"Hey John, can you order us up some dinner or something? I'm starving but..." Alex gestured helplessly to his clothes, which were currently soaking wet. After saying good bye to Martha at the airport, the two had gone to explore more of the city. Unfortunately their wandering had been cut short by a sudden downpour. After trying to wait it out in a colorful little spice shop, they decided to call it a day and headed back. As they had arrived back at Alexs apartment, a truck had hit a puddle, sending the icy water all over Alex. John had thankfully been spared the cold puddle bath, but in the few short moments since it had happened Alex had begun shivering so hard one could literally hear his teeth chattering in his mouth.

John smiled at him before bending Dow to kiss him on the forehead gently. "Sure thing, love. Anything in particular?"

"Whatever you are in the mood for. Use my laptop, there are a few saved links to my typical places. My cards already linked so we won't even have to use cash or anything." As he said this, he started peeling off his wet clothes and making his way to the bathroom, getting somewhat stuck when he tried to get the grey sweater off. It was plastered to his slight body, and John watch him struggle with a soft chuckle. Eventually, though, he did get it of, and stuck his tongue out ata still amused John. "Don't judge me."

"I'm not judging you, dork. Go get in the shower and get warmed up. If you shiver anymore your teeth will rattle out of your head!" John made a shooing gesture towards the bathroom, and Alex was more than happy to oblige him.

He turned the water on before he finished undressing, so at least that would be warmed up y the time he was finally undressed. After finally freeing himself of the sodden garments, he stepped under the blissfully warm water and sighed happily. For a moment he let all his worries and stress go and instead focused on the feel of the hot spray against his chilled skin, allowing it to warm him up. God I hate the cold! Why can't it be nice and warm all year round?

The peacefulness didn't last long, however, and soon his thoughts drifted from imagining a warm tropical beach to reality. The thought of telling John what he had been doing, and why he was doing it, terrified him. All the what-ifs ran through his mind. What if John doesn't actually want me to do this? What if he finds out and leaves me? How is he going to take it? Can I handle that, or should I just stop looking into this now? I can't do that, though! These men nearly killed John. I can not let that stand! I just... How do I tell him? A low growl of frustration built in his throat, and he hit his fist against the wall. Of course he had made a fine mess of this. Didn't he always?

You need to think about things before you rush into them, idiot. Alex lectured himself as he ran a soapy cloth over his now thankfully warm skin. He still felt like there was grim on him from the puddle. I have to tell John tonight. Having decided tonight was the night, Alex set about finishing his shower and pushed the worrying thoughts out of his head.

He was mid shampoo when he heard the door open. He smiled. "You planning on joining me, love?"

"Alexander." Johns voice sounded strange; Alex had never heard that tone before. It was half strangled, half angry, and it made Alexs blood ran cold. He slowly slid the curtain aside and looked at his boyfriend. Pale-faced, Johns freckles stood out more than they ever had before, and his face was unreadable.

"John?" Alex asked in a small voice. "What's wrong?" A knot grew in his stomach, and he felt like all the air was being sucked from the room.

"Why" said John, struggling to control his voice, "have you been researching my father?"

Authors note:

Hey everyone. I'm so so so so so so SO sorry I haven't been writing. The past few months have been awful, with a lot of everything having been thrown at me. My dad nearly died, my grandfather (and hero) DID pass away, and 5 days after that was my daughters birthday and then the next week was Christmas and I just couldn't. All of the stuff just send me into serious burnout that I'm only just getting out of. So please, forgive me. I haven't forgotten you, my dears!