands immobile and pulled me into the living room, pushing me down on the couch and bent to sample my honeypot.

I can't quite remember what happened but I knew that I came apart at the first touch of his tongue. Knowing that this beautiful man was eating my pussy out was more than I could handle. I shouted as I came, whimpering his name over and over with each ripple of my muscles. His mouth found mine again and I tasted myself on his tongue, opening my mouth wide to accept him while my legs opened for his assault. He slid into me, thrusting wildly and I matched him stroke for stroke, frantically chasing the ball of flame that was forming in my pussy and finally tripping over the edge.

Gale shouted, his climax triggered by mine and we collapsed into a quivering heap, arms and legs wrapped around each other. I tenderly stroked his back, pressing kisses to the side of his head. "Come on. Let's go to bed."

"No. I don't want to move. I want to stay right here."

"We'd be more comfortable in bed ... "

"No." His arms tightened around me and he did as usual, moving off of me and taking me in his arms. "Too tired."

I had to agree with him. I snuggled against him, sighing in happiness when he pulled the afghan over us. When daylight broke the sky, I awoke alone, the throw tucked under my chin. I could have handled it if I had not turned to see my Algonquin Inn star sitting on the table where he'd placed it and a little note underneath it that read Thank you. Gale.

I cried like a baby.



Gale Force Ch. 21



Season Four

This time, the break seemed to go on forever. I was busier than hell. The most surprising thing was a phone call I received and a subsequent meeting with Ilene Chaiken. She had heard about my catering services from Ron and wanted to secure me for her new production, The L Word. The only problem was that her production was based in Vancouver and I wouldn't be able to help her but I recommended a good friend of mine, Harry Butler and he was able to take care of that for her.

The good word of mouth brought me more business for movies and I was grateful to have Stacy helping me as usual. I heard from Jhonna and Michelle and was happy to receive postcards from Bobby and Hal as they jaunted about the world on vacations. The one person I had hoped to hear from was silent. I'd thought about calling him but I resisted, reminding myself of the reality of our situation. Perhaps that was the best thing I could have done.

The fourth season of shooting began as usual, with a huge meeting chaired by Ron and Danny and I was asked to perform my usual stellar service for a brunch. When I arrived with the last box of ribs, I was surprised to find Stacy crying bitterly in the trailer.

"What's wrong?"

It took her several minutes to compose herself and she gripped my hand, wiping her eyes. "He has a girlfriend."

I wanted to ask who she was talking about but I already knew. That was the reason that he hadn't called during break. He was occupied. I took a deep breath and forced a smile on my face, mostly for Stacy's benefit. "It's okay, Stace. We weren't a couple."

"Yes, you were. Everyone knew about it and everybody's mad at him."

"Don't be mad at him. He's a young man, a single young man. I've always known the truth about our relationship."

Stacy started crying again and I gave her a pat, heading out to the table. Everything was in place except for the last tray and I quickly loaded the pork baby back ribs onto it, checking to make sure that the sterno cans were lit. When I turned around, I saw the cast enter the room, led by Michelle and Thea who made a beeline for me. I endured both of their emotional embraces without getting too teary.

"Do you know?" I nodded to Thea's question and she and Michelle glanced at each other. "I can't believe he did that."

"He's a free man, Thea."

"No, he wasn't. This little twat got under his skin somehow. He's even gotten her a job!"

My heart sank. Great. Not only did I have to see him every day and think about her, I had to see her as well. Sharon came flying over, looking as beautiful as ever. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

"That little shit!" She cussed in typical Debbie fashion. "I can't believe that he'd do that to you!"

"Sharon, I'll tell you the same thing that I've told the girls, he's a free man. We didn't have a relationship per se. It was just a fling."

"A three year fling?" Michelle asked incredulous. 

"No, a three year friendship and getting ready to be four. Now go mingle. I've got to go check on Stacy."

I turned my back on the women, hoping that they would get the hint that I didn't want to talk about it any more and they wandered off, rejoining the major crush at the door. I was almost finished tidying up when I heard, 

"Hi, Cary."

My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. I swallowed and plastered another smile on my face. Gale stood there, as handsome as ever and next to him was a pretty girl with wavy black hair and green eyes.

"Hi, Gale."

"I'm Jenifer, Gale's girlfriend."

I saw something pass behind his eyes and he quickly looked away. I shook her outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Gale's told me so much about you. He says that you make the best quiche in town."

"He's too kind." I bit the words out, trying not to let my smile slip as my lips began to twitch. 

"That he is." She clutched his forearm possessively, gazing at him with admiration. "You'll have to give me your recipe so I can make it for him myself."

I stared at her for a long minute, then looked up at him. "Sorry. I can't share trade secrets." I gathered the empty pans. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."

I didn't wait for them to leave. I stalked out of the room, heading for the trailer. I was glad that I managed to keep myself together until I had the door closed behind me, then I sank to the couch, accepting Stacy's embrace as I joined her in a crying jag. That's what you get, Fat Girl. I shoved the knowing voice in my head away and gave myself over to my tears. 



Gale Force Ch. 22



Season Four, cont.

Production began as usual the next day except that I no longer took Gale's food to him. Jenifer came bouncing over to select things for him. I learned how to keep my mouth shut the first day when I'd prepared a special lunch for him, knowing how much he loved my roast beef French dip sandwiches. She ignored the box with his name written on it and asked Stacy what the healthiest sandwich was on the table. When she left with a steamed chicken breast and broccoli platter, I silently took his box and dumped it in the trash.

Randy pulled me aside the next day and asked what had happened between the two of us. I told him what I knew and the look on his face spoke volumes. "That's it?"

"Yeah. We fucked like bunnies and he left. That was it." I sighed. "Then he comes back with a girlfriend."

"I can't stand her. She's such a bitch." He complained. "She's only a PA and she's giving me orders and telling me how Gale likes to be touched. You never did that."

"Randy, I appreciate your feelings but Gale and I weren't a couple."

"Then what the hell were you doing the last two years?"

I shrugged. "Fucking."

"No. I don't believe that. He was too emotionally involved with you for it to have been just fucking."

I shrugged again, turning as Stacy called to me. "Sorry, Randy. I guess you know more than I know. Excuse me."

We worked steadily through the week and I was never so glad to see the weekend. Since the show was so popular and the cast had complained, shooting was limited on those days, mostly night scenes and Babylon innards. I prepared the meals and Stacy served them, giving me some blessed time off. When Sunday arrived, I sat quietly in my kitchen, paralyzed with fear as a knock came at the usual time.

"Who is it?"

"It's Gale."

I leaned against the door jamb, tears choking my throat. "Go home."

"What?"

"You heard me. Go home."

"Cary, open the door. Let's talk about this."

"No. I don't want to talk. Go home. Go to her house."

"Cary ... "

It was a minute or two before I heard his footsteps head away and I let the tears come then, upset and angry with myself for letting him still affect me and helpless against his charm. Four weeks passed and the close-knit bond between the cast members began to deteriorate, all due to Jenifer. She began to make more and more demands on Gale's behalf and no one said anything about it because they were afraid of pissing Gale off.

The last straw for me came when I was in the trailer fetching the salad dressings when I overheard Jenifer and Stacy. Jenifer had approached, asking for something particular for Gale and Stacy informed her that we didn't have it.

"What kind of caterers are you? You're supposed to anticipate everyone's needs."

"We've never had a problem anticipating Gale's needs before, Jenifer. He's never asked for sanding sugar before."

"Well," She sniffed, plucking a mini blueberry muffin from a tray and tossing it back. "There's always a first time and you should have it ready. Really, I don't know why we put up with your inadequate food. I'll talk to Ron about you."

I watched her stomp away and slowly came out, moving to Stacy who was busily arranging lunch items and putting the breakfast food away. "Did you hear that?" I nodded, placing the dressing box down. "What are we going to do?"

I knew exactly what I had to do in order to save Stacy's job and the rest of my heart. I pulled my cell phone out and dialed a number that I'd saved in Speed Dial. "Hello, Henry?"

* * * * *

After much discussion and gnashing of teeth, Ron and Danny agreed to let Stacy take over my contract as long as Allen helped her out. I was lucky that they knew Allen as well and I said my goodbyes to the cast members that I still cared for. Randy and Bobby seemed to take it the hardest among the boys and Michelle and Thea cried. I went home and began to pack my things, happy that Stacy would be coming by to check things out.

But before I left, I had one more thing to do.

I went back to the studio to give Stacy my keys and waited until Gale was involved in a scene. Once he and Jenifer were both busy, I crept into his dressing room and left my gift for him on the table. I turned my back and closed the door, taking one last look at the Algonquin star and quietly said goodbye.



Gale Force Ch. 23



Season Four, cont.

I fell in love.

With Vancouver. I thought that Toronto was fantastic but Vancouver was so wonderful and Ilene was so nice! I conferred with Henry and jumped right in, handling all the usual craft service stuff with my flair. The ladies of the L Word cast were just as beautiful as the men of Queer As Folk were and I made instant friends with Jennifer Beals, nearly salivating over the beauty that had captured the world years earlier in Flashdance.

Laurel Holloman turned out to be the person that I would become closest to. Her character was pregnant and in real life, Laurel, too, was with child. I made her small snacks, discreetly delivering them to her and always receiving a heartfelt thanks. But my biggest gasp!-oh-my-God sensation came from witnessing the still-gorgeous Pam Grier walking up the table and inspecting my wares.

Ilene introduced me to Leisha Haley, whose character's name was Alice and had a completely unpronounceable last name, Mia Kershner, who was breathtakingly beautiful, Erin Daniels, a professional tennis player on the show and the Brian Kinney of the bunch, Katherine Moennig, as woman-eating, dark Shane. The vibe was different here and I told myself that it would just take some getting used to since these people were all new to me and vice versa. Still, a secret ache filled my heart just the same and I did my best to keep busy.

Henry and I had agreed to go halves on the season which left me with a couple of months of hard work, then ... nothing. I made a life-changing decision after meeting a lovely Oriental woman named Michiko and we opened a restaurant together. Her father owned the place, a rundown Chinese eatery that we transformed into a noodle and dumpling shop. Opening was a revelation; we had advertised but I was humbled and moved to tears when I opened the doors and found Hal, Bobby and Sharon as my first customers.  

I fed them six different kinds of dumplings, three types of noodles and four accompanying sauces and took a break to have a cup of sake and talk with them. They told me about the wonderful job that Stacy was doing and that the young woman insisted that she was working on my behalf. Allen was doing a great job in providing her with much-needed support and the production was going well. Through furtive glances and uncomfortable stretches of quiet, I realized that there was something they weren't saying.

"So, how's Gale?"

Bobby looked at Hal, who glanced at Sharon. It was she who answered, reminding me again of her QAF character, Debbie. "He sucks."

"What?"

Hal touched my hand, trying to calm me. "Jenifer has consumed him. She won't let any of us talk to him unless she's present."

"Holy shit!" I whispered. "Is she drugging him, too?"

Bobby joined me in laughter but the seriousness in what Hal had said wasn't lost on any of us. "Can you come back for a visit?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Bobby."

"I think it's an excellent idea." Sharon piped up, grabbing more dumplings for her plate. "She can visit Stacy and check up on her business ... "

"While visiting with those of us in the cast who have missed her fantastic cooking." Hal grinned, looking over at his TV mother. "And maybe ... "

"One of us could hold a dinner party to welcome our friend back."

I looked at each one of them as they spoke, shaking my head negatively. "You guys have been working with each other for too long."

"That's a great idea!" Sharon exclaimed, totally ignoring me and giving Bobby a smart slap on the back. "Let's do it!"

I was outnumbered and should have given up. Bobby convinced me to arrange things with Michiko and she graciously understood. After all, we'd been working all those days straight to make the place the success that it was. We talked about things and decided that since the fifth and final season was about to begin in six weeks, that I would come up then, entering as Bobby's guest.

Everyone gave me a big hug as they left, with Hal pausing to give me an extra long embrace. "He's stupid, you know."

I sniffled, allowing myself the luxury of tears. "I know."

"He had a beautiful woman who cared about him. Now his has a pretty girl who only cares about his wallet." He pulled back, smiling into my silvery eyes. "I'd marry you in a heartbeat."

I laughed, wiping my eyes. "No offense, Hal, but you're kinda short for me." I gave him a sound kiss and pulled him to me again. "But thanks."

"No, thank you. We look forward to your rescue."

I watched them leave, unaware that people had crowded around me, asking questions about them but I didn't answer. I was thinking about Gale and wondering what the hell was going to happen.



Gale Force Ch. 24



Season Five

I had six weeks to prepare. 

In those six weeks, I worked my ass off at the restaurant, closed on a new house and leased my Toronto place to Stacy. I also went shopping again, overjoyed to see my old friends Michelle and Thea as they'd come up to help me in my search for clothes. I was getting better on being more stylish but I still welcomed their help. I related the plans to them and they were in total agreement with the boys. Thea took me to get my haircut and they headed back, anxious to see me when I arrived.

Finally, the day arrived and I headed back to Toronto, every kilometer making me more and more nervous. I pulled into my parking lot, dragged my luggage up to the flat and rang the doorbell. Stacy answered it and after several loud squeals of welcome, we got down to the business of preparing a master piece for the final season meeting. Allen dropped by an hour later and we made it a merry party, having a few drinks as we stuffed and trussed Cornish hens. 

We finished around midnight and Stacy and I went up to bed, giggling in pajamas and head scarves as we slipped off to sleep. Morning greeted us brightly at five and we loaded up the truck, headed over to the studio and had everything set up when Ron and Danny came in. Danny ran to me and we embraced warmly.

"I've missed you!" He bussed my cheeks and passed me on to Ron who happily did the same. "You look fantastic!"

"Quiet. You're not supposed to notice that. She's here with the food."

"Thank you, Ron." I laughed, turning back to my table. "That is my job."

"Are you back permanently?" Danny asked and I quickly answered.

"I could arrange that but I've taken a flat in Vancouver and I'm working with Ilene. So ... "

"I see but it's our last season and you've been here since the beginning."

"I know, Ron, but it's ... " I looked up and caught a glimpse of Gale's face. "It's kind of complicated."

"Isn't life wonderful?" Danny laughed and gave my cheek another kiss. "We'll talk later. Go catch up with everyone."

A chorus of shouts arose when I headed toward the entrance. Michelle launched herself at me, as did Thea, Sharon, Bobby and Hal. Scott and Peter remained back but both offered me kind words and welcoming hugs. I was happy to see Jack as well and he gave me a hard hug. It seemed as if everyone parted to make an aisle and Gale appeared in the center. He was still handsome but his eyes were haunted, his body language stiff and aloof.

"Hi, Cary."

"Hi, Gale." I looked around behind him. "Where's Jenifer?"

His eyes quickly left mine. "Around."

"Tell her I said hi." I whirled, giving Michelle and Thea a tenuous smile and headed back to Stacy's side. 

The final meeting began and we served everyone, topping off champagne glasses and leaving the sundry details to the wait staff that we'd hired. Stacy and I stood in the back, sucking back the alcohol and giggling. She told me about Gale and things that she'd heard, about how Jenifer wanted to spend his money but not spend time with him. About how Randy was sure that she was either married or had a man already on the side. About how the woman was interfering in everyone's relationships.

Stacy said that no one had said anything to Ron or Danny because they were afraid of repercussions from Gale and that set my drunken mind to working. I had nothing to lose. Allen had made a name for himself as had Stacy so the craft services part of the gig was protected. I decided, with the help of a lot of champagne, that I would speak with them later.

Ron and Danny got up to speak as did Bobby and Peter and somewhere in the dark, Gale ended up next to me while his precious Jenifer read the production notes. "Why'd you come back?"

I looked over, saw who it was and sipped my champagne, giving Stacy a gentle elbow so she could witness our exchange. "Because I can."

"I thought you were done with Queer As Folk."

"Contrary to the belief that the show revolves just around you," I took a long sip. "There are at least nine other people who are a part of the ensemble that forms this show."

"So?"

"So what?" I turned to him, angry. "Is this Jenifer's doing? Because the Gale Harold I remember would never act like this."

"Maybe you never knew the real Gale Harold."

"Oh, yes, I did." I hissed. "Too bad that you forgot who he was." Stacy touched my elbow and informed me that we had to serve dessert. "See you later, Gale. Hope you have a great last season."



Gale Force Ch. 25



Season Five, cont.

I left the meeting feeling like a million dollars. I had a conversation with Ron and Danny and they assured me that they'd question the cast about Jenifer's interference and just as I walked away, Randy sought their attention and I heard Jenifer's name. The fifth and final season was going to be the most interesting and Stacy and I decided the first day to have the most fun that we could possibly have. 

My palette expanded and with Ron's blessing, I was allowed to create the most elaborate meals that I ever prepared for the Queer As Folk cast. The budget was enlarged to include whatever I needed and I embarked on a somewhat extravagant but conservative menu. Paella, saffron, bok choi ... the list was endless and Stacy and I spent a busy first week making sure that we had everything we needed.

The first week, whenever Jenifer came to the table requesting specific items for Gale, I forwarded her to Ron, informing her that she was no longer allowed to come to the craft service table with those requests. I saw Gale a few minutes later, furtively looking around the table's contents and Stacy stepped up to speak to him.

"Can I help you, Gale?"

I'd ducked inside the trailer and listened from the front screened window, busily cleaning the salt and pepper shakers for the dinner meal. I saw him look up at me and I knew that he saw me but he quickly looked away. "I came for my usual breakfast."

"The breakfast that Cary usually fixed for you?"

I heard the change in the tone of his voice. "Did she fix something for me?"

"She always fixes something special for you, Gale. She just assumed that you no longer wanted it since Jenifer rejected it."

"She ... rejected it?"

"Yes. Fresh bagel, cream cheese, chives and homemade lox. And tangerine orange juice."

I looked out and saw the change on his face, the softness returning and the deep angles and planes of his cheeks seemed to retreat. "She fixed that?"

Stacy's voice was soft and understanding. "Gale, this breakfast has been available for you every day since she left. She's never forgotten." He didn't say anything and intuitive Stacy took the opportunity to retrieve the freshly-prepared breakfast for him, handing it over with a smile. "It will be here every morning if you wish to come by for it."

Gale glanced down at the bag, then looked up at me, seeming to see me through the screen. "Please ask Cary to call me about Sunday. It's very important."

"I will." Once Gale had left, I came outside, bringing a fresh tray of yogurt and granola. Stacy met me with a huge grin. "He wants you to call him." She glanced at me. "Will you?"

"I don't know. Let's see if he comes by for lunch first." 

Lunch was fried chicken and I manned the portable fryer, then handed crispy, golden brown boneless breasts to Stacy who either prepared them in sandwiches or sliced them and piled the thick chunks on mesclun, then added mandarin orange pieces and sliced almonds. I also fried up a bunch of wings earlier and two huge platters, one with mild sauce, one with suicide sauce, rested on a separate table inches away.

Stacy gave me a nudge as Gale moved through the line, opting for a chicken sandwich with extra mayo. He caught my eye for a moment and I felt sadness wash over me. I couldn't follow him as he walked away but told myself to find him later. Jenifer came up to the table, looked down her nose at the fixings and requested a salad. I know she wanted to say something to me but she kept her mouth shut and stalked off after her boyfriend.

Happily, the shoot ended at seven and I sent Stacy home early. I was locking the trailer when Gale walked up behind me. "Have a drink with me?"

We chose a little bistro not too far from the set and after securing drinks, settled into a secluded booth for a little awkward conversation. 

"How have you been?"

"Great. And you?" He didn't answer right away, taking a drink of his beer. "How's life with Jenifer?"

"Do you always have to bring her up?"

I raised my eyebrows at the vehemence in his tone. "I was under the impression that she was your girlfriend." Again, he didn't answer, sucking on his bottle. "Am I wrong?"

His response was so soft that I almost didn't hear it. "Go ahead. Say it."

"Say what?"

"I told you so."

"I wouldn't say that, Gale. I'm not Jenifer."

"I know." 

I gazed at this beautiful man and my heart melted as usual. But Fat Girl was gone for good. If we were going to do this, it had to be done right. I reached across and touched his hand, bringing his eyes up to meet mine. "Tell me." 



Gale Force Ch. 26



Season Five, cont.

Gale didn't talk. I don't know if he couldn't or wouldn't but we ended up having a drink as friends and parted ways. The next day, he came to the table for breakfast and we even got back into our old lunch way with me delivering it to him. Jenifer was usually with him and sneered at me but I totally ignored her. My dear friend Michelle pulled me aside and put a question to me.

"Do you still want him?"

"That's a stupid question."

"He thinks you're not interested any more."

"How could he think that?"

Michelle shrugged and walked away with a smile, leaving me deep in thought. After a few moments, I turned around with my own smile. Sunday. After consulting with Stacy, my confidante and partner-in-crime, I invited the cast members to our place and bright and early Sunday morning, we whipped up a host of quiches: vegetable, sausage, bacon and Gale's favorite, snow crab.

Bobby and Hal were the first to arrive, for the first time bringing their TV son, Harris. The door barely closed before Sharon, Jack, Michelle and Thea waltzed in, bringing loud laughter and cheer to the room. The last people to arrive were Randy and Gale. I welcomed Randy with a hug and sent him inside but with Gale, I reached up and pulled his mouth down, giving him a long, warm kiss. I saw that he was startled by the look in his eyes but his trademark smirk-smile brightened his face.

"Welcome."

Mimosas were poured and the fun and merriment began. I put some music on and we ended up dancing part of the time and talking the rest. I ended up on Gale's lap, laughing at one of Hal's hysterical stories and thoroughly enjoying myself. Gale and I glanced at each other every once in a while but for the most part, we silently enjoyed each other's company, our hands touching and fingers stroking.

Finally, everyone started to leave. Everyone, except Gale. Stacy made herself busy in the kitchen and he helped me gather plates and cups, clearing the living room table. We didn't say much but the sexual tension was high between us, just like it was before I'd left for the season. My kiss had sparked the flame and I was damned sure not going to let it go out.

"I guess I'd better go." I walked him over to the door and when he turned back to me, it was the perfect opportunity and I took it. Once again, I pulled his mouth down to mine but this time, his arms wrapped around me and his tongue began a gentle assault that had me trembling in seconds flat. 

"You don't have to." I whispered, running my fingers through his hair. "You can stay as long as you like."

"Jenifer's waiting."

I shook my head and went to step back but he pulled me close again, kissing me deeply and his hands slowly moved across my back. "She may be your girl but she's not your friend. She can't give you what you need."

"And what is it that I need?"

"A friend. Someone who accepts you as you are. Someone who knows your soul."

"And that's you?"

I stepped back, breaking the circle of his embrace. "That's up to you."

He held my hand for a few seconds, then turned, skipping down the stairs. I hadn't noticed Stacy's arrival but she stood in the kitchen doorway, drying a plate with a dish towel. "Well done."

I shrugged, locking the door and joining her in cleaning duties. "Only time will tell. He still went home to her."

"Yeah, but he kissed you like he was home."

I ruminated on Stacy's words for most of the following week, noticing that Gale's attitude toward me had changed substantially. When I brought his lunch, he asked me to stay and we talked about his feelings about this last season. I was very surprised to find him equally reticent about its ending and excited about moving on to other projects. I asked if he was planning on leaving Toronto and he said no.

"But I hear you bought some property in Vancouver."

"Yeah, I did. It's just a little place but the kitchen is fantastic."

"So you're planning on moving there after this is finished?"

I almost answered right away but I sensed that there was a deeper question that he was asking. "I don't know. Depends."

"Depends? On what?"

I stared at him for a long few minutes, hoping that he was understanding what I was saying. When he looked away, I knew that he understood. My moving plans depended on him. I excused myself and returned to my work. We talked every day after that, especially during the late shoots. I noticed that Jenifer would make herself busy whenever I was around, then would have words with Gale after I left. I wanted to spare him the drama but I thought it was important that he get that from her. It helped my cause. 

I had to win him away. And for good this time. 



Gale Force Ch. 27



Season Five, cont.

Two more weeks and Sundays passed and Gale and I grew closer. We had dinner one night after a late shoot and ended up going out to a club. When he walked me to the door, I resisted the urge to invite him inside, vowing not to let his body overtake my mind as it had last time. I did play tonsil hockey with him, though, pulling him into an empty room at the studio or behind a truck at the location shoots. I never did it in front of Jenifer intentionally because I didn't want him to think that I was mean but I made sure that she caught sight of us parting and of the huge smile he usually had afterward.

The fourth Sunday, he arrived with an uncharacteristic spring in his step and a huge bottle of Asti Spumante. He greeted me with sweet kiss and shoved the bottle into my hands.

"What's this for?"

"For later." He gave me a wink and turned to the others. After another great gathering, he stayed to help Stacy and I clean up as usual. I went to the bathroom and when I came back, Stacy was gathering her jacket and heading for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Over to Chad's." She had met a nice guy and had been spending a lot of her free time with him. "I'll call you later."

I told her to have a good time, then shrieked at the sound of the cork popping from the Asti bottle. I went around the corner and found Gale sitting on a stool, filling the second of two champagne flutes. He patted another stool and I sat, taking the glass that he was holding out to me.

"So, I asked you what this was for."

"Yes." He moved closer, training those dark, dreamy eyes on me. "And it's later."

"Yeah, but are we celebrating something?"

"Before I answer that, I want to ask you a question first."

My heart slammed in my chest. "Uh, okay."

"You said that you're moving to Vancouver depended on me?"

"I didn't say that."

"Not in so many words, but you insinuated it."

I took a swallow of Asti. "Yeah."

"What if I told you that I want you to sell it?"

My heart fluttered. "I would say, that depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Why?"

He looked away to set his glass down and refill ours again, a wry smile on his lips. "You were right." He lifted his glass and took a sip. "I need a friend. I need a friend, a lover, a protector and a chef."

I could barely breathe as he smiled on the last word. "And that's me?"

"That's up to you." He stroked my cheek lightly, his eyes focused on my mouth. "I haven't been the smartest of people, Cary, but I know how I felt when I was with you. I felt whole and safe. I want that feeling every day. I want to know that my friend will listen to me whenever I want to talk, that my lover will make me feel like I'm the only man in the world, that my protector will always have my back and that my chef will always make quiche for me."

I blinked and he smiled, using his thumb to wipe my tears away. "Gale ... "

"I know what I gave up, Cary. I know what I lost." My eyes closed as his cool lips touched the overheated planes of my cheeks. "Please give me a chance to convince you. Give me a chance to win you back."

"You never lost me." I whispered with trembling lips and he kissed me softly, his hand sliding along the back of my neck and into my hair. "Oh, Gale." I pulled back, wiping my face and draining my Asti, which he quickly refilled. "I'm not pretty."

"Like me? Don't get to lay around all day and look handsome?" I had to laugh at his use of my words. "No, Cary, you're not pretty." He lifted my chin, searching my eyes. "You're fucking beautiful! And it has nothing to do with physical beauty. Can you imagine how many pretty girls I've met that had no substance? I thought Jenifer was different but I was wrong."

"I don't want you to settle for me because I'm convenient."

"I'm not 'settling' for anything. You know me better than that." He caught my mouth again, his tongue delving deep. "I thought it was a joke."

"What?"

"'Once you go black, you'll never go back.'" I started laughing and he chuckled along with me. "No, I'm serious! I've never had any one make love to me like you do." His voice dropped to a husky murmur. "Because no one wanted to know me. They always want Brian."

"I don't want Brian." I set my glass down. "I want Gale Morgan Harold, the third."

"Then come and get him."



Gale Force Ch. 28



Season Five, cont.

"As of this moment, you belong to me."

I stared into his beautiful eyes and committed myself to him, to his strengths and fears, to his dreams and weaknesses. To him, to Gale. I told myself that I would forever banish Fat Girl as long as he loved me ... or at least cared about me for a certain amount of time. I hoped that I wasn't fooling myself again. Only his response would let me know.

"Not marriage, but monogamy. Not partnership, but relationship." I paused, letting my mouth walk across the scented skin of his throat. "At least for now. At least until we're sure of things. Do you agree?"

Gale stared at me, confused but understanding. "Yeah. Okay."

I cupped his chin, running my hands around his neck. "I want this to be good for both of us. I don't want you to have any second thoughts." I found myself drawn to his mouth. "Do you agree?"

"There isn't anyone in Vancouver, is there?"

"No."

"Anyone at all?"

"No."

He took a deep breath, letting it out in a sigh of relief. "Okay. Good. I was worried there for a minute."

"So," I leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss to his mouth. "Would you be so good as to follow me upstairs?"

"Upstairs?" He nuzzled my cheek, his breath warm. "And why would I want to do that?"

"So I can make love to you." I let my lips move over his ear and down his neck. "Would you like that?"

I felt him shiver. "Oh, yes. I'd love that."

I locked the door and we headed upstairs, pausing in the doorway to explore each other's mouths. I pulled him inside, shut the door and sat him down on the bed. I wanted this to be all about him, to soothe his soul and erase any bad memories. I let my hands slide down his legs as I knelt at his feet, our eyes locked as I gently removed his tennis shoes and socks. That done, I moved up to unbutton his shirt, tilting my face up to receive his kiss and shivering at the feel of his hands rubbing my arms.

I pressed the fabric open and let my hands float over his chest and abdomen, gently pushing him back. He smelled so good, his scent a combination of his natural musk and cologne that I couldn't name and I shivered again, nibbling his ear lobe and moving down to his neck. I spent a lot of time there, licking and sucking until I was satisfied with the mark I'd left, then moved down to his nipples. 

When he arched his back and moaned, I made a mental note to thank Randy for his information. His nipples were extremely sensitive and each stroke of my tongue brought a gasp of pleasure from his lips. I moved down, over his ribs and stomach muscles, stopping at the top of his jeans. It took only a few seconds to open the zipper and I kissed and licked all the flesh I could while pulling them over his hips, then buried my nose in his thick hair, licking around the thick base of his cock.

Flattening my tongue, I licked straight up, pausing to slurp up some pre-cum that was dribbling down the side before encircling the head and taking his length into my mouth. He moaned softly, his hands burrowing into the sheets and gripping them tightly. I slowly worked on him, sucking and licking while I removed my button down and pushed my own jeans off. I stood and coaxed him over to the center of the bed, then straddled his waist and took him inside me.

We both groaned and I slowly started to move, quivering each time he plunged into me. He raised his hands and cupped my breasts, rolling the fat nipples between his fingers and pinching them slightly. A bolt of sensation stabbed through me, making my pussy clench around him and drench him with even more honey. Again, we both groaned and I bent down, kissing him and sucking his tongue into my mouth in time with my movements.

I guess it was so good that Gale couldn't stand it because I found myself on my back with my handsome man pushing into me. Tingles chased each other up and down my spine and he intertwined fingers with me, pulling my hands above my head. I felt so vulnerable, so open to him but I didn't care. I pulled my knees back and opened them wide, flexing my hips to take him deep with each drive.

My orgasm was so sudden that it took my breath away. One minute, I was climbing the mountain and the next, I was falling off the edge. Sweet heat rolled through me as my pussy exploded, rippling against him and Gale snarled, his release triggered as always by my own intense one. He roared, pumping his seed into me, his mouth touching mine, then covering it completely. 

I welcomed his weight, wrapping my arms around him as we slipped into the warm haze of after shocks and tingles. I felt so grateful to be with him, to be the person he chose to share his soul with. I pulled myself into a more comfortable position, covered us with the sheets and comforter and sighed as he nuzzled my neck, drifting off into sleep. 

"I love you." I whispered softly, closing my eyes. I could have sworn that I heard I love you, too but sleep claimed me and swept me away.



Gale Force Ch. 29



Season Five, cont.

The alarm clock rang at 4:30 and I was pleasantly surprised when Gale reached over and hit the snooze bar, snuggling back against me.

"I don't want to get up."

"Neither do I." I stretched, smiling as I felt the sticky trickle of cum leaving my sore but well-satisfied pussy. I pushed my ass back against him and he growled, biting my earlobe and poking me with his stiff cock. "Is that a pickle in your pocket?"

"Uh-huh." I giggled as he nibbled again. "Kosher dill."

I arched my back and he slid in easily, moaning together as we moved together. I pulled away and rolled onto my knees and Gale didn't disappoint. In seconds, he was on his knees behind me, sinking that lovely cock into my heated depths and sending tingles through me. We moved together, my hands supporting me as I pushed back against him and Gale slamming into me, his balls slapping my clit.

I pulled myself up, pushing my body against his as we rocketed toward a beautiful orgasm and I tripped, taking him with me. We fell forward together, fingers intertwined and bodies jerking with the sensations. We breathed as one for a few moments, then I opened my eyes to find his face inches from mine, eyes glazed and dreamy. At that moment, the alarm went off again and we broke into laughter, kissing each other gently.

A tantalizing shower and a mad rush to dress and we headed separately to the location shoot. The entire day, I couldn't help wearing a silly smile and the lunch I served was probably the best I'd ever done. We served dinner that night as well and Stacy and I packed up, heading home. Except I didn't return to my old house for very long. I spent two hours with Stacy, preparing things for the following day and packed a bag, heading over to Gale's apartment. I used the keys to let myself in and found him dozing on the couch, the remote clutched in his hand.

I awoke him with kisses, covering every inch of that handsome face with my soft lips and he smiled, humming in appreciation when I found his mouth. "Wake up, sweet prince."

"I wasn't sure if you were coming or not."

"I had to do a little work for tomorrow."

He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "I'm not ruining your work, am I?"

"Not at all. I usually spend my free time preparing dishes so I'm in great shape."

"But you've been spending most of your free time with me."

"True," I smiled, leaning in for a kiss. "But I always take care of business first so my pleasure will have no worries."

Gale grinned. "Speaking of that ... " He pulled me down on the couch and I was lost again.

* * * * *

Episodes and Sundays went by, each counting down to the end of the production and that eventuality was evident in the spirited performances and the tears after each. The best thing was that Gale and I were together each night, mostly at my place due to the fact that I still had to do work for the following day. He'd sit on the couch and watch TV or read The Nation or a book and if he was really tired, he'd head upstairs, shower and I'd find him sprawled under the covers. Some nights we made love and others, we cuddled, seeking solace in each other's arms under the protective mantle of sleep.

The night before the last day of filming, we laid together, touching and stroking each other after making love, gazing into each other's eyes and I committed that to memory, noting the clear depth of his eyes and the softness of his lips. 

"What are you thinking?"

His question caught me off-guard and I teared up, wanting to look away but unable to wrench myself from his gaze. "Just wondering about the future."

"What's to wonder about?"

"Nothing, I guess." I sniffled and wiped my eyes. I went to get up but he grabbed me, pulling me back down.

"I'm not going anywhere, Cary, and I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be here." I closed my eyes, swallowing hard against sobs that were forming in my throat. "Why don't you believe me?"

"I believe you, Gale. It's just ... "

He pushed the hair out of my eyes, looking down at me. "You know when you really caught my heart? When you did that first dinner party for me and you dressed up for me. I was so used to seeing you in an apron and chef hat that you just took my breath away. You're not ugly, Cary. You're far from it. You just need a little help in the fashion and make-up department." 

"I need a lot of help."

Gale smiled. "And you know what really turns me on? You're smart. I've heard you in conversations with Ron and Hal and you're no dumbass. Do you know how fantastic that is, how important that is to me?" I nodded. I knew absolutely what significance he placed on intelligence in his relationships. "I don't fuck around, Cary. I'm not some kind of callous guy who's a horndog and just looking for a piece of ass. I want to be with someone," He gave me a soft kiss. "And I want that someone to be you. Okay?"

"Okay." 

He pulled me into his arms, laughing. "You know, you worry too much."

"I can't help it," I reached up and touched his cheek. "When I'm with someone who makes me feel like I'm dreaming all the time."

He graced me with his brilliant smile. "It was a dream to find you."

I pulled him down for a kiss and let him take me back into our land of dreams.



Gale Force Ch. 30



Season Five, FINAL

Production wrapped a few weeks later and it was truly bittersweet. We all stood on the sides, watching the final shot of Gale's character dancing alone in Babylon. I was a crying mess as was just about everyone else who was gathered around. We served the final lunch and as Stacy and I were packing, Ron and Danny came up and gave us long, warm hugs. They said that they were absolutely happy with my craft services and gave me a business card for Steven Spielberg's assistant, who was looking for craft services for a new movie. They'd given me the highest marks and it was pretty much a shoo-in.

I was overwhelmed and spent a bunch of time crying with them. Ron presented me with an envelope, a bonus check for an eye-popping amount of money and I was very happy to see that they included Stacy. When she opened her envelope, she burst into tears and launched herself into Danny's arms. We all had a laugh and a cry and they left us with kisses, reminding us of the party later. We hugged each other, packed our things for the last time and trudged out to the truck.

We went home, dressed for the party and headed over. I didn't know how wonderful I looked until Randy came flying over, howling like a crazed wolf. Stacy and I had spent a lot of time over the last week choosing my clothes for the evening and the body-hugging white dress with the slits in either side revealed the length of my legs. I still had a little baby fat but it wasn't as pronounced as it had been five years ago. I was twenty-one pounds lighter and I wanted to show it off.

Stacy had done my hair and I shook the curly waves out, allowing them to perfectly frame my kohl-dark eyes and red lips. A pair of clear high heels completed the package and I laughed happily as he spun me around.

"Where the fuck did you come from?"

"Home." I gave him a hug.

"You look fantastic!"

"Thanks."

"Well, get a drink and come over." He took our hands and escorted us over to the bar. 

We got drinks and followed him over to where Michelle, Thea, Hal and Bobby were clustered together. I got more compliments on my looks and when everyone looked past and behind me, I held my breath. 

Gale dropped a kiss on my shoulder and whispered, "You've amazed me yet again."

I smiled and turned, hugging him tightly. Sharon and Jack were with him and I moved to welcome them to the group. Peter and Scott arrived seconds later and we were complete, our Sunday group partying for the last time. Gale slid in behind me, his hand around my waist and claiming me. I leaned back against him and enjoyed our closeness. Later on, we attacked the dance floor, changing partners and laughing the entire time. Everything was a wild whirl. The party went on and Hal, Bobby, Stacy, Gale and myself all went out to another club, dancing our asses off and having a great time.

Gale pulled me aside in the hallway and gave me a gentle kiss, sliding a long velvet box out of his pocket and into my hand. He didn't speak until I'd opened it and inside lay a beautiful platinum bracelet, very simple and classically stylish. 

"I know you said that you never wear rings because you're cooking all the time so I thought you might like this." He lifted the necklace and showed me the crystal pendant, an exact replica of the Algonquin star that I'd left in his dressing room, except for a sparkling diamond in its depths. "I want you to be thinking of me whenever we're apart."

Apart? His words caused my stomach to flip-flop. "Apart?"

"I heard about your offer from Spielberg. You aren't going to turn it down, are you?"

"No."

"And I have two offers to do movies in the States. I'm not going to turn them down, either."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I want to make sure that you remember who your man is while I'm away." I wanted to cry in relief but I was too ecstatic. He latched the necklace around my neck, his fingers tracing the valley between my breasts. "You like?"

"I love." I touched it softly.

He lifted the original star out of his pocket, surprising me. "I've been carrying this around with me since you left it. I never realized exactly what it meant until you came back." He gave it a long look before slipping it back. "Thank you."

"For what?" I whispered as he gathered me close.

"For waiting for me."

"Then thank you." I leaned in for a kiss. "Thank you for believing in me." Our lips touched as the music pounded around us, drawing a close to our Queer As Folk romance. It seemed like the perfect ending. 



Gale Force Ch. 31



AFTERWORD

"There she is!" 

Randy's call met my ears as I pulled into the driveway of his new home. I had driven hours from my latest job of working on Spielberg's newest film. Though I was happy to be in the company of friends, my heart was still heavy. Gale was still in Maine, filming a movie and he hadn't been able to get away for the reunion. Bobby came skipping down the stairs behind Randy and Hal stood on the balcony, lifting his wine glass my way as I waved. They hugged me, took my luggage and escorted me inside, asking me all kinds of questions about the shoot and about Spielberg himself.

As I sat down, Hal placed a Bushmills and Coke in my hand. It took me a moment to realize that it hadn't been him. He was standing across the room from me. I swiveled around and looked up into Gale's laughing eyes. 

"You shit!" I jumped into his arms and didn't let him go for several moments. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to surprise you." He pressed kisses into my hair, murmuring in my ear. "It seems like it's been more than six weeks."

"It does, doesn't it?" I finally pulled back and offered my lips to him, whimpering softly as his mouth covered mine. "I missed you so much."

Randy came and broke us up, complaining that Gale was hogging my time and we joined the rest of the party, having a wonderful time together. Randy was seeing a model who was shooting a commercial in Los Angeles, Bobby had landed a role in an off-Broadway play and was doing VH1 specials. Everyone said that they missed my cooking so I promised to make dinner the next evening. We drank and ate into the night and it was nearly one in the morning when Hal nodded off. We all said goodnight and Gale took my hand, leading me up to the room that we were sharing for the week.

"Hey, Gale!" Randy called him back downstairs and I shucked off my clothes, running the shower and pinning my hair up before stepping inside. I was pleasantly surprised when Gale slipped in behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

"I missed you." He bent down and kissed me, putting every ounce of his passion into it and my legs turned to jelly, my pussy creaming almost immediately. "You don't know how much I've missed you."

"I think I have an idea." I stroked his cock, running my fingers over its silky smooth head. I wanted to taste him so badly ... 

Gale grinned and gave me a playful spank. "Let's wash up. We have a surprise."

I couldn't conceal my excitement and washed like a crazed woman, showering in record speed. We got out and I pulled my robe on, tugging the pins out of my hair and letting it sweep over my shoulders. Randy had lit several candles around the room and a silver platter with a bottle of Asti, two champagne flutes and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. 

"Oh, how sweet!"

Gale opened the Asti and poured while I fed him one of the plump berries, leaning in to lick melted bittersweet chocolate from his lips. We shared the berries and wine, saying very little and enjoying each other's company.

"You know, you made a lot of people jealous in Maine."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm." He set the platter aside, refilling our glasses before putting the bottle down. "They wanted to know what I'd done to get such wonderful care packages."

I grinned, recalling the bi-weekly boxes of pecan fudge, macadamia nut brittle and shortbread cookies that I'd sent to him. Along with those favorites, I'd add in different cookies and candy and I always sent him a large sugar cookie star with a big red heart on it to let him know that I hadn't forgotten that he was my man. Unconsciously, my hand drifted up to the necklace I never removed and I stroked the star gently. "Sorry."

He slid closer, setting his glass on the nightstand and untying the belt of my robe. "Don't be. I never felt so loved in my entire life." His hand slid inside, moving upward and cupping my breast, two fingers massaging the nipple into hardness. I gasped and he took my glass, setting it beside his and fully opened the robe, using his mouth to target the nipple he'd been playing with. "I'm going to make sure that you feel the same way."

His mouth moved over my stomach and I pushed the robe off my shoulders, moving into the center of the bed. Gale followed and I pulled his boxer briefs down, licking my lips as his cock bounced into view. We moved around until he was straddling my face, his prick painting my lips with pre-cum and his head between my legs. I hummed as his tongue slid down my slit, mercilessly flicking my clit while I pulled him down by his ass, forcing his stiff cock down my throat.

I had never liked doing 69 and was quickly reminded of the reason when my focus disappeared with each stroke of his tongue. I forgot that I was supposed to be pleasuring him as well and that's what always happened. I remembered and went back to my job, eating him so voraciously that he sat up, pulling himself from my mouth and cursing at me. He flipped himself around, moved between my legs and slid into me. I reached around and gripped his hips, helping him pound into me and it was only minutes before we both came, our mouths touching and our fingers interlocked.

I welcomed his weight on top of me as always and we lay still for several minutes, trying to catch our breaths. Gale snuggled against me, nuzzling my neck before turning and taking me into his arms. I sighed, resting my head on his chest and looking up at him. Just then, I caught sight of the Algonquin star on the other nightstand and I touched mine again. It was then that I knew, truly knew that Gale was mine. Mine forever. I threw my arms across his stomach and let sleep take me away.

But before I slipped away, I clearly heard, 

"I love you."

I sighed and smiled sleepily. 

"Thank you." Was all I said.