9 comments/ 26320 views/ 22 favorites Across the Pond Ch. 01 By: dagan732 Hey everyone! I started writing this a while ago and now I'm curious to see how it ends, so enjoy! There's a bit of Gaelic in it but I won't go crazy on you. Cion's full name is Cionaodh which is pronounced key OH na. The shorter version is just Key an. * Cionaodh Malloy stepped out of the lorry and made his way to the cliff which looked out over the Atlantic. The wind whipped his dark, shaggy hair away from his brilliant blue eyes and filled his lungs with the salty smell of the ocean. He breathed out forcefully but the tension did not leave him as easily as the sea air did. He looked out over the water and felt a tremor of excitement. It was familiar, he felt it every time he stood and thought of what lay just beyond. Beyond was freedom. Beyond was adventure. Beyond were the endless possibilities he thought of while lying awake at night trying to keep from feeling trapped. Behind held tradition. Behind held repetition. Behind held the ghost of his past relationships, most notably, but not most recently, Patrick. Pat had been the first man to tell Cion that he loved him, and for the two years they were together, he was the only man to exist for him. Patrick had shared his bed, his table, his house, his car, his life. He had shared everything but his own heart and had taken that when he left one day saying something about "it wasn't working". Some time after Pat there was Rory. After him there was Michael. After Michael there was a few others who ended in the same predictable way. With the last one, Cion was so tired and bored of it he hadn't even argued. He just let the poor slob drone on and on about his needs till he realized that Cion wasn't even paying attention and indignantly bitch-slammed the door on his way out. Cion kicked the dirt at his feet and watched his large boot disturb the green grass and the dark soil. A small chuckle escaped him at the thought of leaving his beloved Ireland for America and yet the desire remained. Beyond the water lay his destiny. Behind lived his mother. He so hated being a stereotype of a gay man being shackled to him mum's knee but he was all the woman had. How was he supposed to leave her alone in the big, bad wild countryside of County Mayo. He sighed again and bottled up his tension and apprehension at returning to the life that waited for him and hopped back in the lorry. He would get there someday, he thought and started the engine. The lorry made it's way, at it's own time, to Margaret Mary Malloy's shop just outside of Crossmolina. It was a small little shop full of the oddities people associated with Margaret, or M as she was known to the townsfolk. Cion walked in and heard the jingle of the many bells attached to the door mix with the sound of the rainforest meditation cd that was playing. His nostrils were assailed by the smell of sandalwood incense which he knew from experience would keep with him for days. Cion was a large man and had to gently make his way through the artfully cluttered store for fear of knocking something over. He had made it halfway when his mother came from the back room dressed in a large orange caftan that made her look like a pumpkin. "Ah Cion. Conas a ta tu, mo mhac?" "Taim go maith, Ma. Conas a ta tusa?" "Well enough." She went on speaking Gaelic. "Did you happen to see Father Murphy out there?" "I didn't." "He's been in three times this week trying to get me in to church." "Maybe you should go. It has been a while." "There's a reason it's been a while." M's back stiffened. "I've no need to go to church to hear funny little superstitions over and over and have those people pass judgements on me for not looking a certain way. Little biddies with their little church hats and beady eyes. No thank you. I've God enough right here." "For a price, Ma." "Hush your mouth, boy. God's the best seller there is next to sex." "Ma!" "Well He is and always has been. Sure and the Church hasn't sold Him enough over the years. I've always been of the mind that He shouldn't have made sex so enjoyable that people would rather have it than pray, but that's just me." "And you're my Ma and I don't want to hear words like that coming from you." "Oh grow up, son. I've had sex once or twice in my years. You might want to come around to the fact." "I've come round to it. I just don't want to come round to it again and again." M laughed and her face seemed to shed years. In her day she had been the prettiest girl in the county and now twenty nine years later, it was still apparent when she smiled. "What's wrong with you today? Your aura's all wrong." "It's all the red meat I've been eating." Cion answered dryly. "You're damn right it is, but that's not it. Your heaviness is weighing you down." "What heaviness is that, Ma?" "I surely don't know or I'd have said it and not been so vague about the 'heaviness'. Why don't you tell me?" "Cause I don't know what you're talking about." "Shite, don't joke with the jester he's heard 'em all." "What does that even mean?" "It means tell me if you want, don't tell me if you don't want, but don't lie to me, boy. I've seen it all and heard the rest." Cion picked up a small stature of Kwan Yin and fiddled with it in his hands. "You're thinking of Andrew?" M asked. Cion had been blessed with so open a mother that she hadn't batted an eye when he had told her he was gay. Sometimes though, he wished she weren't as comfortable as to ask him about his sex life. "Who?" "Andrew, the boy who left you? The one you've been spending time with? Remember him?" "Barely. No. It's not Andrew. He said it wasn't working and I had just been trying to find a way to tell him myself." "Fine. If it's not that boy, then it's another boy." "It isn't." "All right. Then you don't want me to know." "I don't. Not really, Ma." "I see. How can I help if you won't tell me what the problem is?" M sighed, a sound remarkably like her son's, and slapped her palms face down on the table. "Well, if you're not going to tell me what's wrong, you can come in the back and fix my drain." Cion listened to his mother without paying close attention to a thing she said, a talent he had learned early in his life. At any given moment, should his mother quiz him on something she said to make sure he was listening, he could repeat word for word the last couple of sentences. However, the overall gist of it was lost on him. He was just about done with the drain, and she just about done with the story of how Anne O'Casey had insulted her new caftan when the bells rang out. "Hello? Aunt M?" "Grand," M said in a whisper. "Now you're cousin's here." "Leave off, he's a good kid." Cion said in Gaelic, then switched to English for Tommy's benefit. "We're back here, Tommy." Cion called and pulled himself out from under the sink. A young red headed man bounced in smiling from ear to ear. "All right, Cion?" "Fine, Tommy. How's it with you?" "Grand. Auntie M?" "You smile more than an idiot with ice cream." "I've got a lot to smile about." Tommy said, not taking offense. "I've got a great family, a great job and a great girl. Life's grand." Tommy chuckled, then sobered. "Sorry about the 'great job' thing, Cion. No offense." "None taken, Tommy." Cion said glumly, realizing it was too much to hope for that his mother hadn't heard it. "What's this about the job?" "I got fired, Ma." "What?! Why?!" "They didn't need me anymore." "Like hell. They've been looking for men from all-." M stopped short in her tirade. "That's it, isn't it? They fired you because you're gay?" "No, Ma. It doesn't matter. I'll find somewhere else to work." "Cion, you've worked for near everyone who will hire you in the county." "Shut up, Tommy." Cion barked. "Ta bron orm, mo mhac." `I'm sorry, my son.' "Nil aon rud, Ma. Ni bhaith ag caint le e liom." `It's nothing. I don't want to talk about it.' M took a deep breath and sighed. "When are you going to teach me Gaelic?" Tommy asked. "Your mother speaks it well enough. Why don't you ask her to teach you?" M pointed out. "I have. She says it's a peasant language." Tommy answered. "Sounds like something your mother would say." M scorned. "You'll stay for supper, Cion. Tommy?" "I've got nothing better to do. Thanks Aunt M." The three spoke of local town things as they closed up M's shop and walked the block and a half to her flat. Walking up the steps, Cion sniffed in the scent of the small apartment and groaned. 'Not vegetarian Chicken and Dumplings again' he thought. Even though he had been young when his mother became a vegetarian, he had never taken to the diet preferring to eat over his friends houses or hiding little sausage tins in his room. "Smells great!" Tommy said as he bounded up the stairs. "Stop making a racket, boy-o. You'll shake the house down. Every where you go, you're always bounding here and bouncing there." M called after him. "I'm just a happy-go-lucky guy, Auntie. That gives me energy." Tommy answered. "You've got freaky energy, is what I call it. Too much of one and not enough of the other." "The other what?" "The calming energy. You need a balance in your life." Cion stopped paying attention and let them go on with their usual discussion even though he knew his mother loved Tommy and found his energy amusing. M's sister, a stern, unhappy woman who disproved of M's life choices, not to mention his own, came over for tea once a week because she felt it was her family duty. Her son, Tommy, however coming from a strict Catholic family, loved the everything-goes philosophy that his Aunt M espoused and was always a frequent guest. "Cion?" He was brought out of his mental wanderings by his mothers voice. "What?" "Did I ever tell you of my friend, Sharon Burgoyne?" "Is this the friend who you went drinking with behind your school there?" Cion asked. "No, that was Kelly Donahue. Sharon was the one I went to Dublin with when we were both supposed to be staying over the other's house." "No, ma. I don't think you've mentioned her." "Well, I got a post card from her not too long ago." "How is she, then? Getting along alright?" "Oh she's grand. She's a nurse. Has a nice big house. Fine husband. The kids look nice enough, though not too smart." "That's great, Ma. Tell her I was asking for her." "Why don't you do that yourself when you go for your holiday. I think she can get you a job. Her husband's in construction and what not. Might be able to get you something for a couple of months. Just for some pay while you're staying there." Cion was totally confused as to why he was going anywhere much less to visit some old mate of his mum's. "Ma, what are you on about?" "I don't see the issue, boy. What aren't you getting?" Cion's mother always did have a waspish side. "Why would I go and stay with someone you used to sneak off to Dublin and drink with?" "I thought you could use a change of scenery." His mother answered innocently. "Oh? Where is she? All the way over in Galway then?" "Didn't I mention? She lives in Queens." "Queens? Where the hell is Queens?" "It's New York, Cion." Answered Tommy. "That's in America." He finished as if Cion were slow. Cion felt slow at the moment and had trouble catching up. "America?" "The land of the brave and home of the-." "No, Auntie, it's the other way-." "Don't be correcting me, ya' ijeet! It's the land of the something and the home of the something else! The freakin' whopper! Who cares?! It's America. They're all fat and lazy and spiritually bereft if you're asking me." "Ma," Cion interrupted. "I can't go to America." "Why not?" His mother asked. "Because...." Cion couldn't think of a reason, at least not a reason he wanted to share. He didn't think his mother would take too kindly to the thought of her staying all alone. But it was too late. His mother had indeed guessed that might be the cause of his reticence. "Am I so feeble I can't get round without you? In the land of my ancestors whose blood, sweat and tears cover ever rock from here to Cork and from Dingle to Belfast? Am I so old that I can't do for myself in a county I've lived for longer than you've been alive?" "No Ma, that's not it. It's just that.." "Cion," Tommy began. "Just go. You know you've wanted to go for forever. Just go before you can think of some stupid reason not to. I'll look after your Ma like she's my own. I do anyway." M smiled and kissed her nephews cheek. "How did my numpty of a sister get a child as good as you?" She asked. "I think I did something really bad in my last life." Tommy answered and M laughed wholeheartedly. "I don't know what to say." Cion asked. "Cad ta i do chroi, mo mhac?" `What's in your heart, my son'. "An mhaith tu teigh a Meiricea?" `Do you want to go to America?' "Is maith." I want to. "Cinnte. Rachaidh tu ar a Meiricea." `Sure. You will go to America'. M looked at Cion and smiled. "Nil imni ort, Cion. Beidh me go mhaith." `Don't worry, Cion. I will be fine'. "Go raibh maith agat, Ma. Ta gra agam ortsa." `Thank you, Ma. I love you'. "Ta failte romhat, mo stor. Ta gra agam ortsa freisin." `You're welcome, my treasure. I love you too'. Cion made the necessary arrangements over the next few days for his trip over seas. His mother had made him get and keep an updated passport since he was a child in the off chance they would ship off to some other corner of the world to experience tribal native life in the Outback of Australia, or find some herbal cure in the rural areas of India. They had both never left the country. Now it was Cion's chance and he was having trouble believing that he was actually leaving. "You'll check in on her every day, Tommy?" Cion asked his cousin. "We'll be fine, mate. Go over and have fun." "Everyday, Tommy." "Jesus, Cion! You're going to America. They have phones or so I'm led to believe. You can call every once in a while to see for yourself that she's fine. I'll be no more than a minute away the entire time you're gone." "All right. Right. You're right. All right." Cion droned on, trying to assure himself that nothing was going to happen while he was away. "You should see a doctor while you're over there. Get some good meds and such. I hate to tell you this, but you're a bit high strung." Cion knew Tommy was kidding but the joke still hurt. "She's all I've had my whole life, Tommy. I never knew my Da and there was no one looking for the job. Your Ma and Da don't really get us and there's not much effort lost in trying on either side. You and Ma are all the family I've had." "We'll be fine, Cion. But now it's time for you to go out and find something for yourself. Your Ma made her life and she's happy in it. She knows you haven't been happy for a while. She wants you to go. You know she wrote her friend in Queens, not the other way around?" "No, I didn't know." "Don't go looking like you'll be an unwanted guest at dinner. From what I heard of your Ma and Sharon talking away at each other on the phone they're still thick as thieves so they'll probably be excited to see you when they get there. They almost convinced your Ma to go visit too." "Ma? Leave Ireland?" Cian asked in disbelief. "Shite, leave Mayo? It's unheard of." "Ah well, people grow and change." "When did you get so wise, Tommy?" "Thursday. I think it was something I ate." "Well, here's to it passing." Cion said and handed his cousin a beer. The two sat down at the kitchen table in Cion's small house by the sea. Rather than move to the town with his mother, he had chosen to buy the small cottage from her and make his life. He didn't realize then that the life he would build would have been so lonely. "I'm glad for you, Cion." Tommy began. "I've known for a while that you were not meant for the likes of this place." "What do you mean? I love this place. I grew up here." Cion argued. "I know and it'll always be a part of you. But you were meant to go see more of the world than this little corner." "I'm only going as far as Queens. Not exactly a grand tour." "It's not, no. But it's a change, or maybe a start." "You're starting to sound like Ma when she burns her 'special incense'." "That stuff's magic, isn't it?" Cion just laughed. "When are you leaving?" "Tomorrow morning. I still can't believe I'm going." "I'll be here bright and early to see you to the airport. Said goodbye to your Ma then?" "She'll be here in a bit. She wanted to have dinner tonight and not see me tomorrow. She's no good at send offs." "No, she's not. Remember Dylan O'Reilly's wake?" "Ah Jaysus, do you have to bring that up? It's been four years. The town's just starting to forget." "Forget?! I wish I had a video." "Never that, boy-o. Do you know how many people I had to apologize to?" The men of the town still giggled at the memory and shook their heads at M's antics. "Right well, you'd best be off so you can be here bright and early to collect me. And you'll be staying here while I'm gone? Your own little bachelor flat?" "I will, though it made the little woman a bit put out. She actually forbade me to stay here until I reasoned that there was no one else to tend to the place." "That would be Katey McAffee?" "The same." "I'm not sure about her, Tommy. Seems she can't open her mouth unless she's telling you which way is up." "Sure and she's Irish, isn't she? An Irish woman can't breathe unless she's correcting some Irish boy's silly ideas about himself." Cion laughed. "Not thinking about changing teams, are ya? I've got some friends I could probably meet you out to." "Shite! It's not for me. Women may be frustrating but men are damn near intolerable. I should know. I am one." "Ah well. Tisn't for the faint of heart." Cion added as his cousin stood and made his way to the door. "Cion, have a really great time. Maybe I'll come visit you." "We both know you won't, Tommy." "I'll be here in the morning." "As will I." Cion didn't have to wait long before his mother opened the door and blew in with a gust of the small spring squall outside. "In a few more hours you won't have to deal with the likes of this weather." She said. "I'm pretty sure they have weather in America, Ma." "Not the likes of ours." "No. Probably not." Cion said and let the reminder that he'd be leaving his beloved Ireland stand. "Should I send you something from across the pond then?" "Oh you could send small little trinket, if it catches your eye." Cion translated in his head that his mother wanted something specific but wouldn't come right out and ask for it. "A new scarf?" "Ah no, I've loads of those." "Ah. A new Buddha statue or one of Lakshmi?" "Why would I want one from America, when they're cheaper from India and they both come from the same place?" "Perhaps you'd like to give me some suggestions then, Ma. I'm not good at guessing." "Well, I wouldn't mind something Native American if you could find it." "I don't think they've too many Native Americans running about in Queens." "Well, if you come across something." "I'll keep my eyes peeled." Cion took the vegetarian burrito he kept for his mother's visits out of the stove along with a large steak meant for himself. He served them both and sat down to take a pull off his ale. "You know, cooking the steak with the burrito cancels out the vegetarian part." "There's no meat in it." "No, but there's the smoke from the piece of rotting cow you're eating. It got in my food." "Jaysus Ma, why don't you just bring something of your own then. I'm not giving up meat just cause you did." "I'm not asking you to, just not to cook them together." Across the Pond Ch. 01 "Fine! I'll cook them separate from now on. Let you eat a cold burrito." They ate in silence, only cutting their food, chewing and swallowing. "I'm sorry, boy-o." "I know, Ma." "I've not raised you to be a mama's brat but this is the first time you've been away." "I know, Ma." "What'll I do?" "Tommy said he'd check in on you." "Tommy can't take care of himself." "Say this is all right, Ma. Please. I love you with all my heart but I've got to go. I want to see what's out there. I feel like I'm meant to go." "What's over there, that's not here?" "That's what I'm after finding out." "Ah that's bollocks." "It isn't, Ma. I really do feel like there's something over there for me." "I know." M said with resignation. "And I want you to go." "You're ok with it now?" "I am. It was my idea after all. I just didn't know it would hurt so bad. I'll miss you." "I'll miss you too. Give us a kiss, Ma." Cion's mother kissed his forehead. "Fancy a game of Spoil 5 after?" "I wouldn't mind." After dinner and a couple of hands of the card game, M stood and threw her coat about her. "Ma, you could stay. It's a little stormy out there yet." "Just a bit of the wet. I'll be fine. Besides, I've slept on the couch. It's horrible." "You can have the bed, Ma. I'll sleep on the couch." "No, you've got your cousin coming in the morning and that baffoon will be banging the door down earlier than I think is sensible. Besides, you've got your big adventure to get ready for." "I do, yeah. At least let me drive you home. You've got nothing but your vespa." "I'll be fine, Cion." M threw her arms around her son and squeezed him tight. "I'm proud of you boy. I wish your father was around to be proud of you too." "He'd probably hate me for a poofter." Cion said. "Never say that!" Cion's mother grabbed his face and stared into his eyes. "Your father was a good man. Open minded, not like these knackers! He loved you when I told him of you, and he would have loved you when you told him who you were. Never think that he wouldn't have." "All right, Ma." "You go to America. Show them what being Irish really means." Cion chuckled. "I will, Ma. I love you." "I love you too. Call me when you land." And she left. Cion started packing the last of his bags but fell asleep on his bed, clothes strewn about and the peat fire crackling. Tommy opened his cousin's door at quarter to five in the morning. He crept through the house, whispering Cion's name and giggling that there was no way on God's green earth that he would hear him. Cion slept like the dead and always had. Tommy bent over and with his mouth very close to Cion's ear shouted as if to wake the dead. "Jaysus! What the fuck are you on about?!" Tommy couldn't answer, he was laughing too hard. "Seriously! What the hell is wrong with you?" "Just waking you up." Tommy lied through his guffaws. "I've been here for minutes trying to bring you around but you just wouldn't come to." "You could have tried a softer approach." Cion said more gruff than angry now for he knew his deep sleeping was troublesome. "Right. I'll remember that for next time. Now we've got to get you to your flight. You're leaving in an hour." Cion looked at the clock on his dresser and saw that time was indeed upon him. "Oh fuck! I've got to take a shower!" "Go take a shower. I'll bring your bags to the lorry." Fifteen minutes later, Cion climbed into his cousin's truck and they headed to Knock airport. It didn't take them long to get there and when Cion climbed out of the truck and grabbed his bag he was surprised by a feeling of home sickness. "I haven't even left yet and already I want to come home." He said to his cousin. "In a few hours you'll be landing in America and won't give us another thought." Tommy said. "Ah sure, you're right. What's there to think about really." Cion laughed. "That's the spirit. Now get out of here and let me go back to my new pad. I've grand plans for the old place." "You will buy new sheets. I'm not coming home and sleeping on something that you've been on." "What do you think me, a tinker?" "Well, you sure as heaven smell like one." "Get going, you ass. You don't have time to be standing talking to me." "Right. Take care of yourself and take care of Ma." "We'll be fine." Cion gave his cousin a slap on the back then left to head into the airport. It wasn't long before he was seated next to an old woman heading to visit her daughter in New Jersey. Thankfully the woman was stone deaf and after a few failed attempts at communication they gave up leaving them both to their own thoughts. Cion stared out the window as he watched the ocean below him slip by. 'I'm actually leaving.' he thought. 'Let's see what's next.' The plane touched down at J.F.K. airport and unloaded it's passengers to their next destinations. He left the gate and saw a woman holding a sign with his name on it. She was about the same age as his mum so just the right age to be her friend. He was about to head over to her when she spotted him and jumped up and down. "Cion! Over here!" She shouted and made way to a break in the crowd. "Sharon, yeah?" "It is and you're Cion. I'd know you anywhere. Come, let's collect your bags then we'll get you home. Good flight, was it?" "Not bad, especially being my first." "Ah, then you've not really been around yet?" "No, this is the first time I've left Ireland. I've been all over the island but never off it. Oh wait, that's not true. I've been to the Isle of Man once but that wasn't by choice." Sharon laughed. Cion marveled at her accent. He could hear the Irish brogue but it sounded flattened and more like an American accent. "It never is. So it's sort of a spread your wings and fly thing you're after." "I imagine it is." Cion agreed, hoping he'd understood her meaning. "Well, you feel free to do whatever it is that you need to do." Sharon said and led the way to the baggage carrousel. After grabbing his bags, Cion followed Sharon out to the parking lot and her car and was struck by how big the airport was. "It's like a small city." He commented. "Queens? Yeah." "No, the airport." Sharon laughed. "It's quite big. One of the biggest and busiest. Just like the city. Ah Cion, I have a feeling you're going to love New York." "I've no doubt. It's good to be away from home for a bit. I have to tell you I was a bit homesick leaving." "I cried the whole first year I was over. But now this is home and I only go over there for holiday." "I'm very thankful you're doing this, Sharon. I was a little wary about dropping in on you and yours when Ma suggested it." "Don't have a fear. You're more than welcome, truly. I was excited when Margret mentioned it." Sharon gave Cion a sideways glace. "You know, Cion she told me about you're being gay." Cion closed his eyes and flushed a bit. 'Thanks for interfering, Ma' he thought. "Don't worry a bit. We don't mind at all. My husbands sister is a big ol' dyke and we love her to death. Plus there's loads of lovely men over here for ya." Cion grimaced imagining a stream of blind dates set up by his hosts. Sharon laughed. "Now don't give yourself a migrane there, Champ. You're an adult and you can fend for yourself just like the rest of us. Course if you like I do know one or two male nurses that I could introduce you to." "Thanks all the same, Sharon but I think I'll try that 'fend for myself thing' you mentioned. It sounded grand." Sharon laughed not at all offended. "Well, you just let me know if you change your mind." They drove on a bit talking of this and that, mostly the old country and the new as Sharon wove the small s.u.v. in an out of Queens mid day traffic. The neighborhoods changed so drastically that Cion felt as if he were going through different countries every few minutes. Finally they came to a residential area with fine old houses and Sharon cursed as she fought for parking. "I do hate driving though. If it were up to me, we'd get rid of the cars and stick with the subways and buses. So much easier." She found a place and Cion stretched, sick of sitting for so long. "You all right there?" Sharon asked. "Just a bit of a crick in the back. It's good to be finally done with the traveling." "I bet." She said and helped him unload his bags from the car. "We've only a bit of a walk since the fecking wanker that's dating my daughter blocked our drive again." They walked the block and a half from where Sharon found a parking space to her house and as they came to the door, Sharon turned to Cion. "We really do want you to feel welcome. I love your mother like she's my own sister, so that makes you family." "Thanks Auntie Sharon. I'm pleased to be here." Sharon smiled, opened the door and lead Cion into the din that was her house. Loud music blasted from downstairs, while someone was shouting upstairs and amidst all that two large retrievers started barking announcing the new arrivals. "I'd like to say this is unusual but actually it's a bit quiet for a Wednesday." "It's all right. I don't mind." "How could you not?" She said. "Leave your bags here. We've given you the downstairs room and I'll help you unpack in a moment. First, let's meet everyone." She led the way up the small flight of stairs and into the kitchen. A man stood in the kitchen talking on the phone until he noticed her and told whomever he was speaking to he'd have to call them back. "Cion, this is my husband, Jake. Jake, this is M's boy Cion." "Nice to meet you, Cion." Said the man, with a native New York accent. "It's nice to have you here." "Thanks, I appreciate you letting me stay." "No problem. Sharon says your mom and her were best friends back in Ireland." "Thick as thieves if I heard right." Cion said. "If she told you half of the things we did, then I'm in trouble." Sharon said as a young man walked into the kitchen. "Cion, this is Alec. He's just about to graduate from high school." "Ah congratulations, Alec. Are you going into construction like your Da'?" The boy scoffed and rolled his eyes. Jake tapped him on the back of the head. "What did I say about being rude?" "Sorry. No, I'm not going into construction." Though there was an apology it had only a hint of sincerity to it. Cion waited for a moment for the boy to elaborate then figured that was all he was going to get. "Grand. Well, good luck and congrats all the same." "Thanks." Alec said and went to pour himself a drink. "Teenagers." Jake said apologetically. "Where's Jess?" Sharon asked. "In her room." Replied Alec. "With Michael." "Excuse me, Cion." "No bother. If I knew where I was staying I could unpack." Cion said. "Sure, I'll show you." Jake led the way downstairs to a den with large glass doors leading to the back yard, and then to a nicely furnished spare room. "We made this up for my mother when we thought she was going to move in but she decided to move to Arizona. There's a bathroom on the other side of the den that will be for you." "It's magic. Thank you." Cion said, truly impressed. "It's great to have you here. I'll let you get settled." Cion unpacked his bags into the empty dressers he had found and laid on the bed a bit jet lagged from the flight when there was a knock at the door. "Come in." He called and Sharon opened the door and sat down on the bed. "Is it all right?" "Sharon, it's perfect. I would have been happy with a small room and a tin of biscuits." "Well, we can lend ya a bit more than that. I'm really glad you're here, Cion." Sharon turned and looked at her guest from the corner of her eye. "Jaysus, you're the spitting image of him." "Of who?" "Your Da'. Didn't you know? That man could set fires just by staring at a woman." "I didn't know. Ma doesn't have a lot of pictures of him." "No, that'd be cause she's a bit of a broken heart. They fell for each other hard as nails, those two. Couldn't see anyone else. Twas a real bad break when he died. I went back for the funeral. That's when she told me about you. She had just found out she was pregnant. Things were still bad for an unwed mother then. Not like over here, where the eejits wear it like a badge of honor, or rather a paycheck. The whole town turned their backs on her. Even your grand da and mum. They were a bit priggish anyway. The only people who would be nice to her and didn't judge was the hippy commune down near Westport. You know, the ones that sing and chant and sell health food and what not." "Oh yeah. Ma took me there nearly every weekend. So that's why she did the vegan thing?" "Right. I think they helped her through your Da's death. She probably would have been an old, bitter thing if they hadn't." "Thanks for telling me, Sharon." "No bother, sweeting. Anyway, I'll let you get settled and we'll have dinner. I'm thinking for the rest of the week we'll show you about Queens and save Manhattan for the weekend?" "Sounds good. When would Jake like me to start work?" "When you want to. There's no hurry." "I'm not going to live off of you, Sharon. You've been nice enough letting me stay here as it is. I'd like to pay." "Well, you won't and you'll only insult us if you try." Sharon came and sat next to him. "Your Ma is my best friend, like my sister, I'm not lying. That makes you my nephew. Think of this as a whole bunch of Christmas and birthday presents combined. You'll stay for as long as you like and won't pay a cent. Jake agrees." "That's very nice of you but-." "No. You're on holiday. When you move here, then you can pay rent but not until then. Understand?" "I do, ma'am." Sharon laughed. "Good. We'll be eating in about twenty minutes." "I'll be up then. Thanks again, Sharon." "No bother, love." Cion sat down on the bed and sighed. He was finally here, his beloved America and he had absolutely no clue as to what he was supposed to do now. Across the Pond Ch. 02 The rest of the week, Sharon and her family showed Cion what Queens had to offer and showed him Manhattan during the weekend. He was enthralled. Bright lights and big city were words that could never have hoped to do New York justice. As they drove along the streets or made their way through the subways, Sharon made a point to show Cion every gay bar she knew of or suspected. Her son Alec had scoffed when he had found out Cion's preference till Jake tapped him upside the head. "We don't judge in this family." He said with a strength behind his words. "Don't worry, Cion." Jake and Sharon's daughter Jess said. "He hasn't even had a girlfriend so what does he know. He could very well be gay too." "Jess, stop aggravating your brother!" Sharon yelled, then went back to whatever it was she was saying about New York. Cion had gotten used to the whirlwind that was the Burgoyne-DeLuca family. Their love was apparent but the parents gave their children no quarter when it came to disrespecting others. And all in all, Cion had to admit that the kids were pretty good kids, even Alec. He definitely felt welcome with them and looked forward to his time here with more excitement, but couldn't shake the feeling that he was looking for something. How was he supposed to find something in a city this big when he didn't know what it was he was supposed to be searching for? They called it an early evening Sunday and went home for dinner rather than eating out as they had most of the week. Everyone seemed tired but happy with the fast paced tour they had given Cion and happy to have a nice quiet evening at home. Even Alec's music, usually rather loud, was quiet and subdued. Sharon and Jake sat on the couch, her legs propped up on his, reading and unwinding from the day. "You have a minute, Jake?" Cion asked as he came up from his room. "Sure. What's on your mind?" "I was wondering if I could start at work tomorrow with ya?" Cion asked and saw Sharon frown. "We told you, Cion. You're not to be paying us anything, so why don't you take some time for yourself?" Sharon argued. "Sharon, if I did that I'd likely go off the rails. I've been working since I could spit in a dogs eye. I'd really feel much better with something to do." "If you want to, Cion." Jake finally relented. "I do." "Great. I leave around six in the morning." "Grand." Cion said, smiling. "It'll be great craic, Jake. You'll see." Cion left to go downstairs to his bedroom. Jake looked at Sharon. "What the hell did he say?" Sharon only smiled. The next morning, Cion's alarm rang at quarter after five and he pulled himself out of bed like a hibernating bear who thinks it's a bit too early to be lumbering about. Once under the shower spray, set to tepid to help him wake up, he felt more human and able to meet the day. He dressed quickly and was upstairs as Jake was buttering a slice of toast. "Morning." Jake greeted cheerfully. "Morning." Cion's greeting was not as cheerful. "Wow. You know, you don't have to do this." "It's fine, Jake. I'm just a bit slow in the morning is all. I'll have me mother's milk and be right as rain in no time." "Your 'mother's milk'?" Jake asked. "Aye. Tea, I believe you Yanks call it." "Oh right. Um... not sure where it is. Sharon's turned into more of a coffee drinker." "She keeps it right over there in the cabinet. She was sweet enough to buy it special." Cion said as he set the kettle to boil and took out two bags. "We've time, yeah?" "Yeah. We've got another couple minutes. You sure you're going to be good with just that? You wouldn't want toast, or eggs or something?" Jake asked. "An Irishman can go to war on one of three things; love, whiskey and tea." Jake laughed. "I'll have to remember that." They arrived home later that night, tired but feeling a sense of accomplishment. Jake was suitably impressed with Cion's work and Cion was happy that Jake was impressed. They walked in the door and Sharon came to meet them. "Jesus! You both look like hell. Go take your showers and I'll have supper on the table when you get out." They both agreed and went to their respective rooms to change. Cion stripped down in the bathroom and turned the shower on allowing it to steam the room up nicely. After the work out he had today, his muscles would need some relief. Not that he wasn't used to manual labor, but the extra effort he used to convince Jake that he was capable took it's toll. Cion used his hands and wiped some of the condensation away from the large mirror in front of him and thought of Sharon's comparison of him and his father. He had seen very few pictures of Dylan Malloy when he was growing up and had thought that his father and mother had been married until finding out that M had legally changed her name after his death. He stood at the mirror, all six feet two of himself and smiled. His teeth were white and thankfully straight as he thought if there had been a problem, his mother would have tried crystals or blue green algae before braces. His dark hair was a bit long, but it suited his face which he usually swept it back from. His eyes were bright blue and his lovers often said they changed with his moods. His lovers also said he often had the look of Clive Owen but with his goatee, Cion couldn't see it. His chest was muscular and sparsely covered with hair. His arms were muscular from the many years of hard work and his stomach was flat despite his non-vegetarian diet. All in all, he thought he made an attractive package and wished he would soon find the man that would steal his heart and gladly give him his. And with a sigh, he slipped into the water and let his worries wash away. The week went on pretty much the same as it had started. Cion loved the work, the new challenge and the area. It was exciting being in Queens, where all he had to do was stop in the local pub to hear a bit of home and look to the east to see Manhattan stand so tall and pretty. Some nights he would go up to the roof of the house and stand watching the city sparkle and shimmer in the summer heat. The breeze that would blow by him was so warm it felt like a hot whisper against his skin. But he couldn't bring himself to go exploring much more than to the local store. Something held him back and he wasn't sure what it was. "You should go out." Sharon began to push him as he sat in one weekend. "You've been here two weeks and you haven't stepped outside the door. Go out and make some friends. If you want I can call some and ask if you could tag along." "Thanks, Sharon but no. I couldn't do that. I'd feel awkward. Besides, they're already friends. I'd just be an unwanted addition." "You wouldn't though. At least let me call one and ask for a nice place for you to go." "You'd better let her, Cion." Jake said. "You'll never hear the end of it if you don't." "I'll go with if you like." Sharron offered, her face bright with the thought of going to a gay club. "Again Sharon, thanks but no. I'll go on my own. It'll be grand." And with that it was settled. Cion worked the week with Jake and his crew, took his pay and bought some new clothes with the help of Sharon's daughter Jess. She was young, but Cion had to admit, she had an eye for good clothes and he trusted her to show him what was in style. Sharon met them as they got back to the house with their arms loaded with bags. "I see you had the help of our professional shopper." Sharon said nodding at Jess. "I did and she was magnificent. Apparently I needed more than I thought I did." Cion grinned. "You got him good deals on all of it, Jess?" "Course I did, mom. As you said, I'm a professional." The teenager smirked. "Have a great time tonight, Cion. I'd say that I'd go with you but there's no chance in hell." "You can say that again, miss." Sharon nodded. "You're lucky your father allows you an occasional beer when I'm not looking. You won't set foot in a bar till you're twenty one." "That's such crap though. You were in bars when you were sixteen." "I grew up in Ireland. You don't. Live with it." "So when we go to Ireland again I can drink?" Jess looked hopeful and her mother looked trapped and unhappy about it. "We'll discuss it then." She said and watched her daughter head up to her room. "I imagine they grow up fast." Cion observed. "Faster than you'd like and slower than is safe for them. When they get to be this age you just pray for them to be safe." She sighed. "Are you excited about tonight?" "I guess I am. A little nervous though. There are gay clubs in Mayo but I'm going to be a bit on my own tonight." "I told you I'd go with you. I still can. Or I can call my friends." "No. I need to go out on my own tonight. Perhaps another time. Thanks." "No bother. And don't worry about needing to be discreet. The door downstairs won't wake us up." Cion blushed but nodded, making Sharon smile as he headed to his room. He didn't eat dinner, preferring to pick something up on his way out. Cion spent an hour lounging about his room before getting ready and heading upstairs to say goodnight to his hosts. Jake and Sharon were in their usual places on the couch watching t.v. "Jake, Sharon I'll be heading out now." Cion said and they both turned. "Oh Cion! You look devastating!" Sharon smiled. Cion looked down at what he was wearing and hoped she was right. His dark green shirt set off his bright blue eyes and his dark slacks complimented the look. Even his new shoes, which Jess had insisted he needed, made him feel well dressed and attractive. "Yeah, guy. You look pretty sharp." Jake agreed. "So I won't be too rough on the eyes then?" Cion felt a little nervousness leave him. "Definitely not. You'll be having them queue up for blocks." Sharon said. "That really didn't sound good, honey." Jake added, shaking his head. "Well, I'll be off then. Wish me luck." "You won't need it. You're stunning and Americans are fools for the brogue." Sharon yelled after him as he headed out. Cion chuckled and headed the few blocks to the subway. He made his way out to the club which one of Sharon's friends had said was a good place to start. The club was in Queens as Cion hadn't wanted to stray too far away from the area he was familiar with and as he walked up the street he saw a good many man, in groups or alone, heading toward the same place he was. He walked into the club and was hit by a wave of music and heat. 'Definitely a gay bar.' Cion thought sardonically as he made his way to the bar. He ordered a drink from the cute little bartender who stayed and chatted with him for a while, before finally agreeing to go and dance with one of the many offers he received. One dance led to another, one partner led to another and it was some time before Cion found himself back at the bar able to order another drink. "You're popular tonight." The cute bartender said with a smile. "It must be the accent." Cion answered, thinking of what Sharon said. "I don't think it's the accent. Not that it hurts. If I were single I'd hit on you hard core." "You're not then?" "No, my boyfriend's right over there." The bartender pointed. "Next to the go-go dancer?" "He is the go-go dancer." "Fine right body on him." Cion observed. "That he does and a mind to match. He's pre-law at Columbia. I keep wondering what he sees in me." "If he's got a mind to match, I imagine he sees a sweet, cute man he can spend his days with." Cion winked and the bartender grinned. They introduced themselves as the bartender, Travis bought Cion's next round. "So what brings you from Ireland?" "Adventure. Mystery. Romance. I've heard tell that they're opening up the west to settlers." "Um yeah about a hundred and fifty years ago." "Well, Ireland's not big on getting the news." "Apparently." Cion refused all other offers to dance preferring to speak with Travis and his boyfriend, Eric when he was on break. At the end of the night, Cion was allowed to stay and nurse his drink while all others had been shown the door. "So Cion, why did you spend the entire night talking to me when there were so many guys here who would be dying to go home with you?" Travis asked. "Not that I minded the company, I'm just wondering." "When I was back in Ireland I sort of got it in my mind that I should go to America and felt like there was something here for me. I didn't feel like what I'm looking for was here tonight." "That must be the deep poetic Irish soul I've heard so much about." Eric grinned. "Ah yes, the Irish have deep souls." Cion agreed. "Where else are we going to hide the liquor?" "I think it's romantic." Travis said with a dreamy sigh. "Foolish and hopeless but romantic." The bartender lifted the glass of whiskey he had poured himself and Eric once the club closed and saluted Cion. "To your foolish, hopeless and romantic search, Cion. May you find what you're looking for." They each downed their drinks and slapped the tumblers down on the bar. "Well lads, you've been great letting me stay for the craic but I'd best go." Cion said, standing. "Crack? You have crack?" Travis asked, confused. "Craic is Irish for good conversation and fun times." Eric explained. "Ah, you know a bit about the Irish then?" Cion asked. "My ex was from County Westmeath." "Who? Timothy the slut?" Travis asked. "Yeah." Eric answered, shaking his head at his boyfriend's jealousy. "Well again boys, thank you and hopefully I'll see you again." Cion said and left the bar. It had been a good night and he had had enough to be in good spirits but not so much as to have difficulty walking home. He was only a block away when Cion had the feeling that he was being followed and glanced back to see a small group of young men walking behind him. As he turned and saw then, they broke into a run after him. He was caught within minutes and thrown to the ground. "Fucking faggot!" One of the boys said as they slammed their shoe into his stomach. Cion had the breath knocked out of him and struggled desperately to draw in air. His back burned as another kicked him from behind and felt a wave of nausea as one kicked his groin. He stopped listening but knew they still screamed hatred at him and knew that if he stayed there he was likely to die. As he struggled to stand, one of the boys grabbed his shirt and threw him head first into a brick wall. Cion barely had enough time to raise his hands before his face and head connected with the hard surface. "Get the fuck away from him?!" Came a loud roar. "Someone call the cops!!!" Came another and the group of boys scattered away. Eric and Travis raced up and knelt down. "Oh shit! It's Cion. Call 911, baby." Eric said but Travis was already on his cell phone. They stayed with Cion until the medics and police arrived and he was lifted into the back of the ambulance. Cion blacked out and only awoke later in the hospital. "Oh good, you're awake." Said a kindly voice and Cion turned his head to see an elderly nurse standing next to his bed. She was fiddling with an I.v. that was apparently hooked up to his arm. "What happened?" He asked and winced at the pain in his face. "You were attacked. The police are waiting to get your statement but the doctor is keeping them out till he sees you first. I'll go get him." She said and left the little room. Cion took stock of his injuries, feeling his arm which throbbed and ached and touching his face feeling bandages taped over a good portion. 'This isn't what I need, Lord.' he thought as the nurse returned with the doctor. Cion looked up and saw two of the kindest eyes he'd ever seen staring at him with concern. They were green like the hills behind his house and he suddenly felt like he was home for the first time in his life. The man was tall or seemed to be tall standing next to his bed, with broad shoulders which looked like they carried the emotional weight of his occupation regularly. His hair was light brown with subtle highlights of gold and just a bit of red. Though he was a large man, he looked in shape with just a bit of a belly. The man smiled and Cion felt his own lips curve in response, though it was painful. "Hey, you're looking better." He said, and Cion felt his deep, sexy timbre slip over him like a comforting blanket. "I'm feeling like shite though." "I imagine you do but luckily the worst injuries aren't severe. You had a bad bump on the head, but luckily there's no internal damage or bleeding. I'd say a sprained wrist, some small scrapes and scratches. You're going to be sore and tender for a couple of days at least." "Will I be able to work, though?" "Not for a while. Give yourself some time to heal. Is there anyone we can call to come get you?" "Um yeah. Sharon." Cion gave Sharon's number to the nurse. "Sharon is a girlfriend? Wife?" The doctor asked and had turned away as if his attention were caught elsewhere. "No. She's my ma's friend. I'm staying with her for a few weeks." Cion said and met the doctor's eyes as they swiveled back to his. "Not to pry, but the police said this was possibly a gay bashing." "Aye, it was. I had just come from a club not far away and some kids were following me." "Did they rape you?" The doctor asked, his voice lowering. "No. They just beat the sin out of me." Cion answered and the doctor nodded. "Well, if you feel up to it the police are waiting for your statement. It's usually best to get this out of the way but if you need some time..." "No, thank you. I'd like to get it over with." "Ella," the doctor said addressing the nurse. "Would you give Mr. Malloy's friend a call?" "Yes, doctor." She said and left to call Sharon. "Are you in any pain?" "No." "All right. I'll get the officers. It was nice meeting you, Cionaodh." The doctor said and smiled. "Cion." He said, smiling back. "What?" "It's Cion for short." "Oh. Ok. Nice meeting you, Cion." "Doctor?" "Yeah?" "What's your name?" "Oh sorry. My name's Sam." "Nice to meet you too Sam." Cion smiled and felt a burst of joy when the doctor blushed and grinned before he left the room. Sharon arrived an hour later and burst into the room with her usual energy and concern. Jake wasn't far behind her. "Jaysus! Cion! Are you all right?" "Yeah, Sharon. I'm well, thanks." Cion chuckled at his own little joke. "Actually, I feel a little worse for wear." "I don't doubt it. Those fuckers! You spoke with the police then?" "I did, but they don't seem too optimistic that anything will come of it. I barely saw their faces." "Little shit heads!" Sharon burst out. "You try to teach your kids to be tolerant of all others and little bastards like that go around and make us all look bad." The doctor came in at that moment and took a minute to introduce himself to Sharon and Jake. Cion flushed a little when Sharon wriggled her eyebrows at him behind the doctors back. The doctor explained Cion's injuries and then the discharge plan before handing them papers to sign. "Sharon, Jake, I'll pay the whole thing back." Cion said after the doctor left. "Don't worry about it, Cion." Jake shook his head. "You don't owe us anything. I can't believe this happened." "I told your mum I'd take care of you, boy-o. Fine right job I'm doing from the looks of it." Sharon added. "This isn't your fault. It's mine. If I hadn't gone out tonight-." Cion began. "This isn't Belfast, Cion. We don't live in a police state here. You can bloody well go where you please. And you should be able to go out and enjoy yourself without worrying about taking a beating." The nurse came in and handed them a copy of the discharge plans the doctor had outlined before and a prescription for a pain reliever and said they were free to go. Jake and Sharon helped Cion out of the hospital as he was a little unsteady on his feet. The electric doors opened and ushered them out into the heat of the summer night when Cion caught a glimpse of the doctor off to the side smoking a cigarette. Across the Pond Ch. 02 "Would you give me a moment?" He asked them. Sharon grinned. "Of course, love. You'll be all right?" "I think I can handle a few steps." He said and headed over toward Sam. "You caught me." Sam said with a guilty smile. "I've been meaning to give them up." "Ah sure, five year olds smoke in Ireland so it's fine." He answered, then wasn't sure where to go from there. Sam apparently wasn't either and just nodded. "Come back if you have any trouble or you're still in pain after a few days." Sam added. "Right. I will. Thanks." "No problem. It's the job." "Right..... the job....." "Well, it was nice meeting you Cion." Sam said and tossed his cigarette to the street. "I'd better get in." "Sam?" Cion called, just as the doctor was about to head into the hospital. "Yeah?" "I hope I'm not making a total ass of myself, which is probably a really good thing to say to make good and sure that I am, but...." "But?" "I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me at some point? I mean, I should be healed up nice and good in just a few days. At least that's what my doctor says and I trust him. He seems to know what he's talking about." "Um..." Sam began. "We could grab a cup of coffee or some lunch if you'd like. Or if I've made an ass of myself by assuming you're gay and you're not, than I'm sorry and hope that you'll take it as a compliment." "No. You assumed correctly." Sam smiled. "You have someone?" Cion asked with a sour stomach. He hadn't even thought of that option. "No. I'm single. It's just that-." A nurse ran out and interrupted Sam. "Doctor, we've got a mass casualty coming in. Five patients. E.T.A. six minutes." "Thank you, Beth." The doctor turned back to Cion. "I'll give you my cell phone number. Give me a call tomorrow." "I don't have a cell phone. You wouldn't happen to have a pen and paper?" Cion asked. "I've one." Sharon said from where she had been listening a few feet away. She rushed over and took the doctor's number. "I'll call tomorrow then." Cion assured Sam. "Great! I'll talk to you then." "Good luck with the casualty thing!" Cion called after Sam as he rushed into the hospital. "'Good luck with the casualty thing'?" Sharon asked with a giggle. "Jesus, you'll have to go home and kiss the Blarney stone like a fecking tourist!" "Ah that's enough from you." Cion said with a wide smile across his face. He rode home in the s.u.v. not minding the pain but waiting for tomorrow when he could call Sam. Across the Pond Ch. 03 Hey everybody, I thank you all for your comments and apologize for taking so long with this one. I'm going to work on this story so you won't have to wait so long for the next chapter. Thanks again. Two days later, Cion sat on the couch where he had spent much of his time since leaving the hospital being taken care of by Sharon lovingly and to the point of irritation. He had never taken many sick days in his young life and was an awful patient. Sitting about was not something he was accustomed to and Sharon's mothering was getting to him. He finally snapped and bit out a harsh retort when she asked him for the fourth time if he wanted something to eat or drink. "Don't be using that tone with me, boy-o or I'll belt ya back to Brigid's Well faster than a Tinker can whistle." "I'm sorry, Sharon. You're right. I shouldn't have bitten at ya. I just don't like being sitting round, not of much use to anyone and nothing to keep my hands busy." "Well, you could do what you've been putting off and call the nice, good looking doctor like you said you would." Sharon smiled. "I could, yeah. But what should I say?" Cion asked, feeling the familiar nervousness he'd felt since meeting Sam. "How about 'Good evening, Doctor. This is Cion. Fancy a spot of tea?'." "Jesus, people didn't talk like that when you were my age, did they?" "Keep a civil tongue in your head and I'll keep the arsenic out of your black and white pudding." Cion laughed and shook his head but glanced at the phone sitting next to him like it was a grenade that hadn't yet exploded. "It's simple, Cion. Just talk to him a bit and then ask him if he'd like to go out for coffee or dinner or whatever." Sharon said as she set a cup of tea down on the coffee table in front of him. "And if he says no?" "He won't say no. Doctor's are smart, generally, and you're a great catch. He'll be interested. He's probably wondering why you haven't called already." "Fine then. I'll do it." "Now." "What? Why now?" Cion asked. "Cause my brood'll be home soon and you'll get no peace. You're lucky the dogs are being quiet now." "Fine. I'll call now." "Good." Sharon smiled and sat back on the couch. "Could I have a bit of privacy then?" "What if you need moral support or a little coaching?" Sharon asked with the bright gleam of mischief in her eyes. "I'm not a twelve year old girl callin' my first crush, Sharon. I'm thinking I can handle it." "If you could handle it you'd have called yesterday." Sharon said but made her way out of the room as Cion picked up the phone. He took a deep breath and dialed the number. 'Here I go', he thought. "Hello?" "Dr..." Cion cursed. He had forgotten the doctor's last name. "Dr. Sam?" "Yes?" "This is Cion. Um... Cionadh Malloy. We met the other night in your E.R. there." "Yeah, I remember. I was wondering when you'd call." "Well, I sort of had to gather a bit of courage first." "Oh really?" Cion grinned as he heard the smile in Sam's voice. "A bit, yeah. So, I was hoping you'd be free to meet for coffee or a drink or a bite to eat?" "Well, actually I'm a little busy but... um, yeah. A cup of coffee sounds great.." Cion was a little disappointed that Sam had chosen coffee over a more intimate dinner but took what he was given. "I'm a little bit new to the area, I've only been in America for about three weeks. Is there anywhere you'd recommend?" Cion asked. "There's a great little coffee bar in my neighborhood. It's called Jo-Jo's. I'm off tomorrow if that works for you." "It does. I'll see you there around six?" Cion was hoping that after a nice cup of coffee he might be able to convince the good doctor to go out for dinner. "Six is good. I'll see you there Cion." "I'm looking forward to it Sam." Cion said and hung up the phone. "He said yes." Sharon peeked her head into the room from where she had been eavesdropping and smiled. "Of course he did. I told you so." "You did, but there was something in his voice. A sort of hesitation." "Just nerves. You'll be fine." "I suppose." Cion sighed. "Will you be able to get around all right?" "Sure, I'm well enough to get around by myself now if you weren't always hovering." Cion said with a smile. Cion left with more than enough time for him to get to the coffee house Sam had suggested. He caught the trains which changed him over to Sam's neighborhood and walked the few blocks till he came to Jo-Jo's. The smell of coffee was overwhelming and Cion actually decided against his usual cup of tea and ordered a coffee to sip while he waited. He didn't wait long till Sam came in and watched him look around till their eyes met. Cion felt his stomach flutter and happiness spread through his chest. He couldn't help his smile and was rewarded when Sam smiled back. "Hey." Sam said as he came over to Cion's table. "Hey yourself. How are you?" "Fine thanks. You?" "Doing well." Just then the waitress stopped by to ask them if they wanted anything and Sam placed his order. "Is this your first time to America?" Sam asked after the waitress had left. "It is. I'm on holiday. I had a yen to come see what the fuss was about." "And have you found what it's about?" "I think I have." Cion smiled and watched as a blush crept up Sam's face. The doctor chuckled at himself and lowered his gaze. "You don't beat around the bush too much do you?" "I try not to. Never been good at games. Even as a child I'd always get chosen last for football." "I doubt that. A big guy like you?" "It's European football. Size doesn't really matter." "I've heard that about Europe." The doctor teased and had the gratification of watching Cion blush and laugh. "Sorry. It was hard to pass up and you did set yourself up for it." "I did at that but rest assured, I'm more than adequate." Cion winked and Sam grinned and both paused their conversation as the barista returned and handed Sam his cup of regular black coffee. "Cion, I should tell you before we go much further- Christ, I should have told you before we even got here." Sam sighed. "I'm not in a good place. I can't be thinking about a relationship right now." "Oh?" Cion felt his stomach drop. "You just got here. I can't be that bad." "No, you're not. You're great. You seem nice, you're adorable, it's just where I am." "And where's that?" "Not able to think about starting a future with someone." "You were hurt?" Cion asked. "No. Well, yes, but that's not really why I can't-. I just can't." "You can't." Cion repeated. "That sounds final." "You have no idea." "If you weren't in this 'bad place' would you be able to think of starting a future with someone?" "Yes." "Well, then there's really only one thing to do." "What's that?" Sam asked. "I guess we'll be friends and we'll see if we can't get you out of this place you're in." "I can't ask you to do that." "Then don't. I'm offering. I could use a friend here in the states and people in bad places generally need friends to pull them out." "This isn't something a friend can help with." "A friend can't be supportive?" "I suppose." "Then that should help. Besides, I'm hoping that when you're in a place to start thinking of a future you might consider me." "Why don't I explain a little bit more and then maybe you'll understand." Sam took a sip of his coffee hoping it would give him the strength to admit something to someone else he hadn't even come to grips with himself. "You asked if I'd been hurt and I have. My boyfriend of a year and a half left me seven months ago." "He must be a real shite piece of work." "No, he's actually a nice guy." Sam shook his head. "He just can't handle what I'm going through. He's weak but still a nice guy. I guess if we were both honest we'd have seen that we weren't exactly head over heals for one another to begin with. I miss his friendship more than I miss our relationship." "Then it's good that this happened. You know he wasn't the one if he leaves over some trouble." Cion argued and Sam laughed. "Well, not many people handle their loved one dying too well." "Dying?" "I have a glioblastoma which is basically a tumor in my brain. I only have about eight months to a year to live." Cion could barely swallow and felt nauseous. He didn't know what to say to make his remarks any better. "I don't know what to say, Sam." "There's not much to say, Cion. It's a shitty deal and I have to live with it. Or not." Sam chuckled. "Sorry, I'm still dealing with it and my humor can get a little dark at times." "Can't they operate?" "They can and they will but that's not going to be it. They're just taking out most of the tumor and giving me a little more time." "Don't they use radiation or something?" "Glioblastomas are actually really resistant to radiation therapy but one type of radiation might be an option. If that doesn't work we'll have to try chemotherapy." "I've heard the term but I don't actually understand what it is?" "Basically they give you a drug which is basically poison and they hope that it kills the tumor before it kills you. More or less." Sam sighed and took a sip of his coffee. "I'm sorry, Cion. I shouldn't have dragged you into this. I've been dealing with this alone for a while now, ever since I first found out and when you asked me out I thought it might be nice to just have a drink with a nice guy." "I'm glad you did." Cion said, still feeling the rock in the pit of his stomach. "No you're not. You look like you've just been told you had a year to live. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done this. I'm gonna go." Sam said, and grabbed his coat from the empty chair where he had laid it. "No! Please! I'm sorry. It's a bit of a shock. Even doctors don't hear that someone they know and like is going to die every day." "That's true but there's no reason you have to be pulled into the muck my life has become." "You forget, I'm Irish. I happen to like muck." Cion said and smiled brightly hoping he could put aside his own feelings for the moment. "You're crazy." Sam chuckled but sat back down. "If your offer's still open, I think I'll take you up on it." "Dinner?" Cion asked. "Well, that too but I meant being friends." "My mother always said 'no one is too rich as to throw away a friend' and we were poorer than most." Cion lifted his mug in salute. "Then it's settled. Friends." "Friends." Sam agreed. The two finished their drinks and headed to one of Sam's favorite restaurants for dinner. It was a nice little Italian place with an ambiance that was at once intimate and not overly suggestive. They talked over dinner and found each other to be the prefect company for the evening. "What did you do then?" Cion asked, being entertained by Sam's stories of med school. "We waited. We waited for four hours but it was so worth it. When Ryan came back into the morgue and started back to work, we inflated the tubes and all this weird looking jello came out of the cadaver. I mean, everywhere! His eyes, his mouth, the y incision, it was a mess." "You were a cheeky bastard then." Cion said, smiling at the image in mind of a young, roguish Sam. "Oh yeah. But Ryan's face was horrified! He thought he had been working on a body with the Bubonic Plague or Hemato-Lacrimal Fever or something." They laughed as the waitress appeared at their table. "Anything else tonight, Doc?" She asked. "I'm fine, Marie. Cion?" "Couldn't eat another bite." "Great. I hope you guys have a great night." She said and placed the check down on the table. Their eyes met as they both reached for it. "I asked you out tonight, Sam. I'm paying." "No, Cion. It's not everyday you meet a great guy who offers to be your friend through something like this. I've got it." Sam pulled the check from under Cion's hands. "I just offered to be your friend, Sam. I haven't walked on water." "Well, when you walk on water I'll get the check then too." Sam slipped some bills into the check folder and laid it on the table. "Are you ready?" They walked down the avenue continuing their conversation as they noticed a great deal of people heading in their general direction. At the end of the block they saw it had been closed off and a large banner named it the St. Anthony Festival. "What do you think?" Sam asked. "You game?" "I haven't been to church in ages. Do you think ol' St. Anthony might get a bit bent?" "Let's take our chances." Sam smiled and led the way. Hours later, they were still laughing as they stopped in front of Sharon and Jake's house. "This is me then." Cion said as he fished his keys out of his pocket. "Wow. You live here? I live in an apartment. Just how much do construction workers get these days?" "It's my ma's friends that live here. They're just letting me stay while I'm here." "On holiday." Sam remembered. "Yeah." "So when do you think you'll leave?" "If you ask Sharon, I'll be here till she's good and ready to send me packing. I'm thinking I'll be here for another few weeks till my visiting visa expires, then head back and get a work visa. Jake's already said he'll sponsor me and he's got a few friends 'in high places' as he puts it that will help the paperwork go through." "Friends 'in high places'?" Sam asked. "You know what, don't tell me. I'd rather not know." "I didn't ask too many questions myself." Cion smiled. "Would you like to come in? I've got a terrible thirst, I imagine you do as well." "I'd better not." Sam said. "I've got a busy day tomorrow. I'm actually training my replacement, so to speak." "You're replacement? You've been fired?" "No, I've taken a leave of absence indefinitely. My condition makes it dangerous for me to practice medicine, especially emergency medicine." Cion felt the reality of their situation flood back to him. "I see." "Yeah. Anyway, I want to thank you." Sam sighed. "If you rethink this... being friends and all... I'll understand. I just appreciate tonight. It's been a while since I was able to relax a little." "Sam, I'm not going anywhere. I said I'll be your friend and that's something the Irish take very seriously." Cion smiled. "That and whiskey." "Glad to hear it." Sam smiled back. "I should get going." "Sure, yeah." Cion stepped forward and took Sam in his arms. "I'll see you soon?" "Yeah." Cion watched as the doctor walked back the way they came. He sighed and headed into the house. He lay in bed unable to sleep until his phone rang a few hours later and he saw that it was a familiar number. "Hello Ma." "What's wrong?" She asked without preamble. He wasn't surprised. Though he didn't put too much credence in psychic abilities his mother did have an uncanny gift of knowing when he was upset. "I met someone." "That's usually a good thing." "He has a problem." "He's married?" "What? No! Why would you think that?" "Something that happened- never mind. What's the problem?" "He's got cancer." "He's American. They all have cancer." "Ma, this is serious." "Right. Well, what are they doing for it?" "I can't even remember. He told me but I honestly was stuck at the cancer and the part where he thinks he's going to die." "People who think they will usually find a way to make it happen." "Yeah." "What are you going to do?" Margaret asked. "The only thing I can do, Ma. Be his friend. That's all he's allowing me." "That may be all he thinks he has to offer." "I've felt like I'm looking for something for so long and now that I finally found it, it might be taken from me." "You've been looking for someONE not something. People don't come with guarantees love. You're going to have to have a little faith on this one." Margaret sighed, feeling her son's pain. "I'm not sure I'll come out of this in one piece." Cion admitted. "If you did, it wouldn't have been worth it."